On a quiet street in Lahore, the new hotel stood. Warm yellow lights behind big glass windows, potted plants at the entrance, and a mild smell of sandalwood in the air made it feel cozy, even though it wasn't fancy. The calm felt hard to believe after the scary things we had escaped from.
The manager smiled kindly and showed us to a big hall-style room that had been saved just for us.
The room had four bathrooms, three TVs, and five beds. It was a bit strange, but living together in one place felt like it was keeping us safe.
As we walked in, silence filled the air.
Golden light came through light curtains, the balcony breeze made the curtains flutter, and the air conditioner made a quiet hum. For the first time in days, we felt safe.
We had tea, fresh fruit, omelets, and hot parathas for breakfast in our room.
As we had asked, a wooden table was set up for eating. We ate slowly and enjoyed the quiet, but the old baba's warning that "evil doesn't always leave" kept coming back to mind. It can sometimes hide in plain sight.
The silence was broken by Abdul.
"Do you think something is still after us?"
Peter frowned.
"The baba didn't look like a normal old man."
"I answered, 'Perhaps he wasn't.'"
The tension eased as the morning continued.
Amit remembered a funny event from years ago that happened on the roadside, and it made everyone laugh again. Things felt normal for a little while.
In the afternoon, we went outside to explore.
There was a tea stall, a small market, and people chatting in the quiet area. As the sky turned orange and purple, we walked into a local park and sat under old trees.
It was then that I noticed something.
Beyond the hedges, a shadow moved.
A sleek, silent black cat appeared, watching us with pale green eyes that seemed too knowing.
My heart stopped.
"I think it's her," I whispered.
We didn't move.
The amulets we got from the baba were safely around our necks.
At the far end of the park, another man appeared.
He wore white robes, and the beads on them jingled softly.
It was the baba.
He sat next to Abdul, and we felt a wave of relief.
After accepting some treats and water, he turned to face the cat.
He calmly said, "It followed you here."
Abdul told him everything—about the voice, the cat, the graveyard, and the woman in white.
The baba listened quietly.
Finally, he said, "This ghost doesn't want to hurt you.
It wants to be free."
He explained that some souls are stuck because of unfinished business. "
There's a reason it found you."
He warned, "Don't take off your amulets.
" "They protect you, but not forever."
The cat was gone by the time we turned around.
The baba stood up and looked away.
He whispered, "The journey isn't over." "It's just changing."
The city lights flickered on as he disappeared into the night, but the shadow was back with us.