LunaLove- Couples Night Specials...
Just as the music began to shift to a slower rhythm,
Isha's phone vibrated in her purse.
With a frown, she pulled it out, glanced at the caller ID, and let out a quiet groan.
"It's my brother,"
She muttered to Rudra, holding the phone between them.
Rudra raised an eyebrow.
"That doesn't sound good."
Answering the call, she didn't even get to greet him before her brother's irritated voice came through loud and clear.
"If you're not out in five minutes, I'm driving to Grandpa's myself. I swear, I'll leave you behind!"
Isha winced.
"Okay, okay! I'm coming!"
She ended the call and gave Rudra an apologetic smile.
"Sorry… he's being dramatic. I have to go."
Rudra nodded, his tone understanding.
Nod~
"No worries. Drive safe."
With a reluctant laugh, she gave his hand a light squeeze.
"It was fun, mystery guy. Maybe we'll bump into each other again."
"I'll hold you to that."
Rudra replied with a smirk.
Smirk~
She waved as she turned, gathering her friend.
The two girls made their way through the crowd and disappeared into the night,
Leaving Rudra standing in the colourful haze of lights and music.
Barely a moment later,
Two familiar arms slung themselves over his shoulders from behind.
"____"
"Well, well, lover boy,"
Ravi grinned on his right.
Sandeep chuckled from the left.
Chuckle~
"So this is where you vanished."
Rudra didn't even turn.
"I was testing the dance floor for safety. You're welcome."
Ravi snorted.
"Yeah? And I'm the next Prime Minister."
"You didn't even flinch when she grabbed your hand."
Sandeep added, nudging him.
"Smooth, Rudra. Real smooth."
Rudra finally turned toward them with a smug grin.
Grin~
"At least I wasn't caught giggling in the corner like you two stalking Shiva."
Their jaws dropped.
"____"
"____"
"Hey!"
Ravi cried.
"That was an operation!"
"Top secret,"
Sandeep nodded.
Nod~
"Codename: Operation Embarrass Shiva."
"Unclassified now,"
Rudra said with a smirk, walking ahead.
The three burst into laughter, and together they made their way to the bar, bumping fists like they always did.
"Drinks on me,"
Ravi declared proudly.
"To friendship, bad ideas, and nights we'll probably regret tomorrow!"
"And blackmail material,"
Sandeep added, raising an imaginary toast.
Rudra laughed.
"Cheers to that."
And as the bass dropped again and neon lights danced across their faces, the trio clinked their glasses together.
After an unforgettable night at the pub, the four boys finally made their way back to The Highland Leaf.
Laughter still lingered in the air as they stumbled toward the entrance, with Shiva looking as if he were floating on clouds.
"Did you see her eyes?"
Shiva mumbled dreamily, holding his cheek as if the kiss from Meena still lingered there.
"Bro, we saw everything."
Sandeep groaned.
"It was impossible not to."
Ravi smirked.
Smirk~
"I think I got a better view than Shiva did."
"Liar,"
Shiva muttered, but he was too happy to argue properly.
He Highland Leaf...
They parked the car quietly and tiptoed toward the hotel, whispering and trying their best not to trip over each other.
Just as they reached the hallway and were fumbling with the room door,
Click~
A sudden click echoed—
Followed by a bright flick of lights overhead.
The hallway lit up instantly.
"____"
"____"
"____"
All four of them froze like deer caught in headlights.
Standing ahead of them with arms crossed were Guru Arvind and Anish, both sporting expressions of amusement.
But what truly made the blood drain from their faces were the glares coming from the other side of the room.
Amirtha and Junoo stood like sentinels of doom, hands on hips, expressions sharp enough to slice through steel.
No one said a word.
Rudra gulped.
Gulp~
"____"
Shiva's dreamy smile vanished like smoke.
Ravi tried to look innocent and failed miserably.
Sandeep took a tiny step back.
Finally, Guru Arvind broke the silence with a calm, dry tone.
"Well… looks like our young warriors had quite the mission tonight."
Anish raised an eyebrow.
"Judging by the smell of alcohol and perfume… I'd say they survived."
Junoo folded her arms tighter.
"Want to explain why you four lied?"
Amirtha didn't even speak.
