SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T?

Looking at the unfamiliar youth with a familiar face Jiya shrieked and ran away from him. She didn't know where she was going but she kept on running. She then heard someone calling out her name.

"Jiya!"

She recognized the voice. It was her brother's but the person standing there wasn't her brother.

"JIYA!"

Again she heard him calling her name. She didn't stop. She continued to run without turning back.

"Jiya...."

This time there was annoyance in the voice. She got scared. Maybe..... maybe he'll do something now as he has got annoyed. Will he kill her? She was lost in her thoughts when something hit her face. She didn't see what is was but felt pain.

And then she saw her brother standing I front of her and she was lying in her room. Her forehead was covered with sweat and she was breathing heavily. She looked like she was running or doing workout and not sleeping. She sat on her bed silently for almost a minute.

Her brother started to worry. "Jiya.... What happened?"

She shook her head and said, "Nothing."

She would not tell him that she got a nightmare when she took a nap in afternoon. He will make fun of her. She asked, "What's the time?"

Kartik answered her, "It's already five. I thought you were getting ready but look you were sleeping."

"I just took a nap."

"Come with me." Kartik said to Jiya and dragged her along with him. He took her to his room and closed the door.

Jiya was asking him what has happened while he was dragging her but stopped saying anything when she entered his room. There were two parcels sparkling just like the invitations on his bed.

Kartik walked towards his bed and said, "I got these parcels in the balcony."

"Balcony? Who gave it?" Jiya asked her brother.

"I don't know. I was watching a movie when I heard a knock on that door." Kartik said while pointing towards the door of the balcony. "Then I went there and saw these two packets lying there. I looked around but didn't see anyone."

Jiya's face was a mess. She was staring at it cautiously.

"Kartik, let's just throw it."

"Why? Let's open it at least." Kartik didn't get what his sister was saying. He wanted to open it. But Jiya had other intentions.

"Let's not open it and....."

"And what Jiya?" Kartik asked her.

Jiya completed her sentence after a couple of second's silence. "And let's not go to the party."

"Why?" Kartik ask he for a reason. He wanted to go to the party. He was too curious about it after receiving the sparkling and dazzling invitation.

At first Jiya's curiosity level was as high as the seventh sky but now after that dream she started hesitating to go. She knew that curiosity kills the cat and hence she decided to kill her curiosity before it kills her. The invitations were already weird. It was kind of magical. The sparkle looked exactly like tinkle bell. And now there were even two big parcels. She didn't want to risk anything not especially their lives, so she decided to stay home.

Instead of giving reason to her brother Jiya asked him questions, "Don't you find everything weird? Those invitations and now these parcels.... it all appeared out of nowhere. And look at these sparkles.... it's so out if the world. Have you seen anything like this?"

"Yeah, I know it's all different. But don't you wanna know where these came from? Or who send it? Huh?"

"Uh.. I don't wanna know. I am just feeling uncomfortable. I won't go. I am telling you not to go as well but if you wanna go then fine, I won't stop you." Jiya left his room after speaking and shut herself inside her room.

She was restless. She didn't want to go but her brother....

She knew her brother well. He was too stubborn and he would always do what he decides on. So should she let him go alone? Or should she try to stop him? She can't change his mind. He'll definitely go to that party. Should she accompany him? Or should she not? And Neha is there as well. What about her? She will go with him. He will persuade her no matter what to join him. So what should she do? Should she ho as well? And..... that parcel? Where did it came from? And who dropped it in their balcony? And what is there in those parcels? She was curious as hell but she also had a fear in her heart. What if..... something like her dream happened? What if it wasn't a nice place to go?

She was too confused to decide anything.

She was thinking when she heard a knock on the door. She opened it and saw Kartik and Neha. Neha was holding a similar parcel that they got in her hands. She let them enter.

Neha said as soon as she sat on the bed. "I found this in my room today. When I came out of shower I saw this on the bed."

"We got it too." Jiya said.

"I know. Kartik told me. Have you opened it? I brought it here directly."

"No."

"Yes."

Both the twins gave different answer together. Jiya looked at Kartik.

"I wanted to see so I opened it. There are costumes in it." He said plainly avoiding eye contact with Jiya. He was sulking because she said not to go and now he was going to throw a tantrum.

Jiya ignored him and turned towards Neha. "I am not going."

"Why?" Neha was surprised.

"I just don't want to go."

"Then I won't go as well." Neha said without any hesitation.

"You too." Kartik said in anger. "Fine. Then I'll go alone."

Jiya tried to stop him but he dashed out of the room closing the door with a bang.