Aarav took a deep breath and said seriously, "Let's not delay any further… we should head towards the haveli."
"I don't know why, but I have this feeling inside me that something is hidden there."
"Something… that has remained out of our sight until now."
"If we want to uncover the truth, we must confront that haveli."
The three of them began walking through the village lanes toward the forest.
The roads gradually became deserted, and a chill had started to settle in the air.
There was a trace of unease in Sanaya's eyes; she paused slightly at every turn.
Kisan moved ahead while occasionally glancing around, as if someone was watching.
Aarav sensed that the atmosphere was shifting — as if the village boundaries were hiding something.
While walking, Sanaya softly said, "My grandmother always warned me not to take this path."
There was fear in her voice, as if an old warning had come alive again.
"She used to say there's something in the forest… something ancient, something dangerous."
"Whoever went there either never returned… or was never the same again."
Aarav and Kisan listened to her words intently — the path now felt even heavier.
Aarav stopped, took a deep breath, and said, "We have to go, Sanaya."
"If we want to reach the truth, we must overcome our fear."
There was now more than just curiosity in his eyes — there was firm determination.
At the edge of the forest, all three stopped.
The shadows of the trees and the mysterious rustling from within made the atmosphere even more terrifying.
With a trembling voice, Sanaya asked, "Do we… do we really have to go inside?"
Her breathing was rapid, her face pale, and fear was clearly visible in her eyes.
"That night's dream is still haunting me," she added softly.
As they approached the forest, her fear deepened — as if something invisible was pulling her in.
Kisan and Aarav exchanged glances — a decision had to be made now.
As soon as the three of them crossed the boundary of the forest, a strange stench greeted them — like rotten milk and decaying flesh.
Every breath felt poisoned. Aarav covered his nose with a handkerchief, but the stench seemed to sink into the mind itself.
The trees were dense, their branches tangled — like a snare ready to trap anyone who entered.
There were no leaves on the ground, but instead a sticky black layer — like mud, but far more putrid.
The bark on every tree bore strange marks, as if someone had clawed at them with fingernails.
At the root of one tree lay a half-burnt coconut — and beside it, broken bangles, like the ashes of an unseen ritual.
There were no birds chirping — only an occasional, distant whining sound, like a dog's cry.
From one branch, something resembling blood seemed to drip — but it wasn't blood.
It was a thick black liquid, reeking of death.
Sanaya's breathing grew ragged. She gripped Aarav's hand tightly.
"This... this place isn't right," she whispered.
Every now and then, there would be a rustle in the bushes — but no one could be seen.
The sky was not visible from here — the branches were so dense that even light barely made its way through.
Whenever Aarav's camera flash went off, for a few seconds, the horrifying surroundings would light up —
on the upright trees, strange faces seemed to emerge.
In some spots, the earth was freshly dug — like recent graves.
Under one tree, lay a pile of black threads and rotting lemons with chilies — the remains of some decayed ritual.
When the wind blew, the smell worsened — like a burnt corpse had been exhaled into the air.
Kisan spoke softly, "Many people have committed suicide in this forest… they say something calls them."
Sanaya, her voice trembling, asked, "Is that Tantrik still here?"
Aarav didn't respond — his attention was now fixed on an old structure partially hidden among the trees.
It was probably the same haveli — and even its shadow was terrifying… deeply terrifying.
Sanaya stopped, trembling, her eyes wide with fear.
"I don't feel right…" she said quietly, "It feels like someone's watching us."
Her breathing quickened, and she looked back — but saw nothing.
Just then… there was a rustling in the bushes.
Two leaves shifted, as if someone had dragged their feet there… heavy and slow.
All three stood still, holding their breath… eyes scanning every direction.
And then… everything went absolutely still — as if the forest itself had frozen.
After walking for about 40 minutes, they arrived — there stood an old stone structure, completely dilapidated, yet still holding onto some deep mystery.
Dry vines were wrapped around it, and there were splashes of red on the walls — as if someone had written with blood, or sprinkled something during a ritual.
There was no door, just a dark doorway that seemed to pull them inward.
