||A Ghost from the Attic - A SHIVIKA Story||-Note:Pg 12 - 18 July - Page 6

Shivay meets a new man in Anika's life

My dear readers, I know I have been late in telling this tale. I blame entirely on the debacle of that morning in Oberoi Mansion. I was called to the Council of Apparitions (Yes, it exists) for a reprimand, I was guilty of speaking out loud after all. Luckily that was all they did. I had to travel all the way to the top most floor of the Supreme Court, Delhi. You mere mortals cannot see it. By the time I came back, I was so de-energized that one of my arms disintegrated to thin air. I know ghosts do not have a corporeal form, but we do have a pale, semi-transparent, white body and we would like to keep that way. I went to a doctor in Ghostly Hospital to get treatment and was there under an energy incubator, recuperating, till now.

By the time I came back, Shivay Singh Oberoi had been sleeping on the sofa for quite a few days. Poor chap. Instead of my regular nightly resting place (in the Attic), I decided to give Mr. SSO company. We men has to stick together, even from beyond the grave. Master Shivay has yet to learn to keep quiet, and not argue with his wife. In our time, we were taught this from our early childhood itself. Never argue with your wife, never talk back, and agree to everything. This was secrete of our long lasting marriage. Now, Mrs. Polter (bless her soul) was an angel, except when she was angry. I never crossed her, a lesson I learnt the hard way.

I could see Shivay had trouble sleeping on the couch. But he made his bed, and now he has stick to it. I did hope that he realizes his mistake and ask for an apology. A dozen red roses and a box full of chocolates would do the trick I guess. At least it used to work with Mrs. Polter. But, not sure about Anika though. One night, after a week of sleeping on the sofa, Mr. SSO was looking at laptop, hard at work. Never it has been said that curiosity killed a ghost; one - ghost is already dead, two - it is always the cats who gets killed. I quietly got down from the tree by the pool and peeked into his laptop. It was interesting to see Shivay was looking for ways to apologize and trying to find ideas from the internet. (I know what internet is. I am ghost. Not an idiot!)

The next night, when I came back to the pool side I was impressed. The whole area was covered with red and white roses and there was soft melodious music. Shivay was on his knee, in front of Anika and holding her hand. I could not hear what he said though, I was far enough and the music was drowning most of his words. I guess he apologized thoroughly and it looked like Anika accepted his apology. Shivay did not sleep on the sofa that day.

The very next day, they had a visitor. I know this because I was hanging from one of the lamps in the hall. He was handsome man, taller than Mr. SSO, well built and quite jolly from all I could see.

All of them were sitting in the sofas.

"Who are you?" Shivay asked, "Why did you want to meet my wife?"

"I am Madan. I really do not know how to say this..." the new person replied, looking at Anika.

"Just say whatever you have to say." Rudra asked.

"I am Anika's cousin." Madan answered quickly.

There was a moment of stunned silence and everyone started talking at once.

"You are?" Anika asked hopefully.

"What the hell!" Shivay shouted.

"Shit, Babhi has a cousin?" Rudy exclaimed gleefully.

"What?" Shakti, Tej, Pinky, Jahnvi and I shouted at the same time. Oops! May be this one will go unnoticed as no one heard my voice.

"Calm down everyone!" Shivay spoke loudly, "Let him explain".

"Well, Anika's mother Shanti, was my father's younger sister. Some 30 years back, before I was born, they had a fight over Shanti Bua's choice of husband and she left the house. My father could not find her anywhere and all his life he was sad that he fought with his own sister." Madan started his tale.

"Where is your father now?" Shivay asked.

"He did couple of years back. And my mother died when I was young. Anika is my only living relative" , Madan answered.

All of us were holding our breath, listening to a tale worthy of Manmohan Desai movies.

"If your father did not where his sister was, how did you know where to find Anika?" Rudy asked. Atta boy! There is a brain inside of that bulky body after all.

Madan looked at Shivay when he answered, "Because of yous announcement of your marriage and details of your wife. I saw yours and Anika's photo in one of the magazine".

"How did you recognize Anika as your cousin? You have never met Anika or her mother?" Shivay asked.

I looked at Anika, who was silent till now, listening to everything.

"No, I have never seen Shanti Bua or Anika before. But I do have Shanti Bua's photo." Madan gave a black and white photo to Anika. Shivay looked over Anika's shoulder to take look at the picture. I did too. The woman in the photo was wearing a sari, with some jewelry on her neck, hand and ears. Everything about the photo screamed old, except the face. The lady looked exactly like Anika, same face, same nose, same eyes and same smile. There were only minor differences, the teeth was not crooked, the face was more plump and the hair was much longer.

Anika gasped looking at the photo and turned to Shivay with tears in her eyes.

Shivay made his mind about something and looked at Madan.

"You are welcome to stay here for some time. You and Anika can get to know each other. I hope your work will not get affected."

"No. I am between jobs right now. I can stay here and get to know my only relative in this world." Madan replied.

Between jobs, my ghostly pale ass. That Madan person looked like a charlatan. Why in the name of ghostly world, has Shivay accepted that person into his home? Had he gone mad with sleeping on the couch. How did he survive the business world, if he makes such hasty decisions? I was mad as a hatter then. I after couple days, after much drama, that I got to know what was in Shivay's mind.