“Some women fear the fire,
Some women simply become it...”

~ R. H. SIN

-------------------   

There were all sorts of silences.

The ones which embrace you when you are in despair and let you grieve. The ones which soothe and let you make the most of the moment. The ones which leave you lonesome with nothing else but you to take care of yourself. And the ones which are so frightening that all your senses give up and you are left to be engulfed by it.

That was the sort of silence one could find in a morgue.

But for Professor Bhimsen Roy, being in a morgue was something which was as familiar as being in a lab. All throughout his career, he had come upon the dead multiple times. But the awfully contracted, sodden eyes of the dead never failed to send a shiver down his spine.

Professor Roy pushed the door and let it open with a creaking sound. There was a dead silence. Bhonsle had made sure that no one could come here today, even the dean was not aware of the fact that he had sneaked in. This was highly confidential. In front of him were rows and rows of dead, their bodies covered with a white cloth, lightened by the number of kerosene lamps hanging all around. A sharp pungent odour hit him like a knife and he scrunched his nose.

He had to find some clue. ANYTHING!! His mind was filled with determination. He couldn’t let anything slip through his hands.

The only entity that filled the silence was the resound of his shoes tapping on the old, moldy floorboard as he moved forward. Once in a while he stopped and stepped forward to move the cloth, only to reveal the burned, broken bodies. Faces of young and elder indifferent - gashed and mouths wide open, fixed forever in a rigid agony.

Too distorted to even recognize. Too much for him to expect to get some leads.

Even with the shiver running down his spine as he uncovered each body, his face remained deadpan and his frustration overcame the grief.

But Roy knew for once, the one body he was looking for was nowhere in the proximity. It was in the dark murky corner, away from the rest of the bodies like it had its own identity. He felt like someone was pushing the idea into his head. Someone was pushing him towards the shady corner.

Curiosity overwhelmed him and it took over his every sense, every nerve. He changed his course and moved towards that dreary corner with heavy steps.

He had his palm fisted into a ball and heavily uneven breaths as he crossed the room. Something was not right. His heart warned and it begged him to stop. But No! He knew he couldn't afford any more mistakes. He was shivering when stepped forward to uncover the body. With a shaky hand he lifted the cloth only to flinch away at the sight beneath it. Terrifying it was, making his flesh creep.

There lied that body he was looking for, awfully distorted, burnt and an eye missing.

Even then Roy found no difficulty in identifying him. His throat went dry and he felt nauseous being overthrown with deep grief and sorrow.

There was a swift change in the atmosphere and the warmth isolated the room leaving it with cold chills. It was dry. It was dark and horrific.

A spurt of air swooshed in leaving him with cold chills and surprisingly there was not even a single window in the room. The lamps flickered a little, gathering his attention. He looked around the dark room feeling the tiniest bit scared.

He felt like he could hear something - rattling bones, scurrying rats, hushed whispers... But in the end all that was left was the silence which was deadlier than everything else.

Feeling he had quite enough for the day, he tried to cover his face back, only to stop dead in his tracks. He would swear it in front of all the Gods but he knew no one was going to believe him.

For a split second, Roy saw his eye opening.

The cloth was long dropped from his hand as he breathed heavily. Was it real? Or was he just seeing things?

He couldn’t be alive! Right? It had been three months to the incident and this was absolutely unsolvable.

With those million unanswered questions still in his mind, Prof. Roy looked back once again at him. The eye as in singular was closed for once. Frozen, he pulled the cloth back to cover the body. A frown creased his face as he noticed the expression on his dead face. It was different and it was in no way the way it was just moments ago.

Was he really seeing things? Or was it all in his head?

As he covered the body, he realized that the only light in the room came from the lamp situated just above him but he could clearly remember that all were lit when he came in. He shifted around to find his way back to the door. It was dark and desolate with nothing but dead bodies lying along it.

He gulped down before starting to make his way back. With each step, his feet quivered and the sound of the thumping of his heart against his ribcage echoed from the walls.  An obscure force was blocking him, not letting him leave. But he dragged his feet forward with all his might.

He felt like he was being watched and as he looked around, all in there was darkness and wanting to know about the demons that were lurking in its shadow was the last thing in his mind.

Just a bit more...

He tried to reassure himself but every time he seemed to be approaching the door, he found himself far away. It was a labyrinth. And the door was at the end of it and he knew no way out. His curiosity had long subsided and gushed in the fear, drowning him, making everything blurry.

But then all of a sudden his hand reached the door and solace took over him. He was finally out. Sighing in relief he turned the door knob, opening it.

And then he did the unthinkable.

He could feel it. The hollow dead eye was boring on to his back like a knife and he turned around. And under the only working lamp in the room he saw him, the cloth parted away from him face and his head had turned, facing the door.

Facing him, watching him leave!!

His singular eye wide apart. It was dead, white and hollow. Sucking in everything like a black hole, yet the eyes of Prof. Roy were getting a different picture altogether.

Tearing his gaze away immediately he pulled the door shut and walked away as swiftly as he could. All he know was, he knew something that he didn't before. And then his ears boomed in a shattering noise making him petrified even more.

AN EXPLOSION HAD HAPPENED SOMEWHERE NEARBY!!

------------------- 

"Kaa (What)?" Gayatri asked nervously, her innocent eyes locking with Dave's for a moment. With the explosions and chaos all around them, her ears had deceived her and she couldn't make out what he said exactly. The voice was blurry when it reached her and what her brain processed out of it was two words 'Marry Me' but that was ridiculous and it led to her believing that he said something else.

Dave gulped before opening his mouth to respond but even before he could get a single word out, they heard the sound of the door of the book shop burst open.

