It has been almost two hours that Rajveer is driving. The sign board that reads that you need to turn left in order to connect to the Subhash lane which Rajveer and Naina both know will lead them to their destination - Naina's home, surprisingly is placed before its original spot as per Rajveer and Naina's knowledge. They find it weird and look towards each other in confusion.
"Agey wala turn nahi tha?",
asks Rajveer, just to cross check, looking towards Naina.
"Haan Sir tha to aagey wala hi. Phir yahan board kyun laga hai?",
Naina asks, confused.
"Aap agey hi chaliye.",
suggests Naina.
Rajveer nods his head. The other occupants of the jeep were also surprised.
Rajveer drives further towards the next turn. Upon reaching there he finds the road under construction. He beats the steering wheel in defeat.
"Raasta band hai!",
exclaims Rajveer in frustration.
"Sirji agar uss taraf hi road sign dikha rahe the to ek baar wahan se chalkar dekhte hain, kya pata koi raasta mil jaaye.",
suggests Huda.
"Haan Sir, Huda bhai bilkul theek keh rahe hain.",
suggests Ali.
All others too nod their heads respectively.
Rajveer changes the route as per suggestion but inside he finds it all wrong. He stares towards the right path quizzically whilst turning towards the wrong one!
He suddenly applies the break, hard. All the occupants after receiving the sudden jerk looks towards Rajveer in shock and asks,
"Kya hua Sir? Aapne itni zor se break kyun lagayi?"
Rajveer in an utter shock says,
"Pata nahi shayad koi paththar hai.",
and gets out his jeep to check for the obstacle.
Upon checking, he closes his eyes in pain and prays silently upon witnessing a cat been run down by his jeep. Naina gets down the jeep, staring Rajveer's expression. Walking towards the front of the jeep Naina shouts in shock, as loud as she could in her state of shock.
Rajveer who was on the other side of the jeep is sitting on his feet, looks up towards Naina and consoles her,
"It's okay Naina!"
Meanwhile others too climb down the jeep and realise what has happened.
"It's not okay Sir!",
shouts Naina.
"Aap nahi jaante iska kya matlab hai!",
says Naina.
"Kya matlab?",
asks Rajveer, knitting his brows.
"Ye ek bohot bada apshagun hai Sir. Billi ka marna aur wo bhi... wo bhi kali billi ka.",
says Naina, crying.
"What rubbish! Tum bhi kya faltu baatein kar rahi ho!",
says Rajveer, dismissing her thought, finding it ridiculous.
"Sirji ye sub mere gaaon mein bohot maante hain. Kaali billi ka raasta kaatna. Uska gadi ke neeche aa jaana inn sub ko apshagun maana jaata hai.",
says Huda.
"Aur tum? Tum maante ho?",
asks Rajveer.
"Nahi Sirji.",
smiles Huda, hesitantly.
"Good! Manna bhi mat. Chalo chalte hain.",
says Rajveer and climbs back into the jeep.
But Naina stays in a state of unrest.
●●●●●
Gunny's jeep gets blocked by flock of crows.
"Ye... ye itne saare kaale kawue!",
Gunny stares at the crows in shock. He horns to make them aware of his presence there so that they fly away.
But instead of flying away it seems that the flock is increasing with each passing moment.
"Ye hatt kyun nahi rahein damn it!!",
curses Gunny.
A black crow flies and tries to get through the front glass of the jeep. This irriates Gunny.
"Sir wait I'll check.",
saying Yudi and climbs down and flies away the crows.
The crows upon being flown away by Yudi get agitated and one of them beaks Yudi on his hand.
"Aa!!",
Yudi winces in pain.
"Bro! Bro tum theek ho?",
Neelu quickly gets out of the car and reaches Yudi, asking him in concern, resting her hand on his back.
Others too climb down the jeep and ask him of his well being.
"Haan main theek hoon.",
says Yudi, jerking his hand to sooth the pain, looking up towards the flock of crows.
Dr. Shalini quickly checks his wound and knits her brows tight in concern.
"It's okay Ma'am kuch nahi hua. Bus thodi jalan ho rahi hai. I'll be fine.",
assures Yudi, concerned.
"Chalo main tumhe dawayi laga deti hoon.",
says Dr. Shalini, holding his hand and begins to walk forth to reach the car when the noise of the flock of crows drags their attention and they look up towards the sky.
"Ye itne saare kauwe yahan aise...",
wonders Yudi.
Gunny wonders too.
"Jab koi marta hai aksar ye tab dikhayi dete hain!",
Alekh shares a piece of his experience.
"Cheel aur kauwe dono!!",
he adds.
"Magar... yahan kon mara hai?",
wonders Gunny, looking around.
Yudi too knits his brows, wondering.
"Chalo Yudi.",
says Dr. Shalini, politely.
They get into the car and Dr. Shalini medicates him.
They hear the sudden locking of the car, that gets them alert. Dr. Shalini who was holding the cotton in her right hand, cleaning the wound, feels the presence of someone inside the car. Yudi too feels it. They slowly look towards each other in horror. Their entire body begins to warm up. Their respective rates of heartbeat begin to pick up pace.
