Hey friends... heres one weird one shot I have written recently. Its a very long one and I didnt dare to recheck it.. very lazy I am see. So please forgive the mistakes.
The Hounds at Connecticut...
It was a silent evening and it was getting boring for manvi as there were very less appointments of patients, manvi was tapping on her desk with the pen she was holding... she yawned a few times and called her secretary liza to ask if there was anymore patients left. There was no one else, looks like mental diseases had decreased recently in a philantrophic rate. The patients appearing these days had been suffering from really common fits... depression was the common thing among them. But manvi always loved to solve the complicated cases, the difficult and mysterious ones.. that way she was able to test her own knowledge, go to the extreme stage of her horizon of intelligence and use her self invented flawless skills. Her dedication towards her career, her intelligence and strong willpower made her to become one of the top psychiatrists in Connecticut. She had always dreamt to reach this hight of success in her career and now when she was there fulfilling her dream.. her ambition in just 24 years age. The one dream left for her was to get a case.. a case that would be a perfect challenge for her..
Manvi: " Is there any patient left liza ? "
Liza: " No mam.. "
Manvi started picking up a few important files from her desk and stood up to leave for home taking her purse. She planned cheerfully to have a hot shower taking a lots of time reaching home, then she would order her dinner from a nearby resturant.. no way she was going to cook today.. such a lousy day it was. But suddenly a man in his twenties entered in without knocking, not bothering to greet in any way and not even looking at her he sat down on the chair infront of her wooden desk. Manvi was standing dead in her tracks as she kept looking at the man, his sudden appearance told her that he was very much disturbed inside.. He possessed a very handsome face and his mascular chest peeping out from the open three buttons of his shirt said that he was used to regular work outs, his tight and sexy muscles through the skin fitting shirt grabbed her attention. But she managed to quickly compose herself as the restlessness twirling in him got sensed by her.
Manvi kept all the files and her bag on the desk purposefully making a loud noise, her attempt was successful as he looked up at her startled but only for a few seconds.. then he again went back to his earlier mode.. bending his head down and staring at nothing. Manvi sat on her chair and tried reading his body language, she could tell even closing her eyes that he was very tensed.. the dirk circles aroun his eyes announced that he wasnt sleeping well from last hew weeks maybe. His hands were crossed upon his chest tightly which made manvi think that he was hiding a secret inside him.. a not so pleasant thing and he was burdened with the pressure of it. Manvi cleared her throat but this time he didnt look up.
Manvi: " How may I help you.. MR. ?? "
She waited patiently for a few minutes for his answer.. it felt like eternity after when he finally answered..
" Vi.. virat... my name is virat ... "
For the first time he looked directly into her eyes.. his chocolaty eyes met her black orbs and that moment seemed very special to both of them, when manvi was busy trying to collect informations from his eyes about his subconscious mind... virats eyes already found the hope in her eyes... virat felt right at that moment that he would be allright.. he would be fine.
The way he uttered his own name made manvi more sure about the turmoil going on in his mind. He must be in pain and he was desperately trying to find a way out. His eyes had the glimpse of his kind and serene soul but she could also see the horror in it, he was nervous and scared.. yes that was fear in his eyes.. but of what !! Well.. thats something she would have to wait to hear from his mouth. She wanted to start a normal conversation, so that he could trust her to the extent to share his inner self.. to share his insicurities and fears.
Manvi: " Well.. mr. virat you must be surprised to see me, I mean its totally funny to talk to a pshychiatrist who is younger than you.. haa haa.. "
She laughed trying to light the situation for him and it worked, her laughter touched him.. making a small smile spread on his pressed lips.
Virat: " You look beautiful when you laugh.. "
Manvi was startled.. she didnt accept him to say that and she felt a bit awkward, but she was smart enough to not let that awkwardness getting showed on her face, she couldnt risk the lightened atmosphere to bid adieu. Manvi just smiled.. she kept her expression comfortable like before.
Manvi: " Thanks.. you should also smile often, it suits you.. "
Before silence could surround them again manvi called liza.
