"Jis bebakee ke saath Meher mere har sawaal par sawaal uthati thi, ye baat kab mere dil ko chhu gayi mujhe pata hi nahi chala.",

smiles Naushad, remembering.

Sujal and Rajveer look towards each other and arch their respective brow.

"Socha usse takrana chhorh dunga. Usey aata dekh apna rasta badal loonga. Magar kambakht dil ko ye bhi manzoor na hua.",

smiles Naushad, cascading his eyes.

"Uski soch se meri soch ka takrana mujhe kab bhaane laga kya pata.",

says Naushad.

"Apni soch se badhkar uski soch ka khayal rakhna kab shuru kar diya, iss baat ka ilm bhi mujhe nahi hua.",

Naushad shakes his head in slow pace, smiling still.

"Jisey shuru se interns ke saamne ek strict look rakhne ki aadat thi, wo Naushad ab interns aur baki doctors ke saath aate-jaate hansi-mazak karne laga.",

Naushad laughs a little.

Rajveer and Sujal feel happy for Naushad.

"Dost bann gayi wo meri. Dost!",

smiles Naushad.

"Aur main uske saath-saath apne saare doctors aur interns ka dost bann gaya.",

he smiles further.

"Baki subke saath dosti karna phir bhi aasan tha magar Meher ke saath boss se dosti ka safar mushkil raha.",

says Naushad, then raising both of his brows, smiling, sighing, he continues,

"Pehli mulakat mein hi humari soch mein madbhed.",

Naushad shakes his head, smiling.

"Kabhi socha nahi tha tab ke ye ladki ek din meri raaton ki neend chura legi.",

blushes Naushad.

Sujal and Rajveer raise their respective brows, smiling wide.

"Agle hi din usse apne hospital mein mere room ke bahar baitha paaya, interview dene ke liye notes revise kar rahi thi.",

remembers Naushad, laughing a little.

"Mera guroor uske saamne tab tootne laga jab interview mein usne mujhe ye samjha diya ke ek doctor ko doctor hi rehna chahiye, judge bankar faisla sunane ka haq nahi hai usey. Khaskar tab jab humein kisi ki zindagi ki puri kahani na maloom ho.",

says Naushad, smiling.

"Lalkarti thi wo mujhe apni baaton se. Aur mujhpar uska junoon dheere-dheere sawaar hota ja raha tha."

"Ek din taye kiya ke pyar ka izhaar agar nahi kar pa raha to koi baat nahi magar kam se kam dost to bankar rahunga uska."

Laughing a little he adds,

"Waise bhi suna hai ke pyar ki shuruat dosti se hoti hai."

Rajveer and Sujal nod their respective heads smiling.

Taking a deep breath, he says,

"Bus tabse apni dosti nibha rahe hain hum unse.",

and smiles looking at Sujal and Rajveer.

Rajveer pats on Naushad's back and assures him by saying,

"Koi baat nahi jald hi wo din ayega jab aapki gaadi dosti se agey barhegi."

Sujal nods his head agreeing with Rajveer.

Naushad smiles and blushes.

Taking a deep breath Naushad turns to Rajveer and says,

"Chaliye ab aapki baari."

Rajveer smiles and cascades his eyes.

"To baat ye hai ke Naina sirf meri student hi nahi balki mere dost; mere batchmate Naveen Singh Ahluwalia ki chhoti behn bhi hai.",

says Rajveer and blushes profusely.

"Arey waah! Phir to bhai ko manane ki tension khatam. Aur bhai agar pat gaya to ladki ke Ma-baap aasani se rishte ke liye haan keh dete hain.",

says Sujal, laughing, and adds further,

"Aur ye baat main isliye keh sakta hoon kyunki Varun aur Mehak ko jab pyar hua tha to Varun ne family mein subse pehle mujhe hi aakar bataya tha.",

his heart swells with love for Varun.

"Baad mein mujhe hi subko manana parha tha Varun aur Mehak ke rishte ke liye.",

smiles Sujal.

"Kyun? Kisiko Mehak pasand nahi thi?",

asks Naushad, knitting his brows.

"Nahi actually Mehak aur Rishi....",

Sujal stops abruptly, the smile vanishes from his face and his cheeks turn warm as he realises that the ones he is talking about are not alive anymore.

He turns numb.

Naushad and Rajveer look towards each other, realising Sujal's state.

"Sujal!",

consoles Rajveer, resting his hand on Sujal's shoulder.

Sujal turns to look towards him and smiles a little.

"I am sorry Sujal. Agar tumhe... iss baare mein baat nahi karni to...",

Naushad gets cut short when Sujal turns to look towards him, smiling he says,

"Nahi aisi... aisi koi baat nahi hai. Bus kuch der ke liye bhool gaya tha ke mere bhai mere saath nahi hain ab."

Naushad and Rajveer feel bad for him.

Sujal then dictates the entire story of Rishi, Mehak and Varun, that how Rishi and Mehak were in a relationship  but Rishi was never serious about Mehak and how Rishi humiliated Mehak in front of his friends. How Varun had always supported Mehak and finally how Varun and Mehak got married in the temple in the presence of Sujal because Varun's mother Vasu was against their relationship. And he was the only one who had the guts to go against Vasu's decision and support Varun and Mehak. And later on how he convinced all to accept Mehak as their daughter-in-law.

Naushad and Rajveer stare him in utter shock.

"So Rajveer aapke liye to ye bada aasan ho gaya Naina ka bhai apka dost hai.",

smiles Sujal.

Rajveer smiles sadly looking at Sujal.

"Haan... wo... wo mera dost tha. Mera subse acha dost.",

says Rajveer.

Sujal and Naushad knit their brows respectively.

