All of them walk towards this staircase appearing in the picture above and occupy different steps of this staircase. They shift the candles to the staircase placing them at different steps at both the corners to get proper light.

"Boley to tere paas koi kahani nahi hai kya Huda?",

asks Alekh, sitting at the second step of the staircase his back resting against the railing.

Huda who was sitting two steps above him resting his back against the wall stares Alekh and his body begins to warm up hearing his words, all serious.

"Kabhi kahin kisi sunsaan raaste par tujhe koi ladki mili ho jisse tu ne lift di ho.",

teases Alekh, looking towards Huda.

"Aur baad mein tujhe pata chala ho ke wo ladki koi aam insaan nahi chudail hai!",

he teases further.

All of them other than Huda purse their lips respectively, hiding their amusement hearing Alekh.

Huda stares Alekh in utter shock. This was the exact incident he had in mind that he wanted to share with all of them.

"Oye Qaidi agar main tujhe kahun ke ek nahi balki main bhooton ke jhund (group) se mila hoon to?",

asks Huda, all serious.

All of them widen their eyes respectively hearing Huda.

"Pichle saal yaad hai Holi par main apne ghar gaya tha?",

asks Huda.

Alekh nods his head all serious.

"Ghar jaate waqt jab maine bus change ki to mujhe dusri bus mil nahi rahi thi.",

says Huda, drowning into the pool of the memory of the incident.

Naina tilts her head a little towards right, all serious and curious. Her brows knit together.

"Mausam kharab hone ki wajah se din mein hi andhera chha gaya tha. Jaise hawa bhi mujhe chetaawni de rahi ho ke main laut jaun isse pehle ke meri zindagi mein ek aisa pal aaye jis par kisiko yakeen dilana mere liye kal mushkil ho jaye.",

Huda gives them the description of the scenario.

Ali raises his brows imagining the view and listening to his words.

"Lekin shayad main hi bewakoof tha jo samjh nahi paya mausam ka ishara.",

smiles Huda, sarcastically.

They quiver listening the last two thoughts of Huda.

"Hawa ki leherein itni tez theen ke chalna bhi mushkil ho raha tha. Kisi bhi waqt baarish shuru hone ke aasar nazar aa rahe the.",

says Huda, his throat begins to dry as he realises he is about to approach to describing the situation that succeeds in sending chills running down his spine even today when he thinks about it.

"Duur duur tak koi nazar nahi aa raha tha. Baarish ka mausam tha to maine socha isse pehle ki baarish shuru ho jaaye, bus stop par jaakar baith jaata hoon.",

Huda remembers walking towards the bus stop with his luggage.

"Seat par jaakar baitha aur chaaron taraf dekhne laga.",

Huda's eyes widens.

"Koi nahi tha wahan! Bilkul sunsaan.",

says Huda, looking straight into Yudi's eyes.

All of them feel the loneliness and horror of it that Huda must have felt at that moment. They quiver feeling it.

"Thandi hawa ke thapede jab mujhe chhu-te to sihar uthta main."

Huda quivers as if he could feel the cold wind all over again.

All of his listeners realise how much they are into the story when they too quiver with Huda, as if they all are present there in the situation at this moment that Huda is describing.

"Itna sannatta ki mujhe apni saans lene ki awaz tak sunnai de rahi thi. Koi awaz nahi jo mere dhyan ko apni aur (towards) kheench sakey siwaye thandi hawa ke behne ke."

Huda turns silent, feeling the level of silence he felt at that moment, all over again.

Suriji rests his elbow on Ali's shoulder, as Huda's story draws his further attention.

"Main seat par baitha hua kab kisi aur duniya mein ghum ho gaya mujhe pata nahi chala. Mummyji aur Papaji se milkar kitna acha lagega, kya hoga, inn sub baaton ko sochne laga."

The candle light makes Huda only partially visible - just the upper half of his body including his face. The lower half of his body is submerged in pitch darkness.

All of his listeners could feel the blocking of their ears as the level of horror increases in slow pace.

*Flashback*

Huda, sitting all alone, drowned into the pool of his thoughts doesn't realise when a lady sits next to him as if he has frozen to his spot, lifeless! After a brief moment of her sitting, Huda slowly gets out of his thoughts and takes a deep breath. Casually he turns to look to his left and his heart skips a beat upon witnessing a lady sitting next to him. He immediately makes some distance from her, shifting, staring at her in horror.

When did she walk up to him and took her seat next to Huda, he is absolutely clueless!