"____"
Her deadly stare alone could melt mountains.
Rudra cleared his throat and tried a nervous chuckle.
Cough~ Chuckle~
"It was… educational?"
"Character-building,"
Ravi offered helpfully.
"Team bonding,"
Sandeep added with a nod.
"Worth it,"
Shiva muttered under his breath, still smiling.
Amirtha took a step forward, and all four instinctively stepped back in unison.
"Inside. Now,"
She ordered.
"Y-Yes ma'am,"
All four chorused, stumbling over each other to obey.
As they filed into the room with their heads slightly bowed and hearts pounding, J
unoo sighed and exchanged a look with Amirtha.
Sigh~
"They're impossible,"
She muttered.
Amirtha, however, allowed herself the tiniest smile.
"Boys will be boys… until they learn the hard way."
The Next Morning
Rudra stirred groggily,
His temples were throbbing like someone was hammering nails directly into his skull.
"____"
"Ugh… never again,"
He muttered, clutching his head as he sat up.
His room spun just slightly, and the memories of last night came back in blurry form,
Colourful flashes—
Music, lights, dancing, drinks, Isha, and finally… Amirtha's glare.
"Why do I feel like I escaped death only to walk right back into it…"
Dragging himself out of bed like a zombie,
Rudra wobbled into the bathroom,
Splashed cold water on his face, brushed his teeth with exaggerated care,
And after staring at his reflection in the mirror for a few extra seconds, he gave himself a weak nod.
Nod~
"Tea. I need tea. And then a run. Maybe jog the guilt off."
He threw on his usual tracksuit and made his way down to the hotel cafeteria—
Hoping, foolishly, for a quiet start to his day.
Instead, what greeted him made him stop in his tracks.
"____"
Shiva, Ravi, and Sandeep were already seated at a table…
But they looked like prisoners awaiting execution.
Sullen faces.
Dark rings under their eyes.
Shoulders hunched.
Each had a steaming cup of tea in front of them, untouched.
Like a still painting of doom.
Across from them sat Guru Arvind and Anish,
Looking too entertained for early morning.
Arvind took a sip of his tea, his eyes twinkling with quiet amusement.
"____"
Anish chuckled under his breath.
Chuckle~
"____"
Anish's wife and kids, seated nearby, whispered curiously.
Rohit asked his father,
"Why are they all sitting so quietly?"
And Anish leaned over to whisper an explanation, which made the entire family stifle a laugh.
At the head of the table,
As if nothing was out of place, sat Amirtha and Junoo—
Calmly sipping tea like this was a morning ritual in their secret coven.
"____"
"____"
Rudra's instincts screamed at him.
'Run. RUN.'
He slowly began to turn, tiptoeing backwards toward the corridor.
Then came a single word.
"Rudra."
Amirtha's calm voice cut through the air like a knife made of ice and honey.
"____"
He froze.
Slowly—
So slowly—
He turned around, plastering a smile that even he didn't believe.
"G-Good morning…"
Amirtha placed her cup down gently.
Junoo just looked at him over the rim of her cup, not even blinking.
Guru Arvind leaned over and whispered to Anish,
"This is going to be fun."
Rudra gave one last glance toward the exit,
Then toward his three brothers-in-crime.
Shiva mouthed,
"Run while you still can."
Ravi just lowered his head like a condemned man.
Sandeep raised his teacup in salute.
"It was an honour."
Rudra sighed in surrender and shuffled forward to accept his fate.
As Rudra slowly shuffled toward the empty chair between Amirtha and Junoo,
His legs felt heavier with every step. It was like walking into a courtroom… except worse.
Amirtha's fingers tapped the chair softly, rhythmically—
Like a countdown to something.
"Sit,"
She said gently, smiling with unsettling calm.
Rudra forced a sheepish smile and sat down, hoping to fake innocence through sheer charm.
Big mistake.
"____"
Without a word,
Amirtha picked up her tablet from the table beside her,
Unlocked it with a single swipe and turned the screen toward him.
"____"
His smile vanished.
His soul left his body for a second.
The image on screen?
A perfectly timed photo of him, dancing with Isha, one hand in hers, a slight dreamy smirk on his face…
And another snap of him at the bar, toasting with her.
And there was Ravi's watermark on the photo.