Manvi: " What do you want to have ... tea or coffee.. ? "
Virat: " Just a glass of cold water.. "
Manvi: " Armmm.. actually I want to have a cup of hot tea, after a very tiring day I really need a cup of steaming tea to reenergize myself and it wont look good if I alone sip tea when you would gulp down the whole glass of water in one go.. Come on.. give me company, Liza bring two cup of tea and also a glass of cold water as the gentleman wished for. "
Virat silently watched manvi blabbering and he enjoyed the way she was talking, it didnt go unnoticed by him that she trying to make it easy for him. But he didnt know how to start, he didnt know what to tell.. Will she believe him ? He hadnt told anyone else... as he was himself finding it impossible to believe. What if she start to laugh ?
Manvi watched his eyebrows getting scrunched, why was he going tensed up again ? Liza sent the peon in who brought the tea cups with a plate of cookies and a glass of cold water. Manvi poured a little bit of steaming tea on the saucer and kept blowing air through her mouth on it, she sipped making a loud noise which made virat snap out of his thoughts. As manvi expected virat was looking at her amused but manvi didnt care and kept on sipping the tea making disgusting sounds. This virat cleared his throat uncomfortably, manvi pretended that suddenly she remembered that someone was sitting infront of her.
Manvi: " Ohh.. virat you can also enjoy your tea please.. its really nice. "
Virat nodded in positive, he took the cup and gulped down the steaming hot tea in one go and started coughing vigorously. Manvi shook her head negative as if she was watching a naive yet naughty child, he must have burnt his tongue.. she thought. She was about to stand up and walk towards him but virat stopped her showing his hand, manvi sat down as he drank the cold water now and got relaxed seeing him soothing down. Manvi suppressed her laughter as virat looked away smiling in embarrassment. It was now time to ask him the initial questions now.. but lets get started with the light ones, it didnt look like he was going to start the main conversation and start speaking up his problem or problems by his own. But manvi had skills and she was confident about them.
Manvi: " So virat.. what do you do ? "
Virat was now looking at the emty cup on the desk, when manvi thought that he wouldnt answer hse heard him saying..
Virat: " Nothing.. "
His voice was a mere whisper but manvi managed to listen. He left a inaudible sigh very carefully but it didnt go unnoticed by manvi.
Manvi: " I know theres more to explain.. "
She stated confidently. virat felt annoyed he wasnt comfortable to share his personal issues with a stranger, this was the reason he didnt want to come here at the first place but his brother viren forced him to meet this pshychiatrist at least once. Viren was confident that she could help, this same pshychiatrist cured one of virens closest friend.. virens friend was suffering from massive insomonia, apparently he started halucinating during midnight hours.. according to viren this particular doctor who cured his friend completely was kind of a magician. But here he was sitting infront of a girl who was a few years younger than him, was sipping tea making disgusting sounds, not even asking anything about his problem instead blabbering about every silly things... and now she was asking about his personal matters. He felt irritated. However manvi could read his mind, read his every thoughts by studing his body languages and his expressive eyes.
Manvi: " No one comes here without any problem, so I am guessing the same about you though you didnt find it necessary to tell me but I think my guess is right. I guess you are are very tensed from a few weeks and you arent getting enough sleep at nights... The reason might be you are watching very horrible nightmares and all these started from an incident, an incident so simple yet managed to scare the hell out of you.. Am I right mr. virat vadhera.. ?? "
I rested my back on the backrest of the chair as I looked at his surprised expression satisfied.
Virat: " How do you know that my .. my surname is vadhera ? "
Manvi: " Well.. sometimes I have to show a demo of my power of observing and my skills.. "
Manvi said with a smirk to which virat fell silent. It was obvious that she was a great observant and was well skilled to use her brain to peep into others brains.. but he was still unsure.. he was a bit hesitant.. opening up wasnt a easy task to him. Manvi bent forward and said in a calming tone...
Manvi: " Listen virat.. you can trust me.. I will give my best to help you but you jave to open up first. You have to share every single thing about yourself.. your life.. your dreams and most importantly your problem. Theres always a solution to each problem... trust me.. "
Virat wanted to say that he trusted her, he wanted to share his problem.. he wanted to get healed and he wanted to ne free and go bak to his old carefree, fearless lifestyle. He wanted to remove the darkness.. the horrifing darkness that surrounded his life suddenly. But he couldnt do it himself, neither could anyone else but this girl whom he hated to see as a pshychiatrist was the exception maybe.
