Ishika Rathod

She smiles seeing a truly angelic smile on Angel's face. Angel has been her friend for over a decade now. They were college mates before SFTU happened. She was the first to join the society, because well she needed answers. And this society felt like a place where she could find them.

As for Angel, she had spotted Mahi on one of her visits and decided to join. Not that she blames her, she truly is dedicated investigator.

And she truly loves Mahi, Ishika knows it and she enjoys teasing her for the same reason, she wishes nothing but happiness for her friend.

Coming to herself, she doesn't have words to describe herself. But she has some for Angel- over energetic, pagal, cute, innocent, crazy... and so many more.

"Main bolti tu kya cheez hai," is what Angel would say probably, "overthinking ki machine, tease, cutie, sweet girl, chashmish, pagal insaan, stress ka bhandagaar.."

She laughs at her own humor.

It's close to 11pm now, she decides it's best if she gets home. Twisting from her seat, she can see Angel is still hanging out near her desk, while trying hard to study the files they are given.

The whole day has passed in a blur. While there's a new case, it was fun too. Outch, why does her head hurt?

Is it because she kept thinking about random things all day? With a sigh she gets up from her seat and moves to talk with Angel.

"Angie, main ghar ja rahi hu."

"Hei? Why?" Angel makes puppy eyes as she pleads, "Rukjao na thodi der. Please. Meko company nai doge?"

"Tum bhi chalo na ghar..." Ishika suggests.

"Nahi. dekho na... Mahi abhi tak apne cabin se bahar nahi aya. Wo itna hard work karra hai, aur main velli banke ghar jau? No way!"

Ishika almost laughs at her friend's dramatic antics.

"Acha rehna tum, main jaari."

"Kyu?" Angel raises her eyebrow.

"Arey mera sar dhuk raha hai thoda isliye. Aur dekho 11 baje hue hai... so..."

Angel sighs, sniffing, holding back invisible tears, "tu meko akele chod ke jaari hai?"

"Main kaha jaari?" Ishika taunts, "tu hi chipki hui apne Mahu se."

"Arey wo toh mera janam haq hai. Chipkungi Fevicol ki tara, quick drying cement ki tara aur--"

"Bas bas. Main samjhi. Tu mere ko ghar jaane de ab, Angie, ok?"

"Nahiii!" Angel shouts, "pehle mera balti bhar k icecream lake dena phir sochti."

She folds her arms glaring. Ishika laughs before pulling out something from her desk drawer.

"Lo... canned coffee. Issey kaam chala lena."

"Coffee!! Great idea!" Angel beams, "ab mere ko dar nai lagega ki main Mahu k ane tak sojaungi... hehehe. Thank you yar. Thoughtful hai tu."

Ishika nods, "han wo toh main hu. Ab main jaa rahi..."

"Dhyan se..." Angel reminds her.

"Haan baba."

Ishu picks up her things when she hears Angel's voice again.

"Are you sure you okay? I mean tumhe aur Mahu ko ye headaches hote rehte. I'm starting to get worried."

Ishu assures her friend with a smile, "arey wo kuch nai. Shayad main uss sapne ke bare mei kuch zyada hi sochrahi, ya fir normal stress hai... isliye ghar jake sojaungi."

"Thoda kha bhi lena." Angel reminds.

"Haan Mumma."

The girls laugh in unison.

"Tujhe wo sapna fir aara hai?"

"Haan bar bar, Angie. Strange na?"

"Zarur tune kisi horror movie ko hazar baar dekhi hogi. Isliye aara." Angel laughs, "uspe dhyan na do."

Ishu nods but then she thinks, "mujhe nai lagta ye ittefaq hai.... Kahi iske peeche koi supernatural element to h nai?"

Then it's time to part. Giving a quick hug to Angel, Ishika steps out of the office.

****

She's walking down the road when her head starts throbbing.

"Aaj kuch zyada hi dhuk raha. God!"

She picks up her pace. No taxis were around. And her place is close by. So she decides to walk home.

The roads look almost deserted. And why wouldn't they? This place is far from Mumbai city. The streetlights cast a dim eerie look, it almost is scary. Well, she is never nervous. So why the heck is she now?

She walks on casually that's when her eyes find a tall man standing against a lamp post, his head hung over. Maybe he's lighting a cigar?

She looks away and immediately feels a chill down her neck.

"Excuse me Ma'am," says a rough voice, "can you give me directions to this address?"

She glances at the man behind her and then at the lamp post. It's the same man? How is it possible?

"Ma'm.... Please... I'm a little lost... " the man repeats.

"Huh? Yes.."

She takes the address slip from his hands.

"Huh, go straight, take the third left.. Then you will find a milk booth, this house is the one opposite that shop."

"Thank you..."

The man's white teeth is all she can see in the dark street. There's no lamp in the spot where they stood to illuminate him.

She nods receiving the thanks but the man doesn't move.

Starting to feel nervous, she aks, "what?"

The man says nothing. He bows a little before walking away.

Strange.... Her head didn't hurt when she talked to him.

She looks up after closing her eyes for a moment and sighing. The man is gone?

With a shake of her head, she resumes walking, faster.

"I need to get home soon."

Just as she turns around a corner, her head throbs wildly.

And--

'She wakes up from her dream a nightmare. Someone has stabbed a man in his chest. Her heart is pained to see the man in that state. She can't see his face though. Wait? That was a dream right?

She wipes her sweat. There's a strange feeling.. Before she knew it she walks out of her room, her house, straight to the grave yard..

The graveyard again, the one she saw a glimpse of in her dream after the man died.

Her feet carry her to a tombstone, there she sees something, probably the name of the poor soul buried in there.

'Naman Theodore Robins."

Everything is blinding white as she reads that name aloud.

Her head feels fuzzy, Ishika collapses on the spot. The white screen from her mind is gone.

She looks up rubbing her eyes.

Her home is just across. Pulling herself up, she slowly moves towards her house. Thankfully she lives as a tenant in the ground floor of this two storied building.

She heaves a sigh as she moves inside her flat, heading straight for bed.

What was that?

A new vision?

There's a name too....

That wasn't there in her dreams earlier.

Is this some indication?

Naman... that name stirs something in her heart.

Feeling exhausted, she doesn't even bother to change or wash herself. Just goes to sleep.....

Hopefully a dreamless one.

****

AN: that was short! Par I hope you guys like it. Love you guys :* RuVineet and Sagel-Runsh