The imposing iron gates of Swarg Sadan loomed before them, ancient and formidable, their intricate designs hinting at centuries of untold stories. In front stood Arya, a natural leader with a confident stance, his tall frame radiating an eagerness that bordered on thrill. To his left, Gauri held the heavy, ornate key, her expression a mixture of apprehension and resolve. Beside her, Isha bounced on the balls of her feet, her eyes wide with a blend of nervousness and unadulterated excitement.
On Arya's right stood Veda, his round glasses perched neatly on his nose, his intellectual curiosity evident in his steady gaze. Completing the group was Jai, his otherwise solid build betraying a slight tremor of unease as he took in the silent grandeur of the castle.
The massive iron lock groaned in protest as Gauri wrestled the large, antique key. A drawn-out screech of metal against metal echoed in the sudden stillness as the gates finally swung inward, revealing a shadowed courtyard overgrown with moss and forgotten memories.
As they stepped inside, their voices hushed in reverence, Arya and Veda exchanged impressed glances. "Swarg Sadan," Veda murmured, adjusting his glasses. "Heaven's abode. You can see why it was named so, despite its current reputation."
Arya nodded, his gaze sweeping over the decaying beauty of the architecture. "It has a certain… majestic aura, doesn't it? Like a sleeping giant."
Isha, ever the curious one, tugged on Gauri's sleeve. "Hey, Gauri, you said this was called Swarg Sadan now. What was its name before? Back when the king lived here?"
"It was called Devgiri," Gauri replied, her voice echoing slightly in the open space. "The hill of the gods."
Their initial awe soon gave way to the task at hand as they approached a heavy wooden door, presumably the entrance to the main structure of the hotel. Gauri tried the first set of keys on her ring, then another, but the lock remained stubbornly unyielding. She pushed against the door, but it wouldn't budge.
"Stand back," Jai grunted, stepping forward. His muscles flexed as he braced himself and delivered a solid kick to the door. It rattled in its frame but held firm. Arya joined in, his taller frame allowing for more leverage. Together, they strained, kicking and pushing, but the door remained resolutely closed.
Defeated, they slumped to the ground near the door, pulling out water bottles from their bags. The initial burst of adrenaline had faded, replaced by a growing sense of the castle's silent resistance.
After a few moments of panting silence, Gauri, lost in thought, absently reached out and touched the door. Her fingers brushed against the cold, rough wood. To her surprise, the heavy door swung inward with a smooth, almost silent motion.
She stared at the open doorway, then back at Jai and Arya, who were still catching their breath. A wry smile touched her lips. "What a silly joke, guys."
A chorus of laughter erupted from Isha and Veda, their amusement echoing in the vast hall. Arya and Jai exchanged sheepish glances, a flush creeping up their necks. "Hey! It wasn't a joke," Jai protested weakly, but the playful smirks on Isha and Veda's faces only intensified.
Dragging their luggage behind them, the five ventured deeper into the castle's embrace. The sheer scale of the place was breathtaking. Towering ceilings disappeared into shadow, and seemingly endless corridors stretched out like the limbs of some ancient beast. Every footstep they took resonated through the cavernous space, amplifying the silence and lending an almost theatrical quality to their arrival.
Despite the unsettling history, an undeniable sense of grandeur permeated the air. The castle exuded power, a palpable energy that hummed beneath the surface of the aged stone. It was a silent testament to a bygone era, a place where history clung to the walls like ivy.
Gauri, though familiar with the blueprints, couldn't help but feel a sense of awe herself. "According to the original plans," she began, her voice echoing slightly, "Swarg Sadan contains over four hundred rooms. Even though the hotel operated in some sections, most of the castle has been locked up for years. Too many… incidents." A shadow crossed her face as she spoke the last word. "So many parts are prohibited now. If you don't know your way around, it's easy to get lost. And," she added, her tone turning serious, "anything can happen within these walls. To anyone. So please, be careful."
She led them further into the hall, pointing out various archways and doorways. "Over there would have been the kitchens and the main dining hall. And down those steps," she gestured to a dark, descending staircase, "that leads to the basements. We'll stick to the main levels for now." The air grew noticeably cooler as they approached the basement stairs, a faint musty odor wafting upwards.