Kajal saw the forest stretch out of her. "ok this is the forest" she thought. She saw there was a main road which led through the heart of the forest to other city, and another road which was joined to the main road, but was bumpy dirt road.

Kajal – Is that the road for Laxmi Palace?

Vindhu – Yes. First where do you want to go towards the city or Lakshmi Palace? Since, we have only 5 hrs in our hand.

Kajal – How long does it take to reach Lakshmi palace and come back to the main road?

Vindhu – About 15 mins minimum, max 1 hour.

Kajal – How about the Hotel, just to see it from outside?

Vindhu – one hour to reach, and then as long as you want, you can see the hotel from outside.

Kajal – ok, let's go to Lakshmi Palace first, then the hotel. If we get late, you can ask my sisters to receive the guests.

Vindhu – Sure.

They turned the car towards the dirt road. The ride was really bumpy. They finally reached the palace. It looked beautiful. It was white in color. The walls had intricate designs painted with gold. The path to the palace was marbled, but there was no garden or park surrounding the palace. Only the forest was. But that too was 500 metres away from the area. That was written om the sign which hung from a post. There was no boundary wall surrounding the area. So they easily parked the car infront of the palace and got off the car. Then they went around the palace. Kajal was fascinated at the intricate details the walls contained. She noticed that there was no door on any of the entry gates. She felt the urge to go inside the palace. As she started walking towards, Vindhu caught her hand and stopped her.

Vindhu – people are not allowed to go inside the palace.

Kajal – But why?

Vindhu – I don't know exactly, but there are some rumours that some people died in the fire which caused the entire palace to burndown.

Kajal – then who made this palace overhere again.

Vindhu – Sharman Desai, Yudh's brother.

Kajal – He is one who is in the car business right?

Vindhu – yes

Kajal – I have heard that he is cruel and cold hearted, he recentaly killed some of his workers in the factory.

Vindhu – now let's get back in the car and go to the hotel.

They sat in the car and went back to the main road. Then they started driving towards the hotel. During the entire ride, they were quiet. But Kajal was hearing noices in her head. She couldn't make out what the noices were about, but she could distinctly hear a crackling sound. She was feeling as if something was burning near her. Thecar gave a jerk which pulled her out of her thoughts.

Vindhu - we have reached Hotel Hastin. I will stay in the car, you can get out if youwant to but don't try to get inside the hotel like for the palace.

Kajal – ok Kakaji.

She got out of the car. Then she looked at the complex. There was only one builing in the entire area which looked like a Haveli. But at the same time it was badly maintained. The parks and gardens surrounding the area looked as if they have not been cleaned for years. The building had been plastered here and there. The boundary wall of the hotel was in bad condition. Area in front of the gate was covered with mud.

Kajal – Let's go back to the resort Kakaji.

Vindhu – ok

She sat back in the car and they started driving towards the resort.

Kajal – Why is it so badly maintained?

Vindhu – Because there main hotel business is in the city. This was just a old building they converted into hotel. They themselves dispised the location. But keep a good name of their hotel business, they used that area.

Kajal – But why did dispise the location? It is so good. If they had maintained it nicely, then people would love to come over here.

Vindhu – I agree with you, I would have bought that area for my business but I don't have enough to buy that yet.

Kajal – How much is it's cost?

Vindhu – 1 Arab Crore.

Kajal – WHAT! Why is it so high?

Vindhu – Due to the history attached to the place. Actually no one can tell for sure, how long ago that palace was made? But it has a nice story attached to it.

Kajal – Will you tell me the story? Right now?

Vindhu – Tonight, I will tell you, I promise.

Kajal – ok.

They reached the resort. Kajal got out of the car, while vindhu went to park it. She was thinking that was Kakaji not telling her the story related to this place why. Why was everything so mysterious over here. Who or what was the shadow that was looking at her, and why was no one allowed to go inside the Lakshmi palace. Why was the Hotel Hastin in such a bad shape?

While thinking all this, she reached at the front staircase of the Swarna Haveli. She tripped and fell down. But she didn't get any injury. She felt that she was hovering above the staircase. She turned her head around and saw no one was near her or behind her. And nothing was holding her. She sat down on the staircase. She was so shocked by the entire incident that she couldn't think of anything. Suddenly she saw a thread on her hand. It was a sacred thread that had been tied on her hand since she was toddler. But why was it tied around her she didn't know. She just knew that she had to keep it tied around her hand and never cut or leave it carelessly anywhere.

Vindhu – Why are you sitting on the staircase like that?

Kajal – Nothing, I just felt like sitting on the staircase.

Vindhu – Come on you need to call your sisters even.

Kajal – Yeah I will just do it right away.

She quickly went to the third floor and started calling out to her sisters. They all came out of their room looking as if they were going for some picnic. They all were wearing tank tops and skirts or pants (alternatively), Just like the door's colours.

Vaishali – Have the guests arrived?

Kajal – They will arrive in 30 mins. We just need to go down near the front gate and wait for them. Kakaji is handling other arrangements.

Jaya – I can't wait to me them.

Devsena – Me too. How many of them are there?

Devi – You will see once they arrive.

Karuna – And are you both thinking of making boyfriends already?

The twins – (Blushing) No,we were not thinking of doing that?

Kajal – Oh stop making excuses and let's go down stairs now.

They went downstairs. Vaishali checked with Vindhu for the arrangements. Karuna and Devi were looking around the place. Jaya and Devasena were gossiping about how hot their favourite actors were. Kajal was rethinking the tour and the voices and the werid visions, she is having. What did they mean? Surely they pointed in some direction and meant something. This might be related to her past life.

