Chapter 2
Moonlight had settled over the roof. The pale glow of the moon spread across the courtyard, yet the air carried a strange chill-like it was whispering news of some invisible fear.
Everyone was exhausted. Running, hiding, fear, and restlessness had carved deep lines of weariness on every face. All of them sat in Raj's room-everyone, except Romi.
In the middle of the room, the red bag gleamed with an unsettling shine. The way their eyes clung to it said everything-it was no longer just about money and jewels. It carried the shadow of unseen death.
Raj sat with his back pressed against the wall, his eyes red and heavy. He kept scratching his arms and legs again and again.
Roze bent down, whispering softly-
"Raj, are you okay?... Maybe you should take a bath... it might help."
Raj's voice came out low-
"Yeah... I'm fine. It's just... that dog suddenly attacked. I was scared for a second. But, Roze... you shouldn't have stepped in between. What if it had bitten you?"
Roze gave a helpless smile, shaking her head-
"How could I just watch it tear into you? And anyway, it didn't bite me... just scratched me a little. Thank God for that old man-who knows what would have happened otherwise."
Raj's tone grew heavy-
"I hate dogs... always have. Since childhood. Even my father... he kept one at home, and I could never stand it."
Mohan chuckled-
"But dogs surely love you! Look how this one came running straight for you, just to give you a kiss."
Raj didn't answer. His fingers now clawed furiously at his own skin. A strange silence spread across the room.
Sona finally broke it-
"First tell me, what are we doing with all this money? Who's going to keep it?"
"I'll keep it," Mohan said greedily. "Everyone's tired. I can take good care of it."
Raj snapped-
"We'll talk about it tomorrow. Don't make a sound right now."
Sona insisted-
"And the old jewelry? What about that?"
Roze said quietly-
"Raj himself said that old man could return anytime. We'll deal with everything else tomorrow. For now, silence will keep us safe. If anyone finds out, we'll be in real trouble."
Sona sighed in defeat-
"Fine... but how long are we supposed to stay here?"
Mohan, irritated, shot back-
"Go if you want. But you know damn well until the police cools down, we're stuck here. Don't act dumb, Sona. Everyone understands more than you think."
Then he looked around the room and added-
"And look, that driver gave us such a nice house. No one can find us in this jungle. Honestly, I think we should throw a party. A victory party for our bank heist!"
Roze laughed-
"Yes... absolutely! We should celebrate!"
But Raj burst out in rage-
"There will be no party! No more noise! Get out of the room-now!"
Everyone stared at him in shock.
Sona muttered under her breath-
"No need to shout like that..."
Mohan smirked-
"If you don't want one, fine. I'll have my party alone tonight."
One by one, they slowly walked out, leaving only Roze beside Raj.
At the door, they saw Romi standing outside.
Mohan flashed a playful smile-
"Were you waiting for me?"
Suspicion darkened Sona's face-
"Romi... were you listening to our conversation?"
Romi smirked arrogantly, gave them a cold stare, and walked away without a word.
Sona hissed angrily-
"Who does she think she is?"
---
🌫 Next Scene
The wind had picked up now. Branches groaned in the forest. An eerie silence hung all around, as though every tree was holding its breath, hiding a secret.
Romi stood alone. Then her eyes caught sight of something-
the old man, walking into the jungle with a stranger by his side.
She narrowed her eyes, but soon both figures disappeared into the darkness.
Turning back, she saw a ugly, vicious dog tied outside an old thatched house.
Romi laughed-
"Oh, so this is where you live? You're something else... The way you bit Raj earlier, I've become your fan!"
The dog barked furiously.
Romi stepped closer, whispering-
"Listen, next time... bite him so hard he won't even be able to sit."
Her laughter rang through the jungle-
"Hee hee hee... my dream will come true!"
The dog barked madly, straining against its chain.
And then-
a shadow loomed close behind her.
Romi suddenly felt a piercing gaze on her back. Her skin prickled, goosebumps rising all over. She straightened instantly.
A hand landed on her shoulder.
Without thinking, she lashed out with her foot, knocking the figure to the ground.
Bending down in fury, she screamed-
"Who the hell are you?"
Countinue.....
By pooja kumari