'Those traitors!'
Rudra cursed inwardly.
His brain kicked into overdrive, trying to assemble a defence.
'Maybe I was possessed? No, no, not convincing.'
'Maybe I thought I was dreaming?'
'Maybe… maybe it wasn't me? Clone? Illusion?'
Just then, Amirtha's silken but cold voice broke the silence.
"Care to explain?"
She asked with the kind of smile you give right before you drop the hammer.
"I..."
Rudra opened his mouth to speak,
But before a word came out, Junoo calmly placed a steaming cup of tea before him.
She poured it gently, the clink of the spoon loud in the tension-filled silence.
Then she spoke, her voice every bit as gentle—
And every bit as sharp.
"Did you enjoy it?"
Rudra looked from one side to the other.
Amirtha on the left.
Junoo on the right.
Between ice and fire.
Calm and judgment.
He picked up the tea.
Sipped it.
Stalled for time.
Cough~
Then he looked up with a dry throat and said,
"So… um… which photo editing app did Ravi use? The clarity is… uh… impressive."
Everyone else tried—
And failed—Not to laugh.
Amirtha raised a single eyebrow,
A muscle twitching slightly in amusement or judgment—
It was hard to tell.
"____"
Without saying a word, she swiped again on her tablet.
This time, the screen lit up with a video.
A well-shot, high-definition clip started playing:
Rudra, in all his glory, dancing with Isha.
The lighting was soft, the vibe romantic—
And as if it couldn't get any worse, the video was edited with a slow-motion filter, backed by a romantic song playing gently in the background.
Rudra's soul visibly left his body.
That damn Ravi's watermark was at the corner again—
Complete with a little red heart logo.
Rudra's mouth opened, then closed again.
There was no escape.
"____"
His eyes slowly drifted to the three culprits—
Ravi, Sandeep, and Shiva—
Who suddenly refused to make eye contact.
Amirtha, however, wasn't done.
She turned to Shiva, her smile still angelic, which made it even more terrifying.
"And you,"
She began sweetly,
"You took Meena to a pub… without informing her family."
Shiva paled instantly, his goofy grin wiped clean like someone had hit a reset button.
Rudra saw his chance.
"____"
He grabbed his head with a dramatic groan and slumped slightly.
"Ugh… my head…"
He moaned.
"I… I don't remember much… All I remember is these three… offering me orange juice… yeah, yeah! Orange juice! And… nothing else after that…"
A beat of silence.
"____"
"____"
"____"
Then—
"WHAT?!"
All three of them shouted in unison.
Ravi jumped up.
"OI! YOU'RE REALLY GONNA THROW US UNDER THE BUS LIKE THAT?!"
Sandeep pointed an accusing finger.
"Orange juice?! BRO, YOU SAW THE MENU AND POINTED AT THAT RAINBOW DRINK LIKE A PEACOCK!"
Shiva looked betrayed.
"You said, 'It looks like the juice of a unicorn, I want that!' AND YOU ORDERED IT YOURSELF!"
Rudra waved a dismissive hand.
"Could've been the sugar rush. My memory's a bit... fuzzy."
Junoo, still calmly sipping her tea, chimed in without looking at them.
"Poor thing. He thought alcohol tasted like fruit juice. A tragic misunderstanding."
Amirtha, placing the tab down, leaned closer to Rudra and whispered,
"Do you want orange juice now, sweetheart?"
Rudra gulped.
Gulp~
"...No, thank you."
The room erupted into sarcastic banter, playful glares, and a few cushion throws from the trio toward Rudra.
Meanwhile, Guru Arvind chuckled from behind his newspaper.
Cough~
"Ah, youth."
Anish, sipping his tea, added with a grin,
"This is better than the TV serial my wife watches."
Three days later...
The incident with Jack's spirit, the ghost patrol, and Rudra's "orange juice" hangover had become the kind of memory everyone would tease about forever.
That morning, Rudra and Ravi stood by the entrance, bags packed and ready to leave.
Amirtha handed them a small pouch of money and snacks—
"Just in case,"
She said with a knowing look.
As they checked the final items.
Anish approached them with a calm, thoughtful expression.
He folded his arms, glanced around, and then spoke.
"Rudra. I think it's time Rohit and Tarun came with you."
