Hello guys this is my first attempt in writing an OS... This must be definitely a different plot from my other Stories and hope you will like this too😁😁 Without wasting your precious time further, let's start our story🤗🤗

Happy reading....

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 A beautiful, elegant and lavish mansion is shown in a bright sunny day. As we move inside we can figure out there is something happening which seems to be definitely not a good one. All the family members were gathered in the living room and discussing something seriously.

"Dad, I know how important the Rajasthan project is for us. But I can't leave the town suddenly, try to understand", Arjun reasoned his dad, Raj Mehra.

"What is more important for you than our project? Remember, it is a million dollar worth project. I can't afford to lose it", Raj replied annoyingly.

"Don't you know, Disha needs him in this situation. For god sake, it's her 9th month, Arjun can't leave her just like that. Money is not always important Raj", Raj's wife, Sakshi huffed in irritation.

"When did I said like that? Oh god... Please... I don't want to force him, but I am helpless", Raj exclaimed.

"No worries dad, I will go on behalf of Arjun bhai. Trip to rajasthan, right?", Bulbul answered, Raj's youngest daughter, who witnessed all these arguments.

"It's not your college trip bulbul. It's a Business trip. Did you get that... BUSINESS TRIP", Raj stated clearly to his beloved, sweet Princess.

"So what dad? I will manage everything, don't you believe me", Bulbul chided her dad.

"Princess please, I am damn serious. Even I can't visit there, because I am leaving to France tonight. Neither you nor your mom know about business, at the same time I can't trust other employees", Raj reasoned his family members.

Bulbul thought for a while and snapped her finger as if she got a brilliant idea, "Why don't you let Abhi bhai to attend your so called business trip?"

Sakshi sighed by shaking her head negatively while thinking about her younger son, Abhishek Mehra who is not interested in family business and all. All he cares, is about his passion, Archeology. He mostly stay outside their home because of his job. If anyone initiated the conversation of being a part of his father's company his reply will be "Excuse me, I wanna use restroom". Like a kindergarten kid, he uses this way to escape from Everyone's unwanted questions.

But fortunately, he is at home today. Having no idea about the conversation happening in the living hall, he happily entered by whistling loudly gaining everyone's attention. Raj looked at him like a goat to be slaughtered with a wicked smile😈

"Hello dad, good morning mom, bulbul and Disha Bhabhi, happy morning bro", Abhi greeted everyone happily.

"It's indeed a happy morning for me Abhi", Arjun whispered with a naughty smile which is quite audible to the ladies. All giggled silently except Raj.

"Abhi, I want you to go to rajasthan on behalf of Arjun" Raj declared.

"Why should I? Is that a punishment for staying home today?", Abhi fumed.

 "Look, it's a last minute plan. I can't cancel my France business trip at the last moment, bulbul and your mom don't know about business and Disha too can't go there in this condition, remaining is only you", Raj explained to Abhi as calm as he can.

 "So you decided everything without my concern, how mean", Abhi said irritatingly.

"Abhi, please. This is the last time, after this trip no one will force you. Atleast for Disha and your unborn niece/nephew" Sakshi blackmailed him emotionally.

Abhi's hearted melted a little after hearing his bhabhi and unborn nephew/niece's name. To melt his heart even more disha looked at him with innocent eyes.

"Ok fine, I am going but never expect me to do this again. But I have one condition", Abhi answered with a hint.

"What?", everyone questioned him curiosly.

"I will name the baby, no other go", Abhi declared his condition with a goofy smile.

 "This is ridiculous 😱 Dad, I can't agree with him" Arjun screamed at his father.

"Arjun, please. I have faith in Abhi, he will select a good name better than you do. So I am agreeing with my brother in law" Disha defended abhi, who is giving a victorious smile to his brother by lifting his fake collars.

"That's fine then, Abhi bhai I will help you in packing. Come with me, come come come...", Bulbul dragged Abhi with her to his room to pack his luggage for his one week trip.

After Abhi and bulbul left the hall, sakshi gets immersed in her thoughts. Disha noticed this and questioned her, "What happened mom? What are you thinking?"

"Everything is going good in our family, I just want to see Abhi to get married with a nice girl, exactly like you" sakshi explained to Disha.

"Our Abhi will get a nice girl even much better than me, you don't worry", Disha assured her with a soft smile.

"My first job after returning from France is to search a bride for abhi. Are you happy now?", Raj answered her with a assurance smile.

"More than you could imagine", Sakshi replied with wide smile.

After finishing his packing Abhi and bulbul reached the hall with his luggage, as usual this boring business trip pissed Abhi. But rest of the family members are happy that he agreed for the trip without any tantrums.

"Enjoy everyone, I am leaving", Abhi said exasperatedly.

"Don't say like that Abhi, it's just a matter of one week. I believe you, you will definitely rock it", Disha cheered him.

 "I am doing this only for you Bhabhi. If it's not for you then I never allow Arjun bhai to live in peace", Abhi chided Arjun.

"As if living with her is like a peaceful heaven", Arjun muttered, who is pissed by his wife's mood swings.

 "I heard it bhai", bulbul whispered near his ears which made him to freak out.
He gestures her to not open her mouth.

"Best of luck my son, and please don't mess up anything. It's our 1 year hardwork project", Raj warned him calmly.

