The Horror Valentine

"This is that bungalow?" Omkara frowned.

"For our one week stay, we can't get the better place!" Ishana, his friend nudged Om.

The matter was that, all the friends had made a plan for Valentine week to be celebrated in Bareilly....A tour plan amid the nature. And for the same... Ishana's uncle Kali Thakur had provided his old Mansion here to them.

"Looks like a haunted Haveli!" Om mumbled while the taxi driver, stared at Om.

"It is really haunted, Saabji! A Thakurain had died here. Her ghost still possess it!" The driver whispered the spooky detail...while Om wanted to just laugh.

Small villages harbour such stories quite interestingly. Om was just joking about it, but the driver here had cooked the story, on the spot.

"Come in Om!" Ishana shouted for him as he paid the driver, hopping inside, coolly....while the driver gulped, praying for the well being of them.

._._._.

Hall

"Since Kali Sir's wedding fifteen years back, this Haveli is closed!" Khanna, the manager informed them, as they discussed for arrangement of party next week.

The other two Oberoi brothers along with Anika and Bhavya were going to join them soon.

"Wedding with Swetlana aunty?" Om asked.

"No!!! Her name was Jahanvi! But the bride had run away and wedding didn't happen." Ishana informed while Om nodded.

"Not run away Ishana babyji, she had died.... by burning alive. And her ghost is still in that upper room!" Khanna explained, while Ishana rolled her eyes.

"Enough story-telling Khanna, go check the water connection in my room!"Ishana dismissed him.

While she looked upstairs at the room which Khanna had explicitly told.... 'to not open'.

"Ishana...!" Omkara knew what his friend was thinking as she grinned wide looking at him.

"Let's rile up Khanna!" She winked and went to unlock the same ghostly room wide, with her 'I don't believe in ghost theory' and....

"Ting-tong!" Om was left alone in the hall when he heard the doorbell, jumping with the sudden sound.

Uff! Such a shrieking doorbell!

Throwing the magazine back, he went to visit the guest...only to find a beautiful lady in pink saree, with pink roses in her soft hands.

Gorgeous!!!

"Hi!" She brought him out of his thoughts, "Myself Gauri! Swetlana's friend!" She introduced herself....

"Oh...I....yeah.... please come in!" Om seemed really mesmerized.

"I wanted to meet Swetlana!" She insisted.

"They haven't reached yet. But you can come in!"

"Are you sure?"

"Of course, please come in Gauri!"

And here was the doom...as she entered inside, putting her left feet ahead, her big beautiful eyes raising to the same room which was opened now....

'Repent time!' She smirked before eyeing Omkara.

"These flowers for the handsome man!" She forwarded it to him, not before putting a kiss on his cheek, "Happy Rose Day darling!" And what followed was.... Om fainting, and next second falling on the floor.

._._._.

8th Feb

"What the hell O, a girl kissed you and you fainted...and now this fever!" His brothers had reached here early morning and when they heard about the incident yesterday they were poking fun of him.

"Guys...I think she was the same ghost which Khanna was talking!" Omkara shared his inkling. But the four of them laughed at him.

"Shut up Om, don't take Khanna seriously." Ishana frowned, "I'll get some hot chocolates for all!" She shared the plan making all agree, while ShivRu and Anika went away to get fresh.

Om was lying on his bed with fatigue and fever. "Ishana...don't add much sugar in my drink, ok?"

She nodded, leaving him alone.

While he closed eyes to take rest. That's when he felt a presence on bed.

His eyes snapped open with shock, surprise and fear...only to find her.

"Yyyou?" He stuttered seeing a sexy Gauri, in a brown saree today, sitting cozily on his bed, so close to him, with a lazy smile, offering him a mug of chocolaty liquid.

"Relax Om, I am harmless to you!" She winked, inching the mug closer to his lips, making his lost self, sip the chocolate, "Happy Chocolate Day!"

But wasn't it the Proposal Day? Seems the poor spirit got confused!!!

As soon as Om felt the perfect hot chocolate taste in his mouth, he came into senses as he gulped the refreshing bittersweet content...simultaneously pushing her hand away.

"You...how...here!" Omkara hadn't seen her coming.

"I am not a human remember!" She winked leaning on him more, while he tried to get away from her.

Damn! He was right about her. Not a human!!!

"Wh...what do you want?" Om had sunk back in mattress, trying to create distance, as they were just millimeters apart...with she hovering over him on bed.

