"Rajveer Sir ab bus aap bache hain. Aapke paas bhi koi kahani ho to suna dijiye.",

smiles Huda.

Rajveer smiles, cascading his eyes. Taking a brief pause he says,

"Abhi jab hum subne kahani se break liya tha tab meri aur Naina ki baat ho rahi thi..."

Naina gets alert hearing that, where is he going with this?

"...to Naina mujhe keh rahi thi ke -

Marne ke baad ke safar ke baare mein kise yaad rehta hai!",

Rajveer smiles a little, sarcastically.

Looking towards Naina, all serious, he says,

"Yaad rehta hai!"

All of them knit their brows respectively.

Every faculty member including Brigadier Chandok takes leave occasionally to go and meet their respective families. But never has Rajveer taken leave with a reason to meet his relatives. It's true that all know he doesn't have any relative other than Lala Gehlot, whom of course he won't meet now after everything about him got revealed in front of Rajveer but everyone is well aware of the fact that Rajveer owns a house in Delhi and has a few friends too who reside around his house. But despite all that Rajveer never visits his house.

One fine day when Dr. Shalini found him gloomy, proposed him to take her to his house, she thought this trip would change his mood. It did change his mood when he heard the proposal but in a way that Dr. Shalini hadn't anticipated! Rajveer immediately turns to look at her, his expression stating his state of horror and immediately he said,

"Nahi!"

The short and negative reply along with his state of horror came as a surprise for Dr. Shalini. She knit her brows in astonishment.

Dr. Shalini did try to ask him the reason but he made it sure that he doesn't spill anything in front of her even by mistake. Not that he doesn't trust her but because he doesn't want to drag her into all this! Dr. Shalini finally gave up on her futile tries to get the fact out of him.

Maybe tonight is the night when finally Dr. Shalini's queries will be met by Rajveer.

●●●●●

"Hi! Tushar!",

Tushar extends his hand in front of Kashish, bearing a smile on his face.

Kashish stares him with nothing but displeasure and confusion.

Kashish slowly extends her hand and shakes hand with him, keeping her brows knit throughout. Her look of displeasure and confusion change to shock all of a sudden upon holding his hand. She keeps staring him for a brief moment followed by immediate removing of her hand out of his hold, as if out of reflex action!

"Yahin paas hi mein ghar hai iska.",

says Veena, smiling.

"Ahmm.... matlab main yahan rehta nahi bus kabhi kabhi aa jaata hoon.",

clarifies Tushar, smiling.

"Well, bohot acha karte ho. It's so peaceful here.",

smiles CG.

Tushar smiles back.

"Isse milo ye hai Kashish. Bilkul humari beti ki tarah hai ye.",

introduces CG, smiling, looking towards Kashish.

Veena holds Kashish by her upper arms from behind and looking towards her, rectifies CG,

"Beti ki tarah nahi beti hi hai ye humari."

Kashish finally tears her gaze from Tushar and turns to look towards Veena and smiles.

"Aao baithe.",

smiles Veena and walk them towards the sitting area.

"Bohot yaad aa rahi thi tumhari Kashish.",

says Veena, fondly, whilst occupying her seat along with others.

Smiling, Kashish holds Veena's hands, sitting next to her and says,

"Aapko jab bhi meri yaad aaye aap mujhe bejhijhak apne paas bula liya kijiye. Main aa jaungi bus ek phone call ki duri par hoon main."

Veena and CG smile out of love for Kashish.

"To Mr. Tushar kya karte hain aap?",

Kashish hesitates neither to directly look towards him, who is sitting in front of her across the centre table, next to CG nor questioning him, faking a smile.

But it does skip Tushar's heartbeat.

After a brief moment of surprise, Tushar tells her,

"Mera raw materials ke import-export ka kaam hai."

Kashish nods her head in slow motion thrice, staring him throughout, all serious.

Tushar smiles a little.

"Bohot samman deta hai humein. Abhi-abhi miley hain hum aur milte hi isne humein apna bana liya.",

smiles Veena.

Nothing about Tushar, uttered by Veena and CG, impresses Kashish.

