It was a quiet Saturday afternoon when Esther's friends, Linda, Karen, Sarah, Susan, and Diane, decided to drop by our place unannounced.
They were all giggling and chatting as they barged in, making themselves at home like they always did.
"Hey, we thought we'd hang out here today! After all it's Saturday. And it's better to spend it with you guys then our husbands and children who either don't want to budge away from in front of the tv while the kids just want to spend their times with their friends totally forgeting us." Linda said cheerfully, setting her bag down.
"That's so true," Karen agreed, shaking her head. "It's like we're invisible at home!"
"Exactly! At least here, we can have some fun," Sarah added, smiling.
Susan chimed in, "And we know you'll spoil us with amazing food!"
Before I could respond, Diane held up a bag and said, "Speaking of food, we brought everything you'll need to make our favorites. So, no excuses!"
Karen pulled out a small bag of vegetables and spices. "We even got the exact ingredients for that veggie curry you made last time. It was so good, my husband said it made his non-veg dishes feel bland!"
"Seriously, I still dream about it," Linda said, placing a packet of lentils on the counter.
I raised an eyebrow, looking at the pile of ingredients they had brought. "Oh, so you just assumed I'd cook for you, huh?"
"Pleaseee," Sarah said, clasping her hands together like she was begging. "You make the best food, and we've been craving it!"
I sighed, knowing I didn't stand a chance against their pleading faces. "Fine," I said, heading toward the kitchen. "But if I'm cooking, you're all helping me clean up after."
"Deal!" Susan and Diane said in unison, already pulling out chairs to sit at the dining table like they owned the place.
"Don't worry about the cleaning. We'll handle it," Karen said, grinning as she set the table.
As I started chopping the vegetables, Linda came over to peek at what I was doing. "You know, it's amazing how you make vegetarian food taste so good.
Honestly, I never thought vegetarian food could taste so good and have so many varieties, it was actually better than anything we get at restaurants."
"Or at home," Diane added with a laugh. "Seriously, my husband would eat vegetarian all the time if I could cook like you!"
"Maybe you should start taking notes," I teased, stirring the pot.
"We'd rather just eat here, hehe" Sarah joked, making the others laugh as she rubbed her nose with her tongue out.
Despite their antics, I couldn't help but smile. These women knew how to brighten up a day, even if they were a handful.
As I cooked, I could hear them laughing and talking loudly in the living room. Esther was trying to act cool, but I could tell she was keeping an eye on me as if her friends were invading her personal space.
Once the food was ready, the girls eagerly helped set the table. Diane brought out the plates, Sarah grabbed the glasses, and Karen arranged the spoons and napkins.
Linda placed the steaming bowls of food in the center of the table while Susan made sure everyone had water.
"Wow, this smells amazing!" Linda said, inhaling deeply as she took her seat.
"Let's eat before the aroma drives us crazy," Karen joked, already reaching for the curry.
As we ate, the girls couldn't stop talking about the food, their chatter filling the dining room.
"This curry is unbelievable," Linda said, taking another bite. "Esther, you're so lucky to have this every day!"
"Seriously," Karen added, pointing her spoon at Esther. "If I were you, I'd never leave the dining table!"
Esther smiled, trying to act humble, but I noticed the proud glint in her eyes. "Well, he does spoil me, who knows maybe that's the best part of having a son like him." she said casually, though it was clear she was soaking up the compliments.
"Jealous doesn't even begin to describe how I feel right now," Diane said, shaking her head. "My husband can barely boil water without setting off the fire alarm!"
"Mine thinks instant noodles count as gourmet," Sarah said, rolling her eyes. "Esther, I'm officially jealous of your life."
"Not just jealous," Susan added with a playful smirk. "I think we should just move in here and eat with you every day!"
"Hey, don't get any ideas!" Esther cut in quickly, trying to sound joking but with a slight edge to her tone. "This is my kitchen, and I'm not sharing it!"
The girls burst out laughing, but Karen leaned over and teased, "Aww, come on, Esther. You've got the jackpot! Let us borrow him for atleast the meals once in a while."
"Not happening," Esther said firmly, her hand subtly resting on mine.
"Look at her getting all possessive," Linda teased, making everyone laugh again.
"Can you blame me?" Esther replied, though her little smile betrayed her pride.