"Tha?",

asks Naushad and Sujal in unison then look towards each other for brief moment before turning to look back towards Rajveer.

Rajveer then dictates them the whole situation.

"Oh! To aap dono ki shadi?",

asks Naushad.

"Ek saal pehle Naina ke Ma-Baba ki ek car accident mein maut ho gayi. Bhai ke jaane ke baad Naina apne Ma-Baba ko lekar kuch zyada hi possessive ho gayi thi. Uska unke alawa koi nahi tha. Rishtedaron ne bhi Naveen, yani uske bhai, ke jaane ke baad unse apna muh pher liya tha. Aise mein unka bhi usey chorhkar chale jaana, Naina ko tod chuka tha puri tarah. Maine bohot koshish ki Naina ko samjhane ki - usey dantkar; uss par gussa hokar magar kuch asar nahi hua uss par. Wo din bhar roti rehti thi. Apni haalat buri kar li thi. Jab ye chaar-panch mahino tak aisa hi chalta raha tab maine gusse mein usse baat karni bilkul bandkar di."

says Rajveer.

Sujal and Naushad widen their eyes in shock.

"Chaar-paanch maheene?",

asks Sujal.

"Haan yaar ye to bohot hote hain!",

says Naushad.

"Wo jab bhi akeli hoti thi to uske gharwaalon ko yaad karke rone lagti thi.",

says Rajveer, frustrated.

Naushad and Sujal nod their heads in understanding.

"Jab Naina ko iss baat ka ehsaas hua ke main usse baat nahi kar raha to wo bechain ho gayi. Usne mujhse baat ki aur mujhse request ki ke main usse baat karna na chorhun. Ke usne agar mujhe bhi kho diya to uske paas jeene ki koi wajah nahi rahegi."

Rajveer turns to look towards them and says in desperation,

"Usey dard pohnchane ka mera koi irada nahi tha."

Naushad and Sujal nod their heads, respectively in understanding.

"Nahi jaanta uss din mere andar itni himmat kaise ayi ke maine usey seedhe keh diya ke agar wo mujhe khona nahi chahti to wo mujhse shadi karle. Kyunki...."

Cascading his eyes, Rajveer continues,

"Kyunki main uski zindagi ke har sukh-dukh mein apna aadha hissa chahta hoon."

Smiling a little, blushing, Rajveer says,

"Shayad... shayad meri ye baat uske dil ko chhu gayi. Aur usne turant mujhe haan keh diya."

Taking a deep breath, he says,

"Aur isse pehle ki usey andaza hota ke usne kya kiya hai, maine agle hi din uske saath mandir mein shadi karli."

Rajveer smiles looking towards them. Sujal and Naushad laugh a little at his words and nod their heads understanding the situation, smiling.

"To ye hai meri aur Naina ki kahani.",

smiles Rajveer.

●●●●●

"Sunny maine to andhere mein teer chhorha tha aur teer bilkul nishaane par lagi."

says Ananya, thinking, her eyes narrowed, staring at infinity.

"Yaar Ananya tu kya keh rahi hai mujhe kuch samjh nahi aa raha.",

says Sunny, confused.

Shaking her head a little, Ananya tells him,

"Arey Hotel Pearl jahan aag lag gayi thi aur abhi renovation ke baad teen saal baad phirse khula hai."

Sunny understands and nods his head thrice in quick succession,

"Haan!"

"Wahan kuch paranormal activites mehsoos ki gayi hain.",

says Ananya, smiling, her eyes staring towards the infinity.

"Kya baat kar rahi hai! Such mein?",

asks Sunny, widening his eyes.

"Haan. Tujhe kisne bataya?",

asks Sunny.

"Wo apna Pankaj hai na, wo wahan helper hai. Jabse usne mujhe bataya ke usey wahan naukri mili hai maine usey keh diya tha ke usey wahan kuch bhi gadbad lagey; koi aisa jiski baaton se usey lagey ke wo uss hadse ke baare mein kuch jaante hain yani hadse se juda koi bhi agar wahan aaye to uss par nazar rakhe aur mujhe fauran khabar kare. Usine mujhe kaha ke usey lagta hai ke wahan kuch gadbad hai.",

says Ananya.

"To ab?",

asks Sunny.

Taking a deep breath, crossing her arms across her chest, Ananya says,

"To ab humein wahan jaakar pata lagana parhega ke aakhir maajra kya hai!"

Sunny and Ananya look towards each other.

●●●●●

"Aur tumne Vikram ke ghar jaane se mana kar diya?",

exclaims Revati, gesturing with her right hand, in her cabin.

Nitya whose arms are crossed and rested against her abdominal, standing on the other side of Revati's desk asks,

"Haan to aur kya kehti?"

" 'To aur kya kehti' ka kya matlab Nitya?",

asks Revati, turning anxious.

"Vikram ki baat maan jaati na.",

says Revati.

"What?!",

now it's Nitya's turn to exclaim in surprise.

"Main kyun maanu uski baat? After all that he has done.",

asks Nitya in utter shock.

"I cannot believe Revati ke tum mujhe uske ghar jaane ke liye suggest kar sakti ho.",

says Nitya, and rolls her eyes.

"But darling maine ye kab kaha ke uske saath phirse koi rishta rakhle.",

says Revati.

Nitya stares her, pissed off.

"Main to bus itna keh rahi hoon ke uske ghar ja usse thodi baatein kar, after all ab tum dono agar ek hi jagah kaam kar rahe ho; aur wo tera boss hai, to thodi-bohot baat-cheet to hogi hi na?",

says Revati.

"And it's strictly all professional!",

she adds, arching both of her brows.

Nitya and Revati stare each other where on one hand Nitya is considering Revati's words and on the other hand Revati is gauging Nitya's reaction to her words.

