MUKTA
✨

I kept looking at the moon trying to find the star which shined brightest...
Baba used to say that is Aai... Everytime I used to ask him after her death he used to show me the brightest star in the sky and say it's her and it made me smile. But today I couldn't find her and Baba...I haven't found him since he left me all alone in this cruel world.

Specially after what I saw in the last two weeks. Kaya and Harry showed me all the dirty colors of this world. I was missing home but then where is my home now was the first thought that hit me post that!

My house was no longer mine!
I didn't have a shelter!
I don't have a job!
I feel so empty!
Omkar helped me. The man whom I doubted to be the cause of my miseries stood by me and asked police to take strict actions against Kaya and Harry. The only satisfaction I had was that now onwards no other girl would fall into such trap!!!
But then I was feeling out of place. My eyes fell on the room I was right now. These are wealthy people and I am a homeless girl. I can't be at their mercy.

Yes Omkar is kind enough to give me shelter, but who is he to do it? Just a namesake husband??? No!!! That wedding was meaningless!

I have to find a place for myself as soon as possible! First I need to find a job second I need to find a shelter. I don't want to be a burden on anyone's shoulder. I don't want Omkar to ever think I tried to utilise him. He is a good man.

Just then I heard his voice...
'Mukta' and I turned around. He stood in the room with a plate full of food and asked me to eat. But somehow my hunger died. I was feeling shy and uncomfortable.

But to my surprise he fed me and I was shocked. The care in his eyes was such that I couldn't deny and I opened my mouth.

'Good...well I don't mind feeding you but I think you can manage yourself.. what say?' he said and I nodded.

I took plate from his hands and slowly started eating while explained me the Konkani dishes. There was sheer silence in the room while I ate and finally he passed me some tablets and a glass of water saying 'Doctor prescribed this for you... you will sleep well eating it' he said but I was hesitant.

He probably saw the fear in my eyes and said...
'Look Mukta...you are in my house. You are my responsibility. There is my family here. The room next to yours has my younger brother Rudra and his wife. I stay on second floor, my parents on the ground floor. If you dial the number 1, 2, 3, 4 you can connect to various intercoms on the floor. There is tight security, my househelp is the same since I was a teenager so you are safe Mukta and don't worry I'm here!!!' he said and my eyes met his. I don't know why they were as comforting as a full moon.

I silently took the tablet while he wished me a goodnight and left.

✨

I could feel dirty hands over my body, I felt a sudden discomfort and I screamed at once and woke up only to feel two strong arms around me and I felt someone pat my shoulder. I didn't open my eyes but I heard sweet mumbling...
'Sleep baby girl...you are good...I got you here...you are good hmmm' and I felt like I was in a warm cocoon and sleep consumed me again.

Next day I woke up as I felt strong rays of sun falling on my face while I recalled someone patting me to sleep last night, I don't know if it was a dream or reality but I slept well. My eyes fell on the wall clock infront of me which ticked 8:00 am. The night had passed and it was a bright morning.

I smiled and turned on my right only to see a face lurking too close to my face and freaked out screaming loudly...
'Ahhhhhhhh' only to realise it was a girl!!!
The girl who escorted me to room last night. Omkar's sister in law. Prarthana.

'Heyyyy don't get scared... remember me??? Heyyy this is Prarthana...you can call me Pattu' saying she forwarded her hand towards me and I didn't know what to say...Her voice sounded a little different today.

She was sitting in the room on this bed and looking at me closely. I noticed the room had a few candles lighted up which left a sweet aroma in the room and I suddenly felt very creepy!!!

She had worn a red saree with jewellery and a big bindi unlike last night where she wore a casual party wear. She had left her long hair open and above all I see  her smiling creepily.
She looks beautiful but why is she here early in the morning???
Alone???
Red saree, red bindi, red bangles??? Her eyes were red too!!! I gulped nervously!!!

How much do I know about his family???
What if they are into occult practices???
Like how I had seen in that horror show where the new bride is sleeping and her mother in law is a sorcerer and practices black magic on the new bride while sleeping???

Oh wait!!!
I think they apply some black powder on you trying to hypnotize you???
Is she one of the kind?
They have a banyan tree in their garden and I remember Baba saying...

