Cursed

Chapter 5

The corridors had been unnervingly quiet when Aariv, Yug, and Rudra made their way back.

Their laughter and bickering were the only normal sound holding back the strange heaviness that seemed to settle inside the mansion’s very walls.

Aariv, however, still carried with him the image of that locked door the way his heart had tightened, the way his skin prickled when his fingers brushed the rusted iron lock.

He couldn’t explain why he felt as though something or someone had been waiting behind that door, watching.

But he pushed it down. His face softened when they entered the living room.

Shanti looked up from where she sat, her eyes warm, welcoming. She smiled as she saw them return, cameras in hand.

“Photos le li, beta?” she asked gently.

Aariv, still clutching his camera, gave her a polite nod. “Ji, ma’am.”

Shanti’s face softened further. “C’mon, beta, just call us uncle and aunty. ‘Ma’am’ makes me feel like a stranger.”

There was such kindness in her voice that Aariv’s stiff form relaxed just a little. He allowed a small smile to curve his lips. “Ji, aunty.”

“Bas, ab thik hai,” Shanti said with satisfaction, her eyes fond.

Aariv almost felt small standing beneath its towering ceiling.

The chandelier above him hung heavy, ancient, carved with golden arms and embedded with crystals that shimmered under the faint light of the dusk seeping in through the arched windows.

He had been standing there for only a moment, smiling faintly at Shanti aunty’s warmth, when he felt something… off.

It was subtle, like a whisper threading through silence, something his body caught before his mind could.

A chill ran down his spine, making him shift uneasily, though he said nothing.

Yug was chatting away with Ridha, laughing over some silly joke, while Rudra leaned in with his playful smirk, clearly trying to provoke Yug.

Shanti aunty’s presence was soft, comforting her hands folded gracefully, her eyes kind.

But Aariv wasn’t hearing them anymore. His ears seemed tuned to something else something in the walls, in the stillness of the mansion. The chandelier swayed. Only a little. Not enough for anyone else to notice, but Aariv’s eyes caught it instantly.

He looked up, breath catching. The grand crystals shivered in the air, refracting broken fragments of light like jagged glass, as though some invisible hand had brushed against it. His throat went dry.

Why was it moving?

The conversation around him faded, his senses narrowed to that chandelier, to the peculiar heaviness that had started to wrap around him, pressing into his chest. His heartbeat picked up.

Harinarayan, sitting in the corner, narrowed his eyes. He had felt it again the shift in the air, the unseen tension that always came alive when that boy was near. Rajnath, seated beside him, remained silent, though his stiff posture betrayed awareness.

Then....

A sharp metallic crack split the air.

Everyone froze.

The chain holding the chandelier groaned, shrieking against the ceiling hook as though protesting under unbearable weight.

Aariv’s head snapped upward. His eyes widened in sheer horror as he saw the massive structure lurch, tilt

and then it broke free.

The world seemed to collapse into slow motion.

“AARUUU!” Yug’s scream tore through the room, desperate and helpless.

Shanti gasped sharply, her hand flying to her mouth. Ridha’s eyes widened in shock, Rudra lurched forward without thinking. Even Harinarayan, who had been silent all this while, stood abruptly, his face pale with dread.

Aariv’s body locked. His mind screamed at him to move, but his legs were frozen, heavy wouldn't obey.

The chandelier plummeted, its glittering arms twisting as it fell, ready to shatter him beneath its crushing weight.

And then

A familiar scent hit him. Unexplainably familiar. Sharp, like smoke laced with sandalwood and earth after rain. A scent that coiled deep in his chest, pulling at something within him he didn’t understand.

Before Aariv could even blink, a hand large, rough, burning hot through the thin fabric of his shirt wrapped firmly around his waist.

He was yanked back, hard, his feet leaving the ground for a split second as his body collided against a solid chest.

The sound of the chandelier smashing onto the floor roared through the hall. Glass and crystal exploded in every direction, scattering shards that glittered like falling stars. The thud shook the floor beneath them, dust rising into the air.

But Aariv wasn’t under it.

He was pressed firmly against someone's chest.

His breaths came in short, sharp gasps, his heart hammering wildly. Slowly, his wide eyes lifted and met a face.

He froze.

The world had blurred around him, but the face before his eyes was terrifyingly clear. The same stranger from that day.

