Abhijeet was a fine art student of JJ Art college Mumbai. He was studying ancient art and restoration. Being one of the best students of his college, he had already worked in many restoration projects all over India. Now he was eyeing a big project under professor Dixit which was in Rajasthan's Vatikapur.
He had been there already to get an overview of the project, now he was almost ready with the paper work. He had worked late into the night yesterday and dozed off on his desk. Now he had woken to this horrendous dream. Ever since he had returned from Rajesthan he was having these dream.
Abhijeet looked at his watch, it was already a little late, he got up and went to the washroom. Got ready and went down stairs for his breakfast. Kapoor Manson was huge. Abhijeet knew in the end of the day he would have to join his fathers international antique business, that was the main reason for his interest in ancient art and history. As he reached downstairs he saw Radhe there old servant, had already set the table for breakfast.
"Radhe chacha where is mom. "He asked as he sat down at the dining table " Good Morning, Dad" He greeted his father Mr Rohit Kapoor.
" Good Morning." His father greeted him back.
"She is in the kitchen chote babu." Radhe answered when he got a chance.
Abhijeet nodded.
" Mom ...Mom" Abhijeet then shouted
" Arre ....Why the hell are you shouting?" shouted his mother Mrs Meera Kapoor coming out of the kitchen .
" Mom listen I'm going to Rajesthan tommrow, for work. Can you pack my suitcase?" He requested gobbling up his breakfast down.
" Ok! Arre eat slowly."his mother said.
" I'm late." saying this he left.
The next morning he left for Udaipur. He reached around 10 am. They were put up in Raddison Blu.
" I'll meet you here in half an hour we have to start for Vatikapura by 10:30 only then we will reach, there by 12:30 pm." Professor Dixit said.
"Ok." Abhijeet answered.
As Abhijeet got ready for the day. He thought back to the dream he had just had yesterday night. Some had been calling out for help.
" Barkha.... who the hell is that?" He asked himself.
Suddenly his mobile rang.
" Hello. " He spoke into the phone.
" How long Abhijeet?" Professor Dixit asked in an irritated voice.
" I'll be there in a minute sir." Abhijeet said picking up his bag and room card.
" Hurry up will you. It's a two hour drive." Professor urged.
" Yes sir!" Abhijeet answered as he closed the door.
When he reached the lobby he found the professor waiting for him. The rented car had arrived and they left for Vatikapura.
When they reached the Palace of Vatikapur it was 12:30. They were greeted by the Manager of the property Mr Ratan Singh.
" Welcome to Vatikapura Prof. Dixit. And Mr Kapoor." He greeted. " I hope you had a comfortable journey?"
" Yes we did." He answered.
Mr Singh led them through the gate of the Haveli, the gate or the Dwar was huge with pillars ànd domes with lotus mounted on the top. Inside they were met with a huge courtyard garden. The main attraction being the huge fountain in between. This was followed by the main building. Mr Singh led them into the sitting room whose walls were adorned painting of the ancestors and family members of the Choudhary family.
" Come in through here. This is the 'baithak' or the sitting room." Mr Singh informed them.
Abhijeet looked around. The room had a high ceiling like all traditional Indian homes. There were pillars with archs all around the room. There were two doors on one wall, leading to the interiors of the house, and two on the adjacent wall leading to the kitchen areas, as they were informed by Mr Singh. The opposite wall had three doors that opened to the courtyard gardens. One wall was adorned with Painting of ancestors.
Mr Singh led them towards the paintings. Abhijeet observed that all the furniture were covered in dust sheets.
" These are the paintings of the ancestors and the family members through generations." Mr Singh indicated.
" This is Choudhary Jagat Singh he was the founder of this kingdom. Next to him is his brother Choudhary Raghav Singh. There respective wives Jamuna devi, and Madhura devi." He indicated the Pictures on the wall.
Abhijeet noticed that the pictures on the walls were quite intensely damaged.
" This is Choudhary Jagat Singh's son, Choudhary Madhav Singh, and his daughter Radhika devi, Madhav's wife Bhumika devi, This is their son Nikunj Singh and daughter Barkha devi." He indicated.
Abhijeet had been following Mr Singh close by, suddenly he came to a stop in front of the last image. There was an odd familiarity about the image. Though it was not dicipherable, due to damage and age. How ever he felt he knew the image from some where. As if he had seen it before. Suddenly he felt a splitting headache.
" Ahhh!" He groaned holding his head.
He closed his eyes tight. There was vision in front of his eyes.
