The abandoned villa
13 October, 2020
The pine forest did not welcome visitors after dark; it merely tolerated them. High in the hills, where the mist clung to the canopy like damp wool, the night was vast and suffocatingly quiet, saved only by the distant, rhythmic hum of cicadas and the whistle of cold wind through the trees.
And then came the footsteps—frantic, stumbling, and raw.
They stopped dead in front of the towering entrance. Rising against the fog was a massive wrought-iron main gate, its black iron bars filigreed with ornate arches and crowned with sharp, cold spires. Decades of rust had eaten into the metal hinges, and wild vines clung to the decorative ironwork like grasping fingers.
Beyond those iron bars, half-hidden by the overgrown shadows, loomed the dark silhouette of the villa itself. Every person in the valley knew the rumors. They knew why no local ever touched that iron latch, fearing the cold drafts and weeping whispers of the ghost that is believed to be there.
But as flashlight beams flickered through the treeline down the path and shouting voices echoed through the woods, they knew they didn't have a choice.
Word of their relationship had leaked out only hours ago—two people from different communities, daring to love each other in a valley bound by ancient traditions. What began as quiet whispers in the market had erupted into a furious mob, driving them out of their homes and into the dark expanse of the mountain pine.
Desperate, they gripped the icy iron bars, forcing their weight against the rusted gate…
—
The heavy iron gates creaked shut behind them, cutting off the furious shouts of the mob in the distance. Chests heaving and lungs burning, Parth and Nidhi staggered up the winding stone pathway, enveloped by the damp shadow of towering pine trees, until the looming silhouette of the estate rose before them.
It was breathtaking.
Far from the abandoned ruin rumors claimed it to be, the villa stood in immaculate, timeless elegance against the stormy night sky. Grand stone pillars supported a wide, wrap-around veranda, and warm, golden candlelight filtered softly through arched glass windows.
Parth pushed open the heavy front doors, bracing himself for resistance, but they glided inward smoothly, as if freshly oiled.
Inside, the foyer was a sanctuary of preserved colonial luxury. Rich teakwood floorboards gleamed beneath a magnificent brass chandelier that cast a soft, honeyed light across the high ceilings.
Heavy crimson velvet drapes hung over tall French windows, shutting out the cold mountain air. A grand carved staircase swept upward into the shadows of the upper floor, its dark wooden balustrade polished to a mirror shine.
"This makes no sense," Parth muttered, his voice echoing in the vast, quiet space as he wiped rain from his brow. "People in town said this place was abandoned decades ago... but look at it. It’s pristine."
Nidhi took a hesitant step onto the hand-woven carpet in the main parlor. There wasn't a single speck of dust on the mahogany tables. No cobwebs clung to the corners of the ceiling, and the air held a subtle, sweet fragrance—like pressed roses and old paper—completely free of the damp mold one would expect in an old hill station estate.
Yet, beneath the cozy warmth, an unnatural stillness hung over every room. The ticking of a grandfather clock in the corner was the only sound, steady and rhythmic, as if time itself had been frozen inside these walls, waiting for them.
“Maybe... there are caretakers,” Nidhi suggested, eyes inspecting every visible thing inside the grand living room. Parth took a deep breath and nodded, eyes looking around as if expecting a sudden appearance.
“Is anyone home?” Parth's voice echoed out into the quiet villa, meeting only silence. He waited for a good long moment, eyes roaming around the hallways and the living room before blinking in awkwardness.
He repeated himself, louder this time, but to his disappointment (and quiet satisfaction), he received no response again. “Maybe the caretaker is gone on a blind date.” Nidhi glared at him, exasperated by his ridiculousness even in a situation like this. Parth only grinned like the idiot he was.
She sighed, shaking her head. “So the rumors were fake!” She looked around the grand living room. “There is no ghost.” Her voice was careful as if she was still expecting a jumpscare at any moment.
Parth hummed in agreement, his hold on the bag straps tightening. “If the locals knew…” his voice was low but in the silence of the villa, it still echoed. “...they’d enter the villa too, and we don't want our lives in danger again.”
Nidhi looked at him, their eyes met before nodding in silent agreement. As they walked further in, Parth was walking backward, looking at every piece of furniture. He was impressed by the interior.
“But why would someone leave their home like this?” She asked, her eyes fixed on every single piece of art in the living room. She couldn't understand it. Why would someone abandon their house filled with such expensive things, leaving the door standing wide open?
“Maybe because they know the villa is feared so no one would dare enter.” Parth shrugged, walking up behind her and wrapping an arm around her shoulder. His eyes were fixed on her face, watching her side profile with quiet focus.
“The owner is probably taking advantage of the rumours.” he spoke, the corner of his lips twitching slightly. “So... we should also take advantage of the owner's carelessness.” his words slipped out of his mouth, more like a low, seductive whisper. Nidhi's head snapped toward Parth, who simply winked at her with a smirk.
“Shut up!” Nidhi let out, rolling her eyes as she looked away, crossing her arms. Their lives were in danger and this man was throwing suggestive remarks.
Classic Parth behaviour.
Parth’s smirk shifted into a bewildered frown. “What? I'm talking about hiding in the villa for the night.” Nidhi blinked in sudden realisation, letting out a small “Oh!”.
“What were you thinking?” Parth asked, watching her eyes go wide for a moment before she let out a nervous laugh. “Nothing…”
Parth narrowed his eyes at her, shaking his head in amused exasperation. “Alright, Honey! We'll talk about that later.” He took her wrist gently, but firmly, in his hand.
They climbed the grand staircase and walked down the long hallway to the right. There was no one—not a single soul.
“But what if the owner comes back after a while?” Nidhi asked softly, her big eyes looking up at him in worry.
