Happy Readingđź“– đź’•
Shivansh's POV
The vote didn't go as smoothly as I'd hoped. It seemed like everyone had a different preference, and no one was willing to back down. The debate dragged on until Arjun smirked and said, "Let's settle this once and for all—horror movie."
I glanced at him, unimpressed. "Really? That's your grand suggestion?"
Arjun shrugged. "It's the only genre that'll shut everyone up. Plus, it'll be fun to see who gets scared."
Before anyone could argue, Avi chimed in with a grin, "Yeah, let's do it. Horror it is!"
I noticed Ishika's glance at Isha, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "What about you, Isha? Are you okay with horror?" she asked in a tone that didn't seem entirely innocent.
Isha froze for a second, clearly hesitant, but then she nodded quickly, avoiding everyone's eyes. "It's fine. Whatever you all want."
I narrowed my eyes. She wasn't fine, but she wasn't going to admit it either. For some reason, that only made me more curious.
The lights dimmed, and the movie began. It didn't take long for the first scare to hit—a loud, sudden scream that made even me flinch slightly. Isha jumped in her seat, clutching the armrest like it was her lifeline.
I didn't buy it. Something in the way she shifted uncomfortably told me she wasn't fine, but she wasn't about to admit it, either. I stayed quiet, watching her.
With the decision made, Arjun pulled up a classic horror movie, the kind that thrived on jump scares and eerie silence. The lights were dimmed, and as the opening credits rolled, I saw Isha fidget slightly in her seat. She was sitting beside me—unintentionally, I assumed—but the closer the movie got to its first scare, the more tense she seemed.
The first scream in the movie was sudden, loud, and unexpected. Isha flinched visibly, her hand clutching the armrest tightly. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her take a quick, shallow breath as if trying to steady herself.
"Are you scared already?" I teased quietly, leaning just close enough for her to hear.
She shot me a glare, though it lacked conviction. "No."
But I didn't miss the way her hands trembled slightly when the next eerie scene played out.
A few minutes later, the tension in the movie escalated. The creaking of a door, the ominous background music, and then—another sudden scare. This time, Isha practically jumped in her seat and, without thinking, grabbed my arm.
I raised an eyebrow, looking down at where her fingers were gripping me tightly. She noticed a second too late and pulled away, her cheeks flushing. "Sorry," she mumbled, avoiding my gaze.
I didn't say anything, but I didn't move my arm either. The warmth of her touch lingered, and for reasons I didn't care to examine, I found myself more focused on her reactions than the movie.
The movie continued, and as the horror intensified, so did her reactions. Every jump scare, every shadowy figure, and every scream seemed to chip away at her resolve. Eventually, she gave up all pretense and leaned closer, clutching my arm again. This time, she didn't let go.
"Still not scared?" I asked, a hint of amusement in my voice.
"I told you, you didn't have to watch this,' I murmured, my voice quieter than I intended.
She didn't reply, her grip tightening as another tense scene unfolded. Her proximity was distracting, her warmth seeping through my shirt. Her hair brushed against my chin, carrying a faint, sweet scent that made it impossible to concentrate on anything else.
"It's just a movie," I said softly, though the steadiness of my own voice surprised me. "Nothing to be afraid of."
She didn't respond, her eyes glued to the screen as if looking away would make things worse.
By the time the movie reached its climax—a scene involving a possessed character and a dark, abandoned house—Isha had moved so close that she was practically pressed against me. Another loud scare caused her to bury her face in my shoulder, muttering something incoherent about why she even agreed to this.
I sighed, suppressing a smile. "If you're that scared, you could've just said no to the movie."
"I'm fine," she whispered, though her actions betrayed her words.
For the rest of the movie, I let her stay like that, her small frame leaning into mine every time the suspense grew unbearable. By the time the credits rolled, Isha sat back, visibly embarrassed but trying to play it off.
"That wasn't so bad," she said, her voice shaky.
I smirked, deciding not to comment. "Sure. Not bad at all."
Arjun and Avi were already laughing, making exaggerated remarks about how intense the movie was. But my attention stayed on Isha, who was quietly trying to act normal, her gaze fixed anywhere but on me.
