TANGLED IN THE SHADOWS

Part -7

Ishan stood nervously outside Shubman's door, mentally rehearsing how he would explain their unexpected visit. He knocked softly, and after a moment, the door opened to reveal Shubman standing there in his night clothes, looking sleepy and slightly disheveled.

"Hey, Ishan," Shubman greeted with a yawn, rubbing his eyes. "I was actually expecting my roommate. What's up?"

Ishan shifted uncomfortably, realizing he had caught Shubman off guard. "Uh, sorry to drop by unannounced. We... I brought someone with me to talk about the Petni spirit."

Shubman's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, um, okay. Come in, I guess." He stepped aside, allowing Ishan and Krunal to enter his dorm room.

As they settled in, Krunal excused himself to make a call to his office, leaving Ishan and Shubman alone for a moment. Shubman glanced at Ishan nervously, clearly uneasy about revisiting the topic of spirits that had haunted his childhood.

"So, this Petni thing... You really believe it's connected to what Hardik and Rahul are experiencing?" Shubman asked cautiously, sitting down on his bed.

Ishan nodded, choosing his words carefully. "I think so. Everything points to it. Hardik and Rahul visited that haunted palace, and ever since, they've been plagued by nightmares and strange occurrences."

Shubman frowned, his brow furrowing in concern. "I never wanted to get involved in this again. I thought I left all that behind."

"I'm sorry, Shubman," Ishan said sincerely. "But we need your help. You have experience with these things. Maybe you can shed some light on how we can protect them, or even get rid of whatever is haunting them."

Shubman sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "Alright. I'll help however I can. But I'm not sure how much I remember about those rituals and charms."

Before Ishan could respond, Krunal returned from his call, his expression serious as he joined them in the conversation. "Shubman, thank you for letting us intrude like this. We really appreciate your help."

Shubman nodded, his gaze flickering uneasily around the room. Unbeknownst to them, unseen eyes watched from the shadows, a malevolent presence lurking in the corners, drawn to Shubman once again.

As they delved deeper into the discussion, Shubman shared what little he remembered about the rituals his family had performed to ward off the Petni spirit. Ishan took notes diligently, absorbing every detail, while Krunal listened attentively, asking insightful questions.

Suddenly, a chill swept through the room, causing Shubman to shiver involuntarily. He glanced nervously at the window, sensing something out of place.

"Is it just me, or does it feel colder in here all of a sudden?" Shubman asked, his voice tinged with unease.

Ishan and Krunal exchanged a concerned glance, their instincts on high alert. "Maybe we should continue this discussion somewhere else," Ishan suggested quietly, not wanting to agitate whatever unseen force lingered in Shubman's dorm.

Just as they were about to gather their things and leave, a faint whisper echoed through the room, barely audible but filled with a chilling resonance.

"Leave... leave... leave..."

Shubman's eyes widened in fear, his heart racing. "Did you hear that?"

Ishan and Krunal exchanged alarmed looks. "We need to go, now," Krunal said firmly, his voice cutting through the tense atmosphere.

They hastily packed up their belongings and hurried out of Shubman's dorm, the sense of foreboding lingering behind them like a dark shadow. As they walked down the corridor, Shubman glanced over his shoulder, a cold sweat breaking out on his brow.

"I think... I think whatever is haunting me... it's back," Shubman whispered, his voice trembling.

Ishan squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. "We'll figure this out, Shubman. Together."

But deep down, they all knew that they had unwittingly stepped into a realm of darkness and malevolence that would not easily let them go.