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Recap: Mansi and Rajiv are deeply in love with each other and they are ready to spend their entire lives with each other. Rajiv, a very superstitious person, is secretly involved in something which Mansi ceases to know. She knows about a secret place where Rajiv carries out his " rituals" but does not have any idea about the type of ritual taking place there. Accidently one day, she discovers Rajiv in a very weird look accompanied by some person who looks like a zombie walking lifelessly in accordance to Rajiv's instructions. Mansi secretly follows both of them, which leads her to the place where Rajiv proposed her and she goes through secret rooms and finds out some hidden dark secrets within the place. She entraps herself in a room containing an idol of Goddess Chandika devi and finds herself in trouble when Rajiv starts approaching the room.
"AAUM HREEM RAAKTCHAAAAMUNDAAE MANSI MUM VAASHYAA KURUH KURUH SWAAHAAH" Rajiv recited these mantras by pouring the blood over Goddess Chandika Devi's idol. His face glowed in the moonlight. He was nearing the accomplishment of his mission. But his face fell suddenly . In midst of all these rituals he knew even though his motivation for luring Mansi in his trap was nearly a success, he was really in love with her. A beauty with brains and a golden heart who loved him deeply. He could see that in her eyes. For a moment his thoughts carried him away. He felt as if his mind and his heart were in contradiction. He wanted Mansi as his life partner. He had come a long way and could not retract. There was a person in his life whom he loved even more than Mansi and she had some expectations from him and he wasn't going to disappoint her. He was brought back to reality when he heard a loud thud from behind. He was startled and thought some of his specimens had crashed from their place. He turned around in a jiffy just to find the lightened torch falling from the staircase. He saw some slight movement upstairs. He was alarmed, it was an intruder. What the hell!!!! How could anybody come inside, that too in a place intrinsically designed by " Rajiv"? May be he highly exaggerated his capability and his belief that this place couldn't be invaded so easily without his knowledge. He ran after the intruder not upstairs but through other secret passage situated at the basement.
Mansi was short of breath. She was sure to win the Marathon with the speed at which she was running today. She had a narrow escape by the time Rajiv started approaching the room. The darkness surrounding the room helped her abscond and she hid quietly behind the door. The moment Rajiv was involved into his rituals she could get past the door up through the staircase as slowly as she could with no noise. As her ill-luck she bumped into the lit torch which came crashing down from its position rolling all through the staircase. She was in a fix. She ran with all her might and strength and she could no longer afford to be there. She could hear Rajiv screaming and then a sudden silence. It made her heart beat at a faster pace and she ran as fast as she could. Mansi reached the door where she had entered and stumbled upon the sandels left at the doorstep. Happily she quickly wore it stepping ahead at the same time but lost her balance and tripped. Somehow she did not fall down but was safely back on her feet. Her tightly shut eyes were opened when she realised her saviour was none other than Rajiv. She was expecting him to be behind her. How come he could have traversed such a lengthy distance without bumping into her?
" Why were you spying on me?" Rajiv held her hands tightly demanding an answer. His expressions were intense and Mansi's handsome hunk had now turned into someone horrifying. His head smeared with red kumkum and his hands wet with somebody's blood. Mansi could visualise the sacrifice that she had witnessed a few minutes back. She was blended with emotions of fear, guilt, anger and rage. She shivered in fear when Rajiv caught her but feeling of rage and anger had overcome her fear. Before Rajiv could realise what is happening she screamed at highest voice and violently pushed Rajiv aside. Rajiv lost his balance but did not fall down. He quickly raced her down the track and caught hold of her. He gagged her mouth with his hands and dragged her uphills towards the hut. There were some old vines nearby which Rajiv used to tie Mansi's hands and legs. That was more than enough to bind her to one place. He tore a piece of his black gown and gagged her mouth to shut her screams. Tears started squalling down from Mansi's eyes, finding herself helpless. Rajiv took off his black gown and cleaned his face off the red kumkum and was back to his original looks. He was wearing his usual kurta pyjama beneath the gown.