"A little help!"

"Huh?"

"We'll talk tomorrow about it.... for now take rest!" She whispered, as her cool breath fanned his burning face.

Feeling the touch of her pleasantly cool, cottony hands on his forehead, Om felt his body temperature reducing to normal, magically.

"Get well soon darling!" She pecked his forehead, making him close his eyes with her feathery touch, and soon he went into a deep slumber.

._._._.

9th Feb:

A woman...those incidents, Omkara would have never believed it if someone else had told him.

But now when he had seen her with his own eyes....it was maddening him.

And for proof were those bouquet and mug making him believe, that she was not just his imagination.

Removing his t-shirt, he turned the shower in the washroom. Unbelievingly, his fever had reduced.

Maybe after her magical caress!!!!

Whatever....he didn't want to think about that seducing enchantress who had a strong affect on him and his body! Whenever she was in front of him, he would lose his senses....

"Thinking about me?"

Damn! Her seductive voice.

And soon her sinful hands came on him, creeping on his bare wet torso...as she hugged him from behind, feeling his front stout muscles quite passionately beneath her palms.... slowly going from his abdomen to up his chest.

What the hell!

"Gg...gauri!" His voice sound hoarse under her ministrations as she quickly made him turn to face her, pushing his perfect body to the wall behind...turned the shower off and started putting small kisses from crook of neck to down, his chest...his sensitive peaks and then the abs....till the hem of his pant which was all drenched sticking to him like second skin.

F**k! He was getting turned on by a ghost...making out with her! How ridiculous.

Omkara saw her all dried form.....in a sky blue saree...like always sexy and gorgeous.

"Stop!" He shrieked making her stop, from going further down.

His privacy was at stake!!! True that she-ghost could come and go anywhere.... but it was the washroom yaar!!!

Gauri smirked as she came up putting the last peck on his cheek before going a feet away...with their desire filled eyes meeting intensely...

"Why are you behind me?" He whined.

"I have a proposal for you!" She broke the silence, as she turned away from him, "I need revenge and you can help me in it!"

Typical scene of horror movie. Only if this ghost was not a pervert!!!

"Revenge? For what?" He asked.

"You don't need to know that.... just invite that Kali to the valentine party...I'll do the rest!" Her eyes were shining with an evil glint while Omkara was in dilemma what to do.

His brothers were already making fun of him when he talked about her. Seems he had no way but agree to her....

He turned towards her, trying to know the details only to find the washroom empty.

What the!!! She vanished or what? Without hearing his answer?

He looked around only to find his mirror, having a message in bold and creepy red....

"I know you'll say a yes!" He read.

._._._.

10th Feb

"Thanks for this Ishana!" Omkara kept the medium sized teddy on bed, a gift from his friend...

She had gone for the shopping...with others, but Om couldn't join them due to an urgent order of his painting.

"You should have joined us!" Ishana pouted but he shrugged.

"Uh Ishana...why don't you ask Kali Uncle to also join us!" He asked.

"I want to Om! But you know how busy he is!" Ishana pouted, "Anyways, I'll try."Saying so she bid him bye, while Om closed the door of his room.

But as he turned, he got his heart drumming loudly, finding Gauri on his bed, in a yellow saree, her open hair taken to one side of her pretty face, playing with the teddy.

The temptress....!!!

"H...hi!" He spoke, making her look at him smilingly, giving a flying kiss..

He had got used to her naughty antics by now. In fact since yesterday he and his body, both were craving for her...

"Nice teddy!" She told while he nodded slightly, enjoying her excited features.

Ghosts also like teddies???

"You can take it!" He offered.

"As a token of Teddy Day, hun?" She asked mischievously making him chuckle as he ceased the distance between them, coming closer to bed.

"I have something to show you!" He spoke after a minute as he offered her his hand.

She willingly held his palm to clamber out of bed, walking to his canvas, where he removed the sheet, disclosing the painting...

'Gauri catching butterflies...'

For a moment she was speechless, looking at herself on the canvass...but through his eyes...

The blend of yellow and green...while her features portrayed precisely making her smile...as she came ahead, raising her hand to feel it...

"Don't touch it!" He directed... "Colors aren't dried yet!"

She nodded as she turned to face him, hanging her hands around his neck.

"But I can touch you right!" She flirted while he involuntarily blushed, making her giggle...like a sweet melody of fairies.

