Living in NIGHTMARE (MN HORROR) PART 18 PG 3 22/12

Hey guys!!!!

CONCEPT:
Life is not always good. It has its ups & downs. Just like each night follows each day everyone has dark night in life during which they have to wait to get a fresh day in life. Some people believe in ghosts & some do not. This is a story of such a girl who has strong belief in ghosts. She believes there is a parallel imaginary world running around our very own world. She believes in superpowers. She believes there is evil because she knows without evil no God exists. Just like people have full faith in god she has full belief that there is a world of devil & God is constantly fighting with this world to keep it away from us. But God can't always protect us. Sometimes we need to fight for ourself to prove our power. Yes, this bubbly,chirpy girl doesn't know that very soon God is going to test her ability to fight for herself & her loved ones.
This is the story of a girl Nupur Bhushan who is returning back to her home town Mumbai alongwith her family after 15 Long years. Yes these 15 years she had terribly missed her house. Her house in which she spent 5 long years of her childhood. Her birth place. But little does she know that her happiness is not going to last. The house she craved so much for is not the same anymore. What happens when tragic incidents begin in this house? How does she explain her family & friends about the presence of some one else in this house too? Is there a spirit haunting her? Who & why? And while trying to find answers to these questions she comes across some mysteries & secrets...A truth that shakes her completely...A truth that no one is ready to beilieve not even her lover Mayank Sharma. How does she deal with all this alone?

INTRODUCTION:

NUPUR BHUSHAN:
A bubbly girl full of energy. Loves mayank a lot. They have been childhood friends & with time their friendship changed to love. She believes in evil & angel. Since childhood she has always been a crazy girl loving horror stories. Her friends always make fun of her for believing in ghosts. But little do they all know time is going to bring them in such situation that they all will have to believe her.

MAYANK SHARMA:
A smart, studious, cute guy. Loves nupur a lot. Mayur's fathers have been business partners due to which they had always been close. 15 years back their families moved to Delhi to expand their business & now their families are returning back to mumbai to their same old house. Their families are waiting for mayur to complete their studies so that they can get them married & settle their lives.
Gunjan is mayank's sister while Uday is nupur's brother. All 4 are ready to enter excel college as soon as they arrive back to mumbai.

PART-1:
IN THE PLANE:
N: I'm so excited mayank...Finally we are going back to Mumbai.
M: jaanta hu...5 years of our childhood in that place.
N: haan aur mom ki yaadein...
M: pata hai mujhe tum dubara uss ghar jaane ke liye betaab ho...
N: its been 15 long years mayank...lagta hai uss ghar mein dubaara jaa kar main fir mom ki presence mehsoos kar sakoogi.
M(holding her hands with her): I'm sure you will. Aunty aaj bhi tumhaara kahi intzaar kar rahi hogi...Woh toh iss duniya se chali gayi par uss ghar mein apni yaadein chod gayi...woh yaadein jinke saath tum reh sako.
Nupur still remembered some flashbacks of her childhood days. When she was small how much her mom used to love her. But when she was 5 years old a tragic incident happened & her mom lost her life in an accident. Little mayank had tried to support her. She was so depressed that her & mayank's father decided to leave Mumbai for sometime to bring her out of those sad memories. Both the families left & went to Delhi. Slowly they started expanding their business there. Nupur always wanted to return to her birthplace where she could feel her mom's presence. And finally her wish is granted after waiting for 15 long years. Mayu always knew about nupur's desire & finally somehow he persuaded his & nupur's dad to go back to Mumbai. They were reluctant but than agreed. Now finally their old house is waiting for them. Nupur is dying to feel her mom's presence back in her life but will it be her mom or someone else?
BACK TO MUMBAI:
Yes the plane finally landed & the 2 families were back to Mumbai. Once reached near the house nupur was so excited that she ran towards the house but what she saw was unexpected. The beautiful mansion she left 15 years back was no more the same. It had become dull & dusty. The bright colour paint was peeled off in many places. The garden was no more the same. All the flowers were dead & some trees were so over grown that they were literally falling down. It looked more like a jungle. The swing in which she & mayank used to sit was broken. The garden was full of some weird insects she had never seen before. Looked like the insects had found home where no one would stop them from coming. Overall the entire mansion looked clumsy from outside. Not a place for human to live. She wondered how the house would look from inside if this is outside condition.
Everyone was equally surprised. Mayur decided to go & look at the inner state of house. The elders went in search of the servant. Uday was hungry so he sat in the car to eat & gunjan gave him company. Mayur opened the door & saw that the inner state of house was worse than outer state. The whole house was dusty. The moment they stepped in nupur began to cough since the dust filled her lungs. There were bird nests in every corner of the house. The furnitures were equally dusty & broken at places. The ceilings were peeling off. Fungus had grown on the walls of house. The house was stinking like some animal had died. But it was not this that mattered to nupur. What mattered her was the moment she entered the house she felt some weird feelings. She didn't feel the happiness she should've felt on coming back home. The excitement suddenly died away. All she felt was suffocating. Suffocating in her own house. She could feel someone's presence in this house. May be her mom? But it couldn't be her mom. She wouldn't feel so suffocating with her mom's presence around. She knew it was something else. She slowly went upstairs to her mom's room. It was in equally bad condition. Just then she heard someones noise. Someone was walking in the passage. She went in the passage but there was no one but the noise was still there. She scanned all the rooms but no one was there.
Mayank was still on ground floor. She could see his back from the passage. Then who was moving? Suddenly she heard someones crying noise. She looked at mayank but he was still standing there looking at something. He hadn't heard the noise. She wondered how come only she heard. She tried to know where the noise was coming from. Someone was constantly crying. She searched all the rooms & bathrooms but no one was there. Suddenly the crying died away. She was scared. Something odd had been happening the moment she entered this house.
She wanted to get out of this house soon. A strong wind came & passed her. She shuddered & felt cold. From where did this wind come? She wondered. All the windows were closed. She knew the house was not safe. She decided to leave as soon as possible. She was about to turn when she heard some scratching noise. The noise was coming like someone was scratching something on wall. All of sudden with terror she saw letters forming by themselves on the wall. In shining bright red blood colour she saw the letters formed a sentence 'TIME FOR PAYBACK' & there was a symbol of danger beneath it. Nupur couldn't believe what she saw. She ran from there towards mayank. Mayank was still busy looking at something. Nupur came from behind & started panicking.
N: mayank yahaan se chalo...yahaan kuch gadbad hai...
But mayank didn't make a movement.
N: mayank jaldi chalo...
Since mayank was not replying she pulled his hand to make him run but got shocked when she realized only mayank's hand came in her hand. She had pulled out mayank's hand from his body. His entire hand was bleeding. She threw away his hand in terror. She looked at mayank. He slowly turned backwards. All she saw was that the face was blank. There was no ears, eyes, lips or nose on that face.
N(screamed): MAYYYAAANKKK...
M: kya hua nupur???
Nupur looked startled. She looked at the surrounding. Everyone were surprised at the sudden way she screamed. She realized they were still in car. They hadn't reached the house. The car came to a halt as the driver too got scared at the way nupur screamed.It was just a dream...a bad dream...no not a dream but a nightmare. Yes it was the worst nightmare she ever had.
M(holding her hand): tum theek toh ho?
N(still sweating): haan main theek hu...bas ek bura sapna dekha.
The journey started again & nupur was still tensed. She never got such horrible dreams even if she saw late night horror movies or read horror stories. She couldn't connect to this nightmare. Mayu made her drink water & asked her to relax. She sat more close to him & kept her arm in his to know he is safe beside her, holding her, protecting her. She wanted to forget this dream but something told her it was not just a dream. It has some connection with reality. But she wanted to relax so she brushed off that thought.
The journey came to an end & nupur was scared to go out. What if the house is like she had dreamt of? But slowly she took the courage to open her eyes. The house stood in front of her nothing like that she had dreamt of. The beautiful mansion was well decorated. There were lightings. The garden was proper with no overgrown trees. She was happy nothing was like her dream. Yes she realized it was just a nightmare. She relaxed. The house was just like it had to be.
N(laughing in her mind): I think too much...
Everyone started making their way into the house. Nupur was following them when something in the garden caught her attention. It was the swing. The swing she had seen broken in her dream. And now nupur realized this swing too was broken in the same manner. The swing lay down in the same manner as it was in her dream, broken at the same points. Now this was strange. Since when did her dreams start becoming true she wondered? She examined the swing. She remembered her childhood days when she & mayank used to sit on this swing. But sadly now it was broken. She hoped nothing else from her nightmare turns out to be true. With this hope she went inside. But little did she know a shadow was following her.
As soon as she entered a strong wind blew over her face. Same weird feelings entered her body which entered in her dream some time back. The house was lavishing yet she felt unsafe, suffocating. She entered the hall. Everyone was gathered on the sofa. Soon they made their way to their rooms to get freshen up & meet for dinner. But before going to her room nupur went to her mom's room. The furniture had surely been changed but still she could point out those corners where she troubled her mom a lot at her young age. Her eyes became moist looking at her mom's photoframe. Mayank came from behind & held her shoulders. She took his hand & started crying missing her mom. Mayank hugged her. Just than mayu's mom entered the room.
MM: arrey beta tum ro kyu rahi ho?
She looked at the frame & understood.
MM: kya nupur beta...mujhe lagaa tha itne saal maine tumhe maa ka saara pyaar diya fir bhi tum iss tarah se ro rahi ho??? Kya mere pyaar mein koi kami thi?
N: nahi aunty bilkul nahi...aap toh bahut achi hai...aap nahi hoti toh mujhe kabhi maa ka pyaar nahi milta...par iss ghar se maa ki itni saari yaadein judi hai...
MM: its ok beta I understand...par tumhaari mom humme jahaa se dekh rahi hai use lagega maine tumhe bilkul khush nahi rakhaa...kya tum yeh chahti ho ki meri best friend mujhe galat samjhe?
N: nahi aunty bilkul nahi...
MM: toh fir ache bachche ki tarah rona bandh karo...(wiping her tears).
MM(pulling mayu's ears): aur tujhe fresh nahi hona...meri beti ko rula raha hai..
M(screaming): awww...maaa...dard ho raha hai...main bas jaa hi raha hu...seriously aapko bas nupur pyaari hai main nahi (pouting his tongue like a small boy)...bad mom.
He went away.
MM: chalo nupur beta...jaldi fresh ho jao...Dinner par milte hai.
Nupur nodded & giving a last look to the room she went back to her room.
She went to her room but was too tired to arrange clothes in cupboard. She just opened her bag & removed her night suit. Suddenly she got the smell of something rot & decayed. Smell of some dead animal. The same smell she had felt in her dream. But how was it possible?? And that too in her room. She just couldn't take it. She went out of the room & collided with mayank.
N: by god mayank tum yahaan kya kar rahe ho???
M(sarcastically): swimming kar raha hu...
N: haha very funny...
M: tumhe dekhne aaya tha...ki tum theek ho ki nahi.
N(lovingly): haai...my cutieee...marjaawan tumhaari iss adaa pe(touching his hair & mayu pushed her hand)...don't worry main theek hu par yeh room theek nahi.
M: kyu kya hua???
N: pataa nahi yahaan se bahut gandi smell hai...(closing her nose).
M: chalo dekhte hai.
Mayur entered the room. There was no such smell.
M: kya nupur yahaan toh kuch bhi nahi hai...
N: pataa nahi...thodi der pehle bahut aa rahi thi...
M: ho sakta hai koi jaanwar baahar mar gaya hoga...waise bhi tumhaare kamre ki window garden ki side facing hai...shayad garden mein kuch hoga...anyways ab toh koi smell nahi aa rahi na...jao tayyaar ho jao..
Mayank left & nupur went to have bath in the bath tub. She was relaxing her body in warm water. It felt very nice. Just then she heard someones walking steps.
N: Kaun hai???
No reply.
N: mayank tum ho?
No reply.
The footsteps were still coming.
She got out & wore a bathrobe. She went out to see who came but there was no one. She could still hear the footsteps. She peeped out but the corridor was empty. Everyone were in their rooms. And the footsteps noise was coming in her room. But she was alone in her room. How could it be possible? And than she heard it...the crying noise. Someone was crying. She looked here & there but there was no one in the room. She checked the bathroom & there was no one there too. Still the noise was coming. The smell was back. The fragrance of her shampoo & soap couldn't remove this smell. And then it struck her. Her dream...her nightmare in car. Slowly things were coming true. First the swing, the weird feeling, suffocation, the smell, footsteps noise, crying noise. Never in her life had any of her dreams come true than why was the most horrible nightmare of her life turning out to be true? She was scared if slowly everything would turn out to be true??? She shuddered at the thought. She just couldn't understand what was happening. And then she looked at the bath tub. All the water was gone. She remembered when she got up water was there in the bath tub. Then how come all the water disappeared? She checked the knob & it was still closed so the water couldn't just flow away. She was getting scared now. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her face was filled with fear. And suddenly she looked in the mirror. The wall opposite her facing the mirror started cracking. She could hear the screetching noise like someone was scrabbling on the wall with nails. Letters formed on the wall. The same letters like her dream. Red blood letters which rearranged themselves to form words. The words formed the sentence 'TIME FOR PAYBACK'. She remembered her dream. Her nightmare was coming true. She screamed in terror.

