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Recap.....
Mitali and Mansi are best friends who plan a meeting after more than a year. Mansi's depression is a cause which had them apart, their meeting is full of nostalgic moments where they enjoy each and every moment but then they are quite late for returning to their home. On the way, they meet with an accident. Luckily, Mitali escapes unhurt but Mansi falls into the bushes and sees something terrifying which makes her shiver with fear. Mitali drops Mansi at her house where she confides of Rajiv's return. Mitali is lost in thoughts as of how a dead person can come out alive.... suddenly she stops with a jerk and gulps down with fear..........
" Mitali..... Where the hell where you? " yelled Vidyut. He was enraged at the same time relieved to find his daughter fine. Mitali had turned white with fear. She knew her dad was a very calm person but when he lost his cool, it was like a volcanic eruption which would engulf everything which comes in the way. She wanted to speak but turned pale with fear and lost the measure of dimensions she was in. " Mitalii!!!!! What's the matter??? Why are you silent??" said Vidyut looking at his daughter's pale face. He quickly embraced her, took her face in his hands and looking in her eyes said with care and warmth "Are you fine dear? Oh God I was so worried...!!! Look I had set out with my constables and sniffer dogs to track you down." said Vidyut pointing out at his constables and sniffer dogs. Mitali regained her strength to speak and without even looking at Vidyut she said with a crying voice " Sorry dad!!! I am really sorry!!! I met Mansi after so many days that I literally lost the track of time. I didn't realise I would be so late". "Atleast you should have called dear if you were going to be late. Both, yours and Mansi's phones were out of coverage area and I couldn't wait for the mobile trackers to track your location, I feared for your safety dear. I feared if you got in contact with any wild animal. It is so dangerous at night here!!!" said Vidyut. Seeing Mitali on the verge of breakdown, Vidyut softened, smiled and lovingly kissed Mitali's forehead. " It is ok sweetheart!! I understood. You are a good girl I know but such a level of carelessness is not expected from you!" said Vidyut. "Sorry Dad ! Really very sorry! I didn't mean to cause you any trouble. I don't know how I was so careless!!" exclaimed Mitali with teary eyes. "It is ok my love..... now... shall we move home? Your mom and grandma are eagerly waiting! Its almost 11 p.m now " said Vidyut looking at his watch.
He gestured his constables to move away and take their charge in the police station. Mitali was safe now. " Come dear, drive me home! I want to see how my daughter drives." Mitali had calmed her nerves by now. Vidyut's smile always comforted her. Even in his late 40s this 6.2 feet tall man with deep brown eyes had a smile of a 25 year old young man and an enchanting personality, loved by general public and feared to death by the criminals. He hadn't changed much since her childhood except a few strands of grey hair. Vidyut was Mitali's role model. She wanted to be just like her dad. They had great compatibility. This was the first time in her life Vidyut had yelled at her and she felt bad that she did disappoint her dad. Vidyut was now comforted. After serving for 16 years, the DIG Vidyut Dhir had developed an acute instinct to sense his surroundings. He felt there was something which his daughter had in her mind. But still he felt his daughter was matured enough to tell things which needed to be told. As of now he wanted her to be home because his mother, Mitali's Grandma had created ruckus in the house in her absence. He knew what he would be witnessing now by the time he reached home. He sighed " Be ready to face Grandma now Mitali". " Oh no Dad!!!! Not now!!!! I have had enough for the day before I left the house...." Vidyut laughed out loudly imagining the entire scenario which was in store for Mitali...
Meanwhile, at Mansi's house.....
"What is it Mansi? Why are you just pondering over the food? You seem completely lost. What is it?" said Mansi's mom Namrata. " Naa..No..Nothinggg mama...was..just.. thinking about.. Mitaliiiii... her parents might have yelled over her for being late...." said Mansi fumbling.. still lost in thoughts..." Yeah right... your generation is so careless... you have all the freedom you want but still you don't know how to utilize it, you use it foolishly and make us stressed out all the time!!!!" yelled Namrata. " Chill down Namrata... please don't start at the dinner table. Just let her have her dinner peacefully..." said Mansi's dad Vikranth. "I am done Ma... need some sleep. Good night mom... dad." and Mansi directly headed to her room. Vikranth stared at Namrata as if asking what was the need of yelling while dining.
