"Huda!",

calls out Pooja, all serious, staring somewhere at the floor, with her unblinked eyes.

That drags Huda's attention.

"Haan Punjaban?",

replies Huda, thinking that maybe she has something to say about his story that he narrated.

All of them mirror Huda's thought. They look towards Pooja, curious.

"Pichle saal jab tu ghar gaya tha tab tere saath wo hua jo tu ne humein tab nahi bataya!",

she pauses.

Looking towards Huda, staring him throughout, Pooja continues,

"Pichle saal jab 'main' ghar gayi thi tab mere saath bhi kuch hua...",

she emphasizes on 'main'.

Huda widens his eyes in surprise.

Looking towards all other, she continues,

"Jo maine ab tak aap subko nahi bataya!",

she shakes her head in negative.

All of them stare her in shock!

"Kya hua tha Pooja?",

asks Naina, tensed and curious.

"Pichle saal... balki kuch maheene pehle ki baat hai October mein jab main academy mein thi to pata nahi kyun mera mann baar-baar ghar jaane ko kar raha tha.",

says Pooja, knitting her brows.

The rate of heartbeats of each of them slowly picks up pace.

"Wahan gayi to sub kuch theek hi laga mujhe. Magar phir bhi mann mein ek bechaini thi. Mujhe aisa lag raha tha jaise main yahan apni marzi se nahi aayi hoon balki mujhe bulaya gaya hai.",

reveals Pooja.

"Bulaya gaya hai? Isse aapka kya matlab hai Pooja ji?",

asks Ali, confused.

Pooja looks towards Ali and says,

"Matlab... jaise koi chahta ho ke main uss waqt wahan rahun. Magar kaun chahta hai aur kyun, ye main samjh nahi pa rahi thi."

Lolita Ma'am wonders who it could be.

"31st October ki raat Mummy ji aur Papa ji pados ke uncle ke yahan jagaran mein gaye hue the. Mere block se paanch blocks chhorh kar venue tha jahan unhe jaana tha.",

says Pooja.

"Main ghar pe akeli thi. Bhai bhi Mummy ji aur Papa ji ke saath gaya hua tha.",

says Pooja.

Halloween Day! Pooja used to find this day funny and unreal! Why do they celebrate the dead ones - dead people, vampires and other stuffs like that? She had no valid answer to her question. She wasn't a believer of ghosts. She had always been a happy and cheerful person away from all these unreal and out of world stuffs. She loved staying in her lala land which itself is an unreal world; but despite being a fan of unreal stuff - imagining herself with her ShahRukh; she hated the unreal stuff - ghosts and spirits!

Last year on 31st October at night around 9 pm at her home, having nothing to do, she scanned through the channels of her television. There was nothing that had her interest. She suddenly paused at a channel where they were telecasting a movie based on Halloween. And as it was based on Halloween it had to be a horror movie!

Almost an hour passed by, she got thoroughly engrossed in the movie when her mobile rang. Keeping her eyes glued to the television screen she received the call.

*Flashback*

"Hello!",

greets Pooja.

She doesn't receive any reply.

"Kon bol raha hai?",

asks Pooja upon not receiving the reply.

Still no reply.

She was about to end the call, holding the phone in her hand, in front of her eyes, when she hears a lady replying,

"Pooja mera ek kaam karde beta."

Pooja sets the receiver back on her ear and says,

"Haan Dadi kya kaam?"

"Mere kamre mein dhool-mitti jam gayi hai usse saaf karde beta.",

requests her grandmother.

Pooja makes face.

"Aur mera jo sandook rakha hai uske ander dekhio ek neele rang ke dibbe mein ek chain aur locket hai. Agar tu ne wo jagah saaf kar di, to wo chain aur locket teri! Tera inaam.",

says her grandmother.

Pooja gets excited hearing that.

"Gift! Theek hai Dadi main abhi kar deti hoon room ki safai.",

says Pooja, excited.

"Acha Dadi....",

Pooja stops abruptly out of surprise upon hearing the beep sound from the other end. The call has been disconnected.

"Hello... hello Da...",

she stops again, this time not out of surprise but out of horror as she realises that it's been eight years that her grandmother has left them for her after life journey!

Pooja quivers realising the fact!

The mobile slips out of her hand and falls on the bed where she is sitting.

What just happened? How is it possible? - the thought pulls her more into her state of shock and horror.

She quickly checks the number from where she received the call. She calls back but all she hears is - 'This number does not exist!'