"Okay!",

accepts Nitya, after a thought.

Revati claps her hands once in excitement.

"But it is strictly professional!",

reminds Nitya, despite the fact that Revati already had mentioned it, pointing her index finger towards Revati.

"Done! Done!",

says Revati, shaking her head and gesturing thumbs up with both of her thumbs.

"Dekhti hoon kahan hain mere boss!",

says Nitya, sarcastically, rolling her eyes and leaves.

Excited Revati giggles a little.

"Hey bhagwan sub kuch sambhal lena. Vikram to phir bhi theek hai magar iss Nitya par mujhe bharosa nahi.",

says Revati, looking heavenwards.

Sighing, she looks towards the door and shakes her head.

●●●●●

Nitya turns to the left corridor when she happens to collide with Vikram.

Nitya and Vikram stare each other in surprise. Their heartbeats racing against each other. Their faces flushed.

"Sorry maine dekha nahi.",

apologizes Vikram, staring her, with a little smile on his face.

"Nahi actually, mujhe... mujhe hi dekh kar murhna chahiye tha.",

says Nitya, looking anywhere but towards Vikram as his scrutinizing gaze makes her feel pleasantly uncomfortable.

"Kitchen to uss taraf hai, tum iss side kahan ja rahi thi?",

asks Vikram, politely.

"Haan wo... kuch der akele rehne ka mann kar raha tha to socha bahar khuli hawa mein thoda tehl loon.",

says Nitya.

"Oh phir to meri company tumhe bore kar rahi hogi. You carry on.",

smiles Vikram and gives her way to leave.

Nitya blushes in shock.

"Nahi.. nahi aisi koi baat nahi hai.",

she clarifies immediately.

That flutters Vikram's heart.

His eyes fill with passion and love for her.

Suddenly they hear a couple spending romantic time with each other, hiding behind a pillar, thick enough to hide them from the eyes of others. A wall standing at the right side of the pillar protecting the pillar, hence converting the place into a hideout.

Nitya and Vikram turn uncomfortable as it brings back memories from the days when they were doing their course to become what they are today - Chefs.

It would always happen that whenever Vikram would find themselves away from the eyes of others, he would start taking slow steps towards her, until her back would collide against the wall and thenceforth would begin a moment of love and passion that would last sometimes for few minutes and sometimes it would stretch to an hour.

Vikram controls his rate of heartbeat, his eyes cascaded. After having his rate of heartbeat under control, he looks back towards Nitya with his eyes that reflect his possessiveness and passion for her. Nitya couldn't help but stare him back. Her chest expanding and contracting visibly at quick succession as she is well aware of that look he is giving her.

Her heart almost stops working when her phone rings, she shivers as it drags her out of her thoughts of Vikram. He had created a havoc till now which apparently evaporates.

She slowly brings out the mobile from the pocket of her uniform and reads the name of the caller, though not loud but loud enough for both Vikram and herself to hear,

"Karan!"

Jealousy surges through Vikram.

Nitya immediately looks towards Vikram to gauge his reaction.

"Oh! Ab tak dosti hai tum dono ki!",

says Vikram, spitting venom through his each word.

"Karan ne mera saath tab diya tha jab 'mere apne' mujhe chhorhkar chaley gaye the!",

she accuses him indirectly, looking straight into his eyes, emphasizing on 'mere apne'.

Giving him a last accusing look, she was about to receive the call, but maybe Vikram was in no mood to let the magic of the havoc created by him to evaporate this soon. Hence, in his that one possessive tone, Vikram, without tearing his gaze away from her says,

"Kaato uska call!"

Nitya turns numb!

He had never been like this when they were together. What has he turned into during the last few years? And why the hell is it so... alluring?

She knits her brows lightly as if asking 'kya?'!

Vikram keeps his look of disappointment and anger intact.

Nitya relaxes her brows, determined to not listen to him. Staring him throughout, she receives the call and says,

"Haan Karan?!"

Vikram's blood boils!

"Nahi main to restaurant aayi hui hoon. To tum yahin par aa jana?",

says Nitya.

Vikram gives her a look of disgust and shaking his head he leaves in anger.

Nitya looks towards the retreating figure of Vikram.

"Hello... Nitya sunn rhi ho meri baat?",

asks Karan from the other end.

"Haan... haan jaisa tumhe theek lagey kar lena.",

says Nitya, distracted, resting her index finger and thumb on her temple.

"Acha listen main tumse baad mein baat karti hoon. Bye.",

Nitya ends the call, her mind occupied by the thoughts of Vikram.

She again looks towards the way Vikram had left.

●●●●●

"Kya karna hoga mujhe?",

asks Kashish, having made the decision.

Veena smiles hearing her.

"Tumhe uss tantrik ko dhoondhna hoga.",

says Veena.

"Kya?! But Mumma, main kaise?",

asks Kashish, shocked.

"Aaj amavasya ki raat hai. Yahan se kuch hi duur ek jungle hai. Wo tantrik ussi jungle mein hai.",

Veena tells her.

"Tumhe chaand nikalne se pehle nikalna hoga taki chand nikalne tak tum usey dhoondh paao.",

guides Veena.

"Usey dhundhkar tumhe usse vinatti karni hogi ke wo unn aatmaon ko chhorh de.",

says Veena.

"Magar iss baat ki kya guarantee hai Mumma ke mere kehne par wo maan jayega?",

asks Kashish, perplexed.

"Wo tumhari baat maanne ke liye vivash ho jayega kyunki tumhe iss kaam ke liye chuna gaya hai. Aur jisey iss kaam ke liye chuna jaaye uss koi inkaar nahi kar sakta.",

says Veena.

Kashish knits her brows tighter, considering her words.

