Chapter 4 - Memories
@Cuppa
Coffee:
It was
almost midnight in Manali and the roads were silent. People were
peacefully sleeping in their houses and only a few all-night shops were open. Jeh
was sitting with his childhood friend Manish in such an all-night open coffee
shop who witnessed the chaos of his engagement party.
They were
both silent after Jeh told him everything.
Manish
(still hesitant): "Jeh are you sure she didn't run away'."
Jeh
(agitated): "No buddy... I told yea. She's not that type of girl. She's simple
but very special. She has her own mind and a beauty with brain. She understands
responsibility and would never do such thing to disgrace her family."
Manish
(confused): 'But you said'her mamaji and mami always neglected and misbehaved
with her' then maybe she is doing this for revenge.."
Jeh
(irritated): "She would never do anything like this. She signed all her
properties to them. Can u believe it? She even never complained me directly
about her guardians but I'm not blind."
Manish
(sighs): "You really fell for her'didn't you?"
Jeh
(unable to look at him; this isn't him. Jeh Khurana doesn't fall for any girl):
"I like her and she's my fiance remember so it's kinda my responsibility to
take care of her if she is in any kinda danger. I trust her."
Manish
(deep sigh again): "Alright. I got it. I will give every detail, the photos and
money you gave me for the detective I have hired for you. And are you sure we
can't inform the police?"
Jeh (got a
grip on himself): "yes. Prabeen uncle strictly said no police and that's
exactly what's boiling up my suspicion. You tell him to start his work tomorrow
and I will meet him here same place 2pm."
Both of
them stood up and ready to leave the coffee. Jeh leaves the bill of coffee and
some tip on the table and walks out.
Manish
beads good-bye to him and said turning back, "By the way' she's really pretty
you know... I can't blame you."
Jeh smiles
for the first time in 24 hours and pointed his finger at him, "Hey'don't look
at my girl like this. Ok?" and they both laugh.
AR
Villa:
The room
which stands alone at the last corner of 2nd floor at AR Villa was
witnessing a different scenario today. Aryan was busy lighting the entire room
with equal number of white and black candles. He was going to possess Piya's
mind to know wha happened to her. S not exactly a dark magic but not a simple
one too. So the black and white candles are to equal the forces. He brought a
bowl of water and put that on the ground. He looked at the room and nodded,
"alright. We are done." And shouted, (though he knows it's not needed as Abhay
can easily hear him from ground floor as well) "Bhai' come."
Abhay
reached there within 1 minute with a sleeping Piya cradled in his arms. He
carefully placed Piya within the circle of candles and looked at Aryan. Aryan
looks very serious right now, unlike his nature. His black robe, the candles
enlightening the room and their shadows dancing on the wooden floor has
completely changed the ambience of the room. Abhay pointed at the wooden floor,
"Don't take much time. Her temperature is still high so lying on the cold
ground for long is not good. She might catch cold."
Aryan gave
him a quick look and nodded silently. "Shall I start?" he asked for Abhay's
permission. Abhay nodded looking worried. Aryan sat near the wall facing Piya's
head in front of him and Abhay sat next to him. Aryan took the bowl of water
within his hands and started to mutter some spell. The water started moving
inside the bowl and stopped after 60 seconds. He put the bowl of water down and
looked at Abhay, "When I offer you my hand you will take it and I will possess
her mind to see her past or penetrate her memories and you can see the same
things as I will until we both are connected, alright?"
Abhay
nodded, "got it." Aryan drenched his hand within the water of the bowl, and
then he pressed his wet right hand on Piya's forehead and started saying the
spells loudly. With his voice growing louder, the ambience of the room started
to change as well. All the window of this room was locked and there wasn't any spaces
for wind to come from outside but the flames of the burning candles were
dancing like crazy but not even a single candle burnt out. Aryan's eyes were
closed and his voice grew louder with each incantation. He offered his left
hand to Abhay without opening his eyes and Abhay hold it. Abhay looked at Piya
and saw she was moving, eyes still closed but looking restless. Abhay closed
his eyes as well and a flash of memories started to appear in front of his
eyes.
"A small
girl of nearly 5 running and screaming, "Mamma, mamma' DON"T LEAVE ME'PLEASEE!!
