Ishika Rathod

Ishika is hurrying after the butler. She is sure he just went around that corner with her bag in hand. Well, she doesn’t want him to wash her clothes. She is very personal about her things. So…

Her head begins to hurt. The air feels a little strange.

What’s happening?

Holding her head, she takes a few steps and--

“Achanak ye garden me kaise aa gayi main?”

The smell of fresh roses entrances her. She takes a step forward looking at the overgrown trees and shrubs. The smell of rain is equally soothing. She finds herself relaxing a little. The sky feels so near too… like she could reach out and touch the clouds.

Just ahead of her, there’s a man. He looks quite tall, must be handsome too. He’s walking rather fast, she jogs after him. To her horror the garden opens into a steep edge of the cliff. The man is about to go over it.

He’s going to fall..

“Hey, mister! Ruko!!”

Shouting, Ishika runs after him. The man from earlier is falling down the valley.

“Nahi, tum mujhe chod ke nahi ja sakte..”

She hears some high pitched scream. The voice is similar to her own. What’s happening?

The man is gone now. She’s alone on the edge of the cliff. One foot is dangling in the air. Why is she barefoot??

She’s going to fall!

She’s about to go tumbling down when she feels someone hold her by the arm.

Just like that she’s pulled out of danger.

***

She opens her eyes, feeling a gentle hand on her cheek. Where is she? She’s currently standing on the sidewalk of a garden, just about to crush a beautiful flowering plant under her foot.

It wasn’t a cliff then. Just the garden of the mansion.

She sighs… turning to look at the man who still has his arm around hers.

It’s like time freezes. She can’t look away from him.

He looks so handsome, like a beautiful painting. What is happening? How did he find her....

“Aapke kamre is taraf nai, us taraf hai…”

The man says, pulling his hand from her cheek and releasing her. Ishika takes deep breaths. She wants to sit down and relax but she chooses to stand, dabbing at her sweat with her hand. He offeres her a handkerchief. She takes it reluctantly. This man did save her… from another vision… as it seems.

What’s with these visions!?

She joined the society to find answer to them. Will she ever find it?

“Chaliye, main aapko apne doston se milata hu…”

This man, she’s seen him somewhere. Right! He’s the owner of this residence, Naman Ahuja. She’s seen his pic in one of the case files. It was written that this man will be their host and support.

“Thank you.”

He nods, his smile growing wide. He looks truly happy, she smiles back.

That smile looks familiar.

That name too. Not in the case file. But somewhere else? Where…

Her brain won’t work… she doesn’t get any answer.

***

“Ishu! Kaha thi tu?”

She’s met with an angry looking Angel as she steps into the hall with Naman.

“Ye aadmi tumhare saat?”

“Angel wo main rasta bhatak gayi toh, Naman ji ne mujhe…”

Naman interjects, “sirf Naman is fine.”

She is surprised to see him standing close to her. “Thankyou… Naman…”

She just said his name as he asked. Why is her heart beating really fast?
She smiles at him. Strangely when  she looks at him, she feels calm. The earlier anxiety is gone now.

“Anyway, you don’t need to thank me. Ye toh mera farz tha. Aur bewaja aapki dost mujhpe gussa kar rahi thi.”

Naman grins at her. Then he turns to Angel.

“Bewaja mujh pe shak bhi kar rahi thi. Ab dekhiye aap ka dog… kitni shant hai wo…”

He bends down to pet Tuffy’s head but Angel pulls her dog away from him.

“Maine kaha na, door raho usse…

Ishika is surprised. She’s never seen Angel so angry. Was she that worried about her? It’s sweet… but poor Naman.

“She’s a girl…” says Naman looking keenly at Tuffy. “I thought so.”

“Wo girl nahi… Tomboy hai…” says Angel haughtily.

Everyone including Mahi chuckles at that.

“Yeah, like her owner… no?”

Angel gives a death glare to Naman.

“Kya kaha?”

As she gets ready to fight with him again, Mahi intervenes.

“Shant Angel, kya hua tumhe? Kyu jhagad rahi ho isse?”

Ishika can hear Angel whispering back to Mahi… they are standing close to her… whispering back and forth

“Mahu mujhe iss admi pe shak hai. Ye acha aadmi nahi hai…”

“Aisa kyu lagta tumhe?”

“Pata nai.. Shayad, yaha rehna thik nahi. Yaha kuch gadbad hai… kuch aisa hai jo hum dekh nahi parahe aur Tuffy… Tuffy dekhparahi hai… you know… animals can sense supernatural things…”

Mahi laughs, “what do you mean? You mean Naman koi bhoot hai?”

Angel frowns, “han ho sakta.. You see… Ishika ke dream me jo banda ata rehta uska naam Naman hai…”

Ishika’s eyes widen. That’s right… that’s where she’s seen the name.. Naman Ahuja… engraved on the tombstone.. How did she forget the dream that she sees almost every night?

But..

How’s it possible?

Naman can’t be dead. Even if he is…. This Naman Ahuja is definitely not that one.

“Shant guys…” she decides to jump in between Angel-Mahi. “Aisa kuch nahi… Naman.. Bahut acha hai. He brought me here. It’s a miracle he found me. Warna main is badi si haweli mei ghumti rehjati..”

Angel sighs, "chalo, Ishu toh thik hai... I'm glad."

Mahi nods, “han.. Aur ab Tuffy bhi shant hai na…”

Angel nods.
Ishika turns to look around, feels a little nervous when she finds Naman is watching her. Then he pulls his eyes away, to clap his hands.

“Mansoor aapko apne kamre dikhayewga.”

Another butler escorts everyone upstairs.

***

Ishika enters her room. The interiors are chick. Everything is beautiful vintage stuff.

She sits on the bed thinking..

She needs to borrow Angel’s clothes. She’s starving too. Maybe better to go down and see if dinner is being served.

There’s a knock on the door which is still open.

It’s Naman?

“Hume aapse milke khushi hui..." he smiles, "Aapke kapde aapko kal tak mil jayenge. Aapko kuch chahiye toh humse miliye…. Ishika..”

He smiles a little, then turns on his heel.  Is his tone a little different? Why is he using the word.. Hum?

“Mujhe laga koi butler hai.. Par ye toh Naman hai. Iss haweli ka malik aur iss gaav ka sarpanch… kya zaroorat hai isey khud ane ki...Ye kyu aya yaha?”

How does he know her name?

She trails off narrowing her eyes.

"Naman... jana pehchana sa hai ye... kuch toh baat hai isme...."

Freshening up. she heads down to have some dinner. Maybe she needs to talk to Angel...and  know why she is mad at Naman.
Naman is their host and they shouldn't be rude to him.

***

RuVineet Sweetx, this is for you. sorry bahut time laga.next chp will be more fun... and longer too.
I hope u liked this one. Love u lots💓😘

Sagel-Runsh Thank you so much yar. Love ya.. hope u like this chp too💓