The transition from the cool, high-altitude luxury of the private jet to the heavy, humid air of Mumbai felt like a physical weight. As the car pulled up to the iron gates of Roopa Mansion, the "surprise" was officially over. Dev and Aditya stepped out only long enough to see the girls safely inside.
Rudra was already waiting in the foyer, his presence as stern and immovable as the pillars of the house. He insisted they stay for tea, but Dev—whose eyes hadn't left Meira since they landed—exchanged a quick, coded look with his brother.
"We'd love to, Rudra, but we really have to rush home," Dev said, his voice regaining its polished, professional edge. "There are some matters at our estate that need immediate attention."
With a final, lingering glance toward Meira that sent a shiver down her spine, Dev turned away. Aditya followed, and the sound of their car fading into the distance felt like a door slamming shut on Meira's brief glimpse of freedom.
Taniya, exhausted but still glowing from the trip, gave Meira a quick, tired hug. "I'm going to sleep for a century, Meira. See you tomorrow," she whispered before heading toward her wing.
Meira stood alone in the grand foyer, feeling smaller than ever. The lilac scent on her skin now felt like an indictment.
"Take Meira's bags to her room," Rudra commanded a waiting servant, his voice echoing in the marble hall. Then, he turned his gaze toward Meira, his expression unreadable. "Follow me, Meira. You have been summoned."
Meira's pulse quickened. She fell into step behind him, the rhythmic click of her shoes on the stone floor sounding like a countdown. The "Miss Guest" role had played its part in Moscow, but back within these walls, the script was written by Divya—and she knew the review of her performance was about to begin.
Meira followed Rudra, her footsteps faltering like a child lost in a labyrinth she had no map for. Each step deeper into the mansion felt like an undoing of the last few days in Moscow. The corridor led to the one place she prayed to avoid: the study. The room greeted them with its familiar, suffocating silence—a space that felt drained of all life, where even the shadows seemed to stand at attention.
Divya and Shekar were waiting, positioned like judges at a tribunal. Meira stood in the doorway, her pulse thundering against her ribs. She remembered the Lilac Garden, the way Dev had looked at her, and the strength she had begun to find in her own skin. Mustering a surge of courage she didn't know she possessed, she lifted her chin and met Divya's gaze. She didn't ask why she had been summoned; she simply let her silence challenge the air, waiting for the inevitable accusation.
Divya's lips curled into a thin, bloodless smile. "I hope the trip went safe for all of us."
Meira's confidence wavered, her fear reasserting itself. She gave a small, jerky nod.
"Well, I will consider that a 'yes,'" Divya continued, her voice devoid of any warmth. "Now, Meira, you have something more to deal with. As you know, your time here was already supposed to be over. It was extended only due to some very unfortunate reasons beyond our control."
Divya leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "But now, that extension has served its purpose. And to make matters more... complicated, we have an unwanted guest of yours waiting."
Meira felt the color drain from her face. An unwanted guest? Her mind raced through the few people she knew—the people she had tried to hide from, the ghosts of her past. She stood frozen, the silence of the room suddenly feeling like a trap closing in.