Melody...

 "Arya...Arya."

As I slowly opened my eyes, I found myself leaning on Drishya's shoulder. He was gently shaking me, trying to wake me up with a soft voice.

"Ah, it's you! Where am I? And where is everyone else?" I blurted out, still groggy from sleep.

Drishya reached out and helped me sit up, a playful smile on his face. "Hey, we're just on the bus, and everyone else got off a while ago. I've been trying to wake you up for ages, but it seemed like you were sleeping like a log."

"Oh, my eyes were glued shut," I chuckled, trying to hide my embarrassment with a big grin. "Have we reached the village?"

"Hmm," he nodded, gently tilting his head. "We should go inside now; it's gotten quite late."

We disembarked from the bus, which stood in front of a large house. The surroundings were dimly lit, with an eerie atmosphere that resembled a scene from a horror movie. I wasn't one to be scared of ghosts or anything, but the place did give off a vibe straight out of a spooky film.

"Are we staying here?" I asked, moving closer to Drishya.

He must have sensed my inner apprehension. "Yes, this is where we're staying. Or are you scared?" he teased.

"Fear? Me, scared?" I retorted, trying to sound brave. I pretended to walk ahead, sticking my nose up in the air.

He grabbed my hand, pulling me back, "I know you're not afraid, but just be careful. There are stairs ahead in the darkness."

"But I couldn't see anything in the dark, remember?" I said, flashing a wide grin to cover up my foolishness.

"That's why we should stick together," he said, offering his guidance with a smile.

With all my heart, I felt it. This was the second time Drishya had held my hand. Each time his fingers wrapped around mine, it was as if a hidden message had touched my soul, making my heart inflate with joy. His touch had reached the depths of my heart, like the beginning of a new world.

  Every moment spent with him was a unique source of happiness. His smile, his words, and his presence – everything was special to me. And today, in this dark and eerie house, holding his hand, I found an inexplicable sense of peace.

We walked slowly advancing further into the darkness of the house.

"Your company found this house in the entire village to stay in? By the way, where are we going, and how will we find our room?" I asked.

"This is the biggest and most accommodating house in the whole village. I know where our room is; just follow me," he reassured me, his eyes locked onto mine.

"Okay!," I replied, and I followed him closely as we ventured further into the house.

"Here you go, your room is here, and here's the key," he said, pulling a key out of his pocket and placing it in my hand.

"Oh, and where's your room?" I asked innocently.

He leaned in closer, his head tilting toward me as he whispered, "Why, what interest do you have in my room?"

"Fool, I was just asking," I responded, pushing him away, a smile escaping my lips, causing my cheeks to flush.

He chuckled and spun his finger in a playful gesture. "That one's my room."

"Next to mine!"

"Now go and get some rest quickly because we have to wake up early tomorrow, right?" he said as he headed towards his room.

I watched him go, and even after all these years, his mischievousness nature had not diminished, something I secretly cherished.

As I was about to open my room's door, someone from behind suddenly screamed, "Good night!"

"AAAAAAHH!" , my heart almost jumped out of my chest.

"Sorry, sorry, won't do it again," Drishya said, laughing. "Good night." He flashed a cute smile and quickly retreated.

Though I enjoyed his mischievousness, but after this, I had a strong urge to grab his hair and give them a good pull.

As I entered the room, I saw, the room was dimly lit, with only a faint glow emanating from an oil lamp.

I peered out of the window of my room, and it was quite late. The night was serene, with a spectacularly large and beautiful moon hanging in the sky. Gentle breezes rustled through the trees.

From outside, faint sounds reached my ears—soft whispers of the wind as it brushed against the trees, leaves gently falling to the ground, and the occasional rustle as branches swayed.

The cold had indeed knocked on the door.

I found it hard to sleep for a long time. My half-sleep had been completed during the bus journey, and the other half was because I had seen Drishya again after so many years, and we had shared so many conversations.

I switched from lying in bed to peering out of the window, lost in thought. Only one person was on my mind, and I found myself smiling like a mad alone in my room.

That night, even the cricket's symphony outside the window felt like a sweet, serenading melody....

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