Karthik's father stood by the window, deep in thought. The chilling image of his son screaming and writhing in that test room played on an endless loop in his mind. It was so vivid, so raw, that every instinct screamed at him to shield Karthik from "Light in the Shadow." He desperately wanted to believe that if he simply hid Harry's offer, if he kept Karthik away from that dangerous world, his son's obsession would fade with time, and the heavy gloom would lift. He looked at Karthik's drawn face, still pale and vacant, and a wave of self-anger washed over him. He felt powerless, unable to help his son, forced to rely on the fragile hope that time would erase the memory of ghosts. He walked into the pooja room, knelt before the family deities, and prayed with a desperate intensity he hadn't felt in years, begging them to save his son.
...
At school, Karthik moved through the days with a polite smile, though anyone who truly looked could see it was merely a mask. His friends, Rakesh and Priya, tried to get him to open up, asking what had happened, but Karthik denied any problems, insisting he was "just like always." His friends and teachers, remembering how recently he had started to truly open up after their negligent bullying, decided not to probe further. They didn't give up on him, though. Instead, they decided to cheer Karthik up, to make him smile for real.
One of his friends, Rahul, a thin boy with dark hair and round glasses perched on his nose, came up with a plan. He wore a school uniform, and his tan skin seemed to glow with his enthusiasm. His rubber watch, adorned with a faded cartoon sticker, bounced as he gathered all his friends, including Karthik. With a huge smile, he announced, "Hey, guys, let's all plan an outing! We can pick a date and go to Sittar Mountain, it's really close to our town. There's an underrated tourist spot up there. Tourists usually flock during summer, but since it's not the holidays yet, it'll be practically empty, and free! We can pack lunches and eat there." Everyone loved the idea. They decided they would ask their parents and share their decision tomorrow.
Karthik walked home, the suggestion of an outing stirring a faint flicker of interest in his dull eyes. Without wasting a moment, he found his mother cleaning the house. "Amma," he asked, "can I go to Sittar Mountain with my friends?" His mother, busy sweeping, told him to ask his father when he returned from the temple. Karthik retreated to his room, waiting. He sat there, the fleeting hope overshadowed by thoughts of his own weakness, the audacity he'd had to ask Harry to let him join when he couldn't even keep his sanity in front of an imaginary ghost.
Time passed slowly. Karthik's father finally came home. Karthik went straight to him. "Appa, can I go to the mountain with my friends this weekend?"
His father, relieved to see a spark of normal childish desire in his son, smiled and nodded. "Yes, son, you can go." He glanced towards the pooja room, a silent 'thank you' forming in his mind, believing the gods were helping his son forget the ghosts.
...
The next day at school, only six people, including Karthik, had gotten permission. At lunch break, Rahul, brimming with excitement, began detailing their adventure. "Okay, guys, it'll take about ten minutes to reach the foot of the mountain by bus. From there, we take another bus to reach the spot where we'll eat lunch. Near there, about a ten-minute walk, there's a small waterfall. We can have some fun there, eat lunch surrounded by nature, then rest until our food digests, take some photos, and be back by evening!" Everyone enthusiastically agreed.
...
Soon, the long-awaited day arrived. Karthik dressed in blue jeans and a cheerful red-and-white checkered shirt. He packed his lunch, his water bottle, and set off for the bus stand. There, he met his friends. They took the bus, reaching the base of the mountain, then transferred to another bus that wound its way to the top. A short walk through verdant trails brought them to the sparkling waterfall. They quickly stripped off their shirts and laughed, splashing and playing in the cool, clear water. After a while, they used towels to dry off and changed into their spare clothes.
They found a scenic spot to eat. Karthik had brought sambar rice packed with vegetables like drumstick, carrot, and potato, along with some banana chips and a juice. As they ate, they talked about mundane things—school, games, their town—and laughed a lot. This time, Karthik's smile was genuine, a fragile return of joy. After they ate, they decided to rest a little, letting their food digest in the peaceful quiet of nature.
At that time, Karthik walked alone to a spot that overlooked the sprawling town below. Everyone thought he was simply admiring the view, but only Karthik knew his gaze was fixed on the distant, shadowy patch that was the cemetery. His eyes filled with dread and fear, but he managed to mask it when his friends came to join him. After some time, they took some photos, capturing their fleeting happiness, and then left for home.
When Karthik reached home, his father immediately noticed the gloominess that had clung to his son for days had finally faded. A few more days passed, and everything seemed fine. Until one evening, Karthik's mother mentioned to his father that Karthik had developed a liking for the sweet buns sold in the outskirts of town, near the old cemetery road. She asked his father to buy some for him.
The next day, Karthik's father went to the small bun shop. As he was buying the sweet, fluffy bread, he heard it—a long, mournful howling sound from nearby. "What was that?" he asked the shopkeeper, startled.
The old man waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, that? Just the dogs in the cemetery nearby, sir. They've been restless lately."
And right then, a cold realization struck Karthik's father. His son wasn't coming all the way out here every day just because he liked the sweet buns. He was coming because of the graveyard. He had been checking on it, despite his terror, despite everything.
I was wrong, Karthik's father thought, a profound sense of despair washing over him. Karthik has already gone too far into that world.
He steeled himself. There was only one path left. He had to tell Karthik to join Harry.