Posted:
A confession: I spooked myself while writing this part tonight!
Warning: This may be really scary for some people, reader's discretion advised!
GHOST AND MRS KHANNA….PART 3
The daytime hours passed pleasantly for Kripa! Angad dropped her off at the local main street in the morning and told her to get a taxi back home. Looking cool and pretty in a casual cotton skirt, top and sandals, she browsed all day in the stores, did some window shopping and even bought a few items like cosmetics, birthday cards for her relatives in India, flowers and some antique knick knacks for home dcor.
Tired, hot and thirsty, she walked into the local Starbucks and had a cold coffee with sandwich. The bright July sun was scorching her delicate skin, she remembered Angad's warnings about UV rays and bought some sunscreen as well. Finally she summoned the village taxi from her cell phone and waited to be picked up.
The taxi driver was a burly, middle-aged man. He helped her load the shopping bags in the back and asked: Where to, Ma'am?
Williams House near the beach! Kripa told him her destination.
The cabby's expression changed….from jovial to an odd hesitation: … Did u say Wilson House?
Yes! …she frowned, puzzled: Why? Is there anything wrong?
He seemed to be weighing the pros and cons of going there, then he shook his head: No Ma'am! Nothing's wrong! Only problem is… I wont get a return fare from that….that place.
I will pay double as ur return fare! Kripa quickly offered. She was feeling tired all of a sudden and wanted to return home with her shopping.
The taxi cab pulled up the short gravelled driveway upto the house. The cabbie got down and hurriedly took out her shopping bags from the back. He handed them to her without a word. Kripa noticed he avoided looking at the house. She quickly gave him the fare, he took it and glanced at her curiously: You new around here?
Yes! She told him rather diffidently: We moved here 2 days ago.
Good Luck to you, then! ….he smiled and took off in quite a hurry.
She stared after the cab. What did he mean by that? Did he mean it in a good way or sarcastic?…..why did he react like that to the house?
She looked up at the house….the bedroom windows were open, blinds were up! She frowned…she could have sworn she had closed the shutters before leaving! How did they open? A slight shiver passed down her spine. She was loathe to go inside while Angad was away.
She walked hesitantly up the porch steps and dumped her bags on the wicker chairs. Then she quickly left the house, walked further down the beach and sat down on the sand.
Kripa was sure there was some mystery about the house. She remembered the face at the window, the strange sounds the first night. She was too afraid to look back in case she saw something again. She just sat on the beach, looking out at the horizon, feeling the wind, the peaceful calm of a placid tideless sea!
Her eyes closed tiredly. Suddenly someone called her name! She woke up with a start!
Angad! He was standing afar next to his car, looking at her with surprise! Kripa scrambled up on her feet and sprinted towards him. She flung herself into his hefty arms and hugged him tightly.
He squeezed her and chuckled: Did u miss me?
She nodded in his chest. He kissed the top of her wind-ruffled hair: Why were you sitting outside?
Kripa didn't answer, rather embarassed now at her inexplicable fears.
He lifted her face and gazed deeply into her velvety dark eyes: Darr gayi thi kya? Akeley darr lag raha tha?
His tender query shamed her even further. She shook her head and quickly denied it: Nahin toh! Main toh abhi shopping se lauti hoon, wo dekho merey parcels. Aisey hi beach per baithi tumharey liye wait kar rahi thi!
He pinched her pink cheeks with a teasing smile: Did u empty my bank account?
She laughed and punched his chest: Chalo, andar chalkey chai peetey hain.
Angad wrapped his arm around her as they walked towards the house. He informed her: The security guy is coming in an hour. He will install a brand new security system in the house. Tab toh tumhey darr nahin lagega na?
She rolled her eyes at him: Of course not! Main itni darpok bhi nahin!
He smirked at her and patted her behind: Chalo, chai ke saath kuchh snacks banao, mujhey bhookh lagi hai.
She pinched his arm and escaped to the kitchen to fulfil his demands while Angad picked up the bags from the porch and followed her.
As they were sipping Darjeeling tea and munching on vegetable pakodas, a big white van pulled up on their driveway. A tall guy in a hat got down and approached the house. Angad got up and greeted him: Hello, Brinks Security? Come inside.
Kripa followed them and watched seriously as the Security guy installed motion sensors near the front door, back door, ground floor windows. Angad gave him instructions where he wanted them installed. Kripa looked up the stairs towards the bedrooms. She couldn't help asking: Are u going to put motion sensors upstairs too?
