Aadhya's POV
I seriously can't believe this.
They were actually upset… just because we didn't invite them. And now here we are—all of Section E—spending the rest of the day together like some chaotic picnic group.
"Let's go to Ferris wheel next," I suggested excitedly.
"No. We're going home after this," Vivaan said, his command.
" You go. I'll ride it," I said immediately glaring at him.
" Tch.."..that annoying tch of his.
But that's not the worst part.
The WORST part is..
They chose the horror house.
No. Absolutely not.
"You all go. I'm not coming inside," I said immediately, shaking my head.
"Hey, that's not fun."
"You're with us."
"Such a joykiller."
They didn't even let me finish. Before I could argue more, they literally dragged me inside.
And now—
Darkness.
Complete darkness.
I held Avi's hand tightly as we walked, trying to act normal even though my heart was already racing. Suddenly something dropped from above—
"AAAHHHH!"
Me and Avi screamed together like broken speakers and jumped back.
This is why I said no.
We kept walking, slowly… carefully… and then suddenly something blew from the side—
Everyone ran.
Just like that.
Gone.
Nikansh's POV
I don't know what got into me back there.
The moment I saw Dheeraj leaning close to her… the way it looked… like he was about to kiss her—something snapped. I didn't think. I didn't calculate. I just reacted.
And I never react without thinking.
That's what's bothering me now.
We're standing outside the horror house entrance and I can't even look at her properly. If she noticed… if she understood why I reacted like that—
No.
I don't want to deal with that.
I glanced at her anyway.
She was holding Avi's hand, trying to act normal, but it was obvious—she didn't want to go in. Her grip was tight, her shoulders stiff, eyes scanning everything like she was already imagining worst-case scenarios.
She's scared.
Before I could say anything—
Something dropped from above.
Everyone flinched.
My first instinct?
I looked at her.
She jumped, almost clinging to Avi.
Yeah. Definitely scared.
We moved ahead slowly, the darkness getting thicker, the air colder, the sounds louder. It was chaotic, but manageable—
Until something blasted nearby.
A loud, sudden burst.
And everything went to hell.
Everyone ran.
In different directions.
"Shit—" I muttered, turning around quickly.
"Avi, where's Aadhya?" I asked sharply.
He looked around, confused. "She was here—just now—"
That was enough.
My chest tightened.
I scanned the place again.
No sign of her.
"Devit?" Missing.
"Dheeraj?" Missing.
"Vivaan?" Also gone.
My jaw clenched.
Out of all people—
I hope she's not with Dheeraj.
Because I know what he was about to do earlier.
And if he tries that again—
My fists tightened unconsciously.
Why am I even thinking like this?
It's not like she's—
I stopped myself.
This isn't normal.
This isn't how I think.
This isn't how I react.
Standing here, unable to find her, imagining her with someone else—
I exhaled sharply.
"…Am I jealous?"
Aadhya's POV
"What the—?!"
I looked around, panic rising instantly. "Avi? Avi!" I called out, but no response.
Oh no.
I'm alone.
Great.
Just great.
"Jay hanuman ..Gyan gun Sagar ..…" I started chanting hanuman chalisa under my breath, trying to calm myself. I know these are just props… fake people… machines…
But it's not them.
It's the fear in my head.
The past.
My breathing got heavier. My hands started trembling. I could feel sweat forming on my forehead.
"Please… someone…" I whispered.
And then—
A figure.
A woman.
Covered in red.
Walking towards me.
No. No no no.
"Don't come near me…" I muttered, backing away, but my legs gave up and I fell, trying to crawl away.
She kept coming.
My vision blurred. Tears streamed down my face. My heart felt like it would burst.
"N-No… n-no…I- I don't want to...that to h-happen again...no no…" I clutched my head as flashes of something—something I didn't want to remember—started hitting me.
"Adi, stand up."
A voice.
Familiar.
"Adi, stand up," he snapped again.
I couldn't.
My body wasn't listening.
Suddenly, someone grabbed my arm and pulled me up.
