The next morning, as the sky bloomed with soft strokes of gold and amber, Aara jolted awake once more—haunted by the same echo that had whispered through her dreams for years.
"This is the only way."
"Remember your 21st birthday."
"Be aware..."
The words spun around her like a storm, their weight pressing against her chest. She sat up, taking in a slow, shaky breath, her heart pounding from the haunting clarity of the dream.
Warm sunlight streamed through a gap in the curtains, casting a golden glow across the room. It felt gentle, almost like the morning itself was trying to soothe her. Aara squinted against the sudden brightness, raising her hand to shield her eyes. She stayed that way for a moment, letting the sunlight kiss her skin, grounding herself in the present. It was a strange comfort, a quiet contrast to the dark weight she carried inside.
But when she finally looked around...really looked, her brows furrowed.
This wasn't her room.
In the room, the furniture was elegant, rich fabric curtains, and subtle touches of luxury filled the space. The soft cream walls, the plush bedding, the tastefully arranged flowers by the window… It all screamed wealth and quiet grandeur. It was beautiful. But not her.
*Where am I?*
The question pulsed in her head, looping with every glance around.
Just as she was about to swing her legs off the bed and investigate, the door creaked open.
Minnie peeked in, her eyes widening with relief. "Finally," she breathed, stepping fully into the room. "Sleeping Beauty's awake."
Aara blinked at her, still trying to piece it all together. "Where are we?" she asked, her voice low and slightly hoarse. "And how did I end up here?"
Minnie walked over and perched at the edge of the bed. "We're at Mr. Shah's farmhouse. You've been out for hours... slept like a queen."
Aara stared at her, even more confused. "Wait, what? Mr. Shah's farmhouse? Why… how?"
Minnie gave her a sheepish shrug. "Yeah, I figured you'd say that. Honestly? I'm still trying to wrap my head around it too."
She exhaled, then added, "Okay, so… here's what happened."
She leaned forward, ready to explain what had unfolded, whatever strange turn of events had led them here.
[Flashback]
Just as Aara's knees buckled and her body began to collapse, a pair of strong arms caught her in the nick of time. The young man's grip was firm and steady, preventing her from hitting the unforgiving ground. Behind the counter, Minnie gasped in shock as she saw her friend suddenly faint before her eyes.
The man holding Aara said nothing at first. His gaze was fixed on her face, unreadable but intense, like something stirred beneath the surface. But outwardly, he stayed calm, almost too calm, even as Minnie rushed to them.
"Aara!" Minnie cried, darting over. "Hey! What happened? Wake up!"
She gently patted Aara's cheeks, her voice growing more desperate, but there was no response. Ara remain unfazed, completely still.
Still cradling Aara in his arms, the man finally looked up and spoke, his voice smooth and reassuring. "She fainted. Don't worry. We should take her to a doctor... quickly."
It was only then that Minnie fully registered who he was. She looked up at him, her brows knitting in confusion and recognition. "Wait... You're... Ruhaan Shah? CEO of Shah Corporation?"
He gave a small nod. "Hmm." Then added, "Let's go," his focus never straying from Aara.
Without hesitation, he gently scooped her up into his arms, handling her like something fragile and precious. His eyes lingered on her face... her rose-beige complexion had lost its glow, but even pale, she looked ethereal. The soft strands of hair framing her face, the delicate curve of her lips... there was something hauntingly beautiful about her in that moment. Like a living angel, fainted in his arms.
Ruhaan and Minnie hurried out of the café, urgency pressing against their every step. At the car, Ruhaan carefully settled Aara in the back seat, making sure she was comfortable before climbing in beside her. Minnie slid in from the other side, gently resting Aara's head on her shoulder, wrapping an arm around her friend, her worry etched in every line of her face. Up front, Ruhaan's secretary, Alok, took the passenger seat next to the driver.
The car sped off, winding through the hilly roads of Nainital, while the air inside remained heavy with silence and concern.
When, suddenly, the car hit a speed breaker with a sudden jolt. Everyone lurched forward. Aara's unconscious body tilted, about to fall, but Ruhaan was quick... he pulled her gently against his chest, cushioning her from the impact. He glanced at Minnie and gave a reassuring nod, silently promising, I've got her.
"Drive slowly," he instructed firmly.
The driver nodded, easing up on the accelerator. The car moved forward at a more careful pace. But the roads were getting crowded now, thick with traffic.
Suddenly, from the opposite lane, a car came flying toward them—way too fast.
