Continuing from where we left off... here’s Part 2 of the chapter. Let the story unfold further.
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Third Person POV:-
The night air of Udaipur carried a soft hum of celebration—temples echoed with distant chants, lanterns glowed warmly in windows, and the streets buzzed with quiet life.
The three girls were making their way back to the haveli, wrapped in their thoughts and the afterglow of the evening at the ghat. Laughter came and went in waves as they passed groups of women heading home, children chasing sparklers, and the distant sound of drums still thumping near the lake.
And then… a sound floated through the air—gentle, aching, and impossibly beautiful.
A piano…
The soft notes spilled from somewhere nearby, delicate yet full of emotion, as if the keys weren’t just being played—but whispered to.
Avani and Ishika slowed their steps, glancing around curiously.
But Saira had already stopped. Her body froze for a second before something within her stirred. Almost like a tug on an invisible thread.
Without a word, she took a slow step toward the sound. Then another.
Her eyes were wide, not with understanding, but with wonder. She didn’t know what was happening, but her feet moved as if they no longer belonged to her. The music was calling her.
“Saira?” Avani’s voice came softly from behind, but Saira didn’t respond.
She rounded the corner just in time to see him—his back to her, dressed simply in black, seated at a worn-out street piano tucked under the shade of a crumbling arch. His fingers danced effortlessly, his head tilted down as if lost in the emotion of what he played.
She didn’t breathe.
And then, just as suddenly, he stopped. He stood up and reached into the small case near his feet, pulling out the handful of notes and coins he'd collected. Without hesitation, he handed it to a little girl sitting nearby with a tattered doll in her lap. She looked up at him with wide eyes, and he offered a small nod before turning away.
The man stepped into a sleek black car parked a few feet away.
She stood frozen, eyes on the vehicle as it pulled away slowly, disappearing into the winding streets.
A soft breeze blew, lifting her dupatta and draping it across her face like a veil. But she didn’t move to fix it. Her eyes remained locked on the empty street ahead, her heart strangely quiet—but her soul humming.
“Who was he?” she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.
Behind her, Avani and Ishika finally caught up, exchanging puzzled glances. They didn’t say anything—some moments didn’t need words.
Because something had shifted in Saira… and neither of them could explain what.
"Kya hua?” Avani’s soft voice broke the silence, stepping closer, concern evident in her eyes.
Saira blinked and turned toward her, startled. “Nothing,” she muttered, brushing it off with an awkward smile.
Ishika, who had been a few steps behind, raised an eyebrow. “Nothing? You looked like a lovesick poet staring after his muse,” she teased, a smirk tugging at her lips.
Saira rolled her eyes. “Shut up.”
“Oh come on,” Ishika nudged her playfully. “That was something. I haven’t seen you this speechless since... well, never.”
Even Avani gave a small chuckle as the three girls began walking back toward the haveli. The streets had grown quieter, lights casting golden glows from old-style lamps lining the road. The buzz of the evening had mellowed into a peaceful hum.
Back at the haveli, the manager greeted them at the entrance. “Ma’am, your separate rooms are now ready, as you had requested earlier. Your luggage has been placed inside as well.”
“Thank you,” Avani smiled warmly.
The girls exchanged tired smiles and bid each other goodnight before heading to their respective rooms.
One by one, they changed into more comfortable clothes—soft cotton pajamas, oversized shirts,—and sank into their beds, exhausted yet somehow still buzzing from the day.
But sleep didn’t come so easily.
...
As Ishika lay on her side, her thoughts wandered. That reflection… that presence. Who was he? Why did his silhouette feel so familiar, like she had seen him in another lifetime? Why did just a glimpse stir something so deep?
…
Across the corridor, Saira turned on her pillow, her eyes wide open. Why did the music feel like it was written just for her? Why did her feet move on their own? And why did that stranger’s simple presence feel so heavy on her chest… like she’d been waiting to feel it her entire life?
Both girls drifted into sleep with those questions still unanswered—dreams tinged with notes of music, glints of sunlight on water, and silhouettes lost in the crowd.
…
But in another room, sleep hadn’t come at all.
Avani sat by her window for a while, watching the moonlit garden below. Her heart was calm, but her mind—restless. She stood quietly, slipped a soft shawl around her shoulders, and as she reached for the doorknob, her eyes caught sight of two pendants resting on her table.
One she had bought earlier that day, drawn to it for reasons she couldn’t explain. The other one... gifted by a little girl whose eyes had held more innocence than the world deserved.
Without thinking, Avani picked them up and gently closed her fist around both. Then, with slow, silent steps, she moved through the haveli toward the garden near the parking area.
The quiet air kissed her skin as she stepped outside, the hush of night wrapping around her like an old friend. She didn’t tell the other girls. She knew they’d be fast asleep by now.
Also, some things are better felt alone.
