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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"How far is Shakti Mahal from here?" An exhausted Harika asked Karan as they sipped on some soothing lassi by the side of the road. The highway seemed endless ahead and the drive to the palace was turning out to be more frustrating than exciting. Sure, she was obsessed with all kinds of history and heritage, but sitting inside a car with glaring sun and sweat coating the skin as if she had just skinny dipped into the warm water wasn't exactly in her plans.
Karan chuckled, "Already tired of Rajasthan?"
Harika huffed, "If I knew how hot it was going to be around this time of the year, I would have brought an AC along with me."
Laughing at her lame joke, Karan pulled her closer and pressed a soft kiss on her cheeks. She pushed him aside, "Distance, Karan! It's too hot already." Harika whined which ignited another burst of laughter from him as he refused to let her go.
Rolling her eyes she glanced sideways to find Kiara standing aloof and lost. She had emptied her glass of lassi and was now staring into space with earnest focus. Untangling herself from Karan's hold, Harika approached Kiara, "All good, sweetie?"
Kiara didn't budge, her eyes were clouded as she watched the space ahead, her face devoid of any expressions. "Kia!" Harika called out, shaking Kiara out of whatever space she was lost.
Blinking profusely, a couple of teardrops spilled out of her eyes as she focused on the woman standing before her. Harika. Her brother's fiance. Taking a deep breath, she mumbled, "Haan?"
"Where are you lost?"
Kiara smiled and then grinned, "Nowhere. I was just wondering about all the things you said."
"What did I say?"
"History of Roopgarh. Shakti Mahal and Prem Mahal... and then.. the forgotten city of Rudragarh." Kiara said, her voice soft like a caress. Harika frowned, before she could respond, Karan came over and threw his hands around Harika's shoulders. "It's not a forgotten city, it's haunted, and cursed. A dead city if you ask me."
Kiara frowned, "It wasn't so before, was it? It happened that way... because of the witch. It's frustrating to think about how thriving and beautiful it could have been before the witch ruined it."
"True that. What's done is done. Now whatever is left is just past and the lingering negative energy." Karan shrugged and then as an afterthought, he added, "No matter what, don't ask me to take you girls there. Let's stay the heck out of that place. Got it?"
Kiara sighed and Harika nodded in affirmation. "Saab, it's getting late. We need to leave right away to reach the palace before the sun sets." The driver called gaining their attention.
"Let's go," Karan said and Harika followed him.
Kiara thanked the woman who was serving lassi to thirsty travelers and climbed into the car. As the evening sun began to mellow down, the car raced through the highway towards the palace.