She ends the call and throws her mobile away on the bed. She sweats profusely.

The electricity fails!

Pooja's heart skips a beat as soon as it turns dark. She looks up towards the turned off light in horror.

She tries to search her mobile on the bed, in the darkness. Upon succeeding in touching it she quickly switches on the torch of the mobile.

The moment she switches on the torch, the loud noise of people from the street makes her heart to palpitate. She immediately looks towards the window.

Slowly she gets up and runs towards it to know what's that noise for. Peeping down she notices crowd of people dressed up in different Halloween costumes, bearing torches in their hands doing a show; a parade. It is then that she remembers that they have been informed the previous day about the light cut off. She sighs in relief, wiping her sweat off her forehead with her hand. She tries to distract herself from the thought of the call.

She enjoys the parade and the various performances of the people involved, for a brief moment before she gets a glimpse of an old lady whom after a moment or two she recognises as her dead grandmother! Not only that but the fact that she is staring Pooja from the crowd makes Pooja to quiver!

What the hell!

Earlier it was only her voice she could hear but now she can see her too! This is not normal. Her heart palpitates afresh.

Children, men and women dressed in different Halloween costumes now reach the neighborhood doors, knocking, holding a candle each in their hands. In the darkness of the corridor of the building all that was visible were the illuminated candles. And to any non-participant it seems as if the illuminated candles are freely suspended in the air. Which in itself looks horrifying.

While she was enjoying the show, she hears the knock at her door after missing the first two knocks, this is the third time the door gets knocked and she succeeds in listening.

Pooja turns and knits her brows lightly which relaxes soon as she realises that it must be the participants, before walking to open the door.

She opens the door and discovers an old woman whom she is unfamiliar to, standing at her door. Pooja greets her with a smile.

"Trick or treat?",

asks the old woman, all serious.

Pooja takes her time to decide. Resting her right index finger on her chin, she thinks and finally looking towards the woman reveals her decision,

"Trick!",

excited.

The old woman smiles mysteriously.

Pooja's smile fades a little as she finds it peculiar. It was more like a sarcastic smile than a smile of adoration.

The old woman brings out her mobile from her bag and dials a number. Pooja quivers when her mobile vibrates and she hears the ringtone.

"Room saaf kar diya kya beta?"

It was her grandmother, but to her horror the voice in Pooja's mobile is a follow through of the lady's mobile! The lady standing in front of her. What was more shocking was the fact that the lady hasn't made any effort to speak. She stares at the silent old woman in horror! Her breathing rate uncontrollable.

"Pooja?! Kya hua beta? Bol na!"

And she feels stuck! How to escape this paranormal situation Pooja has no idea.

Pooja quivers profusely, staring the woman throughout!

She quickly pushes the door close with a loud thud, sweating profusely and looks towards the closed door in shock.

Resting her head against the door, she slips down, crying, looking here and there to make sure that there is nothing paranormal going on around her.

After a brief moment she suddenly remembers in horror - her grandmother's words - Mere kamre mein dhool-mitti jam gayi hai usse saaf karde beta.

She straightens up, wiping her tears she slowly gets up and heads towards her grandmother's room.

Standing outside the room, she stares at the door with a throbbing heart. Never before this day she has entered her grandmother's room. Not even in her lifetime.

She somehow manages to unlock the door of the room. She slowly pushes the door that creates a creaking noise. Before entering the room, Pooja looks around the room.

Pooja was very fond of her grandmother. But during the last two years before her death, Pooja's parents had strictly told her to never enter her grandmother's room. She took it as an injustice, torture of her parents towards her and her grandmother. But she of course knew the reason of their doing so.

*Flashback ends*

"Waise to jab ye hua tha tab meri Dadi ko marey hue aath saal ho gaye the. Magar unke marne se do (2) saal pehle meri Dadi ki tabiyat bohot kharab ho gayi thi. Doctors ne jawab de diya tha. Ghar mein hum sub ne maan liya tha ki Dadi ab humare beech mein nahi rahi.",

says Pooja, widening her eyes.

"Magar achanak Papaji ne unke anguthe ko hilte hue dekha. Unhone turant doctor ko bataya. Doctor ne ek baar aur koshish ki to wo bach gayin.",

says Pooja.

"Kuch din beetne ke baad doctors ke permission dene par hum unhe ghar le aaye. Magar doctors ne ye bhi kaha tha ki inhe complete bed rest ki zaroorat hai."

