FF- Love You Eternally - chapter 25 & 26 the final chapter - Page 19

Chapter 6

Buvan led them to the huge curved staircases that dominated the huge room on either side, the staircases led to the first floor which was surrounded by a railing right around surroundings the huge hall from above, the first floor had a number of doors that led to the bedrooms, the banisters of the of the railings were polished but the paint on the walls was faded and pealing at some place with age.  They were led up the stairs and towards the he right landing to two adjacent rooms,

The first room was obviously allotted to Arnav, his bags were placed at the foot of a huge bed with a mosquito net hanging of its four posts. It was large and airy. The furniture old and heavy, two old arm chairs and a tea table made up for a seating area over looked by the two large arched windows the opened over the front lawn and gate.  A smaller door led to a small bathroom that seemed to have been put in at a much later time then when  the room was originally built.

"The bathrooms were added some twenty years back, Sa for convenience of the guest." Buvan explained.

"Well, these rooms are obviously going to need a huge overhaul." Arnav said. "But they will do for now." He nodded at Akaash and Buvan, who escorted Akaash to show him his room.

Arnav went and stood by the window, looking out over the lawns, at the centre was a fountain that was now dry. He knew he had seen that particular fountain somewhere. The figures of three women standing with back to back holding pots in their hands. Though the pots were now dry, Arnav knew that at one time water flowered out of those pots to gurgle in the pool below.

He closed his eyes and images of a girl her hair lose flying about her as she ran, he could not see her face but her bright orange dupatta flew behind her, she had a bunch of flowers in her hands and was being chased by two other girls. The sound of laughter and the tinkling of their anklets echoed in the recesses of his brain. The girl in the orange dupatta held out her hand under one of the pots filling her small hand with water and threw.

Arnav head snapped back as if attacked by that very same water. His eyes flew open his hand was in front of his face as if to ward off the water attack. What the hell was wrong with him, here he was day dreaming and reacting to those dreams. Shaking his head, furious with himself then went into the tiny bathroom and splashed water on his face over a ridiculous tiny sink.

Once freshened up he found Akaash in the front lawn where two table had been laid out under a canvas awning,  the tables could quite comfortably seat  ten to twelve people.

"Bhai, I thought the meals can he had here, and the dining table inside can be used by the designers and architects as a work table. Besides Buvan says that heaving meals outdoors give you a hearty appetite." Akaash grinned enthusiastically.

"I'm fine with any arrangements you have made."

Arnav watched and Buvan and Hira came carrying a huge contraption of sort that looked like a post-box with a whole on the top of the lid and a small door in the side. They placed it in the centre of the awning and then fixed a long round wide pipe over the hole in the top of the lid. The pipe extended upwards and out of a gaping hole in the canopy overhead.

He raised his eyebrows' questioningly at Akaash, "It's a heater, Bhai"

Arnav shook his head, "whatever. Call me when lunch is served," and walked away toward the Havali and up to his room. He took out his laptop and got busy. He checked his mail and read the memo sent by Mr. Kholi from 'Architects and interiors ltd'. The mail stated the Arnav should be expecting an 8 member team at the weak, three women and five men. Mr. Kholi will be accompanying them, but would be only staying for a day or two, to get his team settled in.

Over lunch Arnav passed on the information to Akaash, "make sure that the ladies get proper accommodations.  The hall and the dining area can be used as a work space, and meals can be arranged on the terrace and lawns outside, speak with Bhuvan Lal about that."

"Sure Bhai, the rooms next to ours are in good condition and can be used to accommodate the women, one of the rooms can be shared by two, the rooms on the lower floor can house the men comfortably. The west wing of the Havali is in good condition and they should not have to face any problem there."

"What about the east wing?" Arnav inquired.

"Well I haven't had time to check the place out, but Bhuvan Lal says that that part of the Havali has not been used for years."

"Why not?" Arnav asked with a sigh. Knowing there was some story or another attached to it.

"Errr, well?" Akaash  strutted embarrassed.

"Well?" Arnav said sardonically.

"Ok fine, the Lal's think that the East wing is haunted." He grinned at the look on his brother's face.

Arnav shook his head at this utter silliness.  He snorted "Akaash every old Havali and old ruins are always haunted, that doesn't mean that there really are ghosts, we'll check it out later."

This got Akaash very excited, being of  a shy  and timid nature he was not one to take an initiative  and unlike his brother who was an all-rounder  Akaash's interests lay wholly in academics.  Kundanpur had suddenly opened a whole new world to him.  'wow!' a real adventure. Arnav smiled taking in his brother's excited expression. He said, "But not today. I'm in no mood to wrestle with ghosts. And I don't want to be left alone with one after you run away screaming." He teased grinning.

"Bhai!!! I not a whuss." He raised his left hand placed his right hand over his heart and said solemnly, "But for your satisfaction. I promise not to run away screaming when you encounter a ghost but will stand my ground and cheer for you while you wrestle with it." he grinned.

"Wise ass." Arnav grinned back and they continued their friendly banter, simply enjoying being brothers, who had depended on each other all their lives. Who had each other's backs in the worst of situations.  Akaash was the one person Arnav was the closest to besides his father. And Akaash was his 'secrets keeper'. Akaash was the only person who knew that Arnav still suffered from the nightmares. A fact they had hidden from their parents and family since after they had gone to the States and the visions had lessened. the only other person who knew about everything was Viran Singh Raizada.  Though of late Arnav had kept the facts of the increase in the frequency of the visions and nightmares from him as well, thinking they would pass, but he was comming to think otherwise.

After the incident two days back. Akaash had come to know that Arnav's visions and nightmares had increased over the past few weeks. This troubled him, but he also knew that nothing could be done about it until they could understand what was the actual trigger for the visions. he knew they would have to tell their father soon, but he would support his brother no matter what.

Unknown to Arnav, Akaash had been doing some research over the years and had also spoken to some Para psychologist regarding Arnav's situation. But had not been able to speak to him about it, given Arnav negative predisposition towards anything unusual, unexplained and supernatural.