Rajveer and Naina.. they both were running for their life....fast as they ever could run. Its easy to fight manly enemies.. its easy to fight with one who has a particular appearance and behavior. But to fight with the invisible? How to fight with evil souls which had gained immense strength since ages! How to fight with the one who appeared in a human form hours back? How to fight with the power that keeps on chaging its form! Was that only a power? Or powers it was?

Rain..on the other hand worked as an obstacle.. a hindrance that cased them slip as they were running.drenched completely, physicall y in rain and mentally by the terrors they found a church on the right of their way. Way! The way that they had taken unknowingly. The way in which they had come without any navigation, just navigated by the instinct to live and to escape.

Raaj... woh dekhiye church... said Naina as she was getting out of breath.. chaliye andar chalte hain.. there must be someone who can help us...she said, as getting in, sitting in front of almighty is the only way left that could save their souls within their earthly body.

Andar jaana theek hoga? Said Rajveer as he had lost his last bit of faith.

Aur humare paas koi upai nahi hai.. kab tak aise bhagenge? Hum bach nahi payenge....woh humare peeche hai.......she ganced back for a second as she ran along with him. To her surprise, there were no ghostly figure or entity following them! And that sight made Naina sure that the church campus is entirely safe for them, if no evil power had gained strength equal to HIM!

Raaj lets get in..... its safe.....she increased her speed, thereby pulling Rajveer literally with her.

Father,........ Father...please help us......her voice echoed along with their tired foot steps in the empty church..... Father please save us.......tears escaped her eyes...

What happened My child? Said a man in the mid fifties, who was wearing a white cassock, a silver cross glittering on his chest.. the man came hurrying from inside....may be after hearing their plead..

Father..... that Rosy.......spirit......father we were being followed.... That broken house... father please save us... they will kill us.. father please......Naina started crying and she lost her consciousness finally giving up before extreme physical and mental exhaustion...

Naina.....a moan escped Rajveers throat as she got a hold of her, saving her from colliding the marble floor..

Kuch nahi hoga isse..... my son you come with me... can you carry her alone? Or you need assistance? said the man whom they thought to be the Father.

Who are you? And how can I believe you? Rosy appeared same! Rajveer asked being extra cautious. Why wont he? He ha spromised to save her till his last breath.. and he cant take any risk.. but does he have any other way left than believing on him?

I'm Rev Samuel.. you can believe me my child... im sure you people had some bitter experience. But, now we need her to gain her consciousness. He said.

His tone, his voice carried an amazing warmth that Rajveer couldn't help but believe him... and Rajveer finally followed him carrying naina in his arms. Then making her lie down on a church bench he sat near her head, wiping the traces of her tears and rain water away from her face, as if he was trying to wipe all her tensions and fear..

Father....isse kya hua? Please help us......he started crying..

Relax my child..... kuch nahi hoga tum logo ko.. HE will save you all... HE is there.....Said Father Samuel pointing to the huge crucified JESUS statue.

What is your name? Asked Father Samuel as he brought him a glass of water on one hand and a bowl of ice water on his other.. then handing over the glass to Rajveer, he sprinkeled ice water drops over Nainas face.

Mera Naam Rajveer hai father.. aur yeh meri patni Naina. Humlog Delhi se aaye hai...said Rajveer, as he was a bit relaxed drinking the glass of water. Isse kya hua father?isse hosh kyun nahi arahi? He asked being concerned again looking at Naina.

Rajveer.........relax..... ajayega hosh isse... is bachhi ne kam toh saha nahi... he smiled.

Father...aapko?? Kaise pata chala?? Rajveer seemed surprised.

Rajveer......... tum log pehle nahi ho joh aise mere yaha aaye... im quite used to all these. He smiled again. Yeh dekho Naina ko hosh agaya.... He said lookin at Naina.

His words made Rajveer look towards Naina to see her with opened eyes...staring at the surroundings dumb. She suddenly rose from her reclined position sweating profusely. Hum.... Raj hum kaha hai? She shouted holding Rajveers hands tight. She was still in trauma.

Naina.....dont worry.....Naina.....just relax........Said Father Samuel as he held his cross over her head... and immediately that calmed Naina....She closed her eyes and exhaled hard..

Tum dono ghabrao mat.. kuch nahi hoga. He assured them. Mujhe pata hai sab kuch. Rosy mili thi tum logo ko? He smiled.

Haa father.... Par aap....Naina gasped again.

Sab ke saath yehi hota hai my child.. phir coffee peene k bahane ley jaati hai woh.. jiska naseeb achha hai who bachta hai uske changul se.. warna kayi o ka laash mila hai khai se... his voice low now.

Waise tum log thehre kaha ho? Father inquired..