Mansi headed to her room and shut the door behind her as fast as she could. She could no more hide it now. The stress had now to be released or else her brain was on onset of exploding...
She covered her mouth tightly with both her hands and broke down. Tears started flooding her eyes and she cried her heart out. It was as if an old wound had surfaced again and it was having its hold over her. She wanted to scream, cry out so loudly that all could hear her pain, her suffering.... but.... she was Mansi.... She never ever showed her pain to anyone...not even her parents... the only person with whom she shared every bit of her thoughts and her feelings was no longer with her. But then..... wait..... that lady..... she... she told her Rajiv will be back. Mansi wiped her tears and slowly tried to bring her mind to control. Her thoughts raced her back to the bushes where she fell today accidently.
"Ouch!!! my hand.." Suddenly Mansi heard something and before she realised what was happening..."Hey sto....." someone pulled her away from the bushes towards the midst of dense trees and closed her mouth such a way that she could not utter a word . Once they were at safe distance from the road, the grip was let loose and Mansi pulled herself out of the person's clutches. "Who the hell are you???" Mansi enquired breathlessly. " Ganakshi...my name is Ganakshi.. and before you ask any more questions I want you to know some of the things but for that we need to meet elsewhere. This is not the proper place." Mansi was yet trying to regain her senses when she noticed the lady standing in front of her. In the dim moonlight, nobody would have expected such an encounter. She was around 5.7 feet tall with almost everything in black expect her fair face and bright red lips. Her long strands of thick black hair almost touched her knees and had some silvery strands amidst them which shone in the darkness. A big black gown, with a silvery coloured necklace, rings with different types of stones embedded, in each of the fingers, that glowed brighter than the moonlight and big round earrings doped with emeralds, Ganakshi was not any ordinary woman. Before Mansi could speak anything Ganakshi took charge "Listen girl!!! It is very important." Her voice had a sudden command with a deep whisper which made Mansi even more restless. Her deep and husky voice with mesmerising eyes made Mansi utterly uncomfortable in her presence. She was stunned as well as curious at the same time. She wanted to run away but she stood still as if bound to the place... Those eyes with long eyelashes and dark kajal surrounding them... they had a blatant effect on her as if she was hypnotised....
"Here take this!!!" Ganakshi showed Mansi a dark black thread with a cowry shells artistically designed like a bracelet " I feel you know it quite well." The moment Mansi took it in her hands she started shivering. Mansi was in the flashback where she was visualising Rajiv standing in front of her with his pleasant smile and tying a beautiful hinge shell bracelet on her hands. Looking at Mansi lost in her thoughts, Ganakshi quickly snatched the bracelet and shoved it into the small handbag that Mansi carried across her shoulders. Mansi literally looked shaken, it was the same bracelet that ... that.. Rajiv had gifted her... How the hell this lady knew about it? The thing was between Rajiv and her, how could a third person know about it?? She wanted to know many answers but before she could ask, Ganakshi suddenly got horrifyingly close to her. Mansi's heart literally skipped a beat. Ganakshi got so close to her that Mansi could hear her breathe. Ganakshi whispered in her ears " Rajiv is wanting to meet you... He will be with you very soon...but for that you need me." Ganakshi realised she had no time... " It is between you me and Rajiv, don't let any other person know..." said Ganakshi pointing her long slender fingers towards the road. " Here take this.... "Ganakshi quickly dropped a small piece of paper in Mansi's handbag. "Meet me exactly at the time of sunset day after tomorrow at the place specified in the paper. If you don't I won't be able to save you and your family from disaster." The moment she pronounced the word Dis..as..ter, her eyes glowed in the faint moonlight making Mansi shiver even more. With this Ganakshi disappeared in the darkness which made Mansi feel whether it was truth or a hallucination. She wasn't able to digest what she just saw and heard. Rajiv's last words started echoing in her mind " You can't go Mansi... you can't leave me like this...I know our story cannot end like this... the ending is always happy or it is never the ending...Noooo.... his voice suddenly dropped.... Mansi screamed with a shrill voice. She was back to the present. Completely drowned in sweat, Mansi realised she was dreaming.... She had to understand what was happening... She was lost in her own thoughts when suddenly the calendar mounted on the wall ferociously fluttered due to the breeze and came crashing down on the floor. She got up and adjusted it to its original place. When the things were set her eyes fell on the date.... 28th March. The reality dawn upon her. Goodness Gracious Me!!! it is the same date Rajiv passed away...... she was in dilemma about what Ganakshi told her today might be true.. Is Rajiv really coming back as he said... She gulped down in fear... she should be doing something about it.....