Huda looks all around upon finding her lone presence there that too in such a dreadful weather. What else Huda finds weird is the fact that she looks absolutely calm! There is no line of tension on her forehead about how would she reach wherever she needs to reach if the weather persists or any such tension which people usually take if they get stuck in such weather.

After a brief moment of surprise, Huda shifts back to his Hudagiri - flirting, in other words.

(Huda's background score begins)

"Hi! Main Huda. Aur aap?",

asks Huda, smiling.

The girl doesn't even turn to look at him let alone reply to him.

It does hurt Huda, nevertheless he doesn't give up trying.

"Waise naam mein kya rakha hai? Baat to bina naam jaane bhi ki ja sakti hai.",

Huda laughs a little.

"Main apne Mummyji aur Papaji se milne ja raha hoon. Aap kahan ja rahi hain?",

he tries further.

Still no reply.

"Meri Mummyji kehti hain agar apni tarah koi musafir mil jaye to unse kuch der baat kar lene mein koi harz nahi. Dono ka dil behl jaata hai.",

Huda laughs a little.

The girl seems to be having no interest in having a conversation with Huda.

Huda looks around leisurely.

Turning to look towards the girl, he asks,

"Aap yahin rehti hain?"

He realises what error he has committed while uttering the question hence he quickly rectifies,

"Mera matlab yahin aas-paas rehti hain? Ghar ja rahi hain ya ghar se kahin ja rahi hain?"

"Haan!",

she pauses briefly before continuing,

"Main yahin rehti hoon."

(Huda's background score ends)

She turns to look towards Huda, they both stare each other. Huda's smile vanishes slowly as he feels something eerie about her presence.

Huda smiles a little. He begins to feel the negative vibes being emitted from her.

"Aksar aati rehti hoon yahan."

Huda finds it surprising that she is finally opening up to him. Something about her demeanor gave him the impression earlier that she might not talk to him at all.

"Aur ye mausam... pasand hai mujhe bohot!",

she says.

Laughing a little, Huda says,

"Jananiyon ko waise aise mausam mein darr lagta hai. Baadalon ki kadkadahat. Thandi hawaon ka chalna. Sunsaan raastein."

"Wo to seedha inn sub baaton ko horror movies se jod deti hain.",

mocks Huda.

"Kamzor samjhte ho aurton ko?",

she asks, darting her look towards Huda.

Huda too looks towards her.

He for the first time notices how pale she looks. As white as milk! As if every ounce of blood has been drained out of her body.

The moment this thought crosses his mind he quivers in fear. What if it is indeed true?

No, he is just over thinking! Absence of his bunch of friends to fuel his spirit of flirt and taking life easy, is surely getting on his nerves, hence such illogical thoughts are filling his head. But wait, is he truly being illogical or is blaming his friends' absence is an escape route to save his mind from wandering towards such eerie thoughts?

"Nahi! Nahi... bilkul nahi.",

comes Huda's slow but immediate reply.

Slow, as his whole attention lies at gauging the lady's expression and features.

The lady tears her gaze away from him.

She looks up towards the sky and says,

"Aisa mausam jahan kuch aur na sunayi de siwaye hawa ke behne ki awaz."

Huda forgets to blink his eyes witnessing her expression of pleasure as she utters the words.

"Bijli ke kadakne ki aawaz.",

she adds further.

Her expression tells how delighted she is witnessing the weather.

Huda widens his eyes.

"Baadal ke garajne ki aawaz jaise kisi bhi pal baadal fut kar aap par gir parhega.",

she says, excited.

Huda arches a brow.

"Maut ka darr nahi lagta aapko?",

he couldn't help himself from asking after hearing her weird likes.

"Main maut hi hoon!",

she shocks him by her words.

Huda quivers hearing her.

"Ma..tlab...??",

he asks, shell shocked, quivering still.

"Sub kehte hain main maut ko saath lekar ghoomti hoon.",

she smirks.

Huda keeps staring her perplexed. He feels his mind getting blocked of thoughts after hearing her.

●●●●●

After a brief moment of silence, both of them staring at infinity in front of them, Huda asks her,

"Waise khaana bana leti hain aap?"

This was unlike of Huda to stick to using 'aap'. Usually after the initial few minutes of meeting a person for the first time he shifts from addressing them as 'aap' to addressing them as 'tu'. But with this girl, he doesn't understand why he feels like sticking to 'aap' as if she doesn't qualify to even become Huda's acquaintance let alone becoming his friend.

"Nahi!",

she replies calmly.

Huda nods his head, accepting.

"Mujhe zaroorat nahi parhti.",

she adds.