"This is so good, though," Susan said, gesturing at her plate. "I swear, if you cooked for us every day, I'd happily go vegetarian. Who needs non-veg when we can have this?"
"Same here," Diane said, nodding in agreement. "Your food doesn't even make me miss it!"
"You've ruined restaurant food for me," Karen said, shaking her head. "Nothing compares to this."
I chuckled, shaking my head. "You all are so dramatic."
"It's not a drama," Linda said with a grin. "It's the truth! Esther, you've got it made."
Esther, still smiling, leaned back in her chair. "Well, I can't argue with that, can I?"
The girls polished off every last bit of food, leaving nothing behind. "Not even a grain of rice to waste," Susan declared proudly, patting her stomach.
Once the plates were empty, the girls immediately got to work. Karen and Linda cleared the table, Diane and Sarah washed the dishes, and Susan wiped down the counters.
"We're not leaving a mess for you as promised," Diane said as she dried a plate.
"You cooked, so it's only fair we do this," Sarah added, stacking the clean plates neatly.
Once the kitchen was spotless, Karen clapped her hands together and said, "Now that everything's done, let's watch a movie!"
The others cheered in agreement, their energy still high despite the big meal. Esther tried to maintain her cool, but I could tell she wasn't thrilled about sharing her Saturday with so many people in her space.
Especially when she had planned on being naughty with the sexy lingerie she had brought in secret, that too just for me.
Still, she smiled along, though her hand lingered on mine as if silently reminding everyone that I was hers.
"Yes, a horror movie!" Diane added, her eyes lighting up.
I gave them a skeptical look. "Horror? Really? Aren't you all terrified of even the tamest kind of horror? You know, the type so mild that even kids could sit through it without flinching.
And now you're telling me you want to watch something from the kind of horror that's so intense it's been known to scare people to death? You've got to be kidding me."
"N-No, w-we're not!" Linda said defensively, though her voice wavered slightly.
"Yes, we are! Who cares about mild stuff?" Karen quickly added, puffing up her chest a little. "We're totally fine with real horror movies."
"Absolutely," Sarah said, nodding enthusiastically. "We can handle it. Besides, it's not like we'll be scared... much."
Diane tried to wave off the doubt. "Horror movies are fun! We're not scared at all. Right, Susan?"
"R-Right," Susan said hesitantly before catching herself. "I mean, it's just a movie. What's the worst that could happen?"
But their nervous glances and overly confident tones told me they were trying to save face.
Esther, however, didn't bother pretending because she had nothing to pretend for. I had already seen her at her weakest and when she was in the most vulnerable state, and I had accepted that part of her.
"I don't know about this, guys," she admitted, frowning slightly. "I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight if we watch something too scary." she said clinging to me.
"Oh, come on, Esther!" Linda said, nudging her lightly. "Don't chicken out on us!"
"To prove we're serious," Karen declared, standing up, "let's pick a movie that's known to be *really* scary. No half-measures."
"That's right," Sarah chimed in. "We'll show you we're not scaredy cats."
And so, out of sheer pride, they chose a film infamous for being one of the most terrifying in history—a movie that was rumored to have caused fainting, panic attacks, and even heart issues when it was first shown in theaters.
As the title appeared on the screen, Esther's voice came out in a soft, worried whisper. "Are you all sure about this?"
But her concern was drowned out by the others' forced enthusiasm. "Bring it on!" Linda said loudly, though her grip on the couch betrayed her nerves.
"Let's do this!" Susan added, clutching a pillow as if it were her lifeline.
"Y-Yeah, no big deal," Karen said, her voice faltering ever so slightly.
"It's just a movie," Sarah said with a nervous laugh. "We'll survive."
I sighed as I settled in, watching their not-so-subtle attempts to appear brave. This was going to be interesting.
Don't get me wrong, seeing milfs wet their pants in an attempt to save their pride, that's going to be an interesting development.
They insisted on turning off all the lights and arranging the living room like a mini-theater to "set the vibe." I sighed again, wondering what kind of chaos this was about to cause.
The movie started, and within minutes, the room was filled with shrieks and gasps. Susan clutched her blanket tightly while Diane buried her face in a pillow.
"Why did we pick this?" Karen whispered, already trembling.
"Because we're idiots!" Linda whispered back, her voice shaky.
Esther, trying to act brave, moved closer to me. "It's not that scary," she said, though her hand gripped my arm tightly.
