It had been more than a month since the royal festival, the day that had changed everything for Tanvi, Rahul, and Mira. Life had slowly returned to its usual rhythm in the kingdom, the memory of the enemy attack fading into the background. The streets bustled with the sounds of merchants hawking their wares, children playing in the alleyways, and the steady hum of life in the capital.
For Tanvi, the days had blended together, each one a little more monotonous than the last. Her shop was thriving, thanks to her hard work and Mira's charm with the customers. Business was good, and people seemed to have forgotten the chaos that had unfolded at the festival. But for Tanvi, it was harder to forget. Every day, she felt the weight of the unspoken expectations that hung over her like a dark cloud. She had saved lives, had been brave, yet here she was, still viewed as just another woman, meant to cook, sell sweets, and eventually marry.
She had tried to push it out of her mind, telling herself that she was lucky. After all, they were surviving in a world they hadn't even meant to stay in. It had been seven months since they had found themselves in this strange, ancient land, so far from their own time and world.
*Seven months.*
It was hard to believe how much time had passed. And the more Tanvi thought about it, the more she realized how little progress they had made in figuring out how to return home.
---
One afternoon, as she stood by the window of their small shop, watching the usual bustle outside, her thoughts began to drift. Mira was in the back, preparing sweets, humming to herself. She seemed more comfortable here than Tanvi had expected. In fact, they both had adjusted to this world surprisingly well, considering how different things were from their own time.
Tanvi glanced over her shoulder at Mira, smiling to herself. The two of them had adapted quickly, even if they had to follow certain rules as women. Things weren't perfect, of course—there were moments of frustration, moments when they were reminded of their limited freedom, but they had grown used to it.
"Hey," Mira's voice broke through her thoughts as she entered the room, wiping her hands on a cloth. "You've been staring out that window for the past ten minutes. What's on your mind?"
Tanvi sighed, shaking her head. "I was just thinking… It's been seven months since we got here."
Mira raised an eyebrow, leaning against the counter. "Seven months? Really?"
Tanvi nodded. "Yeah. And we haven't even started our research, Mira. We haven't done anything to figure out how to get back home. It's like we've just… settled here."
Mira gave a small shrug, not looking particularly concerned. "Well, it's not like things have been bad. We've had a great time here, haven't we? Sure, we have some rules to follow as women, but it's fine. We've made a life here."
Tanvi frowned. "That's exactly the problem, Mira. We've *made* a life here. But this isn't our life. We're from a different world, a different time. We have families back home, friends… I don't even know if we're missed, or if time is moving differently there. What if—"
"Tanvi," Mira interrupted, her voice calm but firm. "You're overthinking it. Look, I miss home too, but panicking about it isn't going to help. We'll figure it out when we figure it out."
Tanvi bit her lip, her frustration bubbling up again. "And what if we *don't* figure it out, Mira? What if we're stuck here forever?"
Mira didn't answer right away, her eyes flickering with the same doubt that Tanvi felt. But she quickly masked it with a grin, leaning in closer to her friend. "You know what? If we're stuck here forever, at least we've got a business running. We've made something of ourselves. And besides…" She smirked playfully. "At least we get to watch Rahul get showered with marriage recommendations."
Tanvi groaned, rolling her eyes. "Don't remind me."
The mention of Rahul and his sudden popularity made her stomach churn with annoyance. Ever since the royal festival, he had been hailed as a hero—praised for his bravery, admired by the kingdom's citizens, and most annoyingly, by all the young women who seemed eager to marry him. There wasn't a day that went by when someone didn't ask Tanvi or Mira about Rahul's availability.
"Oh, come on," Mira teased, her eyes glinting mischievously. "You have to admit, it's kind of funny. He went from being this regular guy to the kingdom's most eligible bachelor. And he's *so* awkward about it."
Tanvi couldn't help but laugh at that. It was true—Rahul seemed as uncomfortable with the attention as she was frustrated by it. He wasn't the type to bask in the limelight, and watching him try to navigate all the marriage proposals had been mildly entertaining. But it didn't make things any easier for her.
