(#1 in hauntedmantion)
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 t...
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 four 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 Steven’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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