Arjun desperately searched for Maya, his heart pounding rapidly with fear.

Wandering through the dusty village streets, eyes scanning every corner and alley.

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows, adding a sinister pitiful feel to his search.

He approached a group of local villagers, his attempts at communication were a little stiff and clumsy, as he struggled through his broken Sanskrit.

"Excuse me, have you seen a woman? Her name is Maya," he asked, desperation evident in his voice. "She is about this tall," he gestured with his shaky hands, "with long black hair and... she looks a little frightening." He further babbled.

The villagers exchanged puzzled glances and shook their heads.

Despite their best efforts to understand and help, they had no information.

Arjun's heart sank with each negative response.

He continued asking everyone he came across, describing Maya over and over until his throat was dry and raw.

With each passing moment, the fear within him grew stronger, almost suffocating.

He blamed himself for triggering her panic attack, for pushing her too hard, for not seeing the signs.

If he had not insisted her to go to the temple, this wouldn’t have happened, it was all his fault. If he had just listened to her, it was all his fault.

Maya was lost all because of him and his stupidity.

Dusk settled over the village, casting a dim orange glow over the small houses. Exhausted, Arjun's legs gave out.

He collapsed in the middle of the street, tears streaming down his face, his body wracked with sobs. The guilt and despair were overwhelming, and he could barely breathe.

That’s when a hand came in front of him, handling him a piece of cloth. Looking up, he saw a young lady dressed in a heavy lengha, adorned with magnificent jewels, she looked like a royalty.

The lady probably must have noticed his distress and approached him with concern etched on her face. She was in her early twenties, with kind eyes and an air of quiet confidence.

"Are you alright?" the lady asked gently, kneeling beside him.

Arjun looked up; his vision blurred by tears. "I can’t find her," he sobbed. "It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have pushed her."

She could see the genuine concern and fear in his eyes. "Come with me," she said softly. "We’ll find her. But right now, you need to rest and gather your strength."

“Take him with us.” That’s when Arjun’s eyes swept across the people surrounding the woman, they looked like bodyguards.

The lady, who’s name Arjun doesn’t even know is taken to the Sheesh Maha (Mirror Palace or Palace of Mirrors).

The architectural infrastructure, the room assigned to him was even more outstanding- the huge glass chandelier hanging above the bed, the large balcony with a view of the sea, astonished him further.  

Inside the room, Arjun paced anxiously, his mind racing with worry.

The lady who brought him in, watched her eyes filled with concern and determination.

"You need to calm down," she advised gently. "We will find your friend."

"I can’t lose her," Arjun said, his voice breaking. "She’s the only family I have left."

She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We’ll search for her together. But you need to stay strong for her sake."

Arjun nodded, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "Thank you, I don’t know what I would have done without your help."

The lady left, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

He laid back on the couch, staring at the ceiling, his mind replaying every moment leading up to Maya's disappearance. The guilt was a heavy weight on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

Soon the lady returned, bringing him a cup of herbal tea, hoping it would help calm his nerves. "Here, drink this. It will help you relax."

Sitting back, Arjun took the cup with his trembling hands. "Thank you," he whispered, taking a sip.

The warm liquid soothed his throat and provided a small measure of comfort.

"Tell me about Maya," Avantika said, sitting across from him. "What happened?"

Arjun took a deep breath, trying to steady his voice. "Maya has always struggled with anxiety. She's had panic attacks before, but this time it was different. We were walking towards the crowd, triggering her panic attack, I did chase after her but I lost her. I think I pushed her too hard. She ran off, and I couldn't find her."

She listened intently; her eyes filled with empathy. "It's not your fault. Sometimes, people need space to process their emotions. The important thing now is to find her and make sure she's safe."

Arjun nodded, tears welling up again. "I just... I can't bear the thought of losing her. She's all I have."

"We will find her," Avantika reassured him. "But you need to rest now. You can't help her if you're exhausted."

“Can I ask you a question? If you don’t mind, of course” Arjun asked

“Sure”

“What is your name? I mean you helped me so much and I forgot to ask for your name.”

“Avantika” she replied

“Avantika” Arjun let out a whisper sending goosebumps on her arms.

Reluctantly, Arjun agreed. He lay back on the couch, clutching the hot tea cup as if it were a lifeline.

Slowly, the mental exhaustion took over, and he drifted into a restless sleep.

Meanwhile, Maya woke up in an unfamiliar room, startled and disoriented.

The room was dimly lit, with shadows dancing on the walls from a flickering candle on a nearby table.

Her first thought was of Arjun.

Panic surged through her veins as she tried to get up and leave, but her legs felt weak and unsteady as she collapsed back on the huge king-sized bed.

Lost in her pain, she heard the chamber door creaked open, and her heart leaping into her throat.

Paranoid and on high alert, she grabbed a knife from a fruit basket kept on the table and hid it behind her.

Her breathing was shallow, and her grip on the knife tightened as she felt the footsteps grew closer.

She was ready to attack and defend herself against whoever she had to face.

The unknown person stepped into the room, close enough.

Maya quickly moved, slamming him against the wall and placing the knife against the man’s neck.

"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice cold and demanding.