Their driver reacted instinctively, swerving hard to avoid a head-on collision. The tires screeched in protest, and the car swayed violently. Minnie clutched the seat in front of her, heart pounding, while Ruhaan held Aara tighter, shielding her from the chaos.
Just in time, their driver managed to steady the vehicle.
But the speeding car wasn't as lucky. It crashed hard into the roadside barriers, a sickening crunch echoing down the street. Screams and shouts erupted as nearby bystanders ran toward the wreck.
Breathing heavily, Ruhaan glanced out the window, then back at Aara, whose face remained peaceful despite the turmoil. He sighed before pulling out his phone.
"Take us to the farmhouse," he told the driver. "I'll call the doctor there."
Without a word, the driver nodded and turned the car onto a different road, one that would lead them away from the chaos and straight to safety.
[Flashback Ends]
Minnie finally wrapped up her recount of the previous day, her voice tapering into silence. "So… that's how you and I ended up here," she said, exhaling deeply.
But there was still one thing nagging at her. She tilted her head slightly, eyebrows pulled together in concern. "I just don't get what happened to you so suddenly at the café. You looked fine, then you started sweating, walked away from the counter… and next thing I know, you fainted." Her voice trembled between confusion and worry, echoing how helpless she'd felt in that moment.
Aara's gaze dropped for a moment, then slowly met Minnie's eyes. Her expression was quiet, almost distant, as if the memory still clung to her skin like a chill. Her birthday. Something so personal, so bittersweet, sat like a knot in her chest.
"I was…" she started, her voice soft, the words teetering on the edge of confession.
But before she could finish, a gentle knock interrupted the moment. The door creaked open, and a woman in her early forties stepped inside. She wore a crisp formal saree and carried herself with grace, but it was her kind eyes and warm smile that immediately softened the room.
Upon seeing Aara awake, her face lit up. "You're awake," she said with genuine relief. Her voice was warm, wrapped in motherly affection. "How are you feeling, dear?"
The air shifted, and for a second, Aara almost forgot the ache in her chest. She nodded slightly, her lips curving into a faint, grateful smile.
"I'm feeling… better. Thankyou."
The lady continued, her concern evident, "That's great. Do you want anything? Should I bring you something to eat?"
Aara politely declined, gently shaking her head from left to right, "No, thank you. We would like to leave."
The lady persisted, "Are you sure you won't stay for a while longer? We have some delicious snacks ready."
Aara smiled gently, feeling grateful for the woman's kindness but determined to leave. She gently insisted, "Thank you for your offer, but we really should be going."
Minnie chimed in, echoing Aara's sentiment, "Yes, we have to get back."
The lady, understanding their decision, nodded with a warm smile, "Alright, dear. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to visit us again."
As Aara stood up from the bed, she took a moment to smooth her dress with her hands, a gesture that conveyed a sense of composure despite the unusual circumstances. Then, a sudden thought raced into her mind, and she spoke in a soft tone, her curiosity getting the better of her, "Mr. Shah. My friend told me about him, how he helped us yesterday. I'd really like to thank him in person. Where is he?"
The lady in the room considered for a moment, her expression thoughtful, before replying, "I'm sorry, dear, but Mr. Shah has already left for his office. He had an important meeting to attend. However, I'll be sure to convey your gratitude to him."
Aara nodded, accepting the situation. "Alright then. We'll be on our way. Thank you for everything."
The lady, filled with warmth and kindness, offered assistance, "The car is waiting outside; it will drop you off."
Aara hesitated but ultimately agreed, not wanting to appear disrespectful. "Thank you."
Both girls followed the lady out of the room. As they walked through the enigmatic corridors of the farmhouse, they couldn't help but ponder the mysteries and unanswered questions that continued to surround their experiences. As they stepped out of the main door and moved towards the car parked a short distance away, a sudden breeze brushed past Aara.
But then, unintentionally, she found herself turning towards the window of a room on the first floor, as if her senses had detected someone's presence. Her eyes lingered for a few seconds, and then she turned back to the car, taking her seat. The car began to move, driving away from the farmhouse.
Meanwhile, on the first floor, Ruhaan, who was standing in the shades of window, watched the car departing with intense, unreadable dark eyes following its every movement.
His gaze remained fixed on the receding car until it disappeared from view. He then turned towards his secretary, who was standing behind him, "The man I asked you to call?"
Alok replied shortly, "Yes, Sir. I have explained everything to him and asked to give timely updates."
Ruhaan nodded in response and left the room followed by Alok behind.