The atmosphere inside the car was thick—dense with silence and unspoken fear.The road from Chail to Delhi stretched endlessly ahead, and the night that awaited them at the end felt heavier than the mountains they left behind.
Ishan, still unconscious, was seated between Arav and Butler Veer, his frail body wrapped in a woolen blanket. His breathing was shallow, sometimes steady, sometimes trembling—each breath carrying a weight that seemed to drain the life out of the other two. Two drivers had been hired for the journey, both unfamiliar faces dressed in neat khaki coats. They sat at the front, expressionless, their eyes fixed on the fog-covered road ahead.
Butler Veer unfolded a folded map on his lap, tracing the route with his finger. "We won't stop unless I say so," he instructed the drivers firmly. "We must reach Delhi before nightfall."Behind them, a small carriage carrying two maids and luggage would depart later, following the same route—a day or two behind.
The car began its descent from the hills, the engine growling against the mountain wind. Mist swirled around the windows, and the faint light of dawn flickered through the fog like ghosts dancing between trees.Every now and then, Arav would glance at Ishan's face—his lips pale, his eyelids fluttering weakly."Just hold on," he whispered, his voice breaking. "We're almost there."
Hours passed.They stopped only once—to refill fuel, stretch their stiff legs, and change drivers.No one spoke much, except for the occasional murmur from Veer, directing the men. The hum of the tires and the whisper of wind through the narrow plains became a lullaby of exhaustion and dread.
By the time they reached the outskirts of Delhi, thirteen long hours had passed. The sun had long vanished, and the city's streets were dimly lit by old lamp posts and the distant chatter of rickshaw bells. Most hospitals had closed for the night, and so, with heavy eyes and heavier hearts, they checked into an old hotel near Connaught Place. The brass signboard outside read:"The Grand Imperial — Since 1928."
But sometime past midnight, he woke abruptly.A strange stillness filled the room—too still. He turned to his right, where Ishan had been sleeping, and froze. The bed was empty.
Panic surged. He rose quickly, scanning the room in the dim yellow light. "Ishan?" he called softly, not wanting to wake the others in nearby rooms. No reply.Then—From behind him—A soft exhale.
He turned.Ishan was there. Sleeping quietly… on the left side of the bed.
Arav blinked, disoriented. His heart thumped painfully against his ribs. Had he made a mistake? He could have sworn he laid Ishan on his right. But now, under the faint light, everything looked different—the curtains swaying, the shadows stretching long across the walls.
He rubbed his eyes, blaming the exhaustion and the long journey. His body felt heavier than stone, his thoughts scattered and sluggish. The endless drive from Chail, the sleepless nights, the worry that gnawed at him—all of it merged into a haze that dulled his senses.
For a long moment, he stood there, watching his brother breathe. Then, with a quiet sigh, he sat down beside him. "Just… tired," he muttered to himself, too drained to think further.The sound of Ishan's faint breathing lulled him back into uneasy rest, his hand resting near his brother's shoulder as he drifted once more into sleep.
Morning came not with peace, but with chaos.A commotion echoed through the corridors—voices raised, hurried footsteps pounding against the wooden floor. Arav sat up instantly, disoriented.Butler Veer entered hurriedly. "Master, please stay here. There's something outside—something terrible."
Ignoring the warning, Arav slipped out into the hallway. Guests and staff gathered near the hotel's lobby, murmuring in horror.Then he saw it.
A body—lying cold and twisted on the marble floor. It was one of the hotel workers. But that wasn't what froze Arav's breath.The man's eyes were gone, hollow sockets staring at nothing. His tongue had been ripped out, and his stomach grotesquely swollen, . The air around him stank of metal and rot.
The crowd whispered prayers. Some women cried quietly.Arav's gaze found Butler Veer standing a few steps away—face pale, lips trembling, eyes cold. Arav leaned close and whispered through clenched teeth,"Don't let Ishan out of your sight. Not for a single second."