"Ye sub kuch aise hi hona tha Kashish. Mere dwara tumhe iss kaam ke liye chuna jana, darasal ye sub kuch pehle se hi likha ja chuka tha.",

says Veena.

Kashish's rate of heartbeat picks up pace.

"Jao Kashish. Aur der mat karo. Meri aatma ko mukti sirf tum dilwa sakti ho; inn sub qaid aatmaon ko mukt karake.",

says Veena.

Kashish nods her head, staring Veena throughout.

●●●●●

"I think humein baki subko bata dena chahiye Kashish ki gumshudi ke baare mein!",

says Meher.

"Mujhe bhi yahi lagta hai Meher.",

says Naina.

Naina and Meher look towards one another.

"Humein ladkon ko bata dena chahiye.",

suggests Naina.

Meher nods her head disheartedly.

●●●●●

Meher and Naina run towards the men in horror.

"Suniye!",

they say in unison, upon reaching to them in anxiousness.

"Naina!",

Rajveer gets up knitting his brows.

"Meher!",

Naushad too gets up knitting his brows.

Sujal gets up too, his brows knit too,

"Kya hua aap dono itni ghabrayi huin kyun hain?"

Looking behind them, Sujal asks,

"Aur.... Kashish kahan hai?"

Naina and Meher look towards each other, tensed.

"Aap dono kuch bata kyun nahi raheen? Kahan hai Kashish?",

asks Sujal, turning impatiently with each passing moment.

"Sujal ji wo... Kashish...",

Meher trails off initially, unable to understand how to disclose it in front of him.

"Wo humare saath hi theen. Magar..."

Meher continues dictating the entire incident to Sujal.

All the three men turn dumbstruck hearing the whole story initially, which gets broken by Sujal's shout,

"Tum teeno agar ek saath yahan se gayin theen to ek saath hi rehna chahiye tha na?"

Sujal doesn't realise what is he saying. Meher and Naina choose to stay quiet, not minding Sujal's exasperation and reaction.

Sujal rests his hand on left side of his waist and his right hand he shoves in his hair.

"Sujal please shant ho jao.",

says Naushad, resting his hand on Sujal's shoulder, knitting his brows in tension.

"Arey aise kaise shant ho jaun?! Kashish pata nahi kahan chali gayi.",

says Sujal, tensed.

All of them wonder, equally tensed.

"Yahin kahin hogi.",

says Naushad looking all around.

"Ek kaam karte hain ladkiyan uss side dekho. Hum ladke iss side dekhte hain. Aise kaise Kashish kahin ja sakti hai!?!",

says Rajveer.

All of them nod their head respectively and leave in search of Kashish calling out her name every now and then.

●●●●●

Ananya and Sunny reach the hotel to get some footage of the place and discover whether it is indeed haunted or is it a myth.

"Sunny, camera chala.",

says Ananya, her eyes wide opened as if she is not standing in front of any hotel but some abandoned building.

"Haan!",

says Sunny quickly and does the same, his owns eyes opened wide in horror.

Ananya turns towards the camera and says,

"Bhoot-pret! Aatma! Shapit jagah! Shapit immaratein! Ye shabd aapne filmo aur keetabon mein to kayi baar dekha ya parha hoga. Magar kya inka vastavikta se koi lena dena hai? Yahi jaanne aaj hum maujood hain Pearls hotel ke saamne."

Ananya changes her position and turns to her right, Sunny too quickly walks to his left holding his camera intact to cover Ananya properly.

"Jee haan ye wohi jagah hai jiski imaarat ke phirse banne ke dauran log iske construction site par jaana to duur uske saamne se guzarne se bhi darte thein. Iss imaarat ke baare mein ek article mein prakashit karte hue ek lekhak ne iske rahasyamayi hone ke daawe kiye."

"Aisa maana jaata hai ke kayi baar koshish karne ke baad jaakar ye imaarat phirse humare saamne bannkar khadi hui. Haadse par haadse iss imaarat ke banne ke dauran hote chale gaye. Kabhi mazdooron ka construction site par kisi aurat ki aawaz sunna, jabki wahan duur duur tak koi aurat nahi thi. Construction site par auraton ka koi kaam hi nahi tha. Phir uss aurat ka unse madad mangna. To kabhi shant maahol mein bhi kisi adrishya shakti ke hone ka aabhaas hona.",

Ananya pauses a little, giving the viewers time to let them sink in the information being provided by her.

"Maano to main such; na maano to bus fasana!",

says Ananya, turning to her front.

"Kya kahani; kya haqeeqat, ye to bus wohi jaante hain jinki ye aapbeeti hai.",

she adds.

"Humne unse baat karne ki bhi koshish ki jin mazdooron ke saath ye ghatnayein huin, magar afsoos unn mein se koi taiyar nahi iss ghatna ke baare mein camere par baat karne ke liye.",

adds Ananya.

"Unka kehna hai ke jo unhone mehsoos kiya agar wo such hai, to wo camere ke saamne aakar duniya se such saajha karke khudko kisi museebat mein nahi daal saktein.",

she says.

●●●●●

Not finding Kashish anywhere, all of them meet at a spot.

"Har jagah dekh liya Kashish kahin nahi mili.",

says Naushad, holding his waist from either sides.

"Mujhe... mujhe bohot darr lag raha hai. Kahan ja sakti hai Kashish?",

says Meher, tensed.

"Kahin...",

Naina widens her eyes and look towards them.

All of them get alert.

Naina stares Sujal, nervous.

"Kya kahin, Naina?",

asks Sujal, turning towards her properly.

"Kahin...",

she looks towards Meher, nervously for a brief moment before turning to look towards Sujal again and says,

"Vee...na aunty to nahi iske peeche?"

Meher widens her eyes.

She did word Meher's feelings aptly.

