Jiya can't break up with me. No matter how much busy I am collecting information on the ghost that I ignore her calls and messages, she won't break our friendship, right?

Ugh, what does it matter? It's true I haven't been fair to her or our friendship lately. In the the past few days I have ignored her more than I ignore non-veg these days.

First because I don't wanna bother her with my doubts and second because I am too busy confirming those doubts.

I reach the library the moment it opens and leave just minutes before closing. I secretly carry lunch with me and eat in the secret room careful enough to not make any mess as no food items are allowed inside.

I've got my hands on a bunch of information. I am about to finish the second book. But meanwhile, Ive been reading the journal about titled 'Midnight Mansion' simultaneously. I couldn't wait until the end of second book to start the journal because the shadows around me have been increasing.

A couple of nights earlier, I spotted a shadow different than the first one, taller and wider in shape and size.

I haven't told Jiya yet. I believe the moment she spots anything unusual she would tell me firsthand. Till then it's better she enjoys her happy days in Aakrit with her boyfriend.

I wonder what they would do once she leaves for college? Are they thinking about long distance relationship? Guess I'll have to ask Jiya myself once I reach her house.

Jiya called today while I was at the library. She sounded super pissed. So here I am headed towards her house with a gift pack of the milk chocolates that she loves, as an apology.

I was thinking about giving her a little idea on the shadow problem. From hours of reading, the knowledge I have gathered till date says that Midnight Mansion houses not only zombies and their unrested trapped ghosts including Midnight Mistress, but also vampires.

Yes, they do exist.

I don't think I would have believed if I hadn't seen them with my own two eyes.

The journal states of some special ritual they carry out with the captured humans before the ghost kills them, leading to them becoming zombies while their souls stay trapped inside the Mansion at the mercy of the Mistress. This provides the ghostess more ghost energy.

Hence, it concludes that the vampires and Midnight Mistress are working together to achieve one single goal, power.

It doesn't say what exactly the vampires achieve from it, but it states that due to some sort of unknown curse, Midnight Mistress's wrath is limited to the house. Which figures her need for more ghost energy to spread her reach out of the house.

Each new moon is a special night when the ritual has to be done with one human sacrifice. Evil powers are always at max during a new moon night. No exorcism works on her because of the ritual she and the vampires are engaged in.

I knocked on my friend's door only to be greeted by an unexpected guest. I was sure by his stunned expression that the guy who opened the door wasn't expecting me to be on the other side.

"Pratham, right? Jiya showed me your photos. I am Tanu by the way, Jiya's friend." I said and extended my right hand in hopes of a formal handshake.

I was suspicious when he kept looking at my hands without reciprocating.

Don't tell me he's too shy to shake hands with a girl or maybe too scared his girlfriend might not like him touching another girl. That's too cliché.

"Oh look who's here, my long lost best friend. Where had you been lately? USA, UK, Russia?" Jiya's words oozed sarcasm and anger.

Rolling my eyes at her drama I invited myself into the living room and settled on a sofa.

"Public library. Just because school's over doesn't mean learning has to stop." I replied cautiously. Can't spill the beans in the presence of strangers.

"I guess that's for me." She pointed to the gift pack. "Apology accepted. Don't ever avoid me again." She warned taking the chocolate gift pack from my hands.

If not for her boyfriend's presence, she sure would have lectured me for hours while eating all the chocolates by herself. I think Pratham must have came after she scolded me over a phone call this afternoon.

"It's your lucky day. Meet Pratham, my boyfriend, as you already know. Pratham, this is my best friend Tanu. She was so disappointed you didn't attend the dinner at her house. She's been dying to meet you."

Jiya literally embarrassed me in front of a stranger. Her use of words were too cheesy for my vocabulary.

"Hi. Nice to meet you Tanu." He finally spoke.

Pratham gave a polite smile which I returned with a half embarrassed, extra polite nod.

After he takes his leave, I am gonna tackle down Jiya. I am happy that she is back to her normal cheerful self, but I would prefer if she keeps that to herself only. I never was a people's person, never will be.

"You two talk while I get you some snacks." With that she left me with her apparent boyfriend.

Either she trusts him too much around other females or she isn't that serious about him.

The last time she had a serious boyfriend, which was her first, she would throw a fit whenever any girl so much as glanced at him.

Or maybe she thinks I am too unattractive for his eyes and too introverted to take an interest in him. The second one sounded more logical to me.

"So you're new here?" I tried to start a conversation.

I had to know what he was like for Jiya's sake. But he was too drowned in his phone to look at me.

Did he even notice my presence?

"Did you hear me?" I asked to see if he was really avoiding me or genuinely busy in chatting.

"Um, hmm." He replied and resumed typing a message on his phone.

That model was newly launched, maybe a month ago. Mom bought one of those phones last week.

"I asked you something. Answer properly." I stated annoyed at his avoidant attitude.

Now if it had been any other man I would have kept to myself. But he being close to Jiya makes it necessary for me to test him at times. I need to make sure he is no heart breaker or suffering with psychological issues that might harm Jiya in future.

"Yes. I am new." He replied looking straight into my eyes.

Before he could resume typing, I spoke again.

"Stop avoiding my gaze. I am not finished yet. Who are you messaging anyway that requires your 100% attention?" I asked curiously, managing to sound furious so he won't take me for granted.

"My boss." he replied firmly as if in a formal meeting. Guess he's as awkward around strangers as me.

"It's good to see you two befriending." Jiya entered with a plate of bread pakoda.

"Only two? Are you on a diet?" I asked Jiya.

"Not me, he is." She replied pointing at Pratham.

"At least eat something light. How about fruits?" I asked.

"No thanks. I already had dinner. I am full. You two carry on." He denied with a sigh of relief.

Not forcing him anymore, I started digging on my food.

"Where are others? I don't see anyone." I asked Jiya. None of her siblings came down to visit me like they usually do.

"The girls are asleep. Mom is out with her friends and dad's working in the study room." She replied, chewing down the last piece of her pakoda.

"Pratham, pass me the sauce, please." I requested in a commanding voice.

My aim was to test his patience with taking orders from a girl. If he doesn't mind with me, he won't at all mind with Jiya.

He passed me the sauce without uttering a single word, his eyes focused on me.

It felt creepy how he was staring at me while his girlfriend sat in front of him, not a feet away from me.

"Stop staring. Pass the water. Keep the sauce in its place." I said handing him back the chilli sauce bottle.

He removed his eyes from mine and passed the bottle of water and took the sauce, stood up, went towards the kitchen and kept the sauce beside tomato ketchup, on the isle below the cup board where it's usually kept.

He came back in the same parading steps and sat down on the sofa. After a second he fluttered his eyes up and down before resuming his chatting session.

"That was awesome. What did you two talk while I was away? He never obeyed to my requests like that. What's up with you?" Jiya asked surprised. But I was more surprised than her.

"Guess he is too eager to get rid of me to spend some time with you, alone, that he is helping me finish the snack quickly. But sorry to disappoint you two, I am staying the night." I stated laying out a bait. Hope he gets it.

"I gotta go. It's too late. I'll see you tomorrow. Good night." Pratham said. Shoving his phone down his pocket, he stood up to leave.

"Bye." Jiya's voice came as a mere whisper. A fusion of confusion and disappointment.

"You owe me a handshake." I stated blocking his way out. He stopped, but hesitated to follow through.

"Shake hands with me. Now." I ordered him.

To my utter surprise, he touched his cold palm with my extended one, obeying my command.

As soon as I averted my gaze from him, he let go of my hand and left in a hurry. In all this, the one thing that made me suspicious was the temperature of his hands, which was as cold as ice.