"Aap inse kaise... judi hui hain?",

asks Tushar, hesitantly, smiling.

Kashish blushes out of hesitation and anger towards Tushar. She didn't want him to bring up this topic but hell here it is!

Smiles fade away from Veena's and CG's faces respectively.

"Matlab kya rishta hai aapka inse?",

clarifies Tushar.

Kashish looks away slowly, wondering how to reply to that.

Kashish creases her brows and feels a lump building up in her throat and she slowly looks towards Veena.

"Sujal ke jaane ke baad kabhi isne humein Sujal ki kami mehsoos hone nahi di."

Kashish and Veena keep staring each other.

"Meri bahu nahi bann saki to kya hua, beti to humesha rahegi.",

says Veena, confidently.

Kashish's eyes well up hearing her and she cascades her eyes, controlling her emotions.

Veena understands that Kashish is getting emotional and so does she herself, hence she immediately distracts herself and Kashish by smiling and telling about Tushar to Kashish,

"Aur Kashish, yahan aakar humse iss ghar ka taala khul nahi raha tha tab Tushar yahin se guzar raha tha humein pareshan dekhkar humari madad ki. Jo saaman laye the wo bhi ghar ke ander rakhwaane mein bohot madad ki isne."

Kashish stares Tushar out of anger.

Turning to look towards Tushar, smiling, Veena says,

"Bohot pyara bachcha hai ye mera."

Tushar smiles back at Veena.

Kashish looks away, almost like rolls her eyes at Veena's statement, which goes unnoticed by all of them.

"Aap sub baatein kijiye. Main aap subke liye chaye banakar laati hoon.",

smiles Veena and leaves for kitchen.

CG and Tushar indulge in a conversation. Kashish, feeling suffocated being around Tushar, gets up and begins checking different articles - magazines, show pieces anything and everything randomly.

"Bahar ka mausam kitna bigad gaya hai.",

says Tushar, looking out of the window, sitting at his place.

"Arey Tushar tumhe to kaam se bahar jaana tha na aaj?",

asks Veena from the kitchen.

Kashish looks up from the magazine she was reading, hearing Veena, standing around the magazine holder, her back turned towards Tushar and CG, her brows knit together.

"Ji aunty magar mausam kharab hone ki wajah se nahi ja paya.",

replies Tushar.

"Acha. Tum keh rahe the na ke tum apne dost ke saath jaa rahe ho kaam ke silsile mein. Main wohi soch rahi thi mausam itna kharab hai kaise jaoge. Phir tabiyat na kharab ho jaye.",

says Veena.

"Ji!",

replies Tushar.

"Kya naam bataya tha tumne apne dost ka?",

asks Veena.

"Aunty, Swayam!"

Kashish widens her eyes in utter shock. Did she hear him right? Her whole body burns out of anger and shock upon hearing his name. She immediately turns to look towards Tushar, who remains unaware of her eyes on him.

Is he talking about Swayam Shergil? - she wonders!

"K... kon Swayam?",

asks Kashish, keeping her increase rate of breath under control.

"Swayam Shergil! Dost hai mera.",

replies Tushar, taking her by shock.

●●●●●

"Delhi mein mera ek ghar hai.",

says Rajveer.

That comes across as a surprise for all of them.

"Aapka ghar? Apun ko laga aapka ghar ye academy hi hai.",

says Alekh, knitting his brows.

Smiling, Rajveer says,

"Ye such hai Cadet Alekh ke ye academy hi ab mera ghar hai.",

and looks up towards the ceiling, a gesture of seeing and feeling the whole academy as his home.

"Magar yahan as a teacher appoint hone se pehle main Delhi mein rehta tha. Kareeb 6 maheene main uss ghar mein raha.",

says Rajveer.

Turning and looking towards Alekh, he says,

"Magar yakeen maano ek pal bhi chain se nahi reh paaya main wahan."

"Kyun Sir? Aisa kya hua tha?",

asks Naina, concerned.

