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I sat alone in my office, enveloped in the chill of a late October morning. The cold breeze drifted through the partially open window, sharp and biting, brushing against my skin and sending a shiver down my spine. Outside, the world was cloaked in a dim, misty light, and the faint grey of dawn had barely broken over the city. Inside, the office was utterly quiet, each creak of the old building echoing eerily in the empty space.
I had come in early today, mostly to escape the frenzy at home, where the air buzzed with constant talk of weddings and rituals. It seemed like everyone in the family had caught some strange "marriage fever," diving into traditions with an almost fanatical zeal. The Singhanias, were hosting a mangal dosh ritual that morning, following the precise timing set by their pandit. I couldn't handle the relentless noise and ritual at home, so I'd sought refuge here, savouring the cold, quiet isolation of the office.
With a sigh, I powered up my computer, letting my gaze wander over the dimly lit screen as it flickered to life. As I glanced through my inbox, one email caught my eye, the subject line chilling in its simplicity: "When the night comes." From an unknown sender, no name, no details—just that haunting title.
A strange feeling tugged at me, a mix of unease and curiosity. I hovered over the email, unable to shake the sense that there was something... off. The time stamp read 5:37 PM on Saturday, nearly forty-eight hours ago. Since receiving it, I'd opened it repeatedly, rereading it, trying to understand if there was any hidden meaning behind the words. But that day, before I could investigate further, Kirti had interrupted, breaking the trance it seemed to hold me under.
Today, with no distractions, I decided to dig deeper into the mystery of the email. I began searching online, looking for any clues that might connect to the strange symbol attached to the message.
Time passed as I scrolled through endless articles, forums, and archives. But instead of answers, disturbing images began to load on my screen—grainy photos of ghostly figures, shadowed faces, and strange symbols linked to black magic. I felt a chill run down my spine, the cold air intensifying the eerie sensation creeping over me. I stared, almost in disbelief, as the screen filled with these haunting images.
"AAA!" I jolted out of my trance, nearly leaping from my seat. Kiara was standing beside me, eyes wide as she stared at the screen, her face pale with alarm.
"Reet, what on earth are you doing?!" she shrieked, her voice carrying across the few occupied desks in the office. Heads turned, eyes curious and bewildered, and I felt my face flush.
"Shh, Kiara!" I hissed, glancing around at the others and offering a sheepish smile. "Keep it down, will you?" I tried to laugh it off, quickly closing the eerie images, but Kiara's expression didn't soften.
"Are you out of your mind?" Kiara yelled, shaking me out of my thoughts as I stood there, frozen and staring at the floor. My mind raced. I wanted to explain everything, but there was no way I could tell her what was really going on.