The path decorated as if any King or Queen were going. The lamps which were along the path were fully lit. The gravelled path was decorated with flower petals thrown here and there, but beautifully decorated in a wavy pattern. And every hotel staff was standing with a platter of flower petals. The 2 members were standing with the peacock bottle of perfume. And one was standing behind Vaishaali with a arti platter. Everyone was there except Chandra. He was no were to be seen.

At exactly 4 o'clock, the partners began to arrive. The first one to arrive was Devlani family. They were the owners of Pandya fashion store. In Black BMW, the establishers, Deep Devlani and his wife, Priya Devlani arrived. Deep Devlani was in his 60's, but looked smart and was of medium height and age around 50. His hair was salt-n-pepper. And He wore a royal blue color three pice formal suit with black loafers. His complexion was pale. Priya Devlani, was of the same height and age as her husband. She wore a white sari with matching blouse and her hair was combed into the style of 60s actress. She didn't have a lot of make-up, only red color lipstick and eye liner which made her eyes look sharper, and her complesion brownish yellow .They stood on the pavement.

In a sky-blue BMW, arrived Karan Devalani. He was the eldest among the brothers. He was the CEO of the Pandya Fashion Brand. He was wearing a charcoal grey color formal suit complete with tie and coat. His skin was glowing with charm and dignity. His Black hair was cut short. He had a dark, deep black eye. He was around the same age as Vaishali. He stood next to Priya Devlani on the pavement.

In dark medium greenish cian Limousie, arrived five brothers. The eldest among them was Ajay Devlani. He short, stylish, black hair. He wore black color rectangular stylish specks. He was wearing white color suit. His skin complexion was dark but fair. After him, it was Vansh Devlani. He was six foot tall and had a muscular body and his skin complexion was dark but fairer than Ajay. His hair was uptill his shoulder. He was wearing a light grey shade suit. After him was Arun Devlani. He also had a muscular body. His eyes were sharp just like his mother Priya and height just same as her. He wore a ring in his right hand, which contained a design of peacock feather. His wavy hair was long uptill his shoulder. After him, Came the twins, Deven and Utkarsh Devalni. They had dark skin with fair complexion. Their eyes were just like sweet apple. Deven had cropped hairstyle and wore specks which made him look like a nerd and Utkarsh had parted hairstyle but he looked so handsome that any girl would fall in love with him at the first sight. They wore oliver green suit. All the five brothers stood next to Karan. They looked at Karan. Ajay, Vansh, Deven and Utkarsh had coldness in their eyes for their brother. Only Arun looked with warmth towards Karan which seemed to reassure him.

The next family to arrive was Kelkar family. The first arrive was, Kuldeep Kelkar along with his elder son, Shravan Kelkar, in red color Mercedes. Kuldeep was the owner of Panchalya Fashion brand. He was same age as that of Deep. But he was little taller of then Deep. His feature somehow resembled Amitabh Bachchan. He was wearing red color silk kurta. Shravan Kelkar was around 20 years old, 6 feet tall, with baritone voice. He had a muscular body. He was sherwani along with a similar design coat. He had spiked black hairs.

Last but not least to come was the younger brother of Shravan, Ren Kelkar. He entered in red color Ferrari. His features resembled that of a girl for some apparent reason. He was a handsome looking boy. He wore a leather jacket over a black shirt, and blue jeans.

All of them climbed the staircase together and were given fitting welcome by Manjrekar sisters, each of them holding arti thali and taking arti. Kajal then took the arti of Kelkar family.

Then they were shown their respective rooms. The rooms for each of them were:

· The Warrior – Deep and Priya Devlani

· The Unfortunate – Karan Devlani

· The Righteous – Ajay Devlani

· The Beast – Vansh Devlani

· The Path-maker – Arun Devlani

· The Healers – Deven and Utkarsh Devlani

After this the Kelkar family was taken to the second floor. Kajal was also going along with them. Vindhu took towards the end of the corrider, which had a wall at it's end. He went towards one of the flower pot and twisted it. The wall opened to reveal three rooms in it. Each room door was painted red. The first door name plate contained "The Giver". Second door nameplate contained "The Slayer". The third door nameplate contained "The Female". Kuldeep was given "The Giver" room, whereas Shravan was given "The Slayer"room and Ren was given "The Female" room.

After saying goodnight, Kajal went towards her room with Vindhu. Before she entered her room, she asked a question to Kakaji.

Kajal – Kakaji, Can you tell me the stories related to this palace, right now? Please I am dying to listen to the stories.

Vindhu – I am really tired Kajal. Besides I have promised you that I will tell you right. I give you my word, that I will tell the stories. But as of now go to sleep.

Kajal – ok Kakaji,goodnight.

After that she went inside and changed into her night dress. While shelay on the bed, she kept thinking about the events that took place throughoutthe day. She was getting troubled by the questions. She kept those thoughtsaside and then started thinking about Kelkar family. For some reason, she feltKuldeep Kelkar was her dad and Shravan and Ran her brothers. Then in theDevlani Family, She felt a deep remorse on seeing Karan. For Deep and Priya,she felt she had known them for long time. Except she felt more strongconnection with Priya than Deep. She felt there was some connection with thefive brothers, the strongest one being with Arun. She felt she was in love withhim from a long time. From when she could not remember. At some point she fella sleep.