Himanshu_M7738

Satya, a talented sketch artist, begins drawing a mysterious girl he’s never seen, only to realize she appears in his dreams. He believes they shared a connection in a past life, where he was Veer, a royal artist who loved a girl named Meera.

In the present day, Saanvi, unaware of her past life, unknowingly leads Satya on a search for answers. Through dreams and clues, Satya uncovers fragments of their shared history but struggles to meet her. After multiple twists of fate, Satya finally encounters Saanvi in Jaipur, and they begin a conversation centered around their mutual love for sketching.

As they grow closer, Satya remains patient, letting their connection develop naturally, while Saanvi starts to sense a deeper bond. The story explores reincarnation, love beyond time, and the power of art to reunite souls.

Sketching her Shadows

The next evening, Satya and Saanvi stood before the grand yet decaying Rathore Palace, its towering walls whispering forgotten stories. The mention of an underground chamber had reignited their determination, but it also raised a troubling question—who was trying to erase Veer's past, and why?

Saanvi ran her fingers along the cold stone wall, feeling a strange familiarity. "If there's a hidden chamber," she said, "there has to be an entrance somewhere within the palace."

Satya nodded. "And we need to find it before they do."

They moved cautiously through the halls, their flashlights casting long shadows. The palace was mostly abandoned, save for a few caretakers who rarely ventured into the deeper sections.

Saanvi led the way into a storeroom, where broken furniture and dusty paintings were stacked carelessly. "If Veer was held captive, it wouldn't have been in a main chamber. It had to be somewhere secret—somewhere only a few knew about."

Satya's gaze landed on a massive old bookshelf, its edges crumbling with age. Something about it felt off.

He reached out, running his hand along its side. "Help me move this."

Together, they pushed. At first, it didn't budge, but then—a soft click.

Saanvi's eyes widened. "There's something behind it."

With one final shove, the bookshelf groaned and slid, revealing a dark archway leading downward. Stale air rushed past them, carrying the scent of damp stone and something more—something ancient.

Satya turned on his flashlight. The tunnel stretched downward, swallowed by darkness. He exchanged a glance with Saanvi.

"There's no turning back now," she whispered.

The deeper they went, the colder the air became. The walls were lined with torches—long extinguished but still mounted as if time had stood still.

Then, after what felt like minutes of descending, they reached a heavy iron door.

Saanvi hesitated. "This must be it."

Satya placed his palm against the rusted surface. A strange unease settled over him—as if the past was warning him to stop.

But he had come too far to turn back now.

The door creaked open, revealing a chamber lost to time.

Chains lay broken on the floor. Old paintings hung on the walls, their colors faded. And at the center, a stone slab, covered in dust.

Saanvi stepped closer, her pulse quickening. Her fingers brushed against the slab—and in that instant, a flood of memories surged through her mind.

A man's voice. Desperate whispers. A final promise.

Satya watched as Saanvi's expression shifted. She was remembering.

And then, she turned to him, her voice trembling.

"This… this is where Veer was held before he disappeared."

Satya's grip on his flashlight tightened. "Then this place holds the truth."

But before they could take another step, a sudden sound echoed from behind.

Chapter 38: Beneath the Palace