"Cool dad, I am more responsible than you think. Ok guys bye, take care everyone", Abhi greeted everyone before leaving.

"Safe journey Abhi", Sakshi wished her son.

***************

Abhi took his flight to rajasthan and landed safely. His dad already arranged for his stay so there is nothing to worry about that. He reached the hotel, collected his room key and entered inside his room to have some rest before attending tomorrow's boring meeting. After taking a hot shower and his favourite dinner, he slept off.

Next morning,

                 ' Just chill Abhi, don't pull your hair in frustration. No Abhi don't do that. Yes calm down, calm down boy. Take a deep breath... Yes good... Good...it's working. Ughhh this dad, I don't like this tie, lots of files filled with graph and charts, too much of tension, project and this irritating formal suit. All this is suitable only for people like my dad and Arjun bhai. Now I have to attend this meeting like them. Cool Abhi, cool. Just for Disha bhabhi and that too for only one week. You can do it. Yes that's the spirit. Go ahead' Abhi thought when he looked at his reflection in mirror.

His phone vibration helped him to divert his mind from his formal look.

"Yes bulbul, tell me", Abhi asked while busy in arranging the files.

"Best of luck Abhi bhai, and don't roam around unnecessarily in night. Because I heard, there some places are haunted", Bulbul advised him with a naughty grin in her face.

"Wh... why should I?" Abhi stammers a little and continues "Do you know that particular place's name?"

"Don't tell me you are still afraid of ghost and all!!!", Bulbul teased.

"I am not scared, I asked you so that I can meet a bhootni, be friends with her then I will propose her. How is that?", Abhi tried to cover up the situation from getting embarrassed.

"Let's see after you returned from there, you are coming alone or with your bhootni girlfriend. For now bye. Take care", Bulbul ended the call.

Abhi sighed in relief and left the hotel to attend his meeting. Almost three days successfully completed in Abhi's boring phase of life, to be precise his dad's Million dollar worth project.

It's his fourth day in rajasthan, he is now somewhat familiar with the routes to reach his hotel. So he hired a car for himself for the remaining days, he used to drive from the meeting venue to hotel and vise versa, if he felt bored in free times he goes for sightseeing with the help of local guide.

Now he is driving back to the hotel, but today something is different, instead of driving in the usual route he pick a different way which seems to be quiet, calm, peaceful but at the same time scary too.

He is driving happily by humming his favourite song which is playing inside his car in moderate volume, the dawn starts to fade slowly.

              ' Awesome Abhi, you just nailed it... ummmhaaaa😘😘... This meeting was supposed to wrap up at this weekend but with the help of your ultra smart brain you finished this before 3 days. Now I agree with Bill gates words that " Lazy people will find easy ways to do works". You are fabulous, now back to our home sweet home ' Abhi thought while driving back to his stay place.

Sky starts to darken not because of the fading dawn but because of dark clouds which is ready to pour down refreshing rain. Cool breeze starts to blow gently which is now turned to a faster one. Abhi found the weather is getting worse and cursed himself in mind for taking a different route.

 He started to drive his car as fast as he can to reach his place before it could rain cats and dogs. When he almost reached half of the huge lonely highway, his car Tyre got punctured. He gets down from the car with frustration and tried to use the Stepney but luck is not with him it seems, when he opened his bonnet he found it as empty.

Abhi thought to stay inside the car later he decided against it and started to walk ,so that he could take lift if he find someone. He starts to walk fastly when he heard weird sound from the jungle side. A huge tree fall down blocking his way right infront of him by leaving a inch gap to smash him like a potato.

His whole body rooted in the same place due to sudden shock, as soon as his mind get relieved from shock he steps back carefully by taking baby steps. Once he found himself 10 feet away from the huge tree, he breathed in relief.

Abhi thought Moving back to the car is much better idea, before he could move from there it started to rain heavily. To save himself from catching fever, he rushed to the nearby tree to stay there for some more minutes, if the rain subsides he will get back to his car.

He was rubbing his palms together to fight back with the chillness he is bearing, just then something caught his attention. It's appearance is something like a huge bunglow, to be precise a bhoot bunglow. He really don't want to go there and to be a prey for blood sucking vampires or a human toy to some other ghosts.

Eventually bulbul's words were kept ringing in his mind. But his poor fate never leave a chance to make him freak out, a branch from the tree under which he is standing is broken down on his left side. Thankfully, this time it's almost 3 feet gap between him and the branch.

That's it, he doesn't want himself to be a peanut butter to bread for tomorrow's breakfast. If he stays there for a minute, he will definitely be smashed at anytime. So he pushed his fear inside a tiny room inside his brain and locked it for a while.

To save himself from getting smashed or injured or catching pneumonia or what are all the dangerous things that might happen to him, he decided to get inside the bhoot bunglow. He jogs fast towards the bunglow, and managed to open the main door by twisting  it's  knob to right and left.   ' Click ' the door cracked open.

Dark... Darker... Darkest... This is the only thing he can describe about the huge lonely bungalow. Already it's dark outside, more than that inside the bunglow is darker. This increased the fear in him, what if he locked his fear inside his brain's room, even it has a small key hole through which the fear escaped a little.