Her innocent face tear stricken and Abhay saw what she was running for. Another
young woman of curly hair was being dragged by 3 or 4 people. The curly haired
woman was also screaming and stretching her hand to hold the child, "Piya'Piya'
mere bacche..." But all their agonies
went into vein as another short man came and took the child in his arms to stop
her. The child was still screaming, fighting with all her strength, kicking in
the air to hold her mother's hand but the men and women dragged the mother into
the ambulance which was of a mental asylum."
"The scene
changed with a flash. Another memory came. An adolescent Piya was screaming in
pain as she was being dragged by her long silky hair by a rude looking chubby woman,
"Mami.. Please I donno anything. Please forgive me..." as she kicked her on the
leg and Piya screamed in pain again'."
"Scene
changed. Piya was wearing a beautiful Pink lehenga, looking angelic like a
bride and an evil looking middle-aged man was threatening her, "I don't want a
single drama downstairs. UNDERSTAND? If he sees these crocodile tears of yours
he will ask a million question. YOU ARE GETTING ENGAGE TODAY. IS THAT CLEAR?" Tears
started falling fast from Piya's fearful face as she nodded without any words."
"The scene
changed again. She was wearing the same saree in which Abhay rescued her. She
was lying on the ground of a damp and dark place. Her nose was bleeding and her
body was writhing in pain. The same man who threatened her earlier standing
with another female figure standing nearby but neither Aryan nor Abhay could
see her face. They were talking,
Man: "I will arrange
everything. Don't you worry? And the medicines that I have been giving her will
surely start working from now."
Woman: "You mean
slow-poisoning?"
Man: "yes.. she will not
die but she won't be mentally sound and it will start showing symptoms
gradually."
Piya mumbled in pain,
"mamma..mamma...save me."
The man kicked on the lying figure
of Piya and she cried in pain. He bended and made her face him, "do you
know why your mother committed suicide? Because of you!!"
Piya cried,
"Noo...never."
Man: "yess.. Because of
your father and you!! She hated you
because that's the only thing that reminded her of your filthy father who left
you both like garbage.. You are nothing more then a burden to her.."
Piya (sobbing): "She...she
told you that?
Man: "Off course she told
me that before she committed suicide... That's why I hated you and your father
for my entire life...You're a sin and the price is paid by my sister through
giving up her life.. YOU KILLED HER PIYA... YOU KILLED HER"
Another
flash but Abhay opened his eyes with a jerk as he heard a scream. Piya was now
fidgeting like hysteria patient and screaming. Abhay immediately let go of
Aryan's hand and shouted, "Aryan stop her. She's in pain. Can't you see that?
She is going through all the pain again. STOP IT!!"
Aryan's
whole body was shaking for using so much of magic. He broke the connection with
a jerk and Abhay almost jumped from the spot, took Piya in his arms and rushed
towards the guest room. Aryan ran behind him.
Piya was
shaking and sobbing in her sub-unconscious condition now. She was clinging on
to Abhay's neck for support with her weak hands and when Abhay tried to place
her carefully on the bed she refused to let go. Very gently he freed her arms
from his neck and placed her on the bed and held her hand within both of his palms
and bended a little closer to her ear. He whispers gently, "I'm here. Nothing
will happen to you. Trust me. Just be with me."
Piya held
his hand with all the faith in the world and calmed down slowly.
Aryan was
standing in front of the door and didn't utter a single word until he felt she
was ok. Abhay looked at him and saw tears in his eyes. They silently looked at
each other. Aryan broke the silence first, "Bhai, I'm sorry. I told you it
would take a toll on her health if I try to charm her memory right now but I
didn't know her life would be so painful." (Pain was visible in his eyes)
Abhay (grave): "I know. I'm sorry too. I felt
she's almost dying so I shouted on you. That man' (abhay greeted his teeth)"
Aryan: "I
know. No need to explain. But there's slow-poison in her body-system and that's
why she's in this state. She needs medical attention and I' (pause) know that
man."
Abhay
(shocked): "You do? Who's that?"
Aryan
walked near him and sat on the couch facing Abhay. "Prabeen Jaiswal. The day
you found her I went to a party remember? How ironic, I actually went to her
wedding announcement party and came back home because the bride-to-be ran away
or was missing according to everyone. That b***** is her uncle. He was crying
and telling everyone he never expected his niece would disgrace his family like
this cause he was like her own daughter." (Aryan clenched his fist)
Abhay (his
body boiling with anger): "Off course we just saw how much he LOVED her. So she
ran away but her brain wasn't working properly so she tried to commit suicide
imagining she truly tried to kill her mother. She must be drugged with
something to create delusions." (abhay looked at Aryan)
Aryan
(worried): "We will deal with that Jaiswal later. First think about Piya. You
have studied medicine. Can you do something about it? The drug is running in
her veins now. She needs blood transplant. Otherwise she won't be alright. Do you have any ideas what kind of drug would that be?"
