Act 1 – Shadows in a Normal Life
Chapter 1 – The Dream
The sound of a temple bell echoed in Arati’s ears.
She wasn’t in her room—she was standing on stone steps, surrounded by snow and the chanting of pilgrims. The peaks of Kedarnath loomed before her, the temple glowing faintly in the night.
A baby cried somewhere. A woman’s hand reached out, soft but desperate. And then, the shadow of a tall man—his forehead marked with ash—appeared beside the bell.
Arati gasped and woke up.
Her sheets were damp with sweat, her heart racing. Outside, the world was still dark.
It was just a dream.
Or was it?
Chapter 2 – Normal Life
The morning sun spilled into the small house, soft and golden.
Arati’s father coughed from his chair in the corner, his breath heavy, his hand trembling against the newspaper.
“Baba, don’t strain yourself,” Arati said, rushing to steady him. Her touch always calmed him in a way no medicine ever did. The wheeze in his chest softened, as if her palm carried a secret warmth.
Her stepmother entered with breakfast, her smile wide, almost too wide.
“Eat before school, Arati. You’ll be late.”
She looked perfect—always gentle, always caring. Some neighbors even whispered Arati was lucky to have such a loving stepmother. And yet… sometimes, when Arati caught her in the corner of her eye, the smile felt different. A little too sharp. A little too knowing.
Arati sat at the table. Her heart still raced from the dream, though she said nothing.
Her stepmother placed food on her plate, her voice sweet:
“You’ve been restless at night, haven’t you? Dreams again?”
Arati froze. How did she know?
Chapter 3 – Shadhu’s Warning
That night, sleep came slowly. But when it did, the dream returned.
This time, the baby’s cries were louder. The bell swung on its own.
And standing by the temple door was the same ash-marked man. His eyes glowed like embers.
“Arati…” he whispered. “The truth is buried in your blood. Ask your father. He knows.”
She stumbled back.
“Who are you? What do you want from me?”
The sadhu lifted his hand, and the snow around her turned red like blood.
“Your mother. Your sister. They are not gone. But beware the woman in your house.”
Arati jolted awake, heart pounding. The words echoed long after the dream faded:
“Beware the woman in your house.”
💬 Comment Section
1. Who exactly is this sadhu — a guardian guiding Arati, or a manipulator with his own agenda?
2. Why did he say “truth is buried in your blood” — could it be tied to the mystery of the 7 chakras?
3. Why does the dream always show a crying baby, a bell, and snow turning red? Do these symbols point to Arati’s hidden past?
4. The sadhu mentioned mother and sister. What do you think really happened to them — are they alive, trapped, or sacrificed?
5. Why does he warn against the woman in the house? Is her stepmother truly dangerous, or is this a trick to turn Arati against her?
6. Could Arati’s father be hiding more than his illness — maybe the truth that connects her family to the sadhu?
7. If you were Arati, would you trust the sadhu’s warning or confront your stepmother directly?