That's when his mind stricked with the fact that he is having his mobile with him. Cursing himself in mind, he slides his hand inside his pocket and grabbed the mobile out from it. He switched on the flashlight and searched for signal. But there is no signal to send a message even.

With no other go, he started to look around the bungalow, it's a huge amusement for him. Outside it looks like a haunted one, but inside it is quite impressive, the furniture, interiors, curtains, chandelier everything was quite impressive and elegantly made. Eventhough it's filled with dusts and webs, it's not that much bad too.

Being an archeologist, his inner instinct told him to see even more and get to know the place's and thing's value which is kept inside the bungalow. When he touched a sculpture in his side table, he heard a humming sound. It's a melancholic, melody and soulful hymn which then turned into a song.

Eventhough his heart wanted to enjoy the soulful hymn, his minded warned him to run away from there to avoid any interaction with ghosts. Who knows it might be a ghost? His mind warned him. Before the debate between his mind and heart completes, the song's sound increased further with a ' creak crack ' sound.

He noticed someone, to say exactly, a girl is descending down from the stairs holding a candle by sing a song.

        Lag ja gale ki phir
        Ye hasin raat ho na ho...
        Shayad phir is janam mein
        Mulakat ho na ho....

        Lag ja gale...

She stopped singing when she noticed some unknown person standing inside her bunglow without her permission.

Abhi was dumbstruck when his eyes captured her angelic featured face which is glowing in the candle light, her waist length wavy hair, simple yet beautiful earrings, a perfect small bindi in her forehead, black and white simple salwaar kameez. Just perfect... But one thing is there which didn't suit her that is, a frown in her face and fire spitting eyes which is now red in anger.

         ' Abhiiiii... You stupid, what if she is a ghost?? You entered inside her bunglow without her permission that's why she is here to kill you. 😱😱 But I want to live more... Wait... What????? When I started my life? I didn't even start to live.... Please please... Someone save me... I want to go to my home. No Abhi calm yourself first... Let's talk with that ghost and who knows she will let you to go... Yes that will be best ' Abhi thought , when he noticed her red eyes which is ready to spill fire balls on him.

" Ermm... Woh... Actually, I... My car was punctured, I thought to walk and reach my place but It started to rain heavily and I noticed your bunglow, so to save myself I entered inside. I don't know you are living here. Can you permit me to stay here for sometime? Don't worry I won't disturb you, I will leave from here when the rain subsides", Abhi blabbered in fear.

          ' Wait... What??? Abhi you fool... What the hell you have asked???? You were supposed to ask her to leave you alive. But you served yourself as a buffet to her dinner. Me and my stupid tongue 😭😭 Now she will not leave me... But she has her legs... What if nowadays ghost too have legs???  Whatever, you are dead today ', Abhi thought to himself and started to move backwards by gulping when he sensed that she is moving towards him.

 She didn't reply him, neither averted her gaze away from him. She walks towards him slowly while her anklets were making sounds which created a shiver in Abhi's body. When she reached sidewall which is almost 5 feet away from him, she stopped and placed the candle on the side table whereas her another hand moves upwards to pull the rope which is tied above her head.

When she pulled the rope, a white transparent curtain splits and made them to stand on either side of it. Abhi looked at her in amusement and expected her to say something but she again grabbed the candle and moved upstairs silently.

He was standing there in bewilderment, nothing is registering in his brain. He came back to the real world when he heard ' creaaak ' the door closing sound. He tilted his head above to get a glimpse of her, but only a closed door in upstairs is captured by his eyes.

He don't know whether she is really a human being or any ghost. Yet he decided not to disturb anyone's peace and we can also name it as his ' fear '.When he decided to move out from the bunglow, he felt something hit him softly on his shoulder, with much fear he turned his head slowly and found a piece of crumpled paper on the floor.

Once again gulping his throat, he bends a little and took the paper in his hand.  He found something is written in the that...

        You can stay here till the rain subsides, but on two condition...
Don't cross the curtain and Don't touch the things here unnecessarily.
DON'T..

 He don't know what to say and how to react, all he could he do is stare at the paper for some more minutes. ' Is this note from her? If yes then why can't she say it directly? Whatever she permitted me to say here, that's so sweet of her' Abhi thought.

Then he placed the paper on side table after dusting the chair besides him and rests himself tiredly. He is damn hungry, but he can't help it, slowly sleep overpowered him.

Next morning,

Still it's raining outside, but not like yesterday. Abhi slowly opened his eyes and noticed a bowl placed on the side table near him. He squeezed his eyes tiredly, and move towards the table while yawning.

 The bowl is filled with different fruits, besides a glass full of milk with a sticky note on the table. He takes the note and read it.

If you want something to eat, then eat this. You can't go back because many trees fell broken on the highway. Until the authorities clear that, you have to stay here. Restroom is on your left side.

And if you want to leave then that's your wish.

Abhi looked outside the window and found it is still raining, leaving in this weather is definitely not a appreciable idea, so he decided to stay there. He had the fruits and milk after freshing up, he was starving because he ate lastly at yesterday, that too breakfast.

Again he sat in the chair, he felt bored and thought to have a look on the bungalow, when he was about to cross the curtain, her note reminded him about the condition. His curiosity increased to know about that girl.

