Art Gallery

The art gallery buzzed with life.

Every corner of the hall was filled with colors, textures, and stories trapped inside frames and sculptures. Visitors moved slowly from stall to stall, admiring the artwork. Some whispered praises to the artists, while others discussed prices with quiet excitement.

A few pieces had already been sold.

Soft instrumental music floated in the background, adding warmth to the elegant space.

Security was tight.

Guards stood near every entrance, checking tickets carefully before allowing visitors inside.

Just then, a sleek black car stopped near the private entrance.

The Mauryas stepped out.

They entered through the VIP door, avoiding the crowd at the main gate. Everything seemed perfectly organized — the lighting, the arrangement of sculptures, the polished marble floors reflecting the glow of the gallery lights.

The gallery manager quickly noticed them and rushed over.

“Good morning, sir,” he greeted Vihaan respectfully. “Welcome.”

He nodded politely to Tia and offered a warm smile to Ivana and Palki.

Vihaan immediately began discussing the exhibition with him.

“Everything running smoothly?” he asked.

“Yes sir, visitors have been increasing since morning,” the manager replied proudly.

While they spoke, Ivana’s attention was already drifting elsewhere.

Her eyes sparkled as she spotted a beautifully crafted clay pot decorated with intricate floral patterns.

“Woah… that’s gorgeous,” she murmured to herself before walking toward the stall.

Meanwhile, Palki stood quietly.

Her eyes moved across the gallery.

But she wasn’t simply admiring the art.

She was searching.

Scanning faces.

Looking for something.

Or someone.

Tia noticed the restless movement of her eyes.

She stepped closer and gently touched Palki’s shoulder.

“Go,” she said softly. “Move freely. There’s no one here to control you. Explore the gallery.”

Palki looked at her for a second.

Then a small smile appeared on her lips.

“Okay.”

She walked deeper into the gallery.

One stall after another passed by her.

Handcrafted sculptures.

Paintings bursting with color.

Wood carvings that looked almost alive.

She touched some pieces gently, admiring the details. Every artwork seemed to hold a story.

Then suddenly—

Her steps slowed.

Her eyes stopped on a small sculpture displayed on a wooden table.

It showed a mother holding her little daughter.

The child was dressed in a teddy bear costume, clinging to her mother with innocent joy.

Palki froze.

A memory surfaced quietly.

She used to do the same.

She would wear a teddy costume just to make her mother laugh… running around the house while her mother pretended to chase her.

For a moment, the gallery disappeared.

Only that memory remained.

A tear slipped from the corner of her eye.

She slowly reached her hand toward the sculpture—

But before she could touch it—

A group of children suddenly rushed past her, laughing loudly.

They accidentally collided with her.

Palki lost her balance.

Her body tilted backward—

But before she could fall—

A strong arm wrapped around her waist.

Firm.

Secure.

Pulling her back.

Her back collided gently with a solid chest.

For a second, time froze.

Palki didn’t look surprised.

It felt… familiar.

The grip tightened slightly as the person steadied her.

Then slowly—

He turned her toward him.

Their eyes met.

Deep. Intense.

And unmistakable.

It was Miransh.

Her Ansh.

They were looking at each other.

Neither spoke.

The noise of the gallery faded into the background as if the world had stepped aside for a moment.

Just then—

“Bhai!”

Ivana’s excited voice broke the silence.

Both Miransh and Palki blinked out of the moment.

They quickly stepped away from each other.

Ivana rushed toward them, practically bouncing with excitement.

“Bhai, you’re here!” she exclaimed.

Before he could react, she threw her arms around him in a tight hug.

“What a surprise!” she said happily.

After a second, she stepped back and looked at him with curiosity.

“But wait… you said you weren’t coming today. Then what happened?”

Miransh was about to answer—

But Palki spoke first.

“Because he doesn’t trust me.”

Her voice was calm. Too calm.

Both of them turned toward her.

Palki smiled slightly before continuing.

“Right, Ansh?”

Her eyes held a quiet challenge.

“You thought I’d run away again, so you came here to keep an eye on me.”

She tilted her head slightly.

“But don’t worry,” she added softly.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Miransh stared at her.

There was something strange about the way she said it.

Not rebellious.

Not angry.

Almost… controlled.

But that only made it more suspicious.

Without waiting for his reply, Palki turned away.

Her gaze returned to the sculpture that had caught her attention earlier—the mother holding her little daughter in a teddy costume.

But this time—

Someone else was already holding it.

A young girl stood at the counter, speaking to the seller.

Palki walked up to her gently.

“Excuse me,” she said politely. “Can I take this sculpture… please?”

