DHARA
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"Boudi...Sheyi Baadite Ekti Dayani Bas Kore" she said as she grabbed her little dusting cloth squeezing it in her little hands as she gulped nervously and I kept looking at her. I did not understand Bengali that clearly. In the last few months all I had learnt was to greet people, although looking at her expressions I could clearly tell she was scared. And then she slowly looked at the old mansion that stood tall and mysteriously beautiful yet scary even as the sun shone brightly.

It was indeed beautiful. The old school architectural charms that it carried always left me fascinated yet my grandmother-in-law had clearly asked me not to go there. I wonder why they abandoned such a beautiful home and moved into this concrete mansion. Of course this was all about modern architecture, oozing class and richness but that mansion out there just a few metres away in the same compound was hauntingly beautiful and attractive.

'Shaamla...Ki Korchish? (What are you doing) Stop gossiping and get back to work! Maa was asking for you. Go see her now!' saying Nibedita Di almost yelled at the poor girl who suddenly shivers as she fumbles to say something but one glare from Nibedita Di and she simply shakes her head and leaves from there.

Once Shaamla leaves Nibedita Di turns around and looks at me. Her anger gets replaced with a warm smile as she says 'You look ethereal in this attire! But really you don't need to wear a saree everyday darling! Feel at home. Chakraborties are really broad minded people!!! No one will mind anything' she said as she tried to help me with the Chokor (necklace) I was gifted by my grandmother-in-law as she wanted me to wear it for the Durga Pooja today. They had organised it as this was my first day here after my marriage.

'Di...if you don't mind...can I ask you something?' I asked her hesitantly when she smiled and nodded. Clearing my throat I asked her 'Di...why is everyone barred from going to that old mansion out there?'

Just the mention of that mansion brought an immediate discomfort on Nibedita Di's face although she tried to hide it with a smile as she said 'Uhhh it's nothing Dhara...It's just that...it's a very old house...not much of facilities-'

'Then why not renovate it? I mean it's beautiful and must be extremely valuable for-' but she immediately interrupted me saying 'Dhara!!! I think we must avoid this silly topic and maybe concentrate on getting you dressed. Maa and Dida (Grandmother) has clearly asked me to explain everything about the Pujo rituals to you, so you don't feel left out. She was hiding things. I could say. She smoothly diverted the topic and I didn't want to stress upon the same again. She was my sister in law. She was also my husband's elder sister and after all the drama that happened in the last few days in the name of "marriage" was enough of a headache to everyone. I didn't want to unnecessarily interfere into people's personal space, especially if they are trying to avoid it.

Once I was ready Nibedita Di explained to me about all the Pujo rituals as Mishka my husband's youngest sibling was here. She stood there in her funky jeans, crop top and her DSLR camera. She wanted to pursue photography as her career and my wedding was kind of her way to develop a portfolio so she could convince Arindam Daadu to get a go from him, so she could quit engineering and pursue photography. She was Farhaan from 3 Idiots in the opposite gender.

'Dhara Boudi...are you ready??? Please tell me you are...I really need to go click more pictures of Pujo. That'll be a great collection for my social media' saying she started looking into adjusting her camera lens when Nibedita Di playfully hits the back of her head making her yelp a 'Ouchhh Didu Don't!!!' when Nibedita Di playfully held her ear saying

'Until last month this stupid girl kept begging for being the official photographer at her brother's wedding and now she's throwing tantrums?' when she rolled her eyes saying 'Di you know how I wanted to click Dada (brother) at the wedding, he is such a big shot celebrity but then with whatever happened at the wedding... screwed up everything for me. By now I would have got like so many million views for one picture of his but then with all that drama that unfolded..I mean...I'm seriou-' she suddenly paused as she realised I was still sitting there as she bit her lower lip and she immediately kneeled down and held my hands saying

'Heyyy Boudi...I am sorry ...I just...I'm a fool...I didn't realise... I'm...I'm sorry Boudi...It's been so tough for you and here I am...Shit!!! How can I?' when I simply caressed her cheeks and shook my head.

'Its ok!!! I know you didn't mean to bring up the topic and it's really fine Mishka! I know whatever happened was unexpected and unbelievable too but then that's how life is... unpredictable and I've learnt to accept life!!! Relax!!!'

'Boudi...Believe me...this house...Dada... everyone will shower you with love! You will never regret choosing us as your family' she said so innocently that I couldn't help but pull her into a warm embrace as I whispered 'I know!!!'