"Hey… what's happening to you? Why are you shaking?"
Vivaan.
Without thinking, I grabbed his arm tightly.
"Please… let's get out of here… please…" I begged, my voice breaking.
For once—
he didn't argue.He just nodded.
He started walking, pulling me along. But the moment he tried to let go, I panicked and grabbed his hand again.
He looked at me.
"Please… don't let go of me," I whispered, tears still falling.
Something changed in his expression.
And then—
he didn't pull away.
Instead, he intertwined our fingers and held my hand firmly.
A small sense of relief washed over me.
We walked ahead. I was still shaking, constantly looking around, scared something would jump at us. Without even realizing, I grabbed his arm with my other hand too, clinging to him like my life depended on it.
We kept walking.
Then—
"A-Aadhya… c-can you move away… a l-little," he said.
I didn't really understand, too distracted by fear, so I stayed close.
"A-Aadhya… I'm uncomfortable…"
Oh.
I immediately let go of his arm and stepped behind him, instead holding onto his shirt.
It was dark, but there was faint light now.
That's when I noticed—
his neck…
his ears…
red.
Is he… having a fever?
Weird.
But I didn't think much of it.
Right now—
I just wanted to get out.
Vivaan's POV
I've seen fear before. Real one.
Not the kind people fake for attention. Not the kind these stupid places try to create with darkness and cheap tricks.
This was different.
The moment I saw her on the ground… something in me went still.
Hands clutching her head, breathing uneven, eyes unfocused like she wasn't even here anymore.
For a second—
I didn't move.
Because I didn't understand what I was looking at.
"Adi, stand up."
Nothing.
I frowned, stepping closer, irritation rising—not at her… at the situation.
"Adi, stand up."
Still nothing.
That's when I grabbed her arm and pulled her up. Her body was trembling.
And then—
she held onto me.
Tightly.
"Please… let's get out of here…"
Her voice wasn't steady. It wasn't stubborn. She said staring at me tears streaming down her face.
It was… fragile.
I didn't say anything. Just nodded and started walking.
I tried to let go.
She didn't let me.
Her fingers wrapped around mine again instantly.
"P-Please don't let go of me…"
That made me pause.
Just for a second.
I looked at her properly.
And for the first time-
I didn't pull away.
I tightened my grip instead.
Intertwined our fingers.
And walked.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Every step measured.
I could feel her trembling through our hands.
Her grip didn't loosen.
If anything, it got worse.
Then she held my arm too.
Both hands now.
Clinging.
Like I was the only thing keeping her grounded.
My body reacted instantly.
I stiffened.
My breath got uneven for a second before I controlled it. Heart beating faster than usual.
Too close.
Way too close.
Her presence was everywhere.
Her fingers pressing into my arm.
Her head slightly lowered, almost brushing against me and her scent.....Intoxicating...
I looked away, jaw tightening.
Because this wasn't anything.
It didn't mean anything.
Focus. I need to stay away from her. Yuvika....
"A-Aadhya… move a little."
No response.
She didn't even hear me.
I exhaled slowly.
"Aadhya… . I'm uncomfortable."
That got through.
She let go.
Stepped behind me.
Now holding my shirt.
I should've felt relieved. I didn't.
Because now I was aware of something else—
the way she stayed close anyway.
The way she trusted I wouldn't leave.
The way she followed without questioning.
And I don't know why—
but that irritated me.
Not her.
Myself.
Why am I reacting like this?
Why did I step in?
Why didn't I just leave her to deal with it?
She would've managed.
She always does.
Yet—
here I am.
Walking slower than usual.
Making sure she doesn't trip.
Blocking anything that comes our way without even thinking.
Listening to her breathing like it matters.
I tightened my jaw.
This is unnecessary.
But then—
her grip on my shirt tightened slightly.
And without thinking—
my hand tightened around hers too.
"Stay close..."
The words came out low.
Controlled.
But not harsh.
And that's when it hit me—
I'm not saying it as an order.
I'm saying it because—
I don't want her to let go....