TANGLED IN THE SHADOWS

Part - 6

As Ishan relayed the grim details to Rahul and Hardik in Ishan's dorm room, the atmosphere grew tense.

Rahul, his voice hushed, asked, "So you're saying this spirit, this Petna, is after Hardik because she wants to marry him?"

Ishan shook his head, his expression grave. "No, it's not about marriage. Petna spirits attach themselves to someone they believe could fulfill their unfulfilled desires. Marriage might be one aspect, but it's deeper than that. It's about obsession, about possessing someone until their desires are satisfied or they're appeased in some way."

Hardik, sitting on the edge of his bed, looked visibly shaken. "But why me? What could she possibly want from me?"

Ishan hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "It could be something from her past life, something she never got to experience or achieve. Maybe she sees something in you that reminds her of that unfulfilled longing."

Rahul glanced nervously towards the window, where shadows seemed to dance ominously in the faint moonlight. "So, what do we do? How do we get rid of this... this Petna?"

Ishan shifted uncomfortably. "We need to find someone who knows about these rituals, who can communicate with spirits. Ignoring her won't make her go away—it'll only make things worse."

Hardik rubbed his arms, suddenly feeling a chill despite the warmth of the room. "What if we can't find anyone in time? What if she gets stronger?"

Ishan swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper. "Then we might be dealing with something beyond our control."

Suddenly, a cold breeze swept through the room, causing the candles on Rahul's desk to flicker ominously. The three of them exchanged nervous glances, the gravity of their situation sinking in deeper with each passing moment.

"We can't wait any longer," Ishan finally said, his voice steady but tinged with urgency. "We have to act now, before it's too late."

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Krunal Pandya arrived at the college campus, his concern evident as he walked towards Ishan's dormitory where Hardik and Rahul were staying. He knocked on the door, unsure of what he would find inside but ready to comfort his younger brother.

Ishan opened the door and greeted Krunal with a mixture of relief and worry. "Krunal, thank you for coming. Hardik really needs you right now."

Krunal nodded, his brow furrowed with concern. "I got here as soon as I could. Is he okay?"

Ishan hesitated for a moment before gesturing for Krunal to come inside. "He's been through a lot. I think having you here will help."

As they entered the room, Hardik looked up, his eyes red-rimmed and exhausted. He tried to put on a brave face, but the fear and turmoil inside him were evident.

"Krunal bhai!" Hardik exclaimed, relief washing over him as he rushed to hug his elder brother. "I'm so glad you're here."

Krunal embraced Hardik tightly, feeling the tension in his brother's body. "Hey, champ. What's been going on? Mom said you've been feeling off lately."

Hardik pulled back slightly, wiping tears from his eyes. "I... we went to this old palace, and things have been weird since then. I thought it was just my imagination, but..."

Ishan stepped forward, filling Krunal in on the events of the past few days—the nightmares, the eerie encounters in their dorm room, and the growing sense of dread that had enveloped Hardik and Rahul.

Krunal listened intently, his expression grave. "You guys went to that palace? Hardik, you know better than to mess with places like that."

Hardik nodded, guilt weighing heavily on him. "I'm sorry, Krunal bhai. I didn't think..."

"It's okay, Hardik," Krunal said gently, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We'll figure this out. You're not alone in this."

He turned to Ishan, his tone serious. "Have you found anything that might help?"

Ishan nodded, handing over the notes and research he had gathered. "There's something about a spirit called Petna. It's attracted to unfulfilled desires and can latch onto people it sees as potential partners."

Krunal scanned the notes, his expression hardening. "So, this thing is after Hardik?"

"It seems likely," Ishan confirmed.

Hardik sank onto the bed, feeling a mix of fear and relief at finally sharing his burden with his brother. "What do we do now, Krunal bhai? I'm scared."

Krunal sat beside him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "We'll start by getting you both out of here. Then we can make calls to the priest who can perform rituals for these entities or petna whatever it is."

Hardik nodded gratefully, leaning into his brother's comforting presence. "Thank you, Krunal bhai. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"We're family, Hardik," Krunal said softly. "We'll face this together, and we'll make it through."