Their eyes locked for a second. They didn't have to say anything. Their eyes said it all for them and they ran and went deeper into the shop trying to find a good hiding spot. They could still hear the clashes. Gun shots and explosions. It was a whole mess.

But all the while Gayatri never left her hold on Dave. She clung onto him like he was her lifeline and he took her in his arms with all his heart shielding her from all the harms. She rested her head on his chest listening to his racing heartbeats and let the warm tears flow out.

With each clash that stood out, her heart quivered and he held onto her more closely, not even a hairsbreadth separating them.

"Dave." She whispered letting out a whimper.

"Shh…" He said softly running his hands in circles over her back, pacifying her. "It's alright. It's alright." He cooed. But even though he was saying those he didn't have a single ounce of belief in that. It was not alright. He was scared too.

Time passed and the noises seemed to subside. But neither of them dared to move. They remained in the exact position, sweating and breathing heavily... Until they heard some movement close ahead. They immediately became alert and they looked at each other with fear glazing in both of their eyes.

But before they could even move, a light blinded them and he immediately took his place in front of her. Shielding her. Waiting for the impact with closed eyes.

But none came.

"Doctor Harrison?" Dave opened his eyes, shocked of hearing his name and found a couple of police men in front of him with a torch light pointed ahead and a gun on their shoulder.

"Yes. It's me." Dave sighed in relief. Good thing his name was quite known in the area. He turned around to look at Gayatri who looked startled with the recent happening. "I told you my lady. It's alright." He smiled.

But situation took a drastic turn as the policemen stiffened on knowing her presence. One of them even had the audacity to take out his rifle.

"Who is she?" The shortest one among them asked with venom spitting in his voice. "What is she doing here?" They showered questions.

"She's a part of those revolutionaries too." The other one said and went on ahead to consider even arresting her. An enormous wave of rage rose inside Dave but before he could even get a word out, Gayatri pushed past him to face the policemen herself.

"You think you can go ahead and arrest anyone just like that." Her voice rang in all clearance.

Dave never thought he was going to witness his Bihari tigress going out of control that day. Her eyes seemed like she was spitting fire and she went on ahead to give them a lecture on the horrible administrative system.

"This is my country." He heard her say. "And I have full rights to roam here without having a gun pointed at my head all the time." Her voice was distinct with power oozing from it. Who would say, just a few moments back she was curling up against him in all fear.

Dave couldn't be any more proud as he watched her roast those policemen with her words slicing like a sword. The policemen might have been speechless for a moment but they were not going to remain silent for long. One had a handcuff out in his hand and he was going ahead to arrest her but this time he placed himself between the man and Gayatri. His eyes spat fire at them. His message was clear. To get to her, they had to go through him first.

"She's with me." Dave said through his gritted teeth. "And I think you know better not to play with me." It was his cue this time.

Dave warned and they nodded reluctantly. "Now if you will excuse us, me and my friend have to head back to the college. I assume the way is clear by now." He uttered with an authority that created an awe in the silent environment.

“Yes," One scowled.

"Well, thank you then." Dave smirked with sarcasm dripping off his voice and turned around to face Gayatri who was watching him with a smile. "Let's go, Gayatree."

He had a smile on himself too and took Gayatri's hand in his, before heading out of the shop. Once they were out, Dave took a place in front of her gazing at her with concern.

"Are you alright?"

"Of course I'm. Don't worry Doctor Harrison." She said and passed him a smile. "And thank you." She smiled some more as they left.

------------------- 

They were silent as they walked back, side by side, lost in their own thoughts.

But Dave was busy smiling internally thinking about how he actually proposed her. He himself was surprised on his sudden outburst of emotions. Maybe it seemed too desperate and blunt but he didn't care. Because he didn't regret saying it for one second. He meant what he said.

Dave adored Gayatri. In the past few months he had watched her and had known her. Not just the fiery Bihari tigress, but the real Gayatri Joshi too.

Like Gayatri Joshi loved ginger tea with extra cardamom. Although she didn’t go about having it all the while, he was able to see how much she craved for it, from the slight curve of her lips whenever she had it and the way her face lightened up, before diving back into the mountain of books under which she buried herself all the time.

Gayatri Joshi who even though had long thick black hair, was not the biggest fan of it. She found it immensely difficult to manage and inconvenient. The only reason she had prevented herself from chopping it off was her beloved Anuradha jiji who had blackmailed her saying she wouldn’t talk to her unless she kept the hair or that was what he could make out from her occasional rambling sessions. But Dave, no matter long hair or short hair or even no hair at all, found her immensely beautiful.

And much to Dave's amusement, Gayatri Joshi, who was as tough as a nut, was afraid of the silliest of things - Flies. But it was before he found out the reasoning behind it.

It was through flies it spread.

The deadly epidemic which was responsible for the death of hundreds of people of her village, Ramnagar and his mother – Cholera!

He could never view the flies the same way again.

That was what he fell for. Those small things which made Gayatri the woman she was - the warrior she was. And she was the only one person in this world with whom he wanted to spend the rest of his life. He had never been more certain of anything.

So, as he walked Gayatri back to the hostel and the smile never left his face.

"You were saying something?" Dave's trance was broken with Gayatri's question. They were in front of the hostel and she was waiting there, for his answer.

"Huh?"

"You were saying something. Back in the bookshop." She explained.

"Oh." He said and scratched his head.

Silence filled again as both stood facing each other, but not uttering a single word. Growing tired of it she opened her mouth in order to say something but they were left stuck in her throat. As she remained so trying to come up with words, Dave decided to break the silence with a blooming smile on his face.