His hand was still clamped around Aariv’s waist, fingers spread, holding him as though he was the only real thing in this collapsing world.

Their gazes are locked.

And in that fragile, suspended moment, Aariv forgot how to breathe.

The hall, the broken chandelier, the shouts everything faded, drowned under the weight of the man's eyes.

So close that he could feel his breath, warm against his skin.

So close that every beat of the man's heart seemed to echo against his ribs.

Time slowed.

Veer’s face was barely an inch away, shadows cutting across his features, making him look almost otherworldly. His grip was tight, almost bruising, yet it sent an involuntary shiver through Aariv’s body a strange mix of fear and something else he couldn’t name.

Aariv’s lashes trembled. His lips parted slightly, as though words wanted to escape but none came. He couldn’t tear his gaze away, couldn’t move, couldn’t think.

It was as if the universe had conspired to throw them into this closeness, binding them in a silence louder than the crash that had just shattered the hall.

A faint whisper low, almost inaudible slipped through the air. It was unclear whether it came from the wreckage, from the walls, or from Aariv’s own racing mind. “He is yours… he always was…”

Aariv stiffened, eyes darting for a moment, but Veer’s hold didn’t loosen.

His breath hitched as Veer leaned ever so slightly closer, his eyes flickering down toward him as though

he was searching for something

answers, recognition, or perhaps a truth only Aariv carried.

Their breaths mingled.

For a long moment, neither of them moved.

Aariv’s hand, trembling, unconsciously clutched at Veer’s sleeve. His eyes, wide and uncertain, reflected confusion, fear, and something dangerously close to longing.

Veer’s gaze darkened at the contact, his grip tightening fractionally, as though unwilling to let go. His jaw clenched, muscles flexing with restraint.

And then

The spell broke.

Shanti rushed forward, her voice breaking with panic. “Aariv beta! Tum theek ho?”

The sound jolted Aariv back into reality. His eyes widened, his breath came back in a gasp, and suddenly he was acutely aware of how tightly he was held how close he was pressed. Heat rushed to his face.

He stumbled back, attempting to free himself, but Veer’s hand lingered a heartbeat longer before finally letting go. The absence of that hold felt just as heavy as the touch itself.

Aariv staggered, still dazed, as Yug immediately caught him by the shoulders. “Aaruu! Tu thik hai na?!” His voice was trembling.

“Ji… main… main theek hoon,” Aariv whispered, though his own voice didn’t sound like his.

Veer said nothing. His chest rose and fell with deep breaths, his eyes never leaving Aariv’s face.

The silence was thick, suffocating, filled with unspoken questions.

The chandelier lay shattered between them, a glittering grave of what could have been.

But the real danger the real chaos wasn’t the broken crystal on the floor.

It was the fire Veer had ignited in that single, fatal moment.

And Aariv knew no matter how much he tried he wouldn’t be able to forget the feel of that hand around his waist, or the way those eyes had seen right through him.

Shanti immediately hurried toward Aariv, her face pale from the sudden incident. Her maternal instincts overpowered her graceful composure as she reached for the trembling boy and guided him gently toward the velvet sofa.

“Beta, baitho… bas, shant ho jao.” Her tone was soft, protective, and almost motherly. She poured a glass of water with slightly shaking hands and handed it to him.

Aariv’s fingers trembled slightly as he accepted the glass. His throat was parched, but he managed to drink a few sips. The cool water steadied his breathing, though the pounding of his heart hadn’t calmed yet.

Beside him, Yug was restless. His eyes wide, his hands almost fidgeting. He leaned closer and gripped Aariv’s shoulder tightly.

“Tu thik hai na? Aaruu, bol na… kuchh chot to nhi lagi?” Yug’s voice cracked in panic. He wasn’t just asking; he was demanding reassurance.

Aariv gave him a small smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. His lips trembled, but he forced the words out, “Mai thik hu… kuchh nahi hua mujhe.”

His voice was low, almost fragile, but still steady enough to convince those around him.

But the truth was far from it. Aariv’s insides were trembling.

The image of the massive chandelier crashing down mere inches away from him replayed in his head in an endless loop.

He could still hear the deafening thud, still smell the faint burning of broken wires, and still…

still feel that strong arm around his waist.

That pull. That grip.That scent.

Aariv blinked rapidly, trying to dismiss it, but his body remembered far better than his mind could process.