"Yeah, yeah," Tanvi muttered. "It's just… I don't know, Mira. He gets all this praise, all this attention, and I—"
"And you what?" Mira asked, crossing her arms. "You're jealous?"
Tanvi hesitated, unsure of how to put her feelings into words. "I'm not jealous," she said finally. "I just… I don't know. I feel like no one sees me. I'm working just as hard as he is, but he's the one getting all the recognition. It's like because I'm a woman, I'm automatically expected to just… be in the background."
Mira's expression softened. "Tanvi, you know that's not true. You've built this business. You've made a name for yourself. Maybe it's not the same kind of attention that Rahul's getting, but it's still something. People respect you."
"Do they?" Tanvi asked, her voice quiet. "Or do they just see me as the woman who runs the sweets shop? The woman who's *lucky* to be here, rather than someone who actually deserves to be?"
Mira was silent for a moment, her gaze dropping to the floor. "I can't answer that for you," she said softly. "But I do know this—you've done more than anyone else would have in our situation. You've built something from nothing. And if people can't see that, it's their loss."
Tanvi sighed, her heart heavy with doubt. "Maybe."
Mira stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You're not invisible, Tanvi. I see you. And so do the people who matter."
Tanvi smiled weakly, grateful for her friend's support. But deep down, she knew that the battle she was fighting wasn't just with the world around her—it was with herself. She had to prove her worth, not to others, but to herself. And until she could do that, the doubt would never go away.
---
As the days went on, Tanvi tried to push her feelings aside, focusing on the business and the routine of their lives in this strange world. But the nagging sense of being overlooked, of being less than what she was capable of, continued to eat away at her.
And as much as she tried to forget about it, the image of Rahul's growing popularity only made it harder.
One evening, as they closed up the shop for the night, Mira turned to her with a grin. "So, heard anything about Rahul's latest suitor?"
Tanvi groaned, running a hand through her hair. "Please, Mira, not again."
"Oh, come on," Mira laughed. "It's hilarious! I heard this one's from a noble family. Apparently, she's very pretty. The matchmaker says they'd be a perfect pair."
Tanvi rolled her eyes, but the familiar sting of frustration flared up again. "Perfect pair, huh? Well, good for him."
Mira noticed the shift in her tone and her smile faded. "You're really bothered by this, aren't you?"
Tanvi paused, unsure of how to answer. "I just don't get it, Mira. Why is it that people like Rahul get all this attention, and I—"
"Get overlooked," Mira finished for her.
Tanvi nodded, her throat tight.
Mira sighed, placing a comforting hand on Tanvi's shoulder. "Tanvi, you're stronger than you know. And one day, people are going to see that. I promise."
Tanvi wished she could believe her.
The news spread like wildfire through the bustling streets of the capital. Rumors whispered from one shop to another, from one household to the next, until the entire city was buzzing with fear. Kidnappings—children disappearing in the dead of night, without a trace. It started with a single case, then another, and another. Each new disappearance stoked the fear and paranoia of the people until it reached a fever pitch.
At first, no one wanted to believe it. The capital, after all, was a secure place, surrounded by walls and patrolled by the royal guards. It was unthinkable that something so sinister could happen here, in the heart of the kingdom. But as more children vanished, the reality became impossible to ignore.
---
Tanvi and Mira were closing up their shop one evening when they overheard two women talking in hushed voices just outside their door.
"They found another one gone last night," one of the women said, her voice trembling. "The Patel family's youngest. Taken right from his bed."
The other woman gasped, clutching her shawl tighter around her shoulders. "Oh dear God, that's the third one this week. How can this be happening? Where are the guards? Why isn't anyone doing anything?"
"They say no one sees the kidnappers," the first woman replied, her voice lowering further. "The children just disappear, as if snatched by shadows. Some are saying it's black magic."
Mira, who had been sweeping the floor near the door, froze. She looked up at Tanvi, her expression troubled. "Did you hear that?" she whispered.
Tanvi nodded, her brows furrowed in concern. "I've been hearing rumors all day. It sounds like it's getting worse."
