That night Shruti thankfully had a peaceful sleep and mainly dreamless sleep. Next morning she woke up with sound of birds chirping and her room was enveloped in a bright sunlight. She glanced at the clock and stood up in hurry. She quickly got ready and went to kitchen. Monika was cooking.

"Why didn't you wake me?" Shruti asked.

She replied, "I came to your room but you were fast asleep, I didn't wanted to wake you up, you were sleeping like a baby" she chuckled. Shruti smiled back.

"Come on, let's have breakfast."

Shruti took the plates, spoons, glass and neatly placed them on table while Monika kept staring her.

"What are you looking at?" Shruti asked her.

Monika smiled and said, "Shruti. I remembered our college days! You  haven't changed a bit, remember when we used to meet in cafeteria, we just used to sit while you used to bring us our orders. You were such a Darling."

Shruti looked clueless but still smiled.

Monika said quickly, "Oh sorry, I forgot that you can't remember..."
They finished the breakfast and Shruti casually asked Monika.

"Mona. I wanted to ask about Sameer. I mean how was Sameer, his behavior."

Monika lifted her eyes from the newspaper she was reading. She kept the newspaper aside and began telling Shruti about Sameer.

FLASHBACK:-

In their college years, Shruti was known for her excellent Chess playing abilities. She was winner for 3 consecutive years in college's Chess Championship. Until She met her new opponent, Sameer.

One day she was practising chess with her then friends, of course they lost because she was very skilled.

A boy came up to her, dressed decently with rough look in his face, he was tall, dark, handsome too, he said, "May I know where is Auditorium?"

She gave him a scornful look because she was distracted, but she politely answered, "Auditorium is on the left hand side of Staff room in the 2nd floor."

He smiled and thanked her. All her other friends were laughing without any reason.

At the time of Chess competition, she came to know about her new opponent. She read his name, 'Sameer'.

When all players were assembled Shruti and Sameer gave each other familiar look. "Oh hi I am Shruti " She exclaimed.

He smiled back, "Hi, I am Sameer. I saw your name and came to know that you are champion since 3 years. Congrats!"

Monika came to cheer them, she heard everything, "Oh congratulating her, that too before the game." They both chuckled.

Monika quickly wished them All the best and moved towards audience. Sameer said, " So. Good luck!"

Shruti replied, "Huh! Oh yeah thanks, but I have my luck with me. I always play to win. So best of luck to you."

Sameer said, "Okay, may the best player win." The bell rang and the game was on. After some time, Shruti seemed trapped in the game and ultimately she lost the game.

Everyone raised their eyebrows. Sameer had won the competition by successfully defeating Shruti. All were cheering him, Shruti was upset but she took it sportingly. She congratulated him. That's how they became friends.

Shruti then got elected as General Secretary of the college. Now she had more responsibilities. She needed more volunteers apart from her friends so she formed her own group and they used to meet at cafeteria and their table was also fixed. She and Sameer used to practice chess, tease each other, and help each other.

In short Sameer was a nice guy, a good friend as well as good in academics. He used to take care of Shruti, while his best friend was Rohit. They were only two boys in their group before Rahul entered the picture.

NOW:-

Monika also told Shruti that she used to treat him like servant.... Sameer was the one who told Rahul that day, "Nothing pal. We are being treated as servants by our so called Queen."

While according to Shruti, there were only two boys in group so most the work should be done by them.... The earliest memory of Sameer was at the time of Shruti and Rahul's wedding.

"Since then I lost contact with our friends." said Monika.

Shruti said, "Maybe our other friends might be knowing where Sameer lives. Let's try to contact them."

"Well, we don't have a choice. I have got an idea, let's go to college. We will find their addresses in the college registrar. But, the rules are quiet strict now, they won't disclose the personal information of any student. So we must do something."

Shruti said, "Let's tell them we are cops."

Monika laughed and ridiculed her, "What! No this is even more dangerous, we could get arrested."

Shruti said, "Then what do we do?"

Monika said, "Don't worry. There are many other ways. Let's find them on Facebook."

Shruti and Monika ran towards Monika's laptop.

"Oh crap! There are thousands of Sameers on Facebook. Let's try Rohit..."

