Hi!😊
I have no warnings to give, this is a break through chapter, enjoy!!
It was a cold night, still perspire gathered on Ragini's lips and her palms were slippery. She could almost hear her grandmother screaming at her from an old memory, where she was caught letting one of her friends copy from her English paper. It had been the only time she had done something wrong according to her grandmother and now, now she had done something far more serious.
She could not stand in that same hall with Swara anymore, watching the effect of her actions on her. Placing the Thali in her hand in the nearest place possible she rushed outside, gasping for lung full of fresh air. Her eyes burned in the chilly darkness as she ran, as fast as she could away from the place that suffocated her. Unknowingly her feet took her to the forbidden wing.
Something heavy and large slammed against the floor making a shattering sound in the process. Ragini placed a hand on the cold wooden door.
Are you alright?'
There was no response, except for a sound of heavy breathing. Her eyes widened as she analyzed the situation.
Are you all right?'
She asked again, this time slamming her palms against the door harder. Something else made a large noise inside as if someone tripped over a piece of furniture.
Talk to me!'
I- I can't breathe!' the voice replied, in a chocked tone and Ragini leaned against the door frame in shock. She had to call someone. But no, they would hurt him. She did not want that. But there was no way she was going to reach him. I'm dying!' The voice said again, as she heard him stumping against the door.
Focus on you breathing,' she advised him, placing her cheek against the door. Calm down, you're not going to die.'
As she listened with strained ears to hear his breathing pattern a memory struck Ragini. She knew of a way this door can be opened.
Sanskar!' She remembered her younger voice say. You can't get in there!'
There were standing outside the study of Durga Prasad, who had recently confiscated their ball as a punishment for breaking a window pane upstairs.
Why?' Sanskar demanded his hands in his pockets. He was always the stubborn child. There was no way a locked door or a gruesome uncle would stop him. Plus he had a bump key. Ragini watched in awe as he used it and after they had successfully acquired their ball she said,
Teach me.'
Huh?'
Teach me to use that!'
She rushed to her room; thankfully no one noticed her fervent actions as they were too engrossed in the aftermath of the havan. Among her older stuff the bump key was still there. When she returned the entire wing was silent.
Are you in there?' She called frantically from the door frame as she picked the lock. It was dusty, rusty, yet not beyond Sanskar's bump key. With an ominous sound, the door finally cracked open.
Inside was dark, dusty and silent. What she entered was not a room. It was a wing, a huge hall that had doors leading to each side. But she did not have to go too far. He was there, curled against the door. Still trying to control his breathing...
She dropped to her knees in front of him.
I'm going to die,' he muttered slowly. She put her arms around him, trying to console his fright.
No you're not. Breathe slowly now.' She could feel his frenzied heart beat. It scared her. Why did you go out?' She asked anxiously. Most importantly how? I mean the door was locked right.'
There was no reply.
I know you went out. I've heard them talking about it. This only happens when you go out right? How did you go out?'
His breathing was controlled now and he seemed to be sensibly listening to her. Ragini looked around and saw the broken window at the end of the hall.
You're evil,' he said slowly, as he brushed her arms off him and stood up. I know, I heard you.'
Ragini's lips trembled as she followed him.
What?'
It was because of you I had to go out. I had to warn her. I had to!'
You did what?'
He said nothing, he was already retreating in to darkness.
Leave. We have nothing to talk.'
I'm your friend. She is nothing! Why would you care for her?' Ragini called after him. Why?'
He stopped, his face shadowed. She could no longer see his expression.
You're not my friend. My friend would never help her.'
You mean Ma?'
Don't!' He barked. Don't call her that in front of me. Leave; leave now!'
Sanskar!'
Stay away from her Ragini. She means no good. Don't let her spoil your head please. You were not this. You are better than this. You don't want blood on your hands.'
Do I have a choice? I love him damn it! I can't let him go.'
Then leave! Leave at once! I can't tolerate another Maheshwari in making here. Get out!' saying so he grabbed her shoulders and pushed her out from the half opened door.
