The Game of Horror!

The Prologue

Hi.

I'm Tom-well, technically, it's Tomoghnendriya Mahadev Bosak, but let's be real, no one has the time or patience for that mouthful. Every time I say it, I feel like I'm auditioning for some fantasy epic: "Tomoghnendriya Mahadev, born to rule." Sounds grand, right?

But honestly, it's just a name. Sure, it sounds impressive, but behind the scenes, it's more awkward than epic. Think of it like one of those unskippable ads-sounds important, but you'd rather get to the real content. So let's just skip this, and dive into a more interesting story I've got for you.

I grew up in an orphanage until my uncle came along and adopted me. He's one of those genuinely good people who seem to be in short supply. He runs his own business and keeps busy, which means I only see him once a week. It's kind of perfect that way. We have our own rhythm, sort of like a well-oiled machine that needs just enough space to keep from breaking down. I love him a lot, despite the fact that his idea of a thrilling evening is fixing things around the house or telling me the same story about the time he almost won the Moonpie-eating contest at the famous Jonesborough Days Festival.

Then there's my friends. My closest people. Wasim, Sayan, Reena, and Piu. We're kind of a mismatched bunch, but it works.

Wasim Ma'mun? That guy's a genius, no joke. Comes from this open-minded, well-educated Muslim family. If you've got a problem, you don't think twice-you go to him, and somehow, he just knows how to fix things. I swear, he's the smartest person I've ever met.

Sayan Sukul, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. He's the joker. The kind of guy who could make a funeral feel like a party. Just one word from him, and we're rolling on the floor, choking from laughter. It's like his jokes have this lethal effect-you're laughing so hard it feels dangerous.

Then there's Reena Gogoi and Piu Gogoi. They're sisters, but more than that, they're my besties. Funny, kind, always there with a smile or a story to tell. We've had so many good times together.

But here's the thing. We don't see each other anymore. Not like we used to. Back in the day, we'd meet up all the time at my uncle's place, especially during those rainy monsoon nights. We had this game we played called 'Pass-the-story.' It was our thing. Each of us would tell a horror story, trying to out-spook the other. It was fun, you know? It was our way of bonding.

And then... something happened.

We never met again after that.

What happened that night?

I don't know if I'm ready to talk about it. But maybe that's where the real story begins.