Chapter 7
Location: The old house in the jungle — around 1 PM.
The sky was still overcast with clouds. Moisture and unease hung heavy in the air. The damp smell seeping through the walls, and the dim light filtering in from outside, made the whole atmosphere even more terrifying.
Raj — who had just slaughtered the old man’s dog — had completely lost control. Madness flickered in his eyes. Blood-stained arms and the scars stretched across his face made him look less like a man, more like a demon.
Suddenly, he burst into a hysterical laugh —
Raj (laughing maniacally):
“Now I’ll finally have peace... hahahaha... Look! Look! I’ve ended it all!”
His laughter bounced off the walls, becoming more haunting with every echo.
Joy struggled to get up from the ground. Blood was still dripping from his arm as he pressed hard on the wound to stop it.
Joy (between heavy breaths):
“This man is no longer in our control...”
Romi picked up the same rope that had tied the dog moments ago. Her soul trembled, but along with fear, there was determination etched on her face.
Mohan (weak, pleading voice):
“Raj... brother... enough now. You need rest, come, let’s go home.”
But instead of listening, Raj did something even more terrifying. He grabbed the knife and slashed his own arm. Blood gushed out, but there was no pain on his face — only a twisted, frenzied smile.
Raj (screaming):
“Leave me! I want to die! This body isn’t mine anymore!”
Joy (shouting):
“Bind him! We can’t waste another moment!”
Mohan and Joy forced Raj down. Romi, with trembling hands, wrapped the rope around him and tied him to a chair. Raj thrashed violently, his screams shaking the room.
In front of him, the old man sat beside his dead dog. His eyes were bloodshot, glistening with tears.
Old man (in a broken, faint voice):
“He... killed my child... I’ve never seen a man worse than you... you’ll never know peace...”
Saying this, he slowly stood up.
Mohan dragged the bound Raj into another room. Silence lingered in the house.
Romi slowly moved towards Joy and tried to stop the bleeding from his arm. She gripped it tightly, her voice cracking —
Romi:
“Do you have any bandages... or medicine? If we don’t stop this, you’ll... weaken. And Raj... he needs you strong too.”
Joy looked at her with both anger and disbelief.
Joy (bitterly):
“You still care about him? That madman nearly killed you.”
Tears welled up in Romi’s eyes, but she quickly turned her face away.
Romi (soft but firm):
“No... not at all.”
Meanwhile, the old man lifted his dog in his arms and slowly walked past them. He didn’t utter a single word, just held the lifeless body tightly against his chest, as if it were still alive.
As he passed, a cold gust of wind brushed against Romi and Joy, making them shiver. Instinctively, both turned to look at him.
Joy’s eyes followed him. He saw the old man staggering toward the jungle, clutching his burned, lifeless dog as if afraid it might slip away.
Tears brimmed in Romi’s eyes. Her throat heavy, she whispered —
Romi:
“That dog... it feels like it was his whole life. He loved it so much...”
Joy let out a long breath before replying —
Joy:
“Yes... Uncle has no family. I only visit here during vacations. That dog was everything to him. About ten years ago, when he was working at a building, a fire broke out. It was this dog that saved him. It got burned in that fire... and from that day, Uncle made it his family.”
He paused for a moment, then spoke softly —
Joy:
“I don’t think it was ever sick...”
Romi wiped her tears, but her voice trembled.
Romi:
“We... we couldn’t do anything. Again... again I just stood there watching... and another innocent life was lost.”
Her voice sank into the silence of the room. Outside, the only sound was the faint dripping of rain.
Inside the house – moments later
A heavy silence hung in the room. The damp stench from the old walls and the faint patter of rain outside made the atmosphere all the more terrifying.
Raj was tightly bound to a chair. His eyes were bloodshot, his breathing loud and harsh. His entire body bore deep scratches, as if he had clawed at himself in desperation.
Rose slowly stepped toward him, her eyes filled with both shock and fear.
Rose (in disbelief):
“What’s happened to Raj...? How did he end up like this?”
Sonam took a deep breath as she looked at her.
Sonam:
“He’s no longer in control... maybe all of this started after that dog bite.”
Rose suddenly began scratching her own arm furiously. Her breathing grew fast and uneven.
Rose (panicked):
“I’m itching too... maybe Raj’s sickness... has spread to me. I’m going mad as well...”
Tears spilled from her eyes as she trembled, unable to stop herself.
Sonam quickly grabbed her hands tightly.
Sonam (trying to steady her):
“No, Rose! Nothing’s going to happen to you. We’ll... we’ll take you to a doctor.”
Mohan shook his head in anger and frustration.
Mohan:
“But the question is — how? We’re trapped in the middle of this jungle.”
Sonal spoke in a low voice, as though swallowing her own fear.
Sonal:
“We should speak to that driver... the one who brought us here. All of this began because of him. And now he’s out there roaming free... while we’re hiding inside.”
Mohan quickly replied —
Mohan:
“Fine. I’ll talk to him.”
Rose suddenly froze.
Rose (sharply):
“But... we don’t even have our phones! That driver took them all!”
The weight of her words made the atmosphere in the room even heavier.
Sonam whispered softly —
Sonam:
“Then... we should ask the old man for help.”
Mohan shook his head violently.
Mohan (angrily):
“No! He’s furious. His dog was killed. He’ll never help us.”
Until now, Romi had been sitting silently in a corner. Suddenly, she spoke. Her voice was soft, but carried an odd firmness.
Romi (quietly):
“Joy... can help us.”
Rose turned to her in surprise.
Rose (startled):
“Who’s Joy?”
Romi lowered her eyes as she answered.
Romi:
“He’s... that old man’s nephew.”
Sonam scoffed, her tone laced with sarcasm.
Sonam:
“When his uncle hates us so much... why would he help?”
Mohan stepped forward, his voice heavy with both exhaustion and helplessness.
Mohan:
“We have to try... at least for Raj’s and Rose’s lives.”
He turned directly to Romi.
Mohan (serious):
“Romi... maybe he’ll listen to you. Please... try. This is about your brother’s life.”
The room fell into deep silence. All eyes now rested on Romi.
She stood still, her gaze fixed on Raj’s condition — his violently thrashing body, his reddened face. For a long moment she said nothing. But slowly, her expression hardened, determination replacing her fear.
She knew — it had to be her.
Continue.......
By Pooja kumari
