How, i Met your Mother!

Part 8

Sunaina Raizada motioned for Lavanya and Payal to sit, her hands trembling slightly as she set aside her knitting. The air in the room seemed to grow thicker, filled with an unspoken tension.

"Dr. Lavanya, what exactly has Muskaan been saying about Khushi?" Sunaina asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lavanya exchanged a glance with Payal before responding. "Muskaan talks about Khushi as if she knew her intimately. She mentions specific details, even mimicking her voice. Today, she pointed to an empty chair and insisted that Khushi was sitting there."

Sunaina's eyes widened, and she drew in a sharp breath. "This is... troubling. Khushi's presence has always been strong in this house, but to think Muskaan might be communicating with her in such a way..."

Payal interrupted, her voice laced with desperation "Actually Maa, Dr.lavanya wanted to know if anyone has been talking to Muskaan about Khushi.."

Sunaina hesitated, her eyes shifting to the window as if seeking answers in the darkness outside and then she looked at Lavanya "No one talks about Khushi. It's almost a rule we've all silently agreed upon. But there's something you should know."

Lavanya leaned forward, sensing that Sunaina was about to reveal something significant. "What is it, Mrs.Raizada?"

"There have been... occurrences," Sunaina began, her voice low and cautious. "Strange things. I've felt Khushi's presence, especially around Muskaan. At first, I dismissed it as my imagination, but now... I'm not so sure."

"What kind of occurrences?" Lavanya pressed, her curiosity piqued.

"Whispers in the night," Sunaina said, her eyes narrowing as she recalled the events. "Sometimes I hear laughter, Khushi's laughter, coming from Muskaan's room. I've seen shadows move, felt a cold breeze where there should be none."

Payal shuddered, gripping the armrest of her chair. "Maa... why didn't you tell us, all of this before? This is... beyond anything we imagined."

"I initially dismissed it as my imagination," Sunaina explained to Payal. "But after Akash mentioned how you took Muskaan to an occultist, I realized how much we've failed her. Now that Dr. Lavanya is handling the case, I thought it was the right time to share my thoughts."

Lavanya remained composed, though her mind was racing. "Mrs.Raizada, this might sound odd, but could I see some of Khushi's belongings? It might help us understand what Muskaan is experiencing."

Sunaina nodded slowly, standing up with a creak of her knees. "There's a box in the storeroom, filled with Khushi's things. We've kept it locked away since she passed, but perhaps it's time to open it."

The three women made their way to the storeroom, the atmosphere growing more tense with each step. Sunaina unlocked the door and led them to a neatly organized corner. As she reached for the box, she froze, her hand trembling.

"I remember locking this box after Khushi's death," Sunaina whispered, her face pale. "But... it's already open."

Payal and Lavanya exchanged a worried glance. Sunaina hesitated before opening the lid, as if bracing herself for the memories it contained.

With a deep breath, Sunaina lifted the lid, revealing a collection of Khushi's personal items - her favorite shawl, a diary, some jewelry, and a few photographs. Lavanya carefully picked up the diary, feeling a chill run down her spine as she opened it.

"This might give us some clues," Lavanya said softly, turning the pages gently. "Thank you, Mrs. Raizada. We'll need to go through these to see if there's anything that could explain Muskaan's visions."