TANGLED IN THE SHADOWS

Part-12

After they left the temple, Jadeja turned to them and said, "You can stay with me if you want, but I don't have enough food for all of us."

Krunal was the first to agree. "We can't keep searching for places to stay. It's better if we stick together."

One by one, they all agreed, though Ishan did so reluctantly, still wary of Jadeja.

On their way to Jadeja's home, they stopped at a supermarket to buy more food. Inside, Hardik's eyes lit up as he spotted a pack of Maggi noodles. He grabbed it enthusiastically.

Krunal saw and frowned. "Put that back, Hardik. We need to buy proper food."

Hardik whined, "But I love Maggi!"

He turned to Rahul, his eyes pleading. Rahul couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, alright," he said, taking the Maggi from Hardik and putting it in the cart.

Hardik grinned and kissed Rahul on the cheek soundly, making a playful "mwah" sound.

"Thanks, Rahul! You're the best."

Rahul smiled, watching Hardik's childish excitement. He thought about how new their relationship was - they had only been dating for a few months. He had dreamed of taking Hardik on fancy dates or spending lazy afternoons in the park, just the two of them.

His thoughts were interrupted when Hardik looked at him worriedly. "Rahul, what's wrong? You look lost in thought."

Rahul shrugged and kissed Hardik gently on the forehead. "I'm alright. Just thinking about how much I love you."

Hardik blushed and grinned. "I love you too, Rahul."

Ishan, observing from a distance, smirked. "You two are disgustingly cute, you know that?"

Shubman laughed. "Yeah, get a room, you two."

Krunal, ever the protective brother, rolled his eyes but couldn't help smiling. "Come on, let's get what we need and head to Jadeja's."

They continued shopping, filling the cart with essentials. Jadeja, who had been quietly observing them, finally spoke up. "You seem like a close-knit group. It's good to have that kind of bond."

Ishan raised an eyebrow. "Do you live alone, Jadeja?"

Jadeja nodded. "Yes, for a long time now. It's peaceful, but it can get lonely."

Shubman looked at Jadeja curiously. "Why do you think the petni isn't after Hardik? Do you know something we don't?"

Jadeja's expression became serious. "I have my suspicions, but it's better to discuss this at home. We don't want to attract any unwanted attention here."

Hardik, feeling a mix of curiosity and apprehension, nodded. "Okay. Let's finish up and get going."

They paid for their groceries and packed everything into Krunal's car. The drive to Jadeja's home was filled with a mix of nervous chatter and silent contemplation. Everyone was eager to hear what Jadeja had to say, hoping it would bring them one step closer to ending their ordeal.

As they arrived at Jadeja's modest house, nestled in a quiet part of town, they felt a strange mix of relief and unease. Jadeja led them inside, and they began to unpack the groceries, the weight of their situation momentarily lightened by the mundane task.

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As they were about to eat the lunch they had prepared, the doorbell rang. Everyone looked up, startled. Jadeja started to get up, but Krunal quickly intervened.

"I'll get it," Krunal said, standing up and heading for the door.

When he returned, he had a bouquet of vibrant gerbera flowers in one hand and a box of cookies in the other. The room fell silent, eyes fixed on the unexpected delivery.

Jadeja, curious about who could be at the door, raised an eyebrow but then shrugged dismissively when he saw what Krunal was holding. "Just put those aside," he said nonchalantly.

Shubman, unable to contain his curiosity, asked, "Who sent those for you, Jadeja?"

Jadeja's expression hardened slightly. "Someone I can't let into my life," he replied curtly.

Ishan, sensing the tension, decided to lighten the mood. "Well, whoever they are, they have good taste in cookies."

Jadeja gave a small, tight smile. "Enjoy them if you like."

Krunal placed the flowers and cookies on a side table. "Should we be worried about who sent these?" he asked, glancing at Jadeja.

Jadeja shook his head. "No, it's nothing to worry about. Just...someone from my past."

Hardik, sensing the need to change the subject, spoke up. "Let's eat. We all need to keep our strength up."

As they settled down to eat, Jadeja remained quiet, lost in thought. After they finished their meal, Jadeja stood up. "You all should take some rest," he said. "I'm going to the shop for a while."

Rahul looked up, concerned. "Will you be okay?"

Jadeja nodded. "Yes, I'll be fine. I need to clear my head. I'll be back soon."

Krunal, ever the practical one, asked, "Do you need any help? We could come with you."

Jadeja smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "No, it's alright. Stay here and rest. I'll be back before you know it."

As Jadeja left, the group exchanged worried glances. Hardik turned to Krunal. "Do you think we should have let him go alone?"

Krunal shook his head. "He's a grown man, Hardik. He can take care of himself. Besides, he seems to know what he's doing."

Ishan leaned back in his chair, looking at the flowers and cookies thoughtfully. "Still, I wonder who sent those. And why now?"

Shubman nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's a bit strange. But Jadeja clearly doesn't want to talk about it."

Rahul put a reassuring hand on Hardik's shoulder. "Let's focus on getting through this. We'll figure out the rest as we go."

Hardik sighed, feeling the weight of the situation. "I just hope we find the answers we need soon."