But he couldnt muster up the courage to speak, his introvert self didnt allow him to do so. And he did what seemed the best to him.. run away. He stood up suddenly and stormed out from there the same way he came... leaving manvi flabbergasted.
Manvi returned home, she had been living alone here.. her family was settled in another town nearby. She would visit them in every two or three months or so, the silent house with the sound of the tv sometimes seemed to her annoying. She wasnt used to live in a quite and lonely atmosphere like this, she was grown up in a funfilled joined family and the affect of that funfilled surrounding maybe would never leave her alone and the silence and loneliness would always make her suffocated.
As per plan manvi had a hot shower taking her own sweet time, the whole bathroom was steamy.. she couldnt help but think about virat.. the weird one. She wanted to know his story desperately.. she wondered what must be his problem. She was confused.. wether he would come back trusting her or this was the first and last meeting !! Brushing away all the thoughts she wrapped herself into a towel and went towards her walk in closet, she had to freshen up her mind... going to a nearby club would be a good idea she thought. Picking up a comfy, simple yet gorgeous white dress which would reach upto her knees.. she walked out to her bedroom. After half an hour she looked at her reflection in the mirror, the minimal make-up.. kohl around her beautiful eyes and rasp-berry lip gloss.. thats it, she looked simple yet original and she looked gorgeous.
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Manvi was getting hell annoyed with the continuous bickering and whining of this drunk man who was adament to buy her a drink, the smell of his nasty mouth mixed with the smell of alcohoal was disgusting her more evrytime he was trying to lean onto her. Manvi pushed him back roughly and yelled...
Manvi: " Listen you moron.. buzz off or else... "
Probably this made the drunk person furious, when someone is drunk it doesnt take time for their mood to change. He put his hands on the bar counter blocking manvi from both the sides, his face was very close to her..
" Or else.. what !! "
Manvi was too shocked to say or do anything, she tried pushing him away again but this time he was firm and it was nearly impossible to manvi to succeed. Suddenly the drunk man was jerked behind as a strong grip pulled him back..
Manvi: " Virat.. "
Ok.. this was unexpected, but everything seemed unexpected when it came to this weird man.. virat vadhera. Virat eyes were red in anger as he punched the drunk person a few times maniacly making him to pass out, leaving his limp body on the floor virat rushed towards manvi..
Virat: " Are you allright ? Did he hurt you ? "
Seeing the worry written all over his face for her manvi couldnt help but feel a few impulsive butterflies doing salsa inside her stomach, manvi was quite and this made virat think that she was hurt or shaken. Virat moved closer to manvi not knowing how to comfort her or find out where she was hurt, he cupped her face and looked at her eyes with genuine care which didnt help manvi in any way.. as those butterflies were now behaving like an insane elephant.
Virat: " Miss manvi.. "
Seeing the discomfort in her face virat suddenly realised how close he was to her, he distanced himself a little bit from her and slowly removed his warm hands from her face.. which seemed like carresing to manvi.. involuntarily she closed her eyes. Virats looked at her from top to bottom, he couldnt help but admire inwardly her attire, she was different form all the other girls here or in this whole world, he felt like the simple white dress complimented her pure heart and gorgeous with the touch of intelligent self, she wasnt wearing any heavy make-up and that made her look more angelic.. virat felt like to touch her cheeks to see the red blush appearing on her skin was real or fake !! He realised that manvi caught him staring at her and checking her out, he looked away immediately getting embarrassed.. why he was doing all the stupid things when around this girl.
Manvi: " Thanks.. and please call me just manvi.. "
Her voice made him again look towards her, he didnt say anything but just nodded his head.
They were sitting on the couch in a quite and dark corner of the club, slow music was playing and a couple was making out behind a pillar a few feets away from them. They both ignored the the sensuous view. They sipped their wine liesurely and felt more cozy as the heavenly tasting liquid travelled down their throat.