            ' who is she? Why she is living alone in a place like this? Why she didn't come out from her room still? Now it's confirm that she is not any ghost, She is really kind but why she isn't said anything? I can't handle my curiosity anymore, let's ask her itself', Abhi said to himself.

He cleared his throat and begins to speak loudly, so that she can hear him,
" Excuse me, Ms... I am really felling bored here. Can I have a look on your bunglow? If you don't mind then can you permit me? Or else do you have any books or something to read? "

For few minutes, there is neither any reply nor any sound from her room. Abhi again tilted his head above and looked at her room upstairs for any movement. That's when he again heard that sound 'creak ' , her room door bolted open. She came down and stood on the other side of the curtain.

 She stood there staring at him by crossing her arms across her chest. Abhi gulped looking at her intense stare, before he could open his mouth she begins to speak.

 " Only once, after that you will be staying on your side. And DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING ", she said sternly with a blank face for which Abhi nodes his head like a obedient kid.

She slowly removed the curtain by paving way for him and started to walk towards her room. Abhi looked at her in amusement, and had a tour around her beautiful bunglow. He must say, it's indeed a beautiful one and he found many ancient things too. Atlast he stands infront of a painting and admiring it's beauty. Its more like a family picture, which has a father, a mother and their two little daughter.

When he was about to touch that, he heard her voice, " Don't touch that". Abhi looked at her who is glaring at him angrily.

"Sorry, I was just carried away. If you don't mind then can I ask you one question?", Abhi questioned her.

 She didn't reply for his question but stood there staring at him. Abhi accepted it as yes and asked her.

"It's you, in this picture right? I found the same bracelet in your hand. What is your name?", Abhi directly asked her.

She stares at him for some more minutes and says, " Pragya... Pragya Arora".
And turned to leave but Abhi again questioned her.

"You didn't answer my previous question", Abhi asked her. She turned to him and replied simply with a blank face, "You said you will ask me one question and I think I answered one".

 "So what? See, I can't keep my mouth shut. It's not my habit, I like to speak a lot. Can't you just simply answer my questions? What's the big deal in that?", Abhi keep on blabbering something.

Pragya is irritated by his talks and shouts, " Shut up... SHUT... UP... If you can't keep quiet means, then that's not my problem. Don't forget, you are just a trespasser and I gave you shelter for a while. Don't try to take advantage of my loneliness". With fury in her eyes, she barged out from there leaving a stunned Abhi behind.

 It's almost 5 hours passed, but he couldn't get any glimpse of her. He is sitting quietly on his allocated place with a grumpy face by stealing glances from her room. Again he heard a sound ' creak '. Abhi pretended to be not noticing anything.

She stood near him with a blank face and says, " I am sorry". Abhi looked at his either side and then points himself and asked, " Me??? Are you speaking with me?"

Pragya looked at him irritatedly, sighs and says, " Yes. I was rude to you, I know fault is mine so I am asking sorry to you. Will you forgive me?"

Abhi pretended to be thinking and tells, " With one condition" whereas Pragya asked, " What is that?".

"Just simply answer my questions, that's it. See, I am a stranger to you and I will leave from here once the highway is cleared, so till then let's have talk with eachother", Abhi said calmly.

Pragya thinks for a while but still she can't convince herself to share about her with an unknown stranger. Abhi noticed her hesitation and thinks a way to make her comfortable with him because his curious brain wants to know about her.

"Ok let's make it as a game, if you are ok to answer my question then you can, if you are not then skip it", Abhi said to make her comfortable with him.

Again Pragya thought for a while and found this idea to be better and agrees with him. She sat infront of him in a chair and Abhi started to question her.

"So, is that you on that painting?" Abhi starts his first question.

"Yes,it was me, my parents and my elder sister", Pragya replied calmly.

"What's your elder sister's name? Where she is now?"

"Alia Arora, now Alia kapoor. She is living with her family"

"Don't you want to meet her?"

 "No"

"Why so?"

"She is alive for the outer world, not for me"

"And your parents?"

"They are no more"

"Do you miss your happy family, just like in that painting?"

"Next question"

"Ok cool, Aren't you afraid to live here alone?"

"No, this place is better than the outer world"

"Hmmm... Are you willing to show me around this place?"

Pragya thinks for a while, she neither wants to skip this question nor want to answer him quickly. After few seconds, she replied "Ok "

"Then be ready if the rain subsides, you are going to take me out in this forest"

"Wait... You asked me some questions, now it's my turn", Pragya replied while Abhi sat back on his place.

That day ends like this happily without any fuss. As Abhi expected, he made a comfort zone around him and Pragya and got to know more about her, same goes for her too. More than her answers, her ignorant questions made him to understand her well. At night time, again Pragya came back with something to eat for him.

" Did you cook?" Abhi asked when she placed some dishes infront of him.

"Yes, any problem"

"I wonder, if bhootni Can also cook".

"What? "

"I seriously thought you as bhootni, but today's morning breakfast changed my mind"

" You are irritating 😬😬"

"Thank you for your compliments, Pragya"

The next day the rain subsides even more, now it's just drizzling. So they left to have a look on some nearby safe areas in that forest. Pragya was walking behind the bungalow followed by Abhi.

 "You said you have a small garden backside, are we going there?", Abhi questioned her.

 "No, we are here to see a beautiful place. Look there"

"Woah... Awesome, I didn't know that a small waterfall is here " Abhi exclaimed when he found a waterfall.