"What?!",

exclaims Sujal.

Rajveer and Naushad too stare Naina, finding it ridiculous.

"Kyun nahi ho sakta ye?",

demands Meher.

All of them turn to look towards Meher.

"Main jaanti hoon ke aap logon ko iss baat par bharosa nahi ke Veena aunty ki aatma such mein yahan hai, magar Kashish ke liye ek baar iss angle se sochne mein kya jaata hai?",

asks Meher, then look towards each of the men.

The three men look towards one another, considering the words of Naina and Meher.

●●●●●

The whole staff of the hotel gets informed about Kashish's disappearance. The staff gets ordered to search the hotel properly but they could not find Kashish anywhere.

"Pura hotel chhan maara. Agar Kashish ke gayab hone ki zimmedar Mumma hain, to gayab karke wo le kahan jayengi Kashish ko? Unki aatma to yahin hai na iss hotel mein? Yaani Kashish ko bhi yahin hona chahiye tha?",

asks Sujal, pissed off.

"To kya ab bhi aap dono Mumma ko Kashish ke gayab hone ke peeche zimmedar samjhti hain?",

asks Sujal.

Meher explains him politely,

"Humne kisi par ilzaam nahi lagaya Sujal. Hum bus ek raye rakh rahe thein apni aap subke saamne."

Sujal shakes his head, glaring Meher in anger.

"Sujal, bahar chalkar dekhte hain.",

suggests Naushad, resting his hand on Sujal's shoulder.

"Haan yahan ka chappa-chappa dhoondh lenge. Aakhir ja kahan sakti hain Kashish.",

says Rajveer knitting his brows.

"Come on guys hurry up.",

says Rajveer.

Together they get out of the place.

●●●●●

They stop abruptly upon noticing Ananya and Sunny there.

"Media! Ye yahan kya kar rahi hai?",

wonders Rajveer.

"Ek kaam kariye, aap sub yahan se chaliye, main inhe sambhalta hoon.",

says Rajveer, gesturing them to walk to the left.

Once assured that they have left safely, Rajveer walks out to deal with the media.

"Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat!",

Ananya goes running to him, holding her mic in her hand.

"Itne saalon ke baad iss hotel ke phirse khulne ke baare mein aap janta se kya kehna chahenge?"

"Kya ye such hai ki ye jagah haunted hai?"

"Aur agar aisa hai to kya isse kaanooni taur par public ke liye open karne ki permission de di gayi hai?"

"Dekhiye abhi main iss baare mein kuch baat nahi kar sakta mujhe ek bohot urgent kaam se nikalna hoga.",

says Rajveer.

Sunny gets a call from Ronnie who informs him about Kashish's disappearance. Quickly ending the call Sunny whispers it into Ananya's ear. Ananya's heart skips a beat hearing that. She immediately asks Rajveer,

"Mrs. Kashish Garewal kahan hain Captain Rajveer?"

Rajveer gets shocked hearing her question.

"Mrs. Garewal ki gumshudgi ke liye aap kisey doshi maante hain Captain Rajveer - Kisi insaan ko ya unki gumshudgi se ye baat spasht ho jaati hai ke itne saalon se log jo atkalein laga rahein the iss hotel ke baare mein wo wakayi mein such hai ke yahan adrishya taakaton ka vaas hai?",

asks Ananya, positioning the mic towards Rajveer.

Rajveer's heart skips a beat hearing Ananya's question.

"Dekhiye ye sub manghadant kahaniyan hain. Yahan koi adrishya taakatein nahi hain. Aur Kashishji jahan kahin bhi hain unhe jald hi dhundh liya jayega. Thank you.",

saying so he excuses himself.

"Magar Sir agar aisa hai to unn sub ghatnao ke baare mein aap kya kahenge jo uss hadse ke baad iss hotel ke aas-paas aaye din hua karti theen?",

asks Ananya, running after Rajveer.

"Kya Kashishji ki gumshudgi se pehle kuch aisa hua tha jo aapne abhi tak humse sanjha nahi kiya?",

asks Ananya.

Rajveer gets nervous hearing that. He doesn't reply and walks away quickly.

"Sir! Sir jawab dijiye.",

Ananya fails to get a reply from him.

Ananya turns to look towards the camera and signs off by saying,

"To abhi-abhi aapne suna Kanchanjunga Military Academy ke Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat ko jo hadbadi mein yahan se nikal gaye. Hum iss khabar ki pal-pal ki jaankari aap tak pohnchate rahenge. Apne cameraman Sunny Singh ke saath main Ananya Kashyap, KKN."

"Damn!",

Ananya curses her luck after Sunny switches off the camera and she switches off the mic.

"Kash thodi aur information mil jaati.",

says Ananya.

●●●●●

"Kashish!",

shouts Sujal every now and then, looking here and there, walking through the road desperately in search of her.

"Kashish!",

shouts Naushad, running to the left side and away from them.

"Kashish!",

shouts Rajveer, running to the right side and away from them.

All three of them try in different places.

Meher and Naina too shout out Kashish's name in search of her, tensed, walking together in quick pace.

"Kahan gayi hogi?",

says Naina, shoving her fingers of right hand into her hair.

"Wahan... wahan poochte hain.",

says Meher.

All of them show Kashish's photos that they have in their respective mobiles to any passerby whom they seek help from.

●●●●●

Kashish walks on an empty road that connects to a forest. She turns left and walks into the forest. The moment she steps inside she feels a sudden shift in the environment. It feels as if the chords that connect her to the main road area has been cut!

The dense forest surrounds her. But instead of getting a protective feeling from it, Kashish gets vibes of danger. This zone isn't a zone for a normal human being to be in. Chills run down her spine when the sound of fast moving air hits her. Her feet stop abruptly, realising that she is trapped! This place does not have an exit! - the thought grabs Kashish hard.