One particularly horrifying scene made Sarah scream and jump, practically landing in my lap. "Nope! Nope! I can't do this!" she cried.
"Me neither!" Diane said, clutching my other arm.
"Stop hogging him!" Esther snapped, prying Sarah off. "I'm his girlfriend, not you!"
"Oh, relax, Esther. We're just scared," Karen teased, though she too was clinging to my shoulder now.
"Then stop using him as your human shield!" Esther shot back, trying to pull me closer to her.
Another jump scare had all of them screaming in unison, and suddenly they forgot their competition. They huddled around me, gripping my arms and shirt tightly. I sighed loudly, looking at their terrified faces.
"Why are you even watching this if you're this scared?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.
"We thought it wouldn't be this bad!" Linda said, her eyes glued to the screen.
"We made a mistake!" Susan whimpered, hiding behind Diane.
"You picked the most infamous horror movie in the world? The one that has everything—psychological horror, body horror, ghosts, demons, and more? The movie that's said to have claimed 50 to 100 lives in every country it was shown in?
The actors, directors, and everyone involved in making it were hit with criminal cases, and half of them aren't even alive anymore.
It's so bad that while it was in theaters, people had to sign contracts saying they were watching it at their own risk. If someone died, it was their responsibility.
It caused so much backlash that it was banned everywhere. I can't even imagine how you managed to get your hands on it."
Karen held up the DVD case with a sheepish grin. "I found it in this old underground shop. The guy at the counter tried to warn me, said people regret watching it, but I thought he was just being dramatic. I didn't know it was this bad!"
Linda, wide-eyed and clutching a pillow, turned to me. "How are you not scared at all? We're practically pissing our pants over here!"
I shrugged, leaning back against the couch. "I go to dungeons every day. Every time could be my last. Not to mention the last dungeon I went to—well, you all know how that turned out.
I was on the verge of death. Compared to facing otherworldly beings who want nothing more than to rip me apart, this is nothing."
Susan's eyes widened as she nodded quickly. "Yeah, we remember. You were in the hospital for weeks! We were so worried, but Esther didn't even let us visit you!"
Esther, sitting beside me, crossed her arms defensively. "You guys are exaggerating. He needed peace and quiet to recover. I wasn't about to let you all barge in and create a circus."
Sarah raised an eyebrow. "A circus? We just wanted to see if he was okay! You were so possessive; we couldn't even send him a message without you hovering!"
Esther's voice cracked as tears began to well up in her eyes. "He's my blood-born son. Do you have any idea how I felt when I heard what had happened to him?
How I felt seeing him in that state in the hospital?" Her voice broke completely, and tears streamed down her face.
Before anyone could say a word, she turned to me and wrapped her arms around me tightly, burying her face in my chest.
Her shoulders shook as she cried, and I instinctively held her close, gently caressing her back in an attempt to calm her.
"It's okay, Esther," I said softly, my hand moving in soothing circles on her back. "I'm here now. I'm fine. Don't cry."
The room fell silent as the girls watched her sobbing in my arms. The realization hit them like a tidal wave. Linda glanced at the others, guilt etched across her face.
"I... I didn't think about that," Linda admitted in a low voice. "We were so worried about him when we heard what happened. And we're not even blood-related." She looked down at her hands, ashamed.
Karen nodded slowly, her face pale. "If we felt like that, I can't even imagine what you must have gone through, Esther. He's your son. Your *real* son. You must have been terrified."
Susan swallowed hard, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "We were selfish. We just wanted to see him and know he was okay, but we didn't stop to think about what you were going through."
Diane shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her voice soft. "Esther, we're sorry. We didn't mean to make light of it. You were just doing what any mother would do. We should have respected that."
Sarah wiped at her own eyes, her tone filled with regret. "You must have been so scared. Seeing him like that, thinking you might lose him… I can't even imagine."
Esther sniffled, her grip on me tightening. She looked up at the girls, her face still wet with tears. "You don't understand. When I saw him in that hospital bed, hooked up to all those machines... I thought I was going to lose him as well.
I thought the world was going to take him away from me after Arjun was taken from me. He's not just my son. My everything. I'm alive only for him, and I couldn't handle that thought."
Her words were raw, filled with pain and love. The girls looked down, guilt and sadness written all over their faces.
"I'm so sorry, Esther," Linda said, her voice trembling. "We should have been there for you too, not just worried about ourselves."
"You were right to keep us away," Karen added, her voice barely a whisper. "You needed that time with him. We understand that now."
Esther pulled back slightly, still holding onto me, her eyes searching mine. "I'm just so glad you're okay," she said softly.
I gave her a small smile, wiping a tear from her cheek. "I told you, I'll always come back to you. Even if it's a ghost, I'll always protect you. I promise."
The girls exchanged glances, their expressions softening. Sarah spoke up, her voice firm. "You're an amazing mom, Esther. He's lucky to have you."
Esther nodded, finally letting out a shaky laugh through her tears. "And I'm lucky to have him."
The mood in the room shifted as the tension eased, but the weight of the moment lingered.
It was clear that everyone understood now—Esther's love for me was fierce, unwavering, and unmatched. And the girls, though guilty, were now more respectful of the bond we shared.
Diane leaned forward, once the mood was lightened. "But seriously, what went through your mind when you thought you were going to die? Did you panic? Did your life flash before your eyes? Did you have any regrets?"
The room fell quiet as everyone turned to look at me. I hesitated for a moment, my gaze softening. "Honestly? I wasn't afraid of dying itself.
What scared me was leaving Esther behind. I kept thinking, 'What's going to happen to her when I'm gone? Who's going to look after her?' That thought haunted me more than anything else."
The girls looked at Esther, who had gone silent. Her eyes were fixed on her lap, her expression unreadable.
Linda broke the silence, her voice soft. "That's... heavy. But it's also kind of sweet."
Karen nodded, looking thoughtful. "Yeah, you're lucky to have someone who thinks about you like that, Esther."
Esther glanced up, her cheeks still flushed. "Of course he does. And I think about him too. That's why I couldn't let anyone disturb him."
Sarah smirked. "Alright, alright, we get it. You're the perfect couple. Can we focus on surviving this movie now?"
Everyone laughed nervously, trying to lighten the mood, but the weight of the conversation lingered as the movie continued to play in the background.
By the time the movie ended, they were all trembling messes. Apparently the worst part of the whole film happened at the climax with all the gore and everything that all the emotions we shared in between was totally forgotten as the room was filled with screems again.
Sarah was hiding under a blanket, but one hand clung tightly to my arm as if it were her lifeline.
Diane was curled up on the couch, pressed against my side, her fingers clutching my sleeve.
Linda and Karen, still holding onto each other, had somehow shifted closer to me, each gripping my other arm.
Susan, who had been staring blankly at the screen, finally snapped out of her daze and latched onto my shoulder, trembling slightly.
They were all clinging to me like I was the only thing keeping them safe from whatever horrors they'd just witnessed.
Esther, despite her earlier bravado, was now holding onto my waist, burying her face in my chest. "Next time, we're picking a rom-com," she muttered, her voice shaky as she tried to sound calm.
I looked around at the state of all of them and raised an eyebrow. "You think there's going to be a next time? Look at you all—you're barely clinging to life as it is.
The only reason you guys are not unconscious or dead is because of the emotional moment we had earlier lightening the mood and me being around calming you guys down.
Otherwise, I'm pretty sure you'd all be dead by now. And let's not even talk about your leaking pants—you don't even care anymore, do you?"
They all turned red, groaning and muttering their protests, for wetting their pants that too in front of the person they want to impress is already very embarrassing.
They wanted to say something, something that could protect the rest of the pride they have, but then, almost in unison, they shouted, "Nope! Never again! It was our mistake to think we can survive the most infamous horror movie, we'll never do it again.
"Esther, give us a separate pair of clothes," Karen said, her voice trembling but determined.
"These are wet now, and besides, we're sleeping here with you guys tonight. I don't think any of us can survive this night alone without someone to hold on to... and we definitely can't rely on our husbands for that."
The other girls nodded vigorously, their faces red with embarrassment, refusing to meet my gaze.
Esther sighed, nodding as she stood up. "Fine, I'll get you all something to wear. But you better clean up this place afterward," she added, her tone firm.
"We will! Promise!" the girls said in unison, quickly offering to tidy up as if their lives depended on it.
As chaotic as it was, I couldn't help but laugh at their antics. These scaredy cats had brought this upon themselves, and I was stuck in the middle of their mess.
[Author's Note:
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