02| The Interaction with 1862|

23rd February 2023

11:35 p.m

I stood right in front of the room and breathed hard holding the keys tight in my hand . I closed my eyes recalling how I stole the key from my own palace. My heart crawled with fear but i clicked the key inside the lock . It took seconds and i unlocked the door . I opened it and coughed feeling the sudden dust . I closed my eyes coughing a bit .

I checked the corridors if someone was there or not . Well I knew no one would come this time . Only two housekeepers stayed at night who were probably sleeping . Moreover the palace was so big that no one would come .

I jerked my thoughts and stepped inside the room holding the keys tight . At the moment my breathe were faster than a the olympics runner . I looked around the room feeling shivers . I searched for the lights that were right next to the door . I closed the door and switched on the lights and turned to look at the room .

The room was dirty yet still pretty . It looked like nothing was changed here. Maybe no one dared to come here . I wondered why ? I didn't find any ghost here . I chuckled at my own thoughts .

My heart crumbled the moment I saw rope tied up on the ceiling. I breathed hard and took my steps back in fear . I leaned myself against the wall remembering the words of the servant

"They died here madam .."

"Did old owner of this palace attempted suicide . But why a man with such looks and that much money would kill himself . And if he attempted suicide then who is the other who died .
Oh Krishna that's scary ." I said to myself .

I calmed myself and turned towards the wall I was leaning . I saw frames hanging which were completely covered with dust . I cleaned one of them with my hands . It was same man whose portrait I saw morning .

"Veer Aditya Rathore" I whispered .

"You still look gorgeous ISHA" I heard the whisper feeling someone standing right behind me. I widened my eyes seeing a figure on the frame and i immediately turned but there was no one.

I stood there in fear. I must not have visited here. I should have listened to the servant for sure. I looked around the room, covered with all ancient old things. A wide smile appeared my face.

Fuck the fear Ishani! Let's see these beauty!

I walked towards a piano kept in the room. It was brown wooden and looked really aesthetic to me. I must have bought my phone to capture the beauty. I stood near the pedal of the piano and ran my fingers through the keys. I did not know to play a piano. I wish I did know.

"You know it love" A soft whisper came again through my ears. I turned around in fear. This room surely has any ghost. But why the hell is this ghost flirting with me.

Did the ghost liked me?
Am I beautiful, tell me?

I saw a burned painting right near the piano. It was kept on a white canvas. It was half burned. I walked forward, It was a girl's painting. A girl's ? But it was prince's room right?

It was half burned. I couldn't see her face. Wait! Was she the other one who died? Hell this curiosity.

I properly looked at the painting. The girl's face wasn't visible as it was burned from the upper end. She was wearing a lavender cotton choli with blue borders paired with a plain blue dupatta. She had a lose braid as her hair style. The painting was made with detailing.

"Why would a person ruin such a beautiful painting? Who burned it?" I wondered.

The room had a closet, a walk in closet. I walked towards the closed door. I slide the door and entered inside, everything was kept as it should be. His clothes and all his personal belongings were still at their own places. I coughed feeling the dust and walked inside.

I heard a sound and turned immediately. I saw a diary fallen on the floor. I took my steps forward and picked it up. I touched the dairy and felt a different feeling curling in my heart, an unknown feeling which eventually wanted me to open this diary right now. My curios heart did it.

I stared at the first page and stood in surprise at the very next moment.

"The love story of Isha Manj and Veer Aditya Rathore" I read the words and brushed my hands over the ink where the year was written "1862".

I remembered about the burned painting and thought maybe the girl in the painting was Isha Manj.

I was uncertain about reading it or not but being a extreme curious girl, I turned the page. I sat down on the floor leaning to the wardrobe. I know it was a stupid idea to actually sit in horror room at midnight. But I was stupid I accepted. I started reading.

9th May 1862

Today I am returning to my country. It has been seven years since I was in London. My father was one of the richest person in India. We had our ancestral business here. My father wanted to be well educated and this he sent me to London for my studies when I was sixteen when I shifted to London for my graduations. Though I was the King of Kanwar Nagar still i worked under a company. I had an experience of four years of working. I wanted to come and settle here in Kanwar Nagar. I wanted to handle our business.

My thoughts went off when the driver called me out. "Sir we have reached the palace" he said. I answered him with a small smile.

I had palace. I remembered the last time I visited here was for my father's demise two years back. I visited here just for three days. I was now the only owner of all this. Everything belonged to me now. Though I was not the only one who lived here. My mamu with his son lived here too.

My mother and mami died in car accident when I was young. Since then they both lived here. Mamu loved me very much. He handled the business after my father's demise.

My thoughts were broken with a sudden hug. A big smile appeared my face seeing my brother. He was mamu's son.

"So someone finally thought to visit ?" he said making me chuckle. I broke the hug and smiled at him.

"Don't worry now I am not going anywhere Arjun" I said.

"Hey did you made any girlfriend there? Or are you planning to help your brother make one" he said and I rolled my eyes at him.