PART 2:
Nupur opened her eyes slowly to see her family surrounding her. Her head was spinning. She opened her eyes fully & saw she was lying on her bed. And then she remembered what happened with her. She became hyper & started telling everyone what happened. Mayu caught her hand & tried to console her. Everyone were worried looking at her hyperness.
M: relax nupur kuch nahi hai...
N: nahi mayank tum nahi jaante...koi ro raha tha...fir kissi ne wall par khoon se kuch likha...koi hai yahaa mayank.
MM: nahi beta...kuch nahi hai...yeh sab tumhaara waihem hai...
N: nahi aunty iss ghar mein koi hai...humaare ilaawa koi aur bhi hai...koi jo humme dikhaaye nahi deti par usse mehsoos kar sakti hu...
M: nupur please understand...kuch nahi hua...kahin kuch gadbad nahi...just relax...you need sleep...tum thak gayi ho.
N: par mayank?
M: ssshhh...yeh lo khaana kha lo...
He made nupur eat. She ate quietly looking here & there as if someone will pounce on her from somewhere. She was sure what happened with her was true but she didn't understand why others didn't believe her. She took her medicines & mayu made her sleep. Everyone left thinking she fell asleep but she just couldn't sleep. She quietly got up & went to the bathroom. She opened it slowly. She went to look at the wall but nothing was there written on it. 'Was it really my imagination?'She wondered. She fell on the bed after praying to god & god blessed her with a nice sleep.
NEXT DAY:
Nupur got up with a fresh feeling. She was calm now. Everything that happened felt like a nightmare to her. She wanted to forget everything whether it was imaginary or real she didn't care. Mayur, gunjan & uday left for the college. College was very good. They made friends with some other students. Samrat was the star of the college & unknowingly gunjan was attracted to him. Dia-the diva of the college was very sweet with them. Adhiraj & suhaani were also in their gang. Nupur felt good to find such good friends on the first day of college. Sam-gunjan-dia-benji were in same class while mayur-uday-adhaani were in same class. But they didn't have a problem since the college timings were same. Mayur roamed the entire college in free time. Nupur felt happy that she was completing her last year in such a well reputed college.
She came back home & felt happy & contended. She had her dinner & started reading a horror book. It was her hobby to read books especially about ghosts. She always wanted to know more about the parallel world running around us. She strongly believed in them. While reading the book she didn't realize the time. It was past 12 am. Slowly she dozed off with the book in her hand. Everything infront of her was fading away. She saw mayank's face, then her family's faces. She saw her mom. Her mom was crying. Then slowly she faded away. She couldn't see anything clearly now. Someone slowly came. The same footstep's noise. Someone was crying again. The same noise. The same smell. She couldn't see the person's face. The crying stopped. Someone whispered 'How was our meeting nupur? Hope you enjoyed.'
She got up with a jerk. Someone was there. She was very sure. Though she was having another nightmare she was sure what happened was real. Not her imagination. Someone came & whispered this in her ear. She quickly put on all the lights. She was sweating now. She looked here & there but no one was there in the room. But she knew it was not her dream. She ran to mayank's room & started banging it frantically. Mayu got all tensed & ran out. Nupur quickly hugged him & started crying.
N(crying): mayank...koi sach mein hai...its not my imagination mayank...koi sach mein...
M: relax nupur...mujhe batao hua kya???
Nupur told him everything. How she got another nightmare but she was sure there was someone in that room.
M: chalo mere saath.
N: nahi mayank...main nahi jaogi...mujhe nahi jaana wahaan...uss kamre mein kuch toh hai.
M: tumhe mujhpar bharosa hai na???? toh chalo mere saath.
Mayur entered the room but everything was normal there. No sign of anything abnormal.
M: nupur yahaan kuch nahi hai...
N: nahi mayank...yahaan kuch toh hai...koi hai yahaan par jo har waqt mujhe pareshaan karta hai...
Mayu's eyes fell on the horror book lying there. He took it. It was half open.
M: kya tum sone se pehle isse padh rahi thi?
Nupur nodded her head.
M(frustrated): maine tum se kitni baar kahaan hai yeh stupid books padhna bandh karo...raat ko sone se pehle yeh padhogi toh sapne mein bhoot hi aayenge na...kyu tum inn stupid books ko chod nahi deti?
N: yeh books toh main bachpan se padhti aayi hu...aaj tak kabhi aisa kuch nahi hua...jab se hum yahaan waapas aaye hai sab kuch gadbad hai...main sach keh rahi hu mayank yahaan kuch hai jo tum log mehsoos nahi kar sakte par main kar sakti hu...
M: kuch nahi hai nupur...yeh bhoot sirf tumhaare dimaag mein hai...meri baat maano aur yeh ghatiya novels padhna bandh karo...sab theek ho jaayega.
Nupur let out a sigh in frustration. She knew there was no point talking to him. She was angry with him. Why couldn't he believe me? She thought.
N: its ok mayank...tum jao...main so jaogi.
Mayu knew she was upset & angry but he couldn't let her live in delusions that there is something when in reality nothing was there. He knew there was no point talking to her. She went & lay down on the bed & closed her eyes pretending to be sleep. He put a blanket over her & switched off the lights & kissed her forehead whispering a good night. She couldn't help smiling at his sweet getsure but at the same time she was angry with him for not believing her. She tried sleeping again but now she was not getting sleep. Her nightmares kept flashing in front of her eyes. She just couldn't close her eyes. She looked at the time. It was 2 AM. She got up & went near the window. She looked at the moon & twinkling stars. She believed her mom was now one of those stars. She missed her a lot & today she wished she was here. She knew her mom would believe her & help her but here there's no one to help her. Tears filled her eyes. Her heart was crying. She thought after coming back she'll feel her mom's presence but she was not there...to support her...to help her.
She was just standing there remembering her childhood days. Tears were forming in her eyes. But something distracted her. There was something or rather someone down in the garden. She looked carefully. Strong wind was blowing. The trees & plants were swaying with the winds. And then she saw it. The swing on which she & mayu used to sit (the one which was broken) was moving. It had become alright. She remembered it was broken this evening too. It was moving with the wind. And then she realized someone was actually sitting on it. She couldn't see distinctly but she was sure someone was there on that swing. She knew something was wrong. She immediately went down. She approached the swing slowly. But when she reached no one was there on the swing. The swing was moving on its own. She was very sure someone was there on that swing. She went near the swing & held it with her hands to stop it from moving but as soon as she touched the swing it broke again. She was startled. The swing broke back in the same way & at the same points. It started raining & lightening.
The thunder noises shook up nupur. She always hated those sounds. She looked at the swing closely. There was something of red colour on it. She looked at it closely & realized it was blood. She was scared but at the same time satisfied that it was not her imagination. Someone was really sitting on this swing. But now she was scared standing in the garden in the middle of night with rain falling & wind blowing her hair. She wanted to run back to her house but she couldn't. Something was stopping her. The lightening & thunders didn't help either. She could again smell the same decayed, rotten thing but the difference was it was very strong this time.
Among the thunder noise & the wind howling noise she heard something. No this time it was not a crying noise. It was a screaming noise. She heard someone's screaming noise. She was shocked. She wanted to run away this very moment but the wind was stopping her. The wind was pushing her back. She couldn't fight the wind.
The wind pushed her hard & she fell on the broken swing. Her head hit the swing & it started bleeding. But what scared her was not her own blood but a pool of blood lying under the broken swing which she hadn't seen earlier due to darkness. She got up & saw that there were footsteps formed from this blood. Someone had walked over this blood; the same person or spirit who was sitting on this swing. And the scariest part was that these footsteps were in the inverse direction. That meant the toes were in place of heels & the heels were in place of toes. She had read in her books that spirits/ghosts don't have straight legs. They walk backward & never forward.
This is because their legs become reverse of the normal legs. Nupur had never imagined she would see such footsteps in reality in her life. It was much scary then reading in the books. She thought to go back to the house & calling mayank but she knew mayank wouldn't come here. He would think she is again imagining. She started following the footsteps & went deeper in the garden. She was scared but at the same time she needed proof to show others that she was right. She followed the footsteps till the backyard of the garden.
And suddenly at one point the footsteps vanished. She suddenly stood there blank. She couldn't make out what was happening. Who was this spirit?why was it haunting only her? She knew someone was there on that very ground in front of her. She couldn't see the spirit but she could feel someone's presence. Someone was crying. And that smell was getting through her nostrils inside her lungs. Something was crawling on her leg. She looked down & was shell shocked. There were a number of earthworms & some weird types of other insects filled in the ground & now they were crawling on her body. While she was crying in terror she now heard the noise of someone laughing. Yes the spirit was laughing on her condition.
She ran back with terror. She kept on running & running without looking back even once. When she reached her room she switched on all the lights & immediately closed all the windows & pulled down the curtains. She couldn't believe what just happened with her.
She went to the washroom & washed her face & legs. The crawling sensation of those dangerous insects was still there. She rubbed soap & kept on crying & crying. Why was all this happening to her she wondered? No one in the house will believe her. How to convince everyone?
She went & sat down on the bed. Sleep was far away from her eyes. She looked at the time. It was past 4:30AM. She had been down in the hell for about 2 hours. She kept thinking the whole night about all that is happening to her. She wanted answers but she didn't understand how to find them. She knew mayu will not support her thinking that she is imagining. And than it struck her. She knew who will believe her. All she needed is a motherly affection who'll understand her. She decided to talk to mayank's mom next morning.
MORNING:
Nupur went down early. She hadn't slept the remaining night. Her face was pale due to lack of sleep. Her eyes were red. Shilpa aunty was in kitchen preparing breakfast for mayur. She looked at nupur.
MM: arre nupur...beta tum itni jaldi uth gayi??? Jao fresh ho jao...main tumhaare liye alu parathe banaa rahe hu...& that too with extra butter (nupur loves butter).
Nupur tried to smile but she could give just a faint smile. Shilpa sensed something was wrong. She looked at nupur closely. She was looking pale. She washed her hands & went to her.
MM: kya hua beta???tumhaari tabeeyat theek nahi hai?
Nupur hugged her & started crying her heart out. She told her about all that she has been growing through.
N: main jaanti hu aap vishwaas nahi karege...par main sach keh rahi hu...mayank ko bhi vishwaas nahi ho raha...
MM: main tumhaara vishwaas karti hu beta...ek maa apni bachchi ka vishwaas nahi karegi toh kaun karega? Main jaanti hu tum jhooth nahi bol rahi...
Nupur was surprised that mayu's mom trusted her. She had thought she would've to again listen to a huge lecture like mayu gave her last night.
MM: don't worry beta...hum pata lagaa kar rahenge yeh sab kaun raha hai...
This is what she needed; a motherly affection. She hugged her back with happiness. Finally someone believed her.
N: aap mujhpe bharosa kar sakti hai toh mayank kyu nahi kar sakta?
MM: beta sirf mayank hi nahi balki koi bhi aadmi iss baat par bharosa nahi karega...you know Man have such a psychology. They always need to be strong for us isilye woh aisi baton par bharosa nahi karte jinhe woh explain na kar sa ke. You must have heard na 'men are rational fools'; its because they think rationally. Woh un baton ka bharosa kabhi nahi karte jab tak woh usse dekh na le. Aur hum log mein ek alag shakti hoti hai.
Hum un cheezon ko mehsoos kar lete hai jo kabhi shayad dusro ko nahi dikhti. Agar kabhi life mein kuch bura hone wala hota hai toh uski feeling humme pehle hoti hai. Kabhi kissi aadmi ko kehte hue suna hai 'Mujhe lag raha hai kuch bura hone wala hai'. No yeh lines sirf ladkiyan bolti hai. We've something called as strong intuition. Mayank aaj tumhaara bharosa nahi kar raha toh iss ka bura mat maano. Uske nazarye se woh sahi hai. He is a boy so he'll behave like one. Lekin yaad rakhna jiss din yeh sachaai sabke saamne aayegi mayank hi hoga jo sabse pehle tumhaara haath pakdega.
Nupur was in deep thought. Yes, she knew shilpa aunty was right. Mayu was right in his place while she is right in her place. She felt very good after talking to her.
MM: and don't worry beta...hum pataa lagaa kar rahege ki sach kya hai...ab jao tum tayaar ho jao...college nahi jaana kya?
Nupur smiled & went to her room to get ready. Shilpa aunty's words had given her a new energy. Now she was not scared of anyone or anything. She was confident she'll find out the truth & solve all the mysteries.
Ok finally done...I know its not too big but didn't have much time...
Anyways I've an important news...My college has started so now you all will again start complaining about the delay in updates...I'll try to update whenever I get time
Pleaseee comment/criticize...
Red means danger.
RECAP:
Nupur had another haunted night. She saw the spirit on the swing. Mayu not believing her. Mayu's mom believes nups & promises to help her out.