Rajveer looks towards Naina and says,

"Wo ghar waise bohot comfortable hai sub kuch hai wahan siwaye.... sukoon ke!"

All of them quiver, hearing that wondering what might be the reason of his saying so!

"Wahan jab main rehta tha to aye din meri tabiyat kharab rehti thi. Har pal sir mein ek bhaaripan mehsoos karta tha. Main iss tarah frequently bimar usse pehle kabhi nahi parha tha.",

says Rajveer.

All of them listen to him with grave interest

"Mera ghar ek sunsaan ilake mein hai. Jab maine wo ghar liya tha to aas-paas construction ka kaam chal raha tha to mujhe laga shayad construction khatam hone ke baad log aane lagenge aur waise bhi main ghar par kam hi rehta tha to mujhe neighbors ke hone na hone ki kabhi zyada chinta nahi hui."

They nod their heads.

"Khair construction khatam hone mein zyada waqt nahi laga. Magar construction purey hone ke kuch waqt guzarne ke baad bhi wahan zyada log rehne nahi aaye. Aur jo aaye bhi to wo sub newly marrieds ya bachelors the, sub mostly ghar se bahar hi rehte the. Main bhi kaam ki wajah se late ghar jaata tha to kisise milna-julna hua nahi mera.",

says Rajveer.

"Wo ghar mujhe kaafi reasonable rate mein mil gaya tha. Delhi mein sahi rate mein ghar milna bohot mushkil baat hai. Main khush tha. Magar jab main wahan rehne laga tab pata chala kam daam mein itna acha ghar paane ki wajah!"

"Oye kya wajah thi Rajveer puttar?",

asks Suriji, his eyes widened.

"Wo ghar kisi buri aatma ke vash mein tha Suriji!",

exclaims Rajveer, staring Suriji, opening his eyes wide.

Suriji widens his eyes and exclaims,

"Kya!"

"You mean haunted?!",

asks Yudi.

Rajveer turns to look towards Yudi and nods his head in affirmative.

All others too get shocked.

"Main uss ghar mein ek raat bhi chain se so nahi paya.",

says Rajveer.

"Kyun? Kya hota tha?",

asks Naina, curious.

"Har pal najane kyun mujhe aisa lagta tha jaise koi mujhpar nazar rakh raha ho!",

says Rajveer, irritated, as he remembers the feeling.

"Ghar ke arrangements mein main kuch chhote-mote changes karta rehta tha. Magar changes karne ke kuch der baad hi mujhe sub kuch waisa hi milta tha jaise pehle rakha hua tha."

Pooja widens her eyes hearing that.

"Aisa lagta tha maano koi hai wahan jise mera uss ghar mein kuch bhi badalna pasand nahi aa raha."

Huda widens his eyes and arches his right brow.

"Raat ko mujhe jaldi sone ki aadat thi, koi tha nahi baat-waat karne ke liye isliye jaldi so jaata tha. Magar laakh koshish karne par bhi mujhe neend nahi aati thi.",

says Rajveer.

"Agar wajah bataunga to shayad aap subko yakeen na ho meri baat par!",

says Rajveer.

That increases the rates of heartbeats of all of them and turns them all the more curious.

"Kya wajah thi Captain?",

asks Dr. Shalini.

Knitting his brows, Rajveer says,

"Ajeeb-ajeeb baatein mere dimag mein aane lagi theen."

"Kaisi baatein Sir?",

asks Ali.

"Kuch aisi baatein jo usse pehle maine kabhi nahi sochi thi. Aur sochunga bhi kyun, mera interest hi nahi tha unn baaton mein.",

says Rajveer.

"Magar kya baat theen wo Sir?",

asks Pooja.

"Yahi ke marne ke baad bhi kya hum koi safar taye karte hain bhagwan tak pohnchne ke liye?",

says Rajveer, looking towards Pooja.

Naina straightens up further, her face depicts her state of shock.

Rajveer looks towards Naina and nods his head in affirmative and says,

"Haan Naina, yahi soch mujhe pareshan karne lagi thi."

"Maut ke baad ka rehsya! Iss baare mein sub kuch jaanne ki utsukta meri din-ba-din barhti ja rahi thi.",

says Rajveer.

