MOHABBAT-E-DIWAANGI ( Book 1)

37. Morning 🌞

The soft yet persistent knocking echoed through the grand corridors, unsettling Avantika's thoughts. She hesitated for a moment, glancing over at Aadish, who sat relaxed, unfazed by the sound. His calm demeanor was almost maddening, as if he knew exactly who—or what—was on the other side.

"Go on," he said, his tone light yet holding an air of certainty that left no room for argument.

With a slight huff, Avantika rose and approached the massive, intricately carved door. It loomed before her, its sheer size making her feel small in comparison, yet she felt a strange pull to confront whatever—or whoever—awaited. The brass handle was cold under her palm as she twisted it, and the door creaked open, revealing...nothing.

She stepped out, her eyes scanning the empty expanse before her. The cool breeze brushed against her skin, carrying with it the faint scent of rain, but there was no sign of movement, no figure lurking in the shadows. The doorway itself was wide enough for two people to stand side by side, yet at that moment, it framed only her solitary figure, standing in quiet confusion.

"Strange," she murmured, a chill running down her spine as the silence pressed in. The stillness felt deliberate, almost calculated, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone—or something—was watching her.

Avantika turned around quickly, and what she saw left her speechless. Aadish was sitting calmly, completely unfazed, while a black panther-like creature stood right in front of him. Its shiny black fur gleamed under the soft lights, and its sharp golden eyes scanned the room like it owned the place.

Aadish gave the creature a small nod, almost like they were familiar with each other. The creature huffed in response and began walking through the room with slow, confident steps, moving like it was a king. Its walk was smooth and graceful, almost like a model on a runway.

As it walked, it came across a small piece of cotton lying on the floor. With an annoyed snort, it pushed the cotton out of its way with its paw, clearly bothered by the mess. Then, as if it had done this a hundred times before, it made its way to a sofa in Aadish’s room.

The sofa seemed to be specially made for it, luxurious and large. The creature climbed onto it and sat down like it belonged there, completely at ease. Avantika stood frozen, staring at the scene, her mind filled with questions. Who was this creature? And why did Aadish look so calm, like this was completely normal?

As Aadish noticed Avantika’s eyes fixed on the creature, he spoke softly, “Vani, kya hua?” (“Vani, what happened?”)

Avantika gulped, her voice shaky as fear gripped her. “Yeh… yeh panther hai? Kya aap ek panther ko pal rahe ho? Matlab… yeh kuch karta nahi kya?” (“This... is this a panther? Are you keeping a panther as a pet? I mean… doesn’t it do anything dangerous?”) Her words tumbled out in a mix of shock and nervousness, her fear reflecting in every syllable.

Before she could say more, Aadish stood up, gently taking her wrist. “Chalo,” (“Come on,”) he said firmly, leading her toward a sofa opposite the creature. Avantika followed hesitantly, her steps slow and uncertain. She sat down beside Aadish, her wide, fearful eyes darting toward the black creature, while she muttered to herself, trying to make sense of the situation.

Aadish, calm as ever, leaned forward and placed a hand on the creature’s sleek head. “Lucifer,” he said softly, his voice steady yet filled with a strange warmth.

At the sound of his name, the "panther" turned its head, and Avantika gasped as she finally realized it wasn’t a panther at all—it was a massive dog. Its coat was jet black, so glossy it gleamed like polished stone, and its piercing golden eyes gave it an almost mystical presence.