"Mujhe bhi nahi parhti. Suriji ke haath ka khana, ahaaa... dil karta hai Suriji ke haath choom loon."

laughs Huda.

"Darasal bohot zor ki bhookh lagi hai mujhe isliye poocha.",

Huda laughs a little more, shyly.

"Aapne cook rakha hai?",

asks Huda, smiling, looking towards her.

"Jee nahi!",

comes her serious reply, still staring at infinity.

"Cook nahi hai! Aap bhi khana banana nahi jaantin. Phir khaati kaise hain aap?",

asks Huda, intruiged, knitting his brows.

"Raw!",

she says, bearing a smile of satisfaction on her face.

"Raw?! Salad you mean. Health conscious hain?",

smiles Huda.

Shaking her head she tells him,

"Maans! (Meat)"

"Raw maans!",

she says, her face twiching with a sarcastic smile.

Huda quivers hearing her!

He stares her with his eyes wide opened.

What is he doing here at such a dreadful weather, sitting all alone with an unknown personality, discussing about her appetite for raw meat?!

This is not normal! Oh! nothing about her appears to be normal. Huda's every nerve ending shouts this to him, only if they could also shout a solution to escape this situation!

The sound of the tires of a bus screeching to halt drags the attention of both of them. Huda looks towards the bus in his state of shock.

The bus conductor looks towards them and immediately his brows furrow.

"Chalna hai?",

he asks them and fixes his look on Huda.

Huda nods his head and utters his destination. The conductor gestures him to get into the bus. The girl lets him lead the way and follows him. The moment Huda steps into the bus he stops abruptly and knits his brows tight. Something about his fellow bus mates - the way they look - drained off blood, just like the girl; the way they stare him as if they are some predators and he is their next hunt, send chills to run down his spine. He quivers!

He feels unwelcomed in certain way and more than welcome in another!

He walks to the conductor in order to buy ticket. But to his horror he gets the following words in reply -

"Zaroorat nahi. Baith jao jakar."

He thinks of arguing but his gut feeling says that he must not!

He takes his seat next to the girl, feeling that she is the only one he is acquainted with here.

"Ahmm... kahan ja rahi hai bus?",

asks Huda, looking towards her, his hands holding the bar of the seat in front of him.

"Kabristan!",

comes her immediate and plain reply, her eyes staring the road ahead.

Huda gets scared hearing that, would be an understatement! Huda feels as lifeless as all his fellow passengers are for real! The only difference is Huda is warm blooded and they cold!

"Kab...ristan...!!!",

Huda somehow manages to utter the word, forcing it out of his dried throat, staring him with his wide opened eyes.

"Kabristan... kyun?",

asks Huda, after mositening his dried throat - dried out of extreme level of horror upon hearing him and feeling and realising the eeriness about everything.

"Kyunki yahi order diya gaya hai humein. Humari saza hai ye.",

she tells him.

"K...kaisi saza...??",

asks Huda, his heart throbbing inside his chest as his heart begins to accept what his mind has already accepted!!

"Kis... kis baat ki?",

he asks further, suddenly feeling short of breath.

"Humare gunahon ki!",

she tells him.

Huda creases his brows, perplexed.

"Humein na swarg mein rehne ki ijjazat di gayi hai na nark mein bheja gaya. Humein Kabristan mein hi rehna hoga.",

she enlightens Huda with the fact.

Horror of which level is he feeling at this moment, only the amount of his quivering and sweating can tell. But alas! even to witness that there has to be one other living human being other than Huda himself!

Huda finds himself stuck in the situation escaping from where seems impossible for him.

After thinking for a solution to get rid of the situation and finding none, Huda gives himself all the strength he could to pull himself through this situation and nods his head in determination.

He looks at all of them who were sitting in front of him, skipping to look behind him, all alert.

"Mujhe... mujhe khatra hai na tum sub se?",

asks Huda, trying to keep his nerves under control.

His cheeks turned hot out of fear of great degree. His breath turned shallow.

"Tab tak nahi jab tak tum humein tang na karo.",

she replies calmly.

"Aur kabristan pohnch kar phir kya?",

asks Huda, trying to get a rough sketch about where his life is leading him.

"Phir tum apne raaste, aur hum apne!",

she says.

Huda nods his head in understanding.

He suddenly widens his eyes in shock when he witnesses the route taken.

"Ye raasta to band rehta hai humesha!",

he exclaims in shock.

"Tum insaano ke liye!",

she reminds him.

He turns to look towards her, his expression intact.

"Kyunki hum yahan se guzarte hain!",

she replies calmly.

Huda quivers hearing that.

Smirking, she says,

"Magar tum mein se kuch log phir bhi nahi samjhte!"

Huda knits his brows, confused.

She points out of the black window of the bus, towards her right. Huda peeps out and witnesses a man - human, walking on the restricted road, restricted because of the paranormal activities that people believe take place at this area.

Huda widens his eyes in shock and horror!

"Tum... tum iske saath kuch nahi karoge!",

warns Huda, despite quivering in fear.

"Koi agar raasta bhatak jaye to usse sahi raaste par to laana ek ache insaan ka kartawya hota hai.",

he smirks.

Huda's heart throbs inside his chest. He shakes his head in slow pace in utter shock.

"Fikr mat karo usse zyada dard nahi hoga! Bus seene mein thoda dard uthega jab uski aatma ko uske shareer se ye nikalenge.",

he says, looking towards the driver.

"Tum insaano ko pata nahi kya maza aata hai humse panga lene mein!",

he says, pissed off.

"Koi tum logon se panga nahi le raha!",

Huda raises his voice a little.

He nods his head in affirmative and says,

"Le raha hai! Warna wo yahan maujood nahi hota."

Huda stares him dumbstruck unable to understand how to reply to that.

"Pata nahi kya shok hai tum insaano ko humari duniya ke baare mein jaanne ka.",

he nods his head, frustrated.

"Kya hum kabhi janne ki koshish karte hain ke tum insaano ki zindagi kaisi hoti hai?",

he asks looking towards Huda, disappointed.

Huda immediately replies, staring him throughout, replies,

"Wo isliye kyunki tum log humari zindagi jee chuke ho.",

says Huda.

"To? Tum log bhi to kabhi humari tarah rahe hoge. Phir tum logo ko itni utsukta kyun?",

she asks, knitting her brows lightly.

Huda quivers hearing that.

Smiling sarcastically, staring Huda throughout, she asks,

"Kya tumhe yaad hai ke swarg ya nark mein jakar kaisa ehsaas hua tha pichli baar jab tumhari mrityu hui thi?"

Huda quivers again and stares her in shock, speechless.

"Phir tum ye kaise soch sakte ho ke humein humari jeevan yatra ka har ek pal ache se yaad hoga?",

she challenges him with her query.

Outside, the bad weather persists. The cloud growls. Darkness thickens. Strong wind blows. But the rain drops still haven't hit the ground.

Soon they reach their destination - the cemetery.

"Ab kahan jana hoga tumhe?",

asks Huda, staring at the cemetery. The darkness because of the bad weather makes the cemetery look all the more horrific than the mere mention of the word 'cemetery' already makes us feel.

Upon not receiving the reply Huda turns to look at her and quivers when discovers himself all alone in the bus!

He slowly climbs down the bus and stares them crowding the place. What takes him by shock is the way they disappear right in front of his eyes upon being called by their names by someone - like some roll call.

He realises that he must leave now. In his state of horror he turns to leave when a call arrests him at his place.

"Huda!"

Huda quivers hearing the voice. The voice he hasn't even in his nightmare thought to hear at this place!

"Phoolan!",

he exclaims in shock.

He rotates his eye balls here and there in search of Naina, in fear.

The clouds grumble!

"Phoolan kahan hai tu?",

asks Huda, tensed.

"Huda main yahan hoon.",

comes a reply from Naina from inside of the cemetery.

He turns and begins to walk back towards the cemetery, calling out her name,

"Phoolan?!"

He enters the cemetery.

It starts raining lightly. Few drops dripping every now and then.

He follows the voice calling out his name again and again.

His heart throbs inside his chest.

Never before this moment has he entered a cemetery in his life. His hands turn wet not because of the rain drops but because of the sweat - thanks to his increasing level of fear and horror with each passing moment.

He continues hearing his name and he continues following her voice.

Soon in front of him stands Naina in the red saree, her turned towards him.
He halts at a distance from her.

The rainfall turns ferocious by now.

Huda raises his voice and asks her,

"Phoolan tu yahan kya kar rahi hai?",

he somehow manages to see her through the rain.

Naina smiles infectiously at him, never replying to him.

Huda keeps adjusting his head as the rainfall becomes hurdle in his proper view of Naina.

She turns and begins walking, assured that he would follow. And so does he!

He gets surprised when he discovers her stopping by a pit big enough for someone to fall into it. Tucking her saree into the waist part of her saree, she picks up a shovel she digs the pit further.

Huda gets shocked when he discovers her digging the soil.