Manvi: " May I ask you that why you left like that earlier.. ? "
Virat didnt know what to say, he himself wast sure of the reason.. maybe because he was getting more and more eccentric day by day. But he felt like talking now.. maybe it was the atmosphere.. or maybe it was the wine.. or maybe it was possible that he wasnt taking her as a stranger or a pshychiatrist anymore.
Virat: " I dont know.. "
He said simply and manvi smiled.
Manvi: " Maybe because you couldnt trust me enough.. "
Virat stayed quite, she might be true..
Manvi: " But you can always trust a friend.. "
Virat looked at her confused and manvi took the lead.
Manvi: " Would you take the risk to make me your friend ? "
Virat felt the genuinness and the sarcasm both blended up in her voice.
Virat: " I guess, I would love to take the risk.. "
They laughed together and chatted away about all the random and stupid topics, manvi discovered with fascination that virat was indeed a very funloving person but she also wondered that why he kept that side of him hidden.. as she knew more about him, she started digging out his inner self which was anything but introvert.
They fell silent after a while, but the silence was also comfortable.. the couple had now retired to a room to proceed with their armmm.. task.
Virat: " I always wanted to be a singer... "
Virat suddenly spoke, manvi knew that he had now started to talk.. the real talk. She didnt want to interrupt the pace and kept quite like a good.. attentive listener.
Virat: " But my family never approved, I have been the spoilt one in the family.. messing up everything coming in my way. I never cared for anyone.. always living life in my own way.. own rules, I used to be a party animal and enjoyed living life on the edge. Elders of my family were never happy on me and my activities. One day there happened this ugly argument over my future and career options with my grandfather, both of our yellings at each other were echoing in the whole house. "
Flashback:
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Dada ji: " Enough is enough virat, today you have to choose... either you have to forget running behind the foolish dream of your becoming a singer or leave this house right now. "
Virat: " I would like to leave then dadaji... "
Virat was angry like hell, taking his bag he stormed out of the house. Viren and all the pther family members tried to stop him or make dadaji change his decision but neither of them were ready to bow down infront of their ego as the size of a mountain. Vanshika was crying as her son didnt turn back once and left with his car.
Virat didnt know where he was going, it was evening and his car joomed through the streets of connecticut. This place was always a very silent one but this evening was seeming more quiter, virat became more furious as his car slowed down and jerked a few times violently before stopping dead in track. Virat punched the steering wheel in annoyance.
" Damnnn... "
Virat came out of the car and slammed the door close behind, he opened the bonet and smoke came out from there.. virat coughed a little and closed it back. Leaving the car behind virat grabbed his bag and started walking aimlessly on the road. It was getting chilly as time passed, light cold breeze was blowing making virat shiver.. though he was wearing a jacket the chill in the atmosphere somehow managed to touch his bones. He rubbed his palms together in order to provide some warmth in his numb going body. The trees, grass.. houses and all the other things around were getting drenched by the white moonlight showering upon them with kindness by the moon. Virat looked upto the sky and stared for sometime at the large fullmoon, there were no clouds and no hindrance between the moon and the earth to interrupt the silent smile this fullmoon was showing to the human kind. Virat felt like though this gracious smile of moon was for everyone, he was the only soul to witness the view. He looked around him to find himself standing in a road seemed so lonely, there were no houses around.. no living things could be seen.
Virat kept walking as the moonlight made the silence and the ever so lonely night more mysterious, his shoes were making crushing sounds on the dry leaves scattering on the ground. It felt like he was making a sin creating the unwanted sounds and disturbing the sleep of nature. His phone battery was dead already, so he was kinda deprived of any contact with his familiar world or the people who might be right now searching for him... it was also good in a way .. he thought.
He felt himself like a observer.. like a vagabond and the new feeling of leading towards nowhere made him excited, the new experience he was going through seemed so much bizzare yet so valuable. He crossed a lampost but all its lights were broken. As he walked in a relax way, he saw a few black hounds on the road.. he couldnt remember when they started following him. They were four and all of them were pitch black except for one.. one of the dogs were dark brown and very furry. At first virat felt a bit scared.. but the dogs didnt look like they will attack and bite him, there was no signs of violent behaviour in them. They were walking at both of his sides, slowly the hounds increased their pace and now they were walking infront of him. Virat didnt bother to give it a thought, he didnt know why this seemed so normal to him... he found companies and he felt thrilled.
