Chapter 23
The room was dark and still.
Only the soft ticking of the antique clock and the faint glow of the lamp on the side table filled the quiet. Aariv lay curled on the bed, blanket pulled to his chin, breathing slowly and gently finally asleep after days of fear, confusion, and emotional storms.
Across the room, Veeransh sat on the couch with his laptop open, sleeves rolled up, eyes fixed on files but mind drifting every now and then toward the sleeping figure on the bed.
He wasn’t watching him
but the tension in his shoulders softened a fraction whenever Aariv stirred.
The night deepened.
Aariv’s brows knitted lightly in his sleep.
His fingers twitched.
And then The dream began.
Everything was hazy, coated in silver fog.
A corridor dim lamps and A whispering wind, stood two shadows,
two figures standing close… too close.
Aariv’s breath caught even inside the dream as the scene sharpened,
A tall man cornered a shorter, delicate figure against the wall.
Their bodies pressed flush, the taller one’s hand resting possessively against the wall beside the shorter one’s head.
Before Aariv could make sense of it
The taller man leaned in and kissed the shorter one’s neck.
The sound of the soft gasp echoed unnaturally loud in the dream.
Shorter male (gasping):
“Ahh… m.. mat kariye…”
The voice was shaking fragile, breathless but filled with something else too… surrender.
The taller man’s chuckle was warm, low, far too intimate.
Taller male:
“Kyun? Aaj itna ghabra kyun rahe ho, meri jaan?”
Aariv felt his own heart race for reasons he couldn’t explain.
Shorter male (panting):
“D… dar lag raha hai…
agar… agar kisi ne dekh liya toh"
Taller male (soft laugh):
“Dekh bhi liya toh?
Prem karte hain hum ek doosre se.
Humein isko swikaar karne mein koi aapatti nahi hai.”
The shorter one trembled.
Shorter male:
“A...aap samajhte kyun nahi hai…”
Taller male:
“Samajhte toh tum nahi ho, jaan.
Hum hain na.”
Aariv’s pulse hammered.
He couldn’t see their faces
every time he tried, they blurred like smudged watercolor, as though the dream itself refused to reveal them.
The shorter male whispered:
“P…par Saanvi ji...
”
The taller male silenced him by sliding a hand up his jaw, tilting his face, his tone turning deeper.
Taller male:
“Samajh jaayegi.
Ab sab chhodo…
aur bas hume pyaar karo.”
And he kissed the shorter man’s neck again.
Soft.
Slow.
Claiming.
The sound of panting filled the air again but this time, Aariv felt it in his own throat.
His chest tightened.
A strange, heavy ache started spreading in his ribs.
He was sweating.
He tried to look away but something held him inside the dream.
like he was being shown something he wasn’t supposed to witness.
Suddenly,
The dream twisted.
The corridor turned darker.
The lights flickered.
The taller man’s shadow stretched unnaturally long on the wall almost like a creature with too many limbs.
The shorter one whispered something but his voice distorted, cracking like a broken radio.
Aariv felt a chill crawl up his spine.
He opened his mouth to scream
but found himself choking.
The fog thickened
The shadows swallowed the figures
And a whisper brushed against Aariv’s ear:
“sab marenge "
“Ah—!”
Aariv jolted upright with a sharp gasp.
His chest heaved.
His shirt clung to his skin with cold sweat.
His heartbeat thundered violently in his ears.The room was quiet again.Too quiet.
He blinked rapidly, trying to calm the panic exploding in his chest.
The dream lingered like a phantom touch on his neck.
Across the room Veeransh’s head snapped up from his laptop.
In two strides, he was standing.
His eyes darkened as he saw the fear trembling in Aariv’s wide eyes.
Veeransh (low, tense):
“Kya hua?”
Aariv looked at him…
and for a second, he wasn’t sure if he was fully awake or if the dream was still following him into reality.The air felt heavy again.
His breath came out in ragged gasps, cold sweat running down his spine as the remnants of the dream clung to him like invisible fingers.
The moment Aariv saw his tall figure so real, so solid something inside him broke loose.
Without thinking, without hesitation, without fear of consequences
Aariv lunged forward.
“Mr Rathore!”
He collided into him so suddenly that Veeransh stumbled back a step.
Aariv’s arms wrapped tightly around his torso, clutching him like a drowning man grabbing onto the only thing keeping him afloat.
The force pulled Veeransh entirely off balance.
Thud.
They fell back onto the bed.
Veeransh’s back hit the mattress, and Aariv landed on top of him, still clutching him desperately, trembling uncontrollably.
