"Marking by Darkness"
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 th...
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.
Sounak!
It had been months since I'd last heard from him. My heart skipped a beat as I opened the message.
Sounak- Hey, I'm back in town. How have you been?
I smiled instantly. Sounak had always been someone who could make me forget about the heaviness in my life, even if just for a little while. I quickly typed a reply, excitement bubbling up inside me.
Ruhi- I'm good! So good to hear from you. When did you get back?
The messages started flowing naturally between us, just like old times. We caught up, exchanging light banter and updates on our lives. It felt easy, like nothing had changed, like those dark clouds hanging over my life could wait just a little longer.
And then, after a bit of back-and-forth, he sent a simple message that made my heart skip again.
Sounak- When are you free?
I stared at the screen for a moment, biting my lip as a smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. It felt nice, the idea of seeing him again, to escape everything for a while.
"Sunday," I texted back.
Ruhi- That's two days from now. Sounak- Great, I'll see you then.
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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