"Magar main ye chahta nahi tha. Matlab mera dil jaise kehta ho ke main iss baare mein aur jaanu aur dimag jaise mujhe samjhata ho ke mujhe inn baaton mein nahi ulajhna chahiye.",

he says.

All of them stare him, shocked.

Turning to Dr. Shalini he asks,

"Dr. Shalini aapko yaad hai ek din aap mujhe aapko apne ghar le jaane ke liye keh raheen theen?"

Dr. Shalini immediately remembers the incident he is pointing towards.

One fine day when Dr. Shalini found him gloomy, proposed him to take her to his house, she thought this trip would change his mood. It did change his mood when he heard the proposal but in a way that Dr. Shalini hadn't anticipated! Rajveer immediately turns to look at her, his expression stating his state of horror and immediately he said,

"Nahi!"

The short and negative reply along with his state of horror came as a surprise for Dr. Shalini. She knits her brows in astonishment.

Dr. Shalini did try to ask him the reason but he made it sure that he doesn't spill anything in front of her even by mistake. Not that he doesn't trust her but because he doesn't want to drag her into all this! Dr. Shalini finally gave up on her futile tries to get the fact out of him.

All of them look towards Dr. Shalini in shock.

Dr. Shalini nods her head in slow motion wondering what is he about to say.

"Tab maine aapko mana kar diya tha ghar le jaane ke liye. Mere mana karne ke peeche yahi wajah thi ke wo ghar... wo ghar insaano ke rehne ke liye safe nahi hai."

Dr. Shalini widens her eyes staring Rajveer throughout.

"Personally mujhe koi nuksan nahi pohnchaya gaya. Magar main aapko ya academy se kisi ko bhi wahan le jaane ka risk kabhi nahi le sakta tha.",

says Rajveer.

"To aapne wo ghar chorh kyun nahi diya?",

asks Naina, anxious.

"Kyunki achanak aatmaon ke baare mein jaanne ki utsukta mere ander ghar kar gayi thi.",

says Rajveer, looking towards Naina.

"Main mehsoos kar paata tha ke wahan koi hai. Main jhoot nahi kahunga - pehli baar jab mehsoos kiya to mujhe darr bhi laga. Magar jald hi mujhe iss baare mein aur janne ka mann karne laga. To darr kahin na kahin khatam hone laga.",

says Rajveer, all of them nod their heads.

"Research karne par mujhe planchet ka pata chala."

All of them widen their eyes.

"Maine planchet karne ki koshish bhi ki. Magar saare arrangements karne ke baad meri himmat hi nahi hui ke main ye karun.",

he says.

All of them witness the other side of their Rajveer Sir today! The one who is timid but this timidness comes from something supernatural, so none takes it as his failure!

"Kayi baar raat ko jab main ghar mein ghusta to mujhe kisi aurat ke rone ki aawaz aati!",

reveals Rajveer.

All of them quiver imagining the situation where Rajveer walks into the house all alone and hears the crying of an unknown woman when he knows that it is only him occupying the house.

"To aapne jaanne ki koshish nahi ki ke kon hai?",

asks Pooja, curious.

"Pura ghar chhaan mara... koi nahi tha!",

says Rajveer, shaking his head, staring Pooja.

All of them stare him in silent.

"Aur aisa bhi nahi hai ke aawaz bus ek kamre se aati thi. Jahan se aawaz aati thi wahan jaane par aawaz kisi aur kamre se aane lagti thi. Matlab uss aawaz tak pohnchne ka koi raasta nahi tha, koi nahi!",

he stares them in horror.

"Main kyun marne ke baad ke safar ke baare mein sochne laga tha mujhe nahi pata! Main kyun uss ghar mein kisi ko mehsoos kar paata tha mujhe nahi pata! Mujhe to uss ghar se chale jaana chahiye tha magar achanak kyun meri diljaspi inn sub baaton mein aa gayi main kuch nahi janta."

All of them wonder what could be the reason!

