Prey of a Predator

Chapter 6

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"Main kuch samjhi nahi, maalik se kya matlab bolna chahti ho tum?"(I quite didn't understand, what do you mean to say with the word 'head'). She looked at me and said while laughing nervously,"Nahi kuch nahi bas ek ghatna yaad aa gayi thi to maine dhyaan nahi diya aur ye ho gaya."(No, Nothing just remembered one incident and I lost my concentration and this happened). I looked at her with an annoyed expression and finally she started saying,"Accha thik hai, sunn, ek baar main baba ke saath mandir se waapas aa rhi thi tab chalte hue hi humne kisiki cheekne ki aawaz Sunni aur saath hi codde maarne ki bhi awaaz aa rhi thi, baba aur main jab wahan jaake dekhe to wahan ek aadmi jameen par leta hua tha aur ek angrez usse codde maare ja rha tha. Aas-paas se jaankari lene par pta chala ki wo aadmi kisi kaaran se karr nahi chuka paya tha toh usse uss cheez ki saza mil rhi thi. Aur jab wo angrez use maar rha tha tb uske sipahi bhi usse dur khade the jaise wo bhi usse darte ho. Jab hum ghar wapas aaye to phir hume aas-paas ke logon se hi pta chala ki wo aadmi yahan ke angrezo ka bada maalik jisko yahan ke logon ko karr chukana hota hai, jisko yahan ki zemedaari saunpi gayi hai aur kehte hai wo bahut crure hai, kabhi kisi par daya nahi dikhata. Isse pehle jitne bhi Colonel aaye, wo bhi crure the par itne Jayda nahi, ye to daanav ka swaroop lagta hai. Ab to yahi prathna karti hoon ki hume jaldi aazadi mil jaaye."(Alright then listen, one time I was coming home from temple with father when we a man scream and with the screams, we could also hear someone whipping him and when we went there, we saw a man laying on the ground and a Britisher was continuously beating him. From nearby people we came to know that he was unable to pay tax and this is his punishment. He was looking so scary at that time that even his own officers were afraid to come in front of him. He was looking no less than a devil himself. Before him many more Colonel came, but none them were as cruel as this one). And before she could say anything else maa called her and she went off to her.

Is that Colonel the one who lived in mansion if yes, then what should I do? Should I talk to him or what? How will I be able to go back home? And if not, then I have to find out about that mansion and the one living in it. This is Udaipur in 1870 so maybe that village, the people of that village may be able to help me. What was the name of the village again, umm........yeah, Keshav. I have to find out about the village from where I took the keys. Mom, dad pray for me so that I can come to you again. God help your daughter, please.

Now I am bored as for the past 30 minutes I am sitting in this room without anything to do and most importantly, there are no dark romance books to read. Oh god how did you think I would survive without reading those smut and crazily faking scenarios. If you were intending to throw me here then atleast if not my mobile phone you could have given me my books which were in my bookshelf. I have over 50 unread books right now, you could have thrown that also with me so that I could read something and not be idle.

Just then it striked me, my phone. I remember correctly that I had kept my phone in my purse and that purse was in my hands when we were in that mansion and when I woke up, I was wearing a lehenga. I don't remember wearing that and if that was strange enough, how did I got into a dangerous forest like that alone and I don't even remember. Is this someone else's body, if it is then where is her soul or more like where is my body? Oh god I am hella confused about what should I do.

Thinking this, I started pulling my hair in stress. Just then Avantika entered and jerked my hand away from my hairs. And she scolded me saying am I mad that I am hurting myself. I made an excuse and said that I am bored so can we go for a walk as it was evening time. She agreed and we took permission from maa and left. We were roaming in the market are of the village and there in one shop, I found a beautiful flower necklace which when I asked the price he said that it's 20 paise.

Wait so low, in 2024 it's price probably would have been 50rs. Just then it striked me that I am back in time and prices at this time are this much only which is also pretty much expensive for us.

I asked Avantika who was busy looking at lehengas to choose from,"Avni, tere paas paise hai?" To which she replied as yes. I asked her that how much. To which she replied as 1 ruppee. Alright we can buy these necklaces but her lehenga.... I asked the shopkeeper about the lehenga's price which he replied as 1 ruppee. So it will either be these necklaces or her lehenga. I asked if she is interested in buying lehengas. She nodded her head and said that if I want I can buy something else. I told her that I wanted to buy these necklaces as a pair for both of us and the remaining money, we can spend it on buying something else or eat something with it. She said that she liked my idea and she refused to buy lehenga and we bought the necklaces and wore it. It looked beautiful on us. I was fair skinned and Avantika was brown skinned but it looked more amazing on her. Well, anyways, I was quite happy with buying these as a pair. We then wondered many shops and bought earrings and ate street food. And my god, food of this time tastes divine. So good that I am speechless. I always thought that streetfoods in my area are best but these are at another top level where my area's street food can never reach. No unhealthy chemicals and fresh spices. And people also are so kind, ready to help anyone in danger. Now that I think of it, living here doesn't sound so bad but still I need my parents and friends and my books. I laughed at my thoughts when Avni shook me and said that we have reached home. We went inside and showed maa everything we bought and she loved it especially our matching necklaces and made us swear to never take it out. We swore and then went off to wash ourselves as maa told she will be serving dinner soon and baba will be coming home late tonight due to some work so she will eat with him and we have to only eat, right now.

After Avni(Avantika), when I went near the well, I suddenly started feeling cold. As if something is going to happen with me in the future or as if someone I know is very dear to me has entered this area and is somewhere near me and my heart, my heart is very much paining right now as if the one I was waiting for, has finally come for me. And my head started spinning little bit so I grabbed a brick of the well when suddenly I heard the running horses again. As our backyard was surrounded by long walls, I couldn't see anything or anyone but as the sound was increasing the pain in my heart was also increasing and was pounding very fastly as if the man I love the most is finally returning to me. As if I haven't yet said sorry to him for my mistake and this guilt will kill me someday if I don't apologise now. Now I was sitting leaning against the walls of the well and groaning in pain. But as soon as the horses sounds started decreasing, the pain also started decreasing and when I wasn't able to hear the sounds, the pain completely stopped. Oh god what is happening with me. Why is my heart beating so much for someone whom I don't even know? Why do I feel like I have a huge guilt in my heart for someone whom without apologising I wouldn't be able to live. Why? Why me?