"Ye... ye tu kya kar rahi hai Phoolan?",

asks Huda, unable to believe what he is witnessing.

She stops and looks towards him and says,

"Meri madad kar na Huda."

"Haan magar tu ye kar kyun rahi hai?",

asks Huda, puzzled, whilst taking the shovel from her.

Naina doesn't reply, instead keeps staring him with her unblinked eyes.

Huda resumes from where she left. He feels that it takes him less strength than was estimatedly required to dig the pit. As if his one strike at the soil is leading him to the double of the result it should actually give.

Having done the work, Huda peeps into the hole hence formed and says,

"Le Phoolan ye bata ye koi drill hai kya?"

"Haan?",

he turns to look at her and his eyes widens witnessing Naina's face raging with anger. Sclera of her eyes turned absolutely red - blood red!

"Phoolan!",

he exclaims, his heart throbbing inside his chest out of acute fear upon witnessing his Phoolan in such state!

This was the last and only word he could utter upon witnessing her, before getting pushed into the pit by Naina!

"Phoolan!!!",

shouts Huda out of extreme level of horror upon being pushed by Naina.

*Flashback ends*

●●●●●

Straightened up by now, Naina stares Huda in utter shock.

"Huda tujhe ek baar bhi aisa nahi laga ke main wahan kaise ho sakti hoon? Wo bhi aise mausam mein!",

asks Naina, knitting her brows, disappointed in Huda and concerned about him too.

All of them stare at Naina and nod their heads respectively in agreement.

"Oye laga tha Phoolan!"

All of them now turn to look towards Huda.

"Lekin jaise ki Suriji ne kaha...",

he turns to look towards Suriji.

Suriji straightens up hearing his name.

"Aise situation mein dimag kaam karna bilkul band kar deta hai!",

he completes, knitting his brows tight.

Huda and Naina stare each other in silence.

"Jab tak ki main samjh paata kuch, wo jo koi bhi thi usne mujhe kaam bata kar meri soch ki disha badal di.",

says Huda.

All of them stare him in silence, understanding.

"Mere liye uss waqt ye sochna zyada zaroori tha ke tujhe meri madad chahiye. Aur wohi maine kiya!",

he explains.

All of them nod their heads respectively except for Rajveer.

"Tu bata agar meri jagah tu hoti aur wo jo koi bhi thi uski jagah mere roop mein koi tere saamne hota, aur tujhe ye sub kuch kehta wo, to kya tu pehle kuch der shaq karne ke baad jab tujhe apne shaq ka koi pukhta saboot nahi milta to kya tu meri madad nahi karti?",

asks Huda.

All of them turn to look towards Naina.

Naina's heart skips a beat hearing him. She slowly cascades her eyes in acceptance that she would have reacted in the same way as Huda did!

She nods her head in agreement, keeping her brows furrowed.

"Phir kya hua?",

asks Naina, feeling sad for him upon remembering the last few words that he uttered of the story.

"Phir...",

Huda drifts back to his thoughts and continues his story.

"Mere zor se chillane par maine uske chehre par ek badlaw dekha!",

says Huda, staring at infinity with his eyes wide opened.

"Kaisa badlaw?",

asks Naina.

"Jaise wo tu nahi koi anjaan ho! Jiska mujhse koi lena-dena na ho! Jiski mujhse koi humdardi na ho!",

says Huda.

Naina stares Huda, feeling sad for him.

"Jaise uska maksad hi ho mujhe nuksaan pohchaana."

He turns to look towards Naina and his tone turns soft as he says,

"Aur tu... tu to mujhe kabhi nuksaan nahi pohncha sakti."

Naina smiles sadly staring Huda.

All of them smile and nod their heads respectively.

"Main tabhi samjh gaya ke kuch gadbad hai wo meri Phoolan nahi ho sakti.",

says Huda, confident.

Yudi nods his head in confidence.

"Aur main wahan se bahar nikal gaya!",

says Huda.

All of them sigh in relief hearing that.

"Ye itna aasan nahi tha. Upar se lagatar mitti girne ki wajah se mere liye upar aana mushkil ho raha tha."

All of them again get tensed.

"Magar baarish hone ki wajah se mitti geeli ho gayi thi. Jis wajah se mitti ko uthana uske liye mushkil ho raha tha. Mujhe wo waqt mil gaya bahar niklane ka.",

says Huda, smiling a little.

"Bahar nikalne par maine usse meri taraf gusse se dekhte hue dekha.",

says Huda.

"Maine poocha usse ke wo kaun hai?"

"Phir kya kaha unhone Huda bhai?",

asks Ali, curious.

