Arundhati's POV

I was on my way back home when I got Ann's call. 

"Hey-" I was cut off in between by her sobs.

"Ann? What happened? Why are you crying?" I asked completely confused. She was petrified. Her voice was trembling while she told me what has happened yesterday with her at the house.

"What?!" I exclaimed unable to process what I heard. I was really worried for her and honestly scared too.

Yesterday night I had to come to Guwahati cause today morning I had to assist with a critical case of Cystic Enucleation surgery. As soon as I was done I drove off for my house. It would take 3 hours to reach there.

"Come fast! Please!" She spoke, her voice pleading and desperate. 

"Hey hey... calm down!" I spoke, trying to stop her from crying. "I am coming!" 

Ann was really scared and I was really tensed for her, I just hope she is okay. Although she informed me that she is with her friend Siddharth which lessened my worry. At least she is not staying in that haunted house all alone, I have to reach as soon a possible. I said to myself while accelerated my speed.

The morning bright sun flickered through the tall pine leaves as I drove on through the twisted mountain roads. The rocks and trees on one side and the clouds on the other. After a few minutes, I got a call from mom.

"Hey, mom!"

"Hi! Baby, how are you?" She asked her voice so excited which brought a smile to my face.

"I am fine...tell me about you and how is dad?"

"All well here!"

"So how is life in the mountains?" She asked and I could hear her sipping tea.

"It's beautiful!" I replied looking outside the peaceful scenario surrounding me. It was so soothing. She chuckled.    

"Where is Ann? Can you give the phone to her once?"

"Sorry, mom I can't! I am on my way home from Guwahati!"

"From Guwahati?"

"Yup... Emergency surgery!"

"Oh okay! That's tough!" She replied, "Were you up all night? Don't tell me you drove through the mountain roads at night!" She asked, her voice completely serious.  

"Umm..!"

"No way Arundhati! How can you be this reckless! You know you are new to driving and it takes real skill and experience to drive through the twisted and elevated mountains roads!"

"Mom!" I tried to speak reassuring her that she did not need to worry and also to avoid her lectures. "It's okay! I am okay!"

"Please be careful my sweetheart!" she spoke sighing.

"I will!" I promised.

"Okay! By the way, how is Ann?"

"As good as anyone can be mom!" I said and she chuckled. I didn't want mom to be scared so I haven't revealed to her about all the spooky things that are happening here with us. She would be worrying too much. We need to figure out things soon. I thought.

"That's great! Is she studying properly?"

"Of course mom!"

"Great... How about your clinic? How is it going?"

"Perfect!"

"Good! Now listen there is great news I wanted to tell you guys" she spoke all excited.

"What is it, mom?" I asked, taking a sharp turn at one of the edges of the mountain. My eyes were fixed to the road ahead while I talked to her through my AirPods.

"Pihu is going to join you two!"

"What! Pihu is coming ?" I exclaimed in joy cause Pihu is our cousin sister and our best friend.

"Yes! She is going to stay with you two and join Ann's school and coaching institute!" 

"That's great mom! " I made a happy squeak almost jumping on my seat which made mom laugh.

"She is coming tomorrow. Please pick her up from the airport. I know it's sudden but we tried to reach you guys yesterday too. I, your uncle and aunt, everyone here tried calling and texting you guys but the network was too poor. None of ours calls or texts reached you." She spoke, her voice kind of hesitant. 

"Hey mom, it's okay!" I replied. 

"Her flight is around 6:30 in the evening and she is going to depart there at around 7:49 p.m." She replied with a relieved voice. 

"Okay! Is she in Kolkata now?" I asked.

"Yeah!"

"Don't worry we will pick her up!"

"Thanks, Arundhati!" She replied when I heard someone calling her. She must be at work!  I thought. "I gotta go now baby! Take care!"

"Of course mom don't worry about us! By the way, when are you planning to come here? This is a very beautiful place mom!"

"I will baby! Dad is just not getting any time! As soon as he gets a holiday we will! I promise!"

"Ok...mom! Now bye, and take care!"

"Bye and stay safe!" She replied and ended the call.

I felt so happy hearing her and elated on hearing the news of Pihu. She is coming and it will be so great. Ann too will be too happy. But the house... Is it really haunted? I asked myself.

After a long drive, I reached Tezpur. Ann has given me the direction to her friend's house and according to the given direction, I was standing in front of a beautiful mansion. The house was at the base of the mountain. The pine forest surrounding the backyard. It was few kilometers north of our house, but the road to this place was not through the woods around our place, the road was completely a different one from another direction but there were narrow paths for walking which connected our place and this town, but it was still quite far. The town was quiet at an elevation, the mountain peaks looked a little bit closer from here. The road was lined with tall pine trees on both sides leading to the beautiful and huge mansion. The door was huge and wooden. I reached for the doorbell and a very sweet lady somewhat in her early 40s opened the door for me.

"Hello dear, how can I help you?"

"...um.. Is this Chatterjee residence?"

"Yes, it is!"

"Is Anwesha here? Siddhartha's friend, and I am her sister Arundhati!"

"Oh...yes! please come in!" She exclaimed and gestured me to follow her in.

I walked into a huge house that was beautifully decorated. There were several antiques filling the large hallway leading to the enormous parlor. The floor was marveled and carpeted. From the center of the large parlor, there emerged a double staircase leading to the first floor. There was a Chesterfield sofa set occupying the left corner of the parlor where Ann was sitting with her friend and another guy somewhat about my age with bandages around his head and arms.