PART 3:
Few days passed by. Mayur were totally busy with the college. Nupur's night's continued to be haunting. Every night she could see someone sitting on the broken swing but after her terrific incidence she didn't have the courage to go near that swing. Mayu was glad that nupur had stopped hallucinating but the truth was different. Nupur still had the nightmares & shilpa suggested her to avoid the spirit for sometime. Maybe the spirit will think that it has stopped scaring nupur & will go away. Nupur tried her best to remain unaffected but somewhere in her body fear & curiosity was there. She was curious to find out the truth. She knew that spirit's have a reason to remain parallel to us. She knew something wrong had happened with this spirit & now the spirit is troubling her but the question was why only her?
IN THE COLLEGE:
Nupur really enjoyed her last year of college. She was really happy to get such good friends in college. They would study, eat, talk, laugh, enjoy & did everything that kept them happy. Mayank was happy that finally gunjan found her life partner in sam. Yes both of them were attracted towards each other & fell in love. Nupur never knew she would fall in love with this college merely within 1 week & she thanked her friends for this. Dia & benji while suhaani-adhiraj were couples & friends from childhood. Nupur was very eager to listen to their love stories. She would forget all her worries & fear in the midst of the college.
But today something different happened with her. Nupur had to stay back in college for her pending assignment. She couldn't stay awake in her house due to the fear of spirit so she decided to stay in the college for more time & complete her assignment. Mayu decided to give her company but nupur flatly refused him. She knew if mayu would remain there she would get busy fighting or romancing with him & would never be able to finish her assignment. She asked him to go & told him she'll join him at night for dinner. Mayank agreed & left.
Nupur didn't realize the time while doing her assignment. She was sitting alone in the library. The entire college was empty. Suddenly the windows of the library started banging. Nupur got up startled. She looked here & there & realized that no one was there in the library except her. She went to the window & saw the darkness outside. She looked at the time. It was 10:00 pm. She started panicking. She quickly piled up her books & tried going out but the library door was locked. She realized the same footsteps & the same crying noise. She was hell scared now. She couldn't run anywhere & the spirit haunted her till here. She quickly searched for her mobile in the bag. She removed it & saw 10 missed calls from mayu. She frantically dialed his number but a book came out of somewhere & hit badly on her hand. Her mobile fell down & broke & her hand started bleeding. Her eyes opened wide as she saw what was happening. All the books from library where moving in air encircling her not allowing her to go. The moment she tried to escape from circle a book would attack her. She stood there helplessly crying & crying. She heard someone's evil laugh amidst her own crying voice.
N: kaun ho tum?????kya chahiye tumhe mujhse?????kyu mujhe pareshaan kar rahi ho????chahti kya ho tum???
The books at once stopped moving. A book came & sat on her hand. All the other books went back to their shelves & settled there. Everything went quiet. Nupur could hear some noise from the outside window. She went & peeped out of the window. It was all dark there. But in between this darkness she could see someone walking. A girl with flying hair was walking at the backside garden of the college. Nupur quickly put her book in her bag & ran out to catch the girl before she goes. She approached the library door & it flew open on its own. She ran outside to the garden & from distance could see the girl going. She ran after her. Suddenly the girl vanished in thin air. She stood at the spot where the girl vanished & tried searching for her. But she was not there. Nupur knew the girl was the same spirit following her everywhere. She wanted to tell something to nupur. Suddenly nupur's nostrils filled again with the same decayed smell. She would feel this smell at her home but this time it was coming in college. And her eyes widened in horror when she realized the same insects started climbing her legs giving her weird sensations which once troubled her at her home. She ran away from that place in terror. She ran back to her home. On her way back she met mayank.
M: kya hua nupur???tum iss tarah se bhaag kyu rahi ho???aur yeh khoon???yeh kaise hua?
N: it's a girl mayank...woh aatma jiske baare mein maine kaha tha...woh ek ladki ki aatma hai...mayank woh mujhe kuch bataana chahti hai...
M: bas karo nupur...hosh mein aao...yahaan koi aatma nahi hai...kitni baar kahu main tumse its just your imagination...
N: mayank tum hosh mein aao...mere saath itna sab kuch ho raha hai aur tumhe apni nupur ki baton par bharosa nahi???forget it...tumse kuch expect kiya hi nahi jaa sakta.
Nupur started walking ahead in frustration. Mayank sighed out & followed her. There were no auto's so she had to walk back to her home.
N(in her mind): kyu mayank?kyu tum mujhpe bharosa nahi kar rahe???kyu tum apni nupur ko akela chod rahe ho?
M(in his mind): mujhe tum par poora bharosa hai nupur par jo cheez mujhe dikhaayi nahi deti main uss par kaise bharosa kar lo?maine tumhe akela nahi choda nupur...main toh aaj bhi tumhaare saath hi chalna chahta hu par tum mujhe chod kar aage bhaag rahi ho...
N(in her mind): tum bhi toh mujhe rok nahi rahe ho...tum apni nupur ko akele aage jaane de rahe ho...
M(in his mind): ek baar peeche mood kart oh dekho...tumhaara mayank tumhe rokne ki kitni koshish kar raha hai...
Nupur stopped moving. She slowly turned backwards to see mayank. Mayank had also stopped moving. He was sad. He held out his hand towards her; to stop her from going, to call her back. It started raining. Nupur's eyes filled with tears. She felt bad for fighting with him. He too felt bad. His hands were still outstretched calling her back. She smiled & ran in his arms. Both of them hugged each other tightly. The few minutes of their fight pricked their heart. They hugged & hugged. Both were drenching in rain but they didn't care. Mayu cupped nupur's face in his hands & kissed her softly whispering 'sorry'. She kissed him back telling 'sorry'. They hugged again & started walking hand in hand.
On his way mayank stopped & bought ice cream for nupur. They always had this rule. After a fight they would always make up by giving ice cream to each other.
M: tumhe college mein itna late kaise ho gaya???? Tumne mobile bhi nahi uthaaya...main kitna pareshan ho gaya tha...
N: woh...actually mujhe time ka pata hi nahi chala...aur mobile bag mein tha toh pata nahi chala...
Mayu looked at her bleeding hands. The blood had soaked & dried. He avoided asking her how she got hurt because he didn't want other fight. He took her home. Shilpa saw nupur's condition & understood something happened with her. She decided to talk later with her. Mayu did her dressing, made her eat her dinner & then made her go to sleep. Nupur didn't want to fight with him so she quietly obeyed him. She pretended to sleep. As soon as mayu left she went to shilpa's room to talk to her.
Sh: nupur beta tum yahaa kyu aa gayi?hum kal baat kar sakte hai...abhi tumhe aaraam karne ki zaroorat hai...
N: nahi aunty...yeh baat karni zaroori hai...aunty maine usse aaj dekha...woh ek ladki ki aatma hai...woh college tak aa gayi...
Sh: What????college? par woh wahaa kaise aa sakti hai?
N: pata nahi aunty...par mujhe aise lag raha hai woh mujhse kuch kehna chahti hai...koi toh baat hai...kuch toh hai jo woh mujhe bataana chahti hai par kya???
Sh: relax beta...hum usse baat karne ka koi na koi tareeka zaroor dhoondh lenge...abhi tumhe aaraam karna chahiye...main isske baare mein sochti hu.
N: thanks aunty...good night.
Sh: good night beta.
Nupur went back & slept nicely. No spirit haunted her this night.
NEXT MORNING:
Nupur heard some shouting voices & came down. She saw all the elders were assembled in the hall. Mayu was also there. Some pandit was standing on the door. Mayu's dad was shouting at shilpa.
Mayu's dad: shilpa tum pagal ho gayi ho kya? Tum kabse yeh bhoot-pret mein vishwaas karne lagi???nupur toh abhi bachchi hai par tum? Tumhe usse samjhaana chahiye ki aisa kuch nahi hai par tum toh uska iss paagal pan mein saath de rahi ho...tumhe kya lagta hai yeh dhongi baba kissi bhoot ko bhagaa sakta hai??tum jaisi educated women yeh sab mein vishwaas karne lagi toh iss duniya ka kuch nahi ho sakta...hum 21st century mein rehte hai...How could you shilpa?
Nupur's dad: bhabhi mujhe bhi aapse aisi umeed nahi thi...yahaa aisa kuch nahi hai...
Shilpa stood there quietly. Her husband & nupur's dad went away after shouting at her. She folded her hands infront of the pandit asking for forgiveness. He gave an understanding nod & left from there. Mayu felt bad for his mother. His dad was always short tempered & would shout at his mom even in public. Inspite of this his mom would never cry & love his father. Nupur too felt bad that because of her shilpa aunty had to hear so much.
N(crying): I'm sorry aunty...meri wajah se aapko itna sunna padhaa...
Sh: arrey beta tum ro kyu rahi ho???ismein tumhaari koi galti nahi hai...aur mujhe unki baton ka bilkul bura nahi lagaa...unhe toh aadat hai iss tarah gussa karke apna pyaar jataane ki...tumhe bura maan ne ki koi zaroorat nahi...
N: par aunty yeh meri wajah se...
Sh: tum mujhe apni maa maanti ho na? toh ek maa apni beti ke liye inta nahi sun sakti kya? Maine tum mein aur mayu mein kabhi koi farak nahi kiya...tum dono mein meri jaan basti hai...tumhaare liye ek baat kya main ek hazaar baat sun sakti hu...
Nupur hugged shilpa. Mayu smiled looking at their bond & went from there.
Sh: tum fikar mat karo...ab main iss baat ka dhyaan rakhoogi ki hum jo bhi kare uska pata kissi ko na chale...
Nupur smiled & left from there. Her day passed by roaming with her friends. They had holiday today so they all went for movie & shopping.
NIGHT TIME:
Nupur sat on her bed thinking about her lovely day. She wasted her entire day & she felt before sleeping she should do some study work. She removed her bag from cupboard & was surprised. Her entire bag was wet. Last night she & mayu had got wet in rain & she forgot to remove her books from her bag & dry them. She cursed her self for being so stupid. She was scared her assignment must have got spoiled. She opened her bag & removed her assignment. Luckily it was in folder so didn't get wet but her folder got wet. She removed her make up kit & it was spoilt. All the colours were mixed & wet. She hit herself for her stupidness. She removed some more books which were all wet. She kept her bag & books for drying. Her eyes fell on one book. She took it in her hand & was shocked to see that book was completely dry. No tinge of water. She opened the book to look at the pages. They too were completely dry. She looked at the front cover of the book. It was a book with the title NIGHTMARE. She realized it was the same book that last night the spirit had indirectly given her. She knew there was something in this book that the spirit wanted her to know but the question was WHAT?