'Mukku...Pimplayacha zadavar chetkin rahte...' (Witches reside on a banyan tree)

I had also heard these Chetkin (witch) are very beautiful and this girl is gorgeous!!!

Hawwwww!!! What if she's also a Chetkin!!!
Aaigah!!! (Mummy)!!!

'I brought food for you Mukta...take eat' she said and pointed towards the small table which had loads of food.
Multiple plates of breakfast like Idli Sambhar, dosa, upma, and 4 types of halwas and some fruits and a glass of juice.

Damnnn!!! Mukku she is making you eat so she can eat you later!!!
Now you get it all!!!
No wonder her voice is different right now. Last night it was melodious and right now it's so manly!!!
Damnnn she is probably getting into her real form???

Ohhhh freak now I get it!!!
Omkar and both his brothers are so tall and handsome. Even his father is so tall and handsome at this age.
They probably feed on souls and this girl Prarthana...her skin is so radiating...maybe they consume souls and give her the blood??? I heard Chetkin love blood!!!

While I heard her voice

I flinched as I saw her coming closer and I jumped out of the bed and asked her...
'Pa...Pa...Prarthana...ji... don't don't kill me!!! I am a thin girl...I know you and your family may like like blood...
But but...
Ummm
I I heard Chetkin like perfumes!!!
I make them!!!
I will gift them to you!!!
You can happily smell them and hangout on that banyan tree!!!

I said trying to escape while she made a face asking...
'Whattttt' and she had a mad expression on her face.

Freak I angered her!!!
Damnnn she's going to eat me!!!
What do I do???
Run Mukta ..Run!!!
While she was about to approach me I jumped from there and crossed the bed hopping over it while she screamed in her manly voice...

'Mukta stay...arrreyyyy eat the breakfast atleast!!!' but I didn't stay there I ran from there only for her to run behind me and I started running on the coridor where I saw everyone...all their staff wearing red clothes!!!

Shit Shit!!!
They are a cult!!!
Oh damnnn!!! They are going to offer me to what!??
Oh the demon??? Devil???
I started running on the coridor like a crazy girl while Prarthana screamed at the househelp...

'Arreyyyy she is running...stop her from going down!!!' and I jumped ...
No ways they want to trap me...
Two women in red saree came near me..I pushed one of them and shoved other girl's head into a decorative vessel and ran from there while two men came to stop me and I did what I knew the best.

I kicked on their shin !!!
They fell on their knees and I saw Prarthana close her mouth!!

'Pattu baby did you do the job I asked you to???' I saw a man come out the other room and I screamed loudly seeing his white face standing there just in pajamas!!! Shirtless!!!
Freak!!! Male Chetkin???
With 6 pack abs!!!

'Rudra stop her!!! Amma asked her to wait here...she is running like a crazy girl' Prarthana screamed...

Crazy my foot!!!
I'm not going to be your meal Chetkin & co!!!
I saw the white ghost came closer to me and before he could attack me I jumped on his foot and he screamed loudly and kept hopping  on one leg while and crying in pain!!!
Taking a chance I ran downstairs...

I didn't stop and ran down the stairs only to crash into a hard chest who kept screaming 'Pattu did you kill that little b*tch!!!' and I was shocked to see Omkar standing there just in shorts and I screamed loudly...

Damnnn!!! Do all male chetkins have a sexy body??? And roam shirtless???
No wonder they attract women!!!

He tried to shut my mouth and my eyes met his brown eyes which were twinkling as they met mine...I was mesmerized but then next minute I recalled what he instructed Prarthana...
Shit!!!
Next minute I heard Prarthana coming down screaming...
'Anna don't let her go downstairs...mom told to stop her' and I realised damnnn even their mother!!!
Holy crap this entire family is a cult !!!
They are going to sacrifice me!!!

Run Mukku Run!!!
And I saw Omkar's grip tightened on my mouth so I bit his palm and he screamed while next second I kicked between his legs and he fell on his knees screaming...
'Are you crazy ladyyyyyyy ahhhh!!!'
Come on he called me a b*tch he deserves it!!! Huhhh!!

And that minute I lifted my pajama pants and began running downstairs while I saw there was a whole holy pyre set up!!!
Dont tell me they will offer me into the fire!!!

I am running from here!!!
And I kept running downstairs!!!
Chetkin cha beep beep!!!
Run Mukku Run!!!