this chapter is a little roller coaster, so enjoy....
Ritu's POV –
I took a deep sigh after listening to Chandu's dream or delusion should I say? We were at the local tea stall, sipping down the ginger tea but the minds were preoccupied. "We are running out of time, why did you even get the illusion of Appu? Not anyone else? And why only us?" Varshika was repeating the same why only we? Question again I too don't know the answer, I need to call Samay – I didn't hear from him after that day when I shared about the summoning ritual we have done four months ago. He said that he will share it with his research mentor of course the legendary Mrs. Sandhya Chatterjee for insight.
As soon as we reached home, we saw Appu was sleeping on the floor in a corner of bedroom? What happened to her? All three of us ran to her and Chandu woke her up. "What happened Appu?" Varshika held her shoulders lifting up. She looked so weak and still feverish. I went into the kitchen and brought her some water, Chandu took the thermometer to check the temperature.
"Appu, what happened? Say something?" Chandu asked her in a slow voice, after we settle her on her bed. She was leaning against the wall to which her bed was attached to. "Promise me that you don't hate me? Or.... or leave me?" She said so meekly looking very exhausted like she has done any impossible task that our hearts twisted inside; We three exchanged the looks before giving a subtle nod to continue.
We heard ever word of nightmare or no it's not a nightmare it was an illusion, just like Chandu's. Our faces went pale at the end after hearing her version of illusion.
Varshika's eyes have unshed tears with fear, Chandu's face was froze and when I touched her hand to hold her still, it was cold, I was seeing their expressions but my own feet were trembling like jelly. Appu looked at us with her fear, uncertain and guilt face, like swallowing a lump in throat.
We couldn't stop ourselves, within seconds four of us encircled and started to cry together with fear and disturbed. Our cries were resonating in the room. "I am scared guys... why would I kill you? Why would I?" Appu muttered in between the sobs, "No you don't, don't fall for the illusion, Appu..." Chandu spoke in a shaky voice. Varu patted our backs and she was wiping more "Whom we should ask? Why did we... Ayyoo... Ritu we made a mistake Ritu... why don't you see the consequences, Ritu?"
"I am sorry, I am so sorry... I have, I haven't seen this, I swear- I just- I am a big moron, stupid, idiot, I don't know what got into me. I am sorry... I am sorry" my voice was trembling with guilty and fear, I was gripping Chandu's back.
After an hour, we had our breakfast in silence, even though we were silent- it brought us peace and comfort, but our minds weren't.
"Samay!!" I just cried his name with fear and pain as soon as I heard his voice on the line. "Sweety? Why are you crying?" Samay's voice went too soft. "I am an idiot..." I sobbed and recollected all of the illusions; for a while the line went silent. After sigh he spoke again "Sweety... what did you do?" he was dejected and helpless tone cut my heart, guilt was already pricking me like needle in my gut and now his tone brought tears in my eyes. "I am, I am...-" He hushed me off softly, "Don't worry, don't be guilty for what you haven't expected to happen. And listen carefully, every problem has solution so no nothing will happen to you guys... Tomorrow morning 8 AM, at department of Archaeology and Anthropological studies... I will be there for you, waiting for you guys... okay?"
"Ok, but I never met-" I was cut off again, "Although Mrs. Chatterjee is working as guest faculty here, you never met her and I, who, I will make sure that this doesn't go awkward. Now be careful. If you guys have any emergency... come to me but don't run away Sweety; Because running away, doesn't make this disappear, ok? Now calm down and it's already nine, have your dinner, talk to parents and rest well..." He said so patiently and I cut the call.
While standing on the terrace, looking at the light filled night my mind was a mess with thoughts- How did I get this lucky? How understanding and patient this man is?! The summoning ritual had worked on me very well... or am I that Bhairava's Devi and he was testing me with Samay? What if this breaks?
"Ritu" Chandu's voice broke me out of trance and I walked downstairs to have dinner.
Author's POV
Samay sat in his room, rubbing his temples, groaning in frustration at his desk. "What have you unlocked my Sweety!" He muttered, running his fingers through the hair while reminding the last serious conversation which he had with his mother on this topic.
FLASHBACK
"Found out?" Sandhaya asked looking at Samay, who just entered house's study room. He removed his glasses rubbing his eyes "Yeah" voice was too low. "So, Shona?" She raised her brow and he shared point to point what was told by Ritu, four months ago, the strange scroll in her college bag, three days of inspection, fourth day night, the four girls read a strange Shloka in it like a prayer, offering themselves to an unknown power; They didn't even care but now that power is showing them hell. This is what Samay summarized to his mother. She nodded her head like she understood the trigger.
