A Sew Through Time [Banbudh And Budbak]

24: Look around

Badri waved his hands in the dark, hearing Khushi jumping on a pile of snow behind. He touched the ground, feeling the cold sting his fingers. His feet sunk in the ground, making him stumble once he got up.

Khushi continued tapping the sides of her jeans when she felt something inside. Taking it out, she ignited the tiny flick. The soft heat soothed her freezing cheeks.

His jaw dropped.

"What?"

"You're not supposed to carry that you know" Hie eyes expanded, the flame glowing on his pupils.

"It's not mine!"

He smirked and walked further, calling out his best friend and hoping his voice came in return. The dreadful darkness overpowered the dancing flame close to the sparkwheel. Scanning the place, they discovered a little truck parked at their right. Damaged and covered with a layer of rust, its tyres sank into the snow. The buildings looked hundreds of years old; broken glass panes and wooden edifices laid below mossy ends. The skeletal trees rustled in the dark, making them cower and walk away.

Swiping the bare branches off the path, they noticed a house in a corner, right where the road divided into two.

Khushi held the flame near her face, "Wanna go in?"

"There's no other option" he replied before running towards its threshold. Crouching down, he swiped the mud away and discovered faint footsteps on the snowy pavement.

The flame shook.

"Bewakoof" he chuckled while twisting the creaky doorknob, "You really think you're good at hiding huh?!"

The wooden floor creaked once they stepped in, their muddy shoes started splotching the wooden planks. Khushi called out, with the light spinning in all directions.

The wood continued to creak somewhere else. Badri tiptoed near the stove and halted, throwing random utensils away.

The sound upstairs grew louder.

"B-Badri?" she breathed, almost extinguishing the lighter.

He drove a finger near his lips. There was a staircase in front leading to the second floor.

"Stay behind" he whispered, took the lighter and tiptoed towards the stairs.

"Be careful"

The creaking stopped, so did his breathing, 

"Budh?"

The footsteps turned into excited thuds and restless running when a step slipped and came crashing down the stairs. Badri jerked back and screamed.

"Arre yaar" Budh sat there and giggled, "Who broke this?"

"PARTNER!" Badri pulled him up, "Are you alright?!"

The taller boy nodded feebly, "How did you find me out?"

"No matter what happens, I'll always find you, my guy" he hugged him tight.

Budh giggled

"Humne toh socha..." Badri let go slowly.

"Kya?"

"Nothing much" Khushi emerged from behind and held his shoulders, "I'm glad you're okay"

Budh's eyes averted and he stared at the floor.

"What's up?"

"Why did you...do that?" he looked at her and held her hands, "You really scared us that time"