Somewhere far, I could hear some discussions.
I stopped Sahil and asked him, "Can you hear any talking sounds? Who would come to a forest when it's time for sunset?"
He was lost in some thoughts because of which, no words escaped his beautiful lips.
Coming to think of it, usually people won't come to a forest when it's time for sunset. It could be dangerous, as wild animals can attack in the dark. Who would take such a risk?
We followed the direction of the conversation. Some people with typical old king-queen dresses. They were talking secretly.
Two of them were talking and the other two standing and quietly watching.
Their voices were still not very clear for us to understand. Curiosity governed my mind. I tried to go near them until Sahil held my hand.
In the eyes where I always saw confidence, I saw fear, for the first time.
On the lips that always has that idiotic smirk, I saw lack of words.
An expression of astonishment.
Alas, a few words managed to escape his dumbfounded face.
"He was the-... No!
No!
No!
No this can't happen... Wait-..."
He again held my hand tightly and took me away from that place. We moved through the dry leaves that have become one with the earth. Dark clouds gathered in the sky. The trees shivered with the wind. I looked back at those people, wondering who they were. Until then my gaze fell upon Sahil, who was just focused at getting me out of the forest.
Throughout the way the question kept escaping my curious mouth,
"What's the matter?"
But he gave no reply. I asked him hundreds and thousands of times but he still didn't say a word. He looked stunned.
When we escaped the forest, we waited under a banyan tree. It's trunk was covered in red thread. Sahil sat down. I was just looking at him till sometime...
I then told him,
"Let's go to Sheetal's house..."
He gave no reply.
I said again,
"What's the benefit of you staying quiet like this? Who were they?"
He waited for a few seconds and then said,
"We'll go to Sheetal's house."
I didn't understand why he didn't want to talk about what happened in the forest.
We reached Sheetal's house. When we knocked the door, we got no reply.
I went and sat on the khatia kept outside. Sahil started knocking louder. But there was no sort of reply. We could hear someone saying something but no one opened the door.
Some people passing by started looking at Sahil. In no time, a crowd was gathered near the house. I went to him,
"Sahil stop banging the door! Can't you see the crowd behind you?"
The impatient figure didn't say anything, and quietly sat on the khatia. I advised the crowd to leave the place.
I then told Sahil,
"There is no other entry in the house right? Sheetal might not be at home."
"But in these olden times, have you ever seen or heard a girl going out of the house after sunset?"
"You kind of, have a point."
"I don't mean that I have old school thoughts. But, it needs to be noted to know in which times and in which year we are."
"Yes. Yes..." I although didn't ask him for an explanation on his thoughts...
Sheetal's unknown disappearance became a big question in in my mind. After 5 minutes, Sheetal opens the door.
Sheetal said, "I'm sorry I was a bit busy making thread."
It was an ancient tradition that one shouldn't leave a torn thread and open a door.
We went inside. We had food and then Sheetal started making arrangements for sleeping. We helped her in those works. We put a big bedsheet on the floor.
We spoke and gossiped like school friends whereas Sahil was still quiet and confused. We all lay on the bedsheet.
After some time, I saw that Sheetal was fast asleep but Sahil was still awake. I asked, "Thinking about what happened in the forest?"
"Yes, but why are you asking?"
"Why you say? It's because you are still awake. We don't even know the time. It might be morning anytime. Then you won't be able to take me running everywhere." I smiled.
He smirked and said, "I never took you away without a reason."
I don't know why, but I felt happy looking at him smile. Like I was yearning for it.
I reply, "And now, I will take you with a reason... Get up. And if you say anything, then bear the consequences..."
I took him out of the house. He remained quiet for sometime with a confused expression. But when his curiosity increased, he asked me,
"But, where are you taking me?"
"Curiosity kills the cat, sir. I had told you not to speak, right?"
From walking, I increased to running. We reached to a place where it became more quiet, but a bit more bright. I stopped there.
चारु चंद्र की चंचल किरणें,
खेल रही हैं जल-थल में ।
स्वच्छ चाँदनी बिछी हुइ है
अवनि और अंबर तल में।
~From "चाँदनी रात"
By "मैथिलीशरण गुप्त"
•••••
Why is Sahil so shocked?🤔
What made his smirk vanish?
Disclaimer: The poem isn't written by me.
I found the poem in an Hindi textbook. I liked it so I added it here including the name of the poem and the author.
So that's all for today, folks!
I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
Next chapter releases on Monday, until then,
Stay tuned! 😊💖
YOU ARE READING
The Mystery Girl
Mystery / Thriller"It was dark, darker than black. Spider webs all over, clinging down the slim lane. There stood in front of me, a grey painting of a grey Queen. Only her crown shining in vibrant colours. I looked at it, around it, and above it. As my steps reached...
