Author's POV
Months had passed since they'd started their new lives abroad. Everything seemed normal—college, jobs, friends—but deep down, each of them felt a small pull. Something unfinished. Something waiting.
And then, during one of their late-night group calls, that feeling finally had a name.
Iaa's POVI
sat by the window, sketching random shapes when my phone buzzed. Our group video call was starting.
"Finally!" Shiva's face appeared first, hair in a messy bun. "Where's the rest?"
"Here, here!" Aravali said, munching chips. "It's 1 a.m. in New York and I'm still alive. Be proud."
Sita yawned dramatically. "You look like a zombie, Aravali."
"Thanks, Miss Main Character of Korea."
Their bickering made me smile. "Girls," I said softly, "vacations are coming up… what if we go home?"
Everything went silent for a few seconds.
"Home?" Shiva repeated. "Like, Maajaan home?"
"Yes," I said. "It's been almost a year. We deserve a break."
Aravali grinned. "And some good food. I'm sick of sandwiches."
"Same," Sita sighed. "Okay, I'm in."
"Count me too," Shiva said. "I need a change before I strangle Dev."
I laughed. "Still fighting with him?"
"He exists. I react."
We all laughed together. The decision was made. We were going home.
Author's POV
A week later, their flights landed one after another. Four friends, four different directions, one destination—Maajaan.
The air was still warm when they reached the old village. The roads were the same, the trees familiar, the memories lingering. But something in the air felt different—quieter, heavier.
The old Maajaan House stood there, unchanged yet alive.
Sita's POVThe moment I stepped inside, nostalgia hit me like a wave. The smell of wood, the creak of the stairs—it was all the same.
"I can't believe we're really here again," Aravali said, spinning in the hall.
"Feels weirdly calm," Shiva muttered. "Too calm."
I smiled, trying to hide my worry. "I have to tell you something."
They turned to me.
"My necklace… it broke," I said quietly. "A few weeks ago. I tried fixing it, but nothing worked."
Iaa's eyes widened. "The protective charm?"
"Yeah. Without it, I can't help you like before."
Aravali frowned. "We'll find a way to repair it. Don't worry."
I nodded, but the uneasy feeling in my chest wouldn't go away.
Aravali's POV
The next morning, while everyone was cleaning or setting up rooms, I got bored. Classic me.
So, I decided to explore.
I wandered through the corridors, brushing off dust from old furniture. Then something caught my eye—an old tapestry, slightly torn near the bottom.
"Hmm?" I bent down and tugged at it. Behind it, there was a faint crack, just wide enough to fit my hand. My smartwatch flickered as I touched it.
That was weird.
I pressed harder, and the wall shifted.
A click.
Then—creak.
The crack widened, revealing a narrow door.
I froze. "Okay… that's new."
Curiosity took over, of course. I pushed the door open, coughing as dust filled the air. Inside was a small room, lit faintly by the sunlight slipping through the cracks. Shelves lined the walls, filled with books, scrolls, and boxes sealed with old family emblems.
I stepped closer and read the faded text on one of the scrolls. "Records of the Maajaan Lineage — Hidden from the British Era."
My heart skipped. "No way…"
I brushed off another chest, opening it gently. Inside were ancient notes, sketches of symbols, and among them—a map marked with an unfamiliar symbol.
"The source…" I whispered. "This might be where we can repair the charms."
Author's POV
Aravali ran back, dragging the others into the hidden room. Dust swirled in the air as they stared at the forgotten records of their bloodline—evidence of the oldest generation's secrets.
"These are the real Maajaan records," Iaa murmured, tracing her fingers over a faded page.
Sita leaned closer. "So, they hid everything from the Britishers?"
"Yes," Aravali said, still amazed. "And they left clues… for us."
As Iaa reached for one of the old books, a sudden wind blew through the room. The candles flickered violently, and a single loose page tore free, landing right in her hand.
It glowed faintly.
They all stared.
"The past isn't gone," Iaa whispered. "It's waiting."