Time had passed everyone has grown Yashika now 15 has grown from a cute little kid to a beautiful girl and Chirag a 20 year old young good looking gentleman. Milli now 17 a growing woman with perfect appearance and Arnav a 20 year old polite and handsome man.
The four of them—Yashika, Chirag, Milli, and Arnav— had planned a short trek out of the town and ended the day camping under the stars. The night air was cool, and the crackling fire gave them comfort.
But as usual, Yashika sat stiffly, her eyes darting around the shadows. Darkness always unsettled her.
Milli noticed it and exchanged a quick glance with Arnav. Thiswastheirchance. Clearing her throat awkwardly, she stammered, "Uhm… I think I'll just… go for a walk. Arnav, you wanna come?"
Arnav raised his brows but quickly stood up. "Yeah, sure."
"Wait, we're coming too!" Yashika blurted, trying to rise with them.
Milli panicked. "No, no, no, no—it's just me and Arnav. You two… stay here, okay?"
Yashika frowned. "Why? It's not fair—"
Before she could finish, Chirag gently caught her wrist and gave a small shake of his head. His eyes told her: let them go. Andblinked she understoodwhat he meant and sat back. Milli and Arnav exchanged knowing giggles before disappearing into the trees.
The fire had dimmed to glowing embers. Yashika wrapped her arms around herself, shivering.
Chirag tilted his head. "You okay?"
"Y-yes," she said quickly, but her voice quivered.
He studied her for a moment, then extended his hand. "Here. Hold it."
Her gaze flickered from his hand to his face. After a long second, she placed her trembling fingers in his. Warmth spread through her chest. And Chirag's ears too turned red.
And then—
A loud growl split the silence.
Yashika's heart jumped. Without thinking, she pressed herself into Chirag's arms. He steadied her, murmuring, "Hey, hey… it's nothing. I'm here. Calm down." He could feel his cheeks turningpink.
Her voice was small. "What about Milli and Arnav? Are they okay?"
Chirag looked into the darkness. "Wanna check?"
She nodded, still clinging to his shirt. He smiled faintly, unable to hide the way her fear softened her, almost childlike. "Alright. Let's go."
As they walked, Yashika refused to let go of his sleeve. Chirag kept glancing at her, the corners of his mouth tugging upward.
Meanwhile, Milli and Arnav were a little deeper in the woods. Milli was talking endlessly, giggling. "I swear, Yashika and Chirag are going to end up together one day. Just imagine them… so awkward, so cute…"
Arnav just listened, smiling quietly. She's so pretty when she talks, he thought, then immediately shook his head. What am I even thinking…
Suddenly, a rustling growl echoed nearby.
Milli froze. "What—what was that?"
Before he could answer, she startled and practically jumpedintohischest. Arnav instinctively caught her, steadying her by the shoulders.
For a heartbeat, they stood like that—an accidental hug.
Arnav's heart skipped, and Milli's cheeks burned scarlet.
Just then, Yashika and Chirag emerged. Yashika's eyes widened, and she instantly broke into laughter. "Ohhh, what's going on here?"
Milli quickly pulled away, face red as fire. "N-nothing! It was just—"
"An accident, huh?" Chirag smirked.
"Yeah, sure," Yashika added, giggling.
Arnav rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed, while Milli glared at the two of them. "Don't you dare—"
But the teasing had already begun.
By the time they returned to camp and relit the fire, it was a full-blown war of jokes. Milli and Arnav teased Yashika about clinging to Chirag, while Yashika and Chirag teased them about their "accidental hug." Laughter echoed into the night, brighter than the flames themselves.
For once, the fear of darkness melted into warmth and light.
Milli was red like a tomato, trying to hide her face, but Yashika couldn't stop herself.
"Wait, wait, wait—did I just see that? Hugging Arnav Bhaiya?" she giggled.
Chirag laughed too. "Accidental, huh? Very convenient accident."
Arnav rubbed his neck. "It wasn't like that, seriously—"
"Yeah, yeah," Yashika cut him off, "hugging him because of an animal sound? Who does that?"
Milli snapped, "Oh, shut up! And what about you, huh? Holding Chirag's shirt the whole time like a baby?!"
Yashika's eyes widened. "That's because I was scared! Don't twist it!"
Chirag smirked, leaning back. "Scared? You were about to rip my shirt off, Little."
"Chirag!" she shouted, face heating. "Don't you start—"
Arnav finally laughed. "See? You two aren't any less suspicious than us."
And just like that, the campfire was filled with laughter and nonstop bickering, each pair throwing the blame back on the other.
________
Meanwhile, back in the town — like, totally nothing. It was a no-moon night, so the sky looked like a big black blanket. By seven, every house had its shutters down. Streets were empty. Really empty. Not even a cat. Not even the usual old uncle shouting at his goats. It felt like the whole town put its hand over its mouth and paused.
From inside houses came small sounds only — the clink of a spoon, someone humming a lullaby, a kid whispering under the quilt. Curtains twitched sometimes when somebody peeked, just to see if the world was still there. Old Mrs. Verma locked her front door twice and muttered, "Close the windows, beta. Don't let the night look in." Her little grandson pressed his face to the glass and asked, "Why, Dadi?" She didn't answer. She only crossed herself.
In the bakery, the owner had left the oven cold and sat by the doorway, listening. "It's too quiet," he told his wife. She said, "You always say that." But she wasn't smiling. On the market lane, the shuttered shops looked like sleeping beasts. A couple of teenagers leaned from their balcony and whispered ghosts-and-knight-stories like it was a dare — the old story about Vedansh and the burned house, about the two skeletons. Some scoffed. Some swallowed hard and said nothing.
And then — because this is a story and of course this happens — a sound cut through that stillness. Not the wind. Not a dog. Something heavier.
Some kids, who were leaning on their balcony just to see if the night would blink back at them, froze. At a distance, down the deserted street, they saw it. A figure. Tall. Broad-shouldered. The metal clink of foot armor echoed against the dead silence of the lane. Step. Step. Step.
The kids' mouths went dry. Their hearts thumped louder than the footsteps. And without waiting to see more, they bolted inside, slamming the balcony door shut.
But no one really knew that The story had just begun...
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Hello there✨
I am sorry to make you wiat so much but hey I am back. I know your don't care but anyways. I hope you love reading cause I do love writing. And even if you don't thank you for reading even if you find it boring.
Love you all. 🩷
Stay happy and healthy. 🌷