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Bhavya Bhanushali, a brilliant archaeologist in Rome, is offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with her idol. There's just one problem: the job is in India, the country where her parents tragically lost their lives...
"Bhavya, are you ready? Hurry up, beta, you'll be late!" Maasi's voice echoes from the kitchen.
"Yes, yes, Maasi, I'm coming!" I reply, grabbing my bag in a rush. Throwing a quick glance in the mirror to check if I've forgotten anything, I hurry out of my room and down the stairs.
Before Maasi can ask if I've eaten, I kiss her cheek and call out, "Bye, Maasi! I'll see you later!" She looks like she wants to say something, but I'm already halfway out the door.
The warm morning air greets me as I rush to the port. When I spot the small plane already waiting there, I curse under my breath. "Not again," I mutter, quickening my pace. Boarding the plane, I apologize to the driver for being late. "Sorry! The alarm betrayed me again," I say sheepishly.
He chuckles and shakes his head. "One day, you're going to miss the plane entirely."
I laugh nervously and find my usual seat. As soon as I settle in, the plane starts, heading toward the next stop, Mount Abu.
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The air here feels different, almost alive. I set my bag down on the wooden desk inside the main tent and start unpacking my tools and brush set. Today's task is exciting—we're working near the second tomb of the Suryakund Necropolis, known as the Rudraksha Crypt.
The name alone sends shivers down my spine. This place is near Mount Abu. The tomb is hidden within a thick cluster of vegetation, a stark contrast to the other vegetation surrounding it.
The plants—trees, bushes, vines—form an almost impenetrable wall around the tomb's entrance. Their green hues are vibrant, thriving in a place they shouldn't. It's like the tomb carries its own little world, untouched by the harsh desert outside.
"How is this even possible?" I mutter to myself as I step closer to the crypt's map pinned on the tent wall. "A jungle in the middle of the Mount Abu... it's as if nature itself is guarding this place."
"Still fascinated by the mystery?" Sofia, one of my teammates, teases as she walks in with a file.
"Fascinated isn't even the word, Sofia," I reply, shaking my head. "This place doesn't make sense. It's like stepping into a different dimension."
"Wait till you get closer to the tomb," she says with a smirk. "The air even smells different there."
I smile, eager to start the day's work.
The artifact assigned to me is no less intriguing: the Sunstone Compass. I sit down at my station and carefully place the artifact in front of me. The compass is old, incredibly old—its golden surface tarnished by time and coated in a stubborn layer of dirt and rust.
It's stuck, completely unmovable, and everyone who tried to open it before me failed. There's a strange allure to it, though. Even through the grime, I can tell this compass is no ordinary object.
