'And this is your room,' Damini informed Ragini.

Sanskaar swung his hand in front, asking Ragini to grace the room. She smiled at him and entered inside.

'Come Sanskaar kunwar, I will show you to your room as well,' Damini cut in before Sanskaar could step in.

'I know my room Kaki sa,' Sanskaar declared with a smile, 'But can you please have my things put into my room...please,' he added making a sweet face.

Damini glanced at them before throwing a firm nod his way and striding out.

'Sanskaar!' Ragini warned seeing the look Damini had thrown her.

'What?' Sanskaar shrugged his shoulders.

'Your Kaka sa wasn't happy with you staying her with me.'

'But I am happy being here,' Sanskaar said pulling her closer, 'And I like myself more than I like kaki sa.'

Someone cleared their throat behind them.

Sanskaar sank his head on her shoulder, 'haddi.'

'What did you say?' came a feminine voice.

Ragini glanced around Sanskaar to find Maya standing at the door with her arms crossed looking annoyed.

'My favourite sister-in-law,' Sanskaar said, 'That is what I was saying.'

Maya narrowed her eyes at him, 'I heard something else.'

Ragini couldn't help the giggle that escaped her lips.

'Ragini!'

'You are enjoying this way too much,' Sanskaar mumbled next to her.

Ragini bit her lip as she watched the two of them.

Sanskaar sighed, 'What are you doing here my dear Saali sahiba?'

'Don't try to butter me up,' Maya warned pushing him aside and putting her hand around Ragini's neck.

'Hey! Don't accuse me of wrong things. The only one I butter up is my beautiful fiancé here,' Sanskaar said throwing her hand off.

'...and Nani?' Ragini asked.

'Okay Nani. She is my sweetheart,' Sanskaar admitted.

'So go be with her,' Maya said pushing him out.

'Hey–'

But Maya had already closed the door and locked it despite the banging from outside.

Ragini tried to open the door and let him in, but Maya would have none of it. 'Your lover boy will not let you have any time with me once you are engaged. I am not sure I will even see you once you are married.'

Ragini made to cut her but Maya stopped her before she could.

'Don't even tell me he wont do that. I want some time with my best friend now.'

Ragini shook her head, 'Fine. What do you want to do?'

Maya smiled and rushed to the bed, plopped in, 'We are in a palace! Look at this room'

Ragini glanced at the room, probably for the first time. Maya was right, with Sanskaar around he never had a chance to look at the room before.

It was beautiful. Soft off-white walls brightened the room. A big ornate bed stood at the centre along the longest wall. Ornate almirahs, intricate chairs with equally beautiful coffee table, beautifully carved dressing table and mirror. Everything in the room seemed royal. Expect for one thing.

'Is it cold in here?' Ragini asked rubbing her hands around her arm.

Maya was snuggled into the bed, 'What?'

'I am feeling cold,' Ragini said walking towards the balcony hoping to shut the wooden doors that separated the balcony from the room.

'You always feel cold. Everything is fine.'

Ragini glanced at her friend who had thrown her jacket away, she frowned.

May be it was just in her mind.

She shook her head and stepped into the balcony only to find herself at the edge of a cliff.

Wind brewed all around her. Not as unpleasant as she expected it to be, yet it did leave behind a slight eeriness as it howled away.

Her room was along the side of the palace that seemed to almost merge into the cliff under it. She look down to see the steep edges that ended into a forest of trees.

She jerked when she felt cold hands on her shoulder. She swung on the stop, leaning away only to stare into the eyes of her best friend who burst out laughing.

'Look at you!'

Ragini placed her hand on her chest to calm her heart down.

'You are such scared kitten!'

Ragini closed her eyes, took a deep breath and glared at her best friend. 'What was that?'

'Come on. It was just a joke.'

'That was not funny,' Ragini bit out.

Maya straighten up, 'What has gotten into you? Why are you behaving like this since morning? All is sorted now. Sanskaar's family has okayed the marriage. What is going on with you?'

Ragini stared at her friend.

What was wrong with her?

If only she knew.

***

It was dusk by the time Maya left her. Thing had been okay after than joke. Ragini hadn't realised how less time they had spend recently since Sanskaar and she really got together. She was going to make sure she didn't ignore her friend again. She would make Sanskaar understand.

Ragini rubbed her hands against her arms as she stood in the balcony with her eyes closed. It was a bit chilly now. And even Maya had admitted to it just before she left. She was definitely not going crazy.

She hoped the strange uneasiness that she felt since coming her would go away soon as well.

'May I turn on the lights?' someone called out, making her snap around.

A middle aged lady stood by her door, waiting for her permission. It was really getting dark now. Ragini could barely make out her features.

'Yes. Come in.'

Ragini gave one last look to the silent darkness in front of her before turning to enter the room.

There was knock on the door. The lady opened it before Ragini could. Uttara stood at the door.

Ragini smiled as she saw her. Sanskaar sister was really nice and she was getting along fine with her.

'Maa asked me to tell you that dinner is in half and hour. Everyone eats early here,' Uttara said before walking closer and softly whispering, 'Dadi sa is very particular about punctuality, so don't be late.'

Ragini nodded.

'I will wait for you to get ready,' Uttara added plopping on one of the chairs.

Ragini nodded and picked up a simple dress and walked towards the bathroom to get ready. She stopped for a second turning to look at Uttara, 'Where is your brother by the way? He usually never lets so much time pass before he talks to me.'

Uttara swung her legs back and forth, 'Business deal talk.'

'Here?' Ragini asked.

Uttara rolled her eyes and shrugged her shoulders.

Ragini frowned. That wasn't like Sanskaar. It never mattered that there was some business deal in progress, he always made time for her.

'Bhabhi hurry!' Uttara called out.

Ragini shook herself and quickly went in to get ready.

When she got out, Uttara was gone, but strangely the light lady was still around.

'Uttara bai sa just left. Badi Kuwarani sa came to call her,' the lady blurted before Ragini had a chance to ask her what she was still doing around.

'Badi Kuwarani sa?'

'Damini Kuwarani sa,' the lady added bowing her head.

Ragini ignored the urge to squirm as she walked to the dresser. Uttara had said that her Dadi sa didn't like anyone messing with punctuality. And Ragini was sure that she didn't want to rub the woman the wrong way. It would be very stupid of someone to make enemies with Annapurna Pratap Singh.

As Ragini sunk into the chair in front of the dresser, the lady rushed forward. Ragini moved back in her chair as she looked at the woman.

Without a word the woman turned the lights around the dresser mirror on showering the room in a yellow glow. And before Ragini could thank her, she bowed her head and rushed out.

Ragini stared at the closed door for a second before turning back at the mirror in front of her.

She froze.

Her breath caught in her throat.

The off-white wall during the day was now transformed in a mellow yellow one. The mirror in front of her had gained a life of its own and the chair that she sat on felt like death trap.

She gasped for breath. Cold dread flowing through her chilling her to the bone.

How could this happen?

Everything was the same.

Same room.

Same walls.

Same mirror.

Same chair.

Every single thing was the same.

Except for one.

It was now her–Ragini–sitting in the chair instead of the dead girl of her dreams.

Thanks so much for all your love for this story and for my writing. It means the world to me, so a big big thanks. Hope I have kept your interest in this story going. Let me know if you feel the pace is good.

And as always, if you like this chapter, please do like and comment.