" Just calm down sweetheart. Look into my eyes you will feel better." said Rajiv cupping her face in both his hands. His mesmerising voice and his eyes had some sort of a soothing effect on Mansi's temperament that she calmed down even under such an intense situation. She found herself chilled out and didn't feel the anger. Sensing Mansi was normal Rajiv removed the cloth tied on her mouth and loosened the grip by cutting out the vines tied around her. He held her soft and tender hands in his own and asked her why she was here. Mansi's subconscious mind told her not to look in his eyes anymore and she replied to all his answers by keeping her eyes shut. Gradually she was brought back to the surrounding when Rajiv asked what did she visualise back at the hut. The entire scenario flashed back and the feelings of insecurity and fear were back. This time she knew she was hypnotised just as the man whom she found killing himself just on a single command of Rajiv. She had to be out of this. " I will tell you everything I saw Rajiv.....Just tell me were you going to drain out all the blood from my body the next Pournima" asked Mansi while looking at the moon. " No Manu..... How can you even think like that? I love you for heaven sakes?" screamed Rajiv at top of his voice. " You gagged me up, you tied me with those vines, you did recite my name when you recited those Mantras... and still you want me to believe that you love me...??? This is downright ridiculous Rajiv!!!" Mansi had regained herself now and nothing could stop her. " Trust me Mansi... whatever I did.... I agree... our friendship was for a purpose at first because I had some different intentions but trust me dear... please trust me .... I didn't realise when I fell for you... and all those things I did for you was not anything relating to my rituals. It was about my life with you and for you. I mean it Mansi... I mean it... I wanted to tell you about all this. Trust me it is nothing wrong that I am doing... It is for us, our family, our society for everybody around us. Nothing wrong Mansi, it is nothing wrong." said Rajiv. " Whom are you trying to fool Rajiv? Me or your own self... You are a murderer... you know hypnotism and you commanded that man to kill himself. If you are good, if you are right why did you hide everything? Why didn't you allow me to visit this house of yours the other day when I wanted to? Do you think I am a fool or do you still think I am under the effect of your hypnosis? Answer me dammit...." yelled Mansi in fit of rage." I have only one answer to all your questions Mansi... Believe me or not... I love you... whatever you think of me I love you... you should give me a chance Mansi I can explain everything...but that needs time and your trust on me." Rajiv broke down and fell on his knees. He wanted Mansi to realise she was his world. He could explain everything lest Mansi gives him a chance. " Do you really think I will trust you? Even if you love me Rajiv..... you are a killer.... a stupid superstitious murderer who has claimed plenty of innocent lives just for the sake of his rituals "
" No Mansi.... please don't say that....Everything was done for a purpose Mansi....these people haven't been killed they have been used for the society... they have contributed for the society... you will know the purpose why it was been done Mansi....please give me a chance to explain.." pleaded Rajiv. Mansi realised there was no use talking to this person and she turned around to leave. Rajiv stopped her by a tight grip around her wrist. She swiftly loosened the grip and in the process the cowry shell bracelet that she wore was let loose and slipped into Rajiv's hands. Without wasting a moment Rajiv shoved it into his pocket and blocked Mansi's path. " You can't leave me like this Mansi....." said Rajiv. " To hell with your love and trust Rajiv I know what to do with people like you...you will have to pay for it... you have lost all my trust, my love and my care. Just get out of my way and forget that you ever loved Mansi... you don't stand a chance Rajiv...I should have dumped you quite earlier.... Had I listened to Mitali I wouldn't have to go through all this trauma Rajiv..... Just make one thing clear.... you will pay for it and I mean it." warned Mansi while pointing a finger at Rajiv.