All of them nod their heads respectively.

"Jab-jab main unke room mein unse milne jaati to wo mujhse kehtin ke unhe koi pareshan kar raha hai. Pehle kuch din to maine khud dhundhne ki koshish ki ke kon hai jo unhe pareshan kar raha hai. Magar jab koi pakad mein nahi aaya to maine Mummyji aur Papaji ko bata diya."

"Unke koshish karne par bhi unke haath kuch nahi laga."

"Kuch waqt tak unki rozana ye shikayat aati ki koi unhe pareshan kar raha hai. Magar jald hi ye band ho gaya. Wo khamosh ho gayin ekdum chup rehne lagin.",

says Pooja, knitting her brows.

"Ek shaam unhone humein kaha ke ye unki aakhri raat hai!"

All of them widen their eyes respectively, in horror.

"Humein to jaise samjh hi nahi aa raha tha ke hum kya kahein. Humne phir bhi koshish ki unhe samjhane ki. Dilasa diya unhe ke kuch nahi hoga. Magar wo to maano confident thi ke wo jo keh rahi hain wo hokar rahega.",

says Pooja.

Naina knits her brows tight.

"Aur agli subah unhone ankh nahi kholi!"

All quiver hearing that!

Silence prevails!

"Phir kya hua Punjaban?",

asks Huda.

"Phir!",

says Pooja.

*Flashback*

Upon entering her grandmother's room in the darkness, Pooja feels extreme level of horror.

She switches on the light of the room and stares the room with her eyes wide opened. She slowly walks forth with an agenda to accomplish the task given to her by her grandmother. She begins to clean the place, quivering throughout in fear. A vase placed at a side table trembles. Pooja shouts in horror merely upon hearing the noise created by the vase. She without caring to see what made it to make the noise, Pooja runs out of the room, shouting in fear.

She runs out of her home, crying, sweating. Every now and then she turns to get assured that she is not being followed!

She collides with someone while her face was turned around. She shouts again, louder.

Her friend Megha holds her by her upper arms and asks her knitting her brows,

"Pooja... Pooja kya hua?"

It's then that Pooja realises that she is safe and is in her friend's company.

Pooja immediately turns to look towards Pooja in shock and soon realises that it's not her alone but it's their group of friends staring her with curiosity.

"Tu... tu theek hai na?",

asks Megha, followed by her other friends.

"Mere... mere ghar mein... Dadi...",

she fails to complete her sentence, out of extreme level of fear.

All of them stare towards her home, knitting their respective brows.

"Bus itni si baat?"

Megha's words compel Pooja to look towards her in utter shock.

"Halloween hai aaj Pooja! Aisa to hona hi tha.",

says Megha sadly.

Pooja stares her dumbstruck.

"Bakwas hai ye! Halloween!",

exclaims Pooja.

Smiling, Megha says,

"Bus isiliye ye sub tere saath hua."

Pooja knits her brows again and asks in confusion,

"Matlab?"

Taking a deep breath Megha says,

"Pichle saal Shreya shikaar bani iss saal tu.",

pointing towards Shreya.

Pooja gets all the more confused.

"Tu abhi abhi ayi hai na yahan isliye tujhe nahi pata.",

Shreya takes over.

Pooja turns to look towards Shreya.

"Kya nahi pata?",

she asks.

"India mein kon manata hai Halloween?",

asks Shreya.

Pooja stays silent.

"Koi nahi. Zyada se zyada kuch schools mein celebrate ho jata hoga. Wo bhi bus kuch schools mein har school mein nahi. Iske bawajood hum ye celebrate karte hain har saal.",

she says.

"Kyun?",

asks Pooja, curious.

"Block E mein jo khali ghar hai uska to tujhe pata hoga."

Pooja nods her head in affirmative.

"Wahan koi nahi rehta. Koi reh hi nahi sakta wahan. Jisne bhi uss ghar ko khareeda wo ya to kuch dino mein hi ghar khali karke chala gaya ya uski kisi na kisi wajah se ghar mein hi maut ho gayi chahe uski umr jitni bhi ho!"

Pooja quivers hearing that.

"Khas taur par Halloween wali raat to uss ghar ke aas-paas koi bhatakne se bhi darta.",

she tells.

"Kyun?",

asks Pooja again.

"Adrishya shaktiyon ko mehsoos kiya gaya hai wahan Halloween ki raat.",

Shreya whispers to Pooja.

