"And Zara won" everyone applauded, when Sid side hugged her.

"My sister won, so it's not a problem" Sid said, when Zara's lips curved to make a faint smile.

"You played well, Zara" Agastya said, a smile on his face, he took his hand and they both had a high five.

"I used to play all this so much in my 7-8th so I know how to play these" she said, nostalgic smile curved around her face.

"I don't know, I was in hostel at that time" Siddharth said, while walking towards the exit.

"Hmm, you were okay there only, what was even the need of coming here" Aaradhya meddled when Siddharth gave her a side eye.

"Why? What is the problem with you?" He asked, when Aaradhya chuckled.

"You're a problem in yourself, now look at yourself, you ruin everyone's mood by your mere existence" Aaradhya replied back.

"Look Aaradhya, the only reason why I don't want to talk with you is that my parents taught me how to talk to people around, and I can't talk in a bad manner, I can't ill treat a girl" he said.

"Aww, dramebaaz liar" Zara muttered rolling her eyes, "tell the truth that you aren't getting how to fight back"

"The ones who can't utter a word in front of people shouldn't say this" Siddharth joked only to get a glare from his sister.

"Yeah, says the one who'll be scared as soon as he enters the haunted house" Vamika said, only for him to roll his eyes.

"Aisa kuch nahi hoga, I'm going because you'll be scared inside ladies, someone should be there to protect you" Siddharth said.

"Oh, please!" Vamika and Zara said in a unison.

"Let's go... vaise bhi my work is to protect my ladies" Siddharth said,

"Yeah, he's really protective" Zara told Aaradhya, "once some guy treated Vamika di bad and he hit that guy so bad"

"So, Sid, if your sisters get a boyfriend, are you going to hit them too?" Anirudh asked, when Agastya nervously looked at Siddharth.

"No until and unless he isn't hurting or playing with my sister's heart it's all good" he said, as they all left the bowling arcade.

"Hm hm, same with me" Agastya said, as he protectively held Aaradhya's shoulder. "If someone tried to break her heart, I won't take another second to break their limb"

"Hm, hm" Aaradhya hummed, as a smile came on her face.

***

The group reached at the counter, where they'd to pay for tickets. Vamika paid for her siblings, while Aaradhya payed for herself and Agastya. Shreya and Anirudh payed separately.

"150 ki ticket, it isn't that expensive" Vamika said,  when Siddharth interrupted .

"Haan hann, giving 150 rs to get scared the sh!t out" Siddharth said, sarcastically.

"So you could simply skip going inside but no, then how will you complaint, right" Aaradhya said, when Siddharth shrugged his shoulders, in attempt not to fight with her again.

The group grew silent, when Zara looked at the tickets and then noticed that Vamika isn't going inside.

"Di, are you scared?" Zara asked,

"Yes, I hate these haunted houses" Vamika said, when a person came.

"You all are not allowed to abuse inside. Don't touch any of the things there. You'll not get any refund if you come midway. People with health problems shouldn't get inside." A person who worked there came and instructed all of them.

They simply nodded at the instructions, while Anirudh questioned , "this is so wrong, what if a person gets super scared"

"Come'n stop acting like kids guys, get inside now" Vamika said, "I'll be waiting in the cafe, I'm done with you"

"Just tell us that you're already done with us" Siddharth said,

"I was done with you the day you were born, I just had to adjust because Zara is there" Vamika looked at him, before rolling her eyes off. She was too done with her younger siblings.

Vamika goes to the cafe nearby, as the kids were about to enter the haunted house. Agastya who was standing beside Zara, now smiled at her, titling his head a bit lower to match her height. "If you feel scared, just come and hold my hand I won't take it wrong" he said, when she simply put her earphones on and went inside.

"Arre," Agastya muttered under his breath, looking at her who was completely ignorant to reply.

As they were going inside the haunted house, they watch 2 girls standing outside the haunted house. They had already paid, until their group even reached.

"Why didn't you go inside?" Aaradhya asked,

"We were waiting for you to come" the girls announced in a unison, when a giggle came out from everyone's mouth.