PART 4:

Nupur sat down looking at the book. She was tired today but she could not neglect the fact that there was something in the book that could help her. She looked at the time. It was past 12. She had to get up early the next day for college. But she could not resist the book. All the happeneings were going around her head. I need the answers' she thought. She decided to read the book. She touched at the cover of the book title NIGHTMARE'.

The book had horror faces over it. The backside of the book had weird masks and designs on it. She looked at the authors name. The name was F.S. D'souza'. She had never heard about his name though she was used to reading to so many novels. She started reading the book. The book had 10 horror stories. She was trying to connect each story with her life. Amidst all the fears she could not deny that this author is indeed a great writer. He or she was very good at writing horror stories.

It was 2 am and nupur was still engrossed in reading without realizing the time. She was hoping she would get some answers. The stories were getting scarier but nowhere to what she had been experiencing. And than it happened again. Her nostrils were filled with that suffocating odour again. Her attention was diverted from reading. The same crying noise started again. Nupur was used to this now. And as always she felt helpless. She got up and went to the balcony. There again she could see the spirit...swinging on her swing. But nupur didn't have the courage to go down. She closed her eyes trying to think something else. But all in vain. She could feel her body shivering, trembling. She heard some footsteps outside. Someone was moving in the passage. Her room door was closing and opening on its own. Gathering some courage she went out of her room. As soon as she stepped out her room door closed with a BANG. Terrified she tried to open the door but it didn't. The passage was filled with darkness. Everyone other than nupur were in their room sound asleep. She could hear loud footsteps. A gush of wind passed through her. She was trembling. She found a torch and quickly put it on. She saw a shadown on the wall where the torch was throwing light. The spirit was there. She could only see the shadow. But she found something different in the shadow. It looked different. She was confused.

N(shouting and crying): KAUN HO TUM???KYA CHAHTI HO TUM???KYU MERE PEECHE PADI HO??CHALI JAO YAHA SE...CHALI JAO...

And to her surprise the spirit started going. Going away from there...and it went...Everything was quiet. Nupur was standing completely alone. No banging noise. No footsteps. No wind. Everything still. She was shocked and standing there like a statue.

Suddenly someone put a hand on her shoulder. She jerked scarily. It was mayu's mom. She looked at her and started crying and hugged her.

MM: nupur...tum yaha kya kar rahi ho???

N(crying): aunty...aunty...woh fir aayi thi...aunty woh mujhe bahut pareshaan kar rahi hai...aunty woh mere peeche kyu padi hai...

MM: shhh...beta shaant ho jao...main hoon na yaha...ab koi nahi aayega...shhh...rote nahi hai...tumhe strong hona hai beta...chalo mere saath...aaj tum mere paas sona...

Mayu's mom took her to room and made her sleep. She continuously carrased her forehead. She caught her one hand tightly throughout the night. Nupur slept in her arms.

Mayank entered the next day to her room and found her mom sleeping with nupur. He smiled looking at their bonding. Mayu's mom got up and saw mayank standing there.

M: good morning mom..

MM: good morning beta...

M: mom...aap nupur ke kamre mein??

MM: haa...nupur thoda darri hui thi...isliye i slept with her..

M: don't tell me nupur ko fir se hallucinations aa rahe the...uff yeh ladki na...kab bhoot ki duniya se bahar niklegi..

MM: yeh baat tumhaare liye bhi lagoo hoti hai..

M: kya matlab??

MM: chalo mere saath...mujhe tumse kuch baat karni hai..

He followed his mom to hall.

MM: mayank...main hamesha chahti thi ki tum apne papa ki tarah ek successful businessman bano...par main nahi chahti thi ki tum poori tarah se apne papa ki tarah ban jao..

M: main kuch samjha nahi maa..

MM: beta...tumne kabse apne dil ki baat sunna chod diya???tum life mein itne practical hone lage ki tumhe nupur ka dard dikhta hi nahi???tum uski halat dekh nahi rahe ya dekhna nahi chahte??kya tum usse pyaar nahi karte?

M: mom...main nupur se bahut pyaar karta hu...par iska matlab yeh nahi ki agar woh galat hai toh bhi main usko support karuga..

MM: tum itne yakeen se kaise keh sakte ho???ho sakta hai nupur sach keh rahi hai...

M: par mom...jo cheez main dekh nahi sakta uss par vishwas kaise kar lu??

MM: kuch logo pe aankh bandh kar ke vishwas karna chahiye mayank...apne pyaar pe vishwas karo...kamse kam koshish toh karo...tum jaante nahi nupur ki kya halat ho rahi hai...beta maine toh saari zindagi tumhaare dad ka sirf intzaar kiya...unhone kabhi mujhpe vishwas nahi kiya...meri koi baat nahi suni...aaj main dekh rahi hu tum yeh hi galti nupur ke saath kar rahe ho...tum soch bhi nahi sakte jab tumhaara pyaar tum par bharosa nahi karta toh kitna dard hota hai...beta apne papa ki galti mat dauraho...nupur ka saath do...usko tumhaare saath aur bharose ki bahut zaroorat hai..

M: theek hai maa...main nupur ka saath zaroor dunga...pata lagaane ki koshish karuga ki aakhir problem kya hai...

MM: thank you beta...mujhe tumse yeh hi umeed thi..

It was early morning. Nupur started dreaming back all the incidents that occured last night. She saw that shadow in the dream. The same shadow that she had seen last night in the torch light. Now that shadow was coming closer...and closer...Nupur got up with a jerk. She was sweating. Mayu came near her and caught her hand.

M: nupur...tum theek ho???

N: haa...nahii...kuch nahi...bas kal raat ka kuch yaad aaya...

M: kal raat fir kuch hua???

Nupur looked away. She didn't know what to say and what not. Even if she told him he would not believe her. Mayu cupped her face in his hands. He saw some tears in her eyes. His heart pierced. For the first time he saw how sad and lonely her nupur felt. He cursed himself for not seeing this before.

M: nupur...main jaanta hu tum bahut lonely feel kar rahi ho...tumhe lag raha hai koi tum par bharosa nahi karta main bhi nahi...par yeh sach nahi hai...mere liye bas kuch baaton pe vishwas karna mushkil hai par iska matlab yeh nahi mujhe tum par vishwas nahi hai...chahe jo bhi ho jaaye main tumhaare saath hu...yaad rakhna yeh baat...tum akeli nahi...tumhaara mayank tumhaare paas hai...tum aaj bhi apne iss dost cum lover se saari baatein share kar sakti ho...

Nupur looked at him and hugged him tightly. She felt so relieved and happy. Mayu also felt so good that finally his nupur was smiling.

N: thanksss mayank...thank you so much...

M: ohh miss...shayad tum hamara rule bhul gayi ho...hum mein se koi dusre ko thanks nahi karta...bas ek kiss deta hai thanks ki jagah par...

Saying this he winked at her. She blushed. Mayu came forward pouting his lips.

N: mayuuu...maine brush nahi kiya...

M: as if i care nupur...

N: acha theek hai close your eyes...

Mayu closed his eyes. Nupur went very close to her. He was waiting to feel her lips. She was going closer and closer. And then she screamed BOOO' in his ears and ran away to bathroom.

M: nupur ki bachii...ruk tu...

Nupur locked the door of bathroom. Mayu was screaming from outside.

N: booo mayank...

M: yeh kiss toh main lekar rahuga...just wait and watch..

N: we will see

M: finee...chalo college jaana hai...tum college mein kaha bhagogi..

N: fine...dekhlenge..

Nupur felt very good today. Finally mayu had shown his trust. Whether she was right or wrong she didn't care. She was just happy that mayu is there. On the other hand mayu still didn't know whether to believe her stories. But for nupur's sake he will always be there with her and show her trust towards him. May be he would come to know the truth by staying with her. Unknown to them a figure was observing their bond.

The entire day mayank was troubling her about the kiss. He told her that he will make her kiss him anytime. She was throwing daggers at him. Dia's birthday was coming. Everyone had planned that they would go night 12 o'clock to give her surpirse the next day. With dia around they could not make plans for her gift. So they decided that all the couples- Mayur, Sajan and Adhaani would be deciding with each other and then they would co-ordinate with others and buy the gift next day.

NIGHT TIME:

Nupur was thinking of what they should gift dia. Mayank came from behind and hugged her tightly.

N: mayu...kyu na hum dia ko ek mast perfume de??

M: noo nupur...usko aisa lagega ki she stinks isliye hum usse perfume de rahe hai...

N: ohh...toh fir dress??usko dress up hona kitna pasand hai...

M: thats a good idea...but uski fittings ka kya...yeh sab tum ladkiya hi kar sakte ho...

N: dekho...hum log itne saare hai...we can give her a dress...make up kit...and matching accessories...She loves all this..

M: idea toh achaa hai...but tumhe nahi lagta humme kuch personalized dena chahiye...jaise ki some memories related things...

N: nahi...i don't think...hum sab abhi toh dost bane hai...jab college khatam hoga tab hum sab ek dusre ko aise hi gifts denge...abhi toh humaare paas itne photos bhi nahi hai..

M: hmm...theek hai...toh kal dusro ko poochte hai iske baare mein...par lene toh tum ladkiyo ko hi jaana padega...hum boys iss mein help nahi kar sakte...

N: what do you mean??? Atleast tum log humko company toh de sakte ho...kuch nahi toh humaare drivers ban jaana (showing her tongue)

Mayu looked at her with a mishcehvious smile. Nupur knew what was in his mind.

N: mayu...noo..

She tried to run away...mayu cornered her and pinned her to wall.

M: madam jee...aajkal drivers bhi free mein nahi milte...

N: don't worry...tumhe 100 Rs. mil jaayege...aur saath mein mall mein khaana bhi denge...