Rudra looked surprised.
Rohit and Tarun, who had been staying at the hotel quietly for weeks,
Had slowly become part of the gang, even if they weren't fully involved in the deeper layers of this world.
Ravi tilted his head.
"You sure, Anish-bro? They've only just started getting used to all this ghost and magic business."
Anish nodded.
Nod~
"Exactly why. They've seen enough to know this world exists now. The best way for them to adapt is to slowly integrate. Ayenpuram will be a fresh setting for them. Quiet, remote—but not too quiet."
Rudra was silent for a moment, weighing the idea.
"____"
Then he nodded.
"Alright. They're in."
Later that afternoon, the car stood ready outside.
With Ravi at the wheel, Rudra adjusted his seat while Rohit and Tarun climbed in, looking a mix of excited and anxious.
"So… this place we're going to… Ayenpuram, right?"
Tarun asked.
"Is it like, haunted haunted? Or just regular haunted? Or an Astra user? Or terrorists?"
Rohit added nervously.
"____"
Ravi grinned from the driver's seat. "You'll see. Maybe bald Jack will say hi."
Both Rohit and Tarun stiffened.
Rudra chuckled and patted their shoulders.
Chuckle~
"Don't worry. If he shows up, just offer him orange juice."
Ravi burst out laughing as the engine roared to life,
And the car pulled away from the hotel, the four of them heading toward a village buried in fog and forgotten memories—
Ayenpuram.
Meanwhile, the night before…
Dark clouds loomed over the countryside roads near Ayenpuram.
Rain poured relentlessly, washing the mud off the leaves and drumming heavily on the steel roof of a large transport truck, its headlights cutting through the misty darkness.
Inside the truck's cabin, two men sat, both soaked and visibly tense.
One of them, wearing a headset, was in the middle of a call.
"What do you mean the police are sniffing around?"
He hissed, eyes darting around nervously.
"If they catch us with this load—our necks are gone!"
A gruff voice replied on the other end.
"Then disappear. Hide the goods. Lay low till I give the all-clear. Got it?"
The man cursed under his breath, tossing the headset aside.
His partner, gripping the wheel, glanced at a rusted green direction board just barely visible through the rain:
"→ AYENPURAM - 4 km"
"Let's head there."
The driver muttered.
The place looked abandoned when I passed by once. Might be our best shot."
They turned off the main road.
Within minutes, the truck pulled up to a massive, decaying mansion, with architecture screaming of colonial-era British influence—
Arched balconies, stone pillars, and broken lanterns still hanging from rusted iron hooks.
"____"
"____"
Surprisingly, the main doors creaked open on their own, as if expecting them.
Creak~
"Creepy old house,"
One of them muttered,
"But dry roof's a dry roof."
They unloaded the smuggled crates—
Concealed weapons—
Stacking them hastily inside the dusty entrance hall.
Once finished, they settled into the dim main corridor, opening a bottle of cheap rum they kept for nights like this.
"Bloody boss,"
One of them slurred,
"Treats us like dogs. What does he think we are, porters?"
They laughed bitterly, the sound echoing through the empty mansion.
But then... it stopped.
The air changed.
"____"
"____"
The temperature dropped sharply.
A soft echo of English voices began to swirl through the hall—
Faint… cultured… eerie.
"Did you hear that?"
The driver whispered, going still.
From the staircase above, ghostly figures began to materialise—
Spectres dressed in British military uniforms, some missing limbs, others riddled with bullet holes.
Their faces were frozen in a time long lost—
Rage, pain, and fury.
The intruders watched, frozen in disbelief, as the spirits turned toward them.
The ghosts suddenly raised spectral muskets, sabres, and phantom pistols, and in unison, opened fire.
The two smugglers didn't stand a chance.
Their screams rang through the mansion, echoing through the halls—
—then silence.
"____"
Not even the sound of rain could cover the final, choking cry before it all went still.
And the old Ayenpuram mansion, once again, returned to its endless, cursed slumber.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************************
(Author's POV)
(A/N): I misuploaded. Since I have already uploaded a chapter on Thursday. So today's upload will be one chapter.
Thanks for reading the chapter!
Please give a review!!! And power stone!!!
Which will motivate me more?