All of a sudden all four of the dogs stopped together making virat also to stop in his way confusedly as he was walking behind them. All four of the dogs were suddenly alert.. their ears were standing strainght, they were not even moving their tails.. they were looking at something infront of them breathlessly. Virat looked around and discovered that he was standing in the middle of a crossroad, there were a lots of trees around the roads which made the roads look dark and so black instead of the middle.. where both the roads crossed each-other.
The dogs started grunting in low tones.. it made virats heart race faster. He was now standing right in the middle of the crossroad and the four hounds were infront of him facing their back at him, he felt like they were waiting for someone .. but whom !! He didnt know but he wanted to know the answer, the brown hound turned its head back at him and virat felt like he made a grave mistaking entering this place. He felt like he wasnt permitted to come here, he wasnt meant to be present there.. not at least that time. The brown hound again looked forward and virats chain of thoughts got broken heearing the sound of someones heavy footsteps. Someone was coming towards him walking through the road infront of him, the hounds were now groaning.. the footsteps got louder and the hounds were now growling maniacly.. one of them cried raising its head up towards the fullmoon. The moon was looking no more serene, it was spreading horror in the pretense of its kind moonlight. Virats inner voice told him tp leave.. to leave right now, but one part of his brain wanted to observe the unobserved.. see the unseen, his mind was fighting inside as he wanted to leave the place desperately but at the same time he wished to witness something which was unexplained and forbidden.
As he heard the footsteps nearing it sounded like that unknown someones shoes were made of heavy woods. An unknown fear drowned virat completely as a figure slowly started appearing from the dark shadows.. walking in a steady pace, virats inner voice kept screaming to him to go away from there.. it wasnt good for him... he shouldnt face it as it would mean the destruction of him. But virats feets were as if stuck to the ground, he couldnt move.. he couldnt even blink, the thing he was capable of doing was stare at the figure now completely visible under the moonlight and virat didnt know what he felt seeing that.. seeing the most horrible thing ever existed. The brown hound was now facing virat without making any noise when the other three hounds kept staring at the thing.. virat didnt know what to call it.
The middle of the crossroads was noe totally silent, only the heavy breaths of the hounds could be heard. There infront of virat stood someone looking as normal as anyone.. wrapped in a shawl... the only abnormality was that it had no head... a being without a head... there was simply nothing on the neck. It had no shadow unlike all the other objects around, it started raising up its left hand and pointed its index finger towards virat... the hounds were now walking in a circle around the headless creature while it was still pointing towards virat. Virat noticed with horror as its shadow began to appear beside it on the road, the shadow was going longer and longer...
Virat felt his blood going cold and every cell of his body were going numb, a very disgusting smell of rotten meat filled the air.. he felt like puking. The brown hound suddenly barked looking at him and this made virat snap out of the trance. Before he could register what he was doing, he was running aimlessly through the empty roads not turning back.. not looking around.
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Virat stopped and stared at the empty glass of wine. Manvi was listening attentively... more attentively than just a listener.. she was taking notes of all the little, all the petty things in her mind. Virat was not saying anything so manvi asked..
Manvi: " Then.. "
Virat: " Then I dont remember anything... my family told me that I was found unconscious beside my car. I was in a critical condition in hospital for over two and a half weeks, I was brought home after that.. I wasnt in my senses, I didnt talk.. didnt walk.. It was.. it was totally horrible. It took a lot of effort from my family and the renowned psychiatrists from around the states to bring me back to normal condition. "
Manvi: " Then what brings you to me.. ?? "
Virat bent his head down, manvi placed her hand upon his hand which was curled into a fist, virat relaxed under the warm affectionate touch.
Virat: " I have nightmares.. the same scene I witnessed that night.. I had been passing sleepless and restless nights. I want to get rid of it.. its like a curse.. I.. "
Virat was rambling and stuttering.. and manvi let him speak.. he was in pain and he wanted a way out.. he was trusting her and manvi determined herself to solve the puzzle, to make everything allright.