Abhay
(looking with awe at Aryan, he always says the right thing): "LSD probably. the symptoms of high temperature, hallucinations, sweating, memory loss these all leads to LSD. She needs to be
admitted in a hospital but I doubt if he stopped looking for her. He's very clever
isn't it? He faked that Piya ran away cause no one would be looking for her
then. No police report needed though he knows very well, she actually escaped.
Think that why he still didn't reported about her missing. Because he knows the
drug is working and she would die probably. But I'm sure he will try to make
sure she's dead and he will look for her secretly."
Aryan saw
his brother fuming his anger. He actually got a bit scared thinking about
Prabeen Jaiswal. Abhay's anger is a hurricane, too bad for everyone around him.
Aryan took
a gulp before suggesting his idea, "Umm... so we can't take her to a hospital."
Abhay
shook his head, (Aryan noticed he is still holding Piya's hand and ignored it)
"I have another idea."
Abhay
looked at him seriously, "I hope it's ACCEPTABLE"
Aryan
(stealing glances): "Please don't kill me for saying this. You..umm...exchange
blood..."
Abhay left
Piya's hand and stood up with a jerk, "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FREAKING MIND? You
mean I should bite her, took out the poisoned blood and give her my blood??!!"
Aryan
(trying to sound logical): "This is the best way bhai. And it's not that you
don't drink human blood. You can get a grip on yourself."
Abhay
(fuming, looking mad): "I told you at the very first day that her blood (His
face painful) smells divine and I'm not that good with blood. That's not the
point, exchanging blood means building a connection with a human which I have
been avoiding for 200 years. How could you ask me to do that?"
Aryan sighed
and calmly said, "It was 200 years ago. For how long will you carry the burden
on your shoulders ha? You were a newborn vampire and it's their nature to be
thirsty. However now you are 200 years old and you can easily drink human blood
so what's that heck with saving a girl's life? You have saved many lives
before!!"
Abhay
shook his head in desperation, looking rather helpless, unable to make him
understand. "You don't understand Aryan. It's like her blood is calling me.. I
bloody donno why. You are not a vampire so you will never understand the
connection we can create by exchanging blood. It's a bond of lifetime. It's
extremely strong and I don't wanna connect with a human life. I already feel
(painful pause) a pull towards her and NO WAY I'm gonna make it stronger."
They both
stood at their places silently. The air of the room became heavy, only Piya's
deep breathing can be heard. Suddenly Abhay looked at Aryan and he was
surprised to see his signature smirk on the face.
"You know
what lil AR. I know you have got ideas but that's the difference between you
and me. My ideas are always valid. We will take her to hospital. RIGHT NOW."
Aryan's
jaw dropped, "What does that mean? HOW? "
Abhay:
"Very easy. I will compel the doctor who will attend her and by the morning the
blood transfer will be done and we will bring her back here. The hospital
should be less-crowded now. No one will know"
A 100 watt
bulb lit in Aryan's head. He hates to admit it but truth is this kind of ideas
never appears in his head. "Alright//alright... i know you are the boss. Do it.
So we are gonna keep her here?"
Abhay
didn't dare looking at his brother's judgy eyes and said, "For now yes. But. BUT when she will be safe, I will send her back."
Aryan
nodded and said before leaving the room, "I will start the car and you can
follow"
Abhay sat
beside Piya again and took her hand in his, "Now I know why I felt so connected
to you. Maybe because you and I both have a aching past and we lost out
beloveds. But I promise I won't let you feel the pain of solitude I felt for
almost 100 years. I won't let any danger passing near you. I will protect you
until it's necessary and I will try to control the damage your uncle has done in your life.
I don't know why I'm saying this or why I just can't ignore this bond towards
you. But I will follow my heart after 200 years."
He took a
deep breathe and took her in his strong arms. Time for a little drama. "This is
gonna be fun, compelling humans is always fun and I haven't done it for a
while." His signature smirk appeared on his face as Abhay walked towards the
car.
Next Chapter: My Dark Knight
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