They look out at the opposite direction from where they are sitting respectively and gets shocked when they discover that the glasses of the car are all whitening up, blocking the outside view. They quickly turn around and tries to unlock the car but they fail!
They look towards each other in state of horror,
"Ye... ye darwaza khul kyun nahi raha?",
asks Dr. Shalini, in desperation, still in the process of unlocking.
"Pata nahi Ma'am. Main bhi koshish kar raha hoon magar khul nahi raha!",
states Yudi in horror.
The sudden loud thud makes Dr. Shalini to shout out loud and she hugs Yudi tight. Yudi, after the initial shock of the noise, holds Dr. Shalini safely, and looks up in front of him with his eyes wide opened.
To his utter shock, he discovers a lady with her back turned towards them, her hair left loose, wearing a worn out salwaar kameez sitting on the bonnet of the car, her back resting against the front glass of the car.
"Aami to der kothau jete debo na!",
she says in a voice that sounds horrific.
"Main tumhe kahin jaane nahi dungi!",
she repeats.
"Kon ho tum?",
asks Yudi, shouting to make himself audible to who so ever is sitting there.
Shalini tries to look around in search of their fellow mates but the glasses become a barrier in the view. She wonders even if she can not see them, they of course can see this weird lady, then why aren't they taking any action?!
"Madad karo meri!",
says the lady, suddenly turning to look towards them.
Dr. Shalini shouts in horror upon discovering a dark black cut drawn around the lady's neck. Yudi too starts sweating as he pays attention at the vivid cut. Dr. Shalini and Yudi look towards each other in horror. Outside, wind blows ferociously creating loud howling noise.
"Kai...si... Kaisi madad?",
asks Dr. Shalini, raising her voice to make herself audible.
She points towards a far away place towards her right, with her index finger and says,
"Wahan mera ghar hai. Mere ghar waale mujhe mere ghar ke ander ghusne nahi de rahein."
Dr. Shalini could hear the sadness in her voice but Yudi, he hears the tone of revenge in her voice, as if she might just end up killing them if they allow her to get in.
"Kyun nahi ghusne de rahein?",
asks Dr. Shalini, intruiged.
"Pata nahi!",
she says, sadly.
Yudi and Dr. Shalini look towards each other.
Looking back towards her, Dr. Shalini first stares at her cut again and gulps her saliva in fear. Something bad definitely has occured to her Dr. Shalini concludes silently and says,
"Theek hai. Hum... hum jakar tumhare parivaar se baat karte hain."
That comes as a shock for Yudi.
"Ma'am! Ma'am aap ye kya keh rahi hain?",
he asks, shocked.
"To kya hua Yudi? Agar hum kisi ko uske parivaar se mila payein to isse... isse badi baat kya ho sakti hai?",
says Dr. Shalini, shivering a little, looking towards Yudi.
Dr. Shalini gestures Yudi with her eyes to stay quiet.
Yudi, upon understanding the signal doesn't argue further.
Turning to look towards the lady, Yudi carefully says,
"Ma'am.. hum...ein jaane mein deri ho rahi hai. I think... I think hum yahan koi madad nahi kar sakte."
That comes as a shock for Dr. Shalini, she thought he has understood what Dr. Shalini wants but hell!
The lady glares Yudi, breathing heavily.
The sudden shift in her expression shocks Yudi.
"Nahi manega tu meri baat??",
shouts the lady, glaring Yudi.
Yudi and Shalini get terrified witnessing the new and dangerous shift in the expression of the lady.
"Yudi... I... I think humein jakar wahan dekhna chahiye.",
suggests Dr. Shalini, staring the lady throughout. By now she too has started feeling that something is unusual about her.
Yudi nods his head, staring the lady, though it is a reply to Dr. Shalini.
Within moments the glasses change to normal. The doors get unlocked. This yet again comes as a shock for them. They gulp their repsective saliva out of fear.
They turn to look towards their fellow mates and take a sigh of relief respectively upon discovering them in front of their eyes.
●●●●●
The change in the weather affects Rajveer's journey.
"Mera mann bechain ho raha hai. Pata nahi Ma-Baba kaise honge?",
says Naina, tensed.
"Naina tum chinta mat karo wo theek honge. Abhi jakar mil lenge unse.",
assures Rajveer.
"Haan yaar Phoolan tu chinta mat kar.",
Huda assures.
"Dekhio jab hum unse milenge tab teri sari pareshani duur ho jayegi.",
smiles Pooja and pats reassuringly on Naina's back.
"I hope so Pooja.",
says Naina, tensed.
"Naina ji hum sub hain na aapke saath.",
Ali tries to give her strength.
Naina smiles and says,
"Thanks Ali."
"Naina tumhare dil mein wo billi ka marna ghar kar gaya hai bus isiliye tum bechain ho aur kuch nahi.",
says Rajveer.
Ali, Pooja and Huda nod their heads respectively.
"Sir theek keh rahe hain Naina ji.",
says Ali.
Naina shakes her head and says,
"Nahi guys, ye mere mann ka veham nahi hai."