"Next time," I said softly so only she could hear, "maybe we'll pick something less terrifying. For your sake."
Her eyes widened slightly before she gave me a half-hearted glare. "I wasn't that scared."
I raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Not bad? You spent half the movie clinging to me."
Her face turned crimson, and she shot me a glare. "I did not!"
"You did," I replied, my voice low and teasing. "But don't worry. I didn't mind."
Her mouth opened as if to respond, but no words came out. She looked away, her cheeks still burning.
As the others started joking about the movie, I leaned closer, my voice just above a whisper. "Next time, maybe we'll pick something less terrifying. Unless you need another excuse to hold onto me."
She glanced at me, her eyes narrowing in defiance, but I caught the flicker of something else—something softer, hidden beneath the surface.
For now, I let it be, leaning back in my seat with a smirk, knowing this was a moment neither of us would forget.
I let out a low chuckle, deciding to let her keep her pride. For now.
The movie ended, but the mood didn't exactly lighten. Arjun, Avi, and Dhruv exchanged mischievous glances, clearly plotting something. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. These guys never knew when to stop.
"You know what would be fun?" Arjun said, his voice dropping to a dramatic whisper. "Let's really scare di. She's terrified already."
I glanced over at Isha, who had pulled her knees up to her chest, still looking a little shaken but doing her best to play it off. It was clear she was trying to regain some composure.
"No." I said firmly.
But the others weren't listening.
Before I could protest further, Dhruv slid behind the couch and, in his best ghostly voice, mimicked the eerie sound from the movie, "Whaaaaat dooooo youuuu wanttttttt?"
Isha stiffened immediately, her body freezing in place. I saw her eyes dart around, as if searching for the source of the voice.
She was about to turn around when Avi, ever the instigator, leaned over the back of the couch with an exaggerated ghostly "Boo!"
Isha jumped, letting out a small gasp, her eyes wide in alarm.
"That's it, guys," I said, my voice firm, trying to put an end to the game. But I couldn't deny the satisfaction I felt when I saw how protective she had become of herself, even in this playful moment. She wasn't as scared as they thought.
But just as Isha breathed a sigh of relief, Arjun whispered loudly from behind her, "Dii... Behind you!"
She froze, her face paling as she whipped around. Her breathing became shallow, eyes wide, searching for any sign of what Arjun had suggested.
Without warning, Isha turned to me, her eyes locking with mine in a split second of panic.
"Shivansh!" she called out, almost desperate, as though I were her anchor.
I didn't hesitate. Before I could even think, I pulled her closer to me. She didn't even fight it, leaning into me instinctively. The others had expected her to shriek or jump, but instead, she simply gripped my arm tightly, her breath hitching.
"Enough," I muttered under my breath, glaring at the others. They backed off immediately, sensing the change in the air.
Isha, still shaken, didn't let go. I noticed how her body was still tense, how her hands were gripping me just a little too tightly. I couldn't help but feel a rush of protectiveness. This wasn't just some game.
"You okay?" I whispered, not letting go either, my hand lightly brushing the side of her arm.
She nodded, but her voice was barely above a whisper. "They're impossible. I swear they'll get me one day."
I chuckled softly, knowing full well that she was more shaken than she let on. "They'll never get you if you stay close enough to me."
Her gaze met mine again, her lips curling into the slightest of smiles. It was enough to calm the storm that had been brewing inside me.
But it wasn't just the horror movie or the guys' teasing. There was something else in the way she looked at me now—a trust, an unspoken bond that seemed to have grown stronger in those moments of vulnerability.
For a second, I almost forgot about the teasing or the others. It was just Isha and me, and I could feel the shift in the air. I didn't know what this was between us, but I was beginning to understand that it was something I didn't want to lose.
"Well, next time, I won't let them scare you," I said softly, my voice steady but with an underlying promise.
Her gaze softened, and she gave me a brief nod before pulling back just enough to smile. "I'll hold you to that."
I couldn't help but smile back. The evening had turned into something unexpected, and despite all the teasing and fear, it was the kind of moment I wouldn't mind repeating.
