Timeless

Haunting

It started to rain early morning. A storm brewed outside as Survi stood at the window worried. If it rains like this all day, I can never see the Kalan and am not leaving without answers." I have never seen this kind of a storm in Bijolia" Hansa said surprised, "it's raining as it will flood." Pratap nodded in agreement.

There was a knock on the front door as Hansa wondered " Who is here in this storm?"

Pratap went ahead to open the door as a lady came in brushing off the rain waters, with a bag In hand. She looked younger than Hansa but they had a few similarities like height and basic looks. She was more stylish. In an Anarkali, she frowned displeased at the weather." Dheer Mausi?" Pratap hugged surprised as Hansa stared coldly. Survi came to the scene and stared at the lady. Something about her made her feel uneasy. The lady stared right at her as if she saw a ghost." Who is She?" She asked displeased pointing rudely at an awkward Survi in Hansa's saree." She is a guest Mausi." Pratap spoke up. " She is a history student and..."

" How can you let strangers stay?" Her tone shocked everyone. " My father's home has been turned into a dharmshala is it Jija?"

" Mausi..." Pratap tried to explain. Survi looked shocked at the overreaction." No Pratap, do you people not know that it's so unsafe?"

" She is right," Survi spoke up as Hansa and Pratap looked at her wide-eyed. " I should leave. I over welcomed my stay."

" Survi Beta, there is a storm outside." Hansa spoke alarmed." It's just a storm, Aunty." She spoke taking her backpack. " Here is my number, if my luggage arrives tell them to call me and I l courier your saree Back " She stepped out in the rain as they looked stunned.

In a minute Hansa managed to say "Pratap stop her." He ran to find his car keys as Dheer scolded "Jija!"

Survi was walking down the empty lane in the downpour in her saree, with the backpack. She was murmuring curses to herself." How can you be so stupid? You just went barging into someone's home. That too over some stupid voices in your head. Bin baat ki insult ki uss Buddhi ne! Damn it! Where is the way outta this place?"

She looked around, the storm has prompted the makeshift shops to close, and not a soul was in sight. She walked ahead and found a broken wall of some ancient building. She walked across it and found the base of what was once some palace. The pillars stood half-broken still in some areas. She sat down on one of the boulders." Where will I find the Bus stop by mid-day?" She wondered. As the wind blew strong she felt the voices come back again.

" Ajabdeh, Ajabdeh? " It was Hansa Aunty again." Khamma Gani... aap??" some man spoke." Arree aree dekho kaise Sharma rahi hai Bindni." Laughs, Giggles." Kunwar Pratap! Kunwar Pratap" It was her voice now. What? Pratap?

She tried to stop the noises by putting her hand on her ears." Stop Stop Stop" She shouted. Pratap found her on the boulder as the rain turned into a drizzle.

She seemed like crying " Stop Stop Stop. Please" She held her ears." The voices again?" Made her look up at him as she wiped away the tears." Look, you ... go... I...."

" Did you hear that?" He looked around as she stared cluelessly." Hear what?" She was looking around." Drumrolls, shehnai..." He stared around. " Who is getting married in this deserted2 area?"

" Umm, Mr Singh. I can hear nothing." She looked confused as he stared at her. He shook his head and the noise was gone. She looked scared." Maybe... I think... umm... we should get some medical help." She looked annoyed. " I will go mad."

" I have been hearing the voices for a long time, they are like a part of me, but with you, it started recently like after..."

" Do you think the symptoms we have are linked? Like in a disease?" She looked scared." We are not sick Survi. Trust me."