CHAPTER 4:
Arjun found her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Well after what they saw today they had no power left to become shocked. Arjun raked his brain for more information about this creepy Lamia. Then he remembered all of a sudden. A few days ago they were dealing with a case where they had to go on a disguise as Greek art dealers. Then they had to go through some famous Greek mythology and art. He had seen Lamia there.
Lamia was a Greek woman named Lota who was the mistress the Greek god Zeus. For that reason, she had to bear Zeus’s wife Hera’s wrath. She was so full of hatred that she played a nasty trick with her. She made her devour her own children’s flesh. After finished when Lota came back to senses she became mad. She ran here and there in search of her children. Hera again played another trick and made her cut her lower half with an axe. While Lota was lying in the ground crying bitterly waiting to die Zeus took pity on her. He came to her and attached her body with a lower half of a serpent and made her immortal. But that made Lota hate him more. She started haunting in the darkness and devouring any children she could got a hold on. It was an insult towards Hera as she was the goddess of marriage and motherhood.
But it was all stories. What a mythological monster doing in the forest of Mumbai? He and Riya both are worn out. They cannot fight a single ant let alone a vicious monster. But he will have to do something. He can’t just sit here and watch it killing them. He cannot let Riya die that easily. He had a lot of things to say to her. He had so many fights due. Thinking of Riya his eyes flash to her. What the hell!! Her hand was moving in her bag. He realized she was looking for something. Foolish girl!! A toothpick or a hairbrush is no use against this monster. To his utter shock she brought out a doll. Arjun so want to strangle her. What the hell is she thinking??
Riya pushed a button and the doll started crying like a baby. She threw it to the monster. The lamia jumped at the doll and caught it in the midair. It started crooning and rocking the doll.
Riya tugged Arjun’s hand and eyed him to move silently. Silently without making any noise they ran away from there. Once in a safe distance they stopped to take some breath. They found a meadow and sat on the cold grass. Arjun looked at Riya to check her wounds but found her eyes brimming with tears. Hot tears were rolling down from her eyes. It made Arjun panicked. Is she hurt? What happened? Slowly hesitantly Arjun put his hand on her shoulder.
Arjun: Riya tum ro kiyu rahi ho?
Riya sobbed. New trails of tears found its way out.
Riya: Arjun woh aurat.. Ussne apna baccha khoya hai. Aur dekho woh ek bacche ke lye itni desparete hai ki ek putla aur insan mein farak bhul gyi. Arjun mythology pe jo kahani batyi gyi hai woh to sirf ek kahani hai. Yaha uss Banshee ne ek jita jata Lamia bana dya. Arjun Lamia ek curse hai. Jab bhi koi aurat apne bacche ki maas khata hai to woh iss curse ka shikar ho jata hai.
Arjun cringed visibly.
Arjun: Par koi aurat apne bache ki maas kiyu khyega?
Riya took another deep breath.
Riya: Arjun dunya mein aise bhi aurat hai to shaytan ka pujari hai. Unn logoke paas baccha ek gateway hota hai. Shaytan ke paas janeka. Koi usse jala deta hai to koi usse kha jata hai. Jabbhi koi aurat itni ghinoni kaam karta hai to usspe yeh shap ata hai. Arjun greek mythology pe jo kahani batyi gyi hai that was only a fragment of truth.
Arjun wanted to gagged. But he composed himself.
Arjun: Par Riya tumhe yeh sab kaise pata?
Riya sighed and rubbed her temple.
Riya: Arjun ETF join karne se pehle main ek newspaper ke lye kaam karti thi. Mera ek dost tha. Nikhil Dhanjani. Woh ek magazine ke lye kaam karta tha. Ek din woh mere paas ek ajeeb sa request lekar aya.
Flashback-
Riya was sitting in her desk writing an article when someone tapped her in the shoulder. She spun around to find her friend Nikhil standing there with a goofy grin. She became very happy. Nikhil was one of her closest friend.
Riya: Nik tu yaha!! Baith ja.
Nik took a chair and sat opposite to her.
Nik: Kaisi hai tu? Kaam kaisa chal raha hai?
Riya: Haan main thik hoom. Tu kaisa hai? Achanak yaha kaise?
Nik: Haan main bhi thik hoom. Well main yaha tujhe ek request karne aya hoom.
Riya frowned. She ordered coffee and leaned in.
Nik: Mujhe pakka khabar hai ki Rajangar ke paas wale jungle mein kuch log shaytan ke puja kar rahe hai. Mujhe woh story cover karna hai apne magazine ke lye.
Riya nodded her head and sighed.
Riya: Nick it’s silly. Yaha pure India mein pata nehi aise kitne log hai jo shaytan ke puja karte hai. Tujhe yehi story mila cover karne e lye? Agar story ki kami hai to mujhe bata. Main tujhe ek topic de deti hoom.
But as stubborn as Nik as he didn’t let the matter go. So, few days later Riya discovered herself hiding in the jungle of Rajangar with Nik. She cursed her fate and obviously Nik. There were few people sitting around the fire and chanting something and nothing else. She was about to turn around when something caught her eyes. A woman in her early twenties was sitting aside and eating something. To her horror she realized it was raw meat. Riya was about to vomit but she controlled herself. Nik was busy in clicking photos.
Soon they finished chanting and gather around that women. They started talking among themselves. From their conversation Riya got to know that she was eating her own children’s meat. Just to make Satan happy and to gain superpower. Others were waiting eagerly for that and were intending to gain profit from her power.
But Riya couldn’t stop herself. She stood up from her hiding place and started screaming towards them. She couldn’t tolerate the fact that she was eating her own children’s flesh and others were supporting her. But others were not so naïve. They had guns with them. So, they start firing. Nik also had gun with him. To save Riya he had to kill them all. They informed the police about the incident and was about to return when a scream caught their ears. They turned and to their horror that woman started transforming in front of their own eyes. They ran from their and saved themselves somehow. They met the police in midway. They explained the matter to them. Of course they hide the fact about Lamia. After one-week investigation the police gave them clearance and they returned to the city.
After returning Riya went straight to the library and pulled out some old books. She found the vague mention of Lamia in some ancient books.
A few days later Riya and Nik were sitting in the park when news in the newspaper caught their eyes. Something was haunting Rajangar. It was taking their children. It came in the middle of night and caught unaware children. Some swore that they saw it. Well they just saw the tail. The tail of a snake.
Flashback Ends
Arjun sat there stunned. He never knew she had to go through so many traumas. He looked at her. She was sobbing silently. Arjun couldn’t watch more. He pulled her in a gentle hug. One hand went around her slender waist while other hand patted her head. Her both hands went around his neck. He let her cry. He will put on the mask of indifference tomorrow. But for now he let it slip. He lightly kissed her head and hugged her tighter.
I started updating and you guys started silent reading. Wow. Please comment else I will be forced to discontinue this one. AGAIN.
Edited by EshaalYousufzai - 4 years ago
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