*
With those words repeatedly ringing in her mind, Swara could not swallow the sweet Ragini pushed in to her mouth. She had returned to her room and threw it out of her window before taking a deep breath of cold night air.
What was happening to her? Was she seeing things? Or is someone playing a prank on her? Was Aditya imagining things when he said about shadows talking in his room? Perhaps he was. Then what was that? Swara closed her eyes, as she leaned against her pillows. That had not been a ghost. She was sure of it. It was a man, alive and breathing. He was warm, his touch solid. He wanted her alive he said. Who wanted otherwise?
*
She did not eat it,' her voice trembled as she said the words. But there was nothing she could do. Ragini had to inform this unavoidable truth.
Annapurna looked up from her embroidery, her needle casted a flicker of light on her eyes, which glittered on their own.
What do you mean Ragini?'
That pra..prasad. Swara did not eat it.'
Annapurna carefully folded the heavy clothe with her needle work and placed it on the side table beside her arm chair. She swung her chair a little before meeting her faltering gaze with her own sharp one.
And how do you know this?'
Ragini gulped, staring at the knotted fingers of her hands. She fiddled with a corner of her duppatta.
I just know, she didn't Ma.'
People don't just know things.' Annapurna got to her feet. Did you tell her by mistake?'
N...no, no I didn't!'
Did you tell anyone else then?' She demanded.
Ragini blinked and met her piecing gaze.
I didn't tell anyone. But someone overheard our conversation and told her.' She gulped again.
That is not possible, unless...' she stopped, gave Ragini a sharp glance and said. Go to your room now. We'll discuss this tomorrow morning.'
Annapurna watched Ragini leave, with her usual expressionless mask and exhaled deeply.
Was I too haste in my move?' She muttered to herself. I'd have to check right now.'
*
Swara was in the washroom when she heard the door unlock. It was almost midnight. She was not expecting visitors then. Wiping her face with the towel and placing it aside absentmindedly she cracked opened the door and peered outside; then gasped silently.
There was a man, standing at the head of her bed, shuffling through the pillows and blankets. In his hand was unmistakably a knife. She had awoken from a nightmare a few moments ago and had left her quilt covering her pillows, when she went to splash some water in to her face to get rid of the fright. The intruder seemed to have thought she was still sleeping in her bed.
Now making sure she was not there, the man took a step backwards and glanced around the room, his eyes lingering here and there, looking for any sign of her.
Then he moved towards her dressing table, shuffled its contents puzzling Swara further. What was this man? A murderer? Or a thief? As she tried to find something that made sense in his actions as well as a way of escape the most unfortunate happened. The man had caught her reflection in the mirror of the dressing table.
Swara jumped out of the washroom threshold as she saw the man sprung towards her. She was leaning against the cold mirror that covered the wall almost from her head to toes. There was possibly no escape, her palms were pressed against the glass as she watched, wide eyed the man approach.
His eyes glittered ruthlessly, the rest of his face covered as he raised the arm that carried the knife higher. A scream, tied around her throat seemed to vanish as she found the glass no longer underneath her palms. Instead someone dragged her in to a dark opening that seemed to have replaced the large mirror on the wall.
With a snap the mirror (Or most accurately the backside of the mirror) fall back in to its place. There was solid darkness around her, nothing more. Both her room and the intruder in it were no longer visible or close.
Swara took a long breath, clutching her heart.
This must be some kind of a vivid dream that followed her nightmare. She thought with relief. She was used to these kinds of dreams, where she can manipulate the events in to something more interesting. Now, she just had to find a candle and light it, that's all. With the thought she took another step and her leg tripped in to something, making her lose her balance and fell, in to the dusty floor.
It made a larger noise than she thought it would, as her fall echoed in the empty darkness around her.
I'd appreciate it if you are a bit quieter,' said a voice mildly.
*
Thanks for reading!😊
Your thoughts are welcome!!😊😊
Hindi TV Shows
Veer Hanuman
