"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...
Ruhi looked at Anshi, the weight of her thoughts lingering as she spoke. “So, this is the whole story, Anshi.”
Anshi leaned forward, her eyes wide with curiosity. “So, you guys didn’t talk much after graduation either, right?”
Ruhi nodded, her voice quiet. “Yeah, we didn’t.”
Anshi stared at her, incredulous. “OMG! It’s almost five years, and you’ve been holding on to someone like this?”
Ruhi sighed, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. “It’s not just about love. It’s trust, you know? I care for him so much. I respect his decisions, try to understand him. Sometimes I fail, but I keep trying.”
Anshi smiled softly, teasing her. “And that’s called love, my darling.”
Ruhi shook her head, clearly conflicted. “I don’t think so. How can I say I love him after all this time? I can’t even believe it myself.”
Anshi leaned in, her expression serious now. “But darling, love is always like this. Don’t you ever feel that he loves you?”
Ruhi paused, her gaze distant. “Sometimes, I think so. But I can never be sure. I’ve tried to get him to open up, but he never really says anything clearly.”
Anshi let out a small, frustrated sigh. “It’s so complicated. But the real shocker is that you never told me about all this before.”
Ruhi looked down at her hands, avoiding her gaze. “I never knew what to say.”
Anshi raised an eyebrow. “So, he’s still in the US, right?”
Ruhi nodded again. “Yeah.”
Anshi stared at her, almost amazed. “How did you hope for someone for so long? How did you wait for him this long?”
Ruhi looked away, lost in thought. “I don’t know. But I—” She cut herself off and then laughed softly. “Okay, fine. Call him now.”
Ruhi blinked. “Now?”
“Yes, now. And this time, call him from your own phone.”
Ruhi hesitated, looking uncertain. “Listen, he won’t answer the call.”
Anshi gave her a knowing look. “Call him.”
Ruhi ran a hand through her hair, feeling the weight of the moment. “I want to talk to him, but I don’t know what to say.”
Anshi’s voice softened. “I know you’re nervous, but you need to talk to him. Just call him, Ruhi.”
Taking a deep breath, Ruhi unlocked her phone and dialed Sounak’s number. The seconds felt like an eternity. But, as expected, he didn’t pick up.
“No answer,” Ruhi muttered, feeling a pang in her chest.
Anshi’s disappointment was clear. “Oh no!”
Ruhi sighed. “Maybe he’s busy with work.”
Anshi sighed too but then nudged her. “Okay, relax. You need to take a bath. Go unwind. I’ll take care of the rest.”
Ruhi gave a small nod. “Yeah, you’re right.”
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Later, relaxing in Anshi’s beautiful bathtub, the warm water soothed her muscles, and the gentle music from her phone created a calm atmosphere. Her mind, however, was anything but calm. Thoughts of Sounak swirled around her as she closed her eyes, letting the sound of the water and music wash over her.
Suddenly, the music stopped. She startled, her eyes snapping open as she saw an incoming call from Sounak. Heart pounding, she quickly swiped to answer.
“Hello?” Ruhi’s voice wavered slightly.
“Hey, did you call me?” Sounak’s voice came through, casual but warm.
Ruhi bit her lip, trying to steady herself. “Yeah.”
“Okay, something important?” Sounak asked, his tone light.
“Uh… nah.” Ruhi forced a smile.
Sounak chuckled. “So?”
Ruhi raised an eyebrow, her fingers tapping nervously on the side of the tub. “Can’t I call you if it’s not important?”
“No, no, not like that.” Sounak’s voice took on a teasing edge. “You can obviously call me anytime.”
Ruhi smirked. “Okay, then.”
“How are you?” he asked, his voice softening.
Ruhi leaned back, trying to relax. “Not so good, not so bad.”
“Nice,” Sounak said with a small laugh.
Ruhi chuckled lightly. “And you?”
“Not so good, not so bad,” he echoed, clearly mirroring her response.
Ruhi laughed. “Hah! Copycat.”
“I’m not a cat,” Sounak teased. “But I know you’re a cat lover. So, you’re all about that cat life.”
Ruhi grinned. “Yeah, I’m a cat. Wild cat.”
Sounak’s voice dropped into a playful tone. “A wild cat. So, what are you doing?”
The sudden question threw Ruhi off balance. She glanced around, remembering only then that she was in the bathtub. “Y… yeah. I mean, yes.”
Sounak’s voice came through, amused. “What? Really?”
Ruhi tried to keep the conversation casual. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing. Just lying on my bed,” he said, his voice relaxed.
Ruhi nodded, though he couldn’t see her. “Ohh, okay.”
Ruhi sighed, her heart feeling full as she let her eyes close again. “You know, Sounak… there’s something I want to tell you.”
“Go ahead, I’m listening,” he replied, his voice softening.
Ruhi hesitated before speaking, her heart pounding. “Well, I really miss you.”
Sounak’s voice held a note of longing. “You know, Ruhi, I miss my hometown so much. I want to see my parents, my friends…”
Ruhi nodded, understanding the weight of his words. “I totally get that feeling.”
Sounak let out a small sigh. “Maybe I’ll be able to visit in a few months, but just for a short while.”
Ruhi’s eyes widened with surprise. “Oh my gosh, that’s great news!”
Sounak laughed softly. “Yeah, I suppose. Anyway, I have a lot of work to do. Can I hang up for now?”
Ruhi felt a small pang in her chest but nodded. “Of course, go ahead.”
“Alright,” he said, his voice soft but fond. “Take care.”
The line went silent as Ruhi lowered her phone, her heart still racing. The conversation had been both bittersweet and comforting, leaving her with a mix of emotions that lingered long after the call ended.