Meanwhile......
Mitali's residence
Time : 11:30 P.M.
Mitali parked her scooty at a small space behind the house. It was reasonably dark with faint visibility of the waning moonlight. Mitali's mother Meera and her grandmother Ratna were anxiously waiting for Mitali's arrival. The moment they heard the noise of scooty halting, they both ran towards the door. Meera exclaimed with a sigh of relief " Hasshhh!!! she's back!" Grandma was now on high alert. She had already warned Mitali before leaving the house... Mitali didnt listen inspite of been warned and now she had to make sure Mitali wasn't surrounded by any dark evil spirits... She shouted at the top of her voice " Meera..... don't allow Mitali or Vidyut to enter the house!!! Did you get it???" Meera had no other options but to oblige her mother in law. She silently gestured Vidyut and Mitali to stand where they were, as per the orders from High-Command.
The scene that Mitali was going to witness now was somewhat unusual beyond her expectations. This time it was something cynical. She wanted to laugh her heart out but Vidyut asked her to control her feelings and stay mum. Ratna arrived at the door. Mitali did not know whether it should be called weird or funny or whatever, she had seen her Grandma like this for the very first time. Ratna was wearing a dark black gown, with her hairs tied tightly at the top of her head like Lord Shivji's bun. She wore a garland of green chillies and lemon around her neck and had her forehead smeared with vibhuti (ashes). She didnt looking horrifying at all but a cute old lady participating in fancy dress competition. Mitali could not contain her laughter... she tried hard but had turned pink trying to control it. She burst out loud enough to terrify her Grandma who quickly came to a conclusion that Mitali was possessed. " What on the earth is this daadi? Oh God my stomach hurts... " tears rolled down Mitali's cheek and looking at her Vidyut too started laughing.
" Shut up you both!!" growled Ratna. She was in no mood of jokes. She had had enough. " Just stand still without a single damn word and do as I say". Vidyut and Mitali had to shut up and did as they were told.
Ratna started her rituals now. The first equipment was a large round coconut with a tall tail. She placed a small wooden stool in the verandah and asked mitali to sit on it and flex her knees bent towards her chest and cupped hands to receive the coconut. Mitali did as she was told. Ratna moved the coconut three times in a circle (clock-wise) from Mitali's feet to her head and then circumambulated her three times in the clockwise direction. Finally Ratna handed Mitali the coconut by reciting the following Mantra "O Maruti may my granddaughter Mitali Vidyut Dhir's distress be absorbed through the tip of this coconut and may it not cause harm to Mitali Vidyut Dhir. Please absorb all the black energy in her through the tip of this coconut and destroy it." After the ritual was performed Ratna hurriedly took the coconut in her hands and went to the backyard to break it. The coconut broke into two pieces. Ratna was very happy it did but also found that the coconut had dried out of its water. She returned to the verandah where Vidyut and Mitali were waiting " Om Shiv Shiv Shiva!!! I knew it.. someone has done black magic on you Mitali. The coconut had completely dried out..." " What rubbish daadi!!! It is summer. We humans dry out in such arid conditions, it is just a coconut." said Mitali... "Just shut your damn mouth alright. If you don't understand just don't speak. I know how to get this negative energy out of you. Stay where you are..... ok... "
Ratna hurried inside the house and brought a couple of red chillies, handful of rock salt and some weird looking herbs with a large deep iron pan. Ratna circled the red chillies around Mitali three times and threw it in the iron pan. She lighted it up and the thick dense smoke of the chillies made everybody cough and teary eyed. Ratna quickly threw the red chillies in a pit nearby and covered it with mud. In a similar way she chanted some mantras and rotated the rock salt around Mitali and threw it into the bushes. Mitali was fed up now. She was about to get up and enter the house when Ratna stopped her. " Just this last one and then you are free..." Ratna ignited the herbs she had and quickly blew off the fire. A smoke emanated from the burning sticks and Ratna started circulating it around both Vidyut and Mitali chanting " Bam Bam bholee sankatonn ko har le... Vignhnash kar deta he jab tu tiji aankh hain khole...Bam bam bhole sankaton ko har le..." with this she started to vigorously rotate the sticks and danced along the entire house to fill it with smoke from the herb. Ratna gestured Mitali and Vidyut to enter the house while continuing her dance. After she was finished she extinguished the smudged stick with the large iron pan and asked Mitali and Vidyut to change their clothes and hurry for dinner. "Finally it's over... Gosh grandma is turning weird day by day. I don't know where she gets all this stuff from.." whispered Mitali in Vidyut's ears. Vidyut smiled. Howsoever wierd his mother might seem, he knew she loved everyone a lot and could go to any limits for the safety of the family.
