Aniket’s car roared like a storm down the road, the engine growling with urgency. Right behind him, Dhruv tailed closely, his headlights cutting through the night. And bringing up the rear like a cinematic hero was Ayush, riding his Royal Enfield Hunter 350 like he was born for the spotlight.

  The trio sped past a cremation ground, cloaked in shadows and silence.

  As Aniket’s gaze flicked toward it, something inside him jolted. His chest tightened.

  Without warning, he veered to the side and slammed on the brakes.

  Dhruv barely managed to stop in time, tires screeching in protest.

  Ayush twisted his handlebars sharply—his bike spun a perfect 360° before stopping with the flair of a stunt double.

  Aniket got out of the car, and Dhruv quickly walked up to him. Meanwhile, Ayush yanked off his helmet, hair tousled, and looked at them with a mix of irritation and flair.

  “What the hell, man?! Trying to get us killed for fun?”

  Aniket didn’t answer. His eyes were locked on the cremation ground—haunted, tense.

  Dhruv followed his gaze, and his expression changed.

  “Is this about that news? From three nights ago?” he asked grimly.

  Hearing that, Ayush scratched the back of his head and said, “What news from three days ago? About the stock market going up and some companies’ shares rising?”

  Dhruv looked at him with an annoyed smile and said, “No, you idiot! Do you even see anything beyond the stock market?!”

  Aniket, slightly irritated, said, “Just shut up, both of you! And Dhruv… I didn’t want to say it, but yeah… that news from three nights ago—that’s why I stopped!”

  Seeing this, Ayush pouted like a kid left out of a secret. “Will someone tell me already?!”

  Dhruv looked at him with a serious expression and replied, “There was a news report three days ago… some drunk guys dragged a girl into a cremation ground and… with her…! ”

  His voice trailed off.

  Ayush instantly spoke up, “hey.. but that was three days ago news… and saniya is just now missing… what is connection?! And one more thing… do you really think that anyone could do the same thing with that girl?? No way! No one can even touch her! That creepy aura she gives off—God! Who would dare lay a finger on her?! One punch from her, and four teeth will be gone!”

  Aniket added, “Actually, I believe that too. In fact, I’ve seen her punch—forget four, I’d say eight teeth can come flying! But still, if there are multiple guys involved… I don’t want to take any risk!”

  Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

  Dhruv nodded, “Yeah! No harm in checking once.”

  Ayush looked toward the ground. Darkness loomed ahead like a living thing.

  He hesitated. “But… uh… ghosts? You know, just saying, midnight in a cremation ground isn’t exactly my vibe.”

  Hearing this, Dhruv and Aniket both looked at him with judging eyes and sighed deeply.

  Ayush felt annoyed, but he couldn’t deny that he was actually scared.

  Dhruv stayed back with Ayush, keeping an eye on the surroundings while Aniket walked into the cremation ground.

  It was pitch dark inside, and the white tombstones seemed to glow. The moon was hidden behind clouds, so there wasn’t a single ray of light. Aniket pulled out his phone for some light.

  The cremation ground was huge. He was looking around carefully, and that’s when his eyes landed on one grave where a girl was sitting. She was lying on the grave as if hugging it tightly, hiding her face, but by her clothes, Aniket recognized her.

  It was Saaniya.

  Still, it was odd to see her in such a place. So Aniket tiptoed closer, scanning everything around her with sharp eyes.

  Once he was sure there was nothing suspicious nearby, he quickly ran to her.

  Just as he reached her and extended his hand to touch her, he heard her quietly sobbing, “I miss you, Ammi (Mother)! Please forgive me…”

  Aniket gently moved the hair away from her face. She was asleep, yet trembling. And she reeked of alcohol.

  He glanced at the gravestone. The name was worn, almost erased.

  But one word—one surname—was still readable just enough to make him certain: it was her mother’s grave.

  Without saying a word or waking her up, Aniket gently picked her up in his arms.

  The stench of alcohol clung to her. Smiling faintly, he whispered, “So, alcohol really is strong enough to break that fake mask of yours and make you cry…”

  Even in her sleep, Saaniya seemed to feel the sudden warmth. She gripped Aniket’s shirt like a small child.

  Hiding her face in his chest, she kept muttering, “Forgive me, Ammi! I’m not a sinner… I’m not! Please don’t hate me!”

  Aniket’s smile faded hearing those words. He slowly sat down and wrapped her in his arms.

  Stroking her forehead, he whispered, “You’re a little short-tempered… a bit moody too… but I know… you’re not a sinner. You’re an angel, and angels can never commit sins!”

  At that, Saaniya clung to him even tighter.

  Tears once again flowed from her closed eyes, and she whispered, “No! I have committed sins… so many! My hands are stained with blood, Ammi! I killed your love because he forced you to die! And after that… I committed more sins, just so I could stay alive… and keep Anamika alive! Ammi… please forgive me… but I couldn’t become the daughter you wanted me to be… I’m a sinner, Ammi!”

  Aniket froze.

  “Saaniya… killed her father?!”

  For a second, he didn’t even want to touch her. But her grip didn’t let him pull away.

  Her sobs… her torment… he couldn’t find the strength to call her guilty.

  He could only listen—

  To her words… her confessions…

  “I tried to forgive that man. But when he didn’t even show up at your funeral, my heart refused to ever call him ‘father.’ You loved him so much, Ammi… but to me, he was just a murderer. The one who tricked you, and took you away from me! I couldn’t stop myself… and I killed him. And the result? I met a demon in human disguise. A demon who tried to make me one too. But an angel saved me, Ammi… and even though I wanted to repay her—I couldn’t. I failed her. I couldn’t free her from that demon’s chains… and instead, she had to sacrifice something she shouldn’t have… Ammi, I am the root of all misery! Why didn’t you take me with you?! I would’ve happily died with you…”

  Before she could say more, Aniket pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead. She fell silent.

  His heart had nearly stopped just imagining what she might have said next.

  He continued caressing her forehead and softly said, “You did nothing wrong… your Ammi is not angry with you… just rest now, okay?”

  She kept sobbing in his arms.

  Aniket held her like a fragile child, comforting her—but his mind was racing.

  “Your father was a monster—and killing him is no sin in my eyes. But who’s the demon you met after that? And who’s the angel that saved you? I want to know… and I’ll drag that demon into hell!”

  Wiping her tears gently, he smiled and said, “Your angry eyes suit you best. Honestly, be thankful I’m the only one who’s seen this version of you—because no one else would even imagine it. You’ve built such a fierce image that no one can picture you like this.”

  Bringing his face close to hers, he whispered, “I get it now—you’re a bigger actor than I thought. You hide things better than I do. But don’t underestimate me. I’ll uncover every secret you’re hiding… every fear that haunts you… and I’ll burn them all to ash.”

  Standing up with Saaniya still in his arms, he said, “For now… let me take you out of this place.”

  Aniket may have taken her out of that dark graveyard…

  But can he really take her out of the darkness within?Only time will tell… When the truth is revealed— Will Aniket still see her as innocent?Or… will he see the demon hidden behind the angel’s face?