Episode 176

The air in the Malhotra study was thick with unspoken tension, a palpable counterpoint to the usual hushed elegance. Mrs. Malhotra, her usually serene face etched with concern, held the faded locket between her fingers as if it were a fragile bird. Beside her, Mr. Malhotra paced, his brow furrowed. The "first clue," as Devansh had discreetly labeled it, was more than just a piece of tarnished silver; it was a Pandora's Box, and its lid was creaking open.

Natasha, summoned to the study, stood by the antique mahogany desk, her heart a nervous drum against her ribs. The locket, an heirloom she’