Chapter 54 #3
He slowly turned toward the dark corridor that led deeper into the haveli, and when he finally spoke, his voice was low but firm enough to make everyone listen.
"Ab is kahani ka asli raaz us band kamre mein hi milega."
His eyes moved from the corridor toward Aariv before finally settling on Veeransh.
"Lekin us kamre ko kholne ka kaam tum dono karoge."
He lifted his hand and pointed directly toward them.
Aariv immediately looked at Veeransh, while Veeransh's expression hardened as he glanced toward the corridor.
"Main akela jaunga," Veeransh said firmly. "Aap Aariv ka khayal rakhiye, kyunki mujhe nahi pata us kamre ke andar kya hai aur agar wahan kuch hua to main kam se kam ye nahi chahta ki Aariv uske saamne khada ho."
Aariv's expression changed immediately.
He reached for Veeransh's hand and held it tightly, his fingers wrapping around his palm as he shook his head.
"Nahi..."His voice trembled slightly.
"Aap akele kahin nahi jaenge."
Veeransh looked at him.
Aariv moved closer, his eyes filled with genuine fear.
"Agar aapko kuch ho gaya to main kya karunga?"
he whispered, his grip tightening around Veeransh's hand as though simply imagining him entering that room alone was unbearable.
"Mujhe nahi pata us kamre mein kya hai, aur mujhe ye bhi nahi pata ki jo cheez mujhe bula rahi hai woh aapko kya karegi, lekin main aapko akela nahi bhej sakta."
Veeransh stared at him for several seconds. His expression softened.
He lifted his free hand and gently touched Aariv's cheek. "Baby..."
But before he could say anything else, Harinarayan interrupted them.
"Ye kaam tum dono ko saath hi karna hai."Both of them turned toward him.
Harinarayan looked at Aariv for a long moment before continuing.
"Jo kuch tumne vision mein dekha, jo mark tumhare wrist par hai, Yug ke saath jo hua, aur jis tarah se woh kamra baar-baar tumhe apni taraf kheench raha hai, in sabka connection ek hi jagah se hai."
He pointed toward the dark corridor.
"Us kamre se."
Aariv swallowed nervously.
Harinarayan's voice became quieter.
"Jab is kahani ki shuruwat tumse hui hai, Aariv, to iska ant bhi tumse saamne hi hoga."
The words sent a strange chill through Aariv. Veeransh immediately looked toward him, silently asking whether he was okay.
Aariv nodded. It was a small movement, but there was determination behind it.
Veeransh understood. He slowly intertwined his fingers with Aariv's and held his hand firmly, as though silently promising that whatever waited for them inside that room, they would face it together.
Harinarayan watched them for a moment before giving a final warning.
"Jaao." His voice was serious.
"Lekin meri baat bahut dhyan se sunna. Jab tak tumhe koi spasht sanket na mile, kamre ke andar kisi bhi cheez ko haath mat lagana, chahe woh kitni bhi jaani pehchani ya surakshit kyun na lage."
Veeransh nodded. Aariv also nodded quietly.
Harinarayan continued, "Aur agar tumhe kuch aisa dikhe jo tumhare vision mein tha, to turant mujhe batana. Apni taraf se koi faisla lene ki koshish mat karna, kyunki humein abhi tak nahi pata ki us kamre mein kaunsi shakti active hai."
Aariv looked once toward the corridor. The darkness beyond it seemed deeper than before.
For a moment, he had the strange feeling that something was waiting for him there.
Veeransh squeezed his hand and Aariv looked at him.
Veeransh gave him a reassuring nod.
" chale."
Aariv took a slow breath.
"chaliye."
And then, without saying anything else, they began walking toward the corridor.
Their footsteps echoed softly through the silent haveli as they moved farther away from the living room, their intertwined hands the only thing keeping Aariv grounded as the darkness ahead seemed to grow heavier with every step.
Behind them, Harinarayan watched silently.
Rudra remained beside Yug. Shanti held Rajnath's hand and Ridha stood in froze condition.
Everyone simply watched Aariv and Veeransh disappear into the long corridor and somewhere beyond them at the very end of the darkness stood the locked door.
