The next day, Ishan woke up early, the first light of dawn filtering through the thin curtains of the motel room. He glanced over at Shubman, who was still sleeping peacefully, his face relaxed and free of the worry that had plagued them recently. Ishan couldn’t help but smile as he watched him.
Memories flooded back to Ishan. He remembered the first time he saw Shubman. It had been love at first sight. Shubman had stood awkwardly at the edge of the classroom, clearly uncomfortable with the new environment. Yet, there was something endearing about his hesitance, the way he tried to blend in while keeping to himself.
Ishan recalled seeing Shubman in the library, sitting alone with headphones on, completely lost in his music. Shubman looked ethereal in those moments, his features soft and almost otherworldly as he was transported to another realm by the music. Ishan had wanted to approach him, to say something, but before he could muster the courage, they had all been drawn into this terrifying ordeal.
He sighed softly, thinking about how different things might have been if not for the haunting. The fear and uncertainty had drawn them closer in some ways, but it had also overshadowed their chance for a normal friendship, or possibly something more.
Just then, Shubman stirred, rubbing his eyes cutely as he woke up. He blinked a few times, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep, and looked at Ishan with a small, sleepy smile.
"Good morning," Shubman murmured, his voice still thick with sleep.
"Good morning," Ishan replied, his heart swelling with a mix of affection and determination. At that moment, he knew he would do anything for Shubman. The desire to protect him, to see him safe and happy, was overwhelming.
But Ishan also knew that now wasn’t the time to confess his feelings. The situation they were in was too dangerous, too uncertain. Until they got out of this mess, until the threat of the Petni was gone, he would keep his feelings to himself.
"Did you sleep well?" Ishan asked, trying to keep his voice casual.
"Yeah, surprisingly," Shubman said, stretching. "Better than I expected, given everything."
"That's good," Ishan said, standing up and offering Shubman a hand to help him up. "We should get ready. We have a long day ahead of us".
💞Just a chapter filler💞
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TANGLED IN THE SHADOWS
HorrorHardik Pandya and KL Rahul, two inseparable college sweethearts, find their lives entwined in an unexpected nightmare. What starts as a night of revelry turns into a battle for survival when their drunken party leads them to a cursed palace. With th...
