Episode 4 The Ghost!

Ravikanth POV....

I walked out of the hut and made my way to the well. As I passed by the ladies singing and dancing my gaze locked on her, taking spins, singing and laughing. A small smile crept on my lips. I am living in this ashram for atleast 12 years but it was only when she challenged me I started noticing her. I have to agree, she is a very good fighter inneed.

I washed my hands and started walking back, my eyes locked on her. But then something happened which gave me an unknown feeling. Her eyes met mine. Her movements stopped, the wide smile on her lips replaced with something deep. Something I couldn't understand. I couldn't help but notice a change in her eyes. On that, when she was fighting with me, her eyes were filled with anger. But from that day onwards, when her mother came to me for forgiveness, whenever I look into her eyes, it's no longer filled with anger but something else, something deeper.

***

Gargi and Vani were walking out of the ashram. It was late at night. They were sneaking out without the permission of anyone.

“Hume darr lag raha hai, kisi ne dekh liya toh,” Vani spoke in fear.

“Shh! Chup kar,” Gargi said. “Koi bhi abhi bahar nahi aayega.” Gargi assured her and they continued walking towards the gate.

After some time, they came out of the ashram.

“Aab toh ashram se bahar aa gaye hain. Aab kyun darr lag raha hai?” she asked Vani, seeing fear in her eyes.

Vani replied, “Suna hai yahan ek chudail ghoomti hai.”

And she just rolled her eyes .

However, she ignored her response and said, “Kal toh Reeta maasi keh rahi thi ki kuch logon ko chudail ne loota hai.”

“Pagal ho gayi hai kya? Chudail thodi kisi ko lootne aati hai!” Gargi said, trying to bring some sense into her.

She fell silent, after walking for sometime Vani felt tired.

“Yeh nagar kitna dur hai,” Vani whispered. On which she replied, “Bas thodi der aur.”

As they were walking, a sound of someone’s footsteps startled them.

“Hain vo chudail toh nahi aayi?” Vani spoke in fear.

“Chup kar, dekhne de mujhe,” she said and looked around her.

She carefully took some steps back.

Vani turned back to her saying, “Tu peeche kyun...” Suddenly, her face turned pale and she screamed, “Aaaaaaaa!”

She ran to her and asked, “Vani, kya hua?”

But Vani stood still, her eyes full of fear.

She turned back, her eyes widening in shock.

There was a girl in a white saree, her hair flown. Due to the darkness, her face wasn’t clear.

Before her mind could reach a conclusion, Vani screamed, “Chudail!”

She started to run but got stopped by Gargi grabbing her hand.

“Kahan ja rahi hai?” she scolded.

“Marne, chalegi!” Vani said in anger, grabbing her hand.

Gargi shouted, “Pagal ho gayi hai kya?” Her voice loud.

" Gargi bhaag, vo hume maar degi", Vani pled, her voice low.

She ignored her words and turned to the girl — the so-called "chudail."

The girl took some steps ahead and in a deep, eerie voice said:

“Marna nahi chahti ho toh tumhare paas bas jo kuch bhi hai sab yahi rakh do aur bhaag jao.”

Vani looked at her with pleading eyes, but she assured her that she would handle everything.

She looked sharply at her and then at the surrounding.

Then took a stick from the ground and attacked her.

But it seemed like the ghost had sensed the planning.

She threw some dust on the ground and suddenly, dense smoke filled the surrounding.

“Gargi!!” She heard Vani’s voice before everything drowned in the darkness.

She opened her eyes and the first thing she saw was a fire lit in front of her.

She found herself and Vani tied to a pillar.

She looked sharply everywhere, ensuring that there wasn’t anyone else.

She called, “Vani? Vani uth!”

Vani opened her eyes slowly.

“Gargi, hum yahan…”

“Shh! Chup raho,” Gargi whispered.

She scanned the surroundings. The black stones on the ground caught her attention.

She tried to reach them but they were a little far.

Finally, she pulled the stones near with the help of her legs.

As soon as the stones reached her hand, she started cutting the ropes.

“Parantu hum kahaan hai?” Vani said, confused.

“Pata nahi, abhi yaha se nikalte hain, uske baad dekhenge kaha jaana hai,” she said, and they both started walking around, trying to find the path to the exit.

There were small huts around them. The whole place was surrounded by the forest.

They decided to walk to the west.

But before they could go out, some men surrounded them with weapons in their hands.

“Manna parega, bahot chalaak ho tum dono, parantu yaha se nikal toh nahi Sakti."

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