Parth looked at her as she spoke, his mind registering her words before letting out a quiet sigh. “If they come, we’ll just explain our situation. I’m sure wealthy people have more class than those conservative locals... they won't just hand us over to a mob.”
“But still... what if the owner gets angry?” Nidhi asked, eyes still fixed on him as they stopped outside the door at the end of the hallway. Parth glanced down at her, actually considering her concern. “I hate it when you make sense.”
Nidhi jabbed her elbow lightly into his stomach. Parth let out an “Ouch!” before chuckling softly. He shook his head in playful affection before his expression turned serious.
“Look Nidhi... their anger won't be worse than getting killed by a mob.” He squeezed her hand tighter, holding her gaze without missing a beat. “The most they could do is send us to jail for breaking into their villa...”
The silence that followed was too loud.
The door let out a soft creak as Parth pushed it open. “Since this room is at the end of the hallway... we'll have enough time to sneak out before anyone finds us.”
They stepped inside, closing the door behind them. Nidhi sat on the edge of the grand bed, her eyes scanning the space carefully.
“Looks like the owner loves the Victorian era,” Parth remarked, his eyes roaming across the room. “Everything looks like it's straight out of a history book.” He nodded to himself, taking in the antique furniture and Victorian drapes.
Nidhi stayed quiet while Parth placed his backpack on a wooden chair near the window.
“Even the chair? Wow. How obsessed can someone be with their own colonizers?” Parth shook his head in amusement as he walked over to the four-poster bed.
He reached out to push the white net canopy aside, but ended up getting completely tangled in it instead. As he fought to free himself from the sheer fabric, Nidhi let out a soft laugh, watching him struggle with the floating drapes.
Parth finally released himself from the grip of the netting, watching Nidhi laugh. He narrowed his eyes playfully before pouncing on her, attacking her with tickling as his body hovered over hers.
“You laugh at your boyfriend's struggles? You're so cruel... here, take this!”
Nidhi laughed out loud, squirming on the bed as she tried to break free. Parth let out a laugh, a lock of his brown hair falling over his forehead as he kept tickling her sides. “En... enough!” Nidhi squeaked, breathless as she tried to make him stop.
Parth stopped after a moment, taking her in as her laughter died down. A gentle smile curved his lips, his gaze filled with quiet, helpless devotion. He blinked, watching the soft pink flush on her cheeks from laughing and the way her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath. She looked impossibly endearing.
A quiet sigh escaped his lips before he could stop it. Nidhi caught his stare and smiled in fond confusion. Reaching up, she gave his nose a gentle pinch. “What are you looking at, Lover boy?”
Parth sighed, completely lost in her beauty. “How can someone be this beautiful?” Nidhi cringed dramatically. “Gosh, I told you not to get too cheesy. Why are you like this?” she asked, rolling her eyes, though her shy, fond smile gave her away completely.
“How can someone not be like this when they have a partner like you?” Parth winked, dropping down onto the bed beside her as they both stared up at the high ceiling.
“You are unbelievable. I feel like you just love buttering me up,” Nidhi let out, a soft chuckle in her voice. “What do you want?”
She knew him too well. Even when he was being completely genuine, accepting a compliment directly was something she could never quite do.
“A kiss...” Parth paused, watching her frown in fond confusion as she turned her head to the side, looking up at him.
Before she could say another word, Parth shifted, bringing his lips crashing down onto hers. Nidhi clutched his collar, her arms wrapping around his neck as she kissed him back, their lips moving in seamless sync as the rest of the world faded away.
When he finally pulled back, they were both breathing heavily, staring at each other in the dim light. “God... I missed this!” Nidhi smiled at his words, running a hand through his hair and ruffling it affectionately.
Parth leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to her cheek, and then another to her forehead.
“Sleep, sweetheart...” he murmured, before a playful smirk tugged at his lips. “Unless you have some other plans...”
Nidhi's eyes gleamed with mischief at his shameless flirting.
"Well... I won't mind us having other plans..." She bit down onto her lower lip to suppress a smile.
Parth's eyes brightened visibly, pupils dilating as he attacked her neck, kissing and snuggling as Nidhi laughed out. "Hey... I was just joking..."
“Okayyy~~” Parth chuckled, dropping down beside her on the bed while grinning like an idiot. He knew she was joking. He did that to make her admit it.
Nidhi looked at him, her eyes softly tracing his side profile in the dim light.
Parth felt her gaze and turned his head toward her. “What? Did you change your mind finally?” he smirked, only to get another quick jab of her elbow straight into his ribs.
He let out a dramatic “Ouch!”, clutching his side even though it didn't hurt in the slightest.
“Your small hands can't hurt me anyway,” he added, trying to play it cool. Nidhi chuckled, shaking her head.
She sighed softly. “In a world full of bad people, you are my gentleman.”
A tender smile touched her lips, but before he could puff out his chest in pride, she quickly added, “...but you are annoying.” Parth instantly deflated like a balloon losing its air. “I told you... you are cruel.”
Nidhi stuck her tongue out at him playfully. Even at twenty-two, she could be completely childish around him without the slightest fear of being judged—and oh, how deeply he loved her for that.
“Anyways... good night, Honey!” Parth smooched her cheek before crushing her in his arms so suddenly that she let out a startled yelp. That was what cute aggressiveness looked like coming from him.
Parth closed his eyes, burying his face in the crook of her neck and wrapping his arms around her from behind as his breathing evened out into a deep, steady rhythm. Nidhi let out a soft yawn, rubbing her right eye with the back of her hand before she, too, surrendered to exhaustion and drifted off to sleep.
To be continued...