Putting hands pressingly on his shoulder, Gauri pushed him back on bed, as he fell on his back, while she followed, crawling towards him, straddling him as he felt heaven with her light body weight over his.

He was tracing his body with her finger, seductively... making him smirk as he draped his both hands around her bare waist, pulling her towards him.

Gauri kept her head over his shoulder, playing with his hair now.

Liking the warm feeling of being in arms of each other, they remained like that...for the whole night, with him, her and teddy on bed...

Intimately close, but without any intimate activity, only in the soothing presence of each other, seeing the sweetest dreams all through the night.

._._._.

11th Feb

When the bareilly birds chirped to let the Pardesis know of another day, Omkara woke up with emptiness around him.

He looked around to find himself alone. She had disappeared along with the teddy!!!

How ridiculously strange!!!

He had started liking a ghost for himself! A certified mad he would be declared. But heart didn't have any logic, did it?

It already seemed lost to the She-Ghost!!!

He chuckled... entering the washroom for his morning activities.

._._._.

"Yes Shivaay, it's true!" Omkara tried to make his brothers believe that Gauri existed.

Shivaay had heard Om talking to someone in kitchen. But before he could reach, Gauri had disappeared. Upon being asked Om told them everything.

"If she really existed, then why don't she come in front of us!" Rudy had doubt that it was Om's mind playing tricks. As in last three days they had never encountered any spooky incident.

"Rudra, Shivaay, she might join the party on Sunday. There you can see her...and I'll prove to you that I am not mad!" Saying so Omkara left the brothers with a start while the two of them looked at him in astonishment.

A ghost in party!!!!

._._._.

12th Feb

"Relax om!" Gauri consoled his anger.

They were in his room, sitting in his balcony swing... his legs on her either side, as he back-hugged her.

"They think I am cooking up stories!!!" Om clenched his jaw, thinking his brothers didn't believe him.

Gauri sensed his anger as she turned sideways, now looking at his red angry face...

In a black saree with the usual backless blouse she had her hair tied in a messy braid....

"I have an idea to give them a proof!" She winked, while he frowned.

Soon Gauri ceased the distance between their lips, taking his lower lip to nibble between hers.

The soft light kiss which she initiated, surprised him but soon he sobered up.

Dominating her, he turned it in a passionate hot one, sucking, nibbling, caressing her mouth.... as they parted after a few minutes.... all panting.

"You too need oxygen?" He joked but she didn't answer him as she moved to his sensitive spot on neck, biting him, nibbling him, caress it by tongue.

He hissed with pleasure as she moved away.

"The proof... a love-bite from me!" She whispered trying to get away, leaving him hot and bothered but he didn't let her this time... his eyes showing thirst and desire.

"Gauri... I want you!"

He saw the same passion in her eyes as he pulled her for a lot more than hot kisses, warm hugs, multiple love-bites on her milky skin.

Soon the hooks and buttons opened to get the unique lovers mate this night, the air smelling of their love-making, till the wee hours of next morning.

._._._.

13th Feb

'Swollen lips, multiple hickeys and a permanent blush on cheeks of O!!!'

Rudra was flushed seeing his brother like this. 'Seems my ghost Bhabhi.... is too wild for my innocent brother!'

Bhavya also had reached, equally shocked to know the latest development in life of Om Bhaiyya.

While Anika and Shivaay were also worried waiting for the next day, to actually know the spooky girl.

Surprisingly, Om was very insistent on Kali joining them...and seems his wish be granted tomorrow.

._._._.

14 Feb

Om applied the deo on his nude body, after the shower.... wearing the slim-fitting white shirt... buttoning it up quickly.

A week of his stay in Bareilly had passed.

A memorable week he must say.

The commitment-phobic Omkara Singh Oberoi had fallen in a fast-paced love this week.

Well, it was to happen when his lover was so unique.

But did she also have same feelings for him?

'Of course she has... Gauri also loves me!' He had seen it in her eyes....

But what if she went away to her world, after her revenge tonight?

No.... he won't let her go!!! He would confess his love for her and make her stay with him!!!!

The determination was there in his eyes as he wore the black blazer, tying his hair back, ready for his gorgeous date and love confession!!!

._._._.

After an hour:

Omkara was sitting isolated in a corner in the romantic party.

The couples were dancing, slowly and rhythmically, on a romantic number...while Om's girl was absent... making him gulp the wine gradually.

