The soft hum of the air conditioning was a constant companion in Gauri's spacious cabin, the panoramic window offering a sweeping view of the city, a stark contrast to the ancient stones that often occupied her thoughts. As CEO of Rathore Tourism Industries, her days were usually filled with spreadsheets, marketing strategies, and expansion plans. Today, however, a knot of unease had been tightening in her chest.
A polite knock broke her concentration. "Come in," she said, her voice calm despite the underlying tension.
Priya, one of her colleagues, a young woman with perpetually worried eyes, stood at the doorway. "Gauri ma'am," she began hesitantly, "Chairman sir has asked for you in his office. Immediately."
Gauri nodded, a sense of foreboding settling over her. "Thank you, Priya." She rose from her leather chair, the weight of responsibility pressing down on her. Whatever her father wanted, it didn't sound good.
Vikram Singh Rathore's office exuded power and authority. The dark wood furniture gleamed under the recessed lighting, and the city view from his window seemed even more imposing. He sat behind his large mahogany desk, his expression stern and unreadable.
"Sit down, Gauri," he said, his voice clipped, gesturing to the chair directly in front of him.
Gauri obeyed, her gaze fixed on her father. He slid a thin file across the polished surface towards her. "Read this."
Her fingers trembled slightly as she picked it up. The stark black lettering on the cover read: "Incident Report - Swarg Sadan." Inside, the clinical language detailed another death at the castle. This time, it was ruled a suicide. A cold dread washed over Gauri. This was becoming a pattern.
Her father's voice, sharp and laced with disappointment, cut through her thoughts. "Another one, Gauri. Another life lost within those walls. Do you understand the implications of this? The authorities are already raising concerns. If this continues, they will seal Swarg Sadan indefinitely. Our reputation, our entire business, is at stake."
He leaned forward, his gaze intense. "That castle… it's under your purview, Gauri. You're the one who's been overseeing its operations, handling its… unique issues. I entrusted this to you, believing you were capable. But this… this carelessness is unacceptable. You're not a child anymore. You need to take your responsibilities seriously."
Gauri felt the sting of his words, but she knew he was right. A wave of guilt washed over her. She had been aware of the strange occurrences, the whispers among the staff, but perhaps she hadn't acted decisively enough.
"P-Papa, I understand," she said, her voice low but steady. "I am truly sorry. I should have been more proactive."
Vikram sighed, running a hand over his temples. "Perhaps I should just send in the police. Let them handle the investigation."
A knot of fear tightened in Gauri's stomach. The thought of official investigators swarming the castle, potentially stirring up whatever dark forces resided there, sent a shiver down her spine. What if they, too, became victims?
"Papa," she interjected, her voice urgent, "please, don't. Sending the police… it could be dangerous. We don't know what's truly happening there. What if they get hurt too?"
She leaned forward, her eyes pleading. "Please, let me go. Let me and my friends go to Swarg Sadan. We can stay there for a few days, try to understand what's going on, uncover the mystery. In the meantime," she added quickly, "we can prohibit any guests from entering the castle. Seal it off until we have answers."
Silence hung heavy in the room as Vikram considered her proposal. He stared out the window, his expression unreadable. Gauri held her breath, the weight of the company's future resting on his decision. Finally, he turned back to her, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.
"Very well, Gauri," he said slowly. "I will give you a few days. But understand this: if you fail, if anything else happens, I will not hesitate to bring in the authorities. This is your chance. Don't waste it."
Gauri nodded sharply, her heart pounding with a mix of determination and trepidation. She knew her father. His approval was a shifting landscape, easily altered by the winds of business and reputation. This was her chance, perhaps her only chance, to prove her competence, not just as his daughter, but as the CEO he reluctantly groomed her to be. Failure wasn't an option.