TANGLED IN THE SHADOWS

Part -30

**( I don't know much about rituals, so bear with me  &  sorry if this ends up being crap!😶‍🌫😶‍🌫) **

ISHAN KISHAN

Ishan landed in Fazilka, Punjab, Shubman's hometown, at dawn. The early morning light painted the quiet town in soft hues, but Ishan's mind was anything but calm. He checked into a modest hotel, setting his bag down on the creaky bed, and took a moment to gather his thoughts. He knew what awaited him tonight—a confrontation with the unknown.

He opened the small cloth bag the pandit had given him, checking the contents carefully. There was a bottle of holy water, incense sticks made of sandalwood, iron amulets, and a traditional Bengali sari dyed in turmeric. Each item was crucial for the ritual, and he hoped they would be enough to protect him. He just hoped he would come out alive.

As the day wore on, Ishan prepared himself mentally. He knew he would be facing the petni ghosts at midnight, in the heart of the old, overgrown graveyard on the outskirts of town. The thought of it made his stomach churn, but he was determined to see it through. For Shubman, for their future, and for the promise of a life free from these malevolent spirits.

As night fell, Ishan made his way to the graveyard. The place was even more foreboding in the dark, with twisted trees casting eerie shadows and a full moon illuminating the ancient tombstones. Mist hung low to the ground, adding to the sinister atmosphere.

He chose a central, open area near an ancient tree, its gnarled branches stretching out like skeletal fingers. He drew a protective circle on the ground using a mixture of turmeric and salt, placing the iron amulets at the cardinal points around the circle. The circle was his shield, his sanctuary from the spirits.

He lit the sandalwood incense sticks, their fragrant smoke mingling with the cold night air. Black candles were placed around the circle, their flickering flames casting dancing shadows. Ishan began chanting the ancient Bengali mantras the pandit had taught him, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at his insides.

Inside the circle, he placed small offerings—fruits, rice, and milk—hoping to appease the spirits and lure them into the open. His heart pounded in his chest as he continued the ritual, the silence of the graveyard only broken by the rustling leaves and distant howls of night creatures.As he continued the ritual, the air grew colder, and a sense of dread settled over the graveyard. Suddenly, the petni ghost manifested before him, an eerie, spectral figure with long, disheveled hair and glowing, malevolent eyes. Ishan's breath caught in his throat as he faced the spirit.

"Shubman is mine!" the petni screamed, its voice echoing through the graveyard. It lunged at Ishan, but he quickly splashed the holy water in its direction. The petni recoiled with a shriek of pain. Ishan waved the sari dyed in turmeric, creating a barrier the ghost could not cross.

Holding a sacred talisman given to him by the pandit, Ishan stepped forward, reciting a powerful incantation. The petni's form wavered, its screams growing more frantic. "I want Shubman!" it howled, trying to break through the barrier.

With one final, determined chant, Ishan thrust his hands outward, symbolically pushing the spirit away. The petni wailed and dissolved into the mist, banished from the graveyard.

Breathing heavily, Ishan stood alone in the moonlit graveyard, his heart racing but filled with a sense of accomplishment. He had faced his fear and survived the night, hoping that his efforts would protect Shubman and ensure their future together.Now, he could only hope the others were just as successful in their tasks.