(#1 in hauntedmantion)
Ruhi's life has always been overshadowed by something dark. A haunting presence, a cursed bungalow, and the lingering ghost of her twin sister, threaten to destroy everything she holds dear. But when a mysterious figure from t...
Two months had passed since the unsettling night when a stranger had followed me from the store. I hadn't seen him again, but the memory of that night still lingered, like a shadow that refused to leave. And despite my repeated questions, Mom still hadn't told me anything more about the pendant or the name "Hina." I had learned to live with the unanswered questions, but the tension between us grew each day. I could feel her watching me sometimes, like she was waiting for something.
The girl's body that had been found near the old bungalow-no one had figured out how she died. The police had no leads, and the case seemed to have gone cold. I tried not to think about it too much, but every now and then, the image of that mysterious bungalow would flash in my mind, haunting me like a forgotten dream.
Then, one quiet evening, as I was lying in bed, lost in thought, my phone buzzed. I reached over and picked it up, surprised to see a message from a familiar name.
One quiet evening, as I lay in bed, lost in thought, my phone buzzed. I reached over to pick it up and froze at the name on the screen.
Sounak!
It had been months since I last heard from him. My heart skipped a beat as I opened the message.
"Hey, I'm back in town. How have you been?"
A smile broke across my face, and I felt a warmth I hadn't experienced in weeks. Quickly, I typed a reply.
"I'm good! So good to hear from you. When did you get back?"
The conversation flowed easily, just like old times. Lighthearted messages flew back and forth, and for a while, it felt as though those dark clouds surrounding me could wait. Then his next message arrived, making my heart race.
"When are you free?"
I stared at the screen for a moment before replying. "Sunday."
"Perfect. I'll see you then," he wrote.
For the first time in weeks, I felt genuinely happy. Sounak had always been a comfort to me, someone who could lift my spirits no matter what was going on. I went to sleep that night feeling lighter, the weight of my recent worries pushed aside, if only for a moment.
---
The next two days flew by in a blur of anticipation. By the time Sunday arrived, I was practically buzzing with excitement. I stood in front of my closet, trying on different dresses, wanting to look perfect. After what felt like hours, I finally settled on a simple yet elegant two pieces-a white colour top and bottom that complemented me and made me feel confident.
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I checked my reflection in the mirror one last time, smoothing my hair down. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as I thought about seeing Sounak again. It had been too long.
When I arrived at the restaurant, my heart was racing. The place was cozy and warm, with dim lighting and soft music playing in the background. I spotted Sounak sitting at a table near the window, looking as effortlessly handsome as always. He wore a casual button-up shirt and jeans, but somehow he made it look like he belonged in a magazine.