After Aariv and Veeransh disappeared into the dark corridor, their footsteps slowly faded until the living room once again became painfully quiet.
Harinarayan remained standing near the ritual fire, watching the corridor for several seconds before his gaze slowly shifted back toward Yug, who was still lying unconscious within the protective circle, his face pale and his breathing shallow.
Rudra was sitting beside him, still holding his hand, and although his attention had remained fixed on Yug throughout Aariv and Veeransh's departure, he could not shake the feeling that something was about to happen again.
Harinarayan looked at Yug for a long moment.
Then he turned toward Rudra.
"Iske haath-pair baandh do."
Rudra stared at him.For a moment, he genuinely thought he had misunderstood.
"...Kya?"
Harinarayan's expression remained serious.
"Maine kaha, iske haath-pair baandh do."
Rudra immediately shook his head and moved closer to Yug protectively.
"Nahi."
Harinarayan did not argue.
He simply looked at him.
"Rudra, meri baat samjho."
Rudra's voice became sharper.
"Main apne hosh mein Yug ko kisi cheez se nahi baandhunga."
His eyes dropped toward Yug's unconscious face, and his expression softened with pain.
"Abhi aapne dekha nahi kya hua tha iske saath? Ye already pain mein hai."
Harinarayan took a slow breath."Isi liye keh raha hoon."
Rudra frowned.
Harinarayan continued quietly.
"Jo kuch abhi hua, woh sirf ek possession nahi tha. Uske andar jo shakti hai, woh ritual ke dauran aur zyada active ho rahi hai."
Rudra looked toward the sacred fire.
"Lekin ab to sab khatam ho gaya."
Harinarayan slowly shook his head.
"Nahi."
The single word made Rudra's expression change.
Harinarayan looked at Yug again.
"Sabse khatarnak baat ye hai ki Aariv aur Veeransh ab us kamre ki taraf ja chuke hain."
Rudra's face immediately hardened.
"Uska Yug se kya connection hai?"
Harinarayan hesitated before answering. "Main abhi spasht nahi bata sakta."
Rudra stared at him. "Phir aap usse kyun baandhna chahte hain?"
Harinarayan's eyes remained fixed on Yug.
"Kyuki agar mera andaza sahi hai, to jaise hi Aariv us kamre ke kareeb jayega, Yug ke andar jo shakti hai woh dobara react karegi."
Rudra's fingers tightened around Yug's hand. "And if she takes control again?"
Harinarayan looked directly into his eyes. "Tab humare paas use rokne ka koi aur tareeka nahi hoga."
Rudra's breathing became heavier. He looked down at Yug.
Then slowly shook his head.
"Main nahi kar sakta."
Harinarayan stepped closer.
"Rudra..."
"Main nahi karunga."
Rudra's voice broke this time.
"Usne abhi-abhi mujhse kaha tha ki woh apne body ke andar trapped tha. Usne mujhe bataya ki woh sab dekh raha tha, sab sun raha tha, lekin kuch kar nahi paa raha tha. Aur ab aap mujhse keh rahe hain ki main uske haath-pair baandh doon?"
His eyes filled with tears.
"Woh mera Yug hai."
Harinarayan's expression softened.
"Main jaanta hoon."
"Phir mujhse ye mat kahiye."
For a moment, neither spoke. Then Harinarayan quietly crouched beside Yug and looked at his peaceful face.
"Rudra, main tumse usse saza dene ke liye nahi keh raha."
He placed his hand near Yug's forehead without touching him.
"Main uski raksha karne ke liye keh raha hoon."
Rudra stared at him.
Harinarayan lowered his voice.
"Kyuki mujhe darr hai ki agali baar jab uski aankhein khulengi..."
He paused.
"...to shayad Yug andar ho hi na."
Rudra's face went pale.
He instinctively pulled Yug closer.
Harinarayan looked toward the corridor where Aariv and Veeransh had disappeared.
Then back at Yug.
"Jaldi karo."
The flames of the ritual suddenly flickered and somewhere far down the corridor a door slowly creaked open.
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