Her rate of heartbeat begins to pick up pace slowly. The temperature of her body begins to rise. It feels as if the cool air is failing to provide her relief even a wee bit.

Kashish looks here and there, rotating her eye balls of widely opened eyes slowly from left to right and right to left. She gulps her saliva to moisten her dried throat - dried out of extreme level of fear.

She rests her left hand on a bark of tree, her eye balls continuously searching for the one she is unable to see.

Suddenly she feels like some insect stung her on her nape. She hisses in pain and takes her hand back to check for any injury. The moment she rubs her three fingers on her nape, she gets shocked upon feeling three scratches! She rubs them again to get assured of their presence. They definitely are there - the three scratches which burns now after her rubbing them. She turns her neck a little to the right, adjusting her neck to ease the pain. Her eyes glued to the ground now. While she was engrossed in feeling the scratches and soothing the pain, few stems of a giant tree standing tall behind her snake down and grabs her hard by her hair.

A loud shrieking shout escapes Kashish's mouth involuntarily. Her eyes widen up out of shock and horror. She moves her legs in the air while being pulled up, trying to set herself free from the hold. The more she shouts, the more her hair gets twisted.

The tantrik she had come here to meet, appears from behind the dense trees in front of Kashish, wearing a black cloak like dress; his white hair reaching below his shoulders. A neckpiece worn by him with a total of hundred beads in the pattern of ☠💀☠💀. His bulging eyes were scary enough for Kashish, the addition of his absolute black attire oozes only negativity and restrictions, scares her further.

Kashish, who is sweating profusely and breathing heavily could no longer hold her tears and begin crying silently. She brings her trembling hands together to form a namaste, requesting the tantrik to show mercy on her.

"Kis kaam se aayi hai tu?",

asks the tantrik, looking up towards Kashish.

Kashish, not in a state to speak anything, crying profusely, indicates towards the tantrik with her shivering right index finger.

"Mujhse milne?",

murmurs the tantrik.

"Dusht aatmaon, jaane do iss masoom bachchi ko.",

shouts the tantrik.

But it seems the spirits had other plans for Kashish!

They hold her tight! Kashish feels suffocated. Her eyes bulge out.

The tantrik tries to pull her towards himself, chanting mantras throughout.
The spirit in the tree pulls her to itself. After a few moments of constant battle, Kashish is suspended in the air upside down, her arms stretched on either sides, as if she is a bird, only that she is not free, but caged!

The tantrik picks up a stick from the ground, chanting mantras throughout. He stares towards Kashish, more like staring at the evil spirit and breaks the stem into two parts.

The moment the stem breaks into two parts, Kashish rolls in the air as if thrown up and lands down. She ends up bruising her left elbow and cries out loud as she feels a sharp pain on her stomach.

The tantrik reaches her quickly and helps her to get up.

"Koi baat nahi beta, tu theek ho jayegi. Aa uth.",

the tantrik speaks soothing and encouraging words to Kashish.

He holds her by her shoulders and takes her to his cave.

Walking into the small cave Kashish notices the place. It was dark with only one light that too blue in colour, turning the place darker.

"Aa baith.",

he offers her to sit on a evenly cut rock, converted into a small table to sit on.

Kashish trembles in fear.

"Darr mat baith.",

he says.

Kashish slowly sits in front of him.

"Main jaanta tha tu zaroor aayegi.",

says the Tantrik, staring Kashish.

Kashish's heart skips a beat and she shoots a glance to him.

'Does he know about her?' - she wonders.

"Ag...ar... aapko ye maloom tha ke main aungi to aapko ye bhi zaroor pata hoga ke main yahan kis liye aayi hoon!",

says Kashish, a little scared.

The taantrik nods his head.

"Baba aapse vinti hai ke aap unn qaid aatmaon ko ab mukt kar dijiye.",

Kashish requests him, folding her hands.

"Wo dusht aatmayein hain. Unhone bure kaam kiye hain. Unki saaza mili hai unhe.",

says the tantrik, angry.

Kashish knits her brows wondering.

"Magar ab unhone apni saza bhugat li hai. Ab kripya aap unhe jaane dein.",

she requests again.

"Tu apni Ma ke prati jo tera moh hai uss mein andhi hokar ye bol rahi hai kanya. Tu nahi jaanti ke agar wo aatmayein meri qaid se mukt ho gayeen to tere liye sankat ka vishaye bann sakti hain wo.",

he warns her.

Kashish widens her eyes in shock.

"Teri zindagi ko tabaah karne ka ek bhi mauka wo nahi chhorengi.",

he adds further.

Kashish's rate of heartbeat picks up fresh pace.

She stares him in horror.

She then remembers Veena. She falls in a dilemma.

(Ek dantaye vidmahe,
vakratundaya dhimahi,
tanno danti prachodayat.) ×3

"Sochle beti, kya tu apni zindagi mein khud iss museebat ko amantrit karna chahti hai?",

asks the taantrik, warning her.

(Ma ga ma ga re ga sa,
ma ga ma ga pa dha pa.) x3

After considering his words, giving it a thought for a while, Kashish with a new determination, replies,

"Haan!"

(Shank tune of 'ek danta' begins)

The taantrik stares her in shock and sadness. Sadness about the fact that she doesn't have idea about what she is giving invitation to - a destruction!

●●●●●

"Theek hai Kashish. Agar tu ne soch liya hai to main bhi dekhna chahunga ke tu unn shaitani taakaton se akele kaise joojhti hai!",

says the taantrik.

Kashish's rate of heartbeat picks up pace. She is inviting the danger into her life, she knows, but she is unable to take her step back.