For a heartbeat, Veeransh froze.
His eyes widened.
He wasn’t used to being touched
not like this.
Not with such raw desperation.
And he definitely wasn’t used to someone seeking comfort from him.
Aariv’s face was buried in his chest, his breath shaky and broken.
Aariv (hiccupping):
“M..mujhe… bohot d...darr lag rha hai…”
His fingers clutched the fabric of Veeransh’s shirt, knuckles turning white.Veeransh blinked and then something softened
, something ancient and protective
inside him.
Slowly, uncertainly, he lifted his arms.
Then he pulled Aariv closer.
One hand came up and began patting Aariv’s back in slow, steady motions.
Not practiced.
Not perfect.
But deeply, instinctively gentle.
Veeransh (quiet, rough, almost whispering):
“Kuchh nahi hoga.”
His voice dropped even lower.
“Main hoon na.”
Aariv choked on another sob and tightened his hold around him.
The words echoed in his mind
the dream ,the taller figure in the shadows, cornering someone delicate against the wall.
The voice in the dream was hazy, but…
It felt too similar.
Too familiar.
Too much like him.
A shiver ran down Aariv’s spine.
Could it be…
Veeransh?
No it can't be him...
He pressed his forehead harder into Veeransh’s chest.
Aariv (whispering shakily):
“I... It was… terrifying.”
Veeransh’s hand stopped patting…
then resumed, firmer, protective.
His other arm wrapped around Aariv’s waist and pulled him fully into his lap, sitting up with him, holding him close like shielding him from the entire night itself.
Veeransh Shh… bas.
His breath warmed the top of Aariv’s head.
“Tum safe ho.”
Aariv didn’t respond.
He simply buried himself deeper into Veeransh’s holdbecause for the first time since he entered this cursed haveli,he felt a semblance of safety.
......
Aariv’s breath was still uneven, fingers clutching onto Veeransh’s shirt like he was afraid the world would disappear if he let go.
Veeransh held him quietly, feeling every tremble, every soft hiccup that escaped from him.
After a few moments, he leaned back slightly and brushed a hand through Aariv’s hair.
Veeransh said gently.
“Aariv… saans lo. Main hoon na. Tum safe ho.”
Aariv nodded against his chest but didn’t loosen his grip.
Veeransh exhaled softly. He slid one arm under Aariv’s knees and the other around his back, lifting him easily as if he weighed nothing.
Aariv’s arms instinctively circled his neck.
Veeransh sat properly on the bed, pulling Aariv onto his lap like a frightened child seeking refuge.
He reached for the glass of water on the side table.
Veeransh:Thoda paani piyo.
Aariv didn’t move.
He was still shaking, still clutching, his face hidden.Veeransh’s tone softened even more.
Veeransh:Aariv… look at me.
Slowly, hesitantly, Aariv raised his face.His eyes were watery, lashes wet, cheeks pink.
The sight punched something inside Veeransh, something protective, something dangerous.He held the glass to Aariv’s lips.
Veeransh:Let me.
Aariv parted his lips obediently.
Veeransh tilted the glass, watching every small swallow.A drop escaped and slid down Aariv’s chin.
Without thinking, Veeransh caught it with his thumb and wiped it softly.
Aariv’s breath hitched.
Veeransh froze by his own action then pulled his hand back quickly, looking away for a moment.
Veeransh cleared his throat
“Bas. Ab theek hai?”
Aariv nodded weakly But his fingers still clung to Veeransh’s shirt and Veeransh noticed.
He gently pried one hand off, then held Aariv’s hand in his own their fingers almost interlocked.
Veeransh:kuchh nhi hua hai,Tum sirf… darr gaye the.”
Aariv lowered his eyes.
Aariv:I...I didn’t know what it was. It felt… so real.”
Veeransh doesn't know what he dreamed of but didn't think it was the best time to ask.
shifted slightly, settling Aariv more comfortably against him, one arm wrapped securely around his waist.
Veeransh:No more talking.
Just rest.
Aariv looked up.
Aariv (soft whisper):
“Will you… stay?”
Veeransh inhaled sharply.
It was such a small question.
But it hit straight through his ribs.
He looked at the couch like he was reminding himself he shouldn’t.
Then he looked back at the trembling boy in his arms and something inside him made the choice before he could think.
He reached forward and pulled the blanket around Aariv, holding him closer.
Veeransh (firm, protective):
“I’m right here.”
Aariv’s eyes softened with relief and soon he fall asleep.
.
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