We stepped out of the theater, the cool evening air offering little relief from the tension of the movie. Everyone was chatting excitedly, their voices overlapping as they discussed their favorite parts. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. I kept glancing at Isha, noticing how she was quieter than usual, her eyes not meeting anyone's.
Avi, and Arjun were both laughing, clearly still caught up in the thrill of the film. They were teasing her—mimicking the eerie sounds from the movie, trying to spook her even more. I saw her flinch at every word they threw at her, a small shiver running through her body, and I could tell she was uncomfortable. But she didn't say anything. She just kept walking, trying to brush it off, even though her eyes darted around as if she expected something to jump out at her.
As we entered the living room, the warmth of the space felt almost too comforting, a stark contrast to the chill that still lingered in the air around Isha. The others quickly took their seats, chatting and relaxing like nothing had happened. But I could see her standing by the door for a moment, hesitant, before she walked slowly toward the sofa, clearly trying to shake off the unease she felt.
Maa broke the silence with her usual cheerfulness. "Did everyone enjoy the movie?" she asked, looking around at us. "What did you think, Isha?"
Isha gave a half-hearted smile, clearly forcing it. "It was… good," she said, her voice quiet. I could tell she wasn't really in the conversation, her mind still caught in the shadows of the movie.
Avi, ishika and arjun didn't seem to notice. They were still teasing her, exchanging grins as they joked about the scariest parts of the film. It was all fun and games to them, but I saw the way Isha's shoulders tensed with every word. It was like she was trying to act normal, trying to keep it together.
I watched as my aunt asked about the drinks, her usual routine of offering tea and coffee. "What can I get everyone?" she asked. "Tea, coffee?"
Before I could respond, Dhruv answered for Isha. "She'll have juice. She doesn't drink tea or coffee."
The room went quiet for a moment. Isha hadn't said anything. She hadn't even confirmed it. And yet, Dhruc spoke for her, as if she couldn't answer for herself.
I glanced at her quickly. She didn't react, but I could see the tension in her posture, how she was gripping her glass of juice when it arrived—like it was the only thing grounding her to reality at that moment.
"Juice?" my aunt said, surprised. "You don't drink tea or coffee, Esha?"
Isha gave a small, uncomfortable shrug. "I don't, no," she replied, her voice barely audible. But I could see the unease on her face, the way she was trying to disappear into the couch, trying to hide from the attention she wasn't asking for.
There was a pause before my mother spoke gently, as if sensing the discomfort. "Alright, fruit juice for Isha, then," she said, offering a soft smile. "Shivansh, black coffee for you?"
"Black coffee," I said, nodding. My gaze flickered back to Isha. She wasn't joining in the conversation; she was staring down at her juice, lost in thought. It was clear the movie had left its mark on her, more than she let on.
The servant arrived with the drinks, setting them down on the table—fruit juice for Isha, black coffee for me, and tea for everyone else. I watched as Isha took a sip of her juice, her fingers shaking slightly. It wasn't the drink she needed right now, but it was what she'd been given. She wasn't herself, and I could see it. I could feel the way her fear still lingered, clinging to her like the aftereffects of the film.
I took a sip of my coffee, the bitterness helping to center me, but my mind kept drifting back to Isha. Everyone else was engaged in the usual chatter, their voices rising and falling, but I was more aware of the quiet next to me, where Isha sat. She wasn't involved in the conversation. She wasn't reacting to the movie the way the others were.
"Did you all like the ending?" my mother asked, but I noticed that Isha didn't respond. Her gaze remained distant, her fingers tracing the edge of her glass, as if she was trying to focus on something that wasn't the movie or the lingering fear that followed her.
I couldn't help it—I glanced at her again. There was something about the way she was trying to hide her discomfort, trying to pretend everything was fine when it clearly wasn't, that made me want to do something. Anything to make her feel better, but I didn't know how.
For now, I just watched her. Quietly, from the corner of my eye.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
How was the Chapter??
Aage kya hoga? Hmm?
Share your thoughts and don't forget to click on the star button below.
And follow me on Instagram for spoilers.
đź”—link in bio.
Love you all, bye
Ishđź’—