As they stepped inside, their breath caught — it resembled a temple, but there was no bell, no idol.
In the center was a large, burnt sacrificial pit (yajna-kund) — blackened stones, ashes scattered all around, as if a recent offering had been made.
The wicks of oil lamps were extinguished, but one of them still carried a faint burnt smell.
Among the ashes were some broken bones — it was hard to tell if they were human or animal.
And the most terrifying thing — on the wall ahead was a drawing made in charcoal.
It depicted a tantrik — long matted hair, a distorted face, and blood dripping from his eyes.
In his hand, he held the severed head of a girl — the image was so vivid that Sanaya shuddered, and for the first time, Aarav truly felt fear.
Aarav slowly stepped forward toward a corner of the wall where something was written.
It wasn't red paint… it was blood — dried, yet still glistening.
He read the words that stood out:
"The Indrajaal Mahayagya is incomplete… Until flesh is cast into the fire, the Tantrik shall not be freed."
Aarav's eyes widened — this wasn't a regular inscription. It was a warning.
Suddenly, Sanaya's breath quickened behind him… she stammered, "That's the same chant… the exact same words I heard in my dream!"
Her voice was trembling — fear had sunk into her veins.
Kisan tried to steady her, but he too was stunned.
The air in the haveli had grown heavier, as if something had awakened.
For the first time, Aarav understood — this wasn't just a dream… it was an ancient sin, now awakened.
Aarav's gaze shifted to the yajna-kund — something was glistening on the soil beside it.
He bent down and saw drops of fresh blood, thick and dark red, as if they had just fallen.
"This is recent..." he whispered, "Which means someone was here not long ago."
Sanaya looked around nervously, and just then — a faint whisper came from a nearby bush:
"Don't stop me… the ritual isn't over…"
All three of them turned sharply — but there was no one there.
Only dry leaves rustled gently.
A chill ran down Aarav's spine — as if something unseen had sensed their presence.
Sanaya's voice trembled, "We shouldn't stay here, Aarav…"
Kisan added, hesitantly, "Bhaiya, let's go back… this place doesn't feel right."
Aarav looked at the yajna-kund for a few more seconds, then took a deep breath and nodded.
"Alright," he said, "Let's go back."
Without another word, the three of them quickly turned and began to make their way back.
On their way back, as the three of them reached the village square (chaupal), they found Baba Narhari sitting there — wearing a yellow dhoti, hunched back, and eyes filled with a strange redness, as if he hadn't slept in many nights.
Baba saw them approaching and asked in a loud voice,
"Did you three go to that haveli?"
There was no panic in his voice, only a deep concern.
Aarav replied,
"Yes, Baba. Do you know what all this is?"
Baba stayed silent for a few moments… then slowly began to speak,
"Many years ago, a girl was sacrificed in this village.
Tantrik Vaman had begun the 'Indrajaal Mahayagya'… but the ritual remained incomplete.
Because the girl… she woke up before the final chant.
She screamed… and in that moment, something went wrong in the sacred fire —
he vanished from there, and the ritual remained unfinished…"
Silence spread all around.
Baba's eyes had turned even redder. He continued,
"Now, he's searching for a new girl… someone who can complete that ritual."
Sanaya stepped back a little, fear gleaming in her eyes.
In a trembling voice, she asked,
"Who was that girl, Baba…?"
Baba took a deep breath. His gaze now fixed firmly on Sanaya.
"It was your… grandmother. And now that same Tantrik is calling you — through that bloodline."
A deeper silence followed.
It felt like an old truth had awakened again in the air.
Aarav and Kisan couldn't say a word… everything had changed.
Sanaya's face had turned pale, as if all blood had drained from it.
She was about to say something when… suddenly, a warm drop fell from her palm — blood.
Aarav looked at her in shock — but there was no wound anywhere.
The wind stopped, as if time itself had frozen.
Sanaya looked at Aarav with trembling eyes — fear, pain, and a strange unknown anguish all present at once.
Her voic
e was faint, but shaking,
"Maybe the ritual… has already begun."
And in that moment, they all felt…
something terrifying had truly awakened.