"It's occasional, whenever it rains like yesterday, we can able to see this" Pragya explained.

They both returned to the bunglow after spending some time there. Abhi again searched for signal to inform his family, but to his disappointment there is no signal since it is a forest area.

"You can't get signal here. You have to wait till the authorities clear the tree trunks" Pragya answered him.

"My family will be worried, it will be helpful if I could send a message even" Abhi said in a sad tone.

Pragya don't know what to say, because it's really new for her. Living in forest areas for more than 12 years, that too without family members, no one to share her happiness, worries, fears. Abhi is the first person to enter in her bunglow and made her to come out from her little dark world. Even it's for somedays too, she is comfortable and happy with his presence. She very well know that he will leave after his way got cleared but still the lonliness and longing for someone's presence beside her, made her to spend sometime with him and to share about her.

******

"What are you thinking?", Pragya asked when she noticed abhi, who is  thinking something seriously without having the food.

"Babies names", Abhi replied and again got back to thinking.

"Are you going to become father?", She questioned him in shock.

"No, my brother is going to become father. And I took the responsibility of naming the baby"

"Oh, found something?"

"Yeah, if baby is a girl then she will be NISHA, but baby boy's name is too difficult to search. Can you help me?"

"I'll try, tell me your family name"

"Mehra... Wait I didn't tell my name yet. I am..."

"That's non of my concern"

"Khadoos bhootni" Abhi muttered which is enough audible to pragya, buy she didn't paid any attention to that and makes herself busy in thinking a name.

"What about Arnav ?" Pragya asked him.

"That's so nice, then its final baby boy will be Arnav and baby girl will be Nisha "

"Atleast now eat this, Mr. Trespasser" Pragya said before leaving upstairs.

*******

"So?" Abhi initiated the conversation.

"So? what?", Pragya replied with blank expression.

"I am going to leave tomorrow morning, still you don't want to share with me anything?"

"What are you expecting me to share?"

"Like... How long you are living here? Why don't you live like normal persons do?"

Pragya become silent again, again a debate started between her mind and heart. Her heart wants to open up the book which she closed 12 years before, but her mind is not ready to believe outsiders. When her heart makes a step forward her mind pulled it back. After having a deal with mind, heart decided to speak with him.

"I was 12 years old, my parents died leaving me and my elder sister alone in this world. We have no one else in this world. She is 8 years elder to me, one day she too disowned me saying that I was a unwanted burden to her, and I was a hindrance in her life. When I was 13, I saw my sister living happily with her husband and her new found family. From that day, I distanced myself from others, I don't want my broken heart to be crushed in someone's foot in the name of pity. That day I embraced this darkness and made this darkness as my new world in which no one can enter and no one can find me. I kept on changing my places whenever people find my residence on that places. This dark and lonely places gives me peace, so I never felt afraid here"

"You mean to say, you will leave from this place because I found you here?"

"Ofcourse. Its my usual behaviour from the past 4 years, I almost visited most of the places in India and I will move to some new place once you left from here"

"Why don't you give yourself a chance again, to believe others Pragya?"

"It's really easy to say all these, but it's very hard to follow. You can't understand it"

Eventhough he wanted to argue more for her assumptions about all people, he know how hard is to live alone from teenage, that too in deserted places. Even she is also correct in her point of view, she experienced lots of betrayal in her young age. He never experienced all this, all he experienced is his parents, his siblings, his sister in law and his beautiful family's unconditional love.

"How long you are going to live a dark life?"

"No one will be feel happy to live a dark miserable life, even I am, until some people involuntary pushed me inside this darkness filled world. I never want people to find my identity, that's why I am changing my places frequently. Just like a passing cloud. I am like a passing cloud in your life too, you can see me passing above you but you can never stop me"

Pragya's indirect words made him clear that he can't convince her with his speaking skills, because she is much more talented in speaking than him. 

*******

"No changes in your decision?" Abhi asked her before leaving.

"Never", Pragya replied with a blank face.

"Atleast take my mobile number, if you have any ..."

"No need for that, I can manage"

Abhi sighs in disbelief seeing her overconfidence and attitude. Pragya said nothing but keep on staring him, she find him as caring and kind which she never experienced for many years. Abhi turned to leave but Pragya hold his hand.

"Thank you Mr. Trespasser and good bye" she replied with a satisfactory smile.

This is the first time Abhi is seeing her smiling in this three days. He is happy that because of him an innocent soul smiled, he achieved many and found many ancient things in his career but nothing made him this much proud which he is experiencing now. Her smile made his day.

******

It's been a whole long week, after Abhi returned to his home. His family keep on asking him about his sudden disappearance, but he said nothing. His family found a huge change in him and tried to figure out the reason behind that, but they couldn't do anything. Abhi spend most of the time in his room, or garden or at his balcony. In the meantime, Disha gave birth to a baby prince, that is the only time Abhi mingled with family after returning from Rajasthan. At naming ceremony, they named him Arnav which Abhi suggested, but only he knows that it was actually suggested by Pragya. One fine day, bulbul went out to her friend's place, while returning, her car stopped in the mid way, driver asked her to wait for sometime by then he will bring the mechanique. Bulbul was all alone in the road, she noticed two men nearing her.

