Darkness swallowed Ravi.
He felt himself falling… falling through memories, through shadows, through cold voices that had no bodies.
Then suddenly—
Silence.
Ravi opened his eyes.
He was standing in the main hall of the haveli.
But everything looked new.
The walls were clean. The portraits were bright. Sunlight was coming through the windows.
For a moment, Ravi thought it was over.
He laughed weakly.
"I survived…"
He walked toward the front door.
It opened easily.
Outside, villagers were gathered.
They were smiling.
Too calmly.
Ravi stepped forward. "Help me," he said.
No one replied.
A small boy in the crowd pointed at him.
"Why is that uncle not moving?"
Ravi froze.
He looked down at himself.
His feet were not touching the ground.
He turned toward the haveli window.
In the glass, he did not see his reflection.
Instead, he saw a shadow figure with hollow eyes standing where he was.
Behind him, a familiar voice whispered:
"You belong to the house now."
He turned.
His grandmother stood there.
Beside her was the little girl—his sister—holding his old childhood toy.
She smiled softly.
"We waited for you," she said.
"Every generation gives one soul."
Ravi shook his head.
"No… please…"
But the haveli was already closing around him.
The doors locked.
The windows darkened.
The walls began to breathe again.
His memories faded.
His name faded.
His fear became part of the corridors.
Outside, the villagers slowly walked away.
They would tell future children:
"Never enter that haveli after sunset."
And somewhere inside the old house, a new rocking chair started moving.
Creek… creek…
Ravi was home.
Forever.