"Please hold our hand?" The girl said, when Shreya forwarded her hands.

"Agastya, pehle tu jaa" Anirudh begged, pushing Agastya in front.

"Nahi bhai, Sid kheech ke laya hai na hume yahi jaega" Agastya stuttered, while Zara looked at him, his hands shivering.

(No brother, Sid was the one who brought us here, he'll go at first)

"Besharmo, apne gang ke eklaute samajhdar admi ko suli pe chadana chahte ho? Shame on you " Sidharth said, almost shouting on them.

"Mummyy, mereko dar lag raha hai, mujhe nahi jaana" Anirudh cried.

"Anirudh, Siddharth, please mere dono haath pakad lo, mereko heart attack aa jaega" Agastya said, forwarding his hands, while girls shook their hands muttering "PROTECTORS"

"Dekho bhai humare izzat ki baat Ladkiyan mazak uda rahi hai humara" Siddharth said,

The staff member finally pushed open the heavy curtains, and the group stepped into dim red light. Fake cobwebs brushed against their arms, making Aaradhya shriek instantly.

Siddharth held her hand for a minute when she repulsed the touch.

"Arre? You okay" Siddharth asked, when Aaradhya went inside.

"These girls have so much of attitude" Anirudh said, when they went inside. They were walking, when a figure came in front of them.

The screamed out of horror, as they held their hands more closely- Anirudh couldn't stop himself but scream all through.

"Adhe raste se vapas mud jaate hai" agastya suggested when Siddharth glared
at him.

"Mere 150 lage hai main nahi jaa raha aur tum chale gaye na to dekh len" Siddharth was talking with him, when another jump scare came. The girls were laughing at them,

"Fuckk!" Agastya screamed.

"Bhai, gaali dena allowed nahi hai" Anirudh said as he shouted at him.

"Mummyyy merese nahi hoga" Siddharth said, almost on the verge of crying.

"Arre tension kyu le raha hai, they're human beings only" Zara said, as she was about to hold her brother's hand when Agastya forwarded bis hand.

Siddharth looked at him, confused.

"Arre, he held her hand because he's scared of all these haunted things and secondly, they're friends too" Anirudh explained Siddharth, clearing the entire situation for him while Sid nodded with suspicion.

"But why're you explaining, when I didn't even ask what's happening?" He asked, when Anirudh decided not to speak a word more.

As they turn the next corner, they thought that the haunted maze finally came to an end.

They saw a dimly lit board that read "EXIT →" with an arrow.

"Bas! Finally khatam hua," Siddharth sighed in relief, almost running forward.

The group followed, hope lighting up on everyone's face. But just as Siddharth pulled open the curtain—

A man in a bloody mask with a chainsaw came running out, screaming.

Everyone froze. Then

"AAAAAAAAAAH!"

Anirudh clung to Sid's arm, Aaradhya hid behind Shreya, and Agastya—who was already pale—suddenly bent forward.

"Wait... bhai, tu theek toh—" Sid began, but before he could finish—

"BLEURGGHH!"

Zara froze. Her entire shirt was splattered; her face could show the inner disgust she was feeling.

Everyone except Zara and Agastya started laughing to normalize the situation while Agastya rubbed his back, his cheeks turned red.

"Are you okay?" Zara asked, offering him water, as they exited the haunted house.

"Zara..."

Vamika who came rushing as soon as Sidharth explained the situation.

"No worries, its good that you're in the store. I'll buy you a good shirt, you wait in restroom" Vamika said.

"Please buy one with full sleeves" Zara said, while Vamika simply nodded. She bought a black plain shirt, and rushed to the bathroom while Agastya palmed his face as he saw her coming out of the bathroom.

"I'm extremely sorry Zara" Agastya said, when she forwards the bag. Agastya held it in confusion as he raised his furrows,

"what?" he questioned.

"Wash it and return it to me, what else?" Zara said, as they moved forward.

He looked here and there and then back to the bag and a smile came on his face.

She wasn't angry.

He took a long breath, as he rushed towards her. Smile remained on his face.

"Thank goodness she isn't offended" he muttered.

***

Tbc <3