Sitara and The Dayan

Chapter Thirty

"I'm not gonna answer," Sitara said, her brows furrowing with concern. "It might be my grandma trying to find us."

"Let's just hear what the Dayan has to say," Shaurya urged, his tone determined. "Answer it."

Sitara hesitated for a moment, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. "Are you sure?" she asked.

"Go ahead," Shaurya insisted, nodding in encouragement.

With a hesitant nod, Sitara accepted the call and put it on speakerphone, her fingers trembling slightly.

"Sitara," Mr. Vikranth's voice crackled through the line, carrying a sense of urgency that sent shivers down her spine. Though she couldn't see him, she could imagine the tears that might be welling in his eyes as he spoke. "My love... Netra.... she... is in danger."

"Can Mr. Vikranth know telepathy?" she whispered to Vihaan.

"Could be," Vihaan whispered back.

Just as Sitara was about to respond, Shaurya intervened, taking the phone from her. "I was going to inform you that," he said calmly, though his voice carried a sense of urgency.

"She called me," Mr. Vikranth exclaimed, his words rushed and breathless. "She said she's in danger and the Dayan is after her."

Sitara's heart tightened in her chest as Mr. Vikranth's words sank in. Her fears were not merely overthinking; they were real. The Dayan knew about the dagger, and she was after it. It was a chilling realization, one that filled Sitara with a sense of dread. Has Grandma already obtained the dagger? The thought sent shivers down her spine.

"She was in a hurry, but she mentioned she was heading to her sister's old castle," Mr. Vikranth explained, his voice ragged with urgency. "She warned that the Dayan would locate her soon. We have to find her quickly. We have to keep her safe."

"Mr. Vikranth, we'll find her. Stay calm," Shaurya reassured the rakshasa, his voice steady and reassuring.

"Where are you now?" Mr. Vikranth asked.

"We were in the city," Shaurya replied.

"Great. I'm in her old home. Miles away from where she is. But you can reach her faster than me," he said. The air was filled with the loud noise of metal clattering. It seemed like Mr. Vikrant had accidentally dropped something.

"Okay," Shaurya replied, as he busied himself with securing the reins on the horses.

"Where's her sister's castle?" Vihaan asked, leaning closer to the phone.

"Are you sure I can say her address and you are not anywhere in earshot?" Mr. Vikranth asked, his tone cautious.

"Yes," Vihaan assured him.

"At the base of Mukund Mountain, hidden among the woods near a waterfall, is an old ruined castle. She's there," Mr. Vikranth said.

"We are leaving for the place now," Shaurya continued. He turned to Vihaan. "Vihaan, look for the place on the map."

Vihaan nodded and pulled out a rolled-up map from his backpack. As he unfurled it, the man revealed a complex web of roads and meandering trails intricately woven like a tapestry upon the parchment. It sprawled out before them, resembling a labyrinth of twists and turns, each line representing a path leading through the vast expanse of the forest.

Vihaan jabbed his finger towards Mukund Mountain, letting out a frustrated curse. "Damn! The mountain is miles away," Vihaan said as he traced the route with a wary eye. "It will probably take us seven to eight hours."

"Don't worry. I know how to convert the eight hours to four hours," Shaurya said confidently.

"I'm on my way," Mr. Vikranth's voice crackled through the phone once more, urgency dripping from every word. "Please, be quick. Keep her safe. And if you get to her before I do, take her back to my home." His voice wavered, a hint of desperation seeping through the line, mingling with the faint sound of stifled sobs.

"Mr. Vikranth, I promise you, we'll do everything we can to ensure her safety," Sitara interjected. She sought to offer him some solace amidst his distress.

"Thank you," he replied, gratitude evident despite the tremor in his voice. "Please, keep her safe." With a last plea, he ended the call.

"Let's go," Shaurya said. He urged the horses forward and the carriage lurching into motion as they set off. "Enough of the game. This time I'm going to get the dagger."

"Let's go," Shaurya declared, determination resonating in his voice as he spurred the horses forward, the carriage jolting into motion as they set off. "Enough of the game. This time I'm going to get the dagger."

**