It was nearly dawn and manvi was still sitting on the couch of the club engrossed in deep thought, virats head was kept on her lap as he was sleeping like a baby.. he was holding manvis one hand in his strong grip.. like she would go away leaving him alone to suffer if he left her hand. Manvi was running her fingers through his messy hair lightly with her free hand. She had already called viren through virats phone to take him back home, she needed to know about virats surroundings.. all his details completely to dig deep into the matter. She felt like.. she found her challenge, the one case in her life which would be her strongest competitor.
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It was two days after virat shared the most horrible incident happened in his life. Virat found a friend in manvi who wouldnt laugh at him, who wouldnt call him insane.. instead who would go to any extent to solve his problem.. who would stand by him always. The connection they were sharing was just not a doctor and a patient, it was something more.. something beyond the professional thing.. this fact didnt go unnoticed by both of them. Manvi investigated about virats background, she talked with all the family memebers of virat..
Manvi had already talked with all the family members of virat and got all the important informations she needed. She was slowly working on the tagled up threads.. she was almost aware of the descriptions of all those messed up threads but there was something missing.. something which seemed right infront of her eyes but invisible.
Vanshika: " Manvi beta.. have this sweet I made, virat loves it so much.. "
Manvi: " Thank you aunty... "
Manvi smiled and tasted the sweet which was really sweet like vanshika and tasted like heaven, manvi admired vanshikas cooking skills whole heartedly.
Manvi: " Well aunty, would you mind if I ask you some more questions about virat ? "
Vanshika: " Of course beta... I would co-operate in every way to bring my old virat back... to see him allright... ask anything beta... "
Manvi: " I came to know that virat had a few girlfriends before but he wasnt serious about anyone of them, he himself told me that. He wasnt lying but it felt like there is more to it... can you please.. "
Vanshika understood and sighed.
Vanshika: " You are right... he told you that he wasnt serious about any of the girlfriends he had but he didnt tell you the reason of why he was uninterested about commitments and relationships. Actually virats dad.. vikram ... he left me.. he left his family for another girl after virat was born, he left only a note which said this relationship.. this marriage was like a chain for him.. he felt suffocated and that other girl taught him what freedom was. Whole lchildhood virat missed his dad.. his love, care and when he grew up he feared relationships.. commitments. He was scared to get into a serious relationship... to commit to someone and then break it.. he was scared if he would also mess up like his father did. He never wants to be like his father.. "
Manvi held vanshikas hand to which vanshika smiled at her.
Manvi: " I am really sorry to dig the old wounds aunty but I am left with no options but to ask you this one last thing... "
Vanshika nodded to manvi to continue.
Manvi: " Did virat or any one of this family ever had a dog ? "
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Virat was standing infront of the window in his room, staring at particularly nothing. There was a knock on the door..
Virat: " Come in.. "
Manvi walked in, after all these days hard works and doing brain exercises over virats past and present she was finally able to find out how to solve the tangled up threads. Todays talk to vanshika was the final step towards it.
Manvi: " Kya kar rahe ho ? "
She asked softly and virat tilted his head to look at manvi standing beside him. He reciprocated the same tone...
Virat: " Maybe thinking about you.. "
Manvi just smiled and sat on the window sill facing him. Virat was still standing in the same position, he crossed his hands upon his broad chest.
Manvi: " You never told me about your dad virat.. "
Virat just kept silent and looked away.
Virat: " So you investigated my family members and dug out everything about me.. ? "
Manvi: " Thats because I work with different human natures and behaviours, but one thing is common among everyone.. all tend to hide the most important things when they spill out the silly and petty things. I pick up those silly things, put them in a basket and scrath out the clues to find out the bigger fishes. "
Virat: " I must admire your intelligent skills girl.. well done.. "
It made manvi fascinated about how virat was opening up to her more and more as they kept meeting each other.
Manvi: " Thanks virat.. but I would appreciate it more if you listen to a story I want to tell you now and let me know whats your view about it.. "
Virat looked at her confused.
Virat: " Story ?? "
Manvi: " Yes.. a story.. its actually your story from my perspective.. "
Virat went silent and manvi took the silence as the sign to proceed.