She turned to enter inside her car, but they held her hand and asked her to give all the money and jewels she have, she gets afraid when they show knife. She started to give all the money and jewels she have, just then a man says,

"She saw our face, what if she filed complaint against us. Let's finish her off", said one the man.

Bulbul gets afraid, she pushed them and starts to run from there, they followed and atlast catched her. When they were about to stab her a hand stoped them. Bulbul looked at the hand and saw the owner of that hand, a girl standing with furry eyes.

She started to beat them black and blue, bulbul gets shocked to see the seen infront of her. She was dumbstruck with the unexpected happenings, never in her life bulbul meet a girl like her. One among them hitted her with a rod on her head. She started to lose her consciousness slowly, before she could land on floor, bulbul held her. Seeing the commotion, people gathered and the theives ran away from there.

*******

"Bulbul", called Arjun and Abhi who came there when she called and informed about the happenings and asked them to come to hospital.

Once she heard her brothers voice bulbul runs towards them and hugged them in relief.

"Relax, we are here. Nothing to worry", Arjun consoled her.

"Bhai, that girl... She is in ICU, doctor said she needs to be Operated. She will be fine right? She tried to save me, because of me, she is in this condition", Bulbul cried in guilt.

"She will be alright. Don't worry", Abhi assured her.

After some minutes, doctor comes out from the room and said she is fine but the injury is deep and they can meet her without disturbing her.

Arjun and bulbul entered inside the room followed by abhi, to see the girl who is still unconscious. As soon as Abhi's eyes fell on her, only one word escaped from his mouth, PRAGYA....

********

"So she is the reason for your weird behaviour?", Sakshi questioned abhi, when he explained his family members about his meeting with Pragya and her past.

"When did I behaved like a weirdo?", Abhi questioned back in bewilderment.   

"You did, Abhi", Disha answered him.

Abhi think about everything happened after he returned from Rajasthan and the dawn rise in him. He know, he was avoiding everyone, he spent most of the time alone, and now he is feeling guilty for making his family to worry about him.

"I am really sorry", Abhi apologize to everyone.

"Fine then, Now what about her?", Raj asked by pointing Pragya who is lying unconscious, in their home. They shifted Pragya to their home once the doctor suggested to take her to home. Abhi decided to take her to their home and take care of her. She is still unconscious.

"She will stay here", sakshi declared.

Everyone knows, if she decided something then no one can oppose her. So they are ok with her decision, Abhi is the happiest among all. Since he got a chance to take care of her and to make changes in her decision of living all alone.

******

2 days passed like 2 hours but there is no improvement in Pragya's health. Still she is unconscious, but the only relief is doctors declared that she is fine but the wound is deep that's the reason for her present state and soon she will gain conscious. Bulbul is feeling really guilty for Pragya's state, but she has her family who is there to take care of her. With the help of her family her guilt starts to fade slowly and she starts to take care of Pragya.

"So, she is your bhootni girlfriend", bulbul questioned abhi after taking a seat beside him, who is looking at Pragya.

"Shhh, if she hears then you are gone", Abhi replied.

"Oh, that means you are agreeing with me. She is your girlfriend then"

"Not like that, she is not even my friend. Most importantly she don't even know my name"

"Is she that kadoos ?"

"No, her situation made her to behave like that. She is indeed sweet, you know"

"Then why don't you try to take her out of her darkness filled world?"

"I tried but she is very stubborn in her decision"

"I am not asking about your talks with her. I'm asking, why don't you love her?"

Abhi looked at her with wide eyes, as if it is ready to come out from his socket anytime. He really have no idea about how to reply  her question. Even he is not sure about his feelings towards Pragya. ' Is that a soft corner for her? Is that humanity ? Is that a concern towards her? Or else love?' He don't want to answer her questions know, just then he noticed Pragya who is trying to open her eyes. Bulbul and Abhi stood beside her with a relief.

"Pragya", Abhi called her calmly with a thought not to scare her.

Pragya sat up straight with much difficulty only to hear a familiar voice beside her. She noticed she wasn't in her place instead in someone's place. Flashes of that day slowly comes to her mind and she realised she has been saved by someone and now in their house. She saw Abhi beside her and looked at him with the same fire spilling eyes. Abhi gulped and searched for words to cool down her anger, because he knows, he only knows how much she hated to live in someone's place and identified by other people.

"Hi, I am bulbul. You saved me from those theives, now because of me you are in this condition. I am really very sorry for that and I am his younger sister", Bulbul begins to speak.

Pragya is silently watching her and quickly looked Abhi in anger, Abhi gestures bulbul to move out and she did the same. Abhi sat beside Pragya and asked how she is feeling now.

"I want to leave from here", Pragya replied ignoring his previous question.

"Are you following me?" Abhi asked her which made her anger to raise.

"I said I will leave from there to a new place once you left , didn't I?"

"Then what are you doing here? In this city? Oh I got it, is this your first time here?"

Without replying him she started to get down from the bed and starts to walk but her weak body didn't support her and her head injury starts to hurt. She held her head tightly, Abhi noticed this and helped her to sit in bed.

