### Chapter 20: An Ominous Calm

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The sun began to rise fully over Mumbai, casting golden rays across the empty alley where Lila and Ethan stood, still grappling with the enormity of what had just happened. The eerie quiet after the chaos was unsettling, but the weight of the mangalsutra around Lila's neck felt almost reassuring. Whatever had occurred when Ethan put it on her, it had saved their lives.

Ethan looked around, still not convinced they were out of danger. "Sameer's gone, but this isn't over. We need answers. That box… the mangalsutra—this can't be a coincidence."

Lila nodded, her fingers instinctively touching the necklace. It was warm, as though still humming with the energy that had protected them. "It felt like time stopped. Like the world shifted… but why? What is this?" Her voice wavered, torn between awe and fear.

Before Ethan could respond, a rustling sound broke the silence. They both tensed, ready for a fight, but it was only Amira, cautiously approaching from the mouth of the alley. Her eyes were wide with disbelief.

"What the hell just happened?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "One second, Sameer's men were everywhere, and then… they were gone."

Ethan's gaze hardened. "We don't know. But whatever happened, it's tied to this." He gestured toward the mangalsutra.

Amira's eyes flicked to the necklace, recognition flashing across her face. She froze, staring at it like it held a deep, hidden meaning. "That… that's no ordinary necklace."

Lila frowned. "What do you mean?"

Amira took a step closer, her gaze never leaving the mangalsutra. "That necklace belonged to someone important. Someone whose story is almost a legend in certain circles. But it was lost decades ago, supposedly cursed."

"Cursed?" Lila's heart skipped a beat.

Amira nodded slowly. "It's said to have belonged to a woman who was betrayed by her lover—a powerful man who used her love to gain wealth and influence. After he left her for another woman, she cursed the necklace before she died, vowing that anyone who wore it would be protected from betrayal, but it would also exact a price."

Ethan's eyes narrowed. "A price?"

Amira met his gaze, her expression grim. "The curse ensures that the wearer's love will be protected, but at the cost of something equally precious. Some say it takes time from your life. Others say it demands sacrifice."

A shiver ran down Lila's spine. "Sacrifice…"

"We didn't know what it was when we found the box," Ethan said, his voice low. "It saved us, but at what cost?"

Amira shrugged, her eyes clouded with uncertainty. "That's the thing with legends. They always come with mystery and danger. But if this necklace did what I think it did, then it's real—and you've become part of its story now."

The three of them stood in uneasy silence, the weight of Amira's words sinking in. Whatever the mangalsutra was, it wasn't just an ancient relic. It had power—real, undeniable power—and now it was in Lila's possession.

Lila turned to Ethan, her voice barely a whisper. "What do we do now?"

Ethan's jaw tightened. "We keep moving forward. Sameer may have been driven back for now, but he won't stop. He'll come for us again. And we can't rely on this mangalsutra to protect us every time."

Amira nodded in agreement. "He's been shaken, but he won't give up easily. He's too deep into this game. But we have something now that he doesn't understand. If we can figure out how to use it—on our terms—we might have the advantage."

Ethan's gaze shifted to Lila, his eyes filled with concern. "This isn't over, Lila. I know you feel it too. There's more to this box, to the necklace. We need to figure out the rest before Sameer does."

Lila swallowed hard, knowing he was right. "We need to go back to where it all started."

Amira frowned. "Where?"

"The night we found the box," Lila said quietly. "There was something about that place. It didn't feel random."

Ethan nodded in agreement. "There were too many coincidences. Sameer's obsession with controlling everything, the way this box appeared at just the right moment—it all ties together somehow."

Amira hesitated before speaking again. "There's a place in Colaba. I've heard rumors of people who deal with… objects like this. Cursed or blessed, it doesn't matter. They know how to handle the supernatural."

Lila raised an eyebrow. "You know people like that?"

Amira's expression was unreadable. "Let's just say I've been around enough to know where to find what we need. If there's anyone who can help us understand this necklace, it's them."

Ethan glanced at Lila, his eyes filled with resolve. "We'll go there. Whatever we're facing, we need to be prepared. Sameer will come back stronger, and next time, we might not be so lucky."

Lila took a deep breath, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. The mangalsutra around her neck felt like both a shield and a burden, its power undeniable but its cost unknown. She couldn't shake the feeling that it was more than just a tool to protect them—it was a part of something much larger, something that had yet to fully reveal itself.

As they made their way out of the alley, the early morning light casting long shadows behind them, Lila couldn't help but glance over her shoulder, half-expecting Sameer to appear again. The city seemed too quiet, too still, and the sense of danger was far from gone.

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### The Calm Before the Storm

The trio arrived at Colaba, where Amira led them to a hidden shop deep in the old part of town. The shop was tucked away between narrow streets, almost invisible to the untrained eye. Its windows were dark, and the sign above the door was faded, as if it had been forgotten by time itself.

"This is it," Amira said softly, pushing open the heavy wooden door.

Inside, the shop was cluttered with strange artifacts—old books, ancient relics, and items that looked like they belonged in a museum of the bizarre. The air smelled of incense and something metallic, and the atmosphere was thick with a sense of mystery.

A man appeared from behind the counter, his eyes sharp and his expression unreadable. He was older, with long gray hair and a weathered face that spoke of years spent dealing with things best left untouched.

"We need answers," Amira said without preamble, holding up the mangalsutra. "About this."

The man's eyes widened slightly as he gazed at the necklace, but he said nothing for a moment, studying it with a mix of awe and caution.

Finally, he spoke, his voice low and measured. "You're dealing with something ancient. Something that doesn't just protect—it demands."

Lila's heart raced. "What do you mean?"

The man's gaze met hers, his expression grave. "You've made a bond with something far older than you can imagine. It saved you once… but it will demand its due."

Lila's breath caught in her throat. "What does it want?"

The man shook his head slowly. "That depends on you. And how far you're willing to go to survive."

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The atmosphere had shifted, danger was still lurking, and the mystery surrounding the mangalsutra and the box only deepened. Sameer was still out there, and whatever was coming, Lila and Ethan knew they had to face it head-on.

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