Mira put down the broom and walked over to Tanvi. "Do you think it's true? I mean, children just vanishing like that… it sounds unreal."
Tanvi sighed, rubbing her temples. "I don't know. But the fact that so many are saying the same thing… it can't be a coincidence. Something is happening, and it's terrifying people."
As if on cue, the door to their shop swung open, and Rahul walked in, looking unusually grim. He was usually the light-hearted one, always ready with a joke or teasing remark, but today his face was hard, his expression serious.
"Rahul," Tanvi said, surprised by his sudden entrance. "You look like you've seen a ghost. What's going on?"
Rahul shut the door behind him and leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "Have you two heard about the kidnappings?"
"Just now," Mira said, nodding. "It's all anyone's talking about."
Rahul let out a heavy sigh. "It's bad. Really bad. The palace is in a panic. The guards are being stretched thin trying to patrol the city, but no one has any leads. Whoever's doing this, they're smart. They're staying out of sight."
Tanvi's frown deepened. "What about the children? Any word on… whether they've found any of them?"
Rahul shook his head, his jaw clenched. "No. Not a single one has been found. It's like they've just… disappeared."
Mira shuddered, wrapping her arms around herself. "That's horrible. Those poor families."
Rahul's eyes darkened. "It's not just that. People are terrified, and they're starting to lose faith in the royal guard. They're locking their children inside, barely letting them out of their sight. The capital's becoming a ghost town after dark."
"How long has this been going on?" Tanvi asked.
"A little over a month," Rahul replied. "But it's getting worse. More frequent. The palace is trying to keep it under wraps to avoid a full-blown panic, but… well, you've seen how people are reacting."
Tanvi was silent for a moment, her mind racing. There was something deeply unsettling about this. The kidnappings weren't random. They were calculated, and whoever was behind them knew exactly what they were doing.
"Do you think it's connected to the attack during the festival?" she asked suddenly, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Rahul.
He paused, considering her question. "I've thought about that," he admitted. "But there's no evidence to link the two. The attack was a power grab, an attempt to overthrow the king. This… this feels different. More personal. Like someone's targeting the people themselves, not just the royal family."
"But why children?" Mira asked, her voice small. "Why take the most innocent?"
Rahul shook his head, his expression grim. "I don't know. But whatever the reason, it's working. People are scared. And fear makes them easy to control."
Tanvi's stomach twisted at his words. She had always been good at reading situations, at understanding the bigger picture. And what she saw now wasn't just a series of random kidnappings. This was part of a larger plan, something more insidious.
"We need to be careful," she said softly. "Whoever's behind this… they're not done."
Mira bit her lip, glancing out the window where the last traces of sunlight were fading. "Do you think we're in danger too? I mean, if they're targeting families with children…"
"I don't think we're the primary targets," Tanvi replied. "But we can't rule anything out. We need to stay alert. And if we hear anything, we need to tell the authorities."
Rahul nodded in agreement. "I've been speaking with some of the guards. They're keeping an eye on the shop, just in case."
Tanvi raised an eyebrow. "You've been talking to the guards? Since when did you get so close with the palace security?"
Rahul gave her a small, tired smile. "Let's just say, after the whole festival incident, I've made some connections."
Tanvi couldn't help but smirk. "Of course you have. Mr. Popular."
Rahul rolled his eyes, but there was no real humor in his expression. "Look, just promise me you'll be careful, okay? Both of you. I know you can handle yourselves, but this… this feels different. Darker."
Mira nodded solemnly. "We'll be careful. But what about you? Don't think you're going to run off and play hero again, okay?"
Rahul chuckled, though there was no real joy in it. "I'll try to resist the temptation. But if something happens, I'll be there. You know that."
Tanvi looked at him, her eyes searching his face. There was something unspoken between them, a shared understanding that things were about to get much worse before they got better.
"Let's just hope it doesn't come to that," she said quietly.
As they locked up the shop and prepared to head home, the weight of the situation settled over them like a heavy shroud. The city was no longer the vibrant, bustling place they had come to know. It was a city on the edge, gripped by fear and uncertainty.
And somewhere in the shadows, someone was watching, waiting for their next move.