Aagyat :The Unknown

Chapter 17

They were sitting on the floor in front of Bahadur Chachas body….silent….shut….devasteted…. emotionless, just breathing… life has taken a complete turn within these few hours…. They’ve seen life in a new way….. they had believed in non believing… but how can they ignore their own skin? Own eyes and ears?

Raj……… hum yaha se niklenge kaise?.......Naina asked looking straight... her voice flat.. no place of any emotion there.

 Naina…… kaise bhi karke nikalna padega….. by hook or by crook…. Hum yaha aise baithke maut ka intezaar nahi kar sakte… Rajveer said… then looking towards Chachas lifeless body he said again…pata nahi chacha ko kaisa maut aya hoga…. Kehte hain Mare huye logon ka chehra dekhke pata chalta hai maut kaisa tha….Dardnak ya nahi….. yaha…….yaha to Chacha ka chehra hi nahi hai…… he sighs….. cha-chas face was turned in the opposite side...away from their vision….. but the blood flow and the thurst with which His body fell on the hard floor, its very easy even for one insane person to imagine how his face could be!

Chacha ne to marne k baad bhi apna farz nibhaya…..said naina…a sad smile kissed her lips as she remembers Chachas smiling face… the face that can make one fall easily for him and His lively gestures..

Naina Bitiya………..Bachao mujhe……….. Rajveer baba…………….and then weeping sound in chachas voice made them shiver to the core….

Raaj…..yeh suna aapne?? Yeh awaz? Chacha ka body to yaha hai.. humare samne….. phir?? