Rihaan

“Rihaan,” Samar's voice echoed through the hallway, “party at my place tonight; wanna join?”

Rihaan, silent and confused, just shook his head and walked off. His fist clenched the strap of his bag. No eye contact, just the brisk movement.

“Why do you even ask?”

“He won’t show.”

“He thinks he’s better than us.”

“Samar exhaled. “He doesn’t think that.”

“Then what?”

“He’s just… not like us.”

“Who cares? He doesn't care about us. Why should you?”

“Samar, just f*ck him; he is a dork.” "A boy," he said, agitated.

“Samar, that guy is a freak. Please don't invite him for our sake,” said a girl.

“A freak, you say! Did you hear her, Rihaan? You are a freak now.” Said Rihaan's conscience.

This time he was quiet, with no denying that he was not a part of them, and he was not interested in being one of them. He kept on walking, the voices fading behind him, until the only sound was his own breath and the crunch of gravel underfoot on the long, lonely path up the hill.

This house was situated on the highest area of Shibika and was only accompanied by an empty plot and a single path that connects this place with the other parts of this small town.

This plot was completely drowned in lush, invasive green plants and strange, long grass that were not part of these surroundings. He passed through it and reached the house. The house seemed to smile. The air shifted around it, not with relief, but with a quiet, hungry joy.

“You're back, Rihaan? Get changed; the snacks are ready in your room.” Elina said as soon as he entered the house. Elina was busy sewing something; she did not move her gaze, not even to look at the boy. As the boy thought.

“Look at her, Rihaan, just look at her... Does she even care about you?” Again, he spoke his brain to his soul.

“Can you get any more annoying?” Said Rihaan. He began walking towards his room directly instead of changing.

“Son, you have to change first. Be a good boy and get changed before you have your snack.” Elina, cutting a piece of cloth.

“And don't worry, you are not getting ignored; I'll just finish the work and be there in a minute.” Said Elina.

Elina knew what his son thought. Was it some kind of magic or the effect of something they've been through or motherly love? Our young boy nodded and began walking towards the washroom instead of to his room.

Sarman was asleep on the couch in the hall, with a book on his face titled 'The Haunting of Hill House' by Shirley Jackson.

With every passing second, the dusk was taking over the twilight. As Elina's work came to an end, the silence crawled back in again.

“Sarman. Wake up and go and get ready. It's time.” She shook him to wake him up.

She went to Rihaan's room, slightly peeping from the door. Just to check whether the lad is asleep or not. Rihaan sat at his study table, again, too concentrated to notice her mother's eyes from the door slit.

Elina enters the room. “So, how was your day at school?” she asks, anticipating the silence as the answer. And she was correct; Rihaan did not speak a word.

“You are safe here, son; everything has changed now.” Elina said. Rihaan looked towards her, smiled, nodded his head, and bit his tongue. He agreed but never believed it was true. His lips lied, but his eyes didn't.

"Don't you worry, Mother; everything is fine."

"Yeah, lie, lie to her face, and even if you didn't, nothing would change, you freak." Scoffed, his head.

"You need to speak up, my boy. If there's anything you'd like to talk about. Trust me, I'll listen to you." Her eyes, almost wet. Rihaan's smile never left his face.

"Mother, I'm hungry. When will the dinner be ready?" "I'll prepare the dinner." She wanted to stay. Rihaan, turned his head, looked at the clock, and the clock glitched... 7:45 PM

* jitter * 3:17 AM. Just for a second.

*jitter* 7:45 PM again.

His smile vanished all of a sudden, and a drop of sweat ran down his temples. "What was that?"

The silence, which he wanted to maintain, was broken by his own words.

"Did you say something?" Elina asked, standing at the door to his room.

"The clock—did you see that?" he answered.

"What happened, to the clock?" Elina

"It... it..., I guess the battery is dying; it just glitched, I guess." Rihaan again hid what he saw.

“Okay.” Elina stood there confused. And spoke to ease the weird tension of the situation.

"What do you want to eat tonight?"

"Anything." He said, before turning his head towards the books on the messy table.

Time: 8:40 pm.

The sound of the shower resonated through the house. It was Sarman.

"Time to eat," Elina called into the silence.

No one answered, but the house carried her voice to each of them, as it always did. Rihaan came down, in the kitchen. The sound of running water stopped, and Sarman came out in his towel, wiping water from his long hair.

He walked slowly to the kitchen and sprinkled the water from his hair on Rihaan.

Rihaan just looked at him and smiled; Sarman was taken aback. "Rihaan, you're still thinking about it, aren't you?" he said. Rihaan bit his tongue, without breaking the smile.

"What are you talking about? I don't understand. And anyways, I am happy we are here." He said. The food was served; nobody spoke a word after that. The only sound that was audible was the cutlery. Plates and spoons.

"You should let it go now." Sarman said, looking at Rihaan with pity in his eyes.

Time: 10:45pm By this time, he was on his bed, tired and reflecting on his day.

"Do youthink II should probablytell myy mother about the dreams and the coincidences?" Asked Rihaan himself.

"And make her believe that you are the problem?"saidd his conscience.

"Why do you think that?" Asked Rihaan.

"Tell me, have you ever made her happy? Ormadee her feel that you are not a burden, that you do not need herprotection?. She already suffered a lot because of you, Rihaan." His head almost screamed. The silence again took over again. And so, guilty and silent, he surrendered to sleep.

Clocks ticking....

3:12AM, and it begins....

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