Priya grabbed her glasses and squinted into the shadows. As her sight adjusted, she made out a faint movement. The rocking chair in the corner moved, back and forth. Priya’s pulse quickened as a figure began to materialize on the chair.
No way…A chill prickled her skin.Did I actually summon Bhooa masi with my fake ghost story?
The woman rocked slowly, her face shifting in and out of the hallway’s dim light. Priya’s gaze climbed to her face, and she froze in horror. It wasn’t Bhooa masi at all. It was her own face staring back at her.
Trapped in a bizarre situation where she was both the observer and the observed, Priya was hit by a sudden jolt of dread. She snapped awake, gasping sharply as the terrifying dream faded away.
“Pri, you okay?” Ethan’s voice was groggy as his hand found hers.
She glanced at the chair, her heart slowing when she saw it was empty.
“I had a bad dream,” she whispered, her voice shaky.
Ethan gathered her in his arms. “It’s just your brain playing tricks. Right before we went to bed, you pointed out that the circle of salt around the bed is broken. That’s probably what triggered it. Christ, your heart is pounding like crazy.”
“It felt so real.”
“I know, but you’re safe,” Ethan murmured, rocking her gently. “Everything’s all right.”
But everything was not all right. Priya had come face-to-face with her own guilt for spinning lies to scare Ethan away. He might not know the truth, but she couldn’t hide it from herself. Her conscience was right there, watching, judging, keeping her awake the rest of the night. Yet there was no point in confessing now. By the time dawn broke, Priya was desperate for distraction.
“Let’s go for a bike ride today,” she suggested as soon as Ethan was up. “A long drive through the back roads.”
“Sounds perfect,” Ethan said, resting a hand on her hip. “But you need the right gear. The helmet we ordered online is too loose.”
“And how exactly are we going to manage that without you being recognized every five steps?”
Ethan grinned, a knowing glint in his eyes. “Oh, let’s just say I know a place where no one will bother us.”
The parking lot was empty when Ethan and Priya arrived, the shops yet to open. Morning light spilled over the plaza, castinglong shadows across the pavement. Nestled in a quiet neighborhood away from the main roads, it had a peaceful, almost nostalgic vibe.
“It hasn’t changed one bit,” Ethan said, taking in the motorcycle shop before them.
Flanked by a car repair garage on one side and a convenience store on the other, the store’s sign was faded from years of exposure to the sun.
“This is where I got my first helmet.” Ethan’s eyes softened. “The owner runs the garage too. He helped me fix my dad’s bike after I crashed it. Wonder if he’s still around.”
Just then, the shop’s Closed sign flipped to Open.
Priya hopped off the bike and walked inside, the bell above the door announcing her presence. Scanning the inside, she sent Ethan a quick text that all was clear.
“Good morning.” A man with silver-streaked hair emerged from behind the counter. His gaze shifted to the entrance as Ethan entered, setting the bell off again.
“Hello, Mr. Khan,” Ethan greeted, removing his helmet. “It’s been a while.”
Mr. Khan’s expression transformed to astonishment. “Ethan? Is it really you?”
“You thought you’d seen the last of me, huh?”
“Not at all! My whole family’s glued to the TV whenever you’re on. This is…Wow. I can’t believe it—you’re really standing here! What brings you to my shop today?”
“We’re actually here for Priya,” Ethan replied, gesturing to the helmet she held. “She needs something that fits better, plus some extra gear.”
“Of course! Right this way.” Mr. Khan led them to the helmet display.
As they browsed the selection, Mr. Khan’s phone rang. “My son,” he said, silencing it with an apologetic smile.
“Please don’t ignore him on our behalf,” Priya said with a smile. “We’ll look around.”
