TANGLED IN THE SHADOWS

Part -28

HARDIK PANDYA

Hardik sat alone in the front seat of the local bus, the rhythmic hum of the engine doing little to calm his nerves. He didn't know the details of the others' tasks, but his own mission was clear: return to the palace, the place where all of this began, and complete the ritual. He looked down at the kalava tied around his wrist, a symbol of protection against the entities lurking in the palace. He hoped fervently that it would shield him from the Shakchunni.

His thoughts drifted to Rahul, their shared moments in the short span of their dating life. The way Rahul's smile could light up his day, the warmth of his touch, the laughter they shared over silly things—it all seemed so precious now. Hardik's chest tightened with a mixture of love and fear. What if something went wrong? What if he never saw Rahul again?

He thought about his family: his caring mother, who always had a kind word and a gentle hug; his father, a pillar of support and wisdom; and Krunal, his brother, who had been his rock throughout this whole ordeal.

Hardik remembered the times when he couldn't even travel alone to a nearby village without Krunal by his side. Now, here he was, embarking on a long and daunting journey by himself. The thought made him feel both proud and terrified.

He stared out the window, watching the landscape blur past. He tried to focus on the positive, to believe that they would all be safe after this. But the fear was overwhelming. He was so afraid—afraid of the Shakchunni, afraid of failing, afraid of losing the people he loved.

A sudden wave of homesickness washed over him. He wanted nothing more than to call his mother, to hear her soothing voice and cry in her arms. But he couldn't. He had to be strong. The weight of that responsibility felt crushing.

Hardik's eyes filled with tears, and he wiped them away quickly, glancing around to make sure no one saw. But the bus was nearly empty, and he was alone in his grief. The tears came faster now, and he buried his face in his hands, sobbing quietly. The exhaustion of the journey and the emotional toll of the past days finally caught up with him.

Eventually, the tears slowed, and he leaned back in his seat, spent. The gentle rocking of the bus and the low hum of the engine began to lull him into a state of drowsiness. His last conscious thought was a silent prayer for strength and safety for himself and his loved ones.

As the bus rocked gently on the uneven road, exhaustion began to overtake him. The tears slowed, and his breathing steadied, the emotional release leaving him drained. His eyes grew heavy, and despite the turmoil in his heart, sleep gradually claimed him.