The Brinks guy shrugged: If u want, I can do it. But you don't have any exits or entrances upstairs so its really not needed.
She stammered: C..c..can you install a camera upstairs?
Angad looked at Kripa and understood her nervousness. He asked the guy to put a camera cum sensor near the stairs, explaining: Even if someone managed to get in, they will be detected before they got upstairs.
The guy agreed: That's a pretty good idea!
He installed a camera at the top of the stairs which would detect and capture the image of anyone trying to breach the inner sanctum of the bedrooms.
Kripa heaved a sigh of relief! Now any intruder going up the stairs would be caught on the camera.
When the security guy left, Angad turned to her and smiled with a twinkle in his eyes: Now you are safe from all harm! Roz raat ko main alarm ON kar doonga, aur din ko bhi jab chahey tum alarm on kar dena. Then you will feel protected!
She nodded with a smile: Haan, ab main yahan bekhauf reh sakti hoon. Chalo, der ho gayi hai, main dinner banaati hoon, tum jaakar nahaa lo!.
His eyebrows danced mischievously: Nahaaney mein mujhey madad ki zaroorat hogi....
She laughed and pushed him towards the stairs: Masti nahin! Jaao nahaa lo…I will shower after cooking.
As she entered the kitchen, again an overpowering smell of the sweet perfume assailed her nose. What was it? Lilac? Lavender? Yes, probably it was lavender? Lekin yeh khushboo aati kahan se hai? Yahan toh koi ped nahin?
She opened all the cupboards and checked if there were any lavender scented potpourri or candles left behind by previous owners. But they were mostly empty except for the ones with her own groceries. She shrugged off the whole thing and got busy making chicken curry and chapatis. Pretty soon the lavender smell was overpowered by the delicious aroma of garam masala and spices.
After dinner, they relaxed together in front of the TV. Angad was watching CNN. Kripa lost interest soon and dozed off, her head resting on his arm. He looked down at her sleeping innocent face and pulled her snug into the warmth of his body. Gradually, his senses started stirring at the feel of her softness, the fragrance of her freshly washed hair, the rise and fall of her breasts. He lost all interest in Larry King Live and bent her completely till she was lying on his arm. His hand wandered all over her soft curves, he nuzzled the curve of her neck with rising desire! She moaned and stirred in her sleep. He whispered urgently in her shell-like ear: Kripa…I want you…lets go up to bed.
She sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck in complete surrender with her eyes still closed…meaning, do what you want to do, Im all yours….
He picked her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs, her face against his chest. He laid her down on the old-fashioned four poster bed, undressed her gently and made love to her with a slow, simmering passion that soon had her arching and gasping under him in exquisite ecstasy!
She sunk into a deep, dreamless sleep in the aftermath of love. His heavy arm rested on her body possessively.
It was the dead calm of night. Suddenly the window shutters opened and a cool wind blew in from the sea. Kripa shivered in her sleep, Angad snored in oblivion. A tinkling sound floated up from the stairs….a door banged somewhere! Kripa woke up with a gasp! What was that noise?
Then she heard it again! Someone was sobbing outside in the passage, crying pitifully. The blood froze in her veins, she sat up with trembling limbs and stared at the partially open bedroom door. OH NO! Angad had left the door open! She didn't want to look but she couldn't look away. Something was approaching the door, she held her breath, her heart pounded with dread….shuffling feet dragging on the floor, heavy, despairing, stopped near the door, then turned ….someone was walking to and fro in the passage outside….coming close to the door it would stop then walk the other way, there was a hushed sobbing. Kripa's fingers were ice cold with fear but she nudged her sleeping husband with a trembling hand.
Angad! …she whispered in panic….Angad! Baahar koi hai!
He groaned and opened his drowsy eyes: What do u mean?
Get up! She shoved him urgently: Please, dekho, baahar koi hai….
Angad sat up and peered through the semi darkness at the door. Then he heard it too! Scraping sounds across the passage, heavy footfalls pacing the floor….
WHAT THE HELL!
He sprang up from the bed, grabbed the flashlight and sprinted to the door, flinging it wide open. Kripa hastily donned her nightgown and ran after him, fearing for his safety: Angad! Be CAREFUL!
He stepped into the passage and flicked the light switch. It flickered eerily for a few moments then the light came on! There was no one there! The passage was EMPTY!
WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? …he hollered furiously.
He marched ahead to the motion sensor camera atop the staircase and checked it by rapid rewinding. Nothing showed up….no intruder had come up the stairs in last 10 minutes. He exclaimed: WHAT THE??….YAHAN TOH KUCHH BHI NAHIN HAI!
Kripa shivered behind him and mumbled through trembling lips: You also heard it, right? Kaho, tumney bhi suna naa?
Yeah, I heard it alright! Angad looked perplexed, angry: I don't understand what's going on in this house! There was a heavy frown on his forehead as he looked around, trying to trace the source of those sounds.
Suddenly they heard a gurgling noise, followed by a deep clanging in the walls. Angad kneeled down at once and crouched near the wall, his ears pricked next to it. CLANG-CLANG…GURGLE….
He looked up with dawning comprehension and grinned at Kripa: GOTCHA! Its those damned water pipes in the walls. Theyre making those strange sounds.
Kripa protested: But…but the sounds we heard were not like this….it was like someone walking…
Angad stood up and smiled knowingly : Yes, Howard told me about this! He said we might hear strange sounds at night but that's normal for an old house like this.
Kripa shook her head in disbelief. Somehow she didn't trust the words of that shrewd, cunning realtor!
Angad cupped her cold cheeks with a reassuring grin: Don't worry, Kripa! Yeh sab awazein pipes se nikaltey hain! Mainey padha bhi hai, puraney makaanon mein aisa hota hai. At night the pipes make those noises when there are obstructions in water flow, sometimes the wood on the floor contracts with temperature changes which sounds like footsteps….aisa aksar hota hai, don't worry about it! Chalo, so jaatey hain, kal subah Office jaana hai.
He grabbed her shoulders and shepherded her back into the bedroom. They stopped short. The temperature in the bedroom was freezing! It didn't seem like July weather at all, more like the Arctic region!
Angad swore: ****! Yeh windows kisney khol diye? Kripa, did you…
Kripa shivered and quavered shakily: Mainey nahin…yeh apney aap khul gaye…
Angad strode to the windows and latched the shutters, cursing under his breath again: Yeh shutters bhi World War ke time ke hongey! Kambakht band hi nahin rehtey…
He came back to Kripa and saw she was trembling ….he touched her cheeks, her arms: Yeh kya? Tum toh bilkul baraf ki tarah thand ho!
Angad took a heavy blanket from the foot of the bed and wrapped her securely in a bundle!
Apney Haath do! He commanded. Kripa silently held out her icy hands.
GOD! You are freezing!…he swore and rubbed both her palms briskly inside his till she was warmed up in more ways than one.
He looked anxiously at her pale face: Tum thehro, main garam chai banakar laata hoon!
He turned to go downstairs, she panicked at once: NO! Mujhey chai nahin chahiye! Buss, tum…tum yahan merey saath raho….
He relented at once and sat down beside her on the bed. He pulled her in his embrace and stroked her back: I understand! You had a shock! Lekin iss sab ki vajeh hai Physics….ismein darney ki koi baat nahin! Ab dekho, security system instal bhi ho gaya, ab koi chor-daaku, killer hamara kuch bigaad nahin sakta. Tum befikr hokar so jaao….merey paas! Main hoon naa….tumhey darney ki koi zaroorat nahin….
Angad lay down and pulled her unresisting body into his arms. For the next 15 minutes, he gentled her, reassured her patiently till he himself yawned widely and slipped into tired slumber. But Kripa could not sleep. She lay stiffly in his arms, ears pricked, senses alert, nerves strained at fever pitch! She was sure what she had heard wasn't normal, it certainly wasn't any water pipe or contracting wood. It had been the sound of a person's feet, walking, pacing the passage restlessly….to and fro, to and fro…she shivered and closed her eyes!
Angad also heard it….but hes too rational, too scientific minded! Wo maanney ko tayyar hi nahin ke uss awaaz ka aur koi vajeh ho sakta hai! Lekin main….I will find out the mystery of these nocturnal sounds…and the self-opening windows, and the eerie face at the window…..sab kuchh iss bedroom mein ho raha hai….zaroor koi raaz hai…mujhey pataa lagana padega.
She lay awake all night, wondering who she could ask about this house, she didn't even know any local people…..except the taxi driver and the….