"Shakal dekhi hai apni bandar!" I said and laughed taking few steps back from him.

[ Have you ever seen your own self, monkey]

"Kutte tu ruk tujhe toh mai batata hu" he said and chased me running behind.

[ Wait, dog ! If I'll catch you I'll teach a lesson]

Evening 4'o clock

Veer was roaming around the garden reading a book unaware of the crime someone was planning outside the palace.

"Isha go! Just flirt with that watchman for a while till than I will go inside and see that beautiful vehicle" A little boy said staring at a girl.

Isha curled her lips in a cute pout and folded her arms glaring him. "Ooo! You clever chotu, You want me to distract that heavy looking watchman so that only you can go see that vehicle. Hmm? You want to play tricks with me? I also want to see that vehicle." She said glaring him cutely.

"Oho! Isha you are really very stupid. You have to distract him naa. Then you can come later and see the the vehicle. You are really beautiful and you can surely distract that idiot watchman by your looks." Chotu said shaking his forehead. Isha blinked her eyes innocently at him and nodded. She went to watchman and smiled mischievously.

"Aee girl ! Go just go from here. Nobody is allowed to come at the palace. Go!" The watchman said glaring her with anger.

Isha looked at him with smile. She blushed hard and started playing her hair strands. "I am not here to go inside. I am here just for you". She said staring him with sweet smile playing on her lips. He looked at her with suspicious eyes.

"Hume pagal samjha hai kya tune ladki.
Chl jaa yaha se" He said shouting at her.

["Do you think I am mad or something. Get out of here now"]

The next moment she started crying. He wide his eyes at her. "Hey Isha stop crying. I am really sorry. Beautiful girls never cry" He said staring her in panic. No matter what Isha was one of the most beautiful girl of the city. She wiped off her tears.

"Paani?" She asked softly at him. He nodded at her and asked her stay there. The watchman left to bring water for her. Isha jumped excitedly seeing him walking away. Chotu, who was till now hiding behind a tree came to her. She looked at him with attitude while playing with her hair strands. He rolled his eyes at her and walked inside.

"Haww! Dusht chotu" She said glaring him and walked inside the palace."

Both walked inside and were flabbergasted seeing the big palace and large garden. "Isha don't you think our half village can live in this palace?" Chotu asked touching the beautiful chairs of the garden.

"We are small people chotu and we are bound to even come to this place and you are talking about living here. We will never be able to live at this place chotu. Now let's find where that vehicle is. We have leave from here before we get caught." She said softly to him.

She knew that these things will always be in her dreams. She came from a middle class family where people can only satisfy their own needs. Wants and wishes are out of class for them.

"Chotu," She said seeing him running around. She slapped her forehead cursing him. God this kid was trouble! He really is a trouble maker.

"Aee ladke! Tu yaha kaha se aaya ruk." Isha wide her eyes seeing a gaurd running behind chotu. She saw chotu running outside the palace and breathed in relief.

["Hey boy! Where did you come from? Stop."]

Isha stared around and bite her lips feeling scared. "Chotu! I will not leave you," She pouted seeing gaurds standing at the main door of the palace. She heard someone footsteps and hide behind the nearby tree.

"Who's there?," She heard a strong manly voice. She peeked out the tree watching him. He wore a charcoal tee paired with dark trousers and had a black woolen shawl with golden border wrapped around his shoulder. She stood on her toes trying to see his face but his back was facing her.

I was roaming around, holding the pictures I had taken since coming to India. I had bought a camera in London, something almost no one here in India has seen; the people of Kawar Nagar hardly know what it is. I am fond of capturing pictures.

The sound of anklets reached my ears as I walked to the other side of the garden, the bangles joining the anklets, making a beautiful sound. As far as I know, there are hardly any female workers here in the haveli. When the anklet sound came again, I turned and followed it.

"Who's there?" I called out loudly so the lady could hear. The guard had already told me that people might try to sneak into the haveli. I don't know what's so special about my car that they'd want to see it. As far as I know, it's just a simple black car meant for traveling.

I looked around, trying to find the lady, when I heard the sound of bangles again. My eyes went to a tree, and I could see a girl hiding behind it.

I watched her eyes roaming around as if trying to find the man who had caught her. In that moment, I saw nothing but her eyes. Her hazel eyes and long lashes spoke of innocence. I watched her eyebrows widen beyond their usual shape when she saw me watching her. She hid behind the tree again.

I would have thought she'd run in this situation, since someone had already found her, but she chose to hide behind the same tree again. A chuckle escaped my lips as I walked toward her.

She took quick steps, sensing that I was approaching her. But the little one could not run fast. How could anyone run wearing that lehenga? I just stood in place and followed her with normal steps. This was my place; where could she run?

I saw her taking heavy breaths, holding her waist. Her long black hair, reaching down to her hips, made her look like a night angel. I tried to see her face by leaning to the side but frowned when I couldn't. I immediately ran to her and held her left hand before she could escape.

"Caught you." Her breathing, which had been heavy a moment before, suddenly stopped. She tried to pull her hand back, only for me to pull her closer.

