Where Shadows Reach

The Internship

"Two more days and you are leaving?! Why?!" Mari said in a plaintive moan.

"Please stay! We didn't even get time together,what with you getting sick and all."

"Sorry Mari, an obsessed jinn happened." Meerab said with a grin and a shrug.

Mariyam hugged Meerab tightly, only releasing her when she started complaining.

"Sorry yaar you know what I mean. I miss us and our chill time. I think you spent more time with the three exorcists than me."

"Mari!" With a shocked gasp Meerab swatted at Mari.

"They are very sweet, not like the exorcists of the movies at all."

"Yeah, yeah, you are all into them now and forgotten all about me." Mari pouted. She may be nineteen years old but acted like a five year old some times when it came to Meerab.

They were seated in Ma Begum's personal sitting room with Meerab's bandaged foot propped up on a footrest while Mariyam lay sprawled next to her on the seat with her feet hanging off the sides.

Meerab did not wish to share with Mari that she had been feeling uneasy since her last session as if some kind of weight was physically on her shoulders.

She had even been seeing shadows where there were none.

She would be sitting down and from the corner of her eye she would sense a looming figure as if someone was approaching but when she turned she would find no one there.

She did not want to dwell too much on it, choosing to ignore the shadows but the uneasiness would not go away. The urge to go away from the Haveli persisted.

Mari and Meerab were busy talking when they heard Ma Begum's voice approaching.

The moment they heard Ma Begum's voice, Mariyam sat up quickly and rearranged herself like a proper lady, sitting on the sofa instead of lying down.

Ma Begum had some house rules and one was that everyone should follow proper etiquette when people were around.

She knew Meerab and Mari were like wild kids when alone, she did not mind that as long as they behaved properly in company.

"Meerab beta, how is your foot?" She said gently patting her on the back before bending down to inspect if the bandage was clean.

"Its throbbing a bit but otherwise it doesn't feel too bad." Meerab replied with a smile.

"Murtasim had to go to the village estate on an emergency, said he will be back tomorrow or day after." Ma Begum delivered this news to the room as if she was not speaking for Meerab's benefit.

"Yes Ma Begum, he messaged me." Meerab confirmed.

Ma Begum's eyes widened just a fraction "Achcha, he did?" Mari coughed a little covering up a giggle that burst out when she caught Meerab'a eye.

"Mariyam, don't you have a project you have to work on instead of teasing Meerab about Murtasim?" Her mother asked with small twinkle in her eye. Ma Begum was not as unaware as her children assumed she was.

They suddenly noticed Feena walking in with a tea tray that stopped further conversation about Murtasim and Meerab.