The taantrik sits straight and sets few logs to fire. He then fists some red powdery stuff - which looks like red chilli powder and puts it into the fire. Kashish widens her eyes when high fumes of fire get generated and die soon.

After the ritual gets over the taantrik declares,

"Hawan sampan hua.",

and looks towards Kashish.

Kashish, holding her breath, asks,

"Iska matlab...."

The taantrik understanding the unsaid, nods his head.

Kashish knits her brows tighter.

Her rate of heartbeat picks up pace. Her brows relaxes out of surprise and she utters,

"Mumma!",

her eyes wide opened.

●●●●●

Tired Kashish commence her journey back to the hotel. Her limbs turned jelly as she feels drained. Her clothes turned dirty.

'Mumma, main aapse shayad ab kabhi mil nahi paungi. Aapko ek baar chhu bhi nahi payi.'

Looking heavenwards, she thinks further,

'Magar main umeed karti hoon ke ab aapki aatma ko mukti mil gyi hai. Ke aap jahan kahin bhi hain, khush hain.'

●●●●●

Soon enough Sujal discovers Kashish walking towards him at a distance.

"Kashish!!!",

Sujal shouts out loud.

His companions who were searching at different directions immediately turn upon hearing Sujal's loud shout. With the level of shock in his shout they realise that he must have discovered her. They run to the direction of Sujal.

"Kashish! Kashish tum theek ho na?",

asks Sujal, checking for any injury, holding her by her upper arms, his eyes wide opened, his rate of heartbeat increased.

Kashish looks into Sujal's eyes. Her eyes turn teary,

"Su...jal... Mumma.... Mumma..."

"Mumma? Mumma kya Kashish?",

asks Sujal, knitting his brows tighter.

Kashish hugs him tight and starts crying,

"Mumma humein chorhkar chali gayin hain Sujal. Mumma humein chorhkar chali gayin."

All others too reach them by now and get shocked hearing Kashish.

"Chali gayin?",

Sujal asks, confused, still holding her.

"Tum... tum ye kya keh rahi ho Kashish?",

asks Sujal, shocked, owing to the fact that Veena is already dead, so what made her to say so now?

"Tum naaraaz mat hona mujhse Sujal. Please naaraaz mat hona.",

Kashish pleads him, crying profusely.

"Hosh mein aao Kashish!",

shouts Sujal.

"Mere paas koi zariya nahi tha unhe bachane ka Sujal. Unhe jaana hi tha. Unhe jaana hi tha!",

cries Kashish.

Sujal cups her face in desperation and asks her to calm down first,

"Shant ho jao Kashish. Shh...!"

Kashish calms down as guided by Sujal.

"Ab batao kya hua hai?",

asks Sujal.

Rajveer and Naushad too get desperate to know.

"Mumma... Mumma aayi theen mujhse milne.",

says Kashish, crying silently.

That comes as a shock for the three of them. Sujal now starts taking it seriously.

"Sujal main such keh rahi hoon. Ye mera veham nahi hai. Please mera yakeen karo.",

pleads Kashish, looking towards Sujal.

Rajveer and Naushad look towards each other, all serious, considering her words.

Sujal nods his head, staring at the infinity. He now takes her seriously.

Before Sujal could ask her anything Ananya and Sunny reach them and Ananya puts forward her question in front of Kashish,

"Kashishji kya aap duniya ko ye batana chahengi ke aapke saath kya hua hai?",

Ananya positions the mic in front of Kashish.

Blood drains out of Kashish's face. She looks towards Sujal who is holding her by her shoulder, wrapping his left arm around her and his right hand resting on his right shoulder.

Sujal gestures them to steer clear their way,

"Dekhiye please humein jaane dijiye."

"Aap itne waqt tak kahan theen Kashish ji?",

asks Ananya.

Sujal gets angry and says,

"Aap samjh kyun nahi raheen? Wo abhi kuch bolne ki haalat mein nahi hai so let us leave!",

he shouts out the last four words.

"Chalo Kashish.",

says Sujal and walks away from them.

After walking a few steps, Kashish stops abruptly, when Ananya throws a question on her,

"Kashishji kya ye such hai ke aapne apni mother-in-law ki aatma ko dekha hai? Unse baatein ki hain?"

Blood drains out of Kashish's face and she turns to look towards Ananya out of shock.

Sujal looks towards Kashish, unable to understand what will be her next reaction, his hold on Kashish loosens a little upon hearing his mother's mention.

Noticing that she could hold Kashish there by her words, Ananya gets encouraged to ask her next question,

"Kya aapko bharosa hai iss baat par ke marne ke upraant bhi aatmayein rehti hain yahan hum subke beech?"

Pushing Sujal's hands away, Kashish, staring Ananya throughout, walks to her and says, her voice increases with each line, out of frustration,

"Main Mumma se mili hoon! Maine Mumma se baat ki hai!"

"Aapko lagta hai main jhoot keh rahi hoon?",

she asks, moving her head a little towards left, but her eyes stuck on Ananya.

"Kashishji hum reporters hain. Humara kaam hai bus kharab humari janta tak pohnchana. Hum aapko judge nahi karenge. Wo kaam hum janta par chhorhte hain.",

says Ananya, very politely, smiling.

Kashish nods her head, accepting her words. Sujal too nods his head.

"Main iss waqt kuch bhi kehne ke haalat mein nahi hoon.",

says Kashish and folds her hands, staring straight into the camera and says,

"Main aapse waada karti hoon ke main jald hi iss baare mein khud saamne aakar baat karungi. Magar abhi mujhe please akela chhorh dijiye."

Ananya feels bad for Kashish, understanding her situation, she nods her head and switches off the mic. Sunny too switches off the camera.