Manvi: " You have a very complicated personality virat but that is not your fault. The absence of your father during your whole childhood period, the disturbing and unpleasant reason of his leaving... it created an unavoidable pressure on your mind.. the pressure you are still bearing deep inside you, which you dont want to let go. "
Virat was silent, his face straight.. it was impossible to figure out what he was thinking. Manvi continued...
" Thats why you never commited to anyone.. I guess you always had nightmares of being left alone or crying or yelling your heart out but no one was listening to you.. am I right virat ?? "
Virat sighed and nodded in positive.
Manvi: " Then when you grew up.. you were the only one different or should I say unique in your family, you were far away from the sophisticated and elegant rules of your family.. you believed to pave your own way.. stand on your own feets with your talent.. with the support of your voice. But your family always opposed.. always stood against you instead of standing for you.. standing beside you.
All these things added more pressure in your mind.. and then the dispute happened, you left home.. your loved ones.. your familiar world behind. This was a shock.. a sudden shock for your mind as you still wished deep down that your family would support you but they let you go instead, you were sad.. devastated.. anger had totally engulfed you. All your frustration.. the pressures and your inner turmoil came infront of you as that headless scary thing. "
Virat: " So you mean to say that I was hallucinating as I was frustrated... sad and bla bla bla.. "
Manvi confidently nodded and virat furrowed his eyebrows and brushed his hair with his fingers.
Manvi: " Your mind gathered all the negative things from every cell of your brain, gave them an ugly figure and presented infront of you in its own way. The atmosphere also played its role well.. "
Virat: " What about the hounds manvi.. how would you explain it ?? I swear they were real.. "
Virat said in a restless tone but the confident in manvis voice didnt even shake a bit.
Manvi: " Do you remember of bruno ? The dog you had when you were 8 years old.. the rare brownish hound, you loved it a lot naa ?? "
Virat went back to his memory-lane, the flashes of him running in a vast field snapped up in his mind.. a dog with brown furrs was running beside him.
Manvi: " You loved bruno very much.. you were broken after brunos demise, after ages your brain brought bruno infront of you.. "
Virat again cut in her sentence desparately..
Virat: " But what about the three black ones ... "
Manvi: " Your mind used some of your memories and some it itself created.. "
Virat: " So you are saying that the whole thing was just a hallucination.. a stupid game that my brain played with me !! "
Manvi: " I thought you already guessed it virat.. i just gave you the details.. "
A few minutes passed in silence, both of them were staring out of the window. Virat was the first one to talk..
Virat: " So what do you suggest me to do manvi.. how to solve this ? How to erase the continuity of my watching nightmares... I still can feel the fear in me manvi.. the same way I felt that night... "
Manvi: " Thats your task virat... to find out what would be the best for you.. to defeat this fear inside you... "
Virat looked at manvi confused and somewhat surprised. Manvi chuckled a little...
Manvi: " Dont give me that surprising look virat. My job was to find the real problem.. the reality and its only your job to find the solution .. no one else's. Because virat no human brain is similar to any other one in this world, and everytime we deal with a human being we deal with a brand new one.. so the problems are always unique. We can buy medicines if our body is suffering but the medicine of the suffering of our mind is right inside it.. "
Manvi tapped her head with her finger...
Manvi: " So you tell me virat... what should you do.. ? "
Virat stood silent for a while before saying the words...
Virat: " I... I should face it again, the same fullmoon.. the same crossroad, the same hounds and the same.. "
He didnt finish the sentence and manvi sighed...
Manvi: " You ever went back there ? That road.. "
Virat smiled weakly.. his smile depicted frustration...
Virat: " Yeah... a few times, everytime I just stood beside the lampost with broken lights.. I couldnt gather the guts in me to step forward. But I have decided.. one night I will just step forward.. towards the crossroad, it has to be a sudden thing.. I havent chosen any particular night, One night I will just do it.. I cant live with this fear all my life. Am I right manvi ? "
Manvi smiled at him comfortingly and stood up infront of him, she brought her face upto virats cheek stepping on her tiptoes. Virats heart missed a bit as her soft lips touched his cheek gently..
Manvi: " All the best virat... "
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After that, neither manvi nor virat talked about the matter.. not a single thing. One month had passed and the freindship between them grew even more stronger, they often used to meet in the same bar they met the second time. Everything was going smoothly and just fine untill one early morning manvi received a call from viren...
