"Maa, why did you ask all of us to assemble here at this time of night?" asked Manohar.

"Wait for a while, you'll know why. Where's Arnav?" Dadi was waiting for Arnav and Khushi to join them so she could start with her plan.

"I have asked a servant to call both Arnav and Khushi," Rani Maa said, sitting beside Dadi.

"Rags, why do you look like a snake has bitten you?" joked Akash while ruffling his sister's hair.

"Akash, think before you speak," scolded Manorama.

"Arrey, why are you shouting at him? He's just kidding with his sister," Manohar defended his son.

"Yes, Maa, why are you looking so tense? Is there any problem?" Akash asked to be assured of his mother and sister's well-being.

"Everything's alright, Akash. Ragini just got a little emotional. I'll tell you why once Arnav comes. For now, you all get seated."

"They're here," Rani Maa said, making both Manorama and Ragini move away and stand behind Dadi with fear.

"Pranam," greeted Khushi to everyone, confused at seeing the whole family together at this time of night.

"What's happening?" Arnav asked in a low voice to Akash.

"No idea, Bhai," Akash whispered back.

"Now that everyone is here, let me explain why I assembled you all here," Dadi began, and everyone listened with keen interest.

"According to the Hindu calendar, this is the same week when we lost Arvind," Aparna had tears in her eyes. Hearing about her husband, Arnav came forward and held his mother while sitting on the other side of her.

"Maa, please," Arnav tried to console his mother.

"I'm alright," she whispered, touching his cheek.

"I'm sorry, Aparna. I didn't want to remind you of this. But a few days back, when I visited Purohitji, he told me that Arvind's soul is restless, as if he knows that something bad is going to happen to his family," Dadi said, eyeing Khushi while she stared back at her.

"What are you saying, Maa?" Manohar asked before Rani Maa could voice her doubt.

"Yes. I couldn't tell you all because of the marriage fiasco. That day, I also asked Purohitji for a solution, and he said that two persons very close to Arvind must do a puja for his peace."

"Two persons? Then Maa, you and Bhabi do the puja," Manohar suggested after thinking for a while.

"No," Dadi replied instantly. "I mean, yes, I will do the puja from home. However, the other two members should go to the Panch-temple located on the outskirts of the village," Dadi suggested.

"Other two members? Who, Dadi?" Arnav asked in confusion.

"You and your Maa. Who can be closer to Arvind than you two?" she said, holding Arnav's hand.

"But Dadi, Bhai doesn't believe in all this!" Akash said, glancing at Arnav, who had an uncomfortable expression.

"Arnav also didn't believe in marriage. But now he is married. And I hope he can do this much for his father. Won't you, Arnav?" asked Dadi, making him nod in agreement.

"Then it's settled. Aparna and Arnav will go to the temple tomorrow early in the morning, while the rest of us, including me, will do the puja at home for the well-being of our home and peace for Arvind's soul," Dadi finished, glancing at Khushi.

Everyone nodded in agreement. Manohar went away, while Arnav supported his mother to her room, and Akash followed behind.

"So, Manorama, there will be a puja tomorrow at home for the peace of the soul. That means every negative energy will be rid of from this home," Dadi said in a purposefully loud voice, while glancing sideways at Khushi.

Khushi stopped moving back to her room and turned to see Dadi facing Manorama and Ragini, both of whom looked scared.

Every negative energy will be rid of from this home?

What does Dadi mean?

Did she find out about my motive?

No... how is it possible!

Anyway, I have to be careful tomorrow!

I feel they're up to no good.

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

"How is Badi Maa now?" asked Akash as soon as Arnav came out of his mother's room after settling her.

"Fine," he gave a short reply.

"Now that you'll be out for the next day, what about our plan?" Akash asked in a worried tone.

"What about that? I may not be here, but you carry on with the plan," Arnav said, as if thinking about something.

"Bhai, until last time, you were excited about all this. What happened now? Why are you being so casual?" Akash was confused by Arnav's change of behavior.

"Nothing, Akash. I'm as much excited about it, but something is not sitting well. She's not reacting the way we expected."

"Hmm. I understand, Bhai. If she knows the past, she must have revealed everything by now. That means she doesn't know about it!"