"Wo bina kuch boley murh kar chalne lagi.",

says Huda.

All of them knit their brows afresh, finding it weird.

"Main jaise poori tarah uske vash mein hokar uske peeche chalne laga.",

Huda's eyes wide opened.

"Kuch der baad main uska peecha karta hua ek guhfa mein pohonch gaya!"

Yudi exclaims in horror,

"Cave!"

Huda looks towards him and nods his head in horror.

"Zameen ke neeche dhase uss guhfa ka mooh kaafi chhota tha. Halki si roshni thi bus."

All of them begin to imagine the scenario that must have been inside the cave.

"Mujhe kuch dikhai nahi de raha tha. Mujhe to samjh nahi aa raha tha ke wo kaise dekh pa rahi thi raasta.",

says Huda.

"Ander jaakar dekha to wahan kuch log baithe hue the - mard bhi aur jannaniyan bhi. Lagbhag dus to honge hi sub milakar usse zyada bhi ho sakte hain. Baith kar kuch baat kar rahe the, kis bhasha mein kuch samjh nahi aa raha tha.",

Huda's rate of heartbeat picks up pace as he remembers how he felt.

"Wahan saans lene mein bhi dikkat ho rahi thi. Dum ghut raha tha mera!"

As soon as he says so, the breath of his listeners turn shallow, they feel his words so deeply!

"Aisa lag raha tha jaise wo kisi aur duniya ke hi hon."

"Maine dekha ke wo jo Naina ke roop mein thi wo unhe dekhkar jaise mere wajood ko puri tarah bhool gayi. Wo unke saath jaakar baith gayi. Mujhe jaise hi bhanak lagi uss mein aaye iss achanak badlaaw ki to main bina waqt gawaye peeche bhaaga guhfa se bahar nikalne ki aur."

The rate of heartbeats of his listeners increases further, glad that Huda made the right decision.

But his further words break their respective hearts!

"Magar.... magar guhfa ke darwaaze tak pohnchne par main hairan ho gaya!"

All of them widen their eyes respectively, wondering what must have happened.

"Wo darwaaza jahan se hum aaye the wahan... wahan ab deewar khadi thi!",

he reveals.

Silence persists!

They all quiver realising how suffocated Huda must have felt.

"Mera dimag ghoom gaya! Ye... Ye kaise ho sakta hai?!",

exclaims Huda.

"Main... main peeche murha aur dekha Naina mere saamne khadi thi!"

Naina knits her brows tight again.

"Meri... meri ankhon ke saamne maine Naina ko apna roop badalte dekha."

Lolita Ma'am covers her mouth with her hands.

"Wo wohi thi jo bus mein thi!",

reveals Huda.

All of them widen their eyes out of shock!

"Maine phir dhyan se wahan ke dusre logon ko dekha to main hairan ho gaya jab maine dekha ke wo wahi the jo bus mein the mere saath!"

Huda's throat turns dry!

"Wo log mujh par hamla karne ke liye mujh par toot parhe!"

"Oh my god!",

exclaims Dr. Shalini in horror.

"Maine to jaise haath-pair chhorh diye the. Itnon se main akela kaise larhta. Tabhi ek seeti ki aawaz ne mere saath-saath unke dhyan ko bhi apni aur kheench liya."

"Wo mujhe chorh uss seeti ki awaz ki aur chalne lagey. Aisa laga jaise unhe mere wahan hone ka ab pata hi na ho.",

says Huda.

"Darr ke maare paseene se lath-path main guhfa ke ander bhagta gaya bina ye soche ke wahan agey guhfa se nikalne ka koi raasta hai bhi ke nahi. Mujhe bus unse durr hona tha. Bhaagte-bhaagte main kab guhfa se bahar nikal aaya mujhe nahi pata!",

says Huda, his pace of heartbeat accelerated.

All of them sigh in relief.

"Maine peeche murh kar dekha to mere saamne uss guhfa mein koi tha jo mujhe umeed bhari nazron se dekh raha tha. Jaise mujhse madad mang raha ho. Ek pal ke liye to mera dil pighal gaya. Magar maine socha ke agar abki baar main ander gaya aur kabhi wapas na aa paya to?",

says Huda in horror.

All of them nod their heads respectively in agreement.

"Main bina kuch agey soche wahan se bhaag aya!",

says Huda.

"Wo kaun tha? Kya mujhe uski madad karni chahiye thi? Kya abhi bhi wo wahin hoga agar aaj main wahan gaya to? - main kuch nahi jaanta. Main iss purey kisse ko ek buri yaad samjh kar bhool jaana chahta tha. Maine aaj se pehle kabhi kisi ko ye baat nahi batayi magar ab bata raha hoon aap subko!",

says Huda, staring all of them with his eyes wide opened.