"You got a walking innocent danger as your girlfriend..." She shot an almost disapproval glance at him, Samay lips tightened and jaw clenched "Maa..." she shot her palm. "You know what? All of those girls are very, very dumb or careless at this point. How are the other girls these days? Too fast and they don't even believe their friends or parents and now look at these girls? OK, I don't blame them because who would even believe these forbidden rituals? They will call the believers as illiterates and with that so called overconfidence of what can be the worst to happen, these girls took dumb decision to provoke an ancient creature and now he is showing them nightmares..." She finished the last sentence with a sigh.
"What we do now?" He asked slowly, sitting on the couch, placing his glasses again. "Number one- They need to know what triggered him to be around them, number two- Face him; they need to face him and confront him for that they need to perform that summoning, three- find out that DEVI of him, who is she, because that's the main issue, if we find out- then we can figure it out easily. Do bring them to me and later ask them to perform it again on upcoming Kartika Poornima." Samay's expression was serious and Sandhaya was looking at his fidgeting finger tips, "Samay calm down" She placed hand on his shoulder. "Maa, I love her.... I can't sit calmly when she was crying. Why she needs to be this reckless? And what if she is his target? How can I even imagine that to happen?" his eyes were wet, those honey brown eyes furrowed with worry at his mother who only knows the story not the solution.
MONDAY 7:50 AM Hyderabad Central University....
There was a clink of heels, sandals and shoes into the empty corridors of the university campus. The sunlight was reflected on the closed glass doors of the classrooms and departments. The pigeons wing flaps and their sounds were adding the atmosphere. The same sunlight was making the trees and plants in the corridor look pleasant. Except the researchers or project work students from different departments, the university isn't opened yet.
All four of them reached the threshold of the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology studies. Aparna's fever was cured still she was weak. Varshika and Chandrika were holding each other's hands with thumping heart beats. Ritu was tensed more than the other three girls because now she is going to give heart stroke for them.
"Hey, Sweety" There it is- the heart stroke with brooding calm voice, opened Prof. Chatterjee's cabin door, slowly, smiling softly, dresses in classic white shirt and sky-blue denim jeans, tucked shirt, two buttons undone, silver frame shining for sunlight, honey brown eyes were sparkling as they fell on Ritu... "Had your breakfast?" He asked smiling softly and stood in front of her with a red rose in hand.
Chandrika gasped audibly, Varshika covered her mouth, Aparna jaw dropped somewhere on the floor. "Donga moham daana!?" (You bloody thief faced. Accurate description from Telugu) Chandrika yelped. Ritu squinted her eyes, smiling awkwardly looking at her friends faces. Samay smirked holding his laughter. "You literally dropped a brick on their face" He muttered slowly.
"Brick? Brick? No?!! Not at all?! Because it's a huge mountain rock on our heads!!?" Chandrika frantically shook her head and hands. "Vammo.. Ritu.. you just.." Aparna felt betrayed. Varshika was internally fuming, her eyes were saying otherwise, she crossed her hands tapping her heel, narrowing her eyes.
"Hey, guys this is Samay my-" Ritu who took that rose from his hand smiling awkwardly cut off by Chandrika- "Aapu...aapu chalu... ardham ayindi maaku, inkoddu. Donga moham!!" (Stop... stop, that's enough... understandable, don't elaborate. You thief faced!!) her hand shot out like stop board on road side.
"Glad you understood Chandu" Samay chuckled shoving his hands into pockets. "Amma donga?!" (oh my thief!) Aparna squealed and the other two gasped too. "Wow, you told him about us but never told us about him huh? Let's talk about this later!" Chandrika crossed arms as well looking like she could just smack Ritu's face.
"Ok, I am sorry on behalf of her. I am the one who told her to wait until we first say to my parents, so now I told to my mother, about to introduce her and also coincidentally this serious situation came in... I don't mind now... my apologies to you dear sisters." He gave a grin to the other three who looked at each other's faces, accepting the heart stroke. "Fine, bro what can we do anyway? Please lead the way" Chandrika shrugged off, while Samay lead them in following behind. "There is a big surprise for you about my surname and mom" Samay whispered to Ritu before entering the cabin which made her frown.
"I wish everything will be all right" Varshika whispered while Aparna held her hand for support walking inside.
How is this chapter huh? nice right? let me know, bye, bye!!
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