"Ek roz main inhi sub cheezon ke baare mein parh raha tha jab maine mehsoos kiya ke koi mere paas aakar sofe par baitha hai!"

Ali widens his eyes out of shock.

"Maine murhkar dekha to koi nahi tha." ,

says Rajveer.

"Mujhe ek kamre se jo main zyada use nahi karta tha wahan se kuch aawazein aane lagin."

"Kaisi aawazein?",

asks Alekh in horror.

"Band darwaaze ke peeche se kuch khiskane ki aawazein. Jaise room ko koi theek se arrange kar raha ho.",

says Rajveer.

"Aur ye aawazein aam tor par der raat ko aati theen!"

All of them stare him shocked, quivering in horror.

"Maine bohot koshish ki uss darwaaze ko kholne ki magar somehow uss room ki chaabi mujhe kahin nahi mili! Mujhe ye bada ajeeb laga. Aam tor par sari chaabiyan ek saath hi rakhi hoti theen, magar wahan iss room ki chaabi nahi thi.",

says Rajveer, perplexed.

"Ek aur din ki baat hai maine tab tak ek helper ko rakh liya tha. Usey pata nahi kyun aisa laga ke main apne kamre mein tha, jabki main usse bolkar gaya tha ke main bahar ja raha hoon!",

says Rajveer, staring them, keeping his brows knit.

"Mere wapas lautne par wo chaunk kar mujhe dekhne laga. Aur usne ye purey bharose ke saath kaha ke usne mujhe smoke karte hue dekha tha apne room mein ek chair par baithkar. Jabki aap sub jaante hain...",

he pauses for a brief moment before he continues,

"...main smoke nahi karta!",

Rajveer gauges their expressions of disbelief and horror!

Everyone present there quivers hearing Rajveer.

"Main samjh chuka tha ke koi hai jisey ki sirf main hi nahi mera helper bhi mehsoos kar pa raha hai. Aur ab waqt aa gaya hai ke wo jo koi bhi hai uski kahani khatam ki jaaye.",

says Rajveer.

"Mera ghar fourth floor par hai.",

says Rajveer.

"Jaise ke maine pehle hi bataya tha ke zyada log nahi rehte mere aas-paas, to mere floor mein ek ya do (2) families aur hain. Wo bhi mere exact neighbors nahi hain. Mere exact saamne jo ghar hai wo to khali hai."

All of them listen to him silently.

"Saamne waala ghar humesha locked hi rehta hai.",

says Rajveer.

"Ek raat main neeche tehl raha tha ke achanak meri nazar mere pados ke ghar mein parhi aur maine wahan ek aurat ko khada dekha."

All of them arch their brows respectively hearing that.

"Wo mujhe hi dekh rahi thi!"

Naina quivers hearing that for some peculiar reason. This is not out of possessiveness she is sure!

"Dekhte hi dekhte... meri... meri ankhon ke saamne wo aurat... wo aurat gayab ho gayi!",

exclaims Rajveer in horror.

That skips the heartbeats of each of them.

"What???!!!",

all of them exclaim in non-uniform intervals.

"Darr ke maare main wohin khada hua ussi ghar ki aur dekhte hue usse dhundhne laga. Achanak mujhe aabhas hua ke wo aurat... wo aurat meri balcony mein khadi hui hai!",

Rajveer gets them at the edge of their seats by his words.

"Maine turant peeche murhkar dekha meri ghar ki aur (towards)...",

all of them fail to hold their breath even out of fear, such was the level of their horror at the moment.

"Wo... wo mere saamne hi thi!",

Rajveer stares them with his eyes opened wide.

They stare him speechless!

"Mere to rongte khade ho gaye.",

says Rajveer.

"Main... main jaise-taise lift ki aur (towards) bhaaga aur ander jaakar fourth floor ka button dabaya."

Heartbeats of each of them race against each other the moment Rajveer said 'main lift ki aur bhaaga!'

"Lift chalne lagi magar fourth floor par pohnchkar main intezaar karta raha lift ke khulne ka magar lift nahi khuli balki wo 5th phir 6th phir 7th floor se guzarti hui 8th floor par aakar thami!"

