Mysterious Death

9-👻Bittersweet👻

Veena Aunty startled me with the speed she ran after entering the flat, where the door was surprisingly open.

"What are you doing, Madam?" Veena Aunty scolded the owner while taking the huge box from her hand.

"The parcel just came, so...," the lady trailed off her answer.

Veena Aunty shook her head and gently made her sit on the couch after putting the box away safely.

"Your due date is near. Why did you pick up that heavy box? Where are the other members?" Veena Aunty asked, turning her head to look around the flat.

"I am alone right now," the lady answered, with a small smile.

"How irresponsible? Someone should have been there with you. Next time something like this happens, call me. I will leave all the work and come. Don't worry, I won't take extra money. You shouldn't take such risks," Veena Aunty scolded her, but her care and worry for the lady was visible.

Even though she was a maid here, she got worried for the lady as if it was her own daughter.

Giving the lady a glass of water, Aunty started her work.

She still stayed there after her work was finished.

"You should go or else you would get late for your other work," the lady said.

Waving her hand in dismissal, Veena Aunty spoke, "Today, there is one less house. The owners have gone out so I won't get late and even if I was getting late, I wouldn't leave you alone."

The lady just smiled and submitted to Veena Aunty's firm decision.

She left only after the lady's husband came back and not before giving him a scolding.

We finally came to my home. Mom opened the door and Veena Aunty entered while I still hesitated to go inside. This place had all my bittersweet memories. It felt awkward going inside.

Gathering courage, I went inside to see Veena Aunty explain why she was early today.

Telling her to start working, Mom went inside the kitchen.

Nodding, she started walking towards the place we kept the broom but suddenly stopped when she saw my photo on the wall.

My photo frame was little tilted. She immediately corrected the position and wiped my photo with a cloth, gently.

"I thought you didn't like my daughter," Mom commented, coming from the kitchen.

Veena Aunty wiped the stray tears and answered with a smile.

"We just bickered a lot but that doesn't mean I didn't like her. Kids these days get annoyed easily. So did Maira, from my continuous talking and my habit of correcting her even if I am just a maid."

"Yeah, I know. You always advised her which irritated her. I thought you didn't like her way of living, well so did her father and I and that's why you tried to bring her to the right path," Mom's words felt like stab on my non-existent heart.

"No madam. She was a good kid and that's the reason I tried to advise her.  I cared for her or else I wouldn't have bothered. She is lot better than the other kids," Veena Aunty said, having a distant look in her eyes.

I instantly knew that she was thinking about her son.

Mom nodded, not saying anything in response.

"Madam, I know this is not the right time and I shouldn't ask this but my salary....," she trailed off, looking guilty for asking about something she earned rightfully.

"Oh My! I totally forgot. Thank God, you told me. You start the work, I will bring your salary," Mom spoke palming her forehead and hurriedly left towards her room.

After my house, she directly went to her home only to receive more insults and beatings.

Sighing I left and went to Drishti's home.

"How was your day?" I asked after reaching her room.

"Aaaa!!" she screamed, her hands clutching her chest tightly in fear.

"What happened?" Her mother asked coming from the living room upon hearing her scream.

"Nothing, I noticed a pimple," Drishti made an excuse.

"Kids these days," saying this her Mom left shaking her head.

"You idiot. Why do you always scare me? Can't you come in like a normal person?" She asked.

"Why are you so jumpy these days? And I can't come in like a normal person as for knocking, my hands has to touch the door which is not possible," I retorted.

"Leave all this. What did you find?" Drishti asked, having calmed down subsequently.

"Nothing about my murder. I was with her the whole day. She didn't meet anybody related to me. Everyone was a stranger and why would a stranger try to kill me. But she didn't go to one house today to work so I will have to follow her there tomorrow," I said.

"Okay. You do that. I tried checking Nisha's phone today during practice. Neither her number coincides with the number which messaged you nor does she have another sim. I even checked her bag stealthily, but there was nothing that can be a lead to the case," Drishti informed me.

"Alright. You did good. We would have to somehow go and check her home. We will do that later tomorrow but before that I need you to do something," I said, sitting beside her.

"What?" She asked curiously.

First I told her about the things I saw in Veena Aunty's house and then relayed my plan.

"Go to my home tomorrow at 2'o clock when my maid comes and tell her all this.....," informing her about what to do, I hoped everything would go well.