Cursed

Chapter 43

Aariv’s breathing had finally steadied.

His small fingers, which were clutching Veeransh’s shirt tightly a few moments ago, slowly loosened their grip. His head rested against Veeransh’s chest, soft and warm.

Without even realizing Aariv had fallen asleep. Right there in Veeransh’s lap. Veeransh looked down for a moment… he didn’t move.

Didn’t speak. Didn’t even breathe properly. As if any movement would break this fragile moment.

Aariv looked… peaceful. So different from the trembling, crying boy from a while ago.

His lashes rested softly on his cheeks, still slightly wet from tears.

His lips were parted just a little, breathing slowly and even.

His hair fell messily over his forehead.

And his face… Veeransh’s gaze softened completely.

Something that made his chest tighten. Something that made him feel… protective, Possessive and calm.

All at once. Veeransh’s fingers slowly moved almost unconsciously tucking a soft strand of hair behind Aariv’s ear.

His thumb brushed lightly over Aariv’s cheek, wiping the last trace of tears.

“Itna khoobsurat kaise ho sakte ho tum…”

he whispered under his breath.

A faint smile touched his lips.

He adjusted his hold slightly, making Aariv more comfortable in his lap, one arm securely wrapped around his waist so he wouldn’t slip.

Knock. Knock.

The sudden sound broke the silence.

Veeransh’s expression instantly hardened, irritation flashing in his eyes. He looked toward the door.

Veeransh (in annoyed voice): Kaun?

From the outside, a familiar voice came.

Rudra: Bhaiya… main hoon.

Veeransh rolled his eyes.

Of course.

Veeransh: Toh tu yahan kya kar raha hai? Jaa na.

A pause. Then Rudra’s dramatic voice came again.

Rudra: Khaana khaane aa jao bhaiya… aur bhabhi ko bhi le aana.

He lowered his voice slightly, like sharing a secret...

“…warna vo tikhi mirchi meri chatni bana dega.”

Veeransh let out a quiet breath, half annoyed, half amused. His eyes dropped back to Aariv still sleeping peacefully, completely unaware of the world.

His tone softened instantly.

Veeransh: Tu jaa… hum aate hain.

Rudra (from outside): Jaldi aana… warna main nahi bachaunga phir!

His footsteps faded away.

Veeransh looked down at Aariv again.

A soft smile touched his lips.

“Uthane ka mann hi nahi kar raha…” he murmured.

His fingers gently traced Aariv’s jawline careful not to wake him.

But then he sighed softly.

“Par agar nahi uthaya… toh pura Ghar yha aa jaega,” he muttered under his breath.

Slowly, very gently Veeransh adjusted his hold and lifted Aariv slightly.

“Aariv…” he whispered near his ear.

Aariv stirred faintly, brows knitting.

“Utho… baby…”

His voice was softer than ever. Almost like a lullaby trying to reverse itself.

“Hmm…” a soft sleepy sound escaped him.

Veeransh paused and his lips curved.

“Utho… dinner ke liye jaana hai.”

Aariv shook his head faintly, eyes still closed and instead of getting up he wrapped his arms tighter around Veeransh’s neck.

Like a child refusing to leave warmth.

“Nahi…” he mumbled, voice thick with sleep, “nahi jaana…”

Veeransh blinked. For a second, he just stared at him.

Then he chuckled softly.

“Achha… nahi jaana?”

Aariv buried his face into Veeransh’s shoulder, completely ignoring the world.

“Nahi…”

His grip tightened even more.

As if someone might take him away.

Veeransh exhaled slowly.

His heart.... completely gone.

“Ziddi…” he whispered, but there was no complaint in it , only affection.

He adjusted Aariv in his arms, one hand sliding to his back, gently rubbing circles there.

“Baby… sab wait kar rahe hain neeche.”

Aariv let out a small sleepy whine.

"Mai thak gya hu…”

Veeransh held him more tightly understanding the meaning of that word.

“Mujhe toh jaane nahi dena tumhe… lekin khana to khana padega n bub."

Aariv didn’t react , didn’t even try.

He just… held him Eyes closed and breathing slow.

Veeransh looked down at him, something deep and possessive settling in his chest.

“thik phir baad me mt bolna kuchh?” he teased softly.

Aariv nodded faintly. Without even opening his eyes. Veeransh’s smile softened. He leaned closer, his lips brushing lightly against Aariv’s hair.

And he kissed his hair softly.

Then without asking again

Veeransh stood up. Still holding Aariv in his arms. Aariv shifted slightly, but didn’t wake. Instead, he instinctively curled closer, one hand fisting Veeransh’s shirt.

Veeransh smirked.