Huda stares him shocked.

"Jab lift ke thamne ke baad bhi lift nahi khuli to mere paseene chhotne lage. Maine tabhi achanak bahar se kuch haathon ko lift ka darwaaza peet-te hue suna. Maine unke bolne ki aawaz sunne ki koshish ki magar koi kuch nahi bol raha tha bus lift ka darwaza peet-te ja rahe the wo. Maine unse madad ke liye guhaar bhi lagayi magar koi faida nahi hua."

Naina's eyes well up feeling his pain - the helplessness he must have felt at that moment.

"Jab main almost haar maan chuka tha, tab achanak lift khuli!"

A little smile of relaxation appears in each of his listener's face which vanishes as soon as he utters the next few words,

"Mere saamne wohi aurat khadi thi jisse maine unn dono gharon mein dekha tha!"

All of them shake their heads in disbelief!

"Wo kisi bhi angle se normal nahi lag rahi thi. Abnormal... matlab jaise wo iss duniya ki ho hi na!",

he states in horror.

"Wo pehli baar tha jab mujhe mehsoos hua ke main kuch paranormal dekh raha hoon; mehsoos kar raha hoon!",

he says.

"Matlab aapko pehle se vishwas tha iss baat par ke paranormal bhi kuch hota hai?",

asks Naina out of curiosity.

Rajveer nods his head in affirmative staring her.

Naina gets surprised hearing that. She quivers! The one she took to be too practical to believe in all these stuffs believes in it, she didn't know all this time or else she would have shared her story with him long time ago, she realises.

"Maine bohot koshish ki ke lift band ho jaaye magar aisa lag raha tha maano koi adrishya shakti usey band hone nahi de rahi!"

"Mujhe kuch soojh nahi raha tha siwaye ye ke main kisi tarah wahan se bhaag jaun! Maine phir wohi kiya - main lift se nikalkar bhaagne laga building se neeche utarne ke liye.",

says Rajveer.

The pace of their heartbeats increases further.

"Behaal main neeche pohnchkar ek aadmi se takraya!"

All of them get curious to know what happened next.

"Meri haalat dekhkar usne mujhe paani diya aur poocha ke kya hua hai; main kyun itna dara hua hoon. Tab maine usse puri baat batayi.",

says Rajveer.

"Puri baat batayi magar ye nahi bataya ke main konse ghar mein rehta hoon!"

"Mere ghar ka address usne mujhe bataya!",

he emphasizes on 'usne'.

All of them get shocked!

"Mere ghar ka address darr ke maare ek pal ke liye main bhool gaya, magar wo jisse main pehli baar mil raha tha usse mere ghar ka address mere bina kahe hi pata tha!"

That comes as a surprise for all of them.

"Main usse dekhta raha. Samjh hi nahi aa raha tha ke kya kahun main. Tab usne mujhe bataya ke wo ghar jahan maine uss aurat ko dekha tha wo shapit hai! Aur sirf wo ghar hi nahi mera ghar bhi haunted hai!"

All of them quiver hearing that.

"Isliye jis floor mein main rehta hoon uss floor par jaane se sub darte hain.",

says Rajveer.

"Mujhe tab yakeen ho gaya ke main jo kuch bhi uss ghar mein mehsoos kar raha tha uske peeche wajah yahi hai!"

"Mujhe wo ghar khali karna tha magar ussi dauran mujhe academy join karne ka letter aa gaya. Yahan aane se pehle kuch kaam the jo mujhe purey karne the uss chakkar mein mera ghar bechna aur shift karna reh gaya. Waise bhi mujhe iss baat ki tassali thi ke mostly to KMA mein hi rahunga. Baad mein aakar kabhi iss ghar ko bechne ka kaam bhi kar lunga. Magar wo aaj tak hua nahi.",

sighs Rajveer.

All of them stare him sad.

"Ye sub hone ke baad bhi main wohin ruka. Kuch nahi hua sub kuch shant raha. Isse mujhe himmat mili ke main shayad kuch din aur reh sakta hoon. Iss ghar ko khali karne ke liye bhi kuch formalities theen wo puri karni thi. Aur phir main jata bhi kahan?"