"Marry me.” He whispered, once again. And before she could say anything or even react....

He ran away!

------------------- 

Gayatri was deeply exhausted. Ever since the moment she kept her foot in CMC premises for the first time, trouble has never left her. The English Bhoot Theodore seemed to have taken quite a liking of her and had been hell bent on possessing her whenever he got some free time. It had left her with several physical injuries and even some mental ones too.

She could feel it in her heart that she was being watched. All the time. And it had left her turn to around, checking for any signs of him all the time. She was scared. Deeply and horridly.

The Theodore confrontations were taking a toll on her studies too. She had begun a habit of falling asleep even at the sight of a book as she was tired out by that time.

The only relief came to her in the form of one Doctor Dave Harrison. Research time with him had become the only time she felt light hearted now-a-days. He made her smile when she would be busy frowning at something and he had often left her in fits of laughter too. The time she spent with him soothed her and it was a much needed medicine for Gayatri while dealing with her tiresome life.

But that was gone too. Doctor Harrison had destroyed it by coming up with a damn proposal. What prompted him to say those two words 'Marry me ', she had no idea. All she knew was it had left her beyond frustrated.

That was why she decided to confront him, the first thing the next morning. She knew if she kept it buried for long, she would end up bursting. So, she had made up her mind.

Pushing past people through the corridor, Gayatri was making her way to find Dave. But while she was on the way she got distracted as Prof. Roy called upon her.

Ducking the crowd of people she moved towards him and came face to face with Roy who was standing in front of a class waiting for her. As Gayatri's eyes scanned his face, she noticed the fact that he looked much tired than usual. The wrinkles on his face seemed much more prominent and he seemed to be in a hurry.

"Yes Professor?" she asked.

"Gayatri, I need a favour. Please find Doctor Harrison. Someone is here to see him and is waiting in the administrative office. Tell him to get there immediately." Roy told her.

"Okay Professor. As  you say." Gayatri said rolling her eyes slightly. Eei sacho mein brahmadev haeen kaa ke sabke inkara dekhe kaa hayee (Is he really Brahmadev that everyone wants to see him)– she mused.

Turning around Gayatri was about to retreat but she was stopped as he called after her to hurry up. Sighing deeply, Gayatri was back on her way to find Dave.

"Brahmadev ke dekhe laagi itna jaldi kekra hayee (Who’s in such a hurry to see Brahmadev)!" She muttered to herself, scowling.

She found him in his chamber, with a book in his hand, reading. With a closer look, she realized that he was reading a book with the cover illustrated with a couple kissing ardently. ‘ROMEO AND JULIET’ – these words were embellished on it.

"Eei Brahmadev haeen ya kaamdev (Is he Brahmadev or Kaamdev)?!" She muttered to herself.

Gayatri cleared her throat to get his attention but he didn't respond. "Doctor Harrison." She called him but Dave looked like he was sucked into the book. Guts of this man! Wasn’t he supposed to be a serious, dedicated intern here? And here he was pouring over this romantic novel, all alone in his chamber.

With irritation at its peaks, she moved closer to him and yelled into his ear, "KAMADEV JIII!!".

His reaction was instantaneous. The book slipped from his hand and fell on the ground with a thud. At the same time he jumped as if he was electrocuted and losing his balance, he fell on the floor.

Breathing heavily, Dave looked up to find Gayatri scowling at him.

"Gayatree?" He said in disbelief. "What are you doing?" He frowned.

She opened her mouth to give the long lecture she had planned before but she realized that the time was moving and she remembered Prof. Roy's words, asking her hurry. Sighing deeply, she decided to do it later and said, "Prof. Roy told me to inform you that some one's here to meet you. They are in the administrative office and he told you to go immediately." She finished in a single breath and dashed out of the room instantly leaving Dave with the bitter taste of his own medicine.

-------------------

Sitting in the class along with Malobika, Gayatri was disturbed and she found it difficult to lend a listening ear to the lecture. She was in the second row with her head supported by a hand under the chin.

But her disinterest subsided soon enough as a chill ran down her spine. The temperature was dropping and she knew it only meant one thing. She looked around at others to see, whether they noticed the sudden change in atmosphere but none did and they all were too absorbed in the lecture. She started to shiver as the chillness attacked her and the familiar faint scent of nicotine was there again. She convulsed trying to ignore it but it only seemed to grow stronger.

Only when she started to feel that she was going to die because of the cold, a wave of warmness captured her. The temperature was getting normal and a deep silence prevailed. Slowly, she opened her eyes which had been tight shut the whole time, only to gasp in shock.

She was still in the class, in her seat. But she was the only one there. Neither of her classmates were around nor was her professor. Her only companion was the three hypnotizing words written on the blackboard.

‘ACCEPT MY EXISTENCE’

Those three words were slicing her leading her to bleed inside. She breathed heavily as her face started contracting in fear. She closed her eyes praying to God to take her back.

In the meantime, the whole class was watching her worriedly. She was breathing heavily, loudly and the professor could swear that she was looking through him. Not at him. But through him. Like there was something behind him, on the black board. Something written there that left her to breakdown like that.

With a strong gasp, Gayatri was out of the illusion. Perspiring heavily, she noticed everyone's astonished look.

She suppressed the scream that was about to leave her mouth. She just picked herself and run to the door and going out, giving no ears to the professor calling her back.

-------------------

She was running. With no idea of where she was headed. She had enough of this Theodore nonsense and she couldn't take it anymore. She was tired of losing all her senses and control of herself. She was tired of being scared all the time.

Why her? What did she even do to him?

