Chapter 8
A tensed and much disturbed Abhay reached his home in a lost state and Chand and Haseena were surprised to see him like this. They have never seen Abhay like this ever. They asked him what was wrong. But Abhay continued to move towards his room without hearing what they were saying. This made Chand and Haseena suddenly alert and alarmed and they stopped Abhay mid-way and made him face them. Haseena then asked in a tense voice:"Abhay, what is wrong?"
But Abhay instead of replying just collapsed to the floor and started crying, shocking Chand and Haseena to the core. They have never seen Abhay like this. Haseena asked worriedly: "Abhay, What's wrong?"
Abhay cried out: "Everything is finished Mom! Before it could even begin!"
Haseena: Son, I am not understanding anything, please tell me clearly what happened?
Abhay: Our college is going to Greece for summer vacations and Aaliyah is going to be there too. Pia will come to know who I am and she will hate me. I will lose my love once again and once again without any fault of mine and without getting a chance to explain myself!
Saying this Abhay moved towards his room in a shattered and broken state leaving Chand and Haseena puzzled about his internal turmoil. They were confused about what Abhay just said. What did he mean by losing his love again? They were pondering upon Abhay's words when realization suddenly struck Haseena and she exclaimed: Oh dear! Chand, is Abhay in love?
Chand: What are you saying Haseena? Abhay and in love?? With whom?
Haseena: There is only one person who could possibly have brought Abhay out of his 300 year old feelings of remorse and who he can lose again because of Aaliyah….
Chand: oh no! You mean to say he is in love with Pia!!! That's preposterous! Doesn't he know that she belongs to the witches family and probably a witch herself! And witches and vampires have been mortal enemies since the time of our existence. Then how can he make such a mistake!!
Haseena: But you fail to see Chand that Pia looks exactly like Abhay's love in his mortal life.
Chand: That itself is a mystery in itself Haseena. We found Abhay dying alone in that burning temple. And yet he had kept saying that she was there. But we could find no one there. There was not even any scent of any human there.
Haseena: But he has her portrait Chand! Which he has been carrying with him all these 300 years
Chand: And yet, no one in the entire Greece except him had ever seen her Haseena. Honestly, to me that girl always seemed to be a figment of Abhay's imagination than anyone real. Who knows, maybe he was delusional or that girl was someone whom he saw only in his dreams and drew her portrait that way.
Haseena: I don't know Chand! Maybe you are right, maybe not. But Abhay does seem to be in love with Pia only. And Aaliyah coming face to face with Abhay is not good for any of us. Not to mention what would happen with her face off with John and Maya.
Chand: You are right. Aaliyah did very wrong with John though I always knew it was bound to happen one day, but still she owed at least an explanation to John. And I can understand Maya's anger on her.
Haseena: But Chand, call it my intuition or call me mad, but I have always felt that there was more to Aaliyah John break-up than we ever got to see or know. And somehow, I always find Maya a bit weird. I don't know but I just can't bring myself to trust Maya the way I had once trusted Aaliyah though Maya is our own species and Aaliyah belonged to our enemies clan. And somehow despite all that happened, I still find myself capable of trusting Aaliyah if she would care to explain the reality to me just once. There was something in her which always made me trust and love her. When she was with us, I never ever felt that she belonged to the enemies clan. She seemed as if she belonged to us. And how can I forget playing with little Pia whenever she would bring her to us. She was just six months old at that time. Everything was so perfect till…
Chand: yes, till that fateful evening. The events of that evening are a mystery in itself. And everything mysteriously changed after that.
Haseena: Chand, do you think maybe that's the reason!!
Chand: But that's absurd Haseena. I mean it wasn't anybody's fault, then how could Aaliyah held John responsible for it.
Haseena: no Chand! The way I see it, she felt more guilty on herself and it was that guilt which made her move away from John. She felt that had she not been so engrossed in John, it would have never happened!
Chand: Aaliyah is not a child Haseena to not understand such a thing. Her behavior that evening and then her sudden decision and worst still getting into a relationship with that Vincent almost immediately makes me think that she was always in love with Vincent and his money and John was just a stepping stone for her to reach Vincent.
Haseena: maybe you are right Chand! But, I still feel that things were and are not what they seem to be. It feels as if some thing major is being planned against us or against Aaliyah and someone close to us is involved. I am scared Chand! I just don't know whom to trust and whom not to! I always keep feeling that we are being trapped and there is a noose around our neck which is being tightened every day, but I don't know who is tightening this noose.
Chand: You are just being paranoid Haseena. Fine, let's wait for this Greece trip. I am sure you will get a true picture of Aaliyah after this trip. If she is really some other reason as you feel, then she would not try to break Abhay and Pia up. So, let's wait and watch! I am sure this Greece trip will be end of this preposterous love affair of Abhay with that witch sister Pia.
Haseena: I hope everything goes fine Chand! And I know that you are against Abhay being with Pia, but I just want happiness for my son and Pia is a nice girl. Maybe she will be perfect for our Abhay.
Chand: You are being an emotional fool Haseena. Don't forget that Pia maybe a witch herself and our worst enemy.
Haseena: No Chand, My mind refuse to accept either Pia or even Aaliyah as our enemies.
Chand: Time will tell Haseena.
The forest was unusually silent in the dark night. Though the animals of the day had gone to sleep, even the nocturnal animals were eerily silent tonight as if they knew that creatures far more sinister were lurking inside the forest tonight planning something more sinister than anyone could ever imagine. Even the slowly blowing wind was sounding like a storm on this eerie night. It was on this night that a group of hooded figures was gathered around a bonfire. Another hooded figure was rushing towards the fire to get his point across them. But the group was in no mood to wait for him. They had already started their discussion. The topic of their discussion, however was an innocent girl, a girl who was set to become their biggest ally or their biggest enemy depending upon where her heart decides to take her. The question was whether to wait to find that out or finish her off now itself before she can pose any danger to them. The group was in no mood to play guessing game or live in fear. They wanted to finish her off. The running figure finally reached the bonfire and screamed "Nooo"!
Abhay opened his eyes with a jerk. What was that he thought? Was she in danger? But why? And from whom?
Edited by ..dishu.. - 13 years ago
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