"Tum log jaante ho aaj kya hai?",
asks Naina, turning to look towards her friends.
Rajveer knits his brows, intruiged.
"Kya hai?",
all three of her friends ask in unison, knitting their brows respectively.
"Aaj amavasya ki raat hai.",
informs Naina.
They all other than Rajveer stare her in horror. Rajveer tightens his grip on the steering wheel.
"To?",
all of them, including Rajveer, ask her, intruiged.
"Amavasya ki raat kaali billi ka marna....",
Naina shakes her head staring them in horror.
"Pata nahi ye ittefaq hai ya chetawni!",
says Naina, looking at a distance in front of her, never blinking her eyes.
All begin to ponder at her words.
After a brief moment, Rajveer breaks the ice and says,
"Oh come on Naina, ab tum mat shuru ho jao please."
The other two males too agree.
But Pooja goes stiff out of fear.
Naina upon realising that she is not believed by them, turns to look towards Rajveer with a new determination and tells him,
"Bali dete hain Sir!!"
That skips the respective heartbeat of each of her listeners.
Rajveer stays quiet and serious, accepting the piece of information.
Naina, staring Rajveer, while Rajveer's eyes are transfixed in front at the road, nods her head in affirmative.
"Ba...li??",
asks Pooja in a shaking voice.
Naina nods her head.
"Koi kaala jaadu, tantr-mantra se apni koi manokaamna purn karne ke liye.",
Naina explains, looking back towards Pooja.
"Ye sub tujhe kaise pata Phoolan?",
asks Huda.
Rajveer gets intruiged too to know her answer.
"Pichle kuch dino mein meri diljaspi inn sub cheezon mein barh gayi hai. To kuch kitabein parhi hain.",
says Naina, hesitantly.
Rajveer clenches the steering wheel in anger.
He shouts at her,
"Isiliye tumhare dimag mein ye utpatang baatein aa rahi hain aur kuch nahi. For heavens sake Naina, niklo inn baaton se ab tum!",
through his words he tries to warn her to get out of the memories of the paranormal stuff that they experienced in the motel.
"Tum ab aisi koi kitab nahi parhogi. Do you get it?",
shouts Rajveer.
Naina looks away in anger.
Upon witnessing Rajveer's anger Pooja initially hesitates, letting the silence to persist for few more moments but couldn't keep herself long from asking, hence hesitantly she asks,
"Au..r kisine... bali dene mein unki madad ki to?"
Naina slowly turns to look towards Rajveer, hesitantly.
Rajveer takes a deep breath, pissed off. Ali and Huda too dreads Rajveer's anger even though they find him quiet.
"Ek nirdosh prani ki jaankar hatya karne ki saza to subko milti hai. Bali dene ke baad, bali lene wale ko kuch adrishya shaktiyon ka saamna karna parhta hai. Wo jo bali lene ke aadi hain, unhe inn adrishya shaktiyon se joojhna bhi ache se aata hai.",
shares Naina.
"Magar humne kisi ki bali to nahi li!",
says Ali.
Smirking, Naina asks,
"Ye tu unhe kaise samjhayega ke ye ek accident hai ya jaan bujhkar hua hai?"
The blood drains out of their face respectively.
"Shut up! Shut up!",
shouts Rajveer.
"Kuch nahi hone wala. Hum bus Naina ke parents se milenge, jo I am sure ghar par theek hi honge. Aur phir chup chap wapas academy aa jayenge. Ab ye sub bhool jao.",
scolds Rajveer.
All of them go quiet after receiving the scolding.
●●●●●
Yudi dictates everything to everyone.
"What?! Ye sub kisne kaha tumhe?",
asks Gunny, holding his waist from either side.
He looks around and says,
"Humein to koi nazar nahi aya yahan humare alawa. To phir aap dono se koi kaise baat kar sakta hai?"
"Wo wahan....",
Yudi indicates towards the place where according to them the woman was standing. Dr. Shalini turns with him. To their utter shock they find no one there.
"Wh... what the...!!",
Yudi curses, finding her absence strange.
"Ma'am... Ma'am wo wohin thi na?",
Yudi asks Shalini, turning to look towards Shalini in shock.
"Haan Yudi. Gunny, wo... wo wahin thi.",
says an equally surprised Dr. Shalini, trying to search her.
"Ek to aap dono ki ye ajeeb kahani. Phir ye bhi ke wo wahan thi. Agar wahan thi to humein kyun nahi dikhi ya humein kyun nahi dikh rahi?",
asks Gunny, trying to understand the situation, looking towards the direction where according to Yudi and Dr. Shalini, she was standing.
Shalini and Yudi stare each other, speechless!
"Sir apun ko lagta hai koi apun ko tang karne ki koshish kar raha hai. Hoga yahin kahin chhupa hua. Rukko main dekhta hoon...",
Alekh walks forth folding his sleeve in anger.
"Alekh... Alekh nahi...!! Mujhe nahi lagta tujhe jana chahiye aise akele.",
a terrified Neelu stops Alekh, holding him by his upper arm.