The girl looked at it, then at Palki, hesitating for a moment.

“I’m sorry,” she said apologetically. “I’m buying this for my mom. Tomorrow is her birthday.”

She smiled softly before taking the sculpture and walking away.

Palki remained standing there.

Her eyes followed the sculpture as it disappeared into the crowd.

A thin layer of moisture filled them.

Miransh noticed it.

So did Ivana.

Ivana immediately stepped beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

“It’s okay,” she said gently. “There are so many beautiful sculptures here. We’ll find something even better.”

She began pointing at other pieces nearby.

“Look at this one… and this! Isn’t this pretty?”

She showed one sculpture after another.

Ivana was trying her best to cheer her up.

But Palki barely looked at them.

None of them felt right.

None of them carried the memory she had seen in that mother–daughter sculpture.

Miransh watched her.

His gaze slowly shifted to the direction where the girl with the sculpture had disappeared.

Then back to Palki.

Later — Afternoon

Tia finally found the three of them near one of the sculpture sections.

For a moment she looked surprised seeing Miransh there.

But then she understood immediately why he had come.

She sighed quietly.

“Come,” she said. “Let’s have lunch.”

The three of them followed her to the dining area inside the gallery.

Soon everyone was seated around the table, plates filled with food.

For a few minutes, only the soft clinking of cutlery could be heard.

But one person wasn’t focused on the food.

Palki.

She was busy texting someone on her phone.

Miransh’s eyes kept drifting toward her again and again.

Suddenly—

Her expression changed.

It was subtle, but Miransh noticed it instantly.

Palki quickly wiped her hands with a tissue and stood up.

“Excuse me.”

Without waiting for a response, she walked away.

Miransh silently finished the last bite on his plate.

Then he stood up as well.

And followed her.

At the table, Tia, Vihaan, and Ivana exchanged a tired look.

All three sighed together.

***

Palki walked down the hallway.

Her heels clicked softly against the marble floor.

Behind her—

Miransh followed.

A few steps before the ladies’ washroom, Palki suddenly stopped.

Miransh stopped as well. He finally noticed he was standing before the girl’s washroom. 

Palki slowly turned around.

A playful smile appeared on her face.

“Why did you stop?” she asked sweetly.

“Come with me.”

Miransh rolled his eyes.

Palki gave him a teasing look before turning around again and walking inside the washroom.

Miransh leaned against the wall outside and waited.

Five minutes passed.

Then ten.

Then fifteen.

Then twenty.

His brows slowly knitted together.

Something didn’t feel right.

Just then a lady was about to enter the washroom.

Miransh quickly stopped her.

“Excuse me,” he said politely. “My friend went inside a while ago. She’s taking a long time. Could you check if she’s alright?”

The lady nodded.

“What does she look like?”

Miransh replied instantly.

“She’s wearing a yellow knee-length dress. Transparent heels. A golden watch on her left hand. Golden studs in her ears… and a simple anklet on her right leg.”

The lady smiled knowingly.

“The way you’re describing her,” she teased lightly, “she doesn’t sound like just a friend.”

For a moment—

Miransh had no answer.

The lady chuckled softly.

“Don’t worry. I’ll check.”

She walked inside.

Miransh ran a hand through his hair, suddenly feeling restless.

A minute later the lady came back out.

“There’s no one like that inside,” she said.

Miransh’s eyes widened.

“There are only two girls in there,” she added. “And neither of them match your description.”

Miransh thanked her quickly and walked away.

His pace became faster.

He searched every nearby corner of the gallery.

Nothing.

He immediately pulled out his phone and called Palki.

Ring.

The call connected.

“Where are you?” he asked sharply.

From the other side, a confused voice replied—

“In the dining area.”

Miransh froze.

“Ivana?”

“Yes bhai,” she said. “Bestie forgot her phone here.”

Miransh closed his eyes in frustration.

Ivana asked, “What happened? Why were you calling her?”

Miransh replied through clenched teeth.

“Because she ran away.”

“What?!” Ivana shouted.

Tia and Vihaan looked at her in alarm.

Ivana quickly told them what Miransh said.

All three stood up immediately.

Ivana dramatically slapped her forehead.

“Why bestie!!”

Meanwhile Miransh rushed toward one of the security guards and showed him Palki’s photo.

“Did you see her leaving?”

The guard shook his head.

“No, sir.”

Just then Miransh’s phone rang again.

Vihaan.

He answered instantly.

“Miransh, come to the security room,” Vihaan said from the other side. “We’re checking the CCTV footage.”

Miransh immediately headed there.

Security Room

Tia, Vihaan, and Ivana were already standing near the monitors when Miransh entered.

