Chapter 7

~Unvieling the Past~

The next morning, the sun cast a golden hue over Masala Manor, illuminating the ancient walls that held the secrets of the past. The elders of the house were busy in a meeting, again. Rama, Raghav, and Raja, still buzzing from their discovery, couldn't wait to explore further. Gatik and Peppers followed closely, eager to help.

The children retraced their steps to the broken tile. With cautious excitement, they squeezed through the narrow opening, finding themselves in an old, hidden room covered in dust and cobwebs. The air was thick with the scent of history and mystery.

"This place is amazing," Raja whispered, his eyes wide with wonder.

Rama nodded, her sharp eyes scanning the room. "Look at all these documents and artifacts."

Raghav picked up an old, tattered map. "Guys, check this out. It looks like a map, but the markings are cryptic."

Gatik, always observant, pointed to a faded photograph on the wall. "That's Ramesh Desai, isn't it? He was a freedom fighter, right?"

"Yeah," Rama confirmed, "our great-grandfather. There are so many stories about him."

"Maybe," Raja paused, "This must be from the freedom movement."

As they examined the artifacts, they stumbled upon a leather-bound journal. The cover was embossed with the initials R.D. Raja carefully opened it, revealing pages filled with handwritten notes and sketches.

"It's Ramesh Desai's journal," Raja said in awe which earned him a sharp smack on the head by Raghav.

"He's our Ajjoba! Show some respect!" Raghav scolded as Rama took the journal from Raja's hands.

"There's a lot here about the freedom movement and... look, a treasure!" exclaimed Rama.

Raghav's eyes lit up. "A treasure? You mean, like, gold and jewels?"

"Maybe," Raja replied, his voice trembling with excitement as he looked over his sister's shoulder, "But it seems like it's more than just material wealth. This treasure could be historical documents, valuable artifacts, things that were hidden to protect them from the British."

Rama, always the leader, took charge. "We need to keep this discovery a secret from our parents. If they find out, they might sell the manor before we can uncover the treasure."

Peppers barked softly, as if in agreement. Gatik nodded. "Rama's right. We need to figure this out on our own."

"But we need to be careful," Raghav said quietly, "I feel like someone is watching us."

"You know what?" Raja said hurriedly as he heard footsteps above them, "Take whatever you can and go to your rooms. Pretend none of this happened. After dinner, let's meet up in my room. It's the furthest from our parents' rooms."

The rest agreed. They needed privacy to discuss their next moves.

----

As the day turned to night, the children gathered in Raja's bedroom. The room was dimly lit, with shadows dancing on the walls, adding to the sense of intrigue.

"What took you so long?" Raja asked angrily as Raghav entered a few minutes late. 

"Got some snacks," he replied, throwing them on a table and he joined the others sitting on the bed.

"Alright," Rama began, her voice low. "We need to decode this map. It's our first clue to the hidden treasure."

Raghav spread the map out on the bed. "Look at these markings. They're not random. There must be a pattern."

Raja nodded, his analytical mind already working. "We should compare these markings with the layout of the manor. Maybe it's indicating specific rooms or hidden passages."

Gatik, who had been quiet, spoke up. "We should also keep an eye on Kamini. I don't trust her. She's too interested in the manor's history."

Rama agreed. "I've seen the way she looks around, always snooping. Peppers doesn't trust her either, and that dog has good instincts."

Raghav nodded. "We'll take turns watching her. If she's up to something, we need to know."

The plan was set. They would decode the map, keep an eye on Kamini, and protect the manor's secrets from anyone who might seek to exploit them.

"Okay," Rama said, her voice filled with determination. "Let's get to work. This is our legacy, and we're not going to let anyone take it from us."