Rajveer walks to him and hugs him, patting his back lightly.

All others smile and nod their heads respectively.

●●●●●

In the day light, sitting on her bed, Kashish notes down Lavanya's address from the file.

She was going through the book 'Banish the Curse' when suddenly a moment flashes in front of her eyes, distracting her!

There is this basket of fruits placed on the dining table with a knife standing erect in an apple and the flash ends. Kashish quivers! She creases her brows. What was that? Why would she get that flash? - the thought disturbs her.

Loud noise of overflowing water skips Kashish's heartbeat. She runs towards the bathroom. Opening the door she quickly closes the tap. Staring at the completely filled bucket, Kashish was deep in her thoughts about the flash she got when her heart skips another beat upon seeing Sujal's reflection in the water - tired, as if requesting Kashish to help him. She stares the reflection in horror for some moments before putting her hand into the water to touch Sujal's reflection with a motive to feel him. But alas! the reflection vanishes as soon as she touches it, leaving behind Kashish - shocked, craving to feel Sujal.

The sudden ringing of her cell phone distracts Kashish. Walking to her room she checks her mobile and utters in surprise the name of the caller -

"Akshat!"

"Hello!",

greets Kashish, receiving the call.

"Kashish, kya main tumse mil sakta hoon?",

asks Akshat, directly.

"Haan sure. Kahan milein batao?",

asks Kashish.

Akshat gives her the address of a restaurant and they meet there after an hour.

Akshat tells her whatever conversation  took place between Swayam and him.

Kashish rests her elbows on the table, entwining her fingers she rests her entwined fingers at the center of her nose, thinking, creasing her brows.

"Agar Swayam ne nahi kiya to tarot cards ne Swayam ki taraf ishara kyun kiya?",

asks Kashish, tilting her head towards her left, staring Akshat quizzically.

Akshat too wonders!

Suddenly Kashish remembers something.

Bringing out a paper from her bag,

"Akshat mujhe iss address par jaana hai.",

she extends the address towards him.

Akshat takes it and reads.

"Yahan... kyun Kashish?",

he asks, reading it.

"Kiska address hai ye?",

he asks, looking towards Kashish.

"Lavanya!",

says Kashish, tensed.

"Lavanya?",

asks Akshat, confused.

"Pichle kuch dino se main Lavanya ki aatma ko apne ird-gird mehsoos kar pa rahi thi.",

Kashish dictates him the incident that took place with Kashish.

"Aisa hota hai kayi baar. Kuch aatmayein jaane-anjaane mein mujhse jud jaati hain. Kuch ka to koi maksad hota hai aur kuch bin maksad ke.",

tells Kashish.

Akshat widens his eyes listening her.

"Wo kon hai! Mujhse kya chahti hai!...",

shaking her head she looks towards Akshat and says,

"Mujhe sub janna hai. Soch rahi hoon iss address par jakar pata lagaun."

Akshat nods his head, all serious.

"Maine pehle kabhi aisa nahi kiya. Ye chhan-been, aatmaon ke baare mein pata lagana. Magar pata nahi kyun mujhe lag raha hai ke iske baare mein mera jaanna zaroori hai.",

she tells him.

"Magar iss mein risk bhi hai. Main nahi jaanti uske gharwaale kon hain? Kaise hain? Kaise react karenge agar maine jakar unse kuch poocha! To maine socha agar tum mere saath chal sako to...",

Kashish requests.

Smiling, Akshat assures her,

"Main chalunga Kashish. Main tumhare kisi bhi tarah kaam aa paya to mujhe khushi hogi."

Kashish sighs in relief and smiles in gratitude.

●●●●●

Kashish and Akshat reach around the address and ask the neighbors who were walking ouside for the direction of the address. One lady indicates them towards the address.

Akshat rings the doorbell.

A widow in her late 40s opens the door for them.

"Ji kahiye!",

she says, eager to know who they are.

Kashish and Akshat look towards her.

"Ji namaste.",

Akshat greets her.

Kashish too smiles at her.

"Namaste. Aap kon?",

asks the lady.

"Ji main Akshat Shergil. Main lawyer hoon.",

Akshat introduces himself.

"Aur ye meri dost hai Kashish Sinha.",

he points out towards Kashish.

Kashish nods her head, smiling.

"La...vanya... yahin rehti thi?",

asks Kashish.