"Kuch nahi hoga apun ko Neelu. Dekhne de kon hai? Bus apun sub ko pareshan karne ki koshish kar rahi hai wo aur kuch nahi.",
says Alekh, pissed off.
"Pata nahi kyun Alekh mera mann nahi maan raha. Mat jao aise akele please.",
says Neelu, knitting her brows.
Alekh's expression changes suddenly as he realises that Neelu must be remembering the incident that took place with them because of Akash. He nods his head in understanding.
"Haan Alekh rehne de. Rather humein uss ghar mein jakar dekhna chahiye.",
suggests Yudi.
All of them get shocked to hear that.
"Yeda ho gaya hai kya? Apun ko abhi tere gharwalon ko dhundhne jana hai. Kisi ne kuch bhi aakar aap dono ko keh diya aur tu chahta hai ke hum wahan jakar dekhein? Museebat ko khud nyota dein?",
asks Alekh, angry.
"But what if wahan kisi ko humari madad ki zaroorat ho? We are soldiers! Soldiers hone ke naate humara farz banta hai dusro ki madad karna.",
says Gunny.
That shocks Alekh further.
"Sir isse madad karna nahi kehte, museebat sir par lena kehte hain.",
warns Alekh.
"Museebat se ek soldier nahi darta.",
says Gunny.
Alekh rolls his eyes.
Unable to make them understand, Alekh shouts at them,
"Arey jisse apun sub ne nahi dekha sirf Yudi aur Dr. Shalini ne dekha hai, jiske baare mein apun subko kuch pata hi nahi hai kaise uski baat par bharosa karke apun sub kahin bhi ja sakte hain aise?"
"What's a big deal? Koi agar problem hui bhi to hum sub saath hain na.",
says Gunny.
"Right!",
Yudi joins in.
"Kaise samjhaun aap subko!",
says Alekh, pissed off, unable to understand how to put in front of them that what vibes is he getting from this situation.
"Alekh!!",
Neelu holds him by his upper arm. Alekh looks towards Neelu. Neelu nods her head a little, hesitantly. Alekh takes a deep breath and gives up in front of them.
"Theek hai chaliye!",
he says.
The howling wind and the withered leaves blown by the ferocious wind make it difficult for them to walk forth.
Reaching the house she had pointed towards Yudi knocks at the door. The bad weather outside makes his knocking inaudible. Gunny stands behind them, shielding them, looking here and there. Yudi bangs the door hard when no one opens it in a single knock.
"Bhai mujhe lagta hai shayad koi nahi hai yahan. Chalo chalte hain.",
suggests Neelu.
Yudi takes his steps back and tries to look around to get a hint of anyone staying there.
Gunny walks towards the window and peeps into the house but finds it pitch dark.
While they all were trying to search for the occupants of the house, the door opens suddenly.
All of them look towards the opened door in horror, holding their breath respectively.
The first view they get is that of a flickering candle. A hand covers the flame, trying to protect the flame from getting extinguished. Then they notice that a women in her 70s or 80s holding the candle.
The woman stares them and asks them,
"Hanji kya chahiye?"
Dr. Shalini asks in an urgency,
"Aap... aap apni beti ko ghar mein aane kyun nahi de rahin?"
The expression of the woman changes immediately upon hearing the mention of her daughter.
"Madhu!",
she exclaims in shock.
"Aap jante hain Madhu ko?",
she asks.
"That doesn't matter. Aap pehle ye bataiye aap aur aapke husband kahan hain? Kyun nahi aane de rahe aap apni beti ko ander?",
asks Yudi, assuming her as Madhu's mother by her looks and age.
"Wo aapko yahan nahi milenge.",
says the lady, holding her emotions.
"Bulaiye unhe.",
says Yudi, without listening to her.
"Kisne kaha aapse ye sub?",
asks the lady.
"Madhu ne khud kaha ke aap usse aane nahi de rahe.",
replies Alekh.
"Madhu aapse aisa kaise keh sakti hai?",
asks the lady, forcing her voice out of her choked throat.
"Kya matlab?",
asks Gunny.
"Madhu ko mare hue to paanch saal ho gaye hain!",
reveals her mother, with her heart filled with emotions for her daughter.
Blood drains out of the face of each of them hearing that!!
The most affected are Yudi and Dr. Shalini.
"Kya?!!",
they exclaim.
"What??!!",
exclaim Yudi and Neelu.
The rate of heartbeats pick up pace hearing that.
"What nonsense! Aap apni zinda beti ke baare mein aisa kaise keh sakti hain?",
asks Yudi, in a state of unbelieve, getting angry on the lady.
"Ye... ye aap kya keh rahi hain? Humne abhi to baat ki usse!",
says a shocked Dr. Shalini, widening her eyes. Her rate of heartbeat picks up pace.
Madhu's mother pushes the door properly so that they can witness her daughter's photo frame hanging on the wall with a garland around it.
Shivers run down the spines of each one of the them upon witnessing Madhu's photo frame.
"Maine kaha tha na ke mat parho inn sub chakkaron mein! Dekh liya!",
shouts Neelu, crying.
