"Marking by Darkness"
Ruhi's life has always been overshadowed by something dark. A haunting presence, a cursed bungalow, and the lingering ghost of her twin sister, threaten to destroy everything she holds dear. But when a mysterious figure from th...
The mere sight of him standing amidst the vibrant crowd caught me off guard. He was here, at the party. The very person who had previously claimed to be swamped with work, unable to spare a moment to meet me, now stood before my eyes. The realization hit like a wave—he had found time for this event but not for me. A mix of surprise and disappointment brewed within me, questioning what his priorities truly were.
---
Esha nudged me, her voice cutting through my thoughts. “Ruhi, come on! Let’s go wish Yuvan. It’s his birthday, after all.”
I nodded, masking my emotions. “Yeah, let’s go.”
We approached Yuvan, who was surrounded by a group of friends, his cheerful demeanor lighting up the space.
“Hello, Yuvan!” Esha greeted him warmly.
He turned to us, a polite smile gracing his face. “Hi! You’re Neil’s friends, right?”
“Yes,” I said, offering a faint smile. “I’m Ruhi, and this is Esha. And, of course, happy birthday!”
“Many, many happy returns of the day,” Esha chimed in, her excitement infectious.
Yuvan beamed. “Nice to meet you both, and thank you! I’m glad you could make it. I hope you’re enjoying the party.”
“Yes, it’s lovely,” I replied politely.
“By the way,” Yuvan added, glancing around, “where’s Neil?”
Esha shrugged. “We’re looking for him ourselves.”
“Well, don’t let me keep you. Go find him,” Yuvan said graciously.
We wished him again and turned away.
---
Esha tugged at my hand, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. “Ruhi, I’m in desperate need of a drink. Let’s go to the bar.”
I hesitated. “But we need to find Neil first—”
“Neil can wait! Drinks first,” she insisted, dragging me toward the bar area.
The garden outside buzzed with life, illuminated by strings of fairy lights draped over trees. A modest bar counter stood near the pool, its sleek design beckoning guests. My heart skipped a beat when my gaze landed on Sounak, casually leaning against the counter.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
