The morning light filtered through the heavy curtains, but it brought little comfort. The scratching sounds from the night before still echoed in the back of her mind. A soft knock announced Taniya, who slipped inside with a face clouded with guilt.
"How are you feeling, Meira?" Taniya asked, her voice hushed. "I am so, so sorry. I should have checked about your allergies before ordering lunch. I can't believe I was so careless."
Meira offered a weary smile. "It's okay, Taniya. You didn't know." She paused, her eyes drifting toward the wall shared with the isolated wing. "Taniya... the room next door. Seema said it was storage, but it feels so separate. Do you know what's in there?"
Taniya looked genuinely puzzled. "Honestly? I'm not sure. Yuvraj and I were in Australia for many years for our studies. we only moved back to India recently for some family reasons. That wing has always been off-limits since we returned."
Meira leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "Then, before Australia... how many years did you spend with Kiran?"
Taniya's expression softened into a nostalgic sadness. "She was a sweetheart," she whispered. "We had such a beautiful bond. Being the only two daughters in this massive family, we were very close."
"And the others?" Meira pressed. "How were they with her?"
Taniya froze, her words dying on her lips as a deep, resonant voice echoed from the doorway.
"She was a darling to us—to all of us."
Meira jumped, her gaze snapping to the door. Standing there was a tall man with a powerful, heavy build that seemed to command the room. Unlike the sharp, aggressive energy Raghav had shown at the hospital, this man wore a gentle, serene smile.
"Rudra!" Taniya exclaimed.
Meira scanned him from top to bottom, her pulse thrumming. Without a hint of hesitation, Rudra leaned forward toward the bed, bridging the gap between them to introduce himself properly.
"You must be the same age as Kiran, if I am not wrong," Rudra added, his voice smooth and welcoming.
Meira nodded slowly, confirming his guess.
"And how exactly do you know her?" Rudra asked, his eyes fixed on hers with a look of genuine interest.
Before Meira could find her voice, Taniya jumped in. "They were childhood friends, Rudra. They grew up together."
Rudra's smile widened, radiating a warmth that felt almost out of place in the cold mansion. "Childhood friends? Then I am truly glad to meet you, Meira. It's a rare thing to find someone who actually knew her heart."
Meira watched him, her mind racing. This was the first brother—the one Kiran had never spoken of. He seemed happy to meet her, yet in this house of secrets, Meira wondered if his happiness was a welcome or a warning.
"Rudra! What are you doing here?" Raghav's voice shattered the moment as he appeared in the doorway, his eyes fixed on Meira with a venomous glare. Rudra kept his smile intact, turning calmly to his brother. He explained that he was simply checking on Meira's health, adding with a tilt of his head that she had become quite interesting to him now that her true role in the Salai family was revealed.
Raghav's face contorted into a frown. "Stay away from this girl, Rudra," he spat, his voice low and dangerous. "She's an evil girl—a witch who can cast a spell of ruin on us all."
To Meira's surprise, Rudra let out a boisterous laugh that echoed against the sterile walls. He turned back to Meira, ignoring his brother's malice. "Rest well, Meira. And remember, if you need anything at all, you come to me."
With that, the two brothers exited, leaving a trail of heavy tension behind them. Taniya, looking shaken by the encounter, stood up and quietly bid Meira to sleep. As the door closed, Meira sat in the silence, breathless. She had finally met the sons of the house, but their conflicting faces—one a mask of kindness, the other a shield of hate—left her more terrified than before.