The scream had acted like a siren, shattering the silence of Roopa Mansion. Within seconds, the hallway was flooded with the frantic footsteps of the family. Meira lay collapsed on the cold floor, gasping for air, her throat burning where the iron grip had been.
Rudra was the first to reach her. He knelt down; his face etched with a rare look of panic as he helped her sit up. "Meira! Meira, are you okay?"
The rest of the family surrounded her, their faces appearing like distorted masks in the dim hallway light.
"Meira, what happened?" Mohini asked, her voice high and shrill.
"What on earth is happening in this house?" Raghav added, looking around the dark corners as if expecting a ghost to materialize.
Meira's voice was a fractured whisper, her face drenched in a cold sweat. "I... there was someone. By the locked door. Someone was there."
Shekar stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "Someone? Who?"
Taniya immediately knelt on the floor beside Meira, pulling her into a protective embrace. "Meira, please, just breathe. Tell us what happened."
"Someone choked my neck," Meira sobbed, the terror finally breaking through her composure. "As if... as if he wanted to kill me."
The room went silent for a heartbeat before Yamini broke it with a sharp, taunting laugh. She rolled her eyes; her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "What the hell are you talking about? Someone trying to kill you? Don't you know how precious your life is to us right now?"
But it was Divya's voice that cut through the chaos like a frozen blade. She stood at the edge of the circle, her expression unreadable and cold.
"A drama," Divya said, her voice dripping with disgust. "I never used to believe in these theatrics, but it seems you always want attention, Meira. You always want to create a mess in this house."
Meira looked up, shocked by the lack of empathy in Divya's eyes.
"Enough is enough," Divya continued, her gaze sweeping over the family but pointedly avoiding Meira. "I cannot see you in this house anymore. Tomorrow, I will take a final decision regarding your stay here. Go and have your last sleep in this mansion. Everyone, go back to your rooms. Now."
The authority in Divya's voice was absolute. Despite the visible red marks on Meira's neck, the others feared Divya's wrath more than they cared for Meira's safety. One by one, they retreated into the shadows, leaving Meira trembling in Taniya's arms.
As the hallway cleared, the heavy silence of Roopa Mansion returned, now thick with unspoken accusations. Shekar lingered behind, his eyes fixed on Divya's rigid back as she walked toward her study. He knew her better than anyone; he knew that her outburst wasn't just anger—it was a calculated move born out of the shocking discovery they had made earlier that morning.
He caught up to her at the threshold of her room, reaching out to stop her. "Divya, wait. We need to talk about what just happened out there."
Divya didn't even turn around. Her voice was a sharp, final snap. "There is nothing to talk about, Shekar. The girl is a liability and a distraction. I've made my choice."
She tried to close the door, but Shekar held his ground, leaning in close so his voice wouldn't carry to the prying ears in the walls. "Is it really just a 'drama' to you? Or are you just terrified of what she represents now?"
Divya's hand tightened on the door handle, her knuckles turning a ghostly white.
"I'm warning you," Shekar whispered, his tone dropping to a chilling, low register. "It seems the data we dug up today has really taken over you. You're acting out of fear, Divya. But remember... the truth about her father and those birth dates won't vanish just because you throw her out of this house. Beware. If you push her too hard, you might just trigger the very explosion you're trying to prevent."
Divya stood frozen, her eyes wide as she stared into the dark room ahead. Shekar didn't wait for a response; he let go of the door and walked away, leaving her alone with the weight of the secret that was slowly poisoning them both.