Freak At The Graveyard - Cursed Demon

20 - A normal day

"Alright, now tell me everything!"

As soon as my best friend, Shefali found out about my return back Toronto, she planned everything. How we were going to pass our summer, what shopping we need to do, which new restaurants and cafes we should go. I mean it has just been 24 hours since I arrived in Toronto but this girl is just crazy.

Dad's new apartment is not far from Aria's. We were sitting on Shefali's terrace just like before, talking about completely random things. I was kinda avoiding the serious conversation about Mumbai but I knew it was coming.

"Firstly, promise me you won't interrupt." we were sitting on a big swing, facing each other. "Not once."

"OK. And secondly?"

I rolled my eyes. I could see she was excited to know about it because I haven't actually told her much. I just told her bits and pieces on the phone calls.

"Secondly, don't laugh or judge. Or think I'm mad or paranoid or stressed out or cracked."

She 'LOL'ed, literally. "Done." and then she motioned her fingers as if she zipped her lips.

"OK, you remember I told you about a guy I met on the lake who turned out my neighbor?"

"Hm..Hm.." she was considering my warning seriously. Good!

"He told me to leave Mumbai. He told me I was in danger." I could see her shocked expression. Her eyes opened wide, eyebrows raised and her mouth was a big 'O'. She wanted to flood with questions already, but she couldn't. Man, she loved drama.

"The house I lived in is haunted."

I told Shefali everything that happened in last month. The whole massacre. Scene by scene. My nightmares, the real reason behind my staircase accident, tragic death of Sid's sister and her babysitter, Baaz's shocking behavior, my mom & Baaz's made up story about dad and my dead aunt who was my mom's twin, that "Save me!' ghost Andreas and the Asim Booth mystery. Shefali was intently reading my face and hearing my words.

"And, so I'm here." my throat dried up after this chat. I grabbed the water bottle we brought with us and gulped down half of it. Then, I looked at Shefali and said "Shoot."

She pondered for a few seconds before asking "Is that neighbor- Sid hot?"

"Seriously? After all my throat drying speech you asked about my neighbor?"

"No, Just Kiddin." she laughed "Although, I want to know the answer, my question is Why did he tried to save you?"

"What?"

"Look, you said he hates you, right? He saved you from the staircase incident, the drowning incident and warning you about all the ghost thing!"

"I thought he hated me but.."

"So, he doesn't hate you but why would he risk his life?"

"What?" I swear if Shefali tries to pull up the destiny and fate and soulmate stuff her. I'll kill her.

"There's a guy, who is not human, is killing all the girls in that house, but why didn't he killed the other twin? The other sister?"

She was now confusing me.

"I think that the demon is after older girls, maybe."

"So why Sidharth's sis? Why one?"

"Because.." Shefali got a point, "Kathy, the girl who was killed, was close to the babysitter than the other one. That demon probably killed Kathy because she knew about Emily's stalker and all."

"And so does Sid. If that demon wants you then Sid is the obstacle. Don't you think that demon will be angry as hell because his prey just ran away and someone helped her ran away?"

"Sid told that if I didn't runaway then it would be trouble."

"But he tried, right?" Shefali was right. I never thought that. Darn, I never told him 'thanks' genuinely. I've been so rude. He was really trying to help me.

I just shrugged.

"Also, I don't really understand about this Asim Booth thing and the other ghost, what was his name?"

"Andreas."

"Yes, Andreas." she stood up from the swing which made the whole swing move back and forth.

"There has to be some connection." she was mumbling to herself. "Between Andreas and Asim Booth?"

"No." she started pacing to and fro "Between Asim Booth and Shukla's. Why is Asim Booth's restaurant owned by Shukla's?"

"Because Asim sold to Shukla's. Possibly."

"But you saw Asim's grave in your neighborhood, right? The same neighborhood where Shukla's live."

"I saw that in my dream. And that could be coincidence."

"Not only that, Shehnaaz. I think Asim Booth is also related with the serial killer ghost or demon. Why would you see an old restaurant owner's grave in your dream? An empty grave? Right before you saw your grave?"

I couldn't answer that question. It was weird and Shefali was possibly right.

"What if.." Shefali stopped pacing around and stood in front of me, biting her index finger nail. "What if Asim Booth is the demon?"

"No.. Asim Booth was a human. He can't be a demon."

"The demon was cursed, Shehnaaz. That's why he turned into a demon. He could be human before the curse."

"I don't know anything about it.." To be very honest, this is too much tangled and it is overwhelming. I don't want to talk about it. Not really.

"Whatever. I'm here now. It's over and I'm so glad."

"Hmm" Shefali was deep in her thoughts, still thinking about it.

"My neighbor is hot." No, don't get me wrong. I just told to divert the conversation.

"Aww.. really?" she sat beside me and placed her hand on my lap. "Tell me!"

"What? I just told you.."

"Do you like him?" Funny! I humped and rolled my eyes.

"At least you think he's handsome, right?"

"Err.. yeah, kinda."

"OMG, you like him."

"Shefali, if I find someone handsome or hot, doesn't mean I want to marry him."

"Whatev, girl!"

"Beside, he reminds me of you." I shoved her slightly with my elbow. "All the banter with him made me miss you more."

She pouted. "Aww.. I missed you too."

And we hugged each other, made some more plans and then she dropped me home. Dad was already asleep by the time I reached home. I enjoyed a lot today. A normal day with a normal friend.

Oh, that's a lie. Shefali almost crashed the car into a big trash can, cursed in front of a old man who might have thought Shefali was a really bad girl, bumped into a guy and picked a fight. So that's my kind of normal day and my kind of normal friend.

I went to my room, changed into my PJs and got under covers. I was so relieved and happy after a long, long time. I was finally feeling that everything was going to be alright. I was safe.

I clutched the necklace around my neck tightly. It was the necklace given by that old lady. I had carried it all day with me, you know, as a lucky charm. I had the best sleep I had in past few months.