"You are not going anywhere, Pragya"

"I want to leave, I helped your sister and you people saved me. That's enough now let me go"

"Then go, even your body will not co-operate with you"

She again tried to get down from the bed, before that Abhi's family entered inside her room. She quickly sat back and looked down not wanted to meet them. Sakshi looks Pragya and sat beside her smilingly, she was about to caress her hair Pragya moved back uncomfortably. Abhi gestures her mother, not to do like that. She understood Pragya's discomfort.

"How are you feeling beta?", Sakshi asked lovingly.

"Hi, I am Arjun. His elder brother and this is Disha, my wife", Arjun introduced himself and Disha to her.

"I am Raj Mehra, their father and Sakshi is my wife", Raj calmly introduced himself.

"Thank you so much for saving my daughter. We are in dept to you, Pragya", Sakshi replied emotionally.

Everyone is trying hard to have a conversation with her but she is not in a mood neither to look at them nor to talk with them. Raj looked at Abhi and gestures as ' what ', Abhi shook his negatively.

"Maa, you all please wait outside and ask someone to bring something to eat for her. Arjun bhai, please call the doctor", Abhi tries to dismiss everyone.

All nodes their head and left the room, but all stood outside the room and waiting for abhi to come. All knew Pragya is not like what they think. She needs more care, more comfort, more and more love. Sakshi tells everyone that from now on Pragya is their responsibility and they have to take care of her in any situation. Mehras took the responsibility of pragya, and vowed to bring the teenage girl in Pragya  who is left in a dark world.

"What happened Abhi? Did she said something?", Sakshi asked impatiently when she noticed abhi coming out from the room.

"She is stubborn", Abhi replied sadly.

"Let me talk to her", Raj declared.

"No dad, you wait. Me and Disha Bhabhi will talk to her", bulbul gave them a idea.

They entered inside Pragya's room and after sometime they both came out with a victorious smile. Abhi looked at them in amusement and asked them what she said.

"She didn't say anything, but agreed to stay here", Disha announced.

"Then, it's good. I will make something for her to eat", sakshi replied and left to kitchen to make something for Pragya.

*********

"Strange... You know me, but didn't agree for my words. But agreed to Disha Bhabhi and bulbul", Abhi asked suspiciously.

"But they are really polite and speaks less than you. Irritating trespasser 😖😖"

"Trespasser? Still?"

"Ofcourse, and I will leave once I gets well"

"That's your wish and thanks for saving my sister. You never said you know self defence?"

"If you are ok, then I will show you live. Are you ready?"

"No need, I just simply asked"

Pragya laughed which didn't went unnoticed by abhi, he promised himself to keep her happy like this. She stopped laughing when her room door is opened.

"Here, I bring something for you to eat. Finish all this and take rest, Pragya", sakshi offered smilingly.

Pragya feels awkward in their presence except Abhi, so she kept silent. Abhi understood her situation and asked his mother to leave. She nodes sadly and left the room.

"Ms. Bhootni Aren't you hungry?"

"I don't want to eat"

"Ok I will feed you"

"No need, I can eat"

Abhi smiled and admired her without her notice.

********

Days passed slowly and Pragya's health improvement is also good, Abhi and Pragya's bond become more and more stronger. But she never talked with anyone other than Abhi, still she don't know his name. Abhi's family members tried to have a friendly conversation with her but she never talks with them. Sometimes even Pragya wants to talk with them, but her fear never allowed her.

She secretly admired the beautiful and caring family and starts to love them with her whole heart, which is known only to Abhi. Even she started to love Abhi, but feared to accept her feeling because of her fear of losing them. What if again the darkness filled this colourful life of her? She don't want that, so she buried her feelings. Abhi realised his feeling towards Pragya is nothing but love. One day, Pragya was waiting for abhi in her room as usual, but he didn't reach.

She came out from her room and noticed all the family members were talking happily except Abhi. She don't know how to ask them about him, so she simply stood there hesitantly.

"Do you want something Pragya?", Disha asked when she noticed pragya was trying to say something.

Pragya nodes her head affirmatively, but words died in her throat. After lots of struggle, she gathered her courage to ask them.

"He... Didn't he come back yet?", Pragya asked hesitantly.

Everyone looked at her amusingly, as if a baby starts to speak her first word. From the day Pragya entered inside their home, she said nothing, this is the first time she is speaking with them.

"Why? Have some work with him?", Bulbul asked mischievously.

"No... I was... I was feeling bored, that's...", Pragya stammers.

" Then why are you asking about him? Come and sit with us, talk with us. Come here", sakshi dragged her to the living area and made her to sit with them.

Pragya sat their hesitantly, little later she starts to feel comfortable with bulbul and Disha. Raj and Arjun were busy in discussing about some business works. Pragya keep on stealing glances from the door and waited for Abhi's arrival.

"Pragya, look. He likes you, I think", Disha said when she noticed her son is willing to play with Pragya.

Pragya smiled a little and takes the baby in her hands. She starts to play with him happily, family members noticed her change and felt happy for her.

"What's going on ladies?", Abhi asked who noticed all were chatting happily.

Pragya stands in her place with Arnav in her arms. Abhi came near her and takes Arnav in his arms. Bulbul clicked a picture of them with a mischievous smile. Just like a perfect family. Sakshi starts to see Pragya as her daughter in law within a short span of time. She wished to have a daughter in law just like Pragya.

*********

"I am leaving tomorrow", Pragya said with a heavy heart.

