TANGLED IN THE SHADOWS

Part -5

The next day, Hardik and Rahul slept in Ishan's room, grateful for the place provided by their friend. Ishan, determined to get to the bottom of their mysterious ordeal, went to college, his mind racing with questions.

During a break, he spotted Shubman sitting alone in the cafeteria, his face buried in a book. Ishan approached him, pulling out a chair.

"Hey, Shubman," Ishan began, trying to sound casual. "Mind if I sit?"

Shubman looked up, surprised but nodded. "Sure, Ishan. What's up?"

Ishan leaned in, lowering his voice. "I heard you mentioned something about seeing an entity near that old palace. Hardik and Rahul have been having some serious issues since we visited it. Do you know anything about it?"

Shubman's face paled, and he glanced around nervously before responding. "I didn't go inside, but I did pass by it. It brought back some... bad memories."

Ishan pressed on, his curiosity piqued. "What kind of memories? What happened to you?"

Shubman hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. "When I was a child, I was very sick. My parents told me I got the air of 'Petni,' a Bengali ghost that preys on children. I was so weak, they thought I wouldn't make it."

Ishan's eyes widened. "Petni? I've never heard of it. What did they do to get rid of it?"

Shubman took a deep breath, clearly troubled by the recollection. "They tied a 'kalava'-a sacred red thread-around my wrist. They said it would protect me and drive the spirit away. It took a long time, but I eventually got better. Since then, I've always been cautious about places like that palace."

Ishan leaned closer, his tone insistent. "But you just passed by the palace, right? How did you know it was the same kind of presence?"

Shubman shuddered, his voice dropping to a whisper. "The feeling was unmistakable. The air felt heavy, and I had this intense sense of being watched. It was the same feeling I had as a child, when the Petni was supposedly after me."

Ishan frowned, trying to piece it all together. "So you think whatever is in that palace could be similar to the Petni? Could it be that it latched onto Hardik and Rahul because we disturbed it?"

Shubman nodded slowly, his fear evident. "It's possible. These entities feed on fear and vulnerability. If they sensed any of that from Hardik or Rahul, it could explain why they're being targeted."

Ishan bit his lip, thinking hard. "What can we do to protect them? Is there any way to get rid of it?"

Shubman looked hesitant but finally spoke. "The kalava worked for me. It's a symbol of protection and faith. If we can get one for Hardik and Rahul, it might help. But they need to stay away from that place and keep their spirits strong."

Ishan nodded, determination in his eyes. "I'll get the kalavas. Thanks, Shubman. We need all the help we can get."

As Ishan stood to leave, Shubman grabbed his arm, his grip surprisingly strong. "Be careful, Ishan. These things are dangerous. Make sure Hardik and Rahul know how serious this is."

Ishan nodded solemnly. "I will. Thanks for your help, Shubman."

With that, Ishan hurried out of the cafeteria, a plan forming in his mind. He had to protect his friends, no matter what it took.

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After speaking with Shubman, Ishan headed straight to the college library, determined to uncover more about the malevolent spirit known as Petni. He delved into dusty old books and obscure articles, piecing together fragments of folklore and chilling stories.

Hours passed, and Ishan finally stumbled upon a detailed account of the Petni. The more he read, the more the pieces of the puzzle began to fit together. According to the texts, Petni were spirits of women who had died with unfulfilled desires, often without marrying. These spirits would latch onto someone they considered a potential spouse, causing misery and fear until their desires were either fulfilled or appeased.

His heart pounded as he read further. "Petni can be appeased by performing rituals or through the intervention of a spiritual healer. Ignoring the spirit's presence often leads to more severe hauntings," the text warned.

Ishan closed the book, his mind racing. He now understood why the entity had attached itself to Hardik. The haunted palace had likely been the home or place of death for one of these tormented spirits.

As he gathered his notes and prepared to leave the library, he felt a chill run down his spine. The air around him seemed to grow colder, and he could almost feel the presence of something watching him, lurking in the shadows between the shelves.

Shaking off the eerie sensation, Ishan hurried out of the library. He had to get back to Hardik and Rahul. They needed to know what he had discovered, and more importantly, they needed to find someone who could perform the necessary rituals to rid them of the Petni's malevolent grasp.

As he stepped into the night, the darkness seemed to close in around him, whispering promises of despair. Ishan knew that time was running out, and they had to act quickly before the spirit's hold on Hardik grew too strong to break.