It was hazy, but he could make out a girl sitting on a chair, and a man dressed in royal Rajesthani attire painting. He could not see the man's face, nor could he make-up the girls face. He was suddenly brought back to his senses by the sound of someone calling him.
" Abhijeet are you ok?!" Prof. Dixit asked.
Abhijeet held on to the wall and steadied himself. Then he took out the bottle off water from the side of his backpack and took a few gulps.
" Yes." he said nodding his head and wiping his head taking out his handkerchief.
" Just dizziness." Abhijeet said.
" Yes it is the heat." Mr Singh stated with a understanding smile.
Just then Mr Singh mobile rang.
" Yes Miss Ganguly." Mr Singh spoke into the mobile.
" Ok I'll be with you in a minute." Mr Singh stated.
He looked at Abhijeet and Prof Dixit and said.
" I be back in a minute. A group of Archeology Students are here. I'll just get them in." Mr Singh said and left the room.
Abhijeet was still starting at the picture.
" What is it Abhijeet? You look lost." Prof. Dixit asked.
" I don't know Professor I feel like this painting... I've seen it somewhere." Abhijeet said pinching the bridge of his nose with worry.
" But how?" Prof Dixit started.
Just then they heard foot steps coming towards them. They heard Mr Singh's voice.
" Come this way Dr Pal, this way Miss Ganguly." Mr Singh said as she led the group into the room.
Abhijeet heard the sound of anklets coming along with foot steps. He turned around to see who had entered. He felt like his breath had stopped for a minute there. He had never seen anyone so beautiful in his lifetime. Big doe shaped green eyes, long hair tied up in a pony, complexion like porcelain, lips like rose petals. She wore a sleeveless yellow churidar with pearl work, a pair of chandbalis in her ear and silver bangles in her hand.He couldn't breathe.
" Who is she?" He thought. " Why did I feel like I had seen her before?"
The head ache was back. Abhijeet closed his eyes. There was the vision again. It was hazy.
A girl was running on a terrace. There were pillars and arches, she was being chased by some one. The girl wore green lehenga choli. The man wore royal Rajesthani attire. The sound of anklets followed the footsteps of the ģirl. She was laughing.
" If you can catch me kuwarsa I'll do what you say." She said giggling
" You just wait Barkha, wait till I catch you, you will be fined." The man said with laughter in his voice.
" For that you have to catch me." She said laughing.
As she reached the end of the terrace, but the man caught up, he caught her hand and pulled her to him, holding her in his arms.
" Kuwar sa let me go." The girl said softly.
" No way." The man said.
He smiled softly and slowly pushed a lock of the girls hair behind her ear.
" Not until I collect my fine." He said looking at the girls soft lips.
As he bent down to capture them with his, the girl tickled him. The man was taken of gaurd, and let her go. The girl ran off giggling as he watched her retreating back.
Abhijeet opened his eyes. He saw that Prof Dixit was talking to Dr Pal. However, the girl was staring at him.
" Oh Mr Kapoor, come let me introduce them. This is Dr Pal, she is the head of Archeology dept in Kolkata university. This is the university topper leading the project. Miss Singdha Ganguly. This is Ravi Das, Megha Sharma and Prateek Dutta. They are here because a very old relic has been found in the forest near by." Mr Singh informed them.
In the meantime Snigdha observed the man in front of her. He was tall at least 6ft, fair complexion, dark brown hair, dark mysterious eyes. Sharp features but soft pink lips. She felt a strange breathlessness. He wore a pair of blue jeans and a white T-shirt.
" Who was he? Why does he look familiar?" She thought. " Why...? I've seen him for the first time then why?"
Snigdha was the daughter of Mr Rakesh Ganguly and Mrs Reena Ganguly. Beloved of the whole family, but most of all of her brother Parth Ganguly. She was the apple of his eyes. Though she was well loved she still felt someone was missing from her life. She always felt incomplete.
She had felt a weird sense of deja-vu when she had heard the name of this place. She felt like it had been calling to her. Now that she was here, she seems to keep having this weird feeling of being here before. She also couldn't get past the fact that this man in front of her seemed so familiar.
" Hi I'm Abhijeet Kapoor." Abhijeet said extending his had towards Snigdha.
Snigdha looked down at his hand slowly.
" Hi. Nice to meet you." She answered.
She looked up to meet his eyes and couldn't look away. There was a tight feeling around her heart. Abhijeet looked into those beautiful caramel eyes and was lost. What was it about this girl that was drawing him to her? Why was he feeling like he knew her ? Why