Pooja widens her eyes in shock and disbelief.

Pooja tells her about the phone call.

"Lekin... lekin mere paas phone kyun aya aise?",

asks Pooja, confused.

"Shayad isliye kyunki tujhe tera mobile bohot pyara hai!",

suggests Neha.

All of them look towards her and nod their respective heads, other than Pooja who gulps her saliva in fear.

"Wo ussi ko target karte hain hum tak pohnchne ke liye jo humein pyara ho. Tere liye tera mobile hai aur shayad tujhe teri Dadi se bhi bohot pyar tha.",

says Neha.

Pooja nods her head in acceptance and cries harder missing her grandmother.

"Aur tujhe apne vash mein rakhne ke liye unhe ek zariya chahiye tha. Wo chain aur locket gift karke uss locket ke through wo tujh tak pohchne ka raasta bana rahi theen.",

adds Neha.

Shreya consoles her.

"Kya koi aya tha tere ghar par?",

asks Neha, suspiciously.

Pooja's heart skips a beat hearing Neha. She turns to look towards Neha and nods her head in affirmative in horror.

"Usne hi Dadi se phone par baat karai.",

says a shocked Pooja.

Shaking her head, taking a deep breath, Neha says,

"Tujhe darwaza kholna hi nahi chahiye tha."

"Mujhe laga yahin ke log ya bachche honge.",

says Pooja, her heart sinking.

"Kitni baar knock kiya tha?",

asks Neha, tilting her head a little towards right.

Pooja thinks and says,

"E...k... ba..ar shayad!"

Neha shakes her head and says,

"Teen baar kiya hoga!"

That comes as yet another shock for Pooja - how can she be so confident?!

Pooja told them what her grandmother asked her to do to which Neha says,

"Agar tujhe jo karne ko kaha gaya tu waisa kar deti to tu khud museebat ko nyota deti!"

Pooja's heart skips a beat again.

"Kyun?",

she asks in horror.

"Tu usey zariya de rahi thi tere ghar mein daakhil hone ka.",

Neha tells her.

●●●●●

"Magar inn baaton ka Halloween se kya lena dena?",

asks Pooja, confused and curious.

"Shauq-shauq mein ek Halloween wali raat yahan ke logon ne Halloween manaya. Decide to 31st October ke pehle se hi ho gaya tha ke ab Halloween manaya jayega. Uss raat by chance light bhi chali gayi thi. Candles lekar yahan ke kuch log society mein ghoomne lagey, puri tarah Halloween day ke liye taiyar hokar.",

she tells.

Pooja listens to her with complete interest.

"Light chali gayi ya le jayi gayi ye ab tak koi nahi jante!",

Shreya's words shock all of them.

"Matlab?",

asks Pooja, surprised.

"Short circuit hua tha! Bohot zor se aawaz aayi thi.",

says Shreya.

Pooja and all others arch their respective brows.

"Technicians gaye the theek karne magar wo theek nahi kar paye."

This fact increases the level of horror in the hearts of the listeners.

"Kayi baar koshish karne par bhi jab theek nahi hua to unhe electric shock lag gaya."

Pooja covers her mouth with her hands in surprise.

"Aisa lag raha tha jaise koi hai jo nahi chahta ke light aye.",

she says.

That compels Pooja to think who could it be!

"Wo khali ghar jahan aatmaon ke wajood ko mehsoos kiya gaya tha kayi baar yahan ke logon ke dwara, ye taye hua ke uss ghar ke saamne se bhi guzrenge sub. Balki guzrenge kya, rukenge bhi uss ghar ke saamne."

Pooja's rate of heartbeat picks up pace hearing that.

"Phir?",

asks Pooja, staring her in horror.

"Uss ghar ke saamne rukkar subne unn pret aatmaon se request ki ke wo yahan se chale jayein."

That sounds shocking to Pooja!

"Wo gayein phir?",

asks Pooja, curious.

"Uss ghar mein andhera rehta tha to wahan ke logon ne Pumpkin lights bhi jalaye. Unhe Halloween ka zyada pata to nahi tha jitna internet se dekhkar jaan paye unhone puri shraddha ke saath kar diya."

"Ye karte hi kuch waqt baad hi unn subko apne ird-gird ek halkapan mehsoos hua.",

she says.

Pooja widens her eyes again in surprise and sighs in relief.

"Tabse kisi ne kabhi kisi saaye ko apne aas paas mehsoos nahi kiya."