Although Ishana had asked him for dance but he was too impatient.

And before he could go more uneasy, they heard Kali screaming from his room upstairs.

Kali with his wife had just arrived and were upstairs getting ready for he party.

Om's insistence worked!!

But seems something happened with him...

"Aaaaahhhhhh, no no no!" They could see him coming down the hall....all dishevelled, screaming chillingly....with horrified expressions, as all ran to him.

"Kali Uncle what happened?" Ishana was confused.

"She...she is here!"

"Who???" Shivaay and Rudra decided to climb up.

"No...no...no! Jhanvi is there....she had killed Svetlana...and now...now she will kill me! That mirror... has the message."

The youngsters were confused.

"Jhanvi!" Khanna mumbled making everyone look at him, "I have told you Ishana baby.... to not open that room...now her spirit is back to take revenge for what happened with her!"

Everyone was confused not knowing the whole story, when they saw the lights in hall blinking.... and the drums being played in the background.

"It was same...the same music played that day on Sir's wedding....when we had found her burning!" Khanna elaborated but the young Oberoi brothers rubbished it as they ran upstairs.

Kali had mentioned the death of Svetlana.

In order to check they had to break the door which was locked from inside.

Opening it they found smoke everywhere, and a lifeless body of Svetlana on the floor!!! While the mirror had same red bold message...

"Ready to burn alive Kali? My wait of fifteen years ended today!!!"

._._._.

The happy going party had ruined so badly as there was eerie silence everywhere. To add to it...the power cut making it more eerie.

While the youngsters were bunched around Kali with baited breaths.

Unlike Kali's assumption, Svetlana had just fainted, while they had called the doctor.

"Jhanvi's death was never an accident." Khanna recited the incident of fifteen years ago, "From a poor family, she was chosen by Sir's mother for marriage. But sir didn't want to marry her."

Hence Kali and Svetlana had played this trick. "Yes. We had locked her in room...and burned her alive!" Kali confessed, fear evident on his face.

The gasps and wide eyes were what on everyone's face as they heard it amid darkness and silence. While Om was confused, not getting what the connection was between Jhanvi and his Gauri.

Kali seemed to have understood that his death wasn't away, his head into his palms...sitting beside the unconscious Svetlana.

"Khanna....call the Police. I'll confess everything. Maybe there, I'll stay alive. But this ghost...this ghost will kill me barbarically!"

Kali pleaded but even before he could finish, the large Chandelier from the roof dropped down from the ceiling... falling directly on him...crushing him and Svetlana under the weight...while other remained harmless.

"Chhhhhnnnnnnrrrrrrrrrrrr!" The glass pieces met the floor...and everyone stood up with horror-stricken faces.

"Uncle....Aunty!" The girls screamed while the men quickly dialled the ambulance and Police.

That's when Om's eyes fall on the shadow upstairs.

"Gauri!" He could only think as he ran upstairs.... catching the red pallu of the woman, who was passing by the corridor... in the silk red figure-hugging saree and a high bun...

Feeling herself being stopped, Gauri turned to him, while he was looking at her with unbelievable expressions.

"Gauri... what.... what was that!" He whispered.... not believing that she attempted killing Kali in her revenge.

"Thankyou Omkara! For helping me! I got liberation today... Life for life you know!" She spoke in her wavering emotional voice, while he felt his heart shaking with fear.

"No...no....you are my Gauri....not some Jahanvi right. I...I...!" Om didn't want to accept this, "Come...my brothers.... want to meet you!" He held her hands to drag her downstairs, with tears threatening to spill his eyes.

"I... can't Om! My time is over here...now let me go!" She tried to get herself free from his hold making him look blankly, as his knees went weak, and he came on his knees.

"No...no! Gauri I love you....you can't go!" He held her both palms, trying to keep her stay with him.

While she stared at him in disbelief.... followed by the continuous silent tears from her eyes, hearing his confession and what followed was another faint....but this time it was not Om... but Gauri who fainted in his arms....

._._._.

The had brought unconscious Gauri to hospital where the doctors had recognised her.

While Kali and Swetlana were critically injured...

"She is very well Human!" The doctor asserted and Om didn't know whether to laugh or cry over this.

What the hell was happening? Wasn't she a ghost?

"Mr Oberoi...I know her. Gauri Sharma...an inmate of the mental asylum!" They were in doctor's cabin, who offered to explain the shocking news. "Some fifteen years ago...at the age of ten she had lost her mental balance."