M: yeh driver 100 Rs mein nahi maanega...

N: toh aur kya chahiye iss driver ko??

M: wahi jo aaj subah nahi mila...ek pyaari si kiss..

N: aur agar main mana karu toh??

M: toh yeh driver bhi manaa kar dega...

Nupur put her arms around his neck.

N: achh jee...yeh baat hai...

She bought her face close to his. Mayu also encircled his arms around her. They were getting closer and closer. Their lips were just inches apart.

N(whispering): you know what...tumhe fees dene ki koi zaroorat nahi...humme driver ki zaroorat nahi padegi..

Mayu opened his eyes frowning. Here he was waiting for his kiss. Nupur giggled looking at him.

N: dia ko sambhalne ke liye bhi toh koi chahiye...hum ladkiya khud drive kar lengi...tumhaari zaroorat nahi..(showing her tongue)

Mayu was giving her a i-don't-believe-you look.

M: fine...chali jao...lekin wapas toh tumhe isse mayu ke paas hi aana hai...i challenge you Ms. Nupur Bhushan...kal raat dia ki surprise party mein tum mujhe kiss karogi..

N: aww...aise sapne tum laate kaha se ho?? Challenge accepted Mr. Mayank Sharma. (she knew she would be losing...even she was dieing to be in his arms...but she loved teasing him)

M(smirking): we will see nupur

N: we will see mayank...aaj raat ke liye mere sapne dekh lo...shayad sapne mein tumhe kiss mil jaaye...bye...good night

M(smiling): good night..

He went to his room and slept dreaming about nupur. Even nupur felt very good. His mayu was with her. Few minutes with him can just wipe away any tension from her life. Today she forgot about everything...ghost or spirit or whatever it is...the nightmare...the book...the screams...the smell...It was only mayank in her mind and heart.

Thinking about him she went to sleep unaware of what was happening in outside world. Someone was on swing like everynight. Someone was again screaming. But nupur was in her dreamland with mayank. The spirit was getting frustrated. She could not bear a calm nupur.

Nupur was dreaming about the time spent with mayank. Their hugs...kisses. She was dancing with him. And then slowly mayank left her hand. He was going away...away...gone. She was standing all alone in the darkness. And than a torch lit. There was a shadow. The same shadow that she had seen previous night. The shadow was coming closer...and closer...and closer. And nupur saw it. Nupur saw her face. Nupur knew her...always knew her. She got up sweating as she realized whose shadow it was. She was...

RECAP:

Nupur read the book but couldn't find any answers. She was haunted again. Mayu's mom makes mayu understand nupur's situation. Mayu supports nupur. Dia's birthday is coming. Mayu challenges nupur that he will make nupur kiss him in the party. Nupur dreams about the ghost and gets up with a jerk.

PART 5:

Nupur got up with a jerk. She realized whose shadow she had seen. Tears formed in her eyes as she realized whose shadow it was. It was none other than her mom's shadow.

N(crying and looking in air): maa...aap aayi thi na mujhe bachane...woh aap thi jisko maine kal dekha tha...woh aapki aahat thi jo mujhe passage mein khich laayi thi...woh aap thi jo mere paas aa rahi thi...par kyu maa?? Kya aapko kuch kehna hai mujhse?? Maa aapki nupur bahut strong hai...aap fikar mat karo...aapki nupur har problem ka ilaaj dhundh legi...aur aap toh mere saath hi ho na maa...hamesha...

Nupur started crying more after saying this. Yes her mom had come to save her last night. Everything went silent because her mom was there to save her from the evil. Infact she had always been saving her. She had followed nupur to the house knowing what problems nupur would be facing. The shadow had always been her and she was shadow of nupur's life. Today nupur realized why she felt her mom was always around her. It was not just she who had been fighting the spirit but her mom as well.

Mayu's mom entered the room to find nupur in tears.

MM: arrey itni achi subah aur mera bacha ro raha hai??

Nupur hugged her and cried more.

MM: kya hua beta?

N: aunty mujhe pata chal gaya...mujhe pata chal gaya ki kyu main abhi tak theek hu...mujhe pata chal gaya ki kyu woh aatma mujhe nuksaan nahi pahucha paayi...aunty maa mere saath hai...woh hamesha se mere saath rahi hai...hamesha mere aas-paas thi...bas mujhe aaj pata chala hai...

She told mayu's mom everything about her dream and how she recognized her mother from that shadow.

MM: yeh toh bahut achi baat hai beta...

N: haa aunty...main aaj bahut khush hu...bahut...

She hugged her again. Nupur felt relieved now knowing that both her mother's were with her. A different shield engulfed her body. She felt protected now. Protected than ever before. Today was her best day. Love you mom', she whispered in air.

IN THE COLLEGE:

The gang had decided to follow nupur's idea for buying dia's gift. They had informed dia's parents that they would be going to her place at night 12 and give her a surprise party. Dia was upset that no one was talking about her birthday, little did she know that the girls had already bought her gifts and cake. Even benji pretended to forget her birthday. This made dia furious and she left for her home early. This gave more time to everyone to finalize their plan.

M(whispering to nupur): tumhe yaad hai na aaj kya honewala hai??

N(blushing but pretending that she doesn't know): nahi...kyu??kya honewala hai??

M: aaj tum mujhe sabke saamne kiss karogi..

N: high hopes sweety

M(winking): dekhlenge...

N(winking): dekhlena...

NIGHT TIME:

They all went to dia's house. As planned her mom had slowly opened the door. She had decorated the hall. She knew dia is so furious that she will not come out of her room and that's what happened. She had locked dia's door from outside so that even if her mood changes and she wished to come out of her room she would not get a chance. But as expected dia was in her room only. She made them sit in darkness of hall called dia.

Dia's mom(screaming): AHHH...Diaaa...jaldi bahar aao...

Dia came running out to see what happened to her mom. She was so scared. But as soon as she entered the hall her mom switched on the light and everyone screamed together SURPRISE'...

She was shocked looking at everyone. Her eyes filled with tears of joy. She didn't know how to react. This was so not expected. Everyone started singing happy birthday to you'. They made her cut the cake. She gave the first bite to her mom and hugged her.

D: mom main kitna darr gayi thi...aap please kabhi aisa mazaak dubara mat karna...

Mom: theek hai beta...i am sorry...ab aisa nahi karugi

D: mom...dad kaha hai??

Mom: woh raaste mein hai...ek meeting mein fas gaye the...bas kuch hi der mein aa jaayege...tum log ab enjoy karo...

D: thank you guysss...yeh mere liye best surprise tha...mujhe toh lagaa tum log mera birthday bhul hi gaye...this is soo amazing...just unbelievable...

She hugged benji and made everyone eat the cake. She loved the gifts bought by them. They were very classy and matched her taste. They all danced for a while. Everyone were eating and dancing and drinking. All the couples were dancing together and lost in their own world.

Suddenly the music was turned off. They turned to see who stopped the music. It was mayank.

Sam: mayank yaar...tune music kyu bandh kar diya??

M: bahut hogaya dance yaar...lets have some fun..

Uday: dude...we were having fun only while dancing...

M: waise nahi...lets play some game...

G: haa chalo yaar...bahut naach liya...we will play something.

Nupur found something fishy. Mayu asking to play was weird. She knew something was there on his mind. He looked at her and winked. She understood it was a way to fulfill his challenge. She understood his plan.

N: arrey nahi yaar...i sooo want to dance...no games...

U: agreed with my sis...lets dance...

M: yeh bhai-behen bilkul ek jaise hai...

G: nooo...lets play game..

S: haa chalo game...

Suhaani: relax guys...let the birthday girl decide..

Dia looked at everyone. She was confused. Than she saw mayank's pleading look.

D: guys...dance toh bahut ho gaya...chalo we will play something...lets go on terrace and play...

They all went to terrace. It was a dark night with sparkling stars in the sky and cool breeze touching their body. They had lit candles in the terrace and a soft music was on.

D: soo...kya khelna hai??

M: truth or dare...

Nupur now understood his plan. Everyone agreed to this game. They started sitting in circle. Nupur purposely sat beside mayu so that he doesn't get a chance to question her. Mayu signalled samrat and samrat smiled and announced: ek rule hai iss game kaa...koi bhi couples saath nahi baithega...

N: haay daya kyu??

S: kyunki tumhaare partner ko best pata hai tumhe kya sawaal poochna chahiye...so all couples will sit in opposite directions

N: no ways...

She knew this was mayu's plan,

Adhiraj: ohh c'mon nupur...tum kuch der ke liye toh mayank se dur baith sakti ho

S: yess nupur...

She shot daggers at them. These boys had made a very good plan to trap her.

N: fine

She went and sat opposite to mayank.

And they began the game.

First turn was on gunjan and she choose truth.

S: do you truly, seriously, unconditionally love me and wish to spend your entire life with me?

Gunjan was taken off with this question. Yes she did consider sam more than a friend but never thought about how serious was she about him. she thought for a moment. All the time spent with him flashed infront of her. Sam looked at her expectedly. He was very serious about her but wanted to know whether their relation was just a fling for gunjan or she too was serious.

After a moment gunjan replied: samrat meri zindagi se sirf tabhi jaa sakta jab yeh saans mujhe chod de kyunki gunjan ki har saans mein sirf samrat basaa hai...

Sam was touched by her response. Everyone clapped for them. They spun the bottle again. This time it was benji's turn. He demanded dare. Dia knew what she had to give him.

D: abhi ke abhi mere liye Bath and Body wash ka pink perfume lekar aao...

Everyone looked at her surprise. This was not a brand available in India. It had to be ordered from USA.

M: dia...kuch barabar maango...benji iss samay usa toh nahi jaa sakta...

D: i don't care...ya toh dare fulfill karo yaa fir punishment ke liye ready ho jao..

N: dia..you are seriously obssessed with perfumes...iss samay benji kaha se laayega??

D: theek hai...toh as a punishment benji kaan pakadke dus baar uthak baithak karega...

Benji hated to doing anything like exercise. That was precisely the reason that dia troubled him.

Everyone gave an apologetic look to benji. He got up smiled and did 10 times uthak baithak. Than he came to dia and made her look inside the nearby pillow. There was the perfume that she had demanded. She looked at him shocked. Everyone was surprised.

D: tum...tum...laaye the??

B: aisa ho sakta hai ki meri angel ko kya chahiye yeh mujhe pata na ho??main toh hamesha se tumhaari choice jaanta tha...isiliye maine usa se last week hi order kiya tha...

She happily hugged him. Everyone adored their love. The bottle spun again and this time mayank's prayers were answered as nupur was under attack. Nupur was planning to take truth as she knew what would mayank ask her to do if she took dare. At that minute mayank's next plan was in action as uday told what he had asked him.

U: dii...please dare lo naa...yeh mayank ka bachcha mujhe bol raha tha ki tum bahut darpok ho...tum life mein bilkul daring nahi kar sakti...

Nupur shot daggers at him.

M: haa toh maine jhooth kya bola?? Dekho abhi bhi tum truth hi lenewali thi...hai na??

N: no ways...i take dare Mr. Mayank Sharma...main darpok nahi...

M: soch lo??

N: bring it on..

M: well then...you know what it is...kiss me..

Boys knew about this plan but they pretended to be shocked like the girls. Nupur understood his plan. She felt stupid for falling for his plan. She looked at uday angrily for being part of mayu's plan. Uday gave a puppy innocent look.

G: mayank...you can't do this...

D: yess mayank...kuch aur maango..

S: mayank...this is not funny...koi bhi ladki yeh nahi kar paayegi..

N: main karugi..

Everyone looked at her surprised.

G: nupur you seriously don't need to do it...