Seemed like he had an accident. There was another woman somewhat of age 60 was sitting with them. They were talking about something very serious when Ann noticed me. She ran towards me and engulfed me in a tight hug.

She seemed so relieved to find my embrace and so do I. I sat down with the Chatterjee family and we talked about everything that has happened yesterday with us all.

I came to know about Siddharth and his family more and that guy was his brother Saikat. He was quite handsome with the same grey eyes as Siddharth has. His smile was mesmerizing and his hair was dark black with few strands falling on his forehead just as Sid's. He was captivating but had an unapproachable aura surrounding him. His voice held authority.

Siddharth and his brother live here with their grandmother Kashi who is a very sweet lady and 3 housekeepers namely Rahul, his wife Sree, and Maria.

They are very good people, and extremely helpful. We had a nice time together. 

"There is something sinister surrounding that place!" grandma Kashi spoke, her voice a bit hoarse. "I heard some awful things that have happened there!" 

We looked at her with our eyes wide open, scared. 

"Don't worry! That was a long time ago!" She spoke trying to cheer us up.

"But there are some things science may sometimes be unable to explain, some existence that cannot be seen but felt, some grudges that stay behind..." She spoke, her voice was serious. 

She suggested we meet with the priest of the temple which was situated a few kilometers northeast of our house and ask him for help. We were not aware of this temple. It was actually established many many years ago and in a very secluded area. She gave us the direction to the place. 

"I know you all may think I am not making much sense or maybe I am a bit superstitious, but let me tell you I am not. I only believe what I see and what I feel and I know he can help you." Although she was generally quite jolly, yet her voice was very serious then.  We agreed to her suggestion feeling worried. How will we get out of this mess? I asked myself.

"Don't worry dear, we are here!" She said looking at the worried expression on our faces assuring us. After a while, we went back home.

On the way, I announced to Ann that Pihu was coming. She looked a little worried after what grandma Kashi said but as I informed her about Pihu she was so excited and so do I that for a moment we forgot whatever was happening with us.

Anwesha's POV(Ann)

I felt so relieved to find Sis beside me. Yesterday both Sis and Sid heard the same poem. Maybe it's linked with all these incidents. The lines were quite creepy. We decided we would seek help from the priest as suggested by grandma Kashi. But presently I felt much at ease with Sis by my side. Moreover, Pihu was coming to stay with us. I was so happy.

It was a bright day today and the sky was very clear. I looked out as we drove on, the Sun following us. People talking among themselves merrily walking around the town market area. It was a lazy Sunday morning. 

"We need some groceries!" Sis spoke and parked the car on the outskirts of the market area. It was refreshing around here. We went to get some fruits, bread, eggs and milk. 

"Hey, Ann!" Sis called out as we were heading back to our car, carrying the eggs and fruits in her hands.

"Yeah?" I asked, I was walking ahead of her, carrying the bread and milk.

"Are you hungry?" She asked.

"Kinda!" Although I had a light breakfast at Sid's place, but I couldn't eat much, as I was too tensed then. But now with Sis, I felt relieved and so a bit hungry too.

"Me too!" She spoke. A sweet aroma hit our noses. Turning around we saw a small bakery adjacent to a cafe. Exchanging looks we both hurried towards the bakery. The smell of freshly baked muffins made our mouths water. We sat down at one corner by the window and had some tasty muffins and coffee. Sis went for a cup of latte while I ordered a cup of cappuccino for me. Feeling full we went back to our car.

It was so tasty wasn't it?" She asked excitedly. 

"Yup it definitely was!" I replied holding the paper bag full of muffins and brownies we brought from the bakery. 

The woods looked tranquil too, the soft chirping of birds accompanied us as we drove on. We soon reached our house. It looked so calm as if nothing ever happened here. We walked in to find it exactly as I left it yesterday. Shallow ran in before us. Sis too loved dogs as I do and she seemed happier than me to have Shallow. 

"Siddharth is quite a considerate guy!" She spoke in a teasing manner as we went to the kitchen to keep our groceries. I rolled my eyes at her, trying to avoid blushing making her chuckle. Arranging the groceries in their places we went to our respective rooms to get freshen up.

I decided to take a long hot shower. It would help me to relax my tensed muscle. Moreover, today was quite colder than usual so taking a hot bath would be very much refreshing. I let the warm water touch my bare body and wash away all my worries. It was so refreshing. After I was done I got out of the warm washroom wrapped in a towel. Water still dripping down my hair. Applying some body lotion and moisturizer I slid into a pair of comfortable pants and a casual top. I took the hairbrush and combed my waist-long hair till it became completely straight. Applying some lip balm on my chapped lips I grabbed my blue jacket from the closet and walked downstairs to help sis. She had already freshened up and just started to cut the vegetables for lunch. I helped her in preparing the lunch and we talked and laughed about all the happy times we had.

After lunch, we decide to check the basement door. It was locked as expected. We checked all the keys we got of this house but none matched the basement door either. There was another key too which matched none of the doors. All seemed kind of mysterious. We left the door as it was and decided to go to the priest to ask for his help.

Hey guy here is my new chapter. Please let me know how is it. Kindly vote comment and share. You all are awesome readers. Stay tuned for more.
-Anusree