Pooja smiles in satisfaction.

"Magar kisi ne bhi uss ghar ko phir kabhi nahi khareeda."

All of them nod their heads respectively in understanding.

"Halloween manana jabse shuru kiya gaya tabse ek baar aisa hua tha jab ye decide hua tha ke kyunki ab sub kuch theek hai to ab Halloween aur manane ki zaroorat nahi."

"Magar jaise hi uss saal Halloween aya to phirse wohi sub hone laga jo pehle hota tha! Logon ko jaise akele khade rehne se darr lagne laga."

Pooja quivers and looks around to make sure that she is surrounded by her friends.

"Uss saal yahan ke kuch log khade hokar aise hi baat kar rahe the ke kaise Halloween day unhone manaya tha aur iss saal zaroorat nahi mehsoos kar rahe manane ki.",

she continues.

"Tabhi achanak unn mein se ek Uncle ne peeche murh kar dekha. Pehle to kisi ne dhyan nahi diya unn par magar jab wo achanak bina kuch kahe chalne lagey to sub ek-ek karke unhe bulane lagey. Magar unhe to jaise hosh hi nahi tha ke koi unhe bula raha hai."

"Main thi tab wohin apni ek friend ke saath khadi hokar baat kar rahi thi. Maine bhi dekha tha unhe achanak aise murh kar kahin jaate hue.",

says Megha.

All of them stare her in utter shock.

"Tu thi?!",

asks and exclaims Shreya.

Megha nods her head in affirmative.

"Main aur mere kuch friends jo uss incident ke baad darr ke maare yahan se chale gaye.",

says Megha.

"Phir?",

asks Shreya, desperate to know the further story.

"Chatterjee uncle ne jakar unke kandhe par haath rakhkar unhe roka to wo peeche murhkar Chatterjee uncle ko gusse se dekhne lagey."

The breath of each one of them turns shallow.

"Chatterjee uncle ne unse pucha ke wo kahan ja rahe hain. Jawab mein unn uncle ne - Sharma uncle the wo jinhe Chatterjee uncle rok rahe the. Sharma uncle ne zor se ek chaanta mara Chatterjee uncle ke gaal par!"

All of them cover their mouth with their hands, respectively.

"Chatterjee uncle ko to jaise kaato to khoon nahi! Wo hairan hokar Sharma uncle ko dekhte rahein aur bayein haath se apne gaal ko sehlate rahe."

All of them quiver imagining the situation.

"Sharma uncle murhe aur uss ghar ki taraf barhne lagey. Unhe aisa karta hua dekh sab achchambhit hokar unhe dekhte rahein."

"Sub dheere-dheere unka peecha karne lagey magar darr ke maare sub unse durr hi rehkar unka peecha kar rahein the.",

she says.

"Phir unhone Sharma uncle ko uss ghar ke ander jaate hue dekha."

"Sub darr ke maare chillakar unhe pukarne lagey, magar unhone ek na suni."

"Phir kya hua?",

asks Shreya.

"Ek tuti hui khidki hai uss ghar mein jahan se ki unn subne Sharma uncle ko kisi se baat karte hue dekha."

"Kisse?",

all of them ask in unison.

"Waise to wo akele the wahan. Magar wo baat kar rahe the. Aur jis tarah baat kar rahe the usse dekhkar aisa lag raha tha maano wo kisi ko dekh pa rahe hon jisse hum nahi dekh pa rahe.",

she increases the fear in her listeners' heart by telling this.

"Phir thodi der baad wo uss ghar se bahar nikle. Unhe dekhkar lag raha tha maano wo bohot khush hon. Jaise unki koi baat maan li gayi ho."

They all arch their respective brows hearing that.

"Unn subne unse jakar poocha ke wo ander kya karne gaye the aur kisse baat kar rahe the?"

"Kya kaha unhone?",

asks Neha, widening her eyes.

"Wo unhe hairani se dekhne lagein, mano unhe samjh hi na aa raha ho ke wo kya puch rahe hain. Unhone pucha - kya bol rahe ho?"

"Aisa poochne par baki sub unhe achambhit hokar dekhne lagey. Phir unhe bataya gaya jo kuch bhi hua. Chatterjee uncle ye sunn kar hakke-bakke reh gaye! Wo darr ke maare iss tarah kaampne lagey mano bhoot unke saamne khada ho. Wo dheere-dheere kaampte hue uss ghar ki aur (towards) murhkar dekhne lagey. Unka chehra jo pehle se hi darr ke maare laal ho gaya tha aur laal ho gaya!",

says Shreya.