"Tabhi achanak ek raat mujhe mere saamne wale ghar se kuch bartano ke girne ki aawaz aane lagi. Bahar jaakar dekha to saamne wale ghar ke darwaaze par taala laga hua tha. Magar ander se logon ke baat karne ki aawaz aa rahi thi."

All of them again widen their eyes.

"Mere saamne waale ghar mein to koi rehta hi nahi tha, to bartan wahan hone ka koi matlab hi nahi hota! Aur ye baat karne ki aawaz kiski? Kon tha?"

"Mujhe turant uss aurat ke gayab hone waali baat yaad aa gayi!"

Rajveer's heart beats at a tremendous speed.

"Maine jaise-taise sarey paper works KMA ke jo mujhe karne the yahan aane se pehle wo kiye aur yahan aa gaya. Yahan aakar itna busy ho gaya ke uss ghar ko bechne ki baat mere dimag se nikal gayi. Magar ab main jald hi uss ghar ko ussi ko wapas de dunga jisse khareeda tha wo ghar maine.",

says Rajveer.

"Maine yahan aakar uss ghar ke baare mein research kiya. Aur research karne par pata chala ke inn buildings ke banne se pehle ye ek hotel hua karta tha jahan ki ek aurat ka khoon ho gaya tha. Wo wohi aurat thi. Khooni kabhi pakda na jaa saka. Controversies ke chalte uss hotel ko band kar diya gaya. Koi bhi uss hotel ko kya uss jagah ko hi lena nahi chahta tha. Iss wajah se court ki taraf se iss hotel ko girane ke orders aa gaye. Uss hotel ki jagah ye buildings bani.",

says Rajveer.

"Subko laga ke sub kuch naya hai ab to ab kisi ko kisi pret aatma, bhoot se darne ki zaroorat nahi. Magar afsoos ye daawa galat nikla!"

That skips the heartbeats of all.

All of them stare him all serious.

Turning to look towards Naina he says,

"To ab tum ye batao agar yaad nahi rehta kisi ko marne ke baad kuch bhi, to kya aaj hum sub ye kahaniyan suna rahe hote? Wo aatmayein jinhe hum subne alag-alag mehsoos kiya wo wahan kyun theen?",

he asks.

All of them keep staring Rajveer.

"Isiliye kyunki unhe yaad rahi marne se pehle ki baatein. Jiska badla lene wo yahan Prithvi par bhatakti raheen. Aur aise najaane kitni aatmayein yahan hongi jinhe hum dekh nahi paate isliye hum unse darte bhi nahi! Magar kya iska matlab ye hai ke wo hain nahi?",

smiles Rajveer.

"Wo hain! Bus humein nahi dikh raheen!",

he concludes.

All of them ponder over his words and look around in fear of the invisible.

●●●●●

Veena calls Kashish into the kitchen for help,

"Kashish zara aana to."

Kashish gets up and leaves for kitchen.

Soon they walk out of the kitchen - Veena, holding the tray filled with bread slices and a bowl containing butter; and Kashish carrying a tray having tea cups in it filled with tea.

"Ye lo chaaye.",

smiles Veena, placing the tray on the center table and takes her seat.

Kashish too places the tray she was carrying, on the table and remains standing there.

Veena picks up a piece of bread and realises that she isn't carrying knife to spread the butter on the bread, hence she asks Kashish to get the knife,

"Kashish zara table se knife laana."

She turns to look towards the dining table in search of the knife.

"Kahan hai Aunty?",

asks Kashish.

"Wahan fruit basket mein hoga dekhna zara.",

says Veena.

Kashish walks to the dining table and checks the fruit basket. She finds it right there. As soon as she was about to pull the knife out of the apple, she stops abruptly and quivers as she realises that this is the exact image of the situation that flashed in front of her eyes earlier!

