Pyaar ho raha hai humko, deedar ho raha hai humko,
Dheere-dheere unka asar ho raha hai humko.
Shayad yehi hai mohabbat ka pehla ehsaas,
Dil bechain hai aur karaar ho raha hai humko.
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Author's POV
The air was thick with jealousy. Yes, jealousy-on both sides now.
And why wouldn't it be? Avantika was walking beside Dev, holding his elbow, while her husband was just a step away.
[Seriously? Avy bagal mein hai, aur Dev ka haath pakda hai? Avyansh you can hold my hand! ð ]
"Thanks, Bhabhi, for making me feel better," Dev whispered softly to Avantika, his tone laced with mischief that she didn't catch.
Dev had smoothly lied to Avantika, claiming he needed support while walking and had asked her to hold his arm.
Avantika, ever kind and clueless, had locked her elbow with his, walking alongside him without a second thought.
What she didn't know was that this was all part of a carefully orchestrated plan by the younger--who were now watching the scene unfold from a distance, stifling their laughter.
From a few steps behind, Avyansh's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening slightly as he watched his wife so casually hold onto Dev.
Dev, on the other hand, smirked inwardly, thoroughly enjoying the subtle shift in Avyansh's expression. The plan was working perfectly.
Jealousy was indeed in the air.
"We reached!" Sruti announced cheerfully, stopping in front of an old, slightly decrepit house.
Avantika froze, her eyes widening as she took in the eerie structure.
Haunted.
That was the only word echoing in her mind.
She glanced around, confused. Weren't we just going for a walk? Then why are we here?
"Wow!" a few cousins exclaimed excitedly, clearly impressed by the spooky setting.
Sruti clapped her hands to get everyone's attention. "So, the game is..." she began, switching to English for the benefit of those who didn't understand Tamil.
"It's like that episode of Nobita," she explained enthusiastically. "We are almost ten people, so we'll go either in pairs or solo. Everyone will pick a chit, and it will say either 'solo' or 'pair.'"
Sruti held up a large, bright orange fake pumpkin, about the size of her head. "Once inside, you'll find clues in the rooms that will lead you to the spot where you have to keep this pumpkin."
She grinned awkwardly, scratching the back of her head as everyone stared at the oversized pumpkin. "Hehe, mereko yahi mila tha. Options nahi the," she added in Tamil, trying to justify her choice.
"You have to place the pumpkin there, take a picture of it, and then return. The cameras inside are connected to mine, so as soon as you take the photo, it'll be sent to me," Sruti explained, clearly thrilled with her plan. "Sounds fun, right?"
The group erupted in a mix of reactions, some nodding eagerly while others exchanged hesitant glances.
"No," Shashwat and Avantika said together, their voices firm and perfectly in sync.
Sruti pouted. "Oh, come on! Don't be boring!"
Shashwat crossed his arms, glaring at her. "This isn't a game. It's torture."
Avantika nodded in agreement, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Exactly. Who even thought of this?"
Sruti just laughed, ignoring their protests. "Too late to back out now. Chits are ready!" she said, holding up a bowl with folded slips of paper.
The group reluctantly moved closer, ready to pick their fates, while Avantika and Shashwat exchanged identical looks of dread.
The group stood in a loose circle near the old, eerie-looking house, the air filled with a mix of excitement and hesitation. The dim lighting and creaking sounds of the trees around them added to the spooky vibe.
Sruti held out a bowl with folded chits, trying to keep her enthusiasm in check.
"Alright, chits are ready. Solo or pair, no backing out now," she said, her grin a little too wide for the scared cats in the group.
Ruhaan, being Ruhaan, grabbed the first chit dramatically. He opened it and smirked. "Solo. Easy."
"Show-off," Devika muttered under her breath.
Next, Dev pulled a chit and opened it. "Pair. Who's my partner?"
Sruti peeked into the bowl and pulled out another chit. "Joshita Di , you're with Dev!"
Joshita blinked. "Umm... great," she said, less than thrilled.
Tara stepped forward hesitantly, exchanging a look with Avantika. "Bhai, this better not be solo," she whispered, taking a chit.
She opened it.
"Solo! NOOOO!" Tara's face fell instantly, her eyes wide with horror.
"Wanna trade?" Vishal asked nervously, clutching his chit that also read Solo.
"You can't trade," Sruti piped in, shaking her head. "Rules."
"Who even made these rules?" Shashwat muttered, eyeing the house like it might swallow him whole.
Argya took his chit next, unfolding it slowly. His face lit up
"Pair," he shouted, glancing around, hoping for a safe partner.
Before he could react, Sruti handed the next chit to Avantika. "Your turn, bhabhi."