YES! The fish store owner….what was it called??? Frankie's Fish Shack! They had stopped there on their arrival, to ask for directions and the owner had looked oddly at Angad when he gave this address. Kripa drew in a deep breath….YES! Tomorrow I will go to Frank's fish store and ask him some questions….perhaps he would know the history of this strange house…..
Kripa finally slipped into an exhausted sleep and woke up only when Angad shook her shoulder : Kripa, main office jaa raha hoon….tumharey liye coffee aur toast ready hai, le lena, kitchen mein hai….
Kripa scrambled up anxiously: Oh My God! 8 baj gaye! Tumney mujhey jagaya kyun nahin? Tumney naashta bhi bana liya?
He bent down and smooched her lips loudly: Apney pyari biwi ke liye itna bhi nahin kar sakta? You had a bad fright….you were sleeping like a baby, I couldn't wake you up…
She blushed with an adoring look…he was such a caring, sensitive husband! She was indeed lucky!
He kissed her again and turned to leave: OK, main chala, shaam ko jaldi aa jaunga, public beach per ghoomney chalengey!
She scampered out of bed and called after him: Wait for me! Main 5 minute bathroom se aayi!
She freshened up, changed into proper clothes within 5 minutes, then ran downstairs to find Angad waiting patiently by the front door. He went outside, she followed him to the driveway. He turned and grinned teasingly: Ab kya merey saath Office bhi chalogi?
Kripa smiled shyly: Main toh bye bye kehney aayi thi….
Sirf kahogi yaa…..he touched his lips with a naughty smile.
She reached up and gave him a goodbye kiss. He grabbed her and deepened the kiss at once, leaving her breathless from his tender assault. He straightened up, licked his lips appreciatively and smiled: Goodbye, apna khayal rakhna, koi pareshani ho toh call karna.
He got into his car and drove away slowly. Kripa gazed after him with a sinking heart. She was dreading the thought of being alone in that old Victorian. As soon as his car disappeared from sight, she ran inside, grabbed the keys and locked the door. She started walking towards town, without a backward glance at the house. Her destination was the shack, the little fish eatery they passed everytime on their way to town…it was a 10 minute walk but she was more than up to it! It was a bright, sunny, cool morning! She braced herself and walked briskly towards where the people were….
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
pallavi
Warning: This may be really scary for some people, reader's discretion advised!
GHOST AND MRS KHANNA….PART 3
The daytime hours passed pleasantly for Kripa! Angad dropped her off at the local main street in the morning and told her to get a taxi back home. Looking cool and pretty in a casual cotton skirt, top and sandals, she browsed all day in the stores, did some window shopping and even bought a few items like cosmetics, birthday cards for her relatives in India, flowers and some antique knick knacks for home dcor.
Tired, hot and thirsty, she walked into the local Starbucks and had a cold coffee with sandwich. The bright July sun was scorching her delicate skin, she remembered Angad's warnings about UV rays and bought some sunscreen as well. Finally she summoned the village taxi from her cell phone and waited to be picked up.
The taxi driver was a burly, middle-aged man. He helped her load the shopping bags in the back and asked: Where to, Ma'am?
Williams House near the beach! Kripa told him her destination.
The cabby's expression changed….from jovial to an odd hesitation: … Did u say Wilson House?
Yes! …she frowned, puzzled: Why? Is there anything wrong?
He seemed to be weighing the pros and cons of going there, then he shook his head: No Ma'am! Nothing's wrong! Only problem is… I wont get a return fare from that….that place.
I will pay double as ur return fare! Kripa quickly offered. She was feeling tired all of a sudden and wanted to return home with her shopping.
The taxi cab pulled up the short gravelled driveway upto the house. The cabbie got down and hurriedly took out her shopping bags from the back. He handed them to her without a word. Kripa noticed he avoided looking at the house. She quickly gave him the fare, he took it and glanced at her curiously: You new around here?
Yes! She told him rather diffidently: We moved here 2 days ago.
Good Luck to you, then! ….he smiled and took off in quite a hurry.
She stared after the cab. What did he mean by that? Did he mean it in a good way or sarcastic?…..why did he react like that to the house?
She looked up at the house….the bedroom windows were open, blinds were up! She frowned…she could have sworn she had closed the shutters before leaving! How did they open? A slight shiver passed down her spine. She was loathe to go inside while Angad was away.
She walked hesitantly up the porch steps and dumped her bags on the wicker chairs. Then she quickly left the house, walked further down the beach and sat down on the sand.
