“Where is this Ritu gone? The hostel gate is about to close, and she is still not lifting my calls or messages. Like what? Does she have any secret to hid from us? Oh my god!” Chandrika was frustrated and endlessly dialing Ritu, but she isn’t picking up. “I swear she is indeed hiding something from us...” Aparna said while standing near the hostel window, looking out for any sign of Ritu. The hostel room door opened; There she is having a smile and some ancient scroll in hands, walked in with the sliver frame on bridge of her nose shine- “Missed me?” Ritu asked in a teasing voice. “Where have you been?” Varshika walked and took the bundle of scroll which are too many to carry in her hands. “Ritu why did you disappear like a ghost?” Chandrika budged her. “Anything secret?” Aparna raised her brows, pushed off the wall towards the other girls adjusting her golden frame perched on the nose.
“Well, I told you that we will find a solution to the Bhairava situation, right? And I got it, that’s the secret.” Ritu smiled brightly and took out a scroll which was placed on her study table by Varshika a minute ago. The other girls were in anticipation and hesitation; Anticipation because the meeting the Sadhu what might be the solution and hesitant, because this whole drama is because of the one who is now with scroll in front of their eyes. “So, Let’s see this, this specific scroll is not only about the history of the temple but also about the man behind it, Bhairava.” She opened the scroll, showing them; the other girls came beside her to look what was in there the scroll.
The Devanagari script was half faded with the time; it was looking ancient and almost like ruined wastepaper... but the words inside were in dark black inked with a beautiful calligraphy.
“Basically, Bhairava is a Yaksha as we know but also, he was a near companion to the demigod of wealth aka we know him- Kubera the king of Yakshas. Bhairava is obviously a huge Lord Shiva devotee, which we already know, here is a thing he performed nearly one hundred Rudrabhishekas to the god in the same temple when he first built it, he built that temple out of devotion and to pay respect for both the mentor figures who shaped him. This is the primary story.” Ritu finished and the other girls stared at her with an unimpressive expression.
“Seriously? Long time ago, there was man who tried to carve a mountain and did you know wha e brought from there?” Aparna sarcastically asked the others. “A rat?” Chandrika asked raising her brows. “Exactly. Same thing Ritu paapa” Aparna sighed.
“Just listen bro, I didn’t finish yet!” Ritu cooed and the two girls sighed deeply frowning. “What happened was, three hundred years later the temple built, the temple, which was always open for humans and Yakshas, there was a young teenage girl named Shailaputri, used to visit the temple without missing a day unless if she was sick or on her periods. She literally used to have good connection with the priests of that place. They practically saw her growing up... when she reached our ages I mean…... In that age her parents saw a good match and were ready to marry her off, then she dropped a big banger that’s she was in love with the Yaksha Bhairava himself, and she would marry if it’s only him. Her parents were shocked called her delusional and it’s a way to escape the marriage. They advised her to at least visit a nearby dating market (you read correctly people, people in ancient India had a specifical markets for young eligible people to meet up! Sources: Gaadha Sapta Shathi and other Tamil and Sanskrit love poems. So progressive! Right? Look our Ancestors have great life than us) but she didn’t listen to them and walked to the temple at night when Bhairava was praying inside coincidentally, her family followed to the temple premises, but they saw light and Shailaputri’s scream from inside; after few seconds…. Bhairava came out of the temple with her body in his hands and he seeked her parents' permission to take her away with him… later they told that the temple got cursed as she was dead in it and they said he is the culprit behind it and banished him and even the lake inside the temple was once has healing waters became toxic as I told…” Ritu sighed finishing the story.. “What the hell is the point now?” Chandrika spoke out after few contemplating minutes.
“There are missing pieces in the story and if we get there, we will be free. That’s the point?” Ritu shrugged off putting the scroll away and sitting on her desk chair. “But why only we?” Aparna questioned. “Because we are affected can’t you see? And even if tomorrow morning, we vacate this hostel and go to that room, still the danger will be looming!” Varshika vented out in low voice with concern, there was contained rare flicker of anger under her black siren eyes.