“Theek hai… tum nahi chaloge… toh main le jaata hoon.”

And just like that He carried him out of the room.

Aariv’s head rested on his shoulder, his soft breaths brushing against Veeransh’s neck.

Veeransh walked calmly, like this was the most natural thing in the world.

Rudra was leaning against the pillar and the moment he saw them

His eyes widened.

“OHHH HO!”

Yug turned and then...

“ARE YOU SERIOUS?!”

Ridha placed a hand dramatically on her chest.

“Maa… dekho… mera bhai sudhar gaya!”

Shanti smiled warmly. Rajnath hid a faint smile behind his tea cup.

Veeransh walked in completely unfazed. Still holding Aariv.

Rudra whispered loudly to Yug

“mirchi… ye toh full husband mode mein aa gaya.”

Yug rolled his eyes but smiled.

“Shukar hai… warna main hi shaadi tudwa deta.”

Veeransh shot them both a look.

“Zyada bolne ki zarurat nahi hai tum dono ko.”

Then he looked down at Aariv.

His voice softened instantly.

“Uthna hai… ya yahi sula du?”

Aariv stirred again eyes still closed.

He mumbled softly....

"Mujhe sone dijiye apne pass…”

And tightened his hold.

The entire table went silent for a second.

Then....

Rudra whispered dramatically

“Bhaiya to set ho gye , kya bolte mirchi apni bhi setting ho jaaye thodi si.”

He smiled with showing his all teeth ...

Yug kicked his leg from behind..

Rudra : ahhhh oohhh godd kitne hinsak ho tum...

Yug: or tum ek dam lucche ho...

Veeransh sat with Aariv still in his arms. Aariv had barely woken up, eyes half-open, lashes heavy with sleep. His head rested against Veeransh’s shoulder, fingers still tightly clutching his shirt. Completely unaware of the world.

Ridha shook her head dramatically.

Ridha: Bhai, tum ise kabhi neeche rakhoge bhi ya nahi?

Rudra leaned forward, whispering loudly...

Rudra: Mat rakhna bhai… warna gir jayenge."

Yug smirked.

Yug: Already gir chuka hai… tumhare bhai ke pyar me.

Aariv frowned slightly in his half-sleep.

“Chup kar yuggie puggie…” he mumbled softly.

Everyone went quiet for a second

Then burst out laughing. Even Veeransh’s lips curved slightly.

He adjusted Aariv closer, one hand resting protectively on his back.

“Khana khilao ise,” Shanti said softly.

Veeransh picked up a small bite and brought it near Aariv’s lips.

“ thoda sa khalo".

Aariv obediently opened his mouth slightly without even opening his eyes. The moment was so soft and adorable.

The ticking of the wall clock grew louder than usual, too loud. Rajnath frowned slightly and glanced toward it.

“Yeh awaaz pehle itni tez thi?” he murmured.

The lights flickered once.

Then again.

Aariv shifted slightly in his sleep, his brows knitting faintly as if something disturbed him. A faint creaking sound came from above. Veeransh’s gaze lifted instinctively.

The chandelier It was moving.

Not swaying with air but jerking slowly and unnaturally.

Rudra noticed it too and straightened.

“Bhai…” he said quietly.

The chain holding the chandelier stretched with a sharp metallic strain.

For a second, everything froze.

And then....

With a loud, violent crack, the chain snapped. The chandelier came crashing down. Glass shattered across the floor with a deafening explosion. The impact shook the entire hall. Plates fell, chairs scraped loudly, and a cloud of dust and broken glass filled the air.

Shanti screamed. Ridha stumbled backward in shock.

Yug grabbed the edge of the table to steady himself while Rudra instinctively pulled him away from the falling debris.

Aariv’s eyes flew open in terror.

He didn’t even understand what had happened But his body reacted before his mind could.

He clutched Veeransh tightly, his arms wrapping around him as he buried his face against his chest.

“Veer....!” his voice broke in fear.

Veeransh stood up immediately, pulling Aariv completely into his arms, shielding him as his eyes scanned the room sharply.

“I’m here,” he said firmly, his voice steady despite the chaos.

The room fell into silence again. A terrifying kind of silence.

The kind that felt… wrong. As if something was waiting.

The air grew colder. A sudden gust of wind swept through the hall, even though every window and door remained shut.

The curtains began to move.

Slowly. As if touched by something unseen.

Then.....

A faint sound echoed softly.Almost like a whisper.

“…heh…”

Rajnath stiffened.

“Tum logon ne suna?” he asked quietly.

The sound came again and louder this time distorted.

“…hehe…”

The lights flickered violently.

Aariv tightened his hold on Veeransh, his body trembling.