"Hell!" Rudra sighed.

"Two weeks ago she had run away from our asylum. In fact when I saw her in the morning like that...even I was shocked."

"How... she...she was completely fine doctor!" Om was feeling dizzy of this information.

"She has split-personality disorder. Sometimes she impersonates herself as Jahanvi...her elder sister!"

"Huh?"

"Jahanvj had lost her life in her own marriage fifteen years ago. Seeing the death of her sister, Gauri got affected badly!"

Anika and Bhavya were so disheartened to know that such a beautiful girl had this fate.

"When she would think herself as Jhanvi, the revenge would be the only word in her mind!" The doctor continued...

"It might be possible that she had seen what Kali and Swetlana did with his siter..." It might have affected that child mind of her that time. "Coincidentally she got a chance to run away the same time...and she might have reached there." Bhavya guessed.

"And when she saw Kali's Mansion open... she thought herself of taking revenge!" The Police Inspector who was accompanying them added.

While Om could remember how perfectly she had maintained her secrecy, and then her appearance.... like ghosts do....

But Om was relieved that Gauri was very well a human. Of course.... he could touch her... feel her... then how the hell she could be paranormal.

Sheeeh...what a fool he was!

"She planned everything alone!" Shivaay posed the doubt.

"Gauri is not completely mad. Most of the time she is very well normal." Om nodded on this. Even he never get a doubt, "In fact she has completed her education... got an MBA. She is also very fond of reading..." The asylum warden elaborated.

"Though we insisted on ROMANTIC novels but sometimes she would take genres of HORROR or THRILLER stealthily...where she might have learnt all this!"The doctor shrugged.

That explains! She was really a mix of romance, horror and thriller.

"Her relatives?"

"After Jhanvi...none close. She was in an orphanage...which later got her admitted to us!"

"I still can't believe it!" Rudra shook his head.

"Our investigation also got unbelievable things." Inspector spoke, "Mr Omkara... the spare keys of Mansion and other bedroom... Gauri had stolen from him."Police got her fingerprints there. "And then that smoke... Chandelier...the power off... that music...she had all planned it, hiding in your room..."

While he believed that she was not a human!!!

"And her food, clothes, money...from where did she get it?" Anika asked.

"Neighbours!" Inspector was amused, "We got to know that the neighbours noticed some minor thefts. Like a few sarees, make-up things, grocery and also cutlery from kitchen." But not major enough to inform police.

While at night...she was at Mansion...with Omkara!

"Possible." The doctor was with them, "In the condition she was, it is possible that she did such impossible tasks.... There were many cases when patients do crimes even without their own knowledge!"

"My Gauri is not criminal!" Om quickly offered....not liking the word even a bit...while his brothers calmed him...

This time getting Gauri well was the big challenge. Other things might wait.

"Miss Gauri had got the consciousness!" Soon the nurse informed.

._._._.

"I....I can't remember anything!" Gauri was irritated by so many people hovering over her....and asking questions.

"Gauri?" Om who was just silent spectator till now, now took her name... making her look at him.

And her eyes brightened up, as if she realized something.

"Did you also forget me Gauri?" He neared her, sitting beside her, cupping her face lovingly... while Shivaay beckoned everyone to leave the two alone.

"Who...who are you?"

The moment couldn't be worst for Om who felt his life being snatched in that moment. He didn't know how to make her understand...but she herself asked.

"That painter?" She asked...and a ray of hope ignited for Om.

"You have also gifted me a teddy, haina?" Gauri now smiled while Om nodded vigorously, grinning ear to ear as he just hugged her close to his chest...overwhelmed with emotions and tears.

"Yes...your Omkara, Gauri! Your valentine!"

He knew that she won't forget him. How could she....when they had spent the most loving moments with each other!!!

Maybe they hadn't celebrated the promise day last week. But now...this very moment he promised to himself.... that he would get her Gauri fit and fine....

"Om...?" She spoke as if hearing the first time, though feeling comfortable and familiar in his arms...as if she belonged there.

"You'll be alright Gauri. And even if you didn't.... I am accepting you as what you are...." He promised her....

While her soft palms engulfed him closer, though innocently this time...

But who knows.... that day might not be away when Gauri would be back to her minx avatar.... just like the way she had celebrated the Valentine Day and Valentine Week with her Om!!!