I stepped forward with Mirhaan, in a room which was rarely ever seen or used.
Soundproof walls- maintained and furnished.
The only sound echoing in the room was of footsteps. Loud clicks- mine. And curious, slow clicks- Mirhaan.
The room was just like I'd left a year ago. Walls were polished without any trace of cracks; furniture furnished to excellence. The dark ivory brown was in smooth contrast with the beige designed royal walls.
My mind was too well accommodated to this room.
This wasn't a normal room.
It was made by my grandfather for utmost privacy, safety and... a secret purpose. The first time I stepped here, was when I was four. The memory was vivid, but the senses were as clear as glass.
Because right here, in the utmost safe room of our mansion... my father found the corpse of my grandfather.
My first visit itself was memorable enough.
I visited this room a very few times while growing up, and often when I became an adult. However, I made sure that no one could trace me...
in this utmost safe room.
It almost sounded hollow now.
If someone else knew this place existed... then it had never been truly secure.
My gaze went up sharply. The yellow glass light, which was in an old royal style design flickered suddenly.
Once.
Twice.
And then fused out.
It was all dark now, and in that sheer darkness only one person's footsteps could be heard.
"Kruthi?" I suspected.
But somewhere inside me, I knew this wasn't her. The footsteps were heavy, slow...almost as if testing me. It was a stark contrast to her light, brisk footsteps.
"Who is this?" My voice lowered deeper. Instinctively, I retrieved my gun from my back. I knew Mirhaan had already drawn his weapon.
The footsteps stopped.
Silence.
More suspicious.
Without wasting any effort, I silently stepped towards the monitor system of the room and plugged on the lights.
The opulent glass chandelier shone in the lightless room suddenly. I prepared my gun, ready to point on whoever was there.
As soon as my eyes fell on the third person, my arm straightened and I pointed the gun on him.
But when I saw the person...
The sight before me shattered every expectation.
"What are you doing here?" I asked him. He wasn't someone I could shoot, because at the end- it's family.
"Heard Kruthi was missing, so came here to help." Rushaan responded almost nonchalantly looking around. He folded his arms on his chest not meeting my eyes.
"Without me?" I braced him with another question.
"I have to be with you? surprising enough." He scoffed.
"You came here to search for Kruthi when I am searching for her myself, at the exact same place, same time. But- not with me."
I paused for a moment.
"Silently alone."
A realisation passed my mind suddenly. Rushaan came here. But... from where? If he'd have used the common way I would have heard the footsteps from my back, not around.
"When did you come here?" I raised my one eyebrow suddenly.
"Exactly, three minutes back." His voice carried sharpness, as if forcing me to believe him.
"From where?"
The nonchalant expression from his face vanished in an instant. He was thinking something. Excuse?
"The door obviously." He spoke clearing his throat.
"Which door?" I stepped towards him with calm, dangerous authority. He took a step back.
My eyes went to his footwear.
Rubber soled shoes.
It wouldn't click... he wasn't the third man.
My jaw clenched slightly.
"Backdoor."
"There's no backdoor."
"There is."
I glared at him before responding. "It's hidden door which someone can only know when he has entered before also. It's not main entry door."
He gulped before meeting my eyes.
"What did you do Rushaan? Be clear and honest."
His breath almost drained. Lips trembling for a moment.
He opened his mouth to speak but suddenly a sharp loud thud came from the internal room.
My hands loosened the grip on my gun and I rushed inside.
There, out of the opulent hidden room, a small storage room. Dust covered, no light, not even proper air. Filled with cardboard boxes of files and folders. The racks lined around the walls. A strange smell of dirt.
And on the floor, was her.
Unconscious.
For a moment, I was almost paralysed.
Her eyes...were closed. Body was limp.
I felt a strange ache in my heart.
Suddenly, Rushaan stepped forward. He pushed me slightly to reach her, breaking the spell on me.
But before he could reach, my senses were back. I rushed to her and held her close to my chest.
She was breathing.
But her breathing rate was lower. I tapped her cheek twice.
"Kruthi?"
No response.
Taking her in my arms suddenly, I rushed out of the room with no moment to waste.
When I passed from the long corridor, reaching the hall room, everyone was astonished enough to see us.
And this time I won't lie.
Yes, I was afraid of losing her like this. The contract didn't include her life.
Ignoring everyone, I went upstairs to our shared room and laid her on the bed with utmost gentleness.
My wife... had worse fate than my mother.
My mother at least was allowed to live here...
Soon, the room was filled by the entire family.
"Ayesha, call the family doctor." My eyes were still fixed on Kruthi even when I said that.
I took her wrist between my thumb and forefinger, checking her pulse. She was alive.
A relieved sigh left me before my hand instinctively ran through my hair in distress.
"Naina, Ayesha, Badi dadi. Everyone except them-LEAVE."
They stayed rooted to their place for a moment, before leaving the room one by one.
I sat on the nearby couch and placed my elbows on my knees, my hands holding my head.
I was furious, hurt, disappointed but most of all... broken.
This was the same feeling- the worst feeling in my life, which I felt after my parents' demise.
I started breathing in an out slowly- the three second rule.
A hand covered my head and caressed it.
"Kuch nahi hoga usse." Badi dadi said in her low comforting voice, her one hand on the wheelchair she was sitting on. (Nothing will happen to her)
I nodded lightly.
"Main usse kuch hone bhi nahi dunga." I responded back. (I won't let anything even happen to her.)