TANGLED IN THE SHADOWS

Part -16

After all the commotion, they were sitting in front of the temple. Rahul held Hardik closely, trying to offer any comfort he could. The atmosphere was tense, filled with fear and uncertainty.

Suddenly, a familiar voice broke the silence. "Ravindra," Dhoni called out, approaching Jadeja. Startled, Jadeja stumbled back, his mind reeling from the shock of seeing Dhoni here. Dhoni reached out and steadied him, chuckling softly. "You're always falling for me, aren't you?"

Jadeja, momentarily lost in Dhoni's eyes, quickly regained his composure as memories of the fateful prom night flooded back. He didn't want to involve Dhoni in this mess, didn't want to drag him into the world of dark entities and spirits.

"Dhoni, you shouldn't be here," Jadeja said, his voice strained. "It's too dangerous."

Noticing Jadeja's distress, Dhoni's calm demeanor shifted. He looked hurt and frustrated. "What's wrong, Ravindra? Why are you always pushing me away? I know something happened that prom night, but you never told me what. How am I supposed to help you if you won't let me in?"

Before Jadeja could respond, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air. Ishan clutched his back, his face contorted in pain. Dhoni's medical instincts kicked in immediately. "We need to get him to my clinic, now!" he ordered.

The group looked at him skeptically. "Your clinic?" Shubman asked.

Jadeja nodded, trusting Dhoni's expertise. "Yes, Dhoni is a doctor. Let's go."

They hurried to Dhoni's clinic, Ishan's screams still echoing in their ears. Once there, Dhoni quickly set to work, examining the wound on Ishan's back. It looked like deep scratches, almost like claw marks.

As Dhoni treated the wounds, he asked, "What happened to him? These marks... they don't look like anything I've seen before."

Jadeja, not wanting to reveal the supernatural elements, simply said, "It's complicated. We just need to make sure he's okay."

Dhoni frowned but didn't press further. "He'll be fine. The wounds aren't too deep. He just needs rest and proper care."

Once Ishan was bandaged and resting, the group gathered outside the clinic. Dhoni looked at Jadeja, frustration evident in his eyes. "Ravindra, you need to tell me what's going on. I can't help if I don't know what we're dealing with."

Jadeja's heart ached, but he remained firm. "You don't need to get involved in this, Dhoni. It's too dangerous."

Dhoni's expression hardened. "I care about you, Ravindra. I won't stand by while you face this alone. If something happened that night, I deserve to know. I deserve to understand why you've been shutting me out all these years."

Jadeja's resolve wavered, but before he could respond, Hardik spoke up. "Please, Jadeja. We need all the help we can get."

Looking at the earnest faces around him, Jadeja sighed. "Fine. But not here. We'll talk, but for now, let's get back and make sure everyone is safe."

As they prepared to leave, Dhoni caught Jadeja's arm. "This isn't over, Ravindra. We will talk about this."

Jadeja nodded, a mixture of fear and relief washing over him. "I know," he said quietly. "We will."

As they left the clinic, Dhoni couldn't help but feel a deep unease, a sense that the answers he sought were far darker than he could ever imagine. And Jadeja, torn between protecting Dhoni and facing his own fears, knew that the worst was yet to come.