Chapter 5

~The Secrets of the Manor~

The air in the hidden chamber was thick with anticipation and the faint scent of earth. Rama, Raghav, Raja, Gatik, and Peppers stood in awe, their eyes scanning the ancient carvings on the walls.

Suddenly, muffled voices from above broke the silence. Their parents had returned and were arguing fiercely in the dining room, directly above them. The group exchanged panicked glances.

"We need to get out of here, now!" Gatik whispered urgently.

They quickly retraced their steps, hurrying back up the narrow, dusty staircase. Once they reached the top, Raja and Gatik heaved the heavy trapdoor back into place. With the tile broken, they grabbed a thick, old carpet from a nearby room and covered the door as best they could. Rama and Raghav swept away the broken tiles, discarding them in the garden, trying to erase any sign of their discovery.

Just as they finished, their parents entered the dining room, their voices sharp with lingering tension.

"What are you doing?" Ravi demanded, his eyes narrowing at the sight of his children. "Go to your rooms. We have important matters to discuss."

The group hurried off, mumbling vague excuses. They didn't stop until they were far from earshot, gathering in the old playroom where their parents had spent countless hours as children.

"We can't tell them about this," Rama said, her voice firm. "Not until we know more."

Raja nodded. "Agreed. But we need to figure out what that passage is and why it's there."

Raghav's eyes lit up with determination. "We should start by reading up on the manor's history. There must be something in the old records."

Gatik hesitated before speaking. "There's a library here in the manor. I've seen it, but it's rarely used."

"That's perfect," Raghav said. "Rama, let's go check it out."

Rama nodded, feeling a strange sense of camaraderie with her cousin for the first time. "Alright. Let's do this."

"While you two go to the library, Gatik and I will ask around town," Raja suggested. "Maybe the locals know something about the manor's history."

Peppers barked softly as if agreeing with the plan.

They split into two groups. Rama and Raghav headed towards the manor's library, navigating the winding corridors with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Gatik and Raja, along with Peppers, set out for the village, hoping to uncover any local legends or forgotten tales that might shed light on their discovery.

In the library, dust motes danced in the beams of sunlight filtering through the tall windows. The room was lined with shelves upon shelves of old books and records. Rama and Raghav began their search, pulling out volumes that looked promising.

"This place is amazing," Rama whispered, running her fingers along the spines of the books. "It feels like stepping back in time."

Raghav nodded. "Let's hope we find something useful."

The two of them sat down and went through all the books.

Meanwhile, in the village, Raja and Gatik approached the elders, hoping to tap into the wealth of knowledge that often came with age. They asked about the history of Masala Manor, careful not to reveal too much about their discovery.

An old man, leaning on his cane, squinted at them. "That manor has been around for generations. Built by your great-great-grandfather, if I recall correctly. There are many stories about it."

Raja's interest piqued. "Stories? Like what?"

The old man's eyes twinkled with a hint of mischief. "Legends of hidden passages and secret treasures. They say the manor hides many secrets, known only to those who built it."

Raja exchanged a glance with Gatik, both feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation. "Thank you, sir," Raja said. "We'll be sure to keep that in mind."

As the sun began to set, the two groups reconvened at the manor. Rama and Raghav carried several dusty tomes, while Raja and Gatik shared what they had learned from the villagers.

"We found some old records that might help," Raghav said, holding up a heavy, leather-bound book. "There are mentions of secret passages and hidden rooms, but it's going to take time to piece everything together."

Raja nodded. "The locals have heard similar stories. It seems our ancestors were fond of secrets."

Gatik, his expression serious, added, "We need to be careful. Whatever we're dealing with, it's been hidden for a reason."

Rama, looking around at her cousins and their newfound ally, felt a surge of determination. "We're in this together. Let's figure out what our family has been hiding all these years."

As night fell, the group settled in to read through the old records, their minds racing with possibilities. The secrets of Masala Manor were starting to unravel, and with each discovery, they grew closer to understanding the true legacy of their family home.