chapter 13

Jasmine and Ranbir quietly followed Vidisha and the mysterious man down the street. They maintained a safe distance, trying to avoid suspicion. Jasmine's heart pounded with excitement as she whispered to Ranbir, "We're getting closer to something big, I can feel it."

Ranbir grinned. "You're really into this detective thing, aren't you? What's next, are you going to buy a magnifying glass and a trench coat?"

Jasmine shot him a playful glare. "Shh! Stay focused!"

As they continued walking, the pair ahead entered a luxurious hotel. Jasmine's eyes widened, and she quickly ducked behind a pillar with Ranbir. "A hotel? This is getting suspicious," she whispered.

Ranbir glanced at the building's name, frowning. "That's one of the most expensive hotels in town. What's Vidisha doing here with him?"

"I don't know, but we need to find out." Jasmine looked determined. "Let's sneak in."

Ranbir's face broke into a mischievous smile. "I love this! Let's do it."

They casually entered the hotel, trying their best not to look out of place. Jasmine tugged at Ranbir's arm, pointing toward the elevator. "They're going up. Let's take the stairs so we don't get caught."

Ranbir sighed. "Stairs? Really?"

"Yes, stairs!" Jasmine hissed. "Now come on!"

They ran up the stairs as quietly as they could, their footsteps barely audible. When they reached the third floor, they cautiously peeked around the corner to spot Vidisha and the man entering a room at the end of the hallway.

"This is it," Jasmine whispered, her heart racing. "What do you think they're doing in there?"

Ranbir shrugged. "I don't know, but it's definitely shady."

They found a spot to wait, hiding behind a large plant near the end of the hall. Jasmine's mind raced with all the possibilities—was Vidisha involved in something criminal? Was this man her lover? Or was it something bigger?

As the minutes ticked by, Ranbir leaned closer to Jasmine and whispered, "Do we just wait here until they come out?"

"Yeah, we have to see who this guy is," Jasmine replied, not taking her eyes off the door.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed down the hall. Jasmine froze, then quickly pulled Ranbir down behind the plant. They watched as Abhiraj appeared, walking toward them with his usual calm, serious expression.

"Abhiraj? What is he doing here?" Jasmine whispered, her heart pounding. She wasn't ready to face him after the accidental kiss they shared.

Ranbir stifled a laugh. "You think he's following us? Maybe he's also investigating Vidisha."

Jasmine gave him a quick shove. "Shut up!"

But Abhiraj wasn't investigating. He was just passing by, likely returning from a business meeting or something. However, as he walked by their hiding spot, he paused, glancing in their direction.

Jasmine held her breath. Did he see them?

Abhiraj's gaze lingered for a moment before he turned and continued walking, heading for the elevator.

"That was close," Ranbir whispered, grinning. "Do you think he saw us?"

Jasmine let out a sigh of relief. "I don't think so. But let's focus. We need to get out of here before anyone else spots us."

---

Later that night, after sneaking out of the hotel undetected, Jasmine returned to the Rajput mansion with more questions than answers. She couldn't stop thinking about Vidisha's secret meeting and what it might mean for the family.

As she prepared for bed, she glanced at the clock. It was late, but she had more work to do. Grabbing her notebook, she jotted down everything she had observed that day.

1. Vidisha is hiding something.

2. The man she met at the hotel could be important.

3. Abhiraj almost saw me at the hotel.

4. Tara is hiding a photograph—who could it be of?

Jasmine chewed on the end of her pen, trying to piece everything together. "I need to get more information about Vidisha's relationship with that guy," she muttered to herself. "And I need to figure out what Tara is hiding."

Her mind drifted back to Abhiraj. She couldn't help but think about the accidental kiss earlier in the day. It had caught her completely off guard, and though she tried to brush it off, she couldn't stop replaying the moment in her head. What did it mean? Did he feel anything, or was it just an awkward accident?

Shaking her head, Jasmine forced herself to focus. "Stay on track, Jasmine. You don't have time for distractions."

---

The next morning, Jasmine headed downstairs, her mind still racing with thoughts of the investigation. She made her way to the kitchen, where she found Tara sitting at the table with a cup of tea, looking distant.

Remembering her plan to get closer to the family, Jasmine approached Tara cautiously. "Good morning," she greeted her, grabbing an apple from the counter.

Tara glanced up, her expression unreadable. "Morning."

Jasmine hesitated for a moment, then sat down across from her. "I was wondering if you'd like to go for a walk later? You know, to get some fresh air."

Tara blinked, as if surprised by the offer. "A walk?"

"Yeah, I thought it might be nice to get out of the house for a bit," Jasmine said with a friendly smile.

Tara studied her for a moment before nodding slowly. "Alright. That sounds... nice."

Jasmine felt a surge of triumph. She had successfully taken the first step toward getting closer to Tara—and hopefully closer to whatever secret she was hiding.

As she bit into her apple, Jasmine made a mental note: Keep an eye on Vidisha, but don't forget about Tara. There's more going on here than meets the eye.

And as she took her first step down this investigative path, Jasmine had no idea just how tangled the web of secrets she was about to uncover truly was.