Avantika opened hers, hoping desperately for pair.
"Pair," she read, exhaling in relief-until Sruti added, "With Argya!"
Argya blinked, then gave a half-hearted thumbs-up. "At least we both scare easy, right?"
"Not helping," Avantika muttered under her breath.
Next was Shashwat, who pulled out his chit dramatically. "Pair. Thank God."
"Me too," Avyansh's deep voice followed, opening his chit right after.
Sruti grinned. "Perfect! Shashwat, you're with Avyansh Bhaiya."
Shashwat face beamed with happiness, glancing at Avyansh who was like he'd been sentenced to life imprisonment. "Hayye Mera Bhai"
Avyansh just raised a brow. "You'll survive," he said, pocketing his phone with calm indifference.
The last pairs and solos were quickly drawn-Rohan and Purav paired up, while Vishal and Tara remained solo.
"Okay, teams ready?" Sruti asked, glancing around at the group, most of whom were looking at each other with varying levels of regret.
Avantika exchanged a horrified look with Argya. What have I gotten myself into?
The air felt heavier as everyone finished picking their chits, the dimly lit area making the old house look even more ominous.
A faint creaking sound echoed from the house, and Avantika was already regretting her decision to be here.
Sruti clapped her hands again. "Alright! Teams are set! Remember, the goal is simple-find the clue, place the pumpkin, take a picture, and get out."
"Yeah, yeah, we get it. Just let's finish this already," Shashwat muttered, eyeing the house with pure dread.
Avantika clenched her chit tighter, her heart pounding as Argya shifted awkwardly beside her. "Uh... don't worry, Bhabhi. We'll... stick together?" he offered weakly.
"That's not making me feel better," Avantika whispered, glancing at the towering house once more.
Meanwhile, Shashwat was side-eyeing Avyansh, clearly uncomfortable. "Umm... so, Bhai, you're... you know... chill with this?"
Avyansh, hands in his pockets, raised a brow. "You're scared of a house?"
Shashwat scoffed. "No! Of course not! I'm just... safety-conscious."
"Right." Avyansh smirked.
Tara, clutching her solo chit like it was a death sentence, whispered to Vishal, "We're not actually doing this, right? This is a prank?"
Vishal, equally pale, shook his head. "I wish."
Ruhaan, clearly enjoying their misery, leaned against the gate. "Let's go already. Kuch nahi hoga. Haunted hai ya nahi, pata toh chale."
Argya shot him a glare. "Kyu pata chalana hai? Hume toh pura yakin hai ke haunted hai!"
Devika grinned, nudging Dev. "Imagine if a ghost just followed us out-"
"STOP," Tara snapped, clutching her scarf tighter.
Sruti held up her phone, "Okay, first team going in... Dev and Joshita!"
Joshita blinked. "Wait, we're going first?"
"Yes, go!" Sruti said, pushing them toward the creaky gate.
The two hesitated but walked forward cautiously, pushing open the old iron gate that let out a loud, eerie screech.
The group fell silent, everyone watching as Dev and Joshita disappeared inside the house. The door creaked shut behind them.
Silence.
A minute passed.
Two.
Five.
Then suddenly-
BANG!
A loud crashing sound from inside made everyone jump.
Avantika clutched Argya's arm with a yelp. "I'm not going in there!"
"W-Wait! What was that?!" Vishal whispered, backing away from the gate.
"Guys, calm down!" Ruhaan laughed, though his voice wavered slightly. "I'm sure they just tripped over something-"
The door swung open again, and Dev emerged, grinning like a maniac while Joshita clung to his arm, pale and wide-eyed.
"All good!" Dev called out, holding up the pumpkin. "Piece of cake."
"Cake my foot! That was horrible!" Joshita huffed, pushing him away as she stormed back to the group.
Sruti clapped again. "Next team! Shashwat and Avyansh bhai, you're up!"
Shashwat paled. "Wait. Already? No break?"
As Shashwat and Avyansh disappeared into the house, Avantika whispered to Argya, "If something jumps out, you are standing in front."
Argya gulped. "W-What? Why me?"
"Because I said so," she hissed, watching the house like it might swallow them whole.
This night was going to be a disaster.
Timeskip
The old wooden door squealed painfully as Avantika and Argya stepped inside the dimly lit house.
Both froze the moment they crossed the threshold, hearts pounding loud enough to echo in the silence.
The faint flicker of a lantern on the wall cast long shadows that danced with every breath of wind. Avantika clutched the pumpkin tighter while Argya kept glancing behind them, both equally terrified but trying not to show it.
"Th-The clue..." Argya whispered, voice shaky, holding the small paper in his trembling hands.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the house...
