Ariya SS: Missing Puzzle Ch 5 UPDT 28th April 2016 - Page 6

That girl stopped screaming and Arjun took his hands off Riya. Riya wanted to turn and look at the girl, but she was afraid. Sensing this Arjun spoke,

"It's okay to be afraid, especially when you are facing a force where you have no control over. But remember one thing, you came into my arms tonight and I will protect you as long as I can"

With this he pushed her behind him and faced that girl. That girl cocked her head sideways and started laughing menacingly. She was about to approach them when all of a sudden she started withering in pain. Arjun and Riya looked at the scene confused. Then Riya saw Madhu chanting something and holding out a cross. That girl became obedient like a puppy. Madhu came to Riya.

"I am so sorry my girl. I should have told you this before itself. That's my daughter, Isha. She has been possessed with a spirit for past 3 months, I tried many thing to exorcise it off, but no use. Every full moon it became powerful and today is a full moon. I had already wore protection so I was safe. But I forgot to give you the protection. I am really sorry"

Riya stumbled a bit trying to grasp the situation. Arjun steadied her. That's when Madhu noticed him.

"I think this gentleman is also lost. Why don't you both come to my home and stay there? I assure you, there won't be any problem again because of Isha. It's not good to stay here for the night. I heard that many spirits are wandering in these dense jungles at night"

Hearing this, Riya and Arjun agreed to her.

True to her words, there was no problem from Isha. Arjun and Riya had to sleep in the same room due to lack of rooms. They were provided with separate bed. Eventhough it was first time for her to sleep in the presence of a man, nonetheless Riya felt secure. She looked at Arjun who had already fallen asleep.

The next day Arjun and Riya decided to leave, but Madhu requested them to stay back for some more days as it is rare for someone to come this far. Eventhough Riya wanted to go back to the orphanage, the prospect of being close to Arjun thrilled her. Moreover in just one day, she felt motherly love form Madhu. She looked at Arjun.

"I have no problem in staying back as I will be in this jungle for next 2 weeks as a part of my research, but if Riya wants to go..."

"No, I will stay"

His eyes glistened with excitement as he heard her. They both looked at each other and smile foolishly.

Those 2 weeks were the best time of Riya's life. Every day Arjun took her with him to the research. She saw the life of the forest with him. The more she spend time with him, the more she fell in love with him. He protected her when they were in the forest and he protected her when they were inside the house from Isha. Like that, the last day of the two weeks of journey.

Flashback Stops

Guruji drew a deep breath as he finished saying this. He looked at the ETF who had their mouth wide open.

"Then what happened Guruji?" asked Shree.

"When Riya was enjoying her time away here in Yogi Peetham everyone was readily worried and scared. Atleast I decided to venture out to seek rather than waiting for others. So I, along with my strongest disciple stepped foot into the forbidden past of the forest. After day's search, we found her location. We met her. She was really happy to see me. She told me whatever happened. I was happy to know that the poor girl had found her love. She called him to meet me. Arjun came outside. Our eyes locked. Painfully I realized that our Riya has become a part of the prophecy written centuries back"

"What prophecy Guruji?", asked Sakshi.

"200 years ago in those dense jungles, there was a kingdom. The king and Queen had a son, a prince. It was told that he was quiet a heart breaker that time. One powerful witch killed him as a revenge. Not only that, but she also cursed him that he will have to wander along these dense jungles for centuries as a ghost. He will never get peace as he will not get true love, he will have no one, and he will curse the day he was born.

The king and queen begged to the witch. At last witch prophesied that,

TRUE LOVE WILL FREE FROM HIS CURSE AND HE WILL BE ABLE TO ENTER AFTERLIFE"

ETFians were confused as to where this is leading to. Sensing their confusion, Guruji told,

"Riya's Arjun was the prince"

A collective what' could be heard. Everyone were shocked.

"Yes, the moment I saw him, I saw right through him. I have had enough experience dealing with supernatural stuff that I could easily recognize him as the ghost. And I knew, Riya's arrival was all part of a prophecy. It was Riya's true love which was gonna free him from his curse"

Sameer couldn't help but to ask,

"Then what did you do Guruji?"

Guruji inhaled a lungful of air.

"Nothing. I just came back"

Everyone looked at each other in shock.

"Did we hear correctly? Did you just say that you did nothing?"