She clenches Alekh's shirt with both of her hands and jerks him whilst saying,
"Mujhe sub kuch waisa hi mehsoos hua tha Alekh jaise Akash ke saath mujhe mehsoos hua tha. Tab bhi tu nahi samjh paya tha."
Alekh knits his brows tighter. His heart clenches seeing Neelu in that state.
Alekh wraps her into a hug. Neelu rests her face against his chest, crying. With a face enveloped in horror, he looks towards Madhu's mother and asks,
"Wo... wo apun sub se kya chahti hai?",
The lady shakes her head cluelessly,
"Nahi janti main."
"Aaj se pehle kabhi kisi ne uska zikr nahi kiya. Phir aaj achanak uska laut kar aana. Na jaane kya sanket hai ye!",
says the lady, wondering, never blinking her eyes.
"Nahi funsna mujhe inn sub chakkaron mein. Main jaa rahi hoon.",
saying so Neelu turns to leave, determined.
"Agar usne tumhe yahan bheja hai to wo tumhe bina uske ijjazat ke jaane nahi degi!",
says Madhu's mother, raising her voice a little to make herself audible through the bad weather.
Neelu, who had already reach at a distance away from them, gets arrested at her spot hearing that.
All of them get shocked hearing her.
They turn to look towards her.
Neelu turns too!
"Kya matlab jaane nahi degi humein?",
asks Gunny.
"Wo hoti kon hai humein rokne waali? Dekhiye apun ka dimag ghoom gaya na to apun usko chhorega nahi!",
states an angry Alekh.
"Relax Cadet.",
Gunny tries to calm him down.
"Ek to pehle se hi apun ka dimag kharab hua hua hai upar se ye naya natak. Hai kon wo jo apun ko rokegi?",
shouts Alekh.
The clouds growl loud as if shouting at Alekh. Dr. Shalini and Neelu shiver in fear.
"Kya chahiye usse humse? Aur kyun karein hum madad uski?",
adds Alekh.
"Alekh shant ho ja.",
says Neelu.
Branched lightening lit up the sky for a brief moment before darkness envelopes the sky again.
"Aapse usse kya chahiye? Aap to uske Mata-Pita hain. Phir kyun tang kar rahi hai wo aapko?",
asks Dr. Shalini.
Shaking her head in dismay, keeping her eyes cascaded, she says,
"Mata-Pita nahi, Saas hoon main uski."
Looking back towards them she adds,
"Bahu thi wo meri."
The mere change in their relation, changes the perspective of the listeners regarding the situation.
The lightening repeats! The cloud growling repeats!
●●●●●
"Ahmm... wo keh rahi thi aap usse ghar ke ander ghusne nahi de rahin.",
says Gunny.
Smirking, she removes the door mat and a mark drawn on the floor gets revealed.
"Ye kya hai?",
asks Dr. Shalini.
"Isse wo ya koi bhi bura saya ghar ke ander dakhil nahi ho paata.",
she tells them.
"Yani aapko pata hai uske yahan hone ke baare mein?",
asks Gunny, knitting his brows.
"Haan! Jabse maine ye mark banaya hai tabse wo ghar ke ander nahi aa paati. Magar phir bhi mujhe yakeen tha ke usne humara peecha nahi chorha. Ghar se bahar bhi agar main niklu to ye tabeez humesha pehn kar rakhti hoon.",
she shows the tabeez that she is wearing around her neck.
It begins raining strongly. Ferocious rain drops hit the ground. The rain water like a flood reaches her door step and washes the mark.
Everyone gets shocked witnessing that and it acutely affects Madhu's mother-in-law.
"Ye kya ho gaya??!!",
she exclaims in horror.
A loud scream out of no where skips the heartbeat of each of them. The scream of Madhu.
Madhu's mother in law takes a step back out of fear. Rain water that has entered her house results in her slipping. She falls on the floor with a thud.
"Ma'am!!",
they all shout in unison, bending a little towards the lady, in horror.
They freeze at their place, respectively as they witness in no second she being pulled by her hair, back into the house. Before they could enter the house to help her the door gets shut with a loud thud.
They bang the door, shouting for her but they get met by only silence.
Soon they hear a loud shout from inside before everything turns silent again.
All they could do is stare at the closed door in horror.
After sometime the door opens with a loud thud. None makes any move initially. After realising that no movement is heard or sensed from inside, Gunny breaks the ice by calling out to her,
"Ma'am?!"
But they get greeted by silence.
They look towards one another. Alekh nods his head, signalling Gunny to make the move. Gunny brings out his pistol and enters into the house tip-toeing, followed by others. Each one of them every now and then looks behind himself/herself.
Getting into the house, they search each room but find the house all vacant as if no one was there at all.
"Kahan? Kahan gayin wo?",
asks Dr. Shalini with a throbbing heart and turns to look towards her fellow mates.
All give her a look that tells her that they are as much in the state of shock as much she herself is!
"Chalo yahan se guys.",
says Neelu in desperation.
"Magar dekh to lein ki wo gayi kahan?",
suggests Alekh, knitting his brows.
