Chapter 12

When Mrunali returned home from the University, she entered her room and immediately began rummaging through her cluttered drawer.

The drawer was packed with an assortment of accessories and items, making it a challenge to find what she was looking for.

As she continued her search, frustration began to creep in when she realized that her favourite hairband was nowhere to be found.

She distinctly remembered carefully placing it in the drawer after its last use, but now it seemed to have vanished.

"Ugh! Life is already fucking messed up, and now this so-called thing also wants to play hide and seek," she muttered under her breath, feeling exasperated as she slammed the drawer shut.

Glancing at herself in the mirror, Mrunali was overcome by a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts that seemed to be causing her a splitting headache. She was unable to discern the mix of feelings brewing inside her, but one thing was certain - she was hurting.

Mrunali's heart skipped a beat as a familiar voice echoed in the room - "Little one..." A sudden shiver ran down her spine as the words of the watchman resurfaced, causing a wave of fear to wash over her. She could feel goosebumps forming on her skin as a haunting thought repeated in her head, 'He is a psychopath killer.'

"Are you okay, little one...?" Aahan's voice held genuine concern, his worry palpable in the air.

"Y...yeah, I... I am fine, just startled by your voice..." Her voice quivered as she nervously chewed on her bottom lip, trying to mask the unease that gripped her.

"But why are you trembling so much...?" Aahan asked in confusion, his brow furrowing with concern.

"It's cold here..." She stammered, desperately trying to come up with an excuse to hide her true feelings.

Aahan glanced around the room, puzzled. "Little one, your AC is turned off, and it's the month of summer," he pointed out, his eyes narrowing as he realized the incongruity.

Mrunali mentally slapped herself for the feeble excuse she had given.

Aahan took a few steps closer to Mrunali, and she couldn't help but gulp in fear. He gently touched her forehead, and she felt her eyes widen in surprise.

"You don't have a fever... Have you caught a cold?" A note of genuine concern rang in his voice, making Mrunali feel guilty for her earlier reaction.

Mrunali had no words to offer, so she simply nodded, feeling a heavy weight of shame settle upon her.

"Still can't take care of yourself, this tiny you're," Aahan remarked, holding his thumb and index finger a small distance apart.

"How many times should I tell you, I'm not that small..." she protested weakly while hitting Aahan's chest with a pout, momentarily forgetting her earlier fear.

Aahan chuckled at her actions. "Okay okay... Miss Eiffel Tower," he teased, making her snicker at his playful words.

He gently bobbed her nose with his fingers and spoke in a sweet, caring tone, "Still take care of yourself, little. Your life is more precious to someone than you thought."

His last words were accompanied by a penetrating gaze into her eyes, causing her heart to skip a beat. A rosy blush spread over her cheeks as a shy smile tugged at her lips.

"This looks better suit you than the one before..." Aahan said as he patted her head, a warm smile gracing his lips.

"Why are you here...?" She changed the subject, preferring to avoid a heart-racing discussion.

"I'm here to call you downstairs. But if you're feeling unwell, you can stay here..." Aahan offered, his expression reflecting genuine concern.

"Nah, I'm fine... You go ahead, I will come soon..." Mrunali assured him, managing a weak smile.

Aahan nodded and walked away, casting a reassuring smile back at her as he left.

As soon as Aahan left the room, she let out a long sigh and collapsed onto the bed, "Gosh!!..."

She tightly shut her eyes as an unsettling thought tapped at the window of her mind: "How could someone as caring as Aahan possibly be a killer?"

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In the living hall, everything appeared normal except for Naksh's behaviour. Instead of showing signs of anger or sadness, he seemed unusually happy and excited. This abrupt change in his demeanor stirred up an uneasy feeling within Janvi's heart, as she recalled how he had always pretended to be overly cheerful whenever something was troubling lurking in his mind.

"Everyone, I'm incredibly excited today..." Naksh announced, hoping to capture everyone's attention.

"Why's that?" Mrunali inquired.

"It's a secret, sister-in-law," he replied, innocently fluttering his eyelashes at her.

"Such a tease..."

"By the way, I'm going to buy food for everyone so you all can share in my happiness," he declared, clapping his hands.

Sidharth and Mrunali eagerly exclaimed "Yes," while the others nodded in agreement.

Naksh placed the food order, and everyone engaged in conversation while eagerly awaiting the arrival of the food. Thirty minutes later, the food was delivered to the door. Naksh and Mrunali set the dining table, but as soon as Pihu caught sight of the food, she turned to Naksh with a look of shock.

"Why would you do that...?" she asked.

"Do what?" Naksh responded nonchalantly.

"I'm allergic to mushrooms," she explained slowly.

