Ruhi's POV...
The sun was setting as I made my way to the small grocery store near my home, a place I'd visited a hundred times. I moved through the aisles in a daze, grabbing what I needed, thoughts of my mother never far from my mind. But as I turned a corner, my heart stopped-I saw him. Ruhan. He stood only a few feet away, his gaze downcast as he examined a shelf. The moment he looked up and saw me, a mixture of relief and apprehension flashed across his face.
Before he could approach, I turned away, forcing myself to breathe evenly. I quickened my steps, not wanting to hear his excuses or apologies. I didn't want to be near him. I left the store without a second glance, feeling his eyes on me as I slipped through the door and into the twilight.
---
Ruhan's POV...
Seeing Ruhi at the grocery store, her face pale but determined, had left a knot in my chest. I wanted to reach out, to tell her everything, but I could see that she wasn't ready to listen. She didn't even give me a chance. Watching her walk out of the store felt like losing her all over again.
The next day, after much thought, I knew I couldn't stay silent any longer. I needed to talk to her, to tell her the truth no matter how much it hurt.
---
Afternoon...
Ruhi's POV...
The doorbell rang, cutting through the silence of my house. I opened it, and there he was. Ruhan. The sight of him on my doorstep made me feel like I couldn't breathe. I moved to close the door, but he caught it, his hand firm on the edge. Without a word, he pushed past me, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. I stared at him, stunned by his audacity.
"Why are you doing this, Ruhi?" he demanded, his voice filled with frustration. "Why are you avoiding me like I'm the enemy?"
I crossed my arms, fighting back the anger bubbling inside. "Maybe because you lied to me, Ruhan. You hid everything from me. You knew what your family's past could mean for me and my mother, and you didn't say a word!"
Our voices rose as we argued, both of us refusing to back down. His pain was clear, but so was mine. Finally, he said something that made my blood run cold. He spoke about Hina, about how she was responsible for everything that had happened, how she had somehow caused all this misery.
I couldn't take it anymore. Before I knew it, my hand had moved on its own-I slapped him, the sound echoing in the silence that followed. We both stood there, shocked by what I'd done, our breathing heavy. His hand moved to his cheek, but his gaze didn't waver, filled with a sorrow that I couldn't fully understand.
"For which sister did you slap me, Ruhi?" he asked, his voice breaking. "The one who wanted to harm you? The one whose spirit has haunted you, even now? Or was it the sister who took your mother from you?"
---
Ruhan's POV...
The moment her hand met my cheek, I was stunned, the sting of her slap eclipsed by the ache in my chest. We stood there in silence, both of us caught off guard. I watched her, my breath shaky, as she began to cry, her shoulders trembling.
"For which sister did you slap me, Ruhi?" I asked quietly, the words slipping out before I could hold them back. "The sister who's tried to harm you over and over? The one who took your mother's life?"
Ruhi's face twisted with pain, her voice breaking as she looked at me, her eyes full of anguish. "She's still my sister, Ruhan," she whispered, her words laced with grief. "You don't understand... Your cursed bungalow took her life, turned her into... into this. Hina's spirit is trapped there, twisted by that place, forced to do things she never would have done. That bungalow-" Her voice cracked, and fresh tears ran down her face. "That bungalow took my mother's life too."
Her words echoed in the silence between us, filled with anger and sorrow. I could see how deeply she was hurting, how much this was tearing her apart, and it made my own heart ache even more.
I tried to reach out to her, to explain.
But she shook her head, not wanting to listen, her hands covering her ears as she closed her eyes tightly. "No, Ruhan. I can't hear this. I can't..."
Her sobs grew louder, each one breaking my heart a little more. Suddenly, her breathing quickened, her face going pale. Her body swayed, her knees buckling as she lost consciousness. I barely managed to catch her before she collapsed completely, her weight suddenly in my arms.
---
Holding her in my arms, I felt a surge of protectiveness, an unbreakable resolve to do whatever it took to end this nightmare. Gently, I carried her to her room, laying her down on her bed. Her breathing was shallow, but she seemed stable, just exhausted from all the pain and turmoil.
As I watched her, I couldn't shake the feeling of helplessness that gnawed at me. So much had been taken from her-and I felt responsible. I brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, feeling the weight of the curse pressing down on both of us. Ruhi deserved peace, a life free from the shadows of my family's past.
But as I sat by her side, I knew I couldn't give up. I had to find a way to end this curse, to free both her and Hina from the darkness that had entangled them. Whatever it took, I would put an end to this-even if it meant facing the bungalow myself.
---
YOU ARE READING
Marked By Darkness
Paranormal(#1 in hauntedmantion) 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 t...
