TANGLED IN THE SHADOWS

Part -22

The next morning, after much coaxing from Jadeja, Dhoni reluctantly left for his clinic. Jadeja assured him that they would manage and keep him updated. Once Dhoni was gone, the group headed back to the temple for the powerful ritual the pandit had promised to perform. However, upon arrival, the pandit was nowhere to be found.

They asked the nearby people, and someone mentioned seeing the pandit at the backside of the temple. Jadeja's heart sank; this was the place where his parents had died. Steeling himself, he led the others to the spot.

When they arrived, they were horrified to see the ritual items scattered around. They searched frantically for the pandit, and finally, they found him near the pond, lifeless.

A sinister laugh echoed through the air, chilling them to the bone. "Rahul is mine," the voice taunted. Hardik instinctively pulled Rahul closer, while Krunal stepped protectively in front of them.

Jadeja shouted into the emptiness, "Fuck off! Leave us alone!"

The mocking laughter ceased, but the eerie sound of anklets drew nearer. Suddenly, the Shakchunni appeared before them. She reached out and caressed Jadeja's face, her eyes fixed on Rahul. "You can't leave me again," she whispered softly, then turned to Jadeja. "Your bravery couldn't save them," she said, her voice dripping with malice. "No one can stand in the way of me and my love."

The group watched in horror as the Shakchunni's form wavered and vanished, her presence leaving a lingering dread. They stood frozen for a moment, the weight of her words hanging over them.

Rahul, trembling, looked at Hardik. "What are we going to do? How do we fight something like that?"

Jadeja, regaining his composure, said, "We have to stay strong. We can't let her win. We'll find another way."

Krunal, still on edge, added, "We need to regroup and think of our next move. We can't let her divide us."

Hardik nodded, his grip on Rahul tightening. "We'll stick together. No matter what."

They slowly made their way back to Jadeja's house, the sinister encounter leaving them shaken but more determined. Jadeja couldn't shake the feeling of dread as he thought of Dhoni, knowing that he had to keep him safe, away from the horrors they were facing.

Once back at the house, they sat in the living room, trying to process what had just happened. Jadeja took a deep breath and spoke, "We need to find another pandit, someone who can help us perform the ritual. We can't give up now."

Shubman, still shaken, asked, "But what if she comes back? What if she hurts one of us again?"

Jadeja looked at each of them, his resolve firm. "We won't let that happen. We'll protect each other, no matter what."

The group nodded in agreement, the fear still present but overshadowed by their determination to fight back.