Our emotional talks were interrupted by Nibedita Di as she asked me to immediately come to the Pujo Pandal once we were done clicking the bridal pictures. She also had to attend guests, so she left immediately while Mishka started clicking my pictures. My grandmother in law wanted an aesthetic picture to be hung besides the family portraits of all the daughter in law's on the main walls in the living area although I found it a little uncomfortable but I couldn't really deny her. Out of respect or out of fear? I don't really know. She was a caring yet strict old woman.

'Shall we click some in the garden area Boudi? It's a beautiful sunny day. The ample amount of light will give naturally aesthetic shots' she proposed and I smiled. My grandmother in law had asked me and my husband, not to step out of the house until the next one week as the family priest had warned her about some evil eyeing us. I don't believe in all this but being a new bride in this household and being a newbee in this city I really didn't know much so I didn't mind it so much. If someone said this to me in Chandigarh or Dhaulpur I would have laughed it off and did what I liked, but here I didn't feel the need to argue.

I liked the fact that everyone was really very caring and warm towards me although at times it feels like they are slightly controlling but then the next minute they make me feel loved and cared for. I love this family. They didn't leave my side even during the dirty circumstances that arose during my marriage. Especially my husband. I am proud of him. Somehow I didn't want to hurt anyone here.

I still remember Daarji's words "You need to really stop being so controlling Puttarji!!! Life is like the sea...and people are like sand...As you learn to float in the sea of life...don't try to hold onto sand tightly in your fists!!! Relationships and eventually people slip away as you try controlling them. Learn to let go. Learn to ease out. Please go a little easy on yourself and others!!!'. That's exactly what I am trying to do. Trying not to be in control.

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'Alright...A little to the left...chin up... beautiful!!! This one's my favourite' Mishka clicked a hundred different pictures as I was bored now but this girl was unstoppable but finally I said

'Enough na Mishku!!! I am bored!!!' saying I sat under a tree when she smiled and came sitting next to me as she said

'You know Boudi!!! You are so cute!!!' and I smiled as we sat there for a few minutes as this was a bright sunny day with a soft breeze around us. I smiled and embraced it all closing my eyes while Mishka kept looking into her camera doing something she knew best when I opened my eyes and at a distance there stood the beautiful old school architectural charm. The Puraani Baadi. That's what they call it. I don't know why they avoid it though.

'Hey Mishka. Can I ask you something?' I begin the conversation when she quips 'Ofcourse Boudi' and I clear my throat asking ' Whats up with this Puraani Baadi thing huh? Why does everybody avoid talking about it? Even Shaamla this morning was like-'

'Boudi!!!' Mishka interrupted me saying 'I suggest you avoid asking about it. Dida and Baba both don't like talking about it!!!' when I narrowed my eyebrows asking 'But why? I mean...what is it that everyone tries to shoo the topic like it's some ghost!!!' when suddenly Mishka looks at me and the look she gives me was indecipherable.

'Look Boudi!!! No one likes to talk about the Puraani Baadi. They kind of call it an unlucky house, the reason why everyone moved into this new house. I know Kolkata and its people, have a lot of stories around this mansion, you may also have read or seen it in the news but I believe it's all just cooked up shit. All I know is our family priest had said that the Vaastu of that house is not right. It could only bring poverty and bad omen to the family. Surrounding the same, Dadu and Baba saw a lot of decline in the family business. The Baadi one night caught fire, probably due to a short circuit and they obviously had to move out. I wasn't born back then I don't know much but that's all of it and then we moved into the now Chakraborty Mansion. Guess what...this was going to be just an outhouse but Dadu and Baba built this with all the modern architecture and comfort that this became home and that...there...a series of stupid stories on old magazines and blog pages lol!!!' she said when I smiled back although I had a hundred questions in my mind and I finally asked her.

'What stupid stories???' and her facial expressions changed. She was about to say something when her phone rang and she said 'Tchhh Boudi...It's Nibedita Di...let's go' and I nodded.

One last time I looked at the tall old dark building. That's when I noticed the black smokey marks on the rusty old off white walls of the building. Inspite of having caught fire, it was a beautiful mansion. They could have renovated it? Couldn't they?

My curiosity made me google about the Purani Baadi as I typed Chakraborty Purani Baadi, Alipore, Kolkata when there were several articles about the mansion with several stories. They all said different stories but one topic in common everywhere that brought chills down my spine as each one said that

...

The Puraani Baadi was haunted...

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And that's the book I am going to begin soon. I haven't decided when I would start publishing it, havent decided the schedule either, but I'm starting to write this.

Hope you like it. Will be waiting to hear your opinion.

This isn't my genre, but I'm writing this so I get out of my writer's block. Hopefully you'll like this book as much as my other books.

Hoping to see you on this journey of mysteries, thrill, friendship, love, romance, betrayal and many more...

After all...this is just the beginning.

Love ❤️
Srinidhi