Morgan House.....replied Rajveer. And Fathers face colour changed visibly dark..... as if he had heard something uncanny...

What happened father? Kuch serious? Aap achanak itne pareshan kyu dikh rahe ho? Asked Naina this time.

Kab tak ho tum log wahan? Father asked again instead of answering to her question.

Kal dopahar ko nikalne ka plan hai .. lekin kyu father? Rajveer seriously concerned.

Kal subah nikal jaana tum dono. Aaj to possible nahi hoga.. lekin return as soon as the first sun ray reaches you. Morgan House is not safe....... Not safe at all.. Bahadur ne kuch kaha nahi? He asked again.

Nothing much father... lekin mujhe lehsun dia tha apne paas rakhne k liye...said naina...her brow creased.

Toh kya kia lehsun? Nahi hai aab tumhare paas? Father asked being curious.

Nai.... Mujhe in sab cheezo par viswas nahi tha.. isliye maine phenk dia... SaID naina.. her head hung.. guilt prominent.. im sorry father..

Koi baat nahi my child... lekin aab to pata chal gaya haina.. spirits do exist.. both good and bad... carry this cross with you both... always.. this will protect you from evil powers..he said handing over Naina two small silver cross.. and give this one to Bahadur.. woh har Sunday aata hai yaha par. Pata nahi aaj aya nahi kyun...Fathers brows creased as he remembered Bahadurs absence in that days prayer.

And as they were talking Father Samuels eyes suddenly fell on the round bite mark on Nainas side throat.... And unknowingly few words Boksi le katiyo...escaped his mouth..

Pardon me father....i didn't get you.....said Naina as she understood Father said those words looking at her..

Tumhari neck par yeh nishan.............Father said pointing the bruise.....

By that time Naina understood what he was referring to.....ha father....pata nahi kaise... aj subah dekha maine......she said... Rajveer k peeth par bhi aise do nishan hai...

Nishan??.......what?? Naina kya keh rahi ho tum?? Rajveer was starteled...

Rajveer....take off your shirt please...Father said......

Rajveer didn't object and removed his shirt exposing his bare muscular body.... And in a hurry naina made him turn so that his back faced Father Samuel.

Look father.... Similar spots.....Naina said as she pointed her index finger towards the spots..

Oh my God! Father explained as he sat on the bench holding his head..

Father please tell... what happened? Rajveer got restless as he wore the shirt back..

Beta.... Kal tumlogo ke upar koi shaitani shakti ne hamla kia tha....Father said..

Lekin hume toh kuch samajh nahi aya.....naina said as she was surprised... infact! They had slept quite peacefully that night!

You wont understand my child... he said... yeh joh nishan hai, yeh evil spirits k kaatne ka nisan hai... insaan ko kuch daard hota nahi hai.. lekin who shaitane ruh dheere dheere andar se saare shakti taan leyti hai.. tabtak...jabtak na bus ek khokla badan reh jaaye.... And tab woh unhe aapne saath ley jaate hain... Father elaborated... lekin tum dono ki takdeer achha hai.. koi dusra shakti hai joh ki tum logo ko bacha raha hai....he said further.... warna kal raat ko hi who shaitaani ruh syed tum dono ko aur nuksaan pauchata.....

Aab hum kya kare Father? Terror prominent in Nainas voice as she asked..

Don't wory... the cross tum dono ka raksha karega.. God will protect you both.. have faith on HIM.. Father smiled..

Koshish karna aaj raat ko nahi sone ka... jaga rehna..... jage huye insane ko ruhani takatein zyada nuksan nahi paucha sakta... darayega zaroor.. lekin this cross..this will protect you my child.. aur ha... ek aur baat yaad rakhna... shaitani ruh jitna bhi takatvaar ho, achhai k saamne humesha kamzor parta hai.. so believe in your own power... have faith on your self..... ok??

Ok father.... We need to get out of this situation any how.. hume kal wapis jaana hai.. and we will survive...said Rajveer.... His eyes confident... his lower jaw pressed hard against the upper..

Good... aab tum logo ko jaana chahye.. Raat hone wala hai... bahar mausam saaf ho gaya hai..... andhera hone se pehle wapis laut jao.... God bless you both... Father smiled as he blessed them both..

And they both walked out holding hands... deterimined... whatever may come..... they will survive... they will have to...

[May be this chapter is not upto the level... I'm not satisfied with this.. but at this moment I cant write any better.. Please forgive me for this..
Upar se aj holi hain. Kuch Bura likhne ka man nahi Kia.. so no horror elements..
This storey will end soon.. Hardly 2/3 chapters more..
I can give an epilogue describing the true incidents and some prevalent myths that I've used throughout this book, if you all want.
Happy reading
Happy Holi again..]