"Bhai, main nahi jaunga!
MAI. NAHI. JAUNGA!"
Shashwat clung to Avyansh's arm with the grip of a lifeline, his face pale as they stood before an old, cracked wooden door. His knuckles were white from clutching his best friend's hand, refusing to move an inch.
The clue in Avyansh's other hand was well thought out-but the handwriting? Terrible.
He squinted, trying to decipher the words written in almost illegible scrawl. "Kya likha hai...? 'Jahan andhera sabse gehra hai, wahan...'" He trailed off, frowning harder.
Shashwat, far from helpful, kept peering over his shoulder and whispering, "Avy, I think we should just go back. Matlab... kyun risk lena? Yeh game hi galat hai!"
"Risk kya? It's just a clue! Bas puzzle solve karna hai," Avyansh muttered, his patience wearing thin.
"Risk? BHAI, YEH BHOOOT BANGLA HAI-"
"Chup kar."
"NAHI-"
Click.
Avyansh, clearly done with the dramatics, twisted the old rusted doorknob and opened the door with a loud creak.
"SHUT UP, SHASHWAT. CHUP KAR JAA!" Avyansh snapped, stepping in confidently.
Suddenly-
"MUMMMMMYYYYYYYYY!"
Shashwat screamed at the top of his lungs, stumbling backward.
Meanwhile...
Avantika and Argya stood frozen in the next corridor as the exact same scream echoed through the house.
Avantika flinched, her entire body tensing. "W-What was that?!"
Argya, still clutching the clue, blinked rapidly, trying to calm his racing heart. "D-Darr lag raha hai kya? I-It's probably just a prank... right?"
Another loud thud echoed.
Avantika turned on her heel, panic rising. "Nope! I'm not staying here! Hum wapas ja rahe hain! Argya, CHALIYE!"
But Argya, now ignoring the sound, was squinting at the clue in his hand. "Bhabhi, wait! I think I understood it-"
No reply.
"Bhabhi?" he called again, turning around.
And then he saw Avantika-
Standing stiff, her wide eyes locked on something behind him.
"Bhabhi...?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.
The lantern light flickered.
----
"Ready?" Devika asked, tapping Dev's cheek lightly as she applied another thick layer of white powder on his face.
Dev blinked, his face already caked with enough powder to resemble a ghost straight out of a low-budget horror film. "Yeah... I guess?" he replied, squinting at his own reflection.
"Ruhaan bhai ready irrukaaru!" Sruti announced from the side, stepping back with a satisfied grin. (Ruhaan bhai is ready!)
Both Dev and Ruhaan turned to face each other.
"AAAAHH!! BHOOT! BHOOT!" Dev screamed dramatically, clutching his chest and stumbling backward as he caught sight of Ruhaan's ghostly appearance-face covered with powder, hair messy, and kohl smudged around his eyes.
Ruhaan stared blankly, unimpressed. Then, deadpan, he muttered, "50 rupya kaato iski overacting ka."
The group burst into laughter.
"I was not acting!" Dev protested, still holding his chest as if recovering from an actual heart attack.
Joshita rolled her eyes, clearly done with their antics. "Acha, thik hai! Now put this on, both of you," she said, handing them white bedsheets with two holes cut out for eyes.
Dev held the sheet up, frowning. "Seriously? Bedsheets? This is the plan?"
Sruti shrugged. "Bhai, it's a haunted house game, not a Bollywood set."
Ruhaan threw the sheet over himself, the holes completely missing his eyes. "Main toh ready hoon. Let's go scare some people."
Dev sighed, finally wrapping himself in the blanket.
Joshita grinned. "This is going to be fun."
Avyansh and Shashwat stood at the threshold of the dimly lit room, the door creaking louder as it opened fully.
The lantern hanging on the wall flickered, casting eerie shadows that danced across the peeling wallpaper and old wooden furniture. The scent of damp wood filled the air.
Shashwat clutched Avyansh's arm tighter, practically glued to his side.
"Bhai... yahan kuch nahi hai. Chalo wapas chalte hain. Please," he whispered, voice trembling.
Avyansh narrowed his eyes, scanning the room carefully. His jaw clenched. "Wait," he said, stepping forward cautiously.
Suddenly-
Creeeaaak.
A sharp, high-pitched creaking sound echoed from the corner of the room, making both of them freeze in place.
Shashwat's breath hitched. His grip on Avyansh's arm tightened like a vice.
"Avy... yeh kya tha? Avyansh?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Avyansh remained silent, eyes locked toward the dark corner where the sound had come from.
Another creak.
