Chapter 6 - A Frightening Reality
Seeing Preeti's call on the phone, Vivek became slightly troubled. Vanshika, observing the changing lines on Vivek's face, sensed that he was getting worried because of the call.
Vanshika:
"Whose call was that?"
Vivek:
"It was an old friend."
Vanshika:
"Then why didn't you speak to him?"
Vivek:
"He was asking me for some money, an old debt. Don't worry, I'll talk to him later."
Vanshika:
"Okay… so what should we do now?"
Vivek thought for a moment and said:
"We can do many good things together, but whatever you feel is right comes first."
Vanshika:
"In that case, let's play a game. It is my favorite game."
Vivek:
"What kind of game? Will it take long? I have to go home later."
Vanshika:
"No… you cannot leave now."
Vivek:
"What do you mean, I cannot leave?"
Vanshika:
"I mean it's very late. You will have to stay here tonight."
Vivek:
"Yes! It's almost eleven. I was thinking the same thing, but this place is a little spooky. Can I sleep in your room?"
Vanshika:
"Yes, you can sleep in my room."
Vivek:
"Wonderful… that's even better. By the way, will your uncle or that watchman have any problem with me staying here tonight?"
Vanshika:
"No… there will be no issue at all."
Vivek:
"That's good. Where is the rest of your family?"
Vanshika:
"We will discuss those things later. Right now, I want to play with you."
Vivek:
"Okay! So, what game do you want to play?"
Vanshika:
"You close your eyes, and I will hide somewhere in the house. You have to find me."
Vivek:
"And what ? after I find you?"
Vanshika:
"Then it will be my turn to search; you will have to hide."
Vivek:
"No! We used to play a game like that as children. Now that two people who are falling in love are playing, there should be new rules."
Vanshika:
"What new rules?"
Vivek:
"If I find you in this game, you have to give me a kiss with your beautiful lips. A beautiful young lady can certainly do that much for her new beloved."
Vanshika stared at Vivek and said:
"Alright, let's begin. Close your eyes for a short while."
Vivek closed his eyes. After 10 seconds, he opened his eyes again. Vanshika was not there. Vivek checked his phone and saw that he had four missed calls from Preeti.
Looking at Preeti's messages on his phone, Vivek murmured to himself:
"Preeti, my darling, tonight I will spend with this fairy-like beautiful girl. I'll deal with you tomorrow."
After this, Vivek went to search for Vanshika. He first checked the kitchen and then the storeroom, but he did not find Vanshika. He went to a room on the ground floor, but Vanshika wasn't there either. However, he noticed a cellar door set into the floor, which was closed. Through a small gap, he peeked into the cellar. Vivek was stunned by the strange things he saw inside: peculiar ritualistic items, odd tools and weapons, and some things that Vivek knew nothing about.
Following this, Vivek returned to the hall, then climbed the stairs to the upper floor. He was wondering where Vanshika could possibly be hiding. He was excited about what would happen if he found her—would she like it? He then went and stood outside a room. Vivek slowly opened the door and saw that Vanshika was sitting on the bed. She was not hiding at all.
Vivek:
"I've been searching for you like crazy, and you are just sitting here comfortably."
Vanshika:
"Yes… I wanted you to find me quickly, but you took quite a while."
Vivek:
"Never mind, I've found you now. So, come on, quickly give me my reward according to the new rule."
Vanshika:
"Why not! Certainly, but first, one important question."
Vivek:
"Another question? Okay, then ask quickly."
Vanshika:
"Do you truly love me?"
Vivek:
"Yes… Since we met, I've been thinking only about you. I truly have fallen for you."
Vanshika:
"Is this love only because of my beauty, or have you fallen for me with a genuine heart?"
Vivek:
"Of course… I have started loving you with a genuine heart."
Vanshika:
"Will you accept me in all my forms, without any discrimination?"
Vivek:
"Yes, I will accept you. I will stay with you for seven lifetimes."
Vanshika:
"If you are telling the truth, you must look once into that mirror."
Vanshika asked Vivek to look into the large mirror fixed on one of the room's walls. Vivek first laughed and then turned to look at the mirror. As soon as Vivek's gaze fell upon the large mirror attached to the wall... his senses reeled. His heart started pounding rapidly. He saw Vanshika's terrifying reflection staring back at him in that mirror. Vivek recoiled away from Vanshika; his hands and feet began to tremble. Vivek saw the beautiful Vanshika's true face in the mirror—one that was quite strange and slightly horrifying. Vivek was so petrified that he couldn't utter a word; he couldn't comprehend anything. Panicked, Vivek quickly bolted out of the room.
Vivek shut the room door from the outside and quickly ran down the stairs. He first reached the main door of the house and tried desperately to open it, but the door was locked, and Vivek couldn't unlock it. Vivek quickly tried to open the hall windows, but they were also locked. Defeated, he returned to the door and tried again, using all his strength to open it, but the door remained shut. A moment later, the sound of a door opening was heard from the room upstairs.
Vanshika slowly descended the stairs and came down into the hall. She called out to Vivek and asked him to turn around and look. Vivek was sweating profusely from fear; having seen Vanshika's strange face in the mirror and having realized the terrifying truth, he had no courage left to turn around.
Vanshika spoke from behind him in frightening voice:
"Liar, you will have to pay the price for every lie you've told."
Vivek had tried to play a double game, and the game had turned on him. The beautiful night that shone with the light of love suddenly turned into one of terror and dense darkness.
Next Chapter…