The next day, Sakshi's parents were frantic with worry and anger. Their daughter had disappeared without a trace, and no one could explain what had happened. Raghav, still in shock, was too traumatized to speak, knowing that no one would believe the truth if he told them.
The police were called, but even their investigation led to nothing. The CCTV footage from the wedding hall showed nothing unusual—no strange occurrences, no sign of Sakshi. It was as if she had simply vanished into thin air. The officers, uninterested and doubtful, suggested that perhaps Sakshi had run away, unwilling to go through with the wedding.
"She must have drugged everyone and left," one of the officers speculated dismissively. "It wouldn't be the first time someone ran off before their wedding."
None of the guests could remember anything from that night—they had all been unconscious. Meanwhile, the only thoughts racing through Raghav's mind were of Sakshi. How could he save her? What had really happened? And how could he enter the ghost realm to find her?
Desperate for answers, Raghav scoured the internet, searching for any mention of a similar incident. He combed through articles, forums, and myths, hoping to find some mention of the ghost realm or anything about mysterious doors. After hours of searching, he finally came across a report about a strange door that had appeared in a remote village named Kheragarh, on the outskirts of the country. People had reported sightings of monstrous creatures, eerily similar to the ones Raghav had seen at the wedding.
The description of the creatures sent a jolt of hope through him. It was a long shot, but it was all he had. Without wasting any time, he packed his things, determined to head to Kheragarh. He didn't explain the full truth to Sakshi's parents—they had always treated him like their own son—but he reassured them that he would bring her back.
The look on Raghav's face gave them a glimmer of hope. He was their last chance, and they believed he would do whatever it took to find Sakshi.
As Raghav sat in the airplane, his mind kept drifting back to the horrifying events of the wedding day. He sank deeper into sadness, blaming himself for everything. If it weren't for him, the ghosts would have never come. Why had he been the only one able to see these entities his whole life? Why had they taken Sakshi?
Tears welled in his eyes as memories of her flashed through his mind. He prayed she was safe.
Upon arriving at Kheragarh, Raghav was struck by how desolate the village was. It was almost entirely abandoned, with only a few people still living there. However, no one was willing to talk to him. The villagers seemed terrified of outsiders and suspicious of his questions. It felt as though they knew something but were too afraid to say.
After hours of searching, Raghav found an old man named Bheema, the village elder. Unlike the others, Bheema welcomed him and offered him a place to stay for the night. His hut was simple, a small shelter on the outskirts of the village, but it was enough.
That evening, Raghav sat with Bheema by the fire, his heart racing with anticipation. "Sir, I heard that people here have seen ghosts and strange creatures. I'm—"
Before he could finish, Bheema interrupted, his eyes narrowing. "You've come for the door, haven't you?"
Raghav nodded quickly, leaning forward. "Yes. My fiancée, Sakshi, was taken by a woman who came through that door."
Bheema sighed deeply, staring into the flames. "The woman you saw is the Princess of the Ghost Realm. The stories say she's cold-hearted, cruel… but she wasn't always like that."
Raghav was taken aback. "How do you know so much about them? Aren't you afraid?"
Bheema's expression grew somber. "Our people have lived here for centuries. This village is one of the few places that connects the human realm to the others. The Ghost Realm is just one of them."
Raghav's voice softened as he thought back to his childhood. "All my life, I was lonely and afraid, thinking I was the only one who could see them. I thought… I thought I was special."
Bheema looked at him intently. "You are special, son. I can sense an energy within you. It's different."
"Energy?" Raghav frowned, unsure of what he meant. "Then why did they take Sakshi? What does she have to do with this?"
Bheema's gaze turned distant. "We are all bound by karma. Our past and future are intertwined. Perhaps this is not about Sakshi at all, but about *you*."
Raghav's heart tightened in his chest. "I don't care about that. I just need to save her. If she's hurt because of me… I won't forgive myself."
The old man looked at him with pity in his eyes. "Young man, going after her means walking into certain death. No one returns from the Ghost Realm."
Raghav's determination didn't waver. "Just show me the way. I'll go alone if I have to."
After a long silence, Bheema finally nodded. He gave Raghav directions to a mountain trail that led to a cave where the creatures resided. Before Raghav left, the old man handed him a strange weapon—an intricately carved sword with glowing symbols along its length.
Raghav stared at the weapon, confused. "What's this for?"
Bheema's voice was heavy with meaning. "This is the weapon of a god who once visited this village long ago. He left it behind to protect us. Take it. It's the only thing that can keep you alive in the Ghost Realm."
Raghav nodded, gripping the staff tightly. "Thank you. I'll bring her back."
With the weapon in hand, Raghav left the village, ready to face the dangers that awaited him in the Ghost Realm.