Nupur got up from her sit and went near mayank. Mayank closed his eyes as nupur was very close to him. he could feel her breath on him. nupur was inching closer to him. their lips were inches apart. Heat raising in their body. Everyone had stopped breathing looking at them. And than mayu opened his eyes and whispered: nahii nupur...tumhe yeh karne ki zaroorat nahi...ek challenge ke liye main tumse woh nahi karwaoga jo tum nahi chahti..

Nupur looked in his eyes. They were filled with regret and sorry. Nupur smiled at him and kissed his cheek.

N(whispering): main jaanti thi tum mujhe zaroor rokoge...

She winked at him and kissed his cheek again while he smiled back at her...everyone let out their held breath and clapped at their bonding.

D: waah kya pyaar hai...

S: mayank ke bache...tujhe haarna hi tha toh humse itni mehnat kyu karwaayi??

U: i know yaar...nupur dii mujhe maar daalegi ab..

D: what!!!!tum sabka plan tha yeh...tum log ne jaan bujhke kiya??

G: shame on you guys...

Sam: lekin...suno toh..

G: shut up..

Benji: arrey...lekin...mayank ne..

D: kya mayank ne??yeh toh kitna sharif ladka hai...he didn't make her kiss...but you guys...disgusting

Adhiraj: le bhai...tune plan banaya fir bhi tu hero...humne help ki aur hum zero..

Just than they heard dia's mom screaming: AAAHHH...DIAAA...

D: ab yeh mom ab kaunsa surprise dena chahti hai...usko bola ki aise mat behave karo..

She went down to see why her mom screamed. Everyone followed her. They looked at a shocked expression of her mom. They followed the scene and saw a lifeless body hanging in the middle of the hall. The body of Dia's father filled with blood was hanging infront of them. The body was filled with worms and insects. Everyone was shocked.

RECAP:

Dia's surpise birthday party. Everyone has fun. Dia's dad found dead.

PART 6:

Everyone stood shocked. His dead body was hanging in the centre of the hall without any support. Blood was oozing from his body. Some parts of his body were rotten. Worms were moving everywhere on his body. It was a dreadful scene. Dia fainted at the site. They took her to bedroom and called doctor. They even called police. Worst was dia's mom. She neither moved nor talked nor cried. After that scream of calling dia she only stood in one place her eyes transfixed on his husband's body. All the girls could not stop crying while the boys still stood in shock. Amidst all this nupur saw someone's reflection on the window...some girl...the same girl she felt who haunted her. And than it struck to her. The worms on uncle's body were some as those that she had seen few nights back when she had tried following the spirit. She knew now how uncles body was hanging like this in the air but the question was why? Why did the spirit murder him? What did she want? Had she been here to trouble nupur or did she really want to murder him? Who was that spirit and what did she want? How will she tell others? Will people believe her? So many questions were revolving in her head. She didn't know where to go whom to ask what to do. She found mayu standing beside her with his hand entwined with her fingers giving her support. She lay her head on mayu's chest and started crying.

NEXT MORNING:

The news about the murder had spread in the city. It came as a shock to everyone. He was a well known business tycoon. Many people were attached to him personally and professionally. His loss was a loss to many people. The police was trying hard to keep media away from all this. But it seemed difficult. They didn't know whether to tell media its accident or murder because they were not sure themselves. The case was very complicated. They were waiting for the postmortem report to get some clue.

The gang members were still at dia's place. Dia had gain conscious but was lost in her father's death. Her mother was equally lost. The boys asked the girls to go home and rest and come later. They were ready to wait till then with dia and her mom. Nupur still had not mentioned about seeing that spirit reflection as she was waiting for the right time. Nupur went to her house to freshen. Mayu's parents had heard about the incident and started bombarding nupur with questions as soon as she reached her home. She told them how they had found his body hanging in air.

Mayu's dad: lekin uski body aise hawa mein kaise latak sakti hai?? Are you sure aisa hua tha?

N: haan uncle...hum sabne dekha...we were all shocked...uncle ab toh please meri baat maano...yeh ussi aatma ka kaam hai...ussi ne yeh kiya hai...aunty maine usse kal fir dekha...dia ke ghar...woh wahi thi...ussi ne yeh kia hai...

Mayu's dad: ohh please beta...don't start again...yeh bhoot jaisa kuch nahi hota...i am sure kuch aur reason hoga...police will find out...apne dimaag se yeh sab faltu ki baatein nikaal do...

Saying this he left from there.

Mayu's mom: it's ok beta...he won't undertsand. Main jaanti hu tum jhooth nahi bologi...i am sure ab toh yeh dekhne ke baad mayu bhi tumpe poora vishwas karega...abhi tum aaram karo fir we will go to dia's house...

Nupur nodded and went to her room to freshen. Her eyes fell on the book NIGHTMARE'. She looked at the book again. There was something about this book. She opened the book and was shocked. A new chapter had entered the book. She clearly remembered there were 10 horror stories in this book from which she had not found any answers. Today there was an 11^th chapter in this book. how could it be possible' she thought. And the chapter was not printed like other chapters in the book. It was handwritten. She started reading the chapter anxiously.

CHAPTER 11:

It was night time. The plane had landed to Mumbai from dubai. A man came out of the plane and inhaled the fresh air of mumbai. Cool breeze was blowing over his face. He felt happy to be back in Mumbai after a month. He asked his driver to go home as he wanted to drive his car. He checked the time. It was 12:10 am. He was very happy today. Today was his daughters birthday. He had bought an exclusive gift for her from Dubai. He looked at the gift packed in pink wrapper placed in his adjacent seat. He wanted to reach home fast. There were very few cars on road. His phone buzzed. He was annoyed at the number.

M1: kyu phone kar rahe ho mujhe baar baar?? Maine kaha na mujhe iss baat ke baare mein koi baat nahi karni..

M2: haa toh mujhe bhi koi shauk nahi hai tumse baat karne ka...lekin hum iss baat ko nahi jhuthla sakte ki woh wapas aa gayi hai...humme kuch toh karna padega..

M1: tumhe kya lagta hai woh wapas aa gayi hai??? Main nahi maanta iss baat ko...usko mare hue kitne saal ho gaye hai...woh wapas nahi aa sakti...

M2: maine bhi yeh hi socha tha lekin hum galat the...ab humme kuch toh karna padega warna hamari basi-basaayi grahasti tabaah ho jaayegi...main tumse milna chahta hoon

M1: aaj meri beti ka birthday hai...please aaj yeh sab baatein nahi karni...main kal subah tumhe cafe milao mein milta hoon...

He cut the phone. yeh pagal ho gaya hai...kuch bhi sochta hai...usse lagta hai woh wapas aa gayi...woh wapas kaise aa sakti hai'. These thoughts were going on in his mind.

Suddenly he looked at her eyes. Her eyes in the mirror. He immediately turned back but she was not there. For a second his breath had stopped. Sweat formed on his forehead. no she is not here' he kept telling himself. He looked at the time. It was past 12:30 am. He wanted to reach home as soon as possible not only because it was his daughters birthday but also because he was scared now. she is not here' were the only words he kept mumbling to himself.

And the street lights went off. The road was filled with darkness. Only light was his car's headlight. He was sweating now. His car was alone on road. His house was just 10 minutes from here. He just had to cross these 10 minutes safely but something inside him was scaring him. He once again saw her eyes in the mirror. He turned back shocked. But she was not there. He couldn't be hallucinating twice he thought. And he saw her again. Standing right in front of his car. He panicked. He turned his car left to avoid accident with her and hit the tree. But the accident was not that bad as he put break on the right time. He turned back peeping from the car but she was not there. As soon as turned forward she was standing right over him. He panicked. She was looking at him with daggers. A cunning smile formed on her lips. He got out of the car to run away. The car ran over him in full speed and went straight inside the jungle. His legs were injured. He couldn't run for his life. She was laughing evily. He was screaming for forgiveness. He was pleading to be left safe. Her laughter was echoing in the darkness. A tree bark came and hung him on the tree. He was screaming in pain. The spirit pierced her long nails through his neck. His neck was bleeding. Then she pierced her nails through his chest, stomach, face. He was screaming and screaming in pain. He was bleeding profusely. He was continuously bleeding. She showed no signs of pitiness. She was relishing each drop lost from his body. He could remember his family...his wife...his daughter.. he wanted to be with them. And finally she attacked his heart piercing her nails into his heart. Slowly his heart stopped beating. Everything stopped. She stood infront of him satisfied with what she had done. His body hung lifelessly on the tree. Worms made their way on the body. They could smell fresh food. His body was half in blood and half filled with worms. The lifeless body was then carried to his house by the spirit. And the body hung in midair in the hall of the grand house.

Some things are bound to happen. No one can change. But some things can be controlled before they are damaged.'

THE END

Tears formed in nupur's eyes. Now she knew how dia's dad was murdered. He was murdered brutally. He was murdered when he was dying to see his family. Her spine raised in shock and terror when she read on how he was murdered. A new terror engulfed her. The spirit was here not just to trouble her but to murder people. And she had started it. Nupur knew she had to act fast. Her family was in danger. She had to solve this mystery as soon as possible. She had to save her family. She had to know why dia's dad was murdered.

DIA'S HOUSE:

Nupur and mayu's mom came to dia's house. The police were carrying out some investigation. Dia was sitting with her head on her mom's lap hoping her mom would cry and hug her. She still had not reacted. Some relatives had also come by now. Shilpa went and sat near dia's mother. They knew each other by name and had met years back in some formal meetings. However she knew dia's mother must be going through a lot of pain. She placed her hand on her shoulder. She looked at shilpa. Her face was blank. She still had not accepted the reality. Shilpa took her hand and placed it over dia's head. She looked at her daughter. The lonliness and sadness in her daughters eyes. The dried tears on her daughters face. All the memories replayed in her mind. The day when dia was born. How happy she and her husband were. The lovely moments they spent together. Her marriage. Dia's childhood. Everything was revolving infront of her eyes. His face. His care. His love. Everything came back to her. And then his body. In an instant she started crying. She started crying and screaming. She hugged her daughter and cried more. She had finally reacted. She had finally accepted the reality. The mother-daughter hugged each other and cried their hearts out on losing the most important person from their family.

AFTER SOMETIME:

Mayu's mom took a leave. Nupur had told her about the book and how dia's dad was murdered. She suggested her to not to tell anything to police as they would make her life a mess thinking how she knows so much about the case. And they would never trust her version of spirit. Nupur was finding it very hard to keep quiet. People were making their own versions which were far from reality.

Police started interrogating Dia's mom. She was already very stressed. All the gang members came and stood beside her to give her support.

Inspector: Good Morning Mrs. Khanna. I am sorry about your husband. I am inspector Rajeev. I will be working on this case.

Dia's mom: Mere husband ki death ke baare mein kuch pata chala??

Rajeev: nahi...abhi toh nahi...body postmortem ke liye gayi hai...atleast 2 days jaayege...filhaal toh aisa lag raha hai ki shayad unka accident hua ho...par unki body jis tarah se mili hai kuch samajh nahi raha...it could be possible ki murder bhi ho...unki body yaha aayi kaise??...car ka kuch pata nahi...driver ne kaha unhone airport pe hi car khud drive karne ki zid ki thi...kissi ne murder karke unki body yaha laa dii ki kuch aur hua hai...its all so confusing...kya aapke husband ki kissi ke saath koi dushmani thi???? Kya koi baat thi jo aapke husband ko pareshan kar rahi thi???? Ho sakta hai kissi ne paiso ke liye unhe maara ho...

Nupur was getting furious with each sentence. Dia's mom was already so stressed. How could she answer at such point. She could not control anymore.