More people began to realize that every single dish that Naksh had ordered contained mushrooms.

"Oh, but I love mushrooms..." Naksh said with a carefree shrug.

Pihu sighed but said nothing.

"I'll order something else for you," Aahan offered.

Pihu politely declined Aahan's offer, saying, "No need... you all enjoy the food. I'm not hungry."

Flashing a warm smile to everyone, she gracefully rose from her seat and made her way towards her room.

However, before leaving the hall, she turned back to gaze at Naksh with sorrowful eyes and whispered, "You knew about my allergy." With that, she quietly exited, leaving sombre atmosphere behind.

"You did it intentionally..." It's not a question but a statement by Aahan who is glaring at Naksh.

"It was a mistake..." He said with a non Caring attitude.

"Mistake?? you don't know this small detail about your wife..." Even though his voice is low, anger is visible in his voice.

This statement stirred something inside Naksh, he looked at his brother with the same intensity of Anger, "And why the hell do you know those small details about my wife?" He shouts.

"Below your voice and be respectful. This is a house, not your gang base." Aahan growled

"At least I am what I show unlike....-" Before he could speak further, Sidharth shut his mouth while dragging him from there, "Sorry guys he is going through mood swings..." He shouted.

Shivay tapped Aahan's shoulder, "Leave him, you already know how childish he is from childhood."

Aahan just nodded his head...

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"Can you stop glaring at me...?" Naksh said, his eyes rolling in exasperation.

"Who told you to do this stupid act yesterday...?" Sidharth retorted, glaring at Naksh with a hint of anger.

"It just happened out of anger..." Naksh defended himself, his tone slightly defensive.

"Now what will we do...?" Sidharth asked, his voice reflecting concern.

"We will take them there today..." Naksh replied confidently.

"How...?" Sidharth questioned, a mix of curiosity and scepticism in his voice.

"Just wait and watch..." Naksh said with a sly smirk, hinting at an unfolding plan.

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"Brother..." Naksh gently knocked at Aahan's slightly ajar room door, hesitance evident in his every movement.

"Come in..." Aahan responded, glancing up from his book with an expression of concern as Naksh cautiously entered the room, his demeanour resembling that of a kicked puppy.

"Brother, for yesterday I'm sorry..." Naksh's words came out slowly, laced with remorse.

"I really didn't mean to get angry. I was just so happy yesterday, and then everything changed so suddenly. I didn't mean it..." Naksh's voice was filled with guilt and regret as he sought forgiveness from Aahan.

Aahan sighed, his gaze softening. "It's okay... Don't do it again. You're not a child anymore..." he reassured Naksh, his tone firm yet compassionate.

"Trust me, I will not do it again," Naksh replied with a hint of relief and determination in his voice.

Aahan simply hummed in response, acknowledging Naksh's words.

"Brother..."

"Hmm...?" Aahan prompted, attentive to Naksh's further words.

"I want to take everyone somewhere today. Will you join us? Please..." Naksh pleaded, his eyes reflecting a mix of hope and anticipation.

Aahan hesitated for a moment, considering the request. Despite his initial inclination to decline, he couldn't help but soften at the sight of Naksh's earnest, pleading expression. After a moment, he relented and said, "Okay..."

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As the group gathered near the car, there was an air of anticipation and excitement. Mrunali, with a mischievous glint in her eye, playfully asked, "So where are we going...?"

"It's a secret, sister-in-law," Naksh replied slyly, revelling in the mystery.

"Why do you always love this secret game?" she teased a hint of laughter in her voice.

"Trust me, you're gonna love this secret," he said with a confident smile, exchanging knowing looks with Pihu and Aahan.

"Aahan and Pihu, we want both of you blindfolded," Sidharth announced, adding an element of intrigue to the already mysterious journey.

"Why?" Pihu asked, her confusion evident in her tone.

"Because Naksh has prepared a surprise for both of you as an apology for yesterday," Sidharth explained, shedding light on the purpose behind the blindfolds.

Detecting a trace of doubt on Pihu's face, Mrunali decided to play her "cute card," putting on her most endearing puppy eyes, even the guilt eating her from inside.

"Twin, please don't ruin the fun," she pleaded, hoping to smooth over any reservations.

"Okay, whatever makes you happy," Pihu relented, her nonchalance masking a lingering sense of curiosity.

With Pihu and Aahan now blindfolded and settled in the car, Shivay and Janvi remained silent throughout the ride, their thoughts veiled by a shadow of unease.

Meanwhile, Mrunali and Naksh exchanged nervous glances, brimming with restless anticipation for what lay ahead.

And finally, Sidharth wore a satisfied expression, exuding an aura of confidence and determination, as if he was leading a charge into battle.