The windows get pushed open by the strong wind blowing outside. Kashish immediately removes her hand from the knife and takes backward steps to check the resonation of the position of everything with everything she witnessed in her dream! She gets shocked and quivers as she realises that this is the same basket and the same knife. The position of the knife and the fruits in the basket. Everything perfectly resonates with the flash.

First, she realised upon shaking hands with Tushar that he is not unfamiliar to Sujal but still acting to be a stranger to him and his family! What is the need of his doing so? Why is he not telling them that he knew Sujal? And how? How did they know each other? Now second, the arrangements at Sujal's this house resonate with the flash she got! Both of it cannot be just a coincidence! Followed by third coincidence, if it is, that Tushar and Swayam are friends! Kashish looks towards the knife holding it upright in front of her eyes.

After a brief moment where in her mind she goes through everything she felt after losing Sujal staring the knife throughout, Kashish realises she needs to keep her emotions of shock and panic under control especially in front of Tushar as she realises that he has something to do with Sujal's case!

And suddenly it clicks to her - the tarot cards which she misinterpreted as Swayam being Sujal's murderer; it actually was pointing towards Swayam having connection with Sujal's murderer, and deep connection, she misread it! And now she is sure that Swayam knows about Tushar being the murderer of Sujal! She stares the knife again, this time realising Tushar as Sujal's murderer! Visualizing Tushar murdering Sujal!

She realises this too that Tushar hasn't caused harm to Sujal's parents. This means if she stays quiet and calm he would not cause them harm further too. She needs to get out of this place to think properly about what must she do now. But is it really safe to leave them with Sujal's murderer? She falls in dilemma. Her heart says it's safe as he hasn't caused any harm to them till now; and her mind warns her from doing so - what if he is just seeking the right moment to cause them harm and maybe tonight is that moment! Kashish quivers as this idea enters her mind and as reflex action a reply escapes her mouth,

"Nahi!!",

in horror.

"Kashish? Kahan kho gayi. Lao beta jaldi.",

calls out Veena, dragging Kashish out of her thoughts.

Kashish wipes the sweat off her face, calming herself down she walks back to them. While she was walking back to them Tushar pulls the tray towards himself, smiling he says,

"Laiye aunty main banata hoon toast hum subke liye."

Veena's heart swells upon receiving the gesture from Tushar and she says,

"Mera Sujal bhi bilkul aise hi karta tha. Mujhse aise plate aur knife lekar khud banane lagta tha hum subke liye.",

and smiles.

Kashish irks hearing Veena. Sujal and Tushar have nothing in common!! - she thinks out of hatred and anger towards Tushar.

Tushar extends his hand towards Kashish asking for the knife, smiling at her. Kashish glares him.

(Ek danta song begins)

Kashish slowly forwards the knife to him making it sure that the sharp end of the knife is towards him. While Tushar accepts the knife, Kashish pushes the knife lightly into his hand, making his palm to bleed.

"Aa!",

shouts Tushar in pain and removes his hand immediately.

"Arey kya hua?",

Veena checks his hand, panicked.

Kashish's breath turns shallow out of hatred and anger towards Tushar. She keeps glaring Tushar. Tushar occupied in soothing the pain doesn't notice Kashish's expression.

Pulling his hand towards herself, examining the wound, tensed Veena without looking towards Kashish, says,

"Kashish mere room se first aid le aana."

"Arey aunty koi baat nahi choti si chont hai.",

says Tushar, knitting his brows lightly.

"Nahi beta dawayi to lagani parhegi. Zakhm gehra hai.",

says Veena, still examining the wound.

"Haan! Zakhm kaafi gehra hai!",

says Kashish in other context, staring Tushar, boiling inside.

Tushar looks towards Kashish and knits his brows further in confusion.

"Jaldi jao Kashish!",

says tensed Veena.

Kashish gets out of her thoughts and walks to Veena's room and brings the first aid box. Veena applies the medicine.

Kashish gets desperate to leave the place now. Seeking Veena's and CG's permission she leaves. Veena tries to persuade her to stay over, especially because of the bad weather. But Kashish somehow manages to get her permission to leave. Tushar wonders what is up with her!