Shashwat tugged his arm. "Avy, please-MAIN JA RAHA HOON!"
But before he could turn around, the door they had just entered suddenly creaked shut behind them... on its own.
Avantika's breath caught as her wide eyes locked on the shadowy figure that had just passed right in front of Argya.
Her voice trembled. "Ar... Argya..."
Argya, pale as a sheet, blinked rapidly, frozen in place. "B-Bhabhi, w-woh-"
Before he could finish, a loud thud echoed, and out of nowhere-
"BOOO!!"
Ruhaan suddenly jumped in front of them, draped completely in a white bedsheet, arms outstretched.
"BHOOT!!!"
"BHOOTTTT!!!"
"MUMMYYYYYYYYYY!!!"
Avantika and Argya screamed in unison, panic taking over completely.
"RUN!!!" Argya shouted, turning so fast he nearly tripped over his own feet.
In his frantic attempt to escape, he ran straight into the door, his head thudding loudly against the wood. "AHH!"
"ARGYA, IDHAR!!" Avantika shrieked, pointing toward the dimly lit hallway to their left.
The door was jammed. The handle rattled but refused to budge.
Ruhaan, still under the blanket, was laughing but muffled as he tried to keep the sheet from falling off.
"WAIT, WAIT, IT'S JUST-"
But before he could finish, both Avantika and Argya took off in the opposite direction, screaming bloody murder as they sprinted down the corridor, leaving a very tangled Ruhaan behind.
"B-Bhai... bhoot! Bhoot! Tune suna? Yahan bhoot hai!" Shashwat whispered harshly, clutching Avyansh's arm like his life depended on it, his face drained of all color.
Avyansh sighed, exasperated but trying to stay calm despite the eerie vibes.
"Gate bhi band ho gaya apne aap.. something is really wrong with this damn house," Shashwat added, voice trembling.
Suddenly-
A soft, haunting melody echoed through the air, sending chills down both their spines.
Ami je tomar~
Shudu je tomar~~
Ami je tomar~
Shashwat froze, eyes wide as saucers.
Avyansh blinked, clearly confused. "Chennai mein Bengali bhoot bhi reh sakte hai?" he muttered, raising a brow.
Shashwat shot him a look of pure disbelief. "Tujhe bhoot ki language per focus krna hai abhi? Haramzaade! Main marr jaunga!"
The song continued, the haunting melody growing softer yet more chilling-
"Meri chaahatein to...
Fiza mein bahegi...
Zinda rahegi...
Hoke fanaa..."
Suddenly-
"Ta ni dha na dhum...
Ta ni dha ni dhum..."
Complete silence.
The dim lantern flickered.
And then-
"BOOM!"
Dev jumped out from behind a dusty cupboard, completely covered in a white bedsheet, howling like a maniac.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"
Shashwat screamed louder than the ghost itself, flailing his arms.
"MAA!!! BACHAO!!!"
Avyansh, meanwhile, didn't even flinch. He just folded his arms, glaring at Dev under the sheet.
"Dev...You're Dead Now!"
Shashwat was already halfway to the other side of the room, still shrieking, "BHAI, BHAAG!!!"
Time Skip
Everyone finally stumbled out of the old house, looking like they had barely survived a battlefield.
Avantika's voice sliced through the silence, deadly serious. "Kiska idea tha yeh?"
But her appearance didn't quite match her commanding tone. Her hair was a mess, tangled with bits of cobwebs and strands of what suspiciously looked like spider gel.
Her clothes were slightly dirty, dust smudged across the fabric, and her cheeks had black streaks at random places.
Beside her, Argya looked even worse-his forehead slightly swollen from his earlier collision with the door, his tshirt smeared with dirt, and a faint red mark visible where he'd bumped his head. He was clutching the bump, wincing every few seconds.
Shashwat, on the other hand, seemed like his soul had completely left his body. His face was pale, his hands trembling as he clung to Avyansh's arm for support, eyes wide as if still processing the trauma.
And then there was Dev.
Standing stiffly, his face scrunched in pain, one hand rubbing his lower back where Avyansh had quite literally smacked him earlier for his ghost prank.
Avyansh, calm but clearly annoyed, adjusted his sleeves and shot Dev a hard glare.
Ruhaan, trying and failing to suppress his laughter, chimed in. "Bhai, Dev ke expressions itne realistic the ki asli bhoot bhi darr ke bhaag jaate."
Avantika, still fuming, turned back to Sruti with narrowed eyes.
"Apke game ke chakkar mein yeh sab hua hai!" she snapped, pointing at her dusty clothes.
Sruti, holding the empty pumpkin, just blinked innocently. "But... sabko maza aaya na?"
