Sands Of Time - a timeless love saga

Chapter 76

"Aastha! Please open the door!"

Meethali's voice broke as she stood outside the locked room, her fist falling against the wood for what felt like the hundredth time. It had taken the family over an hour of searching to trace Aastha here. After everything that had unfolded, somewhere during Veer and Kiara's confrontation, Aastha had simply vanished. With Suraj already gone alongside Vaishali, Vedavyas, Karan, Harika, and Vijay to get Kiara to the hospital, Meethali had been left helpless while her husband and brother-in-law searched every corner of Shakti Mahal.

When Veer found out Aastha was missing, he joined the search immediately, covering the outside grounds, Prem Mahal, and everywhere he could think of. It was the CCTV trail that finally led them to the private residence wing of Shakti Mahal, and a few maids who confirmed she had locked herself in.

The whole family had gathered in the corridor by then, taking turns at the door, begging her to respond. There had been sounds from inside earlier, loud, alarming, but those had gone silent some time ago, and that silence felt worse.

Veer arrived with Saanvi right behind him. "Where is she?" he asked.

Meethali rushed to him immediately, her face streaked. "She's inside... Veer, I'm scared. Something was happening in there. We heard some really strange sounds. I think the daayan got to her. I think something terrible has happened—"

Kanika stepped in to hold her, but Meethali was beyond being calmed. Even Veer's parents had made their way to the corridor by now. They had spent the last hour working to contain the media. Some hotel staff had leaked something, and it was already threatening to become the next breaking news. Somehow it had been held back. Only for now.

The rest of it, though, was harder to contain. Kiara's condition was critical. At least three deaths had been confirmed. The police had come in through the back entrance and cordoned off sections of both Shakti Mahal and Prem Mahal for investigation. The royal family's influence had kept things moving with some semblance of order, but only just. The damage this time was real, and it was deep.

"Aunty." Veer touched Meethali's shoulder gently. "Please, calm down. Let me talk to her."

He turned to the door and called out. He gave it loud knocks. He kept calling out to her, louder. There was absolutely no response from other end... not a voice, not a movement, not a sound.

Suraj arrived shortly after, having rushed back from the hospital the moment he heard. He was already calculating how to break the door open. Veer caught him before he could move on it.

"Give me a few minutes," Veer said quietly. "Let me see what's happening inside first."

Suraj looked at him, reading something in his face. He agreed without pushing.

Meethali looked between the two of them in a panic. Suraj turned to her and her husband Raj, assuring them quietly that everything would be done to bring Aastha out safe. Raj held Meethali back as Veer and Suraj moved together to the floor above.

***

From the upper floor balcony, Veer looked down. The balcony of Aastha's room was directly below — open, the curtains billowing in the heavy midnight breeze.

"I'll come with you," Suraj said.

"No." Veer glanced at him. "Stay here. Just give me a moment alone with her first."

Suraj hesitated, then nodded. He helped Veer over the railing and held the rope steady as Veer climbed down.

His feet landed on the balcony below. He straightened and stopped.