Chapter 12- Who even was she?

She looked around for the leg piece but couldn't remember where she had left it as she leaned down under the shelf. She put her hands underneath and waved it around, collecting dust and spider webs before her hand hit something smooth. She grabbed it and pulled it from under the shelf. It was a passport.

She picked it up in her hand and sat down on the floor with her legs crossed. She slowly turned the page to see her mother's photo. Her eyes escaped to the ID to find what her name was. She couldn't believe her eyes.

She could hardly make out the words. It said

Name: Aafira Ahmed

Religion: Muslim

…

Her eyes widened at the sight of this finding. As far as they were raised, it seemed as though they were complete Hindus, never paying attention or concern to other religions. Now Archie doubted her very name. Was she really a Krishna? Or…

Just as she was in deep thought, she heard footsteps getting closer. She suddenly closed the door to the secret room and hid in a corner, trying to look away from the man's head which lay in the glass case, staring deep into her eyes. The footsteps were getting louder as Archie held her breath. She could hear her heart, beating uncontrollably and finally freezing in shock as the door knob jiggled and a tall figure entered. Archie prayed in her mind that they leave before anything was to happen.

Suddenly, the switched clicked and the light turns on. To her relief, it was just Augustin.

She exhales and puts her hands on Augustine's shoulder before looking to the ground and panting.

"Why do I always find you here? What's so interesting in this dusty room. I can hardly breath."

Archie looked back up at him before answering,

"It's nothing… uh, have you arranged everything for tomorrow night?"

"Yes, but what if your sister calls your father? I heard the argument before. I'm sure she won't just sit back and enjoy the show."

Archie laughs

"I have her phone locked safely in my drawer"

"What about the landline…"

Archie stops for a while to think.

"Father doesn't pick up from the landline when at work. He only uses it to contact the workers. Even if she tries to, I doubt she remembers the number."

"Looks like you're prepared" Augustin winked before taking a step towards her.

Archie takes her hands off his shoulder before sternly gesturing him to leave the room.

"Fine, I'm leaving" He whinges as he holds up his hands in surrender and leaving the room. Archie listened as his footsteps became quieter and quieter until it finally vanished.

She thought about why she found it uncomfortable as he moved closer but brushed it aside as it wasn't a secret that she enjoyed personal space.

Archie's eyes turned back to the passport. Was she seeing things? She even questioned whether that woman was really her mother and not just someone Raj admired. But the photos were taken with such family presence. She wanted to stop thinking and lay on the ground but she had to prepare to leave the mansion soon. Time was ticking.

She examined the large wooden shelf once more to find a row full of old sarees. She took one and smelt it. The fragrance gave her memories. A familiar scent. Amongst the beautiful sarees, one stood out. It was sophisticatedly designed with jewels and embroidery. Just like a wedding saree. It was chilli red with a tint of gold. She held it close to her chest before taking it in her hands along with a bundle of other sarees. They all held the same familiar scent, which she couldn't resist. She looked around once more for the leg piece before giving up and turning towards the door when she noticed something sparkling in the dust near the pole. She knelt down and picked it up, realising that it was what she was looking for. She then put it back in the pockets of her dress and walked outside, looking back one last time into the room. Amongst the carvings on the wall, she saw the numbers 21/04/05. She printed it in her memory before she saw a small notepad sitting on the shelf underneath were the sarees were. She picked it up too and left the bedroom and got ready for a long shower.

Meanwhile, Tanvi was unable to think straight. She convinced herself that Archie wouldn't do anything to save her from her worry. She calmed down a while before walking to Archie's room in search of her phone. But to her surprise, it was locked.

She missed her sister. Talking to her, laughing with her and fighting with her. She knew it had all ended the moment she told of the truth although it had only been a day.

She turned towards the stairs and made her way to the landline.

When Archie finally finished showering and opened the door, she finds Augustin leaning against the wall, nearly half asleep.

"Ehm.."

Augustin's lifts up his face to meet Archie.

He straightens his back before adding,

"Oh.. hey, I got something you might want."

"Is that so?"

Archie notices a smirk appear across Augustin's face as he holds up a card. It was Raja's credit card.

Although this was beneficial for Archie, she was disappointed at her father's selection of a trustworthy worker. He fell in for just a few bundles of cash. "I mean, Raj does have way too much to hide from me, may as well choose your men with caution", she thought to herself while internally rolling her eyes.

They smile at each other before walking away since the workers aren't meant to be talking to the sisters for too long and if they did, it would become suspicious, even for Tanvi.

Archie made her way back to the room to pack the sarees into her suitcase. She put the leg piece in a small metal box and placed it safely to a corner when a thought came to her mind. What was the code to the credit card? She started rummaging through her mind to think of any numbers which Raj had mentioned of significantly. The only one which came to her mind was 21/04/05. What was so special about this date? Why was it carved to the wall? She thought to herself. Nevertheless, she looked outside her window peacefully. She still hadn't got to terms with leaving the mansion, her father and Tanvi. But her mind was restless, and more than anything, she felt anger towards them. What had to be done had to be done.