N(boiling): AUR KYA THEORY HAI AAPKE PAAS??? UNKI LAASH AISE HAWA MEIN KAISE LATAK RAHI THI????ITNE SAARE KEEDE KAHA SE AAYE UNPAR??? ITNA KHOON KAISE AAYA...DUNIYA BHAR KI THEORIES LAGAA DE LEKIN AAP KABHI SACHAAI TAK NAHI PAHUCHOGE...

Rajeev: aap kaun??? aap kuch jaanti hai iss case ke baare mein??

N: MAIN NUPUR BHUSHAN...BORN HERE...HAVE RETURNED BACK FROM LONDON AFTER YEARS ONLY TO FIND MY LIFE IN MESS DAY AND NIGHT...AND CHAHE MAIN KUCH BHI BOLU YOU PEOPLE WILL NEVER BELIEVE IT BECAUSE ITS AGAINST YOUR PROFESSION...SO ISS SE ZYAADA MAIN KUCH NAHI KAHUGI...UNCLE KI CAR YAHA SE 10 MINUTE DUR EK JUNGLE HAI WAHI PAR KAHI KISSI JHAAD KE BEECH MILEGI...JAAKAR DEKH LO...AUR USS CAR MEIN EK PINK WRAP MEIN GIFT PACK KI HUI HAI JO UNCLE BAHUT PYAAR SE DIA KE LIYE LAAYE THE...PLEASE WOH GIFT ATLEAST USSE DENE MEIN DER MAT KARNA...

Saying this nupur went away in anger. Everyone stood there surprised at what happened. They didn't know how to react to nupur's words. Rajeev asked his subordinates to go to the place that nupur had mentioned. Mayu went to nupur.

M: nupur...yeh sab kya tha??

N: please mayank...mujhe iss ke baare mein koi baat nahi karni...please let me be alone...

Mayu left her alone for sometime. After sometime rajeev got a call that they had found his car from the same place that nupur had mentioned. Also the pink wrapped gift was there. Everyone was confused as to how nupur knew. Questions creeped their minds. Now inspector Rajeev was interested in talking to nupur.

Rajeev: Ms. Nupur...aapne jaha se bola humme waha se car mil gayi...kya main jaan sakta hu aapko itna sab kaise pata hai???

N: koi faayda nahi...aap vishwas nahi karege...rehne do..

Rajeev: aap batao toh sahi...vishwas karna na karna baad mein dekha jaayega...

Dia: haan nupur...main bhi jaan-na chahti hu tumhe kaise pata chala dad ke baare mein...

Gunjan: batao nupur...hum tumpe vishwas karte hai..

Suhaani: nupur hum jaante hai tum jhuth nahi bologi...naahi kuch galat kaam karogi...sach bataao kya hai..

Mayu held her hand and gave her a supporting nod.

She narrated all the events that had happened with her. Right from day 1 till today. She finished telling everyone the entire truth. Disbelief was written on everyone's face. They were shocked to hear what was going on in nupur's life. Nupur looked at everyone's face hoping that someone would come forward and tell they believe her. She looked at mayu's face for long time. But he didn't take any initiative.

Rajeev: you were right Ms. Nupur. Aapki ki baat pe vishwas karna mushkil hai...kya main woh book dekh sakta hu jisme aapne yeh story padhi??

Nupur handed him the book. He opened the book and grinned.

Rajeev: ab aap hi bataye iss story par vishwas kaise kare??? Iss book mein toh sirf 10 chapters hai...der is no 11^th chapter that you mentioned.

Nupur snatched the book and looked shocked. There was no 11^th chapter. The one she read today was missing. She searched the entire book but it was not there.

N: issi mein tha...main sach keh rahi hu...maine aaj subah hi padha...i am not lieing.

She was looking at everyone in tears. She was trying to convince everyone. But everyone was equally confused.

Rajeev: anyways thank you for your co-operation...shayad thodi pooch-taaj ke liye mujhe aapko police station bulana padega...I hope aap aise hi co-operate karegi...

Nupur nodded her head. He left from there and called someone Mujhe Nupur Bhushan ki saari information chahiye.' Maybe mayu's mom was right; nupur had stuck herself in this case.

RECAP:

The book reveals to nupur how dia's dad was murdered. Nupur reveals the truth to others. Inspector Rajeev surprised as to how she knows so much about the murder.

PART 7:

Nupur went away from dia's house feeling dejected. No one was believing her. Not even her mayank supported her. She went straight to shilpa and cried her heart out.

MM: mujhe issi baat ka darr tha beta...isiliye maine tumhe manaa kiya kisi ko kuch batane se...

N: i know...par aunty main kya karti...sach jaante hue bhi logo ki manghadak kahaaniya sun nahi saki main...main toh bas unki madad kar rahi thi sach bata ke...sach jaante hue main chup nahi reh saki...

MM: I know beta...par tum jo dekhti ho aur feel karti ho woh kisi ke liye bhi samajh paana mushkil hai...no one can believe easily beta...isiliye i told you not to tell everyone...ab jo ho gaya so ho gaya...tumhe jo theek lagaa tumne kiya...don't expect anything from people...just be careful with whatever you say now...

N: jee aunty...

Nupur retired to her room. She was thinking what was happening with her life. Everything was so complicated. How did the chapter just vanish from the book. She looked at the book again. Something was there about this book. Something that she didn't know. Something that she needed to find. She looked at the book again in hopes to get some answers but in vain.

Just than mayank entered her room. He looked at how disturbed his angel was. His heart broke into pieces looking at her sadness and lonliness. He knew she needed him most. He was here for her. He could never leave her alone. He went and sat beside her. He held her hand between his. She looked at him with sadness. Tears formed in her eyes. He wiped her tears. She instantly hugged him and cried. Few tears formed in his eyes. He held her by shoulder and kissed away those tears. He gave her a reassuring look. She looked at him and found trust and love for herself. She kissed away his tears. No word was spoken between them. Their actions told them how their love was above anything; how much they trusted each other. Mayank showed full support and faith in her.

The book fell down from nupur's bed. Mayank looked at the book. It read NIGHTMARE'. He looked at the book and saw few stories.

M: nupur...tumhe yeh book kaha se mili??

N: college library mein...someone threw this book at me...i think it was my mom...mujhe yaad hai uss din main assignment kar rahi thi and that spirit of a girl was troubling me...all the books were going round and round around me. Than a shadow came which I now realize is my mom's. And this book came flying to me and that spirit ran away from the window...mujhe lag raha hai maa iss book ki zariye kuch kehna chah rahi hai...kuch batana chah rahi hai...par kya mujhe samajh nahi raha...roz yeh book dekhti hu iss umeed mein ki kuch toh clue mil jaaye...par kuch nahi milta...

M: chill nupur...hum zaroor pata lagaaye ki iss book ki secret kya hai...don't worry..

She hugged him and hi pacified her.

NEXT DAY COLLEGE:

The news about nupur's behavior and her version of dia's dad's death had spread all around. Everyone looked at her weirdly. Nupur was feeling uncomfortable. People were talking about her. What hurt her most was that her own friends were doubting her. Even they didn't show any signs of trust. Mayank held her hand and supported her to show everyone that he trusts nupur. Nupur was surprised when another pair of hand caught her hand. Surprised she looked to find her little bro Uday smiling at her.

U: dii mujhe bhi aap pe poora bharosa hai...I know aap jhooth nahi mil rahi...

Nupur felt very good after listening to this. Her brother also trusted her. Now she was feeling strong. Suhaani and Gunjan looked at each other. Even they felt like going and supporting Nupur. They felt that she would not lie. But they were stopped by cold looks of samrat and adhiraaj. Dia had not come to college and had decided to stay away for few days. Benji was with her to help her.

AT POLICE STATION:

Inspector Rajeev was examining the case. He was looking at the forensic reports of dia's dad. Some facts were supporting nupur's version of story. Like someone had brutally murdered him using nails or some strong pointed thing. But that did not mean it was some spirit he concluded. He could not go around talking about spirit's in town. People would laugh at him like they are laughing at nupur. But how did nupur know so much he thought. This much information can only be with someone who has murdered or planned the murder. But why would nupur open her mouth and dig her own grave. There has to be something to nupur.

Just than he got a call from a private number:

Rajeev: Hello..

Man on other side: nupur ke baare mein soch rahe ho?

Rajeev: kaun bol raha hai??

Man: woh important nahi...tumhe nupur ki sachaai jaan-ni hai na...sach yeh hai ki nupur jaisi dikhti hai waisi hai nahi...yeh murder ussine plan kiya tha...aur ab woh darr ke maare manghadad kahani banaa rahi hai...iss baat ka proof tumhe bahut jaldi mil jaayega...

Saying this the person kept the phone down. Rajeev was in deep thoughts. He was waiting to get his hands on the proof.

After sometime a man came and gave him some DVD lying outside station with his name. Rajeev looked at the video and was surprised at what he saw. He needed some more proof's he thought before blaming nupur.

NIGHT TIME:

Nupur was trying to get some sleep. But she heard some noise. She got up to see the source of the noise. It was someone's crying noise. She couldn't see from where was the noise coming. She went and checked the bathroom but no one was there. She could still hear that noise. She checked the balcony but no one was there. From the balcony she saw someone moving among the garden bushes. She went down. The house was filled with darkness with small lamps on in the passage. She could hear the noise more clearly. Slowly her footsteps were moving in direction. She reached the garden. The wind was chilly. She was freezing. The crying noise had grown louder. She went in the bushes following the sound. She didn't know where she was walking in the darkness. She was just walking and walking. She didn't bother about the surroundings. And than she saw someone. There was someone there. Some figure. She went closer. Some person was standing facing in opposite direction. That person was crying and pleading Please mujhe chod do...mujhe maaf kar do..' to someone. Nupur placed her hand on that persons shoulder. He turned back and nupur screamed in terror. He was dia's dad. His body was drenched in blood. Nupur saw to whom he was pleading. But no one was there. He was talking all alone. He was constantly murmering. She stood there all shocked and scared. As soon as he saw nupur he folded her hands infront of nupur and started pleading to her Please mujhe bacha lo...mujhe bacha lo nupur beta...Hum sabko bacha lo...tumhaara parivaar bahut musibat mein hai...sabko bacha lo...' Nupur didn't know what to say. He was crying and crying. Nupur caught his hand to make him stop pleading. And to her utter shock his folded hands came in her hand. Shocked she threw away those pair of hands. She looked at him. He was standing handless...motionless...expressionless...he was just staring at nupur's face. His legs were slowly moving in her direction. Nupur was scared and stepping back until she dashed a tree. She looked at him petrified not understanding what is he gonna do next. And then he fell down. His body broke into pieces in front of her. His head was separted. His legs were lying somewhere. She could see all his body parts lying on the ground. She screamed in terror.

She looked here and there for help but no one was there. And than she got more scared when she realized she was in the jungle. The same place where she think dia's dad was murdered. She panicked. She was about to run when that same tree caught her with her branches. She was held in air with those branches. Her nostrils filled with that rotten decayed smell. She knew the spirit was close. And than she heard her noise. Her noise laughing at her. Her noise screaming in delight. She could see her figure. Her figure was coming close to her. Her face was covered with hair. She wanted to know who is she. She was struggling to get herself free from the hold of the tree. She was trying hard. The spirit poked nupur with her long nails. She screamed in pain. And than she was poking her everywhere...her neck...her hands...her stomach...her face...everywhere. She was bleeding in the same way as dia's dad was bleeding. She was crying and crying. She was screaming for help. The spirit was laughing evily. The spirit was enjoying each blood that came out of nupur's body...each tear that came from nupur's eyes...each plead that nupur begged. Nupur knew it was her end. There was no one to save her. Her body was on fire. She felt hot. She wanted to see her face before dieing. And the hair from the spirit's face were disappearing. She was about see her clear face when she fell from her bed.