"MAZA?!" Shashwat, Argya, and Avantika shouted in unison.
Meanwhile, Devika said. "Main toh keh rahi thi... aap sab bohot overreact kar rahe ho."
Avantika glared harder.
Time Skip
Back home, the chaotic energy had finally died down as everyone dispersed to their rooms, some still shaken, others laughing about the haunted house disaster.
Avantika walked cautiously, her eyes shifting left and right every few seconds, as if expecting something to jump out from the shadows.
Her fingers nervously clutched the ends of her dupatta, her face still pale from the ordeal.
Beside her, Avyansh walked silently, his gaze fixed ahead. He could sense how scared she was, and every fiber of him wanted to reach out, hold her hand, reassure her she was safe.
But how could he?
When his own best friend, Shashwat, was half-clinging to him-still-muttering under his breath.
"Jai Hanuman gyaan gun saagar... Jai kapis tihun lok ujaagar...!" Shashwat whispered the Hanuman Chalisa in an endless loop, holding onto Avyansh's arm like a lifeline.
Avyansh sighed deeply, trying to shake him off.
"Shashwat... bas. Ghar aa gaye hain. Koi bhoot nahi hai. Chhod mujhe ab," he muttered, exasperated.
Shashwat clutched tighter. "Bhai... tu nahi samjhega. Mera mann bol raha hai... Something is still watching us!"
"Ha, ha... tera mann nahi, tera darr bol raha hai," Avyansh said, clearly unimpressed.
Avantika, despite her fear, couldn't help but let out a small giggle. But the moment a door creaked from the wind, she jumped and clutched Avyansh's arm without realizing.
He immediately stiffened, glancing down at her hand wrapped around his arm.
For a second, everything went silent.
Finally, they reached Shashwat's room.
"Good night." Avyansh said, pushing Shashwat inside gently and shutting the door before he could protest.
The house fell quiet.
Now, it was just the two of them.
Avantika was still clutching his arm.
Neither of them spoke as they entered their room, the silence growing heavier with every passing second.
When the door finally closed behind them with a soft click, Avyansh turned slightly, trying his best to suppress the teasing smile tugging at his lips.
Avantika, completely oblivious, was still clutching his bicep-her grip tight, fingers curled as though she was holding on for dear life.
He arched a brow, voice calm yet laced with amusement. "Aapko abhi bhi dar lag raha hai?"
Avantika, snapping out of her thoughts, blinked and quickly shook her head. "Nahi... bilkul nahi." Her voice wavered slightly, her eyes darting away as she tried to maintain her usual composure.
"Sachi?" His voice dropped lower, softer, as he glanced down at his arm-more specifically, at her hand still very much holding onto him.
Her gaze followed his, and the realization hit her instantly.
Her cheeks flushed. "Woh... hum..."
Before she could finish, she yanked her hand away, stepping back like she'd just touched fire.
Avyansh couldn't hold back anymore-the corner of his lips quirked up into a smirk as he watched her fumble with the edge of her dupatta, clearly flustered.
"Toh darr nahi lag raha, hmm?" he teased, folding his arms.
Avantika shot him a glare."Nahi. Bilkul nahi."
But the way she avoided his gaze and how her eyes still flickered toward every corner of the dimly lit room?
Yeah. She was definitely still scared.
"Wait, Mishti Doi... look-look behind you!" Avyansh said, his voice low, feigning seriousness as he stared just past Avantika's shoulder.
Avantika's eyes widened instantly, her breath hitching. "K-kya?" she stammered, already feeling the chill return to her spine.
She slowly began to turn around, her heart pounding louder with each second.
But before she could fully turn-
"BOOO!" Avyansh suddenly shouted, his voice echoing in the quiet room.
"EEEEEEEE-AVYANSH JI!!!"
Avantika let out a high-pitched scream, jumping in sheer panic before instinctively running straight toward him-grabbing his arm and half-hiding behind him, clutching his sleeve tightly.
Her face was buried against his shoulder, breathing fast, while Avyansh... completely lost it.
He burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the room as he tried to speak between chuckles. "Apko... sach mein laga?!"
Avantika pulled back slightly, glaring up at him, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. "Aap...Kya harqat hai yai?!"
Still laughing, he shook his head. "I-I'm sorry but still you got scared here too."
"I was not scared!" she argued, stepping back-though the way she was clutching his arm moments ago said otherwise.
"Sach mein?" he teased, raising a brow, leaning slightly closer.
Avantika crossed her arms, turning away in a huff. "Hum.Bilkul. Nahi. Darr rahe the."
But her pink cheeks and the way she kept glancing over her shoulder?
Yeah, he knew better.
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