Seeing Mansi adamant, Rajiv realised he had no choice left. " You have left me with no choice Mansi... I am sorry... but I have to do this." Even before Mansi realised what was happening Rajiv picked her up on his shoulders and carried her like a gunny sack back towards the hut. She screamed, she banged her hands wildly on Rajiv's back, but Rajiv was in no mood to leave her. He rushed into the hut, shut the doors and threw Mansi on the floor. Mansi had now turned into a wild cat. She didn't want to remain here mummified!!!! She wanted to be out of this hell soon. She bit Rajiv's leg a way too hard. Unable to bear the pain he instinctively kicked Mansi with a full force that she fell inches away from where she was, near the staircase. Rajiv regretted his action and quickly ran towards Mansi to check whether he had hurt her too much. " Oh holy crap!!! I ... I .. am sorry manu.... so.. so...sorry... did I hit you hard??.... " Hearing his words Mansi opened her eyes which were red with pain,rage, tears, frustration and Rajiv's deceit on her trust and love. She quickly held his neck and kicked hard on his groin and freed herself from his grip. Rajiv lost his balance and fell down on the staircase. He could hold Mansi's left leg just in time and avoided himself from stumbling down the staircase. Mansi held on to the edge of the staircase without letting herself slip or drag down along with Rajiv. Struggling due to Rajiv's grip Mansi said " Let me go Rajiv...Leave me.... I hate you... I don't want to be with you anymore.". Rajiv was slowly trying to balance his weight himself and dragging himself towards Mansi without leaving her leg. "You can't leave me like this...I will be back right after you Mansi... You can't go Mansi... ...I know our story cannot end like this... the ending is always happy or it is never the ending...Noooo.... "Rajiv's voice suddenly dropped and he fell stumbling down the staircase. The moment Rajiv's grip loosened a bit, Mansi kicked him with all her strength right on his nose. Mansi could hear some gurgles downstairs which was the last she heard anything from Rajiv. She ran out of the house as fast as she could without even wanting to understand what was happening downstairs. She ran with all her might to her house. Lucky for her that her parents were absent in the house and she was all alone. While on the way she could see the top of the hill ablaze with fire. Suddenly there was big thud and she woke up screaming......
Date : 20th March 2017 (Present Day)
Place: Mansi's Residence
" Are you fine Mansi memsaab?" asked Girija. " I am sorry I was just cleaning this room when the flower vase fell on the floor and broke into pieces". Mansi had lost track of time. She failed to realise she was in her house and suddenly things began to make sense. She was completely drenched in her sweat. She had just time travelled through her thoughts and had met Rajiv alive just to see him dead again. " What is the time Girija?" asked Mansi rubbing off the sweat on her forehead by her sleeves. " It is 10.30 memsaab." replied Girija. " Oh Shit!!! I overslept. Had an important work to do." saying this Mansi quickly alighted from her bed to get ready for the day.
Mansi had made up her mind and she knew she had to take a chance of visiting Ganakshi to confirm her doubts. She also knew she had to be careful while going alone, she was lured into something unknown and dangerous. She visualised Ganakshi whisper Dis..as...ter, and a threat to her family which could not be taken lightly. She wanted to discuss this with Mitali who was the only person who could take her out of this. Mansi had promised to discuss it with Mitali the day after she met Ganakshi and she decided to continue with the same.
Date: 21st March 2017
Time 6.30 pm
Place: Mitali's home
" Manu is a disaster..... God knows what she thinks and what she does!! Who keeps the phone switched off the whole day?" Mitali was mumbling to herself worried for Mansi. She was not able to get in touch with her since morning. Just then she saw her grandma pouring oil in the diya and she was pouring and pouring and pouring, lost in her thoughts looking blankly through space. It would have flooded the entire temple room, had Mitali not intervened on time. " Daadi what are you doing? Why are you so lost? What is wrong?" It took Ratna a few moments to realise what she was doing. " Hey Ram!!! What have I done??? Thank god!! nothing happened to the ganpati idol" said Ratna. " What are you talking daadi? You are fully soaked in oil. Thank god nothing is lit or you would have been roasted like an old plump chicken...." said Mitali with a chuckle.
" Mitali... mind your behaviour... help your grandma out of the mess." Vidyut had just arrived home and visualised the scenario. " Sorry dad!! I didn't mean to hurt anybody! Was just chilling out Daadi" said Mitali.