Kripa was sure there was some mystery about the house. She remembered the face at the window, the strange sounds the first night. She was too afraid to look back in case she saw something again. She just sat on the beach, looking out at the horizon, feeling the wind, the peaceful calm of a placid tideless sea!
Her eyes closed tiredly. Suddenly someone called her name! She woke up with a start!
Angad! He was standing afar next to his car, looking at her with surprise! Kripa scrambled up on her feet and sprinted towards him. She flung herself into his hefty arms and hugged him tightly.
He squeezed her and chuckled: Did u miss me?
She nodded in his chest. He kissed the top of her wind-ruffled hair: Why were you sitting outside?
Kripa didn't answer, rather embarassed now at her inexplicable fears.
He lifted her face and gazed deeply into her velvety dark eyes: Darr gayi thi kya? Akeley darr lag raha tha?
His tender query shamed her even further. She shook her head and quickly denied it: Nahin toh! Main toh abhi shopping se lauti hoon, wo dekho merey parcels. Aisey hi beach per baithi tumharey liye wait kar rahi thi!
He pinched her pink cheeks with a teasing smile: Did u empty my bank account?
She laughed and punched his chest: Chalo, andar chalkey chai peetey hain.
Angad wrapped his arm around her as they walked towards the house. He informed her: The security guy is coming in an hour. He will install a brand new security system in the house. Tab toh tumhey darr nahin lagega na?
She rolled her eyes at him: Of course not! Main itni darpok bhi nahin!
He smirked at her and patted her behind: Chalo, chai ke saath kuchh snacks banao, mujhey bhookh lagi hai.
She pinched his arm and escaped to the kitchen to fulfil his demands while Angad picked up the bags from the porch and followed her.
As they were sipping Darjeeling tea and munching on vegetable pakodas, a big white van pulled up on their driveway. A tall guy in a hat got down and approached the house. Angad got up and greeted him: Hello, Brinks Security? Come inside.
Kripa followed them and watched seriously as the Security guy installed motion sensors near the front door, back door, ground floor windows. Angad gave him instructions where he wanted them installed. Kripa looked up the stairs towards the bedrooms. She couldn't help asking: Are u going to put motion sensors upstairs too?
The Brinks guy shrugged: If u want, I can do it. But you don't have any exits or entrances upstairs so its really not needed.
She stammered: C..c..can you install a camera upstairs?
Angad looked at Kripa and understood her nervousness. He asked the guy to put a camera cum sensor near the stairs, explaining: Even if someone managed to get in, they will be detected before they got upstairs.
The guy agreed: That's a pretty good idea!
He installed a camera at the top of the stairs which would detect and capture the image of anyone trying to breach the inner sanctum of the bedrooms.
Kripa heaved a sigh of relief! Now any intruder going up the stairs would be caught on the camera.
When the security guy left, Angad turned to her and smiled with a twinkle in his eyes: Now you are safe from all harm! Roz raat ko main alarm ON kar doonga, aur din ko bhi jab chahey tum alarm on kar dena. Then you will feel protected!
She nodded with a smile: Haan, ab main yahan bekhauf reh sakti hoon. Chalo, der ho gayi hai, main dinner banaati hoon, tum jaakar nahaa lo!.
His eyebrows danced mischievously: Nahaaney mein mujhey madad ki zaroorat hogi....
She laughed and pushed him towards the stairs: Masti nahin! Jaao nahaa lo…I will shower after cooking.
As she entered the kitchen, again an overpowering smell of the sweet perfume assailed her nose. What was it? Lilac? Lavender? Yes, probably it was lavender? Lekin yeh khushboo aati kahan se hai? Yahan toh koi ped nahin?
She opened all the cupboards and checked if there were any lavender scented potpourri or candles left behind by previous owners. But they were mostly empty except for the ones with her own groceries. She shrugged off the whole thing and got busy making chicken curry and chapatis. Pretty soon the lavender smell was overpowered by the delicious aroma of garam masala and spices.
After dinner, they relaxed together in front of the TV. Angad was watching CNN. Kripa lost interest soon and dozed off, her head resting on his arm. He looked down at her sleeping innocent face and pulled her snug into the warmth of his body. Gradually, his senses started stirring at the feel of her softness, the fragrance of her freshly washed hair, the rise and fall of her breasts. He lost all interest in Larry King Live and bent her completely till she was lying on his arm. His hand wandered all over her soft curves, he nuzzled the curve of her neck with rising desire! She moaned and stirred in her sleep. He whispered urgently in her shell-like ear: Kripa…I want you…lets go up to bed.
She sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck in complete surrender with her eyes still closed…meaning, do what you want to do, Im all yours….
He picked her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs, her face against his chest. He laid her down on the old-fashioned four poster bed, undressed her gently and made love to her with a slow, simmering passion that soon had her arching and gasping under him in exquisite ecstasy!
She sunk into a deep, dreamless sleep in the aftermath of love. His heavy arm rested on her body possessively.
It was the dead calm of night. Suddenly the window shutters opened and a cool wind blew in from the sea. Kripa shivered in her sleep, Angad snored in oblivion. A tinkling sound floated up from the stairs….a door banged somewhere! Kripa woke up with a gasp! What was that noise?
Then she heard it again! Someone was sobbing outside in the passage, crying pitifully. The blood froze in her veins, she sat up with trembling limbs and stared at the partially open bedroom door. OH NO! Angad had left the door open! She didn't want to look but she couldn't look away. Something was approaching the door, she held her breath, her heart pounded with dread….shuffling feet dragging on the floor, heavy, despairing, stopped near the door, then turned ….someone was walking to and fro in the passage outside….coming close to the door it would stop then walk the other way, there was a hushed sobbing. Kripa's fingers were ice cold with fear but she nudged her sleeping husband with a trembling hand.
Angad! …she whispered in panic….Angad! Baahar koi hai!
He groaned and opened his drowsy eyes: What do u mean?
Get up! She shoved him urgently: Please, dekho, baahar koi hai….
Angad sat up and peered through the semi darkness at the door. Then he heard it too! Scraping sounds across the passage, heavy footfalls pacing the floor….
WHAT THE HELL!
He sprang up from the bed, grabbed the flashlight and sprinted to the door, flinging it wide open. Kripa hastily donned her nightgown and ran after him, fearing for his safety: Angad! Be CAREFUL!
He stepped into the passage and flicked the light switch. It flickered eerily for a few moments then the light came on! There was no one there! The passage was EMPTY!
WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? …he hollered furiously.
He marched ahead to the motion sensor camera atop the staircase and checked it by rapid rewinding. Nothing showed up….no intruder had come up the stairs in last 10 minutes. He exclaimed: WHAT THE??….YAHAN TOH KUCHH BHI NAHIN HAI!
Kripa shivered behind him and mumbled through trembling lips: You also heard it, right? Kaho, tumney bhi suna naa?
Yeah, I heard it alright! Angad looked perplexed, angry: I don't understand what's going on in this house! There was a heavy frown on his forehead as he looked around, trying to trace the source of those sounds.
Suddenly they heard a gurgling noise, followed by a deep clanging in the walls. Angad kneeled down at once and crouched near the wall, his ears pricked next to it. CLANG-CLANG…GURGLE….
He looked up with dawning comprehension and grinned at Kripa: GOTCHA! Its those damned water pipes in the walls. Theyre making those strange sounds.
Kripa protested: But…but the sounds we heard were not like this….it was like someone walking…
Angad stood up and smiled knowingly : Yes, Howard told me about this! He said we might hear strange sounds at night but that's normal for an old house like this.
Kripa shook her head in disbelief. Somehow she didn't trust the words of that shrewd, cunning realtor!
Angad cupped her cold cheeks with a reassuring grin: Don't worry, Kripa! Yeh sab awazein pipes se nikaltey hain! Mainey padha bhi hai, puraney makaanon mein aisa hota hai. At night the pipes make those noises when there are obstructions in water flow, sometimes the wood on the floor contracts with temperature changes which sounds like footsteps….aisa aksar hota hai, don't worry about it! Chalo, so jaatey hain, kal subah Office jaana hai.
He grabbed her shoulders and shepherded her back into the bedroom. They stopped short. The temperature in the bedroom was freezing! It didn't seem like July weather at all, more like the Arctic region!
Angad swore: ****! Yeh windows kisney khol diye? Kripa, did you…
Kripa shivered and quavered shakily: Mainey nahin…yeh apney aap khul gaye…
Angad strode to the windows and latched the shutters, cursing under his breath again: Yeh shutters bhi World War ke time ke hongey! Kambakht band hi nahin rehtey…
He came back to Kripa and saw she was trembling ….he touched her cheeks, her arms: Yeh kya? Tum toh bilkul baraf ki tarah thand ho!
