Aarohi And Dev

CHAPTER 21

Aarohi POV

The next day, as usual, I got ready and headed to college with Tara. We settled into our seats upon arrival. Mayank was his usual enthusiastic self about the day ahead, Rajveer seemed a bit grouchy, and I found myself lost in my thoughts, still trying to shake off the nightmare from the day before.

Before our second lecture, a few seniors entered, presumably for an announcement, I wondered. Among them, I spotted Karthik in the crowd of seniors.

"Isn't that your blind lover?" Mayank chimed in, with a hint of teasing.

"Isn't this my hand which is soon going to be on your face?" Tara responded, clearly irritated.

The announcement was regarding the upcoming college fest, where they invited students to participate in various competitions.

"Let's join the treasure hunt, please?" Mayank pleaded with a puppy face.
"Not Interested," Tara responded firmly.
"Okay, we'll participate, but under one condition," I replied mischievously, capturing their attention.

They all looked at me with puzzled expressions.

"If you dare to enter a horror house, then we'll join the treasure hunt. I'll give you an option—you can even go in with Rajveer if you want," I proposed.

"Pakka?" Mayank asked eagerly, to which I nodded.
[ Promise? ]

"Deal," Mayank confirmed, shaking my hand firmly.

After a few moments, Tara leaned in and whispered, "What's going on in your naughty mind?"

"Trust me, you'll enjoy it," I whispered back with a mischievous smile.

After completing our shift at the cafe, Tara and I made our way to the Raichand mansion.

As the massive oak door slowly swung open, revealing the grandeur beyond, my eyes widened in awe. Before we stood the magnificent white bungalow, its imposing structure softened by a charming front garden blooming with colourful flowers. The driveway stretched out to accommodate several cars, emphasizing the mansion's spaciousness and elegance.

"Ruhi, it's so big. Where do I exactly park my car?" Tara asked."This is the parking area, so park wherever you want," I replied. "Damn, his mansion is ten times more lavish than mine!" Tara exclaimed.

As Tara and I entered the Raichand mansion, the grandeur and opulence of the place were immediately evident. The expansive entrance hall was adorned with exquisite marble flooring, intricate chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling, and ornate tapestries adorning the walls. The air was filled with a faint fragrance of fresh flowers from the carefully arranged bouquets.

Devika and her mother greeted us at the entrance of their grand mansion with warm hugs and heartfelt greetings. As we stepped inside, Aunty's eyes glistened with tears of gratitude as she expressed her thanks for saving their daughter. My awkwardness in emotional situations made me stumble over my words.

"No, Aunty, it's just human nature to help someone in need," I managed to say, feeling a bit out of place in such a heartfelt moment. Internally, I chided myself for my social clumsiness, wishing I could respond more eloquently to Aunty's sincere gratitude.

"Please make yourselves comfortable," Aunty said warmly, gesturing for us to relax and settle in.

We settled onto the sofa as Aunty headed to the kitchen, and Tara went with Devika to use the restroom. I wandered over to admire the paintings adorning the walls—they were truly beautiful. When I turned, I caught Dev's eyes on me. Flustered, he stammered out, "Uh, th-they, sh... Devika called me."