*Melodic sound of anklet bells*

It felt so distant and dreamy.

9 young girls, all running together in a lively palace, talking, laughing and giggling.

These are princess of Rathore family, daughters of Maharaja Kalyan Singh Rathore.

Then everything turns foggy and the scene changes from a happy one to a dark and gloomy one:

A really dark room, completely silent, there was only some unclear and distant voices. Nothing was clear until the voice seems to come closer and now there was only sound of crying and someone banging the door,

"Maharaj, kripya dwar kholen! Maharaj!"

(King please open the door!)

*Sound of a sharp metal piercing through flesh*

*Loud screaming*

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"Ah!"

Aarohi woke up on her bed, her hair sticking to her forehead because of the sweat. It was just a nightmare. When she checked the time, it was sharp 05:00 am in morning, golden rays of sun light filtered through the leaves before coming inside the room from the windows. Aarohi's heartbeat fastened thinking of something, when she was younger, her mother told her that early morning dreams come true.

         "Why am I being so childish? There is nothing to worry about, after all it was just a dream! Dream never come true anyway."

She didn't waste her time thinking about that, she got up and drank the water from the glass on the dining table, "ma! What is for breakfast? Did you-" she was about to say more but stopped realizing that she lives alone here; her parents live some 2km away from here and her siblings went to a different state to study. It is difficult living alone when you always lived with your whole loving and caring family, and she will never get used to it.

She flopped down on her couch lazily, she is too tired and sleepy to care about time & routine. She woke a whole hour late today; she had to gather information about the place she will be going to on her next investigation (of course paranormal investigation). She was told that it is a palace at the border of Rajasthan and Gujarat........................

Everything is normal until you get to know that all the websites and even google said that no place like that even exist.....................................................

*******************

(1 week later)

"Do you think we are going in the right direction?"

"OfCourse we are! Google is always right."

"Oh sure! It is so accurate that I ended up in another city, all lost, instead of a nearby hotel!"

"I don't want us getting lost in such a place."

Aarohi was looking at her friends, bickering about nothing and something escapes her mouth which nobody really thought of,

"If google is so accurate and always right but it said that this palace doesn't even exist then it means we are going nowhere."

Hearing that, Rohan hit the brakes, shock from the sudden stop of the car made Nisha choke on the water she was drinking, Kiara hit her head with the window & Aarav got misbalanced ending up, rolling to the front like a ball. Aarohi was done with her friends.

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Let's introduce you to this iconic friend's group:

Rohan

20

The timid one

Nisha

21

Funniest with the anger issues

Kiara

21

The cute and clumsy one

Aarav

23

Sleepy and comedian of the group

Aarohi

22

Mature, understanding and silent one with a intelligent brain

They are interesting, aren't they?

************************************

There was an old paranormal investigation community which wasn't getting any profit but when Aarohi joined it, many other people joined too, and it became a well-known famous community. They said Aarohi is their lucky charm and tried talking to her, although everyone in community is her friend but these four people became the closest to her and formed a strong bond.

'Paranormal Research and Investigation' community was what it was named. They made groups to send for investigation whenever someone called to report something, however this time it was from an unknown person; it felt urgent, so the community sent this chaotic friend's group, but now, they are confused about directions and even creating ruckus here.

************************************

So, back to the story, they were groaning and cursing when Nisha spoke up, "Are you gonna start driving are do you want us becoming a dinner for wild animals?"

Rohan immediately started the car, and everyone laughed seeing his expression, they were talking, laughing and giggling not knowing how many laughing and giggling souls died there, how many caring hearts were stabbed to death, there, the place where they are going to right now. The beautiful palace with the golden carvings on the ancient stone walls has dark secrets hidden beneath, even though it seems heaven here, this eye-catching structure's history is darker than hells.

*********************

They are at the border of Rajasthan according to google maps but there is no human or even animals in their sight.

"We should get out and look for someone who can tell us the right way or we will be struggling all along."

"Are you sure? Haven't you seen those foolish people in the horror movies, going all alone and getting killed?"

"Oh, come on! Haven't you gone on a mission before? Nothing like that even exist, they were all fake! And now we have to record our every move just because of that!" Nish was angry, so now you know that she doesn't believe in ghost either; she went out to see and other followed.

Aarohi was already irritated but she is mature enough to listen but not say anything. She was pretty sure; they won't find anyone in such an isolated place, but she followed them anyway.

*********************

"I don't think we will find anyone here"

"Oh right! Aren't you the one who suggested we should check?"

"Uh! I thought it was okay to check at least once."

Rohan and Nisha won't stop bickering, neither did they had a proper direction to go, so they were practically lost, and the winter's cold breeze was only worsening the situation. They went back and thought of spending the night doing story telling so they won't get bored.

They set their tents and sat around the campfire, it was cozy & warm, and storytelling added to the fun.

"Remember when we took a break from the job and sat around campfire doing storytelling, just like today?"

"Yeah! And Kriti started that horror story."

"I remember that too, she is the best storyteller anyways!"

"But Kriti is not here so who is gonna start?"

"Me!" Kiara spoke up.

Everyone went silent for the story to begin.

"I am going to tell you a story about the place we are going to,

The Rathore Palace.

                        Years ago................ no, no, wait, one more thing! This place is not really haunted, but people say that because of its traumatizing history, which is a secret; so, this story is not true, but you know the people who make their own story, just to get famous by spreading rumors-"

"I think I should go, I hate this type of story." Rohan got up and left for his tent.

"Kiara, you are getting boring! Where did your fun go?"

"But what did I-" before she could say more, Nisha left from there.

"I think we should sleep, we all are tired anyway."

They all left for their shared tents leaving Kiara all confused and sad.

"What did I even do wrong?" was the only thing she thought before going in her own tent and drifting off to sleep, ignoring the awkwardness she felt just a while ago.

______________________________________

Questions of the chapter:

• What do you think about the weird reaction Kiara's friends gave her, not letting her complete the story?

•What might be the connection between Aarohi's dream and the story?

There are no readers who don't have questions or don't try to solve the mystery in the story they are reading, so honestly tell the way you tried to connect the dots to solve the mystery, it is fun knowing your thoughts I won't unravel the mystery this soon but your questions will be surely answered in upcoming chapters, I won't tell which chapter though.

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A/n: hello, my dear readers! I don't really know what to say but sorry for mistakes, this chapter might seem boring but believe me it will get more interesting. I have nothing else to say.

Vote if you like!

Take care,

Lots of love! 💜

Bye!