The operator was scrolling through multiple camera angles.

Corridors.

Entrances.

Stalls.

The second-floor footage appeared on screen.

In the food court—

Miransh suddenly leaned forward.

“Stop.”

The operator paused the video.

“Zoom in on the ice-cream stall,” Miransh ordered.

The footage zoomed.

And there she was.

Palki.

Sitting peacefully.

Eating ice cream.

Ivana’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“BESTIE IS EATING ICE CREAM WITHOUT ME?!”

Before anyone could react, she ran toward the exit.

Miransh, Vihaan, and Tia hurried after her.

Ice-Cream Stall

Palki sat comfortably at the counter, enjoying a half cassata ice cream.

She took another bite.

Then looked up.

And froze.

Miransh.

Ivana.

Tia.

Vihaan.

All four of them were standing there staring at her.

Palki blinked in confusion and walked toward them.

“What happened?” she asked casually.

“Why do you all look so tense?”

She took another bite while speaking.

Ivana gasped dramatically.

“Bestie! How could you?!”

Palki blinked.

“How could I what?”

“How could you eat this delicious cassata without me?!”

Palki burst into a small laugh and held the spoon toward her.

“Then have some.”

Ivana immediately took a bite.

“Hmm! Worth forgiving you.”

Palki looked at the others again.

“But seriously,” she asked, “why are you all so worried?”

Tia replied calmly.

“Because Miransh thought you ran away again.”

Palki widened her eyes in mock innocence.

“Really, Ansh?”

She tilted her head slightly.

“How could I do that? I told you yesterday I wasn’t going anywhere.”

Her voice was sweet.

But Miransh didn’t respond.

He simply stared at her.

Suspiciously.

Ivana licked another spoon of cassata and shook her head.

“Very bad, bhai,” she mumbled.

Tia chuckled at her reaction.

Vihaan checked his watch.

“Alright,” he said. “You all go home. I have some work here. I’ll come later.”

Everyone nodded.

Tia placed a hand on his arm.

“Take care.”

Vihaan smiled and nodded.

Soon they began walking toward the exit.

But throughout the walk—

Miransh’s gaze never left Palki.

Because something about her felt different.

She hadn’t run away.

But he was certain of one thing.

During those missing twenty minutes…

Palki had definitely done something.

Evening — Maurya Mansion

Palki stepped out of the bathroom after a warm shower. Her hair was slightly damp, falling softly over her shoulders. A wave of sleepiness lingered in her eyes as she lazily walked toward the window and closed it.

Just as she turned around, her gaze fell on the table.

For a moment she froze.

The laziness on her face slowly faded… replaced by a spark of surprise. Then joy.

She quickly walked toward the table.

There, lying quietly, was a delicate bracelet.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she picked it up.

The bracelet carried a tiny charm… the same mother-daughter sculpture she had seen earlier at the art exhibition.

The very same one.

The only piece that had already been sold.

Her brows furrowed as confusion and realization tangled inside her mind. Thoughts rushed through her head.

How…?

Then suddenly—

Something clicked.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Without wasting another second, she turned and hurried out of her room.

Her steps led her straight to Miransh’s room.

Inside, Miransh was sitting on his chair, focused on his laptop. The faint glow of the screen reflected on his sharp features.

The door opened softly.

His eyes lifted.

And there she was.

Standing there.

Palki looked… different.

There was a quiet happiness glowing on her face.

She slowly walked toward him, stopping just a step away.

Then softly, almost like a whisper, she said,

“Thank you.”

Miransh closed his laptop and placed it aside.

His eyes drifted down to the bracelet in her hand.

Without saying a word, he gently took it from her.

Then he held her wrist and carefully clasped the bracelet around it.

The tiny sculpture rested perfectly against her skin.

Palki looked at the charm again.

Her lips curved into a warm, heartfelt smile.

And Miransh…

He wasn’t looking at the bracelet.

He was looking at her.

And the way her smile lit up her entire face.

A faint smile appeared on his own lips as he watched her.

For a moment—

Neither of them said anything.

But somehow…

The silence felt full.

***

Sitara Note 

This chapter holds many quiet moments — the kind where words are not spoken, but feelings still find a way to exist. An art gallery full of colors, yet some emotions remained hidden between the frames.

Palki didn’t run this time… but she still disappeared.

And Miransh noticed every little detail — even the anklet on her right leg.

Sometimes the loudest stories are told in silence.

But the real question is…

What did Palki actually do in those missing twenty minutes?

And why does Miransh feel that she is planning something bigger than everyone thinks?

Let me know your theories. I love reading them. 

—Sitara Chandria