With soft tears running down her cheek she ran, and she continued doing do so until she bumped into something. Or someone…

"What in the name of god are you doing? Don't you have eyes?"

A sudden shout pulled Gayatri out of the trance. She was shocked hearing the unfamiliar voice and she stepped back immediately.

She looked up and found an elegantly dressed English woman, seemingly in her late twenties, glaring at her. She had a dominant aura around her and Gayatri felt small in her presence.

"Gayatree," A soft voice came and a pair of strong hands helped Gayatri who was struggling to compose herself to stand up straight.

“Dave.” The sound left her mouth before she could resist and she looked into those familiar hazel eyes which were gazing at her in concern.

"Gayatree." He repeated. No. Not Gayatree. Just her name, flowing out of his lips like a sweet melody. "Are you alright?" He ushered worriedly. Before she could answer the question, she was cut off by the unfamiliar English woman.

"Come on, Dave. Of course, she is. Have some problem with her sight, of course. But leave it. We have to hurry." Dave's gaze turned to the said woman in question. She had a sugar coated smile on her face as she faced Dave and she tugged the sleeve of his shirt pulling him along.

Gayatri realized the fact that he had been accompanying her and an unknown nag came in the back of her mind.

Who was she?

What was she doing with him?

Was she betrothed to him?

Even the thought sent a wave of jealousy through her, which of course, she tried her best to ignore.

Dave turned back to her, the concern vanished and was now masked with a firm expression. "I will talk to you later." He gave her a reassuring nod and gazed back at the woman. "Come on, Francesca. Let’s go." He said and  holding her hand, taking her with him, he moved away.

But he didn't knew he was leaving a Gayatri who was hurt and fuming with angry as he did so.

-------------------

Dave couldn't feel any more bad than that for leaving Gayatri just like that when she was obviously struggling. But he had Francesca with him and he couldn't do anything with her remaining in the scene. He couldn’t let Francesca know about the ongoing things here. That was why he decided to drop Francesca at the guest house first. Once he was done with that, he was ready to meet Gayatri and all that was left was the task of finding her.

And he knew exactly where he will find her.

As expected, he was proceeding towards the library but his eyes caught site of her at one corner of the lush green grounds. But not as much as he expected, she didn't have a book in her hand. It was a much a cuter scene which brought an instant smile on his face that he came up on.

Gayatri had a little kitten in her hand and she was cooing it. While the kitten itself was extremely adorable the expressions, and that she was making while playing along with it topped it. And Dave knew he could watch her do it forever and he would never get bored.

But the little cuddling session came to an end once her eyes fell on him. The smile on her face disappeared instantaneously to be replaced with a frown. Ignoring him, she put the kitten on the ground, letting it go. It ran away wiggling it's tail, with its little paws. It stopped just in front of Dave and confirmed his foot to be a perfect resting place. Chuckling by himself, he scooped the kitten in his hand but at the same time with the corner of his eye, he saw her turning away from them and going back to her books.

Carrying the kitten in his hand, Dave moved forward and took a seat opposite to hers, nervously. She continued reading without paying him a single penny of attention. Clearing his throat didn't work as she downright ignored him. Keeping his lips in a thin line, he seemed to get the idea that he will have to do something more to get her attention.

He went on to drum his hands on the table nonchalantly. Even though the noise was disturbing her, she acted on like she didn’t care a bit. Realizing that was not going to do the job, he started whistling. All the while, the little ginger creature resting in Dave's hands was left to watch the scene and be confused. It was too small to understand what was going on.

Eventually the whistling ceased and he started to hum a song. The fact that he didn't have any rhythm finally seemed to have cracked the very last ounce of her patience.

"What do you want?" She whisper shouted, getting up from her seat, fuming with annoyance.

"I want you to listen to me Gayatree." He said as he finally got a chance to talk. He got up too following her, before taking a position just in front of her. "I want to you to talk. I want to make sure that you're well." He looked at her.

"Alright Doctor Harrison, so be it. Now, listen carefully. I'm completely alright and for your information it's none of your business."  She said emphasizing each word.

"But it is." He said with his voice cracking a little in between. "It is."

"Why do you care?" She asked shaking her head. Her face was red with frustration.

“I care because I-” his voice cracked as his emotions got controlled.

“You don’t even have an answer for it Doctor Harrison.” She fumed.

"Gayatree." He said.

"Yes." She said in annoyance.

"Look at me."  He said and she looked up.

"I just want you to know that I meant everything I said yesterday. You are the only woman for me. And I know that, somewhere down your heart you feel something for me too. So, I'm going to ask it again. No matter how many times you break I will continue to do so."

He stopped for a minute scanning her face.

"Will you marry me?"

Gayatri was stunned! What did he just say??

“Look Doctor Harrison, I don’t know why you are saying such things but…” She had no idea how to voice out her feelings but what he was asking was absolutely absurd and she couldn’t reciprocate. It was an insane act.

"Because I LOVE YOU." Dave’s voice was highly frustrated. Was it so tough to convey her those feelings he had nestled in his heart for so long?!

His words hit her like an electric shock. Her heart seemed to have skipped a beat as his words echoed in her ears. I love you. He said… I love you.

"I really do, Gayatree." He continue. "I really do love you. The very first time I met you, I knew there was something different about you. I know it sounds like I'm copying the words from some romantic novel, but I'm not. I could feel the connection. With your every word, with your every look, with your every action, you were pulling me more and more towards you. And you still are. You are the biggest question mark I have ever had Gayatri but I have find myself feeling the happiest I ever have, finding the answers. SOLVING YOU."

His heartfelt confession left her weak on her knees. Did he actually mean what be said? The sincerity dripping in his voice itself was the biggest answer to her question.

