Weird, isn't it?

Part three

The news of such events  around the haveli started spreading like wildfire. People in Kherva began to believe that Nimritdas Nagarkar's unborn child was probably an evil incarnation, putting the lives of people in and around the haveli in danger. Many residents also started manufacturing theories about the fetus being a result of Devki praying to the Devil and about the Nagarkar couple practicing black magic.

The workers at the haveli began to abandon their jobs and leave out of fear. Poor Nimritdas and the now heavily pregnant Devki tried to arrange for house-help from nearby towns and villages, but the stories surrounding their "cursed baby" had reached everywhere. Devki had gotten significantly more ill throughout her pregnancy; with no help and no doctor agreeing to tend to her during labour,  she died instantly after giving birth. Nimritdas told the villagers that their baby was a still-born girl, and was buried alongside her mother. But nobody could prove if the baby was born dead, or if he had lied to protect his child from the villagers. After his wife's death and their family being outcasted from the village, Nimritdas led a lonely life in his big mansion for a year, after which, he too died of a long fever. There wasn't any child found in the house when his body was collected for a proper burial.

After the incident people pretty much stayed away from Kesaribaug haveli. However decades later with the rise of modern era, people began to abandon their superstitions about the haveli and it become a tourist destination for its architectural  beauty. Kherva village also saw this as an opportunity for financial gain from visitors, and officially opened up the haveli for sight-seeing. 

Some time after this, tourists began to report strange incidents happening to them on their visit to the haveli, not life threatening or scary incidents, just really weird incidents. These stories included someone completely forgetting about his visit to the haveli, after waking up the next day, he had no memory of going there even after being shown pictures of him there; another time, a couple claimed that all of their photos from the haveli were erased from their camera, while the photos taken before and after their visit were intact. 

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After discussing some more events like these that made the reputation of Keseribaug haveli what it was, Suraj Thakur offered to take Latika and Akash for a visit, he said, "Usually, Baba is the tour guide around here, but he is out until next Tuesday for some business in the city... so you have to bear with me for this one", he chuckled. 

Latika laughed saying, "I am just happy that we will be getting done with the tour today itself, and as far as being a good tour guide goes, after your narration of the saga of Kesaribaug, I have no doubt in your abilities". Akash nodded along while munching on a samosa, and soon they got ready to leave for the tour.

As Latika hopped on the scooter behind Akash, he quizzed her, "What if I forgot who you are after today's tour, and then you have to sleep on the platform until your train tomorrow", and laughed loudly. Latika smirked, "Its not like you knew me yesterday, when I coaxed you into letting me stay, and plus, now I know the Thakur family. They are such nice people, I don't think they would mind taking a desperate, alone, young girl in for a night", Akash huffed, "Man, why can't you just let me have my fun!"

Bantering and chatting about weird things that could supposedly happen to them on the tour, Akash and Latika soon reached the magnificent haveli, with Suraj Thakur arriving shortly after in his jeep. As Latika gazed at the marvellous 18th century mansion, she could understand why people would travel from far away to see it. There was a long tower in the centre with a conical design on the top carved with intricate details. The stone walls of the structure had medieval style paintings that seemed to be telling a story in itself. The outhouse which was burned was still preserved as best as it could be, there was a black ashy cast all over it. The giant beautifully painted door led to a huge courtyard. In the middle of the courtyard was a fountain that didn't work anymore. 

As Suraj Thakur led the way showing them around, Latika and Akash couldn't help but get stunned at the travesty that this place had undergone. A grand residence, which was once home to a family, which once glittered with warmth and happiness, had now been reduced to a cold aesthetic tragedy. 

Latika took notes as Suraj Thakur told them about the history of every corner, while Akash helped her with taking pictures. The trio roamed around in the haveli for almost two hours, before they got ready to take their leave.

While Suraj Thakur put multiple locks on the giant front door, it started getting dark and Latika, who was going through her research material asked him, "I noticed that there were no pictures or paintings or anything of the Nagarkar couple in the haveli. Is there any chance that your family might know what they looked like?"

Thakur looked up and twisted the corner of his moustache, "Oh yes, I completely forgot to tell you Latika ji, Baba has old pictures of the haveli and some of them have portraits of Nimritdas and Devki Nagarkar, before they were destroyed", Latika rejoiced, "That is just perfect! If you could be very kind to let me take a copy of them, I would be so very grateful Suraj ji!"

Suraj Thakur grimaced, "Actually all of that stuff is very precious to Baba, so he keeps it in a safe that only he has the key to; if he were here, you would have surely gotten your pictures, but he is away, and we don't have any copy for the safe key". Hearing this, Latika almost groaned in frustration, but she didn't want to seem ungrateful in front of Akash and Suraj Thakur, so she tried to tell herself that 'it was okay, sure the photos would have brought the entire article together... made it perfect but, no worries its all okay'. Akash sensed her sadness and suggested that she could wait a couple of days for Senior Thakur to return, but when she said that it was totally impossible for her to miss work for that much time, he offered, "Um, how about this- you give me your email id, once when Senior Thakur gets back, I can request him for photographs, scan them, and mail them to you?"

Latika almost hugged Akash out of happiness, "Would you really do that for me! I would appreciate it so much Akash, seriously!" Akash laughed, "Of course, what kind of man would I be if I don't help a desperate, alone, young girl in need", and Latika giggled at his use of her own line.

After sharing pleasantries with Suraj Thakur, and telling him how thankful they were to him for the tour, the duo returned back to Akash's place. While having dinner, they discussed about the haveli and its stories, and their experience of the visit, whilst a very important thing completely slipped their mind. They soon got ready for bed, as Latika had to leave early the next day to catch the train for Mumbai.

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Wow, that took me almost 6 years to write... a pretty big chapter. 

Anyways, if anyone is still following this story (or if anyone has actually ever read this story), I started writing this, then got lazy and left it unfinished, and then I grew up and completely forgot that I was on Wattpad at some point in my life.  But now due to the recent quarantine situation, I decided to write a book and then remembered that I had started writing one on here a couple of years ago. Turns out I had actually started this teeny short story in like 2014, so I thought I should finish this one before writing anything new, so here goes nothing.

Its actually a good story if you ignore the slightly lousy writing, so have fun I guess. I will not disappear without finishing the story this time.

Thanks to everyone who is actually reading this, all of you are the best!