Nupur sat down not realizing that she was in her house not in the jungle. It took sometime to sink in her. She looked at her hands and body and everything was perfectly fine. She felt out of breath as if she had ran 100 miles. Her whole body was wet with sweat. Her body pained as if she was really struggling to get free from that tree. She felt drained out. It took minutes for her to get normal. She was still not sure if what had happened was for real or her nightmare. She got up and looked at herself in mirror. She stood there scared that maybe she will find herself in blood again. But she stood there perfectly fine. She was still uncertain about the entire thing but finding herself alive and perfectly alright was what made her happy.

Sleep was far from her eyes. And than she looked at the time. The same time when her nostrils filled with that decayed rotten smell. The same time when that spirit would sit on the swing. The same time when she used to get troubled. And than she heard it. The same crying noise that she dreamt of. She went into the balcony to find someone going into bushes. She got scared. She didnt want her nightmare to come real. She knew where following the crying noise would lead her to. She didn't follow the person. But as soon as she turned back she stood face to face with that spirit. Just the same way in her dream the spirit had her face covered with her hair. She was petrified at finding her standing so close to her. She could hear her evil laugh. The same laugh that she saw in her dream. Nupur ran from there into the washroom. She locked herself in the washroom. She could still hear her laughs. This time nupur was sure that it was no dream. Everything is real. Nupur cried and cried in the washroom.

After sometime the laughter subsided. Nupur took courage and got up. She washed her face splashing cold water on it. Her leg hit something below on the floor. She looked at what was it and found those folded hands that had comein her hand in her nightmare. Nupur screamed in terror. She felt a sharp pain in her neck. She looked in mirror and removed her hair from one side to find a cut on her neck. The cut of her dream. And than she realized the nightmare was no dream. It was all real. She was living in that NIGHTMARE!!!!!!

RECAP:

Mayank supports Nupur. Inspector Rajeev got some proof against Nupur. Nupur is haunted again.

PART 8:

Nupur could not sleep after the events that took place. This time the nightmare had really scared her to wits. She couldn't believe that all this had happened to her in real. Dia's dad's face was constantly coming infront of her eyes. Only she knew what she was going through. She kept crying and crying. She went to mayank's room and saw him sleeping peacefully. She didn't want to disturb him. She went to mayu's mom room to find his mom and dad also sleeping peacefully. Than she went to uday's room and he too was sleeping. She went to her dad's room and than realized that he was not here. He had gone to Delhi since past 10 days for business work. If only he was here she felt...someone her own. She slept in her fathers room that night hoping that she would not be haunted there. She took her mothers pic in hand and tried sleeping. However her eyes would open with slightest breeze. Amidst the breeze she could feel her mother's touch. The touch that soothed her. The touch telling her she is with her and everything is fine. The touch made her drowzy and finally she fell asleep.

NEXT DAY:

COLLEGE:

Suhaani, dia and Gunjan met Nupur in the washroom. Nupur knew they had started maintaining distance with her. However she still considered them their friend.

N: dia...tum kaisi ho??

D: i am fine nupur...tum kaisi ho??

N: main bhi theek hu...how is aunty?

D: yaa she is fine...

N: nice...

There was an awkward silence between them. Not knowing what to say to each other.

N: soo...see you around than...bye

D: bye..

Nupur glanced at gunjan and suhaani. They were avoiding her gaze. Feeling bad she started making her way out of the washroom. But she was stopped by Dia.

D: nupur i know tum jhooth nahi bol rahi...mere dad ki body jis condition mein mili usse pata chalta hai ki iske peeche koi normal insaan ka haath nahi ho sakta...main apne dad ko kho chuki hu but I don't want to loose my best friend Nupur...

Nupur looked at her with teary eyes. She hugged her tightly. She felt so happy that dia trusted her. Even gunjan and suhaani hugged them.

G: nupur we are also extremely sorry...hum jaante hai tum aisa kuch nahi karogi...hum jaante hai ki tum sach bol rahi ho...

S: haa nupur...don't worry ab hum milke sach ka pata lagaayege...

All four girls hugged each other. Nupur felt so relieved that finally her friends were supporting her. They joined hands to find the truth.

Girls went out with their hands in hands. Boys were shocked looking at the sudden change. How did they become friends again? But whatever it was they were all happy specially Mayank as he now knew nupur was not alone. Everyone trusted her. Even samrat adhiraaj asked forgiveness from Nupur and promised her to help her in the best possible way to come out of this mess.

Nupur told them all that she is going through since the day she returned to Mumbai. Every night how she suffers. She shared with them each and every detail except for her last night Nightmare. She was not sure how dia would feel had she told her how her dad was begging her to save him. She looked at everyone hoping to get some reaction but they all were dumbstruck after hearing to all that happened.

G: seriously nupur hats off to you...tum itna sab akele sehti rahi??

Suhaani: agar main tumhari jagah hoti toh baap re abhi tak pagal ho chuki hoti...

Dia: tum itne dino se itna kuch sehen kar rahi thi aur hume kuch pata hi nahi chala...

Sam: we are sorry nupur...we are very bad friends

N: nahi sam aisa kuch nahi hai...tum sab bahut ache ho...iss mein tumhaari koi galti nahi hai...

M: sabse zyaada guilty toh main hu iss waqt...tumhe meri sabse zyaada zaroorat thi aur main hu jisne tumhari koi baat nahi maani...i am sorry nupur...

N(catching his hands): its ok mayu...main toh bas khush hu ki tum sab mere saath ho...ab hum sab milke iss raaz ka sach pata lagaa ke rahege...

Everyone: yess!!!!

M: nupur woh book dikhao...

Nupur showed him the book. Mayu took out his laptop and started searching something.

S: mayank what are you searching?

M: google pe shayad iss book ke baare mein kuch info mil jaaye...

S: excellent idea

Everyones eyes were glued to the laptop screen. Mayank typed the book's title name Living in Nightmare'. The page displayed no results found. They felt disheartened. Nupur took the laptop and tried again and again giving different cues but no results were displayed. Than mayank took the book and typed the author's name F.S. Dsouza'

Soon they got information about the author. Mayank you are a genious exclaimed Nupur. There were many articles about the author. Mayank opened the wikepedia site. It read:

"F.S. Dsouza' Born on 24^th November 1945

Died on 15^th January 1988

He was a well known author who had written best selling books like Haunted Nights', The Unknown Fear', A Ghostly affair'. His books have won many prizes.

He was born in Goa. He shifted with his wife and daughter to Mumbai at the age of 28 to fulfill his dreams of becoming an aspiring writer. Within 10 years success touched his feet. He was very well known among the mass. However, his sudden death came as a shock to everyone. On 15^th January 1988, the Police had found his dead body hanging from his room's fan and a note stating that he has committed suicide. His wife and daughter were no where to be seen and no one knows why and where did they disappear. His death remains a mystery but the police closed his case without much ivestigation stating that it was a suicide. No one knows what had happened to this happy family in that one night. No one knows where his wife and daughter are now."

Everyone were shocked after reading this.

Sam: that's it guys...something about his death is fishy.

Gunjan: i think his death is related to all that is happening now.

Nupur: par how?? He died before our birth...toh how can it be related?

Benji: dekho we need to start from somewhere...if yeh death ke baare mein kuch pata chale toh shayad thoda clue mil jaaye...

Suhaani: benji is right...we must try finding more about his death...

Dia: i think humme police records check karne chahiye...waha se we may get the case details...

Mayank: yes humme police station chalne chahiye...but will the police let us check?

Sam: don't worry...ex-police commissioner is very good friend of my dad...i will get orders from him...he is acting little weird since some days but unka signature laana will not be a big deal...

Mayank: cool than...kal subah we will go to the police station and check this case...

That night Nupur was sleeping in her dad's room. She wanted to sleep peacefully for once. She hoped that spirit will not follow her to her dad's room. And so did it happen. For once she had very calm, relaxed night. No smell...no noise...no one bothering her. She got up fresh in the morning. She felt very good after such nice sleep. She was packing her bag when her eyes fell on the book. She opened the book and was surprised to see a new chapter written in that book in red blood ink.

Curiously nupur sat to read that chapter:

Night 12 o'clock. A man was sitting alone in his house. He had a glass of whiskey in his hand. He was relishing his drink. Suddenly his cell buzzed. Irriatated to get a call at this hour he picked it up.

Man: haa bolo samrat..

Sam: uncle mujhe aapke signature chahiye...i wanted to read about a case aur aapke orders chahiye uske liye...

Man: kaunsa case???

Sam: F.S. D'souza ka case

Man's eyes widened in horror. All the alcohol effect from his body evaporated. He got some flashbacks. His voice filled with panic.

Man: tumhe iss case ke baare mein kyu jaan na hai?

Sam: uncle meri ek friend bahut problem mein hai...aur humme lagta sab kuch iss case se juda hai...humare liye iss case ki sachchai jaan na bahut zaroori hai...

Man: dekho samrat...tumhare liye yeh hi acha hai ki tum iss ladki aur iss case se dur raho...iss case mein mat pado samrat...

Sam: par kyu uncle??? Aakhir raaz kya hai iss case ka??

Man: main nahi bata sakta tumhe kuch samrat...yeh mere ateet ke woh panne hai jo main faadkar fek chuka hu...meri ek galti ne meri zindagi tabaah kar di...ab main nahi chahta tum bhi inn sab mein padhkar apni zindagi tabaah karo...main tumhe koi permission nahi de sakta...kabhi nahi...iss case ko bhul jao...

Saying this he kept the phone. Samrat stood puzzled looking at the phone. He thought he would try again tomorrow morning to know more about the case when uncle would be in better mood.

The man was sweating after keeping the phone. Things that happened 22 years back engulfed his mind. He had thought that he had left his past far behind. But his past had never left him. He was living a lonely life due to his sins. He looked at the whiskey glass in his hand. And than he suddenly saw her face in the glass. He was shocked. Her face was in the glass laughing evily. His room window started banging. Instead of getting scared he also started laughing loudly. He smashed the glass on floor. She came out and stood right infront of him. He looked at her and laughed more.

Man: main jaanta tha tum ek din zaroor aaogi...aakhir tum wapas aa hi gayi...main kitne saal se iss din ka intzaar kar raha tha jab tum mujhe le jaogi...

He laughed more. She went ahead and pressed his neck and lifted him in air.

Man: maar daalo mujhe...le jao yaha se...yeh hi deseve karta hu main...maar daalo mujhe...

She threw him right across the wall. His head hit the wall hard and started bleeding. He laughed and laughed while all the blood left his body. He looked at her in her eyes till the last minute showing her that he was never scared of his death. He had waited for this day since past 22 years. Finally, he has got relief from his stress...his sins...and this world.

THE END

Nupur's eyes were filled with tears after reading this. She went with mayank to the police station where they all had decided to meet. She still hadn't mentioned to anyone of what she read. They all were waiting for samrat outside the station. Just than sam entered with a sad face.

S: guys...woh...permission nahi milli...woh...kal raat...woh..

N(completing the sentence): kal raat unki death ho gayi...

Everyone looked at her shocked.

S: how do you know? Mujhe khud abhi 5 mins pehle pata chala...

Someone from behind: yes Ms. Nupur...even i am curious to know ki tumhe kaise pata chala...yeh khabar toh humme bhi abhi hi mili hai..

Everyone turned behind to see Inspector Rajeev questioning Nupur.