Subham stood outside Saheli's house, dressed in a rather ill-fitting Santa Claus costume he had borrowed from a friend. The night was chilly, but the costume was warm enough. He adjusted his fake beard and made sure his sack, containing the necklace, was securely over his shoulder.
"Alright, Subham, you can do this," he muttered to himself. "Just sneak in, leave the necklace, and get out."
Saheli had always been a bit of a recluse, and her recent condition, which Subham jokingly referred to as "I don't leave my house-itis," had made her even more of a hermit. Her parents were out of town, and Subham knew this was the best time to pay her a visit.
He approached the house, which still gave off the same creepy vibe it always had, despite the cheerful mandir (temple) right beside it. The juxtaposition of the eerie house and the holy site always made him chuckle.
"Still creepy as ever," he whispered with a grin. "Even with divine intervention right next door."
Using Psychodeus, his trusty dagger, Subham carefully cut through the iron bars of the window and then the window itself. The dagger made quick work of the metal, slicing through it like butter. He silently pushed the window open and climbed inside, landing softly on the floor.
He crept through the dark hallway towards Saheli's room, the soft glow of moonlight guiding his way. He opened the door and found Saheli fast asleep, looking adorable and peaceful. Her hair was spread out over the pillow, and she had a slight smile on her face, even in sleep.
Subham tiptoed to her desk, pulling out the necklace his master had given him. He was about to place it on the desk when Saheli stirred and opened her eyes. She stared at him, bleary-eyed and confused.
"Santa Claus?" she mumbled, rubbing her eyes. "Is that you?"
Subham mentally facepalmed. "Uh, yes! Ho, ho, ho! It's me, Santa Claus!" he said, trying to deepen his voice and sound jolly.
Saheli sat up, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I knew you'd come! I've been good all year!"
Subham chuckled internally. "Of course, you've been a very good girl, Saheli. I've brought you a special gift." He handed her the necklace.
Saheli's eyes widened with awe as she took the necklace from him. "It's beautiful, Santa! Thank you so much!"
"You're welcome," Subham replied, grinning behind his beard. "But remember, you must wear it always. It's very special."
Saheli nodded eagerly. "I will, Santa! I promise!"
Just as Subham was about to leave, Saheli tilted her head, squinting at him. "Santa, why do you sound like Subham?"
Subham froze for a moment but quickly recovered. "Uh, well, Subham... told me about you! Yes, he said you were his best friend, so I came to see you personally."
Saheli beamed. "Aww, that's so sweet. Subham is such a good friend."
"Yes, he is," Subham agreed, feeling a little guilty about the deception. "Now, you go back to sleep, and remember to be good next year too."
"Okay, Santa! Goodnight!" Saheli said, snuggling back into her blankets.
Subham quietly repaired the window with Psychodeus, ensuring it looked untouched. As he climbed out and made his way back home, he couldn't help but chuckle at the whole situation.
"Still as dumb as ever," he whispered to himself, shaking his head fondly. "But at least she's got the necklace now."
As he walked away, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and accomplishment. He had successfully delivered the gift and even managed to sneak in some Christmas cheer. All in all, it had been a pretty good night for Santa Subham.