“This house is pretty beautiful!” Varshika walked in along with the luggage with Aparna. “The owner is also a sweet lady you know? She has something different inside her. So sweet and soft, unlike most of the house owners.” Aparna squealed and rang the doorbell.
The door opened and the owner came out with the same pleasant smile. “Namaste aunty” Both the girls folded their hands in respect. “No formalities beta it’s okay. Did you bring the luggage and belongings, and Aparna beta, where is you another friend? Last time it was you and another girl... ah Ritu, right?” She asked, Aparna nodded her head. “Yes, this our other friend Varshik the other two girls will be joining later this afternoon” Aparna answered, “Hey, Varshika, Okay girls, let me give you the keys. Oh, I forgot to introduce myself to maa! I am Padma, I live her lone while my husband is working in Warangal (Telangana) as banker and my children are in the US for job and studies. Don’t worry I am a schoolteacher so you can see kids here in the evenings for tuitions” Padma was just talking and simultaneously walked them to the upstairs penthouse handled the keys.
“I told you the regulations, right?” Padma glanced towards Aparna, who nodded her head gently.
“Did she-” Varshika politely cut Padma’s next question, “She did tell me aunty gaaru, we come from a decent background, and we definitely don’t have any boyfriends” She smiled politely opening the door. “These are just regular ones; I was talking about that condition?” Padma raised her brows. Aparna leaned against the doorframe smiling awkwardly. “Yeah, that one? Yes, aunty gaaru, we are not superstitious to be doing any serious stuff. We just pray to God.”
Varshika’s tone was smooth and soft just as always. A soft glow and smile, radiating warmth.
“Okay, beti now I need my rent by 5th every month. Now you can proceed with your housewarming ceremony and huh, you do know to not fight and keep the penthouse clean right?” Padma teased the girls and they smiled awkwardly.
“Varu akka, how is it?” Aparna gave a bowl full of garnished Payasam (rice porridge); “Hmm... looks delicious but I doubt would it taste like one?” Varshika teased earning a scowl from Aparna. Varshika laughed and took the hot sweet from her hands. “Mmm…actually it’s delicious! Appu, you can be a great cook! Stop with that Quantum Computing already” Varshika’s words were more of a tease rather than a compliment and Aparna frowned more. “Please akka!” She chided striding to the kitchen. Varshika grinned; “Arey! Actually, good Appu, you need not to be offended!” Aparna’s pouted deepened “I look like a little kid for all of you right? Always?!” She whined, “Not dear... just what is there to get offended, huh? And you are easily getting riled up. You really need to work on this aspect Appu; Take things easy? Don’t be this naïve… you are a Quantum computing student!” Varshika placed her hand around Aparna’s shoulders squeezing gently.
“What should I do? My parents had literally made me this, after my elder brother’s death. I told you right? How overprotective they became for me? Still, now I am twenty-three; managing my own finances and job, got countable experiences…”, “And has attachment issues with parents” Varshika sighed, she continued “Appu look, after reaching a certain age, we are automatically need to learn how to detach ourselves from the people who gave us this life. No not to revolt against them, but be yourself, prioritize yourself, have your opinions. If not, world will call you dumb, door mat etc., so you are still young, so go on experience life don’t be like this. Moreover, you have us. We will take care of you and let you in a good way so now don’t be this sensitive, by the way- this Payasam is too good!” She had a spoonful and took another placing near Aprna’s mouth which gladly accepted by her. Aparna hugged Varshika dearly, while Varshika patted, he back gently, both of them had the Payasam waiting for the other two to arrive.
Ritu’s Pov
“Ritu, Ritu...” Chandrika brought me back from my thoughts, she got up from the bus seat. We are here at the new area we were about to live. We walked down the busy street with honking horns and bustling afternoon route of Kukatpally (Hyderabad) was busy with software engineers and tech minds on vehicles to their glass prisons to work. Don’t get me wrong but as an art student who studies people’s evolution through ages, this looks like a modern slavery to me most importantly in our country.
Most of these people look dull despite of taking loads of money, hurried through these glass halls and metros like they were running out of time for an Olympic race… Their bodies will be wandering, but their minds are stuck in thousands of problems and yeah as an Art student sometimes people look at me and say “Ayyo! Arts aa? Yendukamma, chaduvu raada?” (Arey! Arts? Why dear, you don’t study well?) These are the true comments I faced for my Anthropology.
But one thing is for sure I am not those slaves, gladly. I brushed off my thoughts to the present problem in our lives while walking into the housing areas, where the atmosphere got a little quite and peaceful. My thoughts weren’t.
I took out the sticky notebook where I earlier wrote the questions but wait... question one and two didn’t get answers! I didn’t ask the Sadhu! He told something triggered him to chase only us!
how can I MISS THAT! But the second question, throughout the history of this curse and temple no one tried? Wait there is fresh question… my heart raced and pupils dilated… did he himself tricked us? Or... or...-- “Oye pilla!” (hey girl!) Chandu’s frustrating squeal in her raspy voice brought me out of my thoughts again.
“Hush... Abba!! Take some break for God's sake!” Chandu sneered snatching my sticky notes. “I know but my mind can’t-” she interrupted me raising her palm. “Look I told you already and telling you again. Stop overthinking, now come our girls might be waiting already” She held my wrist, and we walked into the house.
“AH!!” Aparna’s scream erupted from the kitchen; Varshika bolted into the kitchen leaving the arranging shelves in the middle and even the other two who were calmly climbing the stairs ran inside the penthouse.
“What happened?” Varshika asked in a panic tone... Aparna pointed at the milk vessel where the milk spilled on the floor and turned into some different colour, like amber... “What is with it?” Varshika asked. “Because I got this milk directly from the milk man early in the morning and if the milk gets spoiled or spilled it won’t be like this...” Aparna said glancing at the vessel. Varshika was having horrible déjà vu now. All the bad omens from past few days and now it’s still continuing...
“Sss.. agh!” Ritu twisted her leg while directly stepping into the new house, Chandrika held her shoulders… Aparna and Varshika who held Ritu’s yelp rushed into the entrance of the house, kneeling down to help her.
“It’s getting intense” Varshika mumbled with slightly teared eyes. “No... it’s just... agh! It's just we are seeing it now” Ritu grunted even in pain. “Should we be thankful for not getting harmed or scared that something might happen?” Varshika asked and already Aparna and Chandrika were shaking their heads in unison as a no. “I know…” Ritu answered before Aparna and Chandrika supported her the sit on a nearby sofa.
“Hey Shivayya! Please save us... I feel like we are getting into an inescapable danger zone.” Aparna clutched her ruby golden ring to her left index finger praying in her mind… while dressing Ritu’s twisted foot…...
Hey people! How are doing? And yes.... How is the chapter? Anyways, I Just wanted to ask something, is my story going okay or getting lagged behind I mean it's been 13 chapters so... what do you think? Just let me know... BYE until we meet again!
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