📖 Chapter 1
The night was dark and haunting.
There was a strange dampness in the air, and the sound of barking dogs echoed endlessly in the distance.
An old, crumbling house stood silent… its walls blackened by moisture and time. Inside, an old man sat alone.
The only light came from the television. On the screen, a news anchor's sharp voice rang out—
> "A shocking robbery of five crores has taken place in the city's largest bank. Police have yet to find any clue about the thieves."
The old man stared at the screen without blinking. His eyes carried both fear and curiosity. As if he knew—this news wasn't just on TV… it was connected to his life.
Suddenly, the shrill ring of the old telephone echoed through the house.
He lifted the receiver with trembling hands.
A harsh, mysterious voice spoke from the other end—
"They've left. Be ready. The moment you've been waiting for all these years… is about to arrive."
The old man's face turned grave. He said nothing, just placed the receiver down.
The room was once again filled only with the noise of the television… and the thumping of his heartbeat.
---
A few hours earlier…
On a deserted road, an old white van sped forward.
The rattling of its engine broke the silence of the night.
Inside the van sat six people—five youngsters and the driver.
Tension filled the air, yet on some faces lingered the thrill of a dangerous victory.
Like they were intoxicated by their success.
"Where are we going?"
Rose (27) asked, peering out of the window. Her voice carried a hint of hope.
Raj, seated in the front, gave a cold smirk.
"First, this driver will take care of his wife's treatment. We're paying him. After that, he'll drive us somewhere the police will never find us."
Gratitude shone in the driver's eyes.
"You people are no less than God for me. My wife's treatment… that's all I care about."
Sonel (20) widened her eyes.
"We just pulled off something huge—five crores! And you're taking only fifty thousand?"
Her innocence couldn't quite hide the anger in her voice.
"What's it to you? If he doesn't want it, I'll take it," Mohan sneered.
Sonom, staring out the window, muttered—
"You're all forgetting… we didn't just steal money. We took something else too."
For a moment, silence settled in the van.
The driver spoke softly,
"I don't need anything else. My wife is my life."
At the very back sat Romi, quietly gazing out of the window.
Her face held no joy. Only a fear that seemed impossible to erase.
Raj's voice echoed in her mind—
"Get ready. We're leaving."
She had shouted back in anger—
"I'm not going anywhere. Leave me alone, Raj!"
But his cold threat silenced her—
"If you want to stay alive, you'll come. Only I can give you what you need."
Romi had cried out—
"Why don't you just leave me alone!"
In rage, she had grabbed her suitcase and boarded the van.
Now, that same van was driving her fate forward.
Mohan's voice cut through her thoughts—
"Why does Raj always drag her along?"
---
Outside the hospital
The van came to a halt.
The driver said—
"I'll go deposit the money. You all stay here. The police could be nearby."
He returned after a while, carrying a red bag.
Raj asked sharply,
"What happened? Did you deposit the money?"
The driver's voice was low.
"No… the police found out about the black bag. We have to switch it. Here, take this red one. Put all the cash inside and throw the black bag away. And also… give me your phones. The police can track them."
Romi chuckled bitterly,
"You won't escape… just wait and see."
Raj grabbed her face and slapped her hard.
"Shut up."
---
On the road again…
The van moved forward once more.
Raj opened the black bag, transferred the bundles of notes into the red one, and tossed the black bag out the window.
Just as he zipped the red bag shut, the van jolted sharply.
Something pricked his hand. He ignored it.
Inside, silence stretched.
The darkness outside kept racing past the windows.
Each one was lost in their own thoughts.
Suddenly, Sonel unzipped her small backpack.
"I brought some sandwiches from home… anyone want one?"
She opened the packet and held it out.
Mohan shook his head.
"Not for me."
Sonom refused too.
Romi, still staring into the night, gave no reply.
With a soft smile, Sonel offered the packet to Raj and Rose.
Raj took one without hesitation.
"Food's important too. Imagine escaping the police but starving to death—what a joke that would be."
Rose quietly picked one as well.
The others just watched, but didn't take any.
For a brief moment, the faint smell of bread and mayonnaise spread inside the van…
like a small fragment of comfort in their dark journey.
---
The house in the woods
Some time later, the van stopped on a lonely forest path.
Ahead stood an old yet beautiful house.
The van couldn't go further, so they had to walk.
They were joking and laughing as they moved forward—
when suddenly, a half-rotten, terrifying dog leapt out of the bushes and sank its teeth into Raj's arm.
Raj screamed.
Rose tried to pull the dog away, but its claws scratched her too.
From the shadows, an old man appeared.
He yanked the dog back and spoke in a chilling tone—
"Forgive me… he's mine. I take care of this house. Please, come inside. Rest. I'll prepare food."
Raj, clutching his arm, muttered—
"Yeah… just a little pain."
But in the corner, Romi stood smiling faintly—
"Lucky you… let's see how long that luck lasts."
Countinue.....
By pooja kumari