Day 6
The heavy oak door creaked softly behind Kabir as he closed it, leaving Shreya alone in the warmth of the guest room. The faint amber glow of the ornate chandelier overhead shimmered against the deep blue walls adorned with classic oil paintings. The thick velvet curtains absorbed the chill of night that crept outside, cocooning the room in a deceptive tranquility. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined one wall, their spines embossed in gold leaf, thick Persian rugs muffled the footsteps of the mansion, and the faint scent of sandalwood lingered in the air.
Shreya lay curled atop the grand bed, the silken sheets tangled around her fragile frame like a fragile armor against the world. Her nightgown, once soft and flowing, now clung damply against the bruises on her arms and shoulders.