Aparna sucked her lips in, lowered her head in guilt and trying to not breakdown with fear. “We are doomed... seriously doomed; like how!? Why? But I am part excited too and I think I can’t sleep tonight yaar!” Chandrika was conflicting and laid down on the bed, while Aparna rolled her eyes. “But how you got this information and these scrolls?” Varshika narrowed her eyes sitting on Aparna’s bed. “Contacts actually, we need to meet that Sadhu and then after we assume the level of threat, later we should meet our professor Sandhya Chatterjee soon...” Ritu told with a tight smile on her face. “WHAT!” their unison echoed her ears. “You are saying we are going to solve this?” Aparna said, “If not us then whom... that’s not the question here, you once told that woman whom you are talking about is hard to reach in the field of Anthropology and Archaeology, how did you get there?” Chandrika asked in a bewildered expression.
“Contacts and I will explain you after meeting her” Ritu winked casually, laid on bed ready to sleep. “Definitely someone is there for her...” Aparna muttered under her breath. “Don’t worry guys, I will tell you everything after meeting Mrs. Sandhya Chatterjee” Ritu placed her glasses at the nightstand yawning and drifted into sleep with a good night wave to the others.
“This girl is shadily confident, something changed, right?” Chandrika mumbled to Varshika “She did and I think it’s okay, but once I want to meet that person who was behind this new version of her” She whispered back.
TWO HOURS BEFORE......
Down their hostel, a black Harley Davidson biker stopped with a helmet on, most of the men were appreciating the bike and its killer looks. Ritu who perfectly covered her face with mask and hoodie climbed that bike, placed her hands on his shoulders. The engine roared into the night streets of Hyderabad carefully until it crossed the heavy traffic, once the traffic was gone it purred with super speed into the forest area of Gachibowli Hyderabad Central University premises… the engine was stopped at a sideway where there are a small, closed bookstalls and three streetlights...
Ritu hoped down and removed her face mask and hoodie. The biker removed his helmet and black jacket revealing him. His hair was thick and wavy short... his stubble was again clean shaved; he is nearly 5’9 and he got down the bike parking nearby... he has a clean gentleman look, not a supermodel or not a film star, just a decent man and he placed his glasses on.
“Sit down Sweetie...” His voice was brooding and soft, Ritu sat on the bench beside him, she looped her arms around his torso and looked pleadingly into his eyes. “I am scared Samay” She uttered. “Yenduku raa?” (Why dear?) He drew soothing circles on her back. “We have done mistake by going to that place, we are haunted now” she said in a guilty voice. “It’s my fault", "No it’s not. Meeru cancel chesina tarvata kuda accidentally vellauga ra? So, no Sweetie...” (Even when you had cancelled the plan still accidentally you did go right?) Samay said in a soothing voice. “But still, I don’t know where to start! I am so idiotic to even think to go there in the first place” she nudged into his chest sobbing lightly. “No, it’s okay... now don’t cry Sweetie. No one aware that was coming, not only you or even me” He took her face into his palms gently, removed her glasses and wiped her tears with his thumbs.
“Look, I have brought you a scroll about that temple history from my mentor Sandhya Chatterjee’s Library. She gave me after I explained the situation... she asked she would like to meet you and your friends in two days, so don’t worry raa, everything will be fine” He placed a kiss on her forehead, before handling her the scrolls.
“Samay?”, “Huh Sweetie?” she was holding his hands, laid on his chest, while his fingers were stroking her hair and his free hand holding her securely around him. “Oka vela, nene aa- aa Maharani ayite?” (What if, I am that- that so called Queen?) “Ah, expected but listen, I would fight him even when I don’t know how to do that. I can’t lose you without any reason… when we are in love and together- nothing matters” He replied kissing her hair and continued to hold he tightly.
Now we are entering into something interesting with love and fantasy and thriller... buckle up.......
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