The Forbidden Hallway
The house was silent.
Bhuvanya's feet padded softly over the cold marble floor as she stepped out of her room—her torn dress dragging slightly behind, her body still aching from the last time he laid his hands on her. But tonight, curiosity burned louder than fear.
*What is this place? Who else lives here?*
The corridor stretched out like a spine, lined with ancient portraits—men with sharp eyes and colder gazes. The air smelt of cigar smoke and sandalwood. She moved cautiously, pressing herself to the walls, barely breathing.
She passed by a half-open door.
Inside: A massive study. Leather chairs. Books she couldn't name. And a **man**—older, wearing a thick wool shawl, sitting in silence with a glass in his hand, eyes blank like a corpse that still blinked.
She froze.
His eyes slowly turned to her.
Man: "You're the girl Aarush brought?"
His voice was flat. Not cruel. Not kind. Just dead.
Before she could speak—
**Footsteps. Fast. Heavy. Familiar.**
Aarush.
Her heart skipped.
She turned—too late.
**He slammed her against the wall.** His hand wrapped around her neck, tightening just enough to make her body stiffen.
**Aarush** (low growl): "Trying to run again, huh?"
**Bhuvanya** (barely able to speak): "N-no... I wasn't—I was just—"
**Aarush:** "Shut up."
He grabbed her by the arm and *dragged* her down the hall. Her knees scraped, her cries echoing in the dark. The older man didn't even flinch. Just sipped.
**They entered a new room. Dark. Dusty. A basement.** Chains hung on the wall. Her breath caught.
**Aarush:** "You want to see my house? Fine. Let me show you how deep it goes."
He chained her wrist—just one—and threw her down.
Then came the door creaking.
**Two boys entered.**
The **middle brother**—shirtless, tattooed, a smirk on his lips, eyes sharp with danger.
Middle brother: "Ooooh. He caught the little mouse. Again."
**The youngest**—dressed in black, expression unreadable. He leaned on the doorframe, arms crossed.
Youngest brother (coldly): "She deserves it. If she was roaming, she was planning something."
But his eyes flickered—once—to her torn dress, the bruise on her shoulder. He looked away quickly.
**Middle brother walked up to her.** Bent down. Whispered near her face.
Middle brother: "You'll get used to it. We all did."
He chuckled darkly.
**Aarush picked up something—belt? whip? rope?** She couldn't see clearly—only hear the sound of leather slicing the air.
**Aarush:** "You made me look like a fool in front of *him.* You think that's free?"
**Youngest brother left.** Slamming the door.
And the darkness deepened.