"Kuch nahi janna mujhe! Do you get it Alekh. Bus ab hum yahan ek pal nahi rukenge. Chalo yahan se.",
shouts Neelu, looking straight into Alekh's eyes.
Meanwhile Gunny walks towards the sofa in the living area, bending down he picks up the torn and broken tabeez that the lady had shown to them, claiming that it has protected her till date.
All stare at the tabeez in shock and understands the unsaid!
Yudi pats Alekh's back. Alekh looks towards Yudi. Yudi shakes his head in affirmative.
"Baki baatein yahan se nikal kar karte hain.",
says Gunny, getting up and positioning the pistol in his hands to guard them from anything that might come their way.
Alekh and Yudi follow the suit.
Before leaving the house Gunny throws the tabeez into the fire place.
As they walk towards their car, they get shocked upon discovering Madhu in front of their car, all calm and composed.
They stare her in horror.
She turns to look towards them and says,
"Ye ghar mera hai. Mere Ma-Papa ne mujhe meri shadi mein diya tha. Ek mahina bhi nahi hua tha meri shadi ko ke ye log mujhe tang karne lagey. Zabardasti karne lage ke main apne ghar se paise laun. Ye kuch mahino tak chalta raha. Phir ek roz mere sabr ka baan tut gaya aur maine fansi laga li!"
Shivers run down the spines of all of them.
"Socha tha shayad ye karke mujhe shanti mil jayegi. Mera mann shant ho jayega. Magar neeyati ko shayad ye manzoor nahi tha.",
she smirks sadly.
All of them listen to her patiently.
"Marne ke baad jab meri aankhein khuli to maine khudko dusre lok mein na paa kar issi lok mein paya!",
she tells.
Shivers run down the spine of each of her listeners.
"Pehle to mujhe shaq hua ke kahin maine sapna to nahi dekha apne marne ka. Magar jald hi mera ye bhram toota jab mujhe ye pata chala ke khud ko chhune par mujhe kuch mehsoos nahi ho raha!",
she shares.
That comes as yet another shock for them.
Smiling sarcastically she says,
"Kuch nahi! Na dard, na pyar, na dhoop ki jhunjhalahat; na hawa ki sarsarahat. Kuch nahi!"
The rates of heartbeats of each of her listeners remain a notch higher than the usual while they hear everything.
"Phir jab ehsaas hua ke shayad bhagwan ne mujhe ye dusra mauka diya inse badla lene ka. To maine thaan liya ke kuch bhi ho jaye main iss mauke ko haath se jaane nahi dungi.",
she says, anger surges through her afresh.
"Apne aakrosh mein main besud ho gayi. Anjane masoom logon ko tang karke unke tadap and dard mein khushi dhundhne lagi."
All her listeners cascade their pair of eyes respectively.
"Aap log bhi mere ussi aakrosh ka shikar ho gaye.",
she says, feeling guilty.
All of them stay silent, unable to understand how to react to her words.
"Ho sakey to mujhe maaf kar dijiyega. Ab aap mukt hain. Main kabhi aapko tang nahi karungi. Ab mujhe bhi mukti mil gayi hai. Mera bulawa aa gaya hai.",
she folds her hands into a 'namaste' in front of them.
Before they could say anything, she disappears, leaving behind her spectators in a dilemma - whether to rejoice their freedom or to feel sorry for her.
●●●●●
Upon reaching her home Naina finds the door locked. This comes as a shock for her. All her fellow mates too find it shocking. Naina stops a person from neighborhood and asks him,
"Manohar Chacha Ma-Baba ghar par nahi hain? Kahan gaye hain kuch pata hai aapko?"
Mr. Manohar widens his eyes out of shock upon hearing Naina's query. All of them look towards each other finding Mr. Manohar's expression surprising.
"Kya hua Sir? Aapne Naina ki baat ka jawab nahi diya?",
asks Rajveer, getting alert.
"Pichle ek hafte se darwaza band hai!",
he replies, keeping it short, but looks towards each of them as if trying to convey to them the unsaid, silently.
Rajveer and Naina sense it that there is more that he wants to convey to them.
"Aapko kuch bata kar gaye?",
asks Rajveer further.
Naina in a state of tension fails to understand what she needs to ask. She nods her head staring Mr. Manohar, a gesture to convey that it is the exact question she wanted to ask.
"Nahi bata kar to nahi gaye the. Magar kuch din pehle unhe yahan dekha tha.",
he finally begins to unfold the facts.
Rajveer and Naina straighten up and look towards each other briefly before looking back towards Mr. Manohar.
"Tumhare Baba ko!",
he says, looking towards Naina.
"Kuch... kuch kaha unhone?",
asks Naina, in desperation.
"Nahi kuch nahi kaha bus ek tak (without blinking) ghar ko dekhe ja rahe the.",
he says.
"Maine unse unke haal-chaal pooche to pehle to kuch boley nahi. Meri taraf murh kar dekha bhi nahi. Mujhe bada ajeeb laga. Aaj se pehle aisa kabhi nahi hua tha ke tumhare Baba mujhse theek se baat na karein.",
he adds further.