Across the room, Veeransh stood silently in the shadows. His tall frame leaned slightly against the wall, arms folded, expression unreadable. Yet his eyes… those cold, storm-like eyes hadn’t left Aariv for a second.

It was as though he was measuring him, studying him, burning an invisible mark on him at every glance.

And Aariv… though he didn’t dare to look directly, he felt those eyes. They weren’t gentle. They weren’t kind. But they weren’t indifferent either. They carried something heavy, dangerous, yet inexplicably magnetic.

Aariv lowered his gaze to the glass in his hands. His fingers clenched tightly around it, almost as if grounding himself.

The room was filled with murmurs. Ridha whispered with Shanti about calling someone to check the chandelier bolts. Harinarayan still looked unsettled, as if his instincts had confirmed something was wrong. Rajnath sat quietly, his sharp gaze moving between his sons and the two guests.

Yug, still restless, stood up and paced once, then turned back to Aariv. “Bas Aaruu, abhi chal… chlte hain."

Aariv forced a weak smile. “Thodi der aur, Yug. Aunty ne bola hai relax karne ko.”

Shanti placed a reassuring hand on Aariv’s back. “Beta, darne ki koi baat nahi. Yeh ghar tumhara hi hai. Jo hua… shayad ek durghatna thi. Tum bilkul safe ho yahan.”

Safe.

The word echoed strangely in Aariv’s head. Safe. But was he really? The way that stranger had held him… the way his heart still hammered when he thought of those eyes… safe was the last thing he felt.

After a few minutes, Aariv finally put the empty glass on the side table. His smile looked more natural this time, though his insides still twisted.

“Ab hum chalte hain… kaafi late ho gaya hai.” Aariv’s tone was soft but polite.

Ridha quickly interjected, her eyes warm and hopeful. “Thik hai… lekin please don’t forget to come again. Mujhe tum dono se baat karke acha laga.”

Aariv nodded, his lips curving into a genuine smile this time. There was something so kind about Ridha’s presence, almost like an elder sister’s warmth. “Ji… ma'am,” he said softly, and then corrected himself, “Ridha di.”

Ridha chuckled, her heart warming instantly. “That’s better.”

The boys stood up, ready to leave. Yug glanced one last time at the broken chandelier shards being cleared by servants, muttering, “Bach gaye tu, Aaruu. Warna…” His voice trailed, his throat closing at the thought.

They started walking toward the main door when suddenly Rudra leaned in closer to Yug, his voice playful yet laced with something sharp.

“See you soon, tikhi mirchi.”

Yug stiffened instantly, his brows furrowing. He scoffed loudly, rolling his eyes with exaggerated irritation. “Huh. Sapne dekhna band karo.”

He stormed out without looking back.

Ridha chuckled at the exchange, shaking her head. “Ye dono…”

But Aariv… Aariv didn’t laugh. His steps slowed, his mind clouded. Something.... something unexplainable pulled at him. As though the air inside the Rathore mansion wasn’t ready to let him go yet.

He turned, almost instinctively, and his gaze traveled across the room.

And there he was.

Still in the corner. Still watching.

Veeransh.

His broad shoulders leaned against the wall, his stance calm yet heavy with authority. But his eyes… his eyes hadn’t moved. They were locked on Aariv, sharp and unyielding, like an invisible chain.

For a moment, time stilled again. Aariv’s breath caught in his throat. He didn’t know this man. He didn’t even know his name. And yet… his chest felt heavy, his heart erratic, as if he had always known him.

Why? Why was he looking at him like that?

Aariv’s lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

And then Yug’s voice snapped him back. “Aaruu! Chal!”

Aariv blinked rapidly, tearing his gaze away. His steps quickened, though a strange hollowness filled his chest. As though leaving behind something… someone… he wasn’t supposed to.

Outside, the cold night air hit him, and he inhaled deeply, trying to calm the storm within him. Yug walked beside him, still muttering angrily about Rudra’s teasing.

But Aariv… Aariv’s mind wasn’t on Yug. His mind was still inside that mansion, still standing under the heavy gaze of those unreadable eyes.

And in the shadows of the Rathore mansion, Veeransh’s lips curved the slightest bit, almost imperceptibly.

Aariv didn’t know it yet, but he had just stepped into the storm.

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