Walking a little towards Kashish, Ananya, sympathetically says,

"I am sorry Kashishji. Main samjhti hoon aap iss waqt kis situation mein hongi. Reporter hone ke naate meri majboori thi ke iss waqt aise haalaat mein bhi aapse questions karne parhein."

Sujal takes a deep breath, his anger leaving his body after listening to Ananya.

Kashish smiles a little and shakes her head, staring Ananya throughout,

"Camera on kijiye! Mic on kijiye!",

Kashish says, confidently.

Sujal gets surprised hearing Kashish.

Ananya signals Sunny to switch on the camera and she herself switches on the mic.

"Nahi Miss....",

she reads Ananya's ID card that she is wearing,

"Ananya",

she pauses briefly and shakes her head, looking into Ananya's eyes,

"Aap nahi samjh sakteen ki main kis cheez se guzri hoon!"

Ananya's heart skips a beat hearing that. Her cheeks turn warm.

"Kyunki paranormal situation se har koi nahi guzarta. Kya aap guzri hain?",

asks Kashish, bluntly.

Ananya cascades her eyes slowly, having nothing to say to that.

"Yein...",

Kashish points towards Sujal, without turning to look at him.

Ananya looks back towards Kashish, staring Sujal through her peripheral vision.

"Mere Pati, jinse zyada achi tarah mujhe koi nahi samjhta, khud yein bhi meri iss baat ko samjh nahi payenge. To aap kya samjhengi!",

says Kashish, mocking at her.

Sujal shivers as guilt washes him. It's true that he might not understand this aspect of Kashish's life, and he was well aware of it, even before Kashish pointed it out bluntly in front of the camera.

Ananya too stands in front of her in state of shock.

"Main aap par ilzaam nahi laga rahi.",

says Kashish.

"Jab tak ki koi isko mehsoos na karle tab tak koi bhi normal insaan...",

Kashish shakes her head and continues,

"Iss par bharosa nahi karega."

"Jis tarah hum subko pata hai bhagwan hain, magar kabhi kisi ne agar ye daawa kar diya ke usne bhagwan ko dekha.... dekha chorhiye, unke maujoodgi ko mehsoos bhi kiya, tab bhi koi uss par bharosa nahi karega. Ussi tarah ek aatma, jinhe ke aap sub alag-alag naam se pukarte hain - bhoot, pret, pisaach aur na jaane kya-kya, ko kisi ne dekha hai, ye baat bhi aapke liye mehz ek mazak hai aur kuch nahi. Aapki nazar mein ye meri aankhon ka dhokha hai! Bus meri aankhon ka dhokha!",

says Kashish, shaking her head, as she utters 'aur kuch nahi'.

Ananya's heart skips a beat as she knows that Kashish ain't saying anything wrong.

"Par mere liye, ye meri zindagi ki ek suchchai hai. Jo mere liye utna hi such hai jitna such mere liye meri saanson ka aana jaana hai!",

says Kashish, confidently.

Looking at the camera, Kashish through it talks to the audience,

"Main iss baare mein baat karungi aap subse jab main iske liye puri tarah taiyaar hongi. Thank you."

And she turns and leaves. Sujal walks with her, holding her by her shoulders.

Ananya stares the retreating figure of Kashish, still in a state of shock.

Getting hold on her emotions, Ananya turns to look towards the camera and reports,

"To abhi-abhi aapne suna khud Mrs. Kashish Garewal ko jinhone ye waada kiya hai ke wo khud camera ke saamne jald hi puri ghatna saajha karengi. Hum samjhte hain ke unhe abhi zaroorat hai apne parivaar aur apno ke saath samay guzarne ki. Isliye hum unhe unke haal par chorh rahe hain iss umeed ke saath ke wo jald se jald iss ghatna ke dushprabhaav se ubhar jayengi. Apne camera man Sunny Singh ke saath, main Ananya Kashyap, KKN."

Once the camera gets switched off, Ananya says,

"Chal!"

Sunny, realising that she is tired, doesn't  dare to ask her anything.

●●●●●

Ananya and Sunny reach a dhaaba, occupy a table and order food for themselves.

"Yaar Ananya kya hua tujhe, tu itni gumsum kyun hai?",

asks Sunny.

"Sunny tujhe kya lagta hai Kashishji such mein mili hongi Veenaji se?",

asks Ananya, looking towards Sunny, her head tilted leftwards, her left elbow resting on her left thigh.

"Yaar Ananya mujhe na inn aatmaon se bohot darr lagta hai!",

Sunny laughs a little while uttering 'aatmaon'.

"To bharosa to hai mujhe ke ye hoti hongi.",

Sunny shares his thoughts with Ananya.

Ananya listens patiently.

"Magar ye Kashish mili hain ke nahi main iss baare mein kuch bata nahi sakta.",

says Sunny, knitting his brows.

"Jitna maine kitabon aur filmon mein dekha hai to aatmayein to subki jaan le leti hain; ya logon ko itna tang kar deti hain ke wo khud apni jaan lene ke liye majboor ho jaate hain. To Kashish agar mili hain to Veenaji ki aatma ne Kashishji ko koi nuksaan kyun nahi pohnchaya? Zinda kaise bachkar aa gayi Kashish?",

asks Sunny, looking towards Ananya.

"Hmm...!",

wonders Ananya.

"Magar kya har aatma buri hoti hai?",

asks Ananya, looking back towards Sunny.

Sunny arches his brows, considering her words, wondering.

Ananya brings out her mobile and searches - 'Do all ghosts harm people?'

After reading a few articles she suddenly develops interest in the paranormal world. Which she didn't develop earlier while she was researching about it, upon being ordered to do so by Kabeer. But now post reading Kashish's expressions and listening to her words, she willingly wants to explore this unknown world and discover the truth, if there lies any, about it.