After the front door locked itself, nobody spoke for a full minute.
The silence felt heavy, like the house was waiting for someone to say the wrong thing so it could enjoy it.
Imran finally whispered,
"So… do we charge the jinn rent or call pest control?"
No one laughed.
The chair in the living room slowly slid back under the table. On its own.
The jinn's voice floated through the air, amused.
"Humans panic too fast. Relax. I am not violent."
Zoya crossed her arms.
"Every horror story starts like that."
Ammi clutched her tasbih, whispering Ayat-ul-Kursi under her breath. Each bead clicked softly, but the sound echoed longer than it should.
Sheikh Rahmatullah stood firm.
"Why are you here?"
The air seemed to settle into a corner of the ceiling. Shadows gathered like smoke forming a shape.
"Long ago," the jinn said, "this house was built on forgotten ground. Your kind prayed here once. Then they left. Silence is painful for creatures like me."
Ayaan frowned.
"So you… miss company?"
The jinn chuckled.
"I miss fear more."
The lights dimmed.
Suddenly the kitchen tap turned on. Water poured out violently, splashing everywhere. Then every cupboard banged open at once. Plates rattled like teeth.
Zoya jumped.
"Okay, emotional jinn, noted."
The sheikh raised his hands.
"We will cleanse this place."
The jinn's voice dropped.
"No. You will stay."
The hallway stretched unnaturally long.
And then—
Imran laughed.
Not nervous laughter.
Real laughter.
Too real.
Everyone stared at him.
He stood slowly, his eyes unfocused.
"Well," he said casually, "if the house wants company, we shouldn't be rude."
Zoya whispered,
"Imran?"
He smiled wider than normal.
"Don't look so scared. I feel… lighter."
The lights flickered.
Behind Imran, his shadow moved a second too late.
Like something else wore it.
The jinn murmured happily,
"See? Someone already understands me."
Ammi gasped.
"Ya Allah…"
Ayaan stepped back.
"Imran… what are you doing?"
Imran tilted his head strangely.
"I'm staying."
His voice overlapped with another deeper one.
The house creaked in approval.