"Why?", Abhi asked in a hurtful tone.

"What do you mean by why? I already said I will leave once I get well. Now I am fit and fine, so I am leaving"

"Aren't you feeling hurt to leave us?"

"Why should I?"

"Are we nothing to you?"

"Yes. Just for humanity sake, you all helped me and I am thankful for you all. That's it"

"You are lying, Pragya"

"I am not"

"Don't be stubborn, Pragya. Can't you see how much we all care for you and love you?"

"I don't believe all this Mr. Trespasser"

"Yes, how will you know? Living many years within forest and living between animals, you can't understand this"

"Yes I am a heartless animal. So what?"

"I didn't mean that, Pragya"

"I know what you meant, I am leaving now, right now"

Pragya starts to move from there, she walks fastly, Abhi followed her by calling her name furiously. All noticed them and stood there in confusion. Before she could step outside the house, Abhi held her wrist to stop her.

"You are not going anywhere"

"Who are you to tell that?"

"What is your problem, Pragya? Can't you just simply be with us?"

"No I can't... I CAN'T"

"Why?"

"Because you all are making me weak. You all are showing me the wrong path, I don't want to live like this. I was happy with my loneliness, I was satisfied with what I had. Now many things changed in me, I can feel that I have changed a lot.  I don't want to be like this. I hate this love, I hate this care, I hate this feelings inside me, I hate you all for making me like this, I hate you Mr. Trespasser", Pragya shouts while her tears is not taking a name to stop.

Abhi witnessed her anger, her insecurities, her fear, her smile, her happiness, her boldness, her kindness but never her tears. He was about to wipe her tears but she moved back from him and starts to leave.

"Abhi, stop her. Why are standing like this?", Arjun asked him.

"What you said to her?", Raj questioned Abhi.

"If she wants then let her to go. I won't stop her", Abhi declared and about to walk out from there, but stopped hearing a voice.

"Sir... Sir... That madam, she went unconscious suddenly", Watchman said, who noticed witnessed Pragya's state.

All runs to see her and takes her to hospital, after sometime doctor informed them that due to lots of stress she became unconscious and her head injury is not cured completely, so she needs to be take care without any stress.

******

"From now on, you are not going anywhere. You are going to live with us, if you want or not. I don't care. For your remaining life you are going to be with us", Abhi ordered Pragya furiously, who is frightened because of his sudden anger.

Once Abhi left the room, bulbul sits beside her and asked, "Don't you love my brother?"

"No... It's... It's not like you think"

"You can't lie to yourself, Pragya"

"I am not lying"

"I don't want to repeat the same, just listen to me. He is in the peak of anger now. I am sure you are seeing him like this for the first time. If he gets angry, then no one can control him. So better don't lie to him. If he finds out that you are lying, then don't know what he will do"

"You are scaring me"

"Oh, even bhootni can also be scared"

"Don't call me like that, you and your brother, both are irritating 😬😬"

" That's why we both are lovable"

"What is your brother's name, bulbul?"

"Ask him directly"

*******

"Take this tablets before you sleep, and tell me if you want something", Abhi instructed her.

"What is your name?", Pragya asked him, which made him to chuckle.

"You said that's non of your concern"

"Can you tell me or not?"

"No"

"Fine, I am going"

Abhi held her wrist and made her to sit on bed and tell his name.

"I am Abhishek Mehra, now happy?"

"I don't like your name"

"I can't help it"

******

Again everything settled back to normal between them and also between Pragya and the family. She starts to overcome her fear with their love. She starts to spend more time with the family members and tries to forget her insecurities.

Family members love and care is more than enough for her to live a normal life like them. One day sakshi asked whether she love Abhi, she hesitated to tell them but later agreed happily. Everyone is happy for for Abhi and Pragya, soon they decided to get them married. All set for the marriage and day before marriage Abhi kidnapped Pragya. Without anyone's notice, he takes her out of their house and drives to some nearby place.

"Where are you taking me? How dare you to kidnap me like this? Leave me, I said Leave me", Pragya shouts at him for tying her hands.

"Chup... Don't shout, I have no option than kidnapping you. So keep quiet, we are going to a beautiful place"

*****

"Is this the place you said?" Pragya asked him.

"Yes, how beautiful it is right?" Abhi replied happily by embracing her from behind.

"It's dark here"

"Just similar to this place, I found my love of life"

"Where?"

"Your bhoot bunglow", Abhi chuckled.

"That's not a bhoot bunglow, I just don't want people's attention, that's why I didn't renovated it"

"Fine come this side and look there"

She found a waterfall, same like she showed him in rajasthan behind her bunglow. Eventhough he don't want to make her to remember her past, he wants to cherish the most memorable places and moments which is related with their past.

Both spend some time with each other in that place and left to home early to fulfill the pre marriage rituals. Their marriage was held grandly with the wishes of elders and this became a colourful memory of their life.

Darkness is not what we see, darkness is what we think. She doesn't want anyone in her life, but Abhi came like a firefly and bring back the lost colour of her life.

He himself becomes the colour of her life.
Abhi found is love in dark and made the darkness into a colourful world of his life.

After two years they are blessed with a baby princess and they name her Aashi Mehra and lived happily with their happy family.

The end...

With love,

Sweety