TANGLED IN THE SHADOWS

Part -33

The next morning, Jadeja woke up with a sense of urgency. He rushed to the chamber where the rest of the group was staying, his heart pounding. Opening the door quietly, he found them all asleep. He gently shook Dhoni awake.

"Mahi," Jadeja whispered. Dhoni stirred, blinking as he came to his senses. Upon seeing Jadeja, he quickly hugged him.

"Why were you asked to stay back?" Dhoni asked, his voice filled with concern.

Jadeja took a deep breath and began explaining everything that had happened, answering all of Dhoni's questions one by one. The commotion woke the others, who looked around groggily.

"Where are Hardik and Ishan?" Shubman asked, his voice tinged with worry.

"I don't know," Jadeja admitted, glancing around anxiously. "The pandit said they had their own tasks to complete."

Just then, the old pandit entered the room, bringing a sense of calm with him. He approached Rahul and Shubman, placing his hands on their heads and reciting mantras. As he finished, he smiled warmly.

"You are out of danger now," he said. "Your partners have done a great job."

"Then why haven't they called?" Rahul asked, his voice trembling with concern.

The pandit smiled gently. "They left their phones here to ensure they wouldn't be distracted before the rituals were complete," he explained, handing the phones back to them.

Krunal let out a sigh of relief, his shoulders relaxing for the first time in days. "Thank God," he murmured. "I was so worried."

"Once we have completed a final prayer together and Hardik and Ishan return, you all can go home," the pandit added reassuringly.

Dhoni turned to Jadeja, his eyes filled with gratitude. "I can't believe it's almost over. You've been so brave."

Jadeja nodded, his thoughts drifting to Hardik and Ishan. "I just hope they're okay. I can't wait to see them."

Rahul, holding his phone tightly, nodded in agreement. "Me too. I need to see Hardik. I need to know he's safe."

Shubman, trying to mask his worry, added, "We'll see them soon. Let's just trust that they'll come back to us."

They all nodded, a sense of hope and anticipation filling the room. Despite their fatigue, a wave of happiness washed over them, knowing the worst was behind them. They couldn't wait for the moment when they would be reunited with their boyfriends and could finally go home together, leaving the horrors of the past behind.

💞💞💞

Hardik took the first train to Rajasthan, his heart brimming with excitement at the thought of seeing Rahul and Krunal again. He wanted to call them and reassure them that he was okay, but there wasn't a phone booth in sight, and he had left his phone behind for the ritual.

Despite this, he felt a profound sense of peace knowing that soon, when he woke up, he would be reunited with the people he loved. He settled into his seat, the gentle rocking of the train and the rhythmic sound of the wheels on the tracks soothing him.

As he closed his eyes, a smile spread across his face. He let the exhaustion of the past few days wash over him, surrendering to the comfort of the moment. With thoughts of Rahul and the others filling his mind, Hardik drifted off to sleep, resting deeply and peacefully, looking forward to the joyful reunion that awaited him.

💞💞💞

Ishan sat in the train, feeling an immense wave of relief wash over him. The thought of holding Shubman in his arms again filled him with joy and anticipation. The harrowing experience of the past few days seemed to fade away as he looked out the window, watching the countryside rush by.

He leaned back in his seat, the rhythmic clatter of the train on the tracks lulling him into a state of calm. Exhaustion from the ordeal began to take its toll, and his eyelids grew heavy. For the first time in days, he felt at peace.

As he closed his eyes, a soft smile played on his lips. The image of Shubman's face was the last thing on his mind before sleep overtook him. Ishan drifted off, finally able to rest, the weight of the past few days lifting from his shoulders. He slept deeply and peacefully, the promise of reunion and the end of their ordeal guiding his dreams.