Unhinged

Chapter 4

"Something is very powerful about darkness and silence, right?" Shashank and Sharanya heard a voice.

Vaibhav was standing at door. He came forward and sat in between them.

"Only you two were happy when lights went off" Vaibhav said "Why?"

"Nothing in particular.. But I liked how everything went quiet.. I would've loved to be born in times when electricity wasn't invented" Shashank said.

"I swear" Sharanya exclaimed "It would've been perfect for me too"

"Hota hai.. There are some minds like you two.. Some people we know as old souls.. They don't fit in anywhere.. They always feel that they don't belong where they are.." Vaibhav said

"Old souls?" Shashank asked.

"Yes. Old souls are people who are more mature and wise than people their age.. Not interested in superficial things" Vaibhav said "I saw you two and recognised that you both are old souls whilst Rachit and Riva are newbies.."

"So old souls have sad life and new souls have exciting one?" Sharanya asked.

"You can say that.. Souls are immortal whilst our body is mortal.. Old souls are those who've changed these mortal bodies a lot of times but are still stuck in this realm.. They have a bigger karmic account. They are just here searching for peace.." Vaibhav said "Am I right? Peace is all you want, isn't it?"

Shashank and Sharanya both were silent.

Vaibhav sighed "Hum kuch kar toh nahi sakte.. Par haan tumhare man me jo sawal hai uske jawab agar mil jaye toh ho sakta hai tum logoko thoda peace of mind mile.. We have a group who discuss on such things like how to attain peace of mind, how to keep yourself in balance, and we can find answers to all your questions by discussing and by doing some tasks.. Any kind of answers.. "

" Any kind? " Shashank asked.

"Try kar ke dekh lo.. I am sure that we can find answers to your questions.. You know most of the time answers to our questions are in our mind.. We just need some help to take it out. Our group does that.. We help each other to be better version of ourselves" Vaibhav said.

"Sounds appealing.. But I've been to therapies.. It didn't work for me" Shashank said "It will be kind of a group therapy, right?"

"See for yourself" Vaibhav handed him a visiting card "You'll feel better I am sure.. Both of you" He handed similar card to Sharanya also.

"Guys come back now" They heard Riva "Hum group trip pe aaye hai"

Shashank stood up "Aa raha hoo" He said and went.

****

It was late at night when everyone went to sleep. They all were sleeping in a line on different mattresses. Nidhi, Sharanya and Riva were in a different room and all boys were in living room.

Riva's sleep was disturbed. She looked everywhere and wondered why she woke up even though she was extremely tired! Riva felt cold as she came out of the blanket and stood up.

Riva always worried about Shashank. He didn't get any whiskey so she thought he might be awake. Her suspicion was right. Shashank was indeed awake. He was lying on his bed, looking at the ceiling. It wasn't dark outside anymore. So she could see that he was awake.

Shashank saw her standing there. Riva looked at him and sighed. Shashank chuckled and came out of his blanket. They both came outside and sat on same stairs where Shashank was sitting last night.

"I had the weirdest dream" Shashank said "I saw that I was talking to my brother.. Like he wasn't there but yet I was talking to him"

Riva was shocked "You never have such dream.. You always say that in your dream you keep trying to talk to him and he doesn't answer"