Angad took a heavy blanket from the foot of the bed and wrapped her securely in a bundle!
Apney Haath do! He commanded. Kripa silently held out her icy hands.
GOD! You are freezing!…he swore and rubbed both her palms briskly inside his till she was warmed up in more ways than one.
He looked anxiously at her pale face: Tum thehro, main garam chai banakar laata hoon!
He turned to go downstairs, she panicked at once: NO! Mujhey chai nahin chahiye! Buss, tum…tum yahan merey saath raho….
He relented at once and sat down beside her on the bed. He pulled her in his embrace and stroked her back: I understand! You had a shock! Lekin iss sab ki vajeh hai Physics….ismein darney ki koi baat nahin! Ab dekho, security system instal bhi ho gaya, ab koi chor-daaku, killer hamara kuch bigaad nahin sakta. Tum befikr hokar so jaao….merey paas! Main hoon naa….tumhey darney ki koi zaroorat nahin….
Angad lay down and pulled her unresisting body into his arms. For the next 15 minutes, he gentled her, reassured her patiently till he himself yawned widely and slipped into tired slumber. But Kripa could not sleep. She lay stiffly in his arms, ears pricked, senses alert, nerves strained at fever pitch! She was sure what she had heard wasn't normal, it certainly wasn't any water pipe or contracting wood. It had been the sound of a person's feet, walking, pacing the passage restlessly….to and fro, to and fro…she shivered and closed her eyes!
Angad also heard it….but hes too rational, too scientific minded! Wo maanney ko tayyar hi nahin ke uss awaaz ka aur koi vajeh ho sakta hai! Lekin main….I will find out the mystery of these nocturnal sounds…and the self-opening windows, and the eerie face at the window…..sab kuchh iss bedroom mein ho raha hai….zaroor koi raaz hai…mujhey pataa lagana padega.
She lay awake all night, wondering who she could ask about this house, she didn't even know any local people…..except the taxi driver and the….
YES! The fish store owner….what was it called??? Frankie's Fish Shack! They had stopped there on their arrival, to ask for directions and the owner had looked oddly at Angad when he gave this address. Kripa drew in a deep breath….YES! Tomorrow I will go to Frank's fish store and ask him some questions….perhaps he would know the history of this strange house…..
Kripa finally slipped into an exhausted sleep and woke up only when Angad shook her shoulder : Kripa, main office jaa raha hoon….tumharey liye coffee aur toast ready hai, le lena, kitchen mein hai….
Kripa scrambled up anxiously: Oh My God! 8 baj gaye! Tumney mujhey jagaya kyun nahin? Tumney naashta bhi bana liya?
He bent down and smooched her lips loudly: Apney pyari biwi ke liye itna bhi nahin kar sakta? You had a bad fright….you were sleeping like a baby, I couldn't wake you up…
She blushed with an adoring look…he was such a caring, sensitive husband! She was indeed lucky!
He kissed her again and turned to leave: OK, main chala, shaam ko jaldi aa jaunga, public beach per ghoomney chalengey!
She scampered out of bed and called after him: Wait for me! Main 5 minute bathroom se aayi!
She freshened up, changed into proper clothes within 5 minutes, then ran downstairs to find Angad waiting patiently by the front door. He went outside, she followed him to the driveway. He turned and grinned teasingly: Ab kya merey saath Office bhi chalogi?
Kripa smiled shyly: Main toh bye bye kehney aayi thi….
Sirf kahogi yaa…..he touched his lips with a naughty smile.
She reached up and gave him a goodbye kiss. He grabbed her and deepened the kiss at once, leaving her breathless from his tender assault. He straightened up, licked his lips appreciatively and smiled: Goodbye, apna khayal rakhna, koi pareshani ho toh call karna.
He got into his car and drove away slowly. Kripa gazed after him with a sinking heart. She was dreading the thought of being alone in that old Victorian. As soon as his car disappeared from sight, she ran inside, grabbed the keys and locked the door. She started walking towards town, without a backward glance at the house. Her destination was the shack, the little fish eatery they passed everytime on their way to town…it was a 10 minute walk but she was more than up to it! It was a bright, sunny, cool morning! She braced herself and walked briskly towards where the people were….
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pallavi
Real Estate
35