Manvi picked up her phone and spoke in a sleepy tone...
Manvi: " Hellooo.. "
Viren: " Manvi.. you have to come to vadhera house right now.. "
Viren blabbered in his high pitch tone not caring to greet formally. Manvi's sleep flew away and she sat up removing the blanket from upon her body..
Manvi: " Heyy.. relax viren.. relax.. what happened ? Is virat allright ? "
Viren: " No damn it.. he is not allright, he is just behaving like before. He is not letting anyone enter his room, he is not talking to anyone.. he looked scared and desheveled... "
Manvi guessed what it could be.. but it wasnt meant to backfire... was it?? How could her calculations go wrong !! She knew what must have happened but stll she asked..
Manvi: " What exatly happened viren ? "
Viren: " I dont know manvi.. I dont know.. He was not home the whole night and he returned just before sunrise like this.."
Manvi: " Ok.. dont panic.. I will be there in half an hour.. "
Manvi hung up the call and ran to the bathroom... she was not going to accept defeat.
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Manvi was knocking on virats bedroom door from an hour but there was no response.
Manvi: " Virat.. virat.. please open the door. I am asking you for the hundredth time now.. virat pplease open the door, if you wouldnt talk to me how would I get to know.. Viiiraaat.. please... "
After a lot of pleadings manvi at last heard his shaken voice..
Virat: " I dont want anyone else rather than you in my room... "
Manvi: " Okkk... I am sending everyone away.. just let me in. "
Everyone left from there and the door opened... by itself, what the hell !! She saw virat sitting on the bed hugging his knees staring with his red eyes at her. He didnt walked upto the door to open it then how did it open by itself. Manvi stepped in the room a bit unsure but adament to be by virat.. he needed her. A strong rotten smell of flesh hit her nose.. she felt like puking. Manvi looked at virats face which was pale.. she wondered what must had happened last night. She was almost near virats bed when a sound of a dog crying came from outside the window.. manvi looked sideways and was dumstruck to see four dogs through the window. Three of them were black in colour and one of them were brown.. the hounds were big in size and all of them were looking right at virats room without blinking.
Virat: " Close the curtains.. "
Manvi just stared at virat and he yelled again..
Virat: " I said close the curtains.. "
Manvi did what he said ignoring the hounds still staring towards her. The room was now slightly dark.. a few rays of sunshine were peeping through the closed curtains, everything in the room was still visible. Manvi was feeling cold.. so cold that it was kind of making her numb. Manvi again started to walk towards virat, she stood beside the bed and was about to say something to virat but she stopped as a sound reached her ear. There was something under the bed, something was tapping the wood of the bed in a slow rhythmic pace.. it was getting louder and louder. Manvi looked at virat who was staring back at her.. his eyes deprive of any hope.
Manvis heart was thumping loudly in her chest, she didnt know whether she was scared or curious. There was obviously something under the bed.. manvi didnt want to walk away, she just knew that she had to see the end.. she wasnt a person to back out. Manvi slowly sat on her knees beside the bed and bend down her whole body...
And the scene welcomed manvi made her mind blank. The idea was wrong... in extreme conditions people dont feel scared.. dont feel traumatized.. they just feel NOTHING... nothing at all but just for the first few seconds, as human brain detects the abnormality the horrifying thing infront of the sufferer makes her feel his/her every cell of body pass through high voltage electricity. Manvi felt the same as she saw with her mouth wide open.. the headless thing slowly crawling out from under the bed. All her knowledge.. he flawless skills.. her explanation for every damn thing under the sky fell crumbling down on the ground and broke into pieces.
Manvi murmured unknowingly... her voice a whisper..
Manvi: " What you brought with you virat.. !! "
Virat: " It followed me here ... "
Please press the like button and comment... and after that check under your bed.. what if there is someone hiding silently, a very scary someone who doesnt have a head.. smells like rotten corpse and the presence of whom make the temperature of your room go down and you shiver both in cold and in fear. And when you sleep it tries to touch your skin with its icy fingers...
Lots of love...
lara...
CID