"Hmmm..."

"What? But how could you do that? Riya was your favorite, right? Then how could you just put her with a ghost and come back?"

"Mr. Sameer Rathod, there are many things in universe which you don't understand. It was written in her destiny. I am no one to interfere with God's plan. I could feel from Arjun's aura that one more night and he would be free from his curse. A ghost or not, she loved him truly, I didn't wanted to take that away from her. I wanted her to live the last moments of love with the person she loves without any worry in the universe. So I promised her that I would be back the next day to take her. She gladly agreed".

"Then what happened the next day?"

There was sadness in his eyes as he heard this question.

"There was no one. The next day when I went back, there were no traces of Arjun, Riya, Madhu and Isha. Only that cottage was there. There was no clue left behind. I tried my level best to search Riya, but she was found nowhere. Its been 10 years"

With that he broke down. Roya who was in Sameer's embrace slowly moved towards him.

"Grandpa, why are you crying? Did anyone scold you?"

Guruji looked at her with tear filled eyes. Then the next moment he engulfed her in a hug. Everyone had tears in their eyes seeing this.

"What would have happened to Arjun then? Was he freed from his curse?", inquired Shree.

"I think he was Shree. Riya always told that her Arjun is a ghost. May be she lost her mental balance because of this", suggested Chotu.

Everyone felt sad knowing that probably that was the reason for her to lose her mental balance.

Suddenly something strike in Rathod' s mind.

"Guruji, can't ghost understand other ghosts? I mean when Arjun and Riya first met, they were attacked by a ghost possessing Isha right? And also when Madhu controlled that ghost by chanting some mantras and showing a cross, why was it not affecting Arjun?"

"Good question Mr. Rathod. These doubts popped up in my mind when Riya told me this story. Then it all got cleared. In the story, you must have noticed that the ghost possessing Isha was looking at Riya. That spirit also knew that she was a part of the prophecy. And regarding that Mantra's all not affecting Arjun, which is also a part of the curse. It was said that nothing can exorcise Arjun's ghost"

The clarification cleared the remaining doubts from other's mind.

On the other hand, Arjun, after attending the phone call decided to join his team. That was the exact moment in when Riya ran to them and Guruji recognized her. Arjun felt it is not nice to interrupt them. Hence he stayed behind and overheard everything. He felt bad for Riya knowing the hardship she faced. Even though it pinched his heart to know that she was in love with someone, he was no selfish. When he felt that the atmosphere is okay for his entry, he stepped out.

Guruji, who was patting Riya's head, felt the difference in atmosphere and looked up.

His eyes looked at the same face he has seen 10 years ago. He left Riya and stumbled back a few steps. Riya ran to Arjun and hugged him.

"This can't be happening...", He murmured.

Everyone, including Arjun was confused seeing Arjun's expression.

"Guruji, are you alright? Meet ETF second-in command, Arjun Suryakanth Rawte", introduced Sameer.

"Arjun", whispered Guruji.

"Yes Guruji", agreed Arjun.

"Riya's Arjun", whispered Guruji.

This send everyone into shock. There was utter silence. Sameer was the first one to come out of shock.

"What are you saying Guruji??"

Guruji looked at Riya and Arjun. He could see the same scene 10 years ago. His legs move don its own accord towards them. He stopped infront of Arjun. With shaky fingers, he touched Arjun's forehead and closed his eyes. He opened his eyes abruptly and stumbled back again. Sameer was quick to catch him while everyone watched the scene bewildered.

"Guruji, please tell us what is wrong? You are frightening us."

Guruji looked at everyone and then breathed hard.

"Now I remember the second part of the prophecy. That explains it all"

"What second part"

"An act of true love will resurrect the cursed form death"

Everyone looked at each other in confusion. Ayesha was quick to connect the dots.

"So are you telling that there might be a chance that Riya's Arjun is resurrected form death?"

"Not just chance, I am pretty sure that he is resurrected from death"

"Can you please be more specific?", asked an irritated Sameeer.

"To be more specific, Riya's Arjun is no longer a ghost but a man of flesh and blood. Her act of true love, about which we have no idea, has resurrected a 200 year old soul from death. Her love removed the barrier between death and life. Her Arjun is very much alive like everyone else. Her Arjun is none other than the Arjun standing infront of me, the Arjun Suryakanth Rawte"