The air was getting warmer with the advent of October, but Ragini's hands only felt cold and clammy for reasons that had nothing to do with the weather. The past week was filled with as much dread over this very visit to Sanskaar's family palace, as it was with happiness of being with Sanskaar. 

He made her happy. It was as simple as that. And yet, right now, nothing felt simple. Not even opening up to Sanskaar about her fears.

How could she explain to him something that she didn't quite understand herself? Why was she scared? Scared of his family? Scared of his palace? His parents had been nothing but nice to her, and yet ...

Ragini gave Sanskaar a weak smile as her bhai pushed her into one of the cars at the airport, filling it up with Maya and Meera bhabhi quickly before Sanskaar had a chance to join in. Sanskaar threw an annoyed look at Suraj before Uttara, his younger sister, pulled him away. 

It wasn't that her bhai objected to Sanskaar, he just liked to annoy Sanskaar by keeping him away - his payback for all the trouble Sanskaar caused on his honeymoon. Usually she found it amusing, Sanskaar did too - despite his annoyed looks. He loved to rile her brother. And she, helped him. How could she say no to him?

But just then, she didn't want Sanskaar to see how worried she was, thought she knew he was good as seeing through her very well. She had realised that by now. He knew her better than herself.

As they got closer and closer to the destination, Ragini could feel herself struggling for breath. She didn't even realise when the cars stopped. 

Maya nudged her, 'Are you okay? You have been really quite.'

Ragini nodded with a small smile. 

Before Maya could ask more, the door next to Ragini clicked open. Sanskaar was opening the door for her. Ragini quickly wiped her hands on her kurta, trying her best to get rid of the sweat.

Sanskaar scrunched his brows the moment he held her hand, 'Your hands are cold.'

'The AC was too cold,' Ragini said looking away. She could feel his eyes on her, but she kept her gaze away. 

Her eyes caught the facade of a old temple. Her eyes taking in the stone masonry and the carvings as the afternoon sun lit on the structure.

'It is an old shiv temple. More than thousand years old. Older than our palace,' Sanskaar said gentle standing behind her, running his hand along her arm. 

Ragini sunk into him as he spoke, letting his words and the sight before her calm her down.

'It is said that in the older days, all rajput warriors would pray here before heading for battle and their wives would pray for their long life and victory while they were away. When the warriors returned victorious, they would first pay their respects at the temple before meeting their families and celebrating.'

'I want to go in,' Ragini said, looking back at Sanskaar.

Sanskaar nodded, holding her hand as they walked the steps up to the temple behind the rest of the family.

***

'It feels just like yesterday when kunwar would visit the temple with his mother and run around the pillars with his cousins. And now...' The old pandit at the temple looked at Ragini and Sanskaar with warmth and endearment. 

Ragini looked at Sanskaar before stepping forward to touch his feet in respect.

'No! No!' the pandit protested, 'Kunwar vadhu should not touch a mere poojari's feet. It wouldnt be right.'

Ragini looked at Sanskaar confused. 

Sanskaar shook his head sighing, 'You wont be able to convince these people to think differently. They still follow centuries old traditions and beliefs.'

Ragini look back at the pandit before feeling Sanskaar tug at her hand. 'Come,' he whispered taking her to the idol of Shiv.

Ragini stared at the idol and then back at Sanskaar who had his eyes closed. She had never seen him so peaceful and calm as he looked just then. She looked back at the idol and closed her eyes.

I don't know what is happening to me, she prayed in her head. I cannot explain it. Not even to myself. But I know that something is warning me about ...about...something. I can feel it. Feel it deep within me. Please protect us. I don't know what lies ahead, but I don't want to lose my Sanskaar. Don't separate us. Please. I–

'You seem to be praying a lot,' Sanskaar whispered in her ears, 'Even god will get tired with all of the demands.'

Ragini turned to look at him.

'What did you ask for?'

Ragini shook her head.

'You wont even tell me?'

'If I tell you, it wont come true,' Ragini countered, 'You are not supposed to tell your wishes.'

'I will make all your wishes come true,' Sanskaar said smiling at her as he walked backward, 'Just  try me.'

***

Ragini closed her eyes for the rest of the journey, focusing on the shiv idol and Sanskaar's smiling face as he walked away from her at the temple. She didn't want to think about the palace. 

Not that that was possible.

'What is that?' Maya yelped from next to her.

Ragini's eyes snapped open. Wind was howling around them, loud enough to be heard inside the closed car. Wisps of dust rose in the air with increasing frequency.

'Looks like we are going to have a sandstorm,' the driver declared, 'Nothing to worry about,' he assured, 'It happens around here from time to time. We aren't too far away from the palace now. It is a straight road down there. I will drive slowly. It will be fine.'

Ragini's eyes stayed on the dust clouds that had gained momentum, swirlling around widely. 

It had taken barely few minutes for the visibility to go down to near zero. Their car had been pushed to go at bullock cart speed. 

May be the palace doesn't want me to come to it either.

Or may be it is someone else?

The car was getting warmer now with the ac turned off to prevent the sand from blowing inside. 

Sanskaar. She needed him right now.

Ragini turned to look for his car. She knew it was supposed to be right behind. But all she would see was sand. 

And then she seemed to be enveloped in red.

She gasped turning back around. The entire inside of the car glowed in red light. 

A red cloth fluttered across, covering the whole of the front glass. 

'Close your eyes for a minute. I will pull the cloth away, but some of the sand will come in with it and could hurt your eyes,' the driver yelled over the howling wind.

Ragini's eyes froze on the cloth. Try as she might, she could not look away or close her eyes.

Before she knew it, a gush of air and sand blew inside the car, forcing her to turn her head away just in the nick of time to avoid getting hurt.

And then... gush of sand was gone, but not before leaving her covered in red.

Her lungs felt starved of air. 

'Ragini?' she heard Maya call out and pull the veil of red away.

She stared at it.

Cloth. It was red cloth. Chunri. Bridal. Red. Red covered with gold filigree.

She felt a nudge on her arm. She looked up to find Maya shaking her head towards the front of the car, signalling her to look ahead.

As suddenly as it had started, the storm had quietened down just as quickly. It brewed hard and fast one second and in the next second it was all quiet and calm...as through the storm had never passed through the very land.

Ragini's eyes widened. Her pulsed ticked in her ear, catching her breath in her throat.

Standing before her was a majestic palace.

Huge. 

Strong.

Silent.

Foreboding.

Thanks so much for your lovely comments in the last chapter. Please do let me know if you are still enjoying this one. The fun and mystery is just now starting. I am feeling excited now. Hope you are too.

If you do like the chapter, please do vote and comment.

Happy Diwali!