Naina's rate of heartbeat increases with each passing moment. Naina finds every word of his very weird. Rajveer stays in the same state.
"Phir achanak kaha 'apne dusre ghar gaya tha, wahan dum ghut raha tha. Socha yahan aa jaun wapas.' ",
he says, remembering the situation. His face expression changes to horror.
"Chacha...!!",
Naina slowly rests her hand on his shoulder to bring him out of his reverie.
"Raat ka waqt tha, thand barh rahi thi. To maine unse kaha ke wo ander jakar so jayein. Unke jodo (joinings) mein waise bhi dard rehta hai.",
he says, widening his eyes in horror.
"Magar phir jo unhone kaha... bada ajeeb laga mujhe sunn kar.",
he says, his rate of heartbeat picks up pace.
Naina's and Rajveer's heartbeat too pick up pace respectively.
"Kya kaha?",
asks Naina, knitting her brows tighter.
"Unhone kaha ke ab to wo chain se so sakte hain koi nahi jagayega unhe!!!",
he says and begins to tremble a little, in horror.
Naina and Rajveer go through the same feeling.
Naina's throat begins to get dry.
"Mujhe shuru se hi unhe dekhkar ajeeb mehsoos ho raha tha. Aisa lag raha tha jaise unka khoon sookh gaya hai puri tarah. Maano khoon ka ek katra bhi baaki na ho shareer mein.",
he says in horror.
"Nahi!!! Nahi ye such nahi ho sakta...!!",
Naina begins to murmur.
"Naina!!",
Rajveer calls her out to keep her calm.
"Aisa nahi ho sakta.",
Naina says again.
"Shant ho jao Naina!",
says Rajveer.
"Meri baat khatam nahi hui Naina.",
he drags their attention.
Rajveer and Naina turn to look towards him. Rajveer is holding Naina by both of her upper arms.
"Mujhe ajeeb mehsoos hua. Samjh nahi pa raha tha main kya karun. Jo dekh raha hoon uss par vishwas karne ko dil nahi maan raha tha.",
he says.
"Maine wahan se chale jaana hi theek samjha. Magar raat ko mujhe bechaini hone lagi. Lakh koshish karne par bhi mujhe neend nahi aa rahi thi. Tumhare Baba ka chehra baar baar meri nazron ke saamne aa raha tha; unki baat baar baar mujhe yaad aa rahi thi."
"Mann ko shant karne ke liye main yun hi ghar se bahar tehlne laga. Tabhi Khanna Saheb ko dekha. Kisi se ye baat share karne ka mann kiya to unhe sub kuch bata diya. Hum dono wapas tumhare ghar ki aur ayein. Aakar dekha to tumhare ghar ka darwaza pura khula hua tha aur durgandh iss tarah aa rahi thi ghar se maano maheeno se koi mara parha ho ander."
Naina clenches her hands into fist out of horror. Rajveer too rubs his index finger and thumb together out of nervousness and anticipation.
"Jaise taise ander dakhil hue to humari cheekhein nikal gayi. Samne tumhare Ma-Baba ki sadti (rottening) hui lashein rakhi hui thi!",
he reveals.
Naina shouts and cries in pain.
All of them console her.
"Naina... Naina please sambhalo apne aap ko.",
says Rajveer, wiping his own tears, looking towards Naina, who by now has fallen on the ground as her limbs turn jelly upon listening everything.
"Humari cheekhein sunkar aas paas ke log aanan-faanan mein humare paas pohnche. Unke bhi hosh udh gaye samne ka nazara dekh kar.",
he says.
"Tumhare Ma-Baba ke galey mein kaale rang ka ek daag; ek rekha khichi hui thi, maano kisi ne gala kaat kar unki hatya ki ho aur khoon sookh kar kala parh gaya ho.",
he describes the first view of her parents that he got after entering.
"Jo jo ghar ke ander dakhil hua subko chhati (chest) par ek bhaaripan ka ehsaas hua. Mano koi ho wahan humare alawa; koi adrishya shakti jo nahi chahta ke hum wahan rahein.",
he begins to sweat as he goes through the entire feel all over again.
They stare him in shock.
"Hum subne tumse contact karne ki koshish ki magar jo koi bhi aisa karta uska ya to phone achanak dead ho jaata. Ya phone ke dusri taraf se ajeeb ajeeb awazein aane lagtin.",
he tells them, keeping his eyes wide open.
"Ajeeb ajeeb awazein?",
asks Huda.
"Haan! Wo awazein kya kehne ki koshish kar rahi hain, kuch samjh nahi patey the hum. Maine isse pehle kabhi aisa kuch nahi suna tha."
"Aisa lagta tha jaise koi cross - connection lag gaya ho.",
he adds.
"Aapki baaton se to lag raha tha jaise aap kuch nahi jaante.",
cries Naina.
"Mujhe maaf karde Naina. Main samjh nahi pa raha tha kaise tujhe ye khabar doon.",
he cries too.
