TANGLED IN THE SHADOWS

Part -14

After Jadeja returned, they gathered around for dinner. The meal was a quiet affair, everyone still processing the day's events and the tension hanging in the air. Once they finished eating, Jadeja cleared his throat and decided it was time to address the elephant in the room.

"I think it's time we talked about the petni," Jadeja began, looking around at the group.

Hardik and Rahul exchanged nervous glances, while Ishan and Shubman leaned in closer, eager for answers.

Jadeja continued, "Petnis don't typically harm the person they want to marry. Instead, they might harm anyone who stands in the way of marrying their potential partner."

Rahul's eyes widened in bewilderment. "Wait, are you saying the petni wants to marry me?" he asked, his voice tinged with panic.

Jadeja shook his head. "No, that's not what I'm saying."

Suddenly, Shubman spoke up, his voice curious. "Then why did you tighten the kalava on my hand that day?"

Jadeja hesitated for a moment before responding. "I frankly think the petni is after you, Shubman."

The room fell silent as everyone absorbed this shocking revelation.

Krunal, ever the protector, was the first to speak. "If the petni is after Shubman, then what's bothering Hardik?"

Jadeja sighed, thinking back to his fateful prom night. "It might be another entity altogether," he said gravely.

Shubman, still processing the idea that a petni might be after him, asked quietly, "But then, who is in the way of the petni getting to me?"

Jadeja looked at Ishan knowingly. There was a silent exchange between the two, a look that spoke volumes. Ishan's eyes pleaded with Jadeja not to reveal the truth.

Seeing the tension between them, Hardik asked, "What's going on? What aren't you telling us?"

Jadeja sighed loudly, clearly troubled. "Let's just get some sleep. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

As everyone began to prepare for bed, Ishan pulled Jadeja aside. "Please," Ishan whispered urgently, "don't tell Shubman. He can't know."

Jadeja nodded slowly. "I won't, for now. But you need to be careful. The petni won't stop until it gets what it wants."

Ishan looked over at Shubman, who was talking to Rahul and Hardik, unaware of the silent conversation happening. "I know. I'll do whatever it takes to protect him."

Jadeja placed a reassuring hand on Ishan's shoulder. "Just be ready. We'll get through this together."

The night grew darker, and the group settled into their sleeping arrangements, each lost in their own thoughts and fears. The unease in the room was palpable, but there was a sense of solidarity as well. They were in this together, and together they would face whatever horrors awaited them.

As Jadeja lay in bed, he couldn't help but think about the flowers and cookies from Dhoni, the memories of his high school years flooding back. He hoped that by helping these young men, he might find some semblance of peace for himself as well.

The laughter they had heard earlier echoed in Jadeja's mind, a haunting reminder that the entities they were dealing with were very real and very dangerous. They had a long road ahead, but at least they had each other.