As everyone gathered outside the gates of Saint University, they exchanged knowing glances and nodded in unison. Mrunali and Janvi took the lead, guiding Pihu with a blindfold while Aahan and the other boys followed closely behind.

They left the beautiful university grounds behind and stepped onto a dull, grassy area. In front of them, stood an old, black-walled building - the remains of a chemistry laboratory that had burned down 6 years ago.

Their footsteps echoed through the desolate halls as they entered the building, adding an extra layer of eeriness to the already daunting atmosphere. Finally, they arrived at a room and came to a halt.

"I hope you will all love this surprise," one of them said before removing the blindfolds.

As soon as Aahan's blindfold was removed, his face turned a horrified shade of pale, and his eyes widened in terror. The first word that escaped his lips was a desperate "Ohh! no..."

Nobody present could comprehend Aahan's experience, but their confusion turned to alarm when he cried out, "PIHU..."

All eyes turned toward Pihu, but what they saw next left them utterly stunned.

Pihu's whole body figure was trembling uncontrollably, her eyes flicking rapidly from one corner of the room to another, filled with fear and anxiety. She nervously clenched her fists, her bottom lip caught between her teeth in a continuous, anxious motion. Beads of sweat glistened on her skin, and tears streamed down her cheeks, accentuating the distress she was feeling.

It was evident to everyone present that she was in the midst of a harrowing panic attack.

Aahan's panicked voice echoed through the room, pleading with urgency, "Pihu, listen to me."

He desperately shouted, "STOP MOVING, FOR GOD'S SAKE!" observing her inching closer to a broken window, risking a dangerous fall.

Despite Aahan's frantic pleas, Pihu seemed disconnected, her body present but her spirit absent. Her breathing grew laboured, and panic took hold.

As onlookers watched Pihu's distress unfold, their curiosity turned to guilt, realizing the consequences of their actions.

Aahan pressed on, his voice gentle yet pained, "Pihu, look at me. It's Aahan. Can you see me?"

In a tremulous voice, Pihu finally responded, "Aahan...?"

Witnessing this heartbreaking exchange, Naksh's guilt flared into anger. However, he restrained himself, seeing how much Pihu was panicking.

Holding back tears, Aahan attempted to reassure Pihu, "It's over, Pihu. It's in the past. You're safe now, we're all safe."

Stricken with anguish, Pihu rapidly shook her head, her heart-wrenching cries filling the air, "YOU'RE LYING! YOU'RE A LIAR!"

Firmly but gently, Aahan implored, "I'm not lying. Look around. It's over. It happened six years ago. You're here, with me and everyone. Come back to reality, Pihu."

Pihu's expression suddenly transformed into one of sheer terror as she exclaimed in fear, "No, no, no! Y..You're lying... I can s..smell Lavender."

A chill ran down Aahan's spine at the sound of her words. "WHERE IS PIHU'S PURSE?" he demanded urgently.

Mrunali hastily grabbed a purse and passed it to Aahan, who frantically began searching through it with an air of dread.

Meanwhile, Pihu was still muttering about the scent of lavender, her distress evident to Janvi and Mrunali, who couldn't help but shed tears at the sight of their friend in such anguish.

Aahan finally managed to extract something from the purse—a small, exquisite bottle of perfume. With a swift motion, he hurled the bottle to the floor, where it shattered into numerous glistening pieces. The room was instantly engulfed in the strong, intoxicating aroma of fresh roses, and Pihu, who had been in a daze, finally snapped back to reality.

As she gradually emerged from her daze, she collapsed to her knees, her whole body trembling. It was evident that she was coming to terms with a terrible experience, and the harshness of reality was overwhelming her. Her anguished expression, with lips quivering as if she longed to let out a piercing scream, mirrored the depth of her pain.

In a swift and compassionate gesture, Aahan knelt before her. Despite the tears streaming down Pihu's cheeks, she locked eyes with him and began pounding her fist on his chest frantically while uttering the same words over and over again, "You broke your promise..."

Aahan made no effort to halt her assault. He remained a steadfast presence, unmoving like a statue, as a single tear escaped from his eye. "I'm sorry that I let you down, but I did my best..." His voice trembled with emotion, causing Pihu to cease her assault.

She gazed at him with tear-filled eyes, pressing her head against his chest as she clutched onto his shirt, and a deep, heart-wrenching sob escaped her. Her cry was filled with such anguish that it seemed to drown out all other emotions.

The sight tugged at Naksh and Mrunali's hearts, but what cut them the deepest were the next words that came from Pihu. It was evident from her words what relationship they shared, leaving everyone in stunned silence...

"Brother, Why me? Why me..?" she implored Aahan.

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To be continued...

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