"Jis tarah wo darne ke baad bhi uss ghar ki taraf ek tak dekhe ja rahe the, usse main daawe ke saath keh sakti hoon ke wo tab bhi uss ghar mein kisi ko dekh pa rahe the jo aur kisi ko nazar nahi aa raha tha!"

All of them begin sweating out of fear.

"Aur achanak unhe dil ka daura parha!"

All of them get shocked!

"Aur unki wohin maut ho gayi!",

says Shreya, sadly.

All of them close their respective eyes in grief.

"Unhe kon nazar aa raha tha! Kisse unhone baat ki! Ye raaz unke saath hi chala gaya. Magar unki maut ne ye taye kar diya ke agar humein apni salamati pyari hai to har saal Halloween celebrate karna hoga, bhaley hi humein ye tyohar befizool lagey!"

Pooja quivers!

*Flashback ends*

"Main ab 31st October ko kabhi ghar par nahi jaungi!",

says a determined Pooja.

All nod their respective heads in understanding.

"Tu Uncle-Aunty ko shift hone ko kyun nahi keh deti wahan se Pooja?",

asks Naina, knitting her brows.

"Bohot baar kaha hai wo mante hi nahi. Darasal humare neighbors bohot ache hain. Unhe darr hai ke jahan gaye wahan ke neighbors ache nahi miley to unhe mann nahi karega rehne ka.",

Pooja rolls her eyes.

"Unhe ye sub sehna manzoor hai magar neighbor galat mil jaye wo manzoor nahi!",

she taunts.

All laugh silently hearing her.

Pooja shakes her head.

●●●●●

Swayam reaches Kashish's home and calls her shouting her name,

"Kashish! Kashish!"

Kashish slowly appears in front of him walking out of her kitchen with her creased brows.

"Kya bola hai tumne aisa Akshat ko ke wo mujhse iss tarah pesh aa raha hai?",

shouts Swayam.

"Mere bhai ne aaj se pehle kabhi mujhe ignore nahi kiya. Main jaanta hoon aaj kal tumse uski dosti kuch zyada hi barh gayi hai.",

he glares Kashish.

"Maine wohi bataya hai jo such hai!",

says Kashish, looking straight into his eyes.

"Kuch such nahi hai!",

shouts Swayam.

"Inn tarot ke binah par tumne sub bakwaas bhare hain na mere bhai ke kaan mein?",

asks Swayam, glaring Kashish, and throwing few tarots out of the deck which was placed at her sitting area.

"Swayam!!!",

shouts Kashish upon finding it disrespectful - Swayam's throwing away her cards.

"How dare you?",

shouts Kashish, widening her eyes in anger.

"How dare you???",

retorts Swayam, raising his voice.

"Tumhari himmat kaise hui mere aur mere bhai ke beech mein aane ki?",

shouts Swayam.

Kashish continues glaring him.

"Mera Sujal ke khoon se koi lena dena nahi hai!",

shouts Swayam.

That comes as a shock for Kashish.

"To isliye tum Akshat ke dimag mein fizool ki baatein dalna band karo Kashish. Kyunki puri duniya meri dushman bann jaye mujhe manzoor hai magar agar kisi ne mere aur mere bhai ke beech darar daalne ki koshish ki.... to main usse kabhi nahi chorhta!!",

warns Swayam, indicating an index finger towards Kashish.

Kashish glares him back.

Swayam leaves glaring her for few more seconds.

(Shankh tune and ek danta song begins)

'Maine Swayam ko mere paas bulaya tha yahi sochkar ke uske saath-saath Sujal ke maut ki suchchai bhi mujh tak pohnch jayegi. Swayam ka itne daawe ke saath ye kehna ke wo gunehgar nahi hai....',

she looks away frustrated, folding her arms against her abdominal.

'Phir tarot ne Swayam ki taraf ishara kyun kiya? Aakhir kya rishta ho sakta hai Swayam ka Sujal ki maut se?',

thinks Kashish, confused.

She suddenly changes her thought process as she remembers the lady's words.

"Kya... kya main such mein janna chahti hoon ab Sujal ki maut ka raaz?",

Kashish asks herself, hurt and in dilemma.

"Nahi! Nahi mujhe mere Sujal par pura bharosa hai.",

she says, creasing her brows afresh, feeling suffocated.