But that was when something clicked in her mind and all those emotions deserted her. That woman. That English woman. Who knew how many times he must have said those same things to her too?!

"Will you marry me, Gaya-a-tree?" He completed. His hazel eyes scanned over her face for a reaction. He could see it all over on her face.

A smile, a frown, sadness, frustration, disappointment...

But he was ready, for whatever reaction she had. There was one where she would happily accept his proposal and there was another one where Gayatri Joshi would downright reject him.

But what happened was neither.

It all happened really fast. There was a swift movement of her hand and the next moment it was on his cheek, leaving a burning sensation.

She slapped him!

To say that she was shocked, would be an understatement. He was flabbergasted. This was not how he imagined it to turn out. But somehow he had managed to piss her off. Somehow he had managed to lure out the wounded lioness.

Her eyes were blazing, her face the deepest shade of red and her hands were quivering. He had never seen her this angry before. Not when she taught that guy a lesson for saying that she didn’t belong here, not when she faced those disgusting policemen. This was definitely something else altogether and even the little kitten had ran away from the scene, seeing her rage.

"HOW DARE YOU?" She shouted, her voice dripping with venom. "How dare you? Do you think it's all a game? Do you think it's fun? To play with a woman's emotion. That too not just one. But two. What do you think of us? That we would remain silent and accept it all. You are wrong, Doctor Harrison. We are not going to sit silent any more. Especially not me. Disgusting men like you are definitely a curse to this world. And it's high time that someone stands up to you. So get lost."

No.

He didn’t want this!!

With her words still hanging in the air, Gayatri left the place leaving a broken Dave behind. Her words had hurt him more than anything. They were sharp. They were cruel. And they broke his heart into millions of pieces.

Gayatri could never be more wrong. Hurting her was not his motives nor was playing with her. He meant every word he said and she had just... misunderstood. And he had to clear it before it get any bigger. Wiping the tears under his eyes, he knew what he had to do. He had to find her. He had to make her understand the truth. He picked himself up with firm determination and followed her out.

But amidst the confessions, misunderstandings and drama, neither of them noticed the drop of temperature and the sharp scent of nicotine.

Neither of them noticed that they were not alone and that they were being watched the whole time.

Neither of them knew that a new plan was being weaved behind their backs and it meant total destruction.

And neither of them knew that the first step of it would take place just minutes later.

-------------------

Her outburst on Dave back in the grounds had exhausted Gayatri and left her weak. But it didn't stop her from taking long strides and get as far away from that man as possible. She wiped off the silent tears flowing from her eyes vigorously as she moved.

"Gayatree." A familiar desperate voice called her from behind but she didn't stop, only increased her pace. She could hear him calling her again and again and his voice was drawing closer. Within seconds she found him in front of her, blocking her path.

"Gayatree," He said out of breath. "Please… Listen to me once. I…"

And Dave stopped. Like something had struck him out of nowhere. His body was still. He couldn't move. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't do anything. He noticed a strong scent of Cigar. And all of a sudden he felt like he was electrocuted as a shiver ran all over his body, leaving him in immense pain. Slowly realization sank in, something was pulling him down as if the gravity had increased four times. There was an immense pressure over his chest and his eyes began to water. The world began to spin and he was to about to black out.

But as swift as it came, it went away too. The pressure lifted and he was not being pulled anymore. It was stopped by a pair of hands. Her hands. Holding him.

Her touch had done the trick. There was no pain and he was free. The only proofs of it being happened were the feeling that he was out of breath and his heart beating in a tremendous rate. But he realized that it could have been from the mini marathon he participated from the grounds to where they were now, as if no time had passed.

Wait.  No time had passed, when he actually felt like it had been minutes. Scratch that, he felt like it had been hours.

Was it all a dream?

Fragments of his imagination?

But then he looked at her and suddenly everything made sense. Because she was the only thing that mattered after all and she was there. She was there. That was all he wanted. But then, she flinched away from him like he was a plague. And he could see it in her eyes. She hated him. She loathed him.

"These cheap tricks won't work on me." She scowled. "Stay away from me."

And so he did.

------------------- 

"I want to know more about Theodore, professor."

Prof. Roy's eyes grew wide as his favorite student had come again, enquiring. He should have expected it. That she wouldn't be satisfied with the stupid Theodore story just like that. After all, Gayatri was a curious being. From all that he knew about her, she was the kind of person who wouldn’t rest until she got all the answers she wanted.

"Sit down, Gayatri." He said showing her a seat. They were in Prof. Roy's office. It was mid afternoon and what lead her to storm in to start a conversation just like that, he had no idea.

She took the seat and looked at him curiously for answers to the questions that had given her lots of sleepless nights.

"It’s just what I told you before, Gayatri. Theodore Hector was one of those Englishmen who couldn't stand the sight of us, natives. He was particularly much crueler than others and even after his death he didn't seem to have gotten tired of the habit."

"But there must be some way to stop him, right?" She asked curiously. "There has to be."

"I don't know." Roy shook his head. "I have tried. Everyone has tried. But we all failed."

"But we can't give up." She said her raising voice. "There must be some weakness. Everyone has some weakness and Theodore, too, would have something. We just have to find it. I don't care if everyone has given up. But I'm not going to."

"Don't go seeking trouble, Gayatri. He's stronger than you think." Roy warned. "Also, this is not why you are here."

Roy's warning seemed to have clicked something in her mind. She had been so wrapped up in the Theodore matters even when she knew, in the end, it wouldn’t matter at all. But she couldn’t let it go like that also. She was not going to keep quiet and let him do it all. She was going to fight.