Her hair strands brushed my cheeks as she landed against my chest due to my sudden pull. Her fist clutched the buttons of my shirt tightly, and in that moment, I turned pale. Her lips curled into a pout, her cheeks pink, giving her a natural blush. Her eyes were closed. It wasn't that I had never seen a woman as beautiful as her, but my eyes had never lingered on any face for this long.

I have captured pictures of many beautiful women before, but my eyes had never captured someone the way they were capturing her now.

I watched as a strand of her hair fell over her face, and I had a sudden urge to touch it. I tucked her hair behind her ear, watching as she finally opened her eyes.

Her hazel eyes met mine again, this time brimming with a mixture of fear and defiance. Her lips parted, perhaps to speak, but no words came out. I could feel her trembling under my grasp, and I loosened my hold slightly, realizing I had startled her.

"I... I'm not here to cause trouble," she whispered, her voice as soft as the wind rustling through the garden leaves.

"Then why are you here?" I asked, lowering my tone to match hers.

She hesitated, her gaze flickering between my face and the ground. "I... I was curious."

"Curious?" I raised an eyebrow, letting my hand drop to my side.

"About the car," she admitted, her cheeks turning an even deeper shade of pink. "I've never seen one before."

For a moment, I was taken aback. My car, the object of such fascination? It seemed absurd, yet her innocence and honesty disarmed me.

"It's just a car," I said, stepping back to give her space.

"Not to us," she said softly, smoothing the folds of her lehenga as if to regain her composure. "Here, it's something extraordinary."

I couldn't help but smile at her candor. "Well, if you wanted to see it, you could have asked. Sneaking around isn't exactly the best approach."

She bit her lip, looking away. "I didn't think you'd allow it."

"Would you like to see it now?" I asked, surprising even myself.

Her eyes darted back to mine, widening slightly. "Really?"

"Really."

Her face lit up, and she nodded eagerly. For a moment, she looked like a child given permission to touch a forbidden treasure.

I led her through the garden to where the car was parked, the moonlight casting a silver glow on its polished surface. She followed in hesitant steps, her anklets creating a soft melody in the stillness of the night.

When we reached the car, she stopped, her eyes wide with wonder. Her gaze lingered on the car, her hazel eyes alight with curiosity. She moved cautiously, like a child approaching something forbidden, her fingers brushing against the cool metal as though she feared it might disappear. Her anklets jingled with each step, a sound as rhythmic as her measured breaths.

“You can open the door,” I said, unable to suppress a smile. “It won’t break.”

She shot me a quick glance but didn’t respond. Instead, she focused on the door handle, placing both hands on it with determination. Her first tug barely made it budge, and her brows furrowed. She tried again, her lips forming a slight pout.

I watched, amused, as she struggled with it. “Do you need help?” I asked, stepping closer.

“No!” she snapped, the firmness in her voice catching me off guard. She gave one last determined pull, and with a creak, the door finally opened. She stumbled back slightly, exhaling deeply before peering inside. The faint moonlight illuminated her face, highlighting the awe in her wide eyes as she took in the interior.

I leaned casually against the car, watching her expression shift from wonder to hesitation. She stepped closer, her fingers tracing the edges of the seat, then paused abruptly, whispering something to herself.

“What was that?” I asked, though I had already caught her words.

She glanced at me, startled, before looking away. “Nothing,” she mumbled, but her gaze lingered on the seat, conflicted.

“It’s fine,” I said, softening my tone. “You can sit.”

She hesitated, her hands clutching the folds of her lehenga as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Her eyes darted from the seat to me, and for a moment, I thought she might accept. But instead, she leaned into the car, her head tilting as she examined the strange levers and dials on the dashboard.

“What is this wheel for?” she asked, pointing at the steering wheel.

“To steer,” I replied.

She blinked, clearly unsatisfied with my answer but too preoccupied to argue. Her hand brushed the edge of the seat again before she slowly stepped back, closing the door. The heavy thud startled her, and she flinched, her hand flying to her chest as though she’d done something irreparable.

Before I could reassure her, the faint sound of the watchman’s stick hitting the ground broke the stillness of the garden. Her body stiffened, her wide eyes meeting mine.

“I have to go,” she whispered hurriedly.

“There’s no need to—” I began, but she cut me off with a quick shake of her head.

“No,” she said firmly. “I can’t be seen here.”

Her voice trembled slightly, but she didn’t give me a chance to argue. In an instant, she had turned on her heels, her anklets jingling wildly as she darted away.

“Wait!” I called after her. “At least tell me your name!”

She didn’t stop. The sound of her anklets grew fainter until it vanished altogether, leaving me alone in the garden. I sighed, running a hand through my hair, and turned back toward the car. That’s when I noticed something gleaming on the ground.

I bent down and picked it up—a silver anklet, intricately designed and surprisingly light. Turning it over in my fingers, I felt a smile tug at the corners of my lips.

“India will indeed be interesting,” I murmured, pocketing the anklet as I glanced back toward the shadows where she’d disappeared.