" Just shut up will you! Come Ma let me help you out!!! Don't know what is bothering you.... I feel you need rest." said Vidyut. Vidyut helped Ratna relax and then came out of the room. " Mitali I need to talk to you!!! I feel it is time I know things you are hiding from me." Vidyut was straightforward and always to the point and expected the same from the other side. Mitali never hid anything about her from her dad. She was true to him because she knew even if she isn't, her dad will, anyways find it out. So it was safe to be honest in front of DIG Vidyut. " Dad I don't have any hidden secrets of mine you know that right!" said Mitali. " What about Rajiv Mitu?". As soon as she heard Rajiv's name her expressions turned intense. Mitali understood that her dad knows much more so without a single thought she asked " Oh! So is he really back from dead?" " What??? Back from dead.... what are you talking about??" Vidyut was startled at what she was speaking....." Tell me quick.........what rubbish are you talking???"
" Dad... Mansi told me Rajiv will be back soon.." " And how did Mansi know that Rajiv will be back?" asked Vidyut with curiosity. " That... I don't know... Mansi knows.. she didn't tell me what she knows". Vidyut was infuriated. Mitali was acting like a stupid kid.... he wanted to spill his bout of anger but he calmed himself down with a count of 10. He carefully stressed out his words " Mitali... I will be asking only once..... no stupidity... no confusions.... just simple straightforward answers. What do you and Mansi know about this mysterious guy Rajiv?"
" Dad... Let me tell you everything. Rajiv was my batchmate at the engineering college. Mansi and Rajiv were.. you know.. quite close...okk...dating each other. Nobody except me knew they both were dating. Rajiv seemed to be a good mannered boy, very punctual, studious, no vices...but only thing I found weird about him was he was 10 times more superstitious than Daadi and was always involved in something superstitious. He didn't ever carry a mobile phone. He wasn't social at all. He had die hard looks but I found him very weird but Mansi somehow adored him. So I never bothered to come in between them. Do you remember dad... A couple of years back there was a wildfire at Aaryavan and dozens of people died due to it. Rajiv also died in the same accident and was reduced to char. He was identified because of his partially burnt identity card and a diamond ring on his fingers. You were out for some kind of training that time dad... and by the time you came back, this incidence was nearly wiped out from our minds. We never really discussed this..." said Mitali. " That's ok but tell me who identified Rajiv's body?" asked Vidyut. " I really don't know about it dad.. I couldn't get a chance to visit his funeral. His family members carried out his last rites at some undisclosed location it seems.."
" Do you know anything about his family? His mother.. father.. sister.. brother.. cousins.. anyone.. or any idea where he lived" said Vidyut expecting some positive answer from his daughter. " I am really sorry dad... I don't know anything about his family, all I know is he stayed at a cottage in a nearby village, which belonged to him. And as far as I know he stayed there alone. He did all his chores himself and never invited anybody to his house." " Ok!! and what is this thing of being back from dead?"
"Yesterday when we were arriving home Mansi wanted to tell me something then... I...err.. mmmm....I...." Vidyut took a deep breath and stared directly into Mitali's eyes. It was a warning signal so as not to formulate anything but keep going on with the truth.. " Continue Mitali.... no pauses please...." " I lost the balance of my scooty dad and we met with a small accident." Vidyut did not react to anything but stayed as he was with a calm temperament. " Luckily I wasn't hurt but for sometime Mansi went missing.. and I found her near the bushes towards the forest. I didn't understand what happened there but she stood shivering... and looking at something point blank. When I dropped her home she said Rajiv is back. I thought Mansi was out of her mind.. but then at night she called me and said Rajiv had proposed her for marriage a week before his death. She also said that the day he died Mansi had dumped him and cut off all their relations and somehow she was responsible for his death. I wanted to know more but she said she won't discuss on phone and will meet one on one to clarify everything once all the puzzles engulfing her are solved." " So did Mansi meet you?" asked Vidyut.
" No dad!! she was going to meet me tomorrow but then..." Mitali suddenly fell silent and lost in some thoughts. " What is it Mitali?" asked a worried Vidyut. " Dad!!! I am trying to call Mansi since morning just to know about the matter but then, since morning her phone is switched off.I tried her landline number... nobody is picking it up. Dad... I hope everything's fine...should we......?" Mitali looked into Vidyut's eyes and without any further discussion Vidyut and Mitali rushed out of the house.
Ratna had overheard each and every discussion.....Her eyes bulged with fear and chills ran down her spine... Her thoughts were making her sick... the only thought in her mind now was.... Should I?
..... to be continued