"Has Theodore been troubling you again?" He asked with a concern. He was ashamed of himself. She was his responsibility and he couldn't even keep her safe. He couldn't even do that small task.

"No." She shook her head. "Not since that day in the grou-"

Grounds! A sudden realization struck her.

That day in the grounds, a couple of days ago, where she had rejected Dave once again, he was there... He was goddamn right there...

Amidst the rage and frustration, she didn't notice it then. But now when she thought about it, she could remember it. All clearly. The chillness, the prevailing smell of nicotine, the way her throat dried up and the shivering. And the way that kitten leapt out of Dave's arms and ran away, it was not just scared. It was running for its life. She thought it was all because of the frustration but it was not.

It was Theodore.

And Dave. Did he know? Did he feel it?

And that's when another realization struck her.

The way Dave stood in front of her, frozen. His face convulsing in pain and he was falling. She caught him back then and he suddenly seemed to have become normal again. She assumed that it was an act back then. She thought he was trying to get to her with some cheap tricks.

But he was not.

He was attacked!

"Gayatri." She broke out of the trance hearing Roy call her name, looking at her with concern. And when she looked at herself she could see why. She was clearly shaking and her vision was blurred.

"I'm alright." She reassured. "Let's continue with Theo-"

The door opened suddenly and in came none other than the Dave Harrison himself.

She stopped in her tracks and exchanged a glance with Roy who mouthed her to keep silent. They were not going to have a Theodore discussion with Dave with them. And when she saw Dave, she couldn't help but feel bad. He looked tired and with wrinkles arising on his pale face, he looked aged. Also the dark circles under his eyes were not doing any help.

Just as she said, he was staying away from her, giving her the space she wanted. He didn't come disturbing her in the class and while they were working on their research, he left her alone. In one way she was grateful for that as she was finally getting some time to clear her head. She was here to study and not get involved in these things.

As he moved further inside he stole glances at her but every time she looked he would turn away. But she didn't miss the hurt in his eyes. The charming, always smiling Dave was not there anymore. He was....broken.

What had she done?

She remembered all those words she said to him. They were cruel and relentless. And she saw those words were stabbing him like a sharp sword.

She had hurt him.

It was all in the spur of movement. She was angry and took it out on him. She didn't even believe any of those things herself. Because from how much she knew him, Dr. Harrison was not that kind of a person. He was... Good. She should have given him a chance to explain.

And it was the guilt that led her to actually pass a smile to Dave. It was a little weird and short lived. It was just a greeting. After all, what could a smile say?

But she was wrong. It meant everything to Dave. The fact that she actually greeted without any frustration or muttering profanities under her breath relaxed him. It was an assurance to him. That they could move past it all. And he smiled back even though she was not looking at him anymore.

He took a seat next to Prof. Roy who started enquiring about their research. He watched as her eyes light up instantly as she dived into the subject. Her voice was firm and clear as she introduced her ideas and her research and he couldn't help but feel proud. Once she was finished, Dave chipped some of his own work.

To say that Prof. Roy was proud, of both of them, would be an understatement. With both their ideas together and their works combined, they were much progressed than anyone had ever been.

"I can assure, with the rate you both are going, you would have the cure in your hands by the end of the year." A cure. For Cholera! The thing that took his mother and wiped off half of Gayatri's village, gone forever. Roy's words raised his heartbeats.

"But you lack coordination." Roy said. "You have to discuss and work together."

Dave and Gayatri exchanged a glance at his words but quickly turned away. They nodded and he went back to the papers studying it once more.

On cue, a peon came in with a cup of tea for Prof. Roy.

"Dave, can you please forward it?" Roy said and outstretched his hand. Dave stood up and got the cup of tea from the peon and that was when his gaze fell on Gayatri. She was reading something, her eyebrows furrowed and biting the tip of her pencil in the cutest way ever.

Dave was all lost in it, the way her eyes blinked in a lovely rhythm and some naughty hairs that had somehow found a way out of whole she had deeply plated, were disturbing her. He hadn't seen it in a couple of days as he was staying away, just like she asked. And his hand moved automatically and he had outstretched the tea cup towards… Gayatri!

"Doctor Harrison." Prof. Roy had to call his name for some five times before he actually noticed him. Dave was confused for a moment. Gayatri was looking at him now, her cheeks adorned by a light pink blush. And he slowly realized the situation. Prof. Roy still had his hand outstretched to receive the tea but he ended up forwarding it to Gayatri being the fool he was.

Scratch that, being the fool in love he was!

He quickly retreated his hand and gave the cup to Prof. Roy, embarrassed and he looked down. Damn it, Dave!

But his embarrassment subsided with the light amused chuckle that emitted from her. He looked at her only to find her trying to hide it covering her mouth. And that was music to his ears.

They remained there for another half an hour before Prof. Roy dismissed them. Dave had used that time trying to strike up a conversation with Gayatri but every time he seemed closer to success she would turn away. But when they were about to leave the room, Dave finally managed to say her name.

"Gayatri," He said and she looked up at him.

"I have class." She said looking at the time in the clock and a strong wave of disappointment filled him but she added, "But I'll see you later. Is that okay?" she added.

She was nervous, her hands were fidgeting continuously as she waited for him to say something. On the other hand, Dave was astonished and he couldn't express how happy he was.

"Yes. Of course. Good." He muttered some random words as he was struck by happiness deeply that he couldn't get a word out.

She passed him a small smile before walking away for her next class and Dave smiled at himself seeing the improvement in their relationship just within the last couple of hours.

He was now sure that things would go back to normal soon.

