THE LOCKED HEARTS

Chapter 9: Shadows of Doubt

The house remained unnervingly quiet the next morning, as if the strange events from the night before had left an imprint on its very walls. None of them spoke much at breakfast. The usual laughter and banter were absent, replaced by uneasy glances and the lingering chill in the air.

Kavya stirred her coffee absentmindedly, her mind replaying the eerie whispers, the sudden slamming door, and the shadowy figure that had darted down the hallway. The feeling of Aarav's hand in hers, steady and reassuring, had brought her comfort in that moment of fear, but now, in the harsh light of day, she couldn't help but glance at Siddharth, who sat across from her, tense and distant.

Siddharth had barely said a word since last night. He hadn't mentioned the strange occurrences, nor had he spoken about the way Kavya had clung to Aarav. But Kavya could see the jealousy simmering just beneath the surface, written in the stiffness of his posture and the occasional furtive glances he threw in Aarav's direction.

"We should talk about what happened last night," Rohit said, breaking the silence as he bit into his toast, though his voice was still a little shaky. "I mean, that wasn't normal, right?"

"Definitely not normal," Aarav agreed, glancing at Kavya with concern. "That whisper... It was calling Kavya's name."

Kavya shivered involuntarily. "I don't know what it was, but I felt... drawn to it. Like something—or someone—wanted me to go upstairs."

Siddharth's gaze hardened. "You should've stayed with me," he said quietly, but there was an edge to his voice.

Kavya frowned, not expecting the sudden shift in his tone. "I didn't know what was happening, Siddharth. I was scared."

"Yeah, and you ran straight into Aarav's arms," he muttered, his eyes narrowing.

The tension in the room spiked instantly. Aarav looked between Siddharth and Kavya, clearly uncomfortable, while Rohit raised his eyebrows at the sudden confrontation.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kavya asked, crossing her arms defensively.

Siddharth set down his mug, his hands balled into fists on the table. "It means that when things get tough, you seem to rely on Aarav. You didn't even look to me for comfort last night. You went straight to him."

Aarav, sensing the building storm, held up his hands. "Hey, man, I was just trying to help. We were all scared. This isn't about me."

But Siddharth wasn't listening. His jealousy, fueled by the events of the past night, was blinding him to reason. "I don't think you get it," he snapped at Aarav, ignoring Kavya's attempts to interject. "She's been leaning on you more and more, and I'm starting to wonder why."

Kavya's temper flared. "What are you saying, Siddharth? Are you accusing me of something?"

"I don't know, Kavya," he said, his voice rising. "Maybe you've already made your choice, and I just didn't realize it."

Her heart ached at his words, hurt flashing across her face. "That's ridiculous! Aarav is my friend—our friend. Why are you making this about us when the real issue is whatever's happening in this house?"

Siddharth pushed his chair back abruptly, standing up. "Because it's not just about the house, Kavya. It's about trust. And right now, I don't know if I can trust you when you seem to be more comfortable with him than with me."

Aarav stood as well, clearly trying to diffuse the situation. "Look, Siddharth, this is crazy. Kavya and I are just friends, man. We're all stuck in this house together, and tensions are high. Don't let this ruin what we've got."

But Siddharth wasn't listening. His jealousy had morphed into something more volatile, and before anyone could react, he stepped towards Aarav, his fists clenched. "I don't want to hear it from you," Siddharth spat.

Aarav's face hardened, and in a split second, the tension between the two boiled over. Siddharth shoved Aarav, and Aarav, caught off guard, stumbled back, knocking over his chair. The sudden violence shocked Kavya and Rohit, who jumped to their feet in alarm.

"Guys, stop!" Kavya shouted, her voice panicked. But it was too late.

Aarav, now angry himself, retaliated, pushing Siddharth back. The two collided, fists flying as they grappled with each other, neither willing to back down. Rohit lunged forward to break them up, but the two were too far gone, their emotions driving them into a full-blown fight.

Siddharth swung at Aarav, landing a punch to his jaw, while Aarav shoved him back against the table, sending dishes clattering to the floor. The room descended into chaos, with Kavya screaming for them to stop and Rohit struggling to pull them apart.

Finally, with a great effort, Rohit managed to wedge himself between them, pushing them away from each other. Both Siddharth and Aarav were panting, bruised and furious, but they stayed apart, glaring at each other as they caught their breath.

"This is insane," Rohit said, his voice shaky. "We're all friends. What are you doing?"

Siddharth's chest heaved as he wiped a trickle of blood from his lip. His eyes darted between Aarav and Kavya, and for the first time, a flicker of regret crossed his face. "I'm sorry," he muttered, his voice low, though it was unclear if he was speaking to Aarav, Kavya, or himself.

Kavya, shaken and tearful, stood in the corner, her hands trembling. She couldn't believe how quickly everything had spiraled out of control. The fear from the night before, the jealousy, the fight—it was all too much. But even as the dust settled, she couldn't help but notice Siddharth's eyes linger on Aarav, the shadow of doubt still present.

The house may have had its secrets, but now, so did they.