chapter 7

Jasmine couldn't believe she hadn't thought of it sooner—why not just leave? If she wasn't in the Rajput mansion, she couldn't be poisoned, killed, or caught up in this twisted plot. The solution seemed so obvious that she almost laughed out loud.

"Why didn't this brilliant idea come to me earlier?" she muttered to herself. "If I'm not here, I can't die. Simple!"

Feeling determined, Jasmine decided to check her finances. She needed to see how much money she had saved up and whether she could afford to rent an apartment and find a proper job. But reality hit hard when she discovered her bank balance—barely enough to cover a few months of rent, and that too in a less-than-ideal neighborhood. Plus, with only a 12th-grade education, her job prospects were limited.

"Great, just great," she sighed, flopping down on her bed. "I'm stuck here. No money, no qualifications, no way out."

Realizing that leaving wasn't an option, Jasmine decided to come up with a new plan:

1. **Get to know the brothers** better. They might have insights into their fiancées that could help her.

2. **Gather as much information as possible** about the Rajput family and their fiancées. She needed to know everything—habits, secrets, anything suspicious.

3. **Get close to the grandparents**, especially Grandma Kavita. Older people were usually more observant and might know things others didn't.

4. **Keep a close eye on the fiancées** and their activities. She had to be vigilant and look for any signs of deceit or malicious intent.

5. And most importantly, **don't do anything silly** that could blow her cover.

With her new plan in place, Jasmine felt a surge of determination. She skipped lunch and barely touched her dinner, too focused on plotting her next steps. By the time she realized she was starving, it was already 1 a.m.

Quietly, she slipped out of her room and headed to the kitchen. The mansion was eerily silent, and the only sound was her footsteps echoing through the empty hallways. She opened the fridge, but nothing inside looked appetizing. She wanted something quick and comforting.

"Maggi it is," she whispered, grabbing a pack of instant noodles. As she cooked, the familiar aroma filled the kitchen, and she smiled, feeling a bit of comfort in the chaotic situation.

She was halfway through her bowl of Maggi when she heard noises coming from the direction of Ranbir's room. Curious, she tiptoed closer and peeked through the slightly ajar door.

What she saw made her eyes widen. **Ranbir and Naira were kissing**. Jasmine's face flushed, and she quickly turned away. This was unexpected. She had heard that they hated each other, so what was this? She was about to sneak back to her room when she collided with someone in the hallway.

"Ah!" she exclaimed softly, looking up to see who she had bumped into. It was **Vidisha**, the second brother's fiancée. Vidisha looked startled and nervous, her eyes darting around as if she were afraid of being caught.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Jasmine whispered, stepping back. But Vidisha didn't respond. Instead, she brushed past Jasmine and hurried to the guest room, looking around to make sure no one else had seen her.

Jasmine stood frozen in the hallway, clutching her bowl of Maggi. What was Vidisha doing roaming around the house at this hour? And why did she look so guilty?

Returning to her room, Jasmine flopped onto her bed, her mind racing. "What's going on here? First, Naira and Ranbir, who supposedly can't stand each other, and now Vidisha sneaking around in the middle of the night?"

She ran through the events in her head. **Tara** also acted strange sometimes, overly polite and detached, as if she was hiding something. Each fiancée seemed to have her secrets, and Jasmine was determined to uncover them.

"Okay, Jasmine, focus," she whispered to herself. "Vidisha seemed the most suspicious tonight. I'll start with her."

She grabbed a notebook and began jotting down her observations:

1. Vidisha was wandering around at night, looking anxious.

2. Ranbir and Naira's relationship might not be as hostile as it seemed.

With her plan set, Jasmine felt a strange mix of excitement and anxiety. She was getting closer, but the more she discovered, the more dangerous things seemed. She knew she had to be careful. After all, this was just the beginning, and the real game was yet to unfold.