-------------------
 
It was evening and Gayatri was relaxing in the balcony with Malobika listening to her rant. She was smiling even though most of the talks were making her want to roll her eyes. But it lasted only until Malobika pointed out something.

"Look, there's Doctor Harrison." She turned around instantly in the direction Malobika was pointing. "He's with that English woman again."

Gayatri watched as Dave strolled through the grounds with Francesa by his side. There was a strong feeling of jealousy in her as they were so cozy leading her to abruptly turn away from the sight.

"I'm going for a walk." She informed Malobika and walked out of the balcony before she could respond, muttering profanities under her breath.

She walked through the corridors by herself trying to clear her mind. Seeing Dave with Francesca triggered some weird emotions and it was leaving her frustrated. Not wanting to think about it anymore she walked admiring the beauty of the college and nature.

After a few minutes she came upon an interesting sight. She was just down the staircase and at the top of it was Dave.

What was he doing here?

The last time she saw him, he was on the other part of the college with Francesca. Then how did he reach here?

She was about to call him seeing that he hadn’t noticed her yet but that was when she realized that something was wrong.

He was stiff like stone and he looked like he was in pain. His face was contracted and he was convulsion. Again.

"Dave." A cry escaped her lips.

And she saw it, from the corner of her eye, something was taking form behind Dave, first a little smoke and then it turned into yellowish green and a pair of hands appeared out of it. She could feel the pungent smell of the dead and before she could do anything those disgusting hands pushed Dave. He fell, rolling down the stairs and hitting his head on the ground letting the blood flow.

And just as it came, the hand disappeared into the smoke and in no time leaving the air clear as if nothing happened.

------------------- 

"Dave!!" The single syllable repeated again and again in her mouth as his unconscious body lied at her feet with blood oozing all around.

It was shock at first. Then came a steady phase of denial and then panic overtook her.

"Dave." She knew she would be able to do something but medical ethics were the last thing in her mind. She was on her hands and knees on the ground, crouched beside him. She shook him, and the warm tears from her eyes fell on him.

Wiping her tears off, she cried loudly.

"HELP!"

And she tried to lift him, to take him to the infirmary but he was heavy and she couldn't do it alone. So, she screamed for help again.

In a minute or two, it came and they helped her carry him to the infirmary.

But just before they took the turn from the corridor, she looked back for a second. The cold air swooshed in and out and even if she couldn't see anything, she knew it in her mind.

He was here.

And he was watching.

-------------------  

It was dusk by the time Dave woke up. Gayatri stayed in the infirmary itself, all night. He was alright. Just a wound on his head which would most likely heal in a week. She stayed by his side as the doctors nursed his wound, only one thought in her head.

It was all her fault.

Francesca dropped in to see him at one point. She either didn't notice Gayatri or she was an expert in ignoring people, either worked for Gayatri. But she left soon, leaving her alone with Dave.

Finding Gayatri by his side when he woke up brought an instant smile on Dave's face. The dark bags under her eyes made him realize that she hadn’t slept throughout the night.

"Good morning." He said weakly and she returned the greeting with a small smile. "Is it good that I don't remember what happened?"

"You are the doctor. How can I know?" She chuckled trying to lighten the moment. He was already in pain and she didn't want to tense him anymore. "You fell down the stairs and hit your head."

"That sounds painful." He cried dramatically. He chuckled at his own actions leaving her to shake her head.

They both were doing the same thing. Trying to distract themselves from the pain and diffuse the obvious tension between them. "Francesca Ji dropped in once." She said looking anywhere but at him.

"Gayatree." He said.

"Yes." She uttered in an immensely annoyed tone.

"Look at me." He said and she looked up.

"Francesca is my step mother!!" – and the truth was out!

"What?" Gayatri asked shocked. Dave nodded in confirmation and she felt suddenly embarrassed. Was this the truth?!

"My father married her after returning to England, after my mother's death." His voice was wet  and she looked down not able to face him. She remembered back to that day when he narrated about his mother, she could make out that he was really fond of his Mother and then this. A step-mother about half the age of his father – It would have broken him. An apology was much needed!

"I'm sorry." She said. That was the only thing she managed to say. "Please forgive me."

"Don't apologize Gayatri. You have nothing to apologize for." He said sincerely and Gayatri could feel no less thankful..

There was this man, who lived for her more than anything and there was she who would never come in terms with her feelings for him. And the increasing danger was just making things more unattainable. She was in absolute dilemma.

"Will you marry me?" Again the same question rung in the silence of the infirmary.

"Get some rest Dr. Harrison." She said in a plain voice getting up from the seat. "I will see you later."

And she left the infirmary without a backward glance. She ignored the tears that were streaming down her face because she knew it was not the time to cry. It was the time to fight.

Theodore had crossed a step. He was not just behind her now. He was going behind her loved ones too and she couldn't let that happen. She knew she had to put an end it really soon.

And she knew just what to do.

------------------- 

For the very first time, Gayatri was in the left wing on her accord. No one was possessing or forcing her there. She was there by choice.

She could see the outhouse from there. Dead and ghastly.

With her very first step out, she felt like the ground was trembling and she closed her eyes for a second. And then she took another step and so she moved.

It was a cloudless night and the moon shined brightly above her. There was a strong gust of icy wind and other than that, just silence. The trees were skeletal and dried. Her chest was heavy and she felt it hard to breathe as she moved along the creepy path. She was scared. But she knew had to do this.

On reaching the doorstep, Gayatri remembered the first time she was here and that sent chills all over her body. The inside was just as she remembered. The door at the end still had that handprint. Her handprint!

Gathering all the courage she had, she moved forward. She stopped just in front of it and raised up her hand to put her hand on it.

