Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya

Part II: The Haunting Begins

Chapter 16: The Crumbling Walls of the Haunted Palace

The palace, once a shining symbol of Raja Vikram's glory, had become a fortress of fear. The once-gleaming walls, lined with ornate tapestries and paintings, now seemed to pulse with a sinister life of their own. At night, the walls wept thick, dark blood, leaving stains that refused to be washed away. Servants whispered of shadows that moved independently of any light, as if the darkness itself had taken form.

Maya stood in the grand hall, her heart pounding. The once-vibrant colors of the palace seemed duller, and the air was thick with tension. She could feel it in every step, every corner she turned-a malevolent presence looming over her. It had been days since she had spoken to Meera and learned of Rani Aranya's obsession with the Raja, and now the hauntings had intensified to a point of no return.

A loud creak echoed through the hall, the sound of ancient wood groaning under pressure. Maya spun around, her breath quickening. "Who's there?" she called, her voice shaky. But there was no answer-only the growing sense that she was being watched.

Suddenly, the grand chandelier above began to sway, as if some invisible hand had reached up and pushed it. Maya stepped back in fear, her eyes wide. She could hear the faint sound of whispers now, disembodied voices that seemed to float through the walls. The room grew colder, and a low hum filled the air.

"Maya!" Raja Vikram's voice broke through the oppressive silence. She turned to see him striding toward her, concern etched into his face. "What are you doing here alone?"

"I-something's wrong," Maya stammered. "The walls... they're bleeding again. And the shadows... they're moving on their own. Vikram, this place-it's cursed."

Vikram's face darkened as he reached her, his arm protectively wrapping around her shoulders. "You're letting your fears get the better of you. It's just the stress, Maya. The palace is old. The walls may be cracked, the shadows-"

"No, Vikram, listen to me!" Maya interrupted, her voice rising in desperation. "It's not just the palace falling apart. There's something here. I've seen it. I've felt it."

Vikram sighed, his expression softening. "I know you've been through a lot, but you're overthinking this. We've had purification rituals, the Rajguru has-"

"Rajguru's rituals haven't worked!" Maya said sharply, pulling away from him. "The hauntings have only gotten worse since he tried. Rani Aranya's spirit is still here, and she's angry, Vikram. She won't let go."

Vikram's face hardened, his eyes narrowing. "You think this is Rani's doing?"

"I know it is," Maya replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Meera told me the truth-about Rani's dark magic, about how she tried to bind you to her forever."

Vikram froze, the weight of her words sinking in. "Meera told you that?"

Maya nodded. "Rani couldn't accept that her love wasn't enough to keep you by her side, so she turned to dark forces. And now her spirit won't rest. She's still trying to claim you, even in death."

Vikram shook his head, his jaw clenched. "That's nonsense. My Aranya-she was devoted, yes, but she would never resort to such evil. She loved me."

"She loved you too much," Maya whispered, her voice trembling. "So much that she couldn't let go, even now."

Before Vikram could respond, a loud crash echoed from the corridor, followed by a scream. Both turned toward the sound, their hearts pounding. Without a word, Vikram rushed forward, Maya close behind him. They ran through the palace, the walls groaning and the shadows flickering unnaturally. The palace seemed to shift, as if it were alive, its very foundation twisting under the strain of whatever dark force had taken hold.

They reached the corridor where a group of servants had gathered, huddled in fear. On the floor lay a shattered vase, but it wasn't the broken pottery that held their attention-it was the wall behind it. A dark, crimson liquid oozed from the cracks, slowly trickling down like blood from a wound.

One of the servants, trembling, looked at the Raja. "My lord... the walls... they bleed. It's her. It's the Rani. She's angry."

"Enough!" Vikram roared, though his voice shook with uncertainty. "This is madness. There must be an explanation-"

"There is no explanation!" a voice interrupted, and the crowd parted to reveal Meera, her face ashen but determined. "Raja Vikram, you cannot deny it any longer. The palace is cursed by the very woman you loved. Rani Aranya's spirit is not at peace."

Vikram stared at the old maid, disbelief clouding his face. "Meera, you-"

"The signs are all here," Meera continued, stepping forward. "The blood on the walls, the shadows, the footsteps at night. She has returned to claim what she believes is hers-you, my lord. She will not stop until she has driven Maya from this palace, or worse."

Maya clutched Vikram's arm, her fear palpable. "You have to believe me, Vikram. We have to do something before it's too late."

Vikram stood still, his mind reeling. The woman he had loved, the queen who had ruled by his side, was now the cause of the terror gripping his palace. But could he truly accept that? Could he believe that Aranya, his beloved, had resorted to such evil?

A low rumble interrupted his thoughts. The ground beneath them trembled, and the walls around them seemed to groan in agony. The blood on the wall thickened, spreading across the stones like a dark plague. Shadows danced unnaturally, their movements no longer tied to the flickering torchlight.

Maya gasped as the temperature in the room plummeted. "Vikram... it's her. She's here."

Suddenly, a loud bang echoed through the hall, and the lights flickered wildly. From behind them, a long, mournful wail filled the air-a sound that could only have come from something not of this world. The servants backed away, muttering prayers under their breath.

"Rajguru's rituals failed," Meera said gravely. "The spirit is too powerful now. We need something stronger-someone who understands the darkness she practiced."

Vikram clenched his fists, his heart torn between disbelief and the reality unfolding before him. "What must we do, Meera?"

Meera's eyes were grim. "We must call upon the sorceress who taught Rani Aranya. Only she can undo what was done."

Maya looked up at Vikram, her voice trembling. "We have no choice. If we don't stop this, Aranya's spirit will destroy us all."

Vikram's jaw tightened, the weight of the decision heavy on his shoulders. "Then we will find this sorceress," he said, his voice steely. "And end this nightmare once and for all."

As the words left his mouth, the walls of the palace trembled once more, as if the very soul of the building knew the battle was far from over.