Chapter 8: The Final Room
Devika had reserved one room in the lodge for what she called her greatest achievement. It contained a dressing table, a wardrobe full of sarees, bright lights, and a large mirror.
She led Aaradhya inside and presented the room like a gift.
“You have become exactly what I wanted,” she said.
Aaradhya looked at the reflection. The makeup was immaculate. The saree was elegant. The jewellery glittered under the lights. But the person in the mirror looked exhausted.
“You keep saying you transformed me,” Aaradhya replied. “You changed my clothes. You frightened me. You tried to control my body. But you never asked what I wanted.”
Devika’s face tightened. “After everything I’ve done for you?”
“You did things to me. That isn’t the same as doing something for me.”
For a long moment, neither spoke. Then Devika locked the door from the outside. She believed isolation would break Aaradhya’s resistance.
Instead, it gave Aaradhya time to put Maya’s escape plan into action.
Discussion (0)