—
Avani walked through the garden in silence, her shawl wrapped loosely around her shoulders. The night was calm—stars scattered across the velvet sky, and a gentle breeze caressed the leaves, whispering secrets she couldn’t quite hear. Her footsteps were light on the stone path, but her heart felt heavy with unspoken thoughts.
She didn’t come here to think. Or maybe… she did.
Spotting a bench beneath a tree, she walked over and sat down quietly. The soft rustle of leaves above her became a lullaby to her restless mind. Slowly, she slid her hands into her pocket and pulled out the pendants—one she had bought, the other gifted by the little girl. A matching set… a couple pendant.
She held them in her palm, staring at the two pieces that were meant to belong to two people. Two people connected by something deep. Something pure.
But who was she supposed to give it to?
The question stung unexpectedly.
Her mind began to spiral—memories from her past rushing in, uninvited. The cruel words, the judging eyes, the loneliness. A familiar ache bloomed in her chest, one she had long gotten used to hiding. Would anyone ever truly love her? See her for who she was beneath the layers of silence and strength?
Was she even worthy of love?
No answer came. Only silence.
She looked up at the moon, its silver glow reflecting in her eyes. The world looked so beautiful… so peaceful. Yet, inside, she felt like a quiet storm no one noticed.
Then,.. the soft calmness of the moment was broken...
The sound of a motorbike echoed through the parking area.
Startled, Avani’s eyes shifted in that direction.
A man, dressed entirely in black, stepped off the bike. His face was partially covered—just like the others she had noticed today. Only a strong jawline and a serious expression were visible in the dim light. He stood still for a moment, then began walking away from the bike.
Why am I only seeing black-clad, face-covered men today? she thought wryly, the image of the one Saira had stared at flashing in her mind.
The man pulled out his phone and started speaking to someone, his voice low and firm. At first, it looked like he was going to walk into the hotel. But instead, without really noticing, his steps began drifting—absentmindedly—towards the garden.
Towards her.
Avani froze.
Panic bubbled up inside her. She didn’t do well with strangers. Especially not at night and that too alone. Her introverted nature and social anxiety twisted tightly in her chest.
She quickly stood up, trying not to seem rushed, but her movements were slightly clumsy. As she turned to leave, the delicate chime of her anklets which she forgot to remove, broke the stillness—soft but enough to catch attention.
The man paused mid-conversation, his head turning toward the sound. His eyes followed the movement of the girl who was now quickly walking—almost running—out of the garden.
He cut the call and took a step forward instinctively… and then something slid beneath his foot.
He stopped, looked down, and saw something glinting in the moonlight.
It was a pendant.
Beautiful, delicate… clearly part of a couple set.
He picked it up without thinking, his brows furrowed slightly in curiosity. He turned it slowly in his fingers, lost in thought.
But the girl was already gone.
—
Back in her room, Avani leaned against the door, her breath still a bit uneven. That man… he didn’t seem dangerous. But something about his presence had unnerved her—like her instincts didn’t know whether to pull him closer or push him away.
She sat on her bed and let out a slow breath, her fingers slipping into her pocket to check the pendants.
Only one remained.
The one the little girl had given her.
Her heart skipped a beat. The other one… the one she had bought?
Gone.
She closed her eyes. It didn’t take much to realize where she must have dropped it.
In the garden.
With… him.
A strange chill ran down her spine. She didn’t know why… but somehow, deep down, she felt like that pendant was no longer just a piece of jewelry.
Still holding the remaining pendant in her hand, Avani finally lay down on her bed, pulling the blanket up to her chest.
And soon—though her mind was full of questions she couldn’t answer—sleep slowly pulled her under…
___
BUT SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE SHADOWS WHEN NOBODY NOTICED WAS A MAN,
Hidden behind a line of parked vehicles, camera in hand. His lens had captured everything—Avani sitting alone in the moonlit garden, the mysterious man dressed in black walking toward her, and now, him holding the pendant like it meant something more than just lost jewelry.
The figure smirked, lowering the camera. In seconds, the photos were sent—every angle, every emotion frozen in time.
Moments later, his phone buzzed.
He answered without a word.
A deep voice on the other end spoke slowly, carefully.
“Confirmed?”
The man looked at the screen again, eyes flickering over the photo of Avani—the way her eyes looked just before she left the garden. Then he shifted his gaze to the man in black.
“Yes, boss,” he said coldly. “She’s the one.”
The line went silent for a beat. Then, the voice returned—calmer, deadlier.
“Then it begins.”
Click.
The call ended.
Under the fading moonlight, the watcher disappeared—leaving nothing behind but questions and danger that whispered too quietly for the wind to carry.
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And that’s the chapter!
If you felt even a moment of calm, joy, or connection while reading—thank you for being part of it. The real adventure is just beginning, and trust me… Udaipur has secrets to unfold.
See you in the next one!
✨🫀💗
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