"Yes. I've tried many times to ask her about the past so that I can know how much she is aware of, but not a single word slipped from her mouth. This confirms our doubt. The rest is yet to be revealed," Arnav said thoughtfully.

"Hope so! Our plan goes as we have thought," Akash said, pushing back his specs.

"What about the sample?" Arnav suddenly remembered.

"Yeah. I've submitted them. The results will be out in a day or two!" Akash assured him.

"Fine then. Night!" Arnav wished him before moving from there.

"Good night," Akash said to no one in particular before going back to his room.

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

Next day

"Maa ji, why did you send Bhabi and Arnav to the outskirts? How will that help us get rid of this ghost girl?" Manorama asked in a worried tone.

"Aparna told me how Khushi refused to enter the temple because she had taken some oath for Arnav's well-being! If she's truly a ghost, then she is just avoiding entering the temple. What we need to do is make her enter it. I've also called a Pandit, who'll be arriving in a few minutes. He'll surely help us get rid of her. As I didn't want any interruptions in our plan, I sent both Aparna and Arnav to the outskirts. I've sent Manohar to all the orphanages so he can serve food and clothes to poor people; he won't return before evening. You told me Akash will be out for the whole day as he has some important work. So, it's just us three here: me, you, and Ragini. Hence, nothing or no one can stop us from getting rid of her," Dadi explained the whole plan.

"But Dadi, what if she tries to harm us?" Ragini asked with fear.

"I've a solution for that. This Raksha dhaga will never let any negative energy harm us," Dadi gave them both a thread to tie on their hands.

That's when they heard the bell ring.

"Seems Panditji came," Dadi asked one of the servants to lead the priest inside.

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

Khushi opened her room door hearing the knock.

"Who are you all?" she asked after seeing a few people standing in front of her room, dressed weirdly.

They didn't reply; instead, they came in and held both her hands. She tried to free herself, but one of them threw some water on her from a pot, making her shiver. They started dragging her out of the room while she squirmed like a fish out of water.

"Leave me," she managed to squeak while struggling to get free.

"Aaahhhh," she screamed loudly when the men threw her inside the temple.

"No," she screamed when two of them came from behind with a rope and tied her hands while others tied her legs.

Her eyes became red with unshed tears. She started glaring at all the men with so much venom. But just when her eyes landed on the idol in the temple, she started squirming backwards, unable to face it anymore.

That's when she touched someone from behind and turned her face to see an older priest staring at her.

Before she could say anything, he started chanting some mantras, and other men started circling her, showering a few drops of water on her now and then.

"No... no... stop it... please... it's hurting me... please... nahi," she kept pleading while squirming to get out of the ropes, which were protected with some holy threads.

When the older priest was about to apply vibhuti on Khushi's hand, she pulled it back somehow and tried one last time.

"Please, just hear me out once. You cannot do this injustice."

He didn't listen to her pleas, instead asking her what her motive was.

"You have to hear me out fully. First, untie me... at least for the sake of Preetika, your daughter!" She touched his nerve point.

The priest fell for her words and asked his men to stop and untie her hands and legs.

"I would like to talk with you alone. And not here," she said, folding her hands.

He nodded in agreement and led her to a nearby room.

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

"She stopped shouting? Can we go and check now?" Manorama asked with curiosity.

"No. We cannot go out of this room until the priest calls us," Dadi clarified.

"I hope everything gets well soon" Ragini told hopefully

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

"What? This is too much of an injustice!" said the priest after hearing her story.

"Please, Panditji, don't ask me to leave from here. I'll leave just when I complete my revenge," she pleaded.

"I understand. Don't worry, no one can push you out of this house. Wear this thread; it will protect you from everyone, and you can also enter the temple from now on."

"But I just told you everything! How can I?"

"No, beta. God would never want you to be away from Him. See, you are standing here, so close to your motives. Isn't it all because of God? So listen to me, you can live normally henceforth. No rules!" he said in a convincing tone.

"Thank you, Panditji."

"Hmm. Now I'll go tell your in-laws that you are as normal as everyone here. But you should harm no one, except for the culprit," he asked for a promise.

Huh? Wouldn't I have harmed the culprit by now if I knew exactly who that was? That is the only problem. I couldn't see their face at the time of death! For now, I'm just observing everyone here. And once I know who the culprit is, no one can save them from me.
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With Love, ❤
Uzma