When Aastha met Veer, she knew they had a connection.
However, the connection would be from two centuries ago, she never could have imagined.
A love story that remained unfulfilled, broken by evil, and destroyed to ashes - whose reference hide...
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"So what did you find?" Saanvi asked curiously.
Aastha sighed, "Bunch of massive treasure boxes, a truckload of books, talvars and keepsakes of Rudragarh royals. Seems like, certain possessions were never lost."
Saanvi's eyes widened. When Aastha had asked her favour, she had never mentioned Rudragarh. It was only supposed to be checking the basement for some royal possessions. With a gulp, she touched Aastha's hand. "You shouldn't have gone there! I shouldn't have helped you."
Aastha blinked at Saanvi, registering her words. "Why do you think so?"
"Rudragarh is omnious, jiji. Nothing good ever comes out of it! Daadi sa was always right! If I had any clue this is what you wanted to do, I wouldn't have helped you." Saanvi spoke, feeling guilty and emotional. A shudder passed through her thinking about the time Aastha lost a conscious couple of days ago.
Aastha squeezed her cousin's hand. "Saanvi, what happened? I am fine... and Rudragarh is history. The only thing that comes out of history is lessons that shouldn't be repeated."
"But.. that day-"
"I know you hid Rudragarh's files." Aastha smiled.
Saanvi stared at her in shock, "You knew?"
"I am not an idiot. And Meenu had found it in the attic. I figured someone must have kept it there... and then you were acting weird trying to keep me away from the research. So it made sense."
Saanvi hugged Aastha and let out a sob, "Please forget Rudragarh, jiji."
Aastha inhaled sharply, if only that was possible anymore. Her ties to Rudragarh ran deeper than she had assumed. Rubbing Saanvi's back, Aastha consoled her, "Relax, sweetie. I am fine, and I will be fine. I will try and stay away from Rudragarh, okay?"
"Promise?"
"Promise." Aastha lied. Aastha had convinced Saanvi to sleep in their cousin's room earlier in the day. Saanvi obviously was against the idea, especially after the incident. But Aastha needed her space, and Saanvi begrudgingly agreed to her cousin's request.
Once Saanvi was out of the room, Aastha opened the drawers and pulled out a small bundle that was wrapped with a dirty cloth.
Earlier, when Veer and Aastha explored the underground chambers, they had come across a huge collection of things that belonged to the Rudragarh family. Veer knew exactly what he was looking for and didn't waste time scouring everything he came across, unlike Aastha to whom every piece item in that room felt familiar.
She had never seen those items or heard about them from her family. Yet she knew what each of those things was, when was it used, who used it, and what not. When the overwhelming realization dawned upon her that she had seen all of these in her childhood, Aastha had to put all of her strength to not crumble right there. Meanwhile, Veer had found some images he was looking for and took pictures on his mobile. He then started to dig around the treasure box that held books. Aastha realized Veer knew a lot more about Rudragarh than she did. There was also a nagging feeling that his obsession with Rudragarh wasn't to satiate his curiosity. He was on a quest. Despite her curiosity, Aastha decided not to meddle in Veer's business.