The lady gets shocked hearing Lavanya's name.

"A..ap..  Aap Lavanya ko kaise janti hain?",

in her state of shock she puts her query in front of Kashish.

Kashish and Akshat stare each other.

"Wo meri dost thi.",

lies Kashish, looking towards her.

"Usne to kabhi apne kisi dost ka zikr nahi kiya!",

she says.

Kashish and Akshat get nervous hearing that.

"Kya janti ho tum Lavanya ke baare mein?",

she asks Kashish suspiciously.

Kashish gets nervous hearing her.

She stares the lady, shocked.

Discovering her nervous, Akshat comes to her rescue and replies,

"Wo raaz jo aap jaanti hain Lavanya ke baare mein. Jis wajah se aapne uska antim sanskar chori-chhupe kiya."

Kashish widens her eyes hearing Akshat, staring the lady throughout.

The lady too gets shocked as much as Kashish did, hearing his words.

"Nahi! Aisa... aisa nahi ho sakta. Wo ye baat kisi ko nahi bata sakti.",

says Lavanya's mother.

"Ye aapki galat fehmi hai.",

says Akshat, confidently.

Her mother turns speechless.

"Dekho beta main tumhare saamne haath jodti hoon. Please... please kisiko mat batana uski pregnancy ke baare mein.",

requests her mother.

Kashish and Akshat widen their respective pair eyes out of shock, hearing her.

"Kis... kiska bachcha tha?",

asks Kashish.

Expressions of anger and hatred fill the lady's face and she utters the culprit's name,

"Sujal Garewal!"

Kashish couldn't believe her ears!

This... this cannot be true!

Was this the truth Lavanya wanted her to know? Why?

"Nahi! Ye... ye such nahi ho sakta!",

Kashish begins to take slow backward steps in utter disbelief.

"Kashish!",

Akshat tries to console her, turning to look towards her.

"Ye... ye jhoot hai Akshat.",

says Kashish looking towards Akshat and pointing towards the lady.

"Haan... Kashish... hum janenge suchchai kya hai.",

Akshat tries to calm her down.

"Mera Sujal aisa nahi tha Akshat!",

she tries to make him believe.

Akshat nods his head in affirmative.

"Tum mere Sujal ko nahi jante. Wo sirf mujhse pyar karta tha. Wo... wo kisi ke saath aisa karna to duur, mere alawa kisi ke baare mein sochta bhi nahi tha.",

she shouts in order to tell him how confident she is about her Sujal.

"Ye... ye aurat jhoot keh rahi hai!",

she shouts in anger.

Walking back to her, Kashish holds the lady by her upper arms and jerks her asking,

"Bata kisne kaha tujhe mere Sujal ko fasane ke liye? Kisne kaha?"

"Ye kya kar rahi ho tum!",

the lady jerks away Kashish's hand, shouting at her.

Akshat saves Kashish from a fall. They stare the lady in shock.

"Chale jao yahan se!",

shouts the lady indicating the to leave with her right extended arm and index finger.

Kashish and Akshat glare her back.

"Chalo Kashish!",

says Akshat, glaring the lady throughout.

●●●●●

"Wo aurat jhoot keh rahi hai Akshat. Mera Sujal aisa nahi hai.",

says Kashish, confidently, sitting inside his car.

"Bura mat manna Kashish, magar subko apne partner par poora bharosa hota hai. Unhe lagta hai ke unka pyar kabhi galat ho hi nahi sakta.",

says Akshat, nervously, with no intention to hurt her.

Kashish turns to look towards Akshat in utter shock.

"Sujal ki zindagi Kashish se shuru hokar Kashish par khatam hoti thi Akshat!",

shouts Kashish, with her choked voice, crying.

Akshat stares her silently, feeling sad for her.

"Sujal ka pehla aur akhri pyar Kashish thi! Bus... bus yahi suchai hai mere Sujal ki. Yahi suchai hai.",

Kashish shuts her eyes, crying.

"Calm down Kashish. Please calm down.",

consoles Akshat.

"Thande dimag se socho Kashish, agar ye such nahi hota to kyun Lavanya tumse contact karti? Tum dono to ek dusre se anjaan the!",

Akshat tries to put sense into her.

Kashish looks towards him, shocked.

"Zaroor Sujal aur Lavanya ke beech koi gehra rishta raha hoga isiliye usne tumhe apne paas bulaya.",

Akshat tries to clear the picture in his own mind too whilst explaining it to Kashish.

Tears roll down Kashish's cheeks hearing Akshat.

Akshat feels extremely sad for her but finds himself helpless.