"Jisne bhi mere Ma-Baba ko mujhse cheena, main unhe saza dilakar rahungi.",
Naina shouts in pain.
Rotating a hand on her head, lovingly, Mr. Manohar asks, crying,
"Beta tu ek insaan ko to saza dila sakti hai, magar ek adrishya insaan; ek buri shakti ko kis kanoon ke paas jakar saza dilayegi?"
Naina cries further in helplessness.
Rajveer shuts his eyes and the tears roll down his cheeks. Controlling his emotions, Rajveer picks up Naina and says,
"Tum akeli nahi hui ho Naina. Main tumhare saath humesha rahunga. Humesha."
Naina cries further and hugs Rajveer tight.
"Chalo Naina. Yahan rehkar koi faida nahi. Chalo yahan se!",
saying so, giving the house a last look, Rajveer walks away with Naina, with a heavy heart.
●●●●●
Reaching Yudi and Neelu's home they all enter.
"Mom! Dad! Aap dono theek hain na?",
asks a desperate Yudi.
"Dad? Mom?!",
asks Neelu, upon not receiving any reply from them.
Their parents finally look up towards them,
"Neelu! Yudi! Tum... tum dono theek ho na?",
they ask in unison.
"Haan Dad hum to theek hain. Magar ye sub kya hai?",
asks Yudi, looking around the room where all puja samagri is arranged properly, hawan materials are also there.
"Ye sub humne tumhare liye hi kiya hai. Tum dono ki salamati ke liye.",
says their mother.
"What? Humari salamati? What nonsense Mom!",
says Neelu.
"Haan beta kuch nonsense nahi hai. Aaj jo tum humare saamne ho wo humare kiye gaye iss hawan ka hi nateeja hai.",
says their father.
Blood drains out of Neelu and Yudi's face respectively as they remember the chaos and peculiar state they have escaped from.
"Magar ye... ye aap dono ne kya halat bana li hai apni?",
asks Yudi, gauging their draining energy; the dark circles formed under their eyes.
"Bus tum dono aa gaye ho. Ab sub theek ho jayega.",
smiles their mother.
"Aa..p logo ne kuch khaya?",
asks Yudi, all others too look concern.
"Wait let me check their pulse.",
saying so Dr. Shalini walks forth.
"Pa..as... Paas mat aana humare!",
Mrs. Sahani warns Dr. Shalini, indicating with her index finger.
All of them stare her in utter shock.
"Ma'am let me check your BP!",
says Dr. Shalini, politely.
"Nahi! Nahi haath mat lagana mujhe.",
warns Mrs. Sahani.
Dr. Shalini knits her brows staring her. She could tell with a single glance that Mrs. Sahani is not in pink of her health.
"Mom, wo bus aapko check kar rahi hain. Let her do that.",
says Yudi.
"Yeah Mom! It won't take much time.",
says Neelu, finding her mother acting weird.
Dr. Shalini holds Mrs. Sahani's wrist forcefully and immediately her face expression changes to that of shock upon finding her body as cold as an ice. She stares Mrs. Sahani, shocked. She then looks towards Mr. Sahani and notices his body colour mirroring to that of Mrs. Sahani's.
Dr. Shalini in a state of shock and disbelief slowly turns to look towards Yudi, followed by towards Neelu and shakes her head into negative.
The room fills with Neelu's and Yudi's shout in horror, followed by their loud cry.
"Hum bus tum dono ka intezaar kar rahein thein. Ab humein iss lok se dusre lok mein jaane ki ijjazat do!",
saying so both of them vanish in the thin air.
Yudi and Neelu fall on their respective knees crying out loud. Others too cry.
A blazing light flashes on them from the left wall. All of them turn to look towards the wall. On the wall appears a letter stating about the Baba they seek help from but when he left them in a mess, they themselves started with the puja to save Yudi and Neelu. During the process they started realising that it is draining their energy more than natural, but they nevertheless continued the process to save their children, even if that demands their lives, they won't hesitate to give it in the hands of the evil one. They also request them to not shed tears in their memory; that they are absolutely fine and in a better place.
The last line of the letter read,
'Beta ab tum dono humein jaane ki ijjazat do. Humesha khush rehna. God bless!'
The light disappears.
Neelu and Yudi cry hard.
Their friends console them, crying along.
Alekh hugs Neelu tight, followed by hugging Yudi.
●●●●●
All of them return to the academy and share everything with everyone. A mass prayer gets arranged for the departed souls.
Brigadier Chandok who was not a believer of calling a tantrik, after all the incidents that took place, gets bound to believe and call a tantrik for shudhikaran of the academy. The academy gets purified, free of every or any spirit that might be lurking in the premises or around the academy without Brigadier Chandok's ijjazat.
Naina cries hard hugging Rajveer tight. Rajveer consoles Naina and promises her that he shall be there with her; for her always. Rajveer brings out a small container filled with vermillion (sindoor) and fills her maang without giving it a second thought, without even caring to seek her ijjazat to do it. Tears of happiness and contentment roll down Naina's cheeks. She hugs him tight. He hugs her back with equal fervor.
-THE END-
(22.2.23)