After the dinner, Mitali was frustratingly tired after an unexpected adventurous day. Her entire body was aching and she was in dire need of rest. She bid good night to her cute grandma, mom and dad. Suddenly, the beep on her phone turned everyone's attention towards Mitali. She checked the phone and clarified the curious eyes looking towards her, that it was Mansi confirming whether she had reached home. Hearing this everybody got back to what they were doing. "Crazy Family!!! " muttered Mitali to herself and got back to her room.
She shut the door behind her and called Mansi... she wanted to know answers for many of her questions and she couldn't wait now.
Mansi's room.....
20th March 2017
12.20 a.m
Mansi was awaiting a reply to her message. She was startled by the sudden ringing of her phone. It was Mitali calling.. She reluctantly picked up the phone and answered " H..Hii Mituu... Did you reach safely?" "Yes Manu I met Dad on the way and then we reached home together. Leave this aside.. you were telling me something about Rajiv. What was that..?" asked Mitali. " Mmm.. err.. Mitu... I wanted to tell you this since a very long time... but today I was going to tell to that on the way and suddenly we met with an accident.." said Mansi.
" What was that Manu? What did you want to tell me?" Mitali asked curiously. "As you know Mitu... we both were dating...Me .. and Rajiv." " Yes dear of course I knew that and I also know after his death you were in depression and it took you a lot of time to recover."
"Yeah but did you know he proposed me for marriage a week before he died...." whispered Mansi on the phone fearing that somebody might hear their conversation. " Woah!!! Is it?" said Mitali. " And I dumped him just prior to his death.... and I... I ... feel I am responsible for his death" Mansi spoke just as if she was going to breakdown. " What in the world are you talking Manu...? I don't understand... how are you responsible for his death? I know he was a bit weird, even 2-3 levels higher than my grandma with regards to superstitions, but you loved him right..... Why did you dump him just after he proposed you for marriage?" there were many questions trafficking Mitalis mind. " I... I... can't tell you everything on the phone Mituu... you should be with me in person for that..." said Mansi..." Thats what.... Manu ... I hate you for this... reasons.. reasons and reasons... you tell things in a mystified way... why can't you be clear for heaven's sake!!!" Mitali was infuriated. Mansi hid a lot of things from her and only opened up when there was a dead end. She hated the way Mansi torchured herself by keeping the things to herself. Mitali realised she was a bit too rude. There was no answer from the other end but Mitali could hear small sobs. She composed herself " I am sorry sweety... I know you are stressed out but you can't be like this all the time. You need to tell me what all is accumulated in those brain cells of yours. Ohk!! alright!!! calm down I am asking you no more questions just let me know what time we are meeting tomorrow. I want to know everything." said Mitali. " No...not tomorrow Mitu... I want to solve the puzzle engulfing me. I will meet you in 2 days." " Ok girl I give up to your puzzles. Let me know when shall me meet. I want all this cleared out OK!!!" " Yes Mitu... good night!" with this Mansi disconnected the line even before hearing from Mitali. " The entire world around me is weird or is it that the world is normal and I am weird? Whatever!!!" mumbled Mitali to herself without realising that their conversation was heard....
Vidyut thought to himself... "I knew there was something cooking....Rajiv.... hmmmm"
Mansi laid down on her bed as if in midst of some decision making process and finally looking outside the window, taking a glimpse of the waning moon, she said "Ok Rajiv... just as you want... will meet you. Ganakshi I will be there......."
..... to be continued...