After half an hour of searching, they found Rohit.

"Got him. Let's chat and find Sameer's address." said Monika.

They kept chatting with Rohit and he was shocked after finding out about Rahul's death. He agreed to meet them at Monika's house. But they didn't tell him about the ghostly attack on Shruti.

While Shruti glanced at the clock, "Maybe we should do it later, We have to go to Uncle's office."

"Oh yes. Let me call him first." Monika went in other room to call her uncle. While Shuti went to her room to get ready.

They both got in the car and drove off to Mr Rathod's office. Monika stopped the car in front of a palatial building.

The building was old yet strong. They went inside, the mild smell of incensed stick greeted them. They went to the waiting room. Shruti glaced at the wall, there were many photos of Indian Gods. She instantly felt safe. Monika smiled at her. Shruti was going to speak something, but Mr Rathod came in and called them,

"Oh! Welcome, please come inside my cabin." They followed him inside. His cabin was comfortable, his table had some books and papers on it, they took a seat on the adjacent sofa.

He asked, "OK ladies, would you like some tea or coffee?"

Monika said, "We would like some coffee."

Her uncle said, "Right away." he went outside and within a minute he was in with them.

He took out the papers, and started speaking, "I have found these old books about black magic, and evil spirits. Don't think that I am practising black magic. Well I have used it sometimes to remove the evil spirit from ones body. First we have to know what the spirits want, or their intentions, we cannot determine the spirit's behavior since its very unpredictable. Now, in this book there are details of how can we get rid of the spirits. Its written by old 'sadhus' or 'shamans'. Basically the ghost world is controlled by Lord Shiva. Since he is also known as God of the dead. Myths says, Lord Shiva lives in crematorium and guards the spirits of the dead people. Well that's a different story. I need you to tell me more about this Sameer guy."

Monika told him, "Uncle. We are meeting Rohit tomorrow, out college friend. He was Sameer's best friend, he will help us as Shruti doesn't remember what happened between her college years and her wedding. While after college I went to USA."

"OK, in this case our prime suspect is Sameer which is your friend, otherwise Shruti doesn't know any other Sameer." Mr Rathod concluded.

They also discussed many things about his earlier cases. After some hours  Monika and Shruti left his office.

While driving back, Shruti asked Monika, "I hope I find Rahul's murderer and punish him."

Monika didn't spoke anything but she gave her a convincing look. Suddenly Monika stopped the car, as she saw someone was approaching them. Monika looked at the clock, it was 9 pm, She looked carefully and it was red faced man approaching them, slowly with evil grin on his face. Shruti panicked and began to scream, while Monika drove the car onto him, but the car passed through him. They were horrified, and the ghost was running with the same speed of car besides them. He was glaring at the steering wheel, and the car collided with a tree in midway.

Luckily they both escaped unhurt. They started to run at some random road and they noticed a temple, they quickly ran in the temple. It was Lord Shiva temple.

Shruti said, "Monika! I forgot the holy water at home that You had given me.

Monika said, "Now What? But wait, its a temple he can't come in. I left my phone in the car. Whom shall we contact?"

Shruti said, "Let's see, there must be someone inside."

They both went in and saw a man dressed in orange cloak reciting mantras. He turned towards them suddenly which spooked them even more.

"You don't know, you should remove your footwear before coming to temple. What are you both doing in the temple this late?"

Monika and Shruti narrated the whole incident to that man. He said, "The spirits cannot come in the temple, so you both are safe here. But its dangerous outside and after midnight, it will be lethal."

Monika questioned, "Then what do we do now?"

That man calmly said, "You can wait here till morning if it doesn't bother you."

He blew a whistle, a sturdy black cat jumped in front of them. Shruti stepped back quickly.

The man held the cat in his hands and began stroking it. "She will protect us. Yes! Spirits are scared of cats, our ancestors told us that Cats have indestructible glow in their eyes which could melt the spirits by burning them. Hence we worship cats since our ancestry."

Shruti asked, "But what if something happens to the cat?"

The man laughed and said, "Cats are also protected, in fact all animals are protected by Lord Pashupati (Protector of Animals). Which is also another form of Lord Shiva. We are standing in his presence. We must trust him." They both decided to stay in temple till morning...