“Veer…,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

And then The sound exploded.

A loud, piercing laughter filled the entire haveli. It was a woman’s voice.

But twisted and broken. As if laughter and crying were happening at the same time.

“HAHAHAHAHAHA....!!!”

The sound echoed from every direction. Not from one place But everywhere.

Walls , ceiling. Behind them. Inside their ears. Inside their heads.

Shanti covered her ears in panic.

“Band karo… please band karo…!” she cried.

Ridha’s face had gone pale.

Yug stood frozen. Even Rudra, who rarely showed fear, looked shaken.

The laughter didn’t stop. It grew louder and more painful.

It felt like it was tearing through the walls.Through their bodies, through their minds.

And then suddenly....

It broke. Turning into a scream.

A long, heart-wrenching scream that made the entire hall feel like it would collapse.

Aariv gasped sharply and pressed himself even closer to Veeransh.

“Please…” he whispered, his voice shaking.

Veeransh held him tighter.

His expression had changed completely. His eyes were no longer just alert , They were dangerous.

Controlled anger simmered beneath the surface.

He stepped forward slightly, still holding Aariv securely in his arms.

“Kaun hai?” he said, his voice was low but commanding. The laughter stopped instantly complete silence.

For a moment, nothing moved.

Nothing breathed.

But Right behind them.

“wapas aagyi mai Aaryan…”

Aariv froze. His grip tightened.

“Veer…” he whispered, terrified.

The lights went out suddenly.

Darkness swallowed the entire hall.

No one could see anything. But they could feel it.

Something was there.

Something watching.

A faint shape appeared on the far wall, A shadow.

A woman’s silhouette. Her head tilted unnaturally to one side. Her hair is hanging loose.

She laughed again.This time is slower.

The lights flickered back on.

The shadow disappeared.

The wind stopped.

The room returned to stillness. As if nothing had happened but everything had changed.

Aariv was still trembling in Veeransh’s arms. His face is buried in his chest. Veeransh didn’t let go.

Didn’t even loosen his hold. His gaze swept across the room one last time.

Yug was still frozen where he stood.

At some point, without even realizing it, he had grabbed onto Rudra his fingers tightly clutching his arm.

Rudra noticed.

For once, he didn’t tease. He immediately pulled Yug closer, almost shielding him instinctively.

Yug’s voice trembled.

“W… what’s happening…?”

Rudra swallowed hard. Even he didn’t have an answer.

His usual confidence… gone.

His eyes are still scanning the hall carefully.

“Mujhe… n....nahi pata,” he admitted quietly.

Then his hold around Yug tightened just a little.

“Tum tension mat lo… tumhe kuch nahi hoga. I promise.”

His voice wasn’t playful this time.

It was serious.

A few steps away....

Aariv was still shaking. His entire body trembled as if the fear had settled deep inside him. His fingers clutched Veeransh’s shirt tightly, refusing to let go.

His voice came out broken

barely audible....

“Vo… vo thi, Veer…”

He shook his head slightly, panic rising again.

“Vo… vo wapas aa gayi hai, Veer…”

The words sent a chill through the room.

Rajnath stiffened and shanti looked horrified.

Before the panic could rise again Veeransh pulled Aariv closer.

Immediately.

One arm wrapped around his back, the other cradling his head against his chest. Cutting off the fear before it could consume him.

“Bas.”

His voice was low.

Aariv’s breath hitched. He held onto Veeransh like he was drowning.

Veeransh leaned slightly closer, his lips brushing near Aariv’s hair as he spoke softly but with absolute certainty.

“Relax, jaan…”

His hand moved gently over Aariv’s back, calming him.

“Vo tumhara kuch nahi bigaad sakti.”

A pause.

Then his voice dropped even lower dangerous.

“Main hoon na yahan.”

Aariv’s grip tightened. His trembling didn’t stop completely but it slowed.

Because somehow Veeransh’s voice felt stronger than the fear.

The haveli had fallen into an unnatural silence.

After the terrifying incident in the dining hall, no one had the strength to speak much. One by one, they had all returned to their rooms, carrying the fear with them like a shadow that refused to leave.

Inside Veeransh’s room, Aariv sat quietly on the bed.

His back was slightly hunched, his fingers tightly gripping the bedsheet. His breathing was not steady. His eyes… distant.

As if he was still trapped in that moment. Still hearing that laughter.

Still feeling that presence.

Veeransh, trying to regain control over himself, had gone inside the washroom. The sound of running water filled the room, steady and grounding.

Aariv slowly lay down on the bed.

He pulled the blanket over himself, curling slightly.

“Nothing is there…” he whispered to himself, voice trembling. “Bas darr hai…”

But the words felt hollow.