Knot forms in her throat as she tries to control her emotions.

The moment she utters these words, she once again gets the flash of the moment that she is yet to witness in future!

This is the second time she has seen this flash. What is it trying to imply, she wonders!

●●●●●

The sudden noise of falling of something along with the vibration of it drag the attention of all of them.

"Ye... ye aawaz kaisi?",

asks Lolita Ma'am, looking up towards the floors of the academy.

"Oh mausam kharab hai na to shayad kuch gir gaya ho upar.",

says Suriji, looking upwards.

"Haan magar ye aawaz to baar baar aa rahi hai. I guess humein chalkar dekhna chahiye.",

suggests Naina.

"Naina itne andhere mein upar kahan jayenge. Rehne dete hain na.",

says Pooja.

"Waise bhi upar jaane ke liye torch ki zaroorat hai, itni hawa chal rahi hai candles to bujh jayengi.",

she adds.

"Waise horror stories ko sunne ka maza to chhat ke andhere mein hi hai.",

says Rajveer, hiding his naughty smile.

"Rajveer puttar teri shararatein gayi nahi ab tak hain?!",

laughs Suriji.

Rajveer shuts his eyes and blushes, laughing.

Naina enjoys staring Rajveer in this state.

"Waise ye baat to aap bilkul sahi keh rahe hain Sirji.",

agrees Huda.

"Raat ke andhere mein chhat par rehne ka maza hi kuch aur hota hai.",

says Huda, excited.

"Haan kya pata wahan koi Chudail ghoom rahi ho? You know what bro, you must go and check. Tum ja jakar dekhkar aao. Phir kya pata tumhe ek aur kahani mil jaye humein sunane ke liye? Ya humein mil jaye dusro ko sunane ke liye - ke humara ek dost Huda chhat...",

and before Yudi could continue, Huda strangles him taking Yudi's neck between Huda's upper and lower arms.

"Aa!! Huda... Huda...!",

shouts Yudi out of horror of getting strangled to death.

All of them laugh.

Huda frees Yudi finally.

"Ab zyada bola na tu ne Yudiye...",

snapping his fingers Huda points his right index finger towards Yudi, warning him in a friendly manner.

Suriji beats Huda lightly on his head.

Yudi soothes his neck pain with his right hand.

"Main kisi orderly ko bhejta hoon chhat ka darwaza band kar dene ke liye.",

says Suriji.

They find orderly Param passing from there when Suriji stops him and asks him to lock the terrace door. The orderly surprises him by saying,

"Sir hum sub wohin hain. Chhat humne hi kholi hai.",

blushes the orderly.

Suriji widens his eyes in shock.

All others look towards each other, controlling their fits of laughter.

"Oye khoteyo agar Brigadier Chandok ko pata chala na to tumhari iss academy se left right left kara denge. Samjh aa rahi hai?",

says Suriji, widening his eyes.

"Sorry Sir!",

appologizes the orderly, holding a plate filled with snacks.

"Darawaza band kar dena jakar phir karo mauj masti.",

Suriji winks at the orderly.

The orderly smiles wide. His heart swells with happiness.

All others smile wide too again their love and respect for Suriji increase manifolds.

"Chal ab chheti-chheti ja.",

says Suriji, indicating with his hand to hurry up.

The orderly begins to walk away when Suriji calls him,

"Aur sunn..."

He turns and looks towards Suriji.

Suriji picks up few chips from the bowl that the orderly was carrying in the tray and distributes small portions to all others who were sitting there and a little he keeps for himself and tells the orderly,

"Mess mein aur rakhe hain le lena."

The orderly smiles wide and leaves.

All of them smile too.

"Tum sub bachche ho mere. Orderly, Cadets, Captains meri nazron mein sub ek saman!",

laughs Suriji out of love.

All of them smile further. Their eyes twinkling with joy and love.

"Waise ek baat such-such batana sub.",

says Suriji, wagging his index finger in front of each one of them.

All of them knit their brows respectively.

"Darr to lag gaya tha subko awaz sunnkar hai ke nahi?",

asks Suriji, laughing.

All of them smile and blush hearing that.

Suriji laughs and mocks at them by saying,

"Mere darpok Sher!"

All of them widen their eyes respectively hearing that.

"Suriji!",

they scold him in unison, keeping their eyes wide opened.

Suriji gives expression of scare and all others laugh.