The wall started to crack slowly at first and then in a tremendous rate, leaving her trembling. She tried to remove her hand from the door but she couldn't. It was stuck. Now the ground and the whole building was cracking too.

It was an earthquake.

Realization dawned up on her and she tried to get her hand out more fiercely. She knew she had to find a cover real fast or else she would be buried under the whole.

She pulled her hand with all her might and it came out, but at least a dozen layers of her skin were peeled out. Screaming with pain, she tried to run but the building began falling piece by piece.

But then all of a sudden, she started to feel nauseous, her head felt heavy and she vomited then and there itself.

But once she picked herself up from the ground, she looked up only to find the building intact. There were no cracks on wall nor was the building trembling. Her gaze went down to her hand to find it good, with no skin peeled off. And she realized the position she was in. Just before that door with her hand raised to touch the palm print on the door. She flinched and moved away from the door.

It was an illusion!!

She turned around to face the rest of the room. It was dark and burnt.

"Theodore," She called, out loud and suddenly moonlight entered the room through the window. "I accept your existence."

And she stood there in the middle of room looking around waiting for him to come out.

"Freedom." A deadly whisper came out of nowhere and it echoed in her ears again and again and again. It was cold. It was sharp. It was bone wrecking.

A sudden movement from behind alerted her and the strong familiar scent that came with that was enough for her to confirm his presence.

She turned around immediately and watched as the dust swirled around the room coming from an adjacent ash covered wall. The dust twirled and something was taking shape. First an arm came out, then a bit of a sleeve and slowly a whole person walked out of it.

Gayatri screamed instantly and fell on her back in fear.

It was a middle aged man, with a short beard and no moustache. His whole face red, blistered and swollen like it was burned on a second degree. But it was his eyes or the lack of it that made her scream. While one was shining hazel the other was gouged out and in its place was a large blood dripping hole. Impaled through his leg was a piece of wood and his torn clothes were covered in blood and ash.

She continued screaming as the man took a step ahead.

"Please don't be scared, child. I won't harm you." He said in a voice filled with pain.

"Who are you?" Gayatri asked trembling with fear.

"My name is Iqbal Tyabji." He said. "And I need your help."

"My…  My help?" She stuttered, not understanding what he was getting at.

"Yes. I'm not who you are thinking." He said. "I was a scientist."

"What are you talking about?" Gayatri asked confused.

"A group of scientists including me and some other doctors, we were working on a high grade explosive that would help the revolutionaries. FREEDOM - it's our right and we had pledged to inundate even our last drop of knowledge for it. We knew that, without some new advanced defense technologies, our fighters would never achieve our cherished dream, our country would remain in the clutches of those merciless Britishers forever. We were so close. We were going to bring dawn for our beloved motherland. We had developed the formula that was the answer to all. But.."

"What happened?" Gayatri asked, curiosity overtaking the fear.

"We were betrayed." His voice cracked in pain." We were back stabbed by one of us itself. The details were leaked. And one night.."

Gayatri moved forward to him. Her fear had started to subside.

"It was two in the morning. Some British officials set this whole place in fire. This very same place where we carried our researches. Where we worked. And then it happened. A blast and everything turned to ash. Including myself.

I woke up after a while and in front of me were all my friends and colleagues, lying dead. And once I turned around, I found myself too lying dead among them.

This is my state ever since then. I can't be in this form for long, so I tried to contact someone. And you were the one who could heard me the most."

Gayatri could feel the pain. It was a broken man in front of her. A man who lost everything. His entire work was on stake.

But then something clicked in her mind which washed away all the empathy.

"You attacked Dave." She said.

"I didn't mean-"

"You attacked Dave!" Her voice was higher this time. She was angry and it was Iqbal, the prey to it this time.

"Look child, it was only that I could ge... get... yu… you he…" His voice started to crack and she watched in astonishment as his body began to vanish. Legs, hands, chest and one by one was fading but just before he vanished he managed to get a single word out.

"Formula." - his last word rang in her ears as bold warning sensation.

The dust twirled around a couple of times before vanishing completely.

Gayatri picked herself up from the floor as even the last trace of him being there was gone. It was a lot for her take in. With a heavy she moved out only to bump into someone, shocking her.

"Gayatri." And the person was equally shocked seeing her there. "What are you doing here?"

Gayatri had to look down as she had become the victim of Prof. Roy's angry gaze.

"I told you not to come here. I told you not to go searching for him. Is it that difficult to follow? Don't you understand? You are my responsibility. What will I tell your sister and family if anything happens to you?" He said angrily. "I expected more from you, Gayatri and I can't help but say, I'm very very disappointed."

As Prof. Roy left her on the footsteps of the outside, she hated herself. She had managed to fail that one man because of whom she was here. A man who had always been kind to her.

She didn't walk, she ran away from the outhouse with silent tears falling. But along with the self loath, there was something else in her mind too.

Questions...

Why would Prof. Roy lie to her about the ghost? Why would he make up a fake Theodore story, if it was actually Iqbal all along?

And what the hell was he doing in the outhouse when he found her?

But one thing was for sure , HER COUNTRY NEEDED HER, SHE WOULD SACRIFICE HER EVERYTHING BUT THE FORMULA WAS TO BE RECOVERED.

BY HER.

Written by MonaDarling01 for the group story writing contest being hosted by freakswithus

We hope you enjoyed reading it. Do let us know of your views by commenting down here. That would really mean a lot to all of us.

See you all on 25th with chapter 4 of the story. Till then, stay blessed and happy reading!

With loads of love,
ARDUOUS SCRIBBLERS