The Game of Horror!

Promise

"Jodidong Hridoyong Momo.
Todidong Hridoyong Tobo."

"See Sama, I've kept my promise, just like you asked."

Two Years Ago

Anjali sat alone in the dimly lit room, the oppressive silence pressing down on her like a heavy fog. The only sound was the occasional drip of water from a leaky faucet, each drop like a taunting reminder of her loneliness. Her eyes flicked nervously around the room, every shadow and creak of the old house increasing her anxiety. A distant rumble of thunder made her jump, her breath catching in her throat. The room felt like it was closing in on her, the air thick and heavy.

Her gaze was fixed on the door, every sound seemed scary by her anticipation. The hum of the old refrigerator was unnervingly loud, like a heartbeat echoing in the silence. Shadows on the wall seemed to stretch and shift, making her second-guess every darkened corner.

Her mind raced with imagined scenarios. The distant sound of a passing car was a cruel reminder of the outside world continuing on while she remained trapped in her growing dread. Her hands gripped the armrests of her chair so tightly her knuckles turned white. The ticking clock grew louder with each second, every tick stretching into anxious waiting.

Anjali couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched, a cold shiver running down her spine with every glance over her shoulder. Her imagination painted Sama in the shadows, in every presence that seemed to seep into her very being. When the door finally creaked open, Anjali was on edge, her body taut with tension.

"No Sama, you promised you'd come back for Diwali. Please, come back to me!" she whispered desperately.

Anjali had been an orphan since birth, until she met Rahi, her best friend who secretly loved her, and Sama, her husband. Sama was an army officer who rarely came home due to his duties. He was a loving son to his mother, who was suffering from Alzheimer's. To Anjali, Sama was the best man in the world.

Before he left for his camp, Sama promised Anjali he would return for Diwali. As time dragged on, her hope for his return seemed to fade. The sky grew darker, and suddenly, the doorbell rang. Anjali's heart leaped as she rushed to answer it. There stood Sama in his uniform, looking handsome and calm, an unusual serenity on his face.

He embraced her gently, and Anjali sobbed into his shoulder. Sama tried to comfort her, saying, "See, it's Diwali, and I'm back just like I promised. Stop crying and smile, please. How's mom? Still trying to convince her TV remote that it's actually a phone?"

Anjali chuckled through her tears, "As usual. She's probably still debating with the remote. But I think she might have forgotten you. Come in before she mistakes you for the pizza delivery guy she called in frustration with that remote."

Suddenly, Anjali's laughter burst out, a mix of relief and hysteria. "Hihihi! Oh God, Sama! I swear, if she asks you for a channel change, I'm going to lose it!"

He also joined the laughter and then kissed her forehead. "That's why I love you!" Anjali blushed and hurried inside the house.

Sama went in, took a quick bath, and went to see his mother. His heart sank when he saw her confusion. She looked at him with a blank, uncertain expression. Despite this, Sama stayed upbeat and they celebrated Diwali together. His excitement was like a child's, trying to bring some joy to the moment.

After dinner, as Anjali was getting ready for bed, Sama suddenly asked, "Listen, Anjali, don't mind my audacity, but I can't help my curiosity to ask you; what if I... if I don't come back to you after this? What will you do? And please do note, it's just my humble curiosity!"
Sama stressed that with a bit of minx tone.

Anjali looked up, stunned. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!"

Sama chuckled, his familiar laughter filling the room. "Okay, my bad! Sheesh!! I can't even joke about it! Don't freak out! But promise me something. If I don't come back, you'll remarry. Don't waste your life waiting for me. Rahi loves you, and he's always wanted the best for you. I've known that. Besides, if I'm not around, someone's got to keep you from talking to the houseplants, right?"

Anjali was stunned. " That's not funny! Why are you talking like this? Did something happen? Have you lost your mind? If there is nothing then go to sleep before you start again with your crude jokes; I have a lot to do tomorrow.... BTW When are you leaving for your camp?"

"Sigh! Maybe the next morning," he said.

"What?" She then threw a big ass pillow at him. "Woah! Ow-ow-ow! There easy, Mother India!" Sama mockingly went for guard to protect himself from her pillow bombs.

"Then why did you come back? Stay there forever," Anjali said, her heart breaking. Tears streamed down her face.

Sama, with a gentle smile, went beside her, cupped her cheeks and said, "Arreyy, again with the tears? Come here! " He took her head and placed it on his lap, singing a lullaby. Anjali managed a smile as she listened. Sama then spoke more seriously, "Please promise me, if something happens then you won't ruin your life waiting for me and please look after my mom."

Despite her anguish, Anjali promised. "Now sleep"

The next morning, when she woke up, Sama was gone. Her face instantly blackened. "He must've left early for his camp, he didn't even manage to wake me up! Let him come back. I also won't wake him up ever. Sigh!"

After giving her mother-in-law her morning medicine, Anjali turned on the TV. The news report left her stunned, nearly fainting. She crashed onto the floor.

The broadcast reported: "Yesterday evening, a sudden terror attack on the army camp at the LOC resulted in several soldiers being harmed. Some were killed. They were all preparing to return home for Diwali. Why does this still keep happening? What are the steps taken by the government to...

The names of the fallen soldiers are:
Major Tomar Paul
Captain Bhuban Rao
Captain Jay Basu
Major Samaseen Purkayastha
Captain Biswas Sen..."

And that's it.

Suddenly, Wasim's phone rang. The ringtone blared, "Ashq na ho naina... Ashq na ho..." in Arijit Singh's melodious voice.

I blurted out, "Holy shi-"

Everyone burst into laughter. It turned out that Wasim's ringtone caught us all off guard.

As Sayan finished his story, he glanced over at me with a smirk. "Alright, so maybe my story wasn't the scariest. But I bet there's someone who'd get a real kick out of it-someone who'd be scared enough to need a new pair of pants!"

I frowned, feeling a bit annoyed. "Oh, so you're saying my standards for horror are pretty low? Thanks, Sayan. I didn't realise I was the go-to guy for 'scaredy-cat' jokes. And seriously, Wasim's phone just rang out of nowhere!"

Piu, sensing the tension, quickly jumped in. "Come on, Tom, don't take it the wrong way. Sayan's just having some fun. His stories are meant to be entertaining, not just terrifying. Besides, the comic dialogue is always a hit!"

Everyone laughed again.

I sighed, trying to play along. "Alright, alright. I can handle a joke or two. But if the next story is as lame as this one, I might need to start a horror boot camp."

Piu laughed and gave me a friendly nudge. "Don't worry, Tom. We've still got plenty of stories left. I'm sure the next one will have you on the edge of your seat. And if not, at least we're all here for the laughs!"