As the moonlight bathed Yuvika's room in a soft silver glow, she sat cross-legged on her bed, her gaze fixed on the warm, familiar figure of her grandmother. It felt surreal yet comforting to have her presence back, even if it was in this ethereal form. Yuvika's heart, which had been heavy with grief, now brimmed with a bittersweet joy.
"Grandma," Yuvika said softly, her voice tinged with curiosity, "you come to me at night because you're a ghost, right? Does that mean you can't be with me during the day?"
Her grandmother chuckled, a gentle, melodic sound that carried the same warmth Yuvika remembered from all those years of comfort and love. "Oh, child," she said, brushing a stray lock of Yuvika's hair, her touch a soft shimmer of light, "I can be with you whenever you need me. Day or night, it doesn't matter. But..." She paused, her eyes sparkling mischievously, "during the day, only you can see and hear me. No one else will know I'm there."
Yuvika's brows furrowed slightly. "Really? Just me?"
"Just you," her grandmother confirmed with a gentle nod. Then, her tone grew serious, and she leaned closer to Yuvika, her presence carrying a faint, otherworldly glow. "But there's something important, my dear. You must promise me something."
"Anything, Grandma," Yuvika replied earnestly, her hands clutching the bracelet on her wrist.
"You cannot tell anyone about me," her grandmother said, her voice firm but kind. "If you do—if you so much as whisper to another soul that I'm here—I will disappear forever."
Yuvika's heart sank at the thought. She couldn't imagine losing her grandmother again, not after getting her back in this miraculous way. "I promise," she said without hesitation. "I won't tell anyone, Grandma. Not a word."
A smile spread across her grandmother's face, warm and approving. "Good girl. I knew I could count on you."
Yuvika hesitated for a moment, a playful glint in her eye. "Grandma... since you're a ghost now, do you, um, have any powers? You know, like the kind they show in the movies? Moving things without touching them? Floating through walls?"
Her grandmother laughed, a light, airy sound that made the room feel brighter. "Oh, so you're curious about ghostly powers, are you?"
Yuvika grinned, her excitement bubbling over. "Of course! I mean, it's not every day your grandma comes back as a ghost."
With a twinkle in her eye, her grandmother raised her hand. "Alright, then. Watch closely."
As Yuvika leaned forward, her grandmother gestured toward the vase of fresh flowers on the bedside table. Slowly, the vase lifted off the surface, floating gracefully through the air before settling back down without a single sound.
Yuvika gasped, her eyes wide. "That's amazing! What else can you do?"
Her grandmother winked. "Oh, plenty more." She extended her arm, and the bracelet on Yuvika's wrist began to glow faintly. The room seemed to shift slightly, and for a moment, it was as if they were surrounded by a field of glowing fireflies, their light flickering gently around them.
Yuvika spun around, laughing in delight. "Grandma, this is incredible! You're like... my guardian angel."
Her grandmother smiled fondly. "If it brings you happiness, my dear, then I'll show you these little tricks anytime you need cheering up. But remember, my most important power is simply being here for you, no matter what."
Yuvika nodded, her heart swelling with love. "I'm so glad you're back, Grandma."
"And I'm glad I could keep my promise to you," her grandmother said, her voice soft and full of warmth. "Now, let's make the most of our time together. Day or night, I'll always be by your side."
...
The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a golden glow across the villa's grand hallway. Priya made her way toward Arjun's room, a mug of coffee in hand, intending to discuss the plans for the day. As she reached the door, she noticed it was slightly ajar. Assuming Arjun was already awake, she pushed it open without hesitation.
Stepping into the room, her cheerful greeting died on her lips as her eyes took in the sight before her. On the spacious bed, tangled in the disheveled sheets, lay Arjun and Karan. They were both fast asleep, their bare torsos exposed, with Karan's arm draped firmly around Arjun in an unmistakably intimate embrace. Arjun's head rested against Karan's shoulder, their faces peaceful in slumber, entirely unaware of how they appeared.
Priya froze, her mouth slightly open in disbelief. For a moment, her mind raced, jumping to the most obvious conclusion. Were they... together? She had never suspected anything like this, but the sight in front of her seemed to suggest otherwise.
Her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and unease. The scene felt far too personal, even intrusive, and her instinct was to turn away. Yet her eyes lingered for a moment longer, taking in the bizarre image—Karan, usually so composed and confident, clinging to Arjun like a child seeking comfort.
"What the...?" she muttered under her breath, backing out of the room quietly so as not to wake them.
As she closed the door behind her, her thoughts spiraled. It wasn't the fact that two men might be involved that unsettled her; it was the sheer unexpectedness of it. Arjun and Karan? The duo who teased each other constantly, who shared a dynamic more akin to bickering brothers? Priya shook her head, trying to make sense of it.
Outside in the hallway, she paused, leaning against the wall with her coffee. "Well, that explains a lot," she muttered sarcastically, though a part of her couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. She decided not to bring it up unless one of them addressed it first. Whatever was going on between them—if there was anything going on—was their business, not hers.
Little did she know, the truth was far less dramatic. Karan, terrified of being alone in the large villa and spooked by the eerie silence of the night, had insisted on watching a movie in Arjun's room. They had eventually fallen asleep mid-conversation, with Karan unconsciously clinging to Arjun for reassurance. The "intimate posture" was nothing more than the natural result of Karan's exaggerated fear and Arjun's deep, unbothered slumber.
But to Priya, the scene she'd walked in on would remain an enigma, at least for now.