Night of 25TH

EPILOGUE

Present:

Author

The ride back to Mohali was quiet. The twins sat in the back with Shubman, holding hands and occasionally wiping away tears that slipped from their eyes. Shubman tried to start conversations, but all he got in return were one-word answers. Venting out his story helped Shubman relieve some stress, but the twins were too attached to their own thoughts. They were heartbroken, imagining what it would be like if Chucky were still alive. They wished she could be with them, imagining how fun it would be to have her around as the cool aunt. Despite offers of ice creams and treats, nothing seemed to lift their spirits on the journey home. The twins remained lost in their thoughts, staring blankly out of the window as the car carried them home.

As the door of the house swung open, the twins were ready to bolt towards their room, craving the solace of their beds where they could cry themselves to sleep. But before they could make their escape, strong arms wrapped around their tiny waists, halting their movements. Both twins resisted, their exhaustion evident in their whines.

"Let go, Mamu. We just want to sleep. We're tired," they pleaded, their voices heavy with fatigue and emotion.

He held them tighter, ignoring their protests, and murmured, "I want to show you something."

His voice carried a tone of insistence, but also a hint of comfort, as if promising them that whatever he had to show would be worth their attention. Despite their reluctance, the twins felt a glimmer of curiosity stirring within them. They exchanged a hesitant glance before finally relenting, allowing themselves to be guided in the direction he led.

Shubman led the twins towards a part of the house that seemed untouched but not forgotten. With one hand holding both twins firmly by their waists, he approached a door that appeared to have been closed for a long time. As he pushed it open, a cloud of dust billowed out, causing all three of them to cough and sputter.

Coughing and blinking away the dust, the twins exchanged puzzled glances, wondering what Shubman was up to.

After taking a moment to catch their breath and recover from the dust, Shubman kissed the tops of the twins' heads reassuringly before stepping into the room. With a flick of a switch, he illuminated the space, revealing its contents to the astonished twins.

Their eyes widened in disbelief as they took in the sight before them. The room was adorned with treasures from their past - a collection of Shinchan and Doraemon stuffed toys, old and worn spectacles, vibrant pink meenakari, and signed autographs from world cricket players adorned the walls. But what truly caught their attention was an old jersey hanging prominently, bearing the number 00 and the bold name "ANYA" etched across it.

The twins began to sob loudly as they discovered more treasures belonging to Chucky, burying their faces in Shubman's chest for comfort. Shubman gently placed them on the ground and rubbed their backs soothingly.

"You know, Chucky will haunt you if you keep crying like this. She still lives in this room," Shubman said, trying to stifle his laughter.

The twins looked up in horror, quickly wiping away their tears and coughing a bit, startled by Shubman's words.

Shubman couldn't help but laugh at the twins' horrified reactions, amused by their exaggerated expressions. Their whines and pouts only made him laugh harder, his laughter echoing in the room as he watched them turn around, arms crossed and pouting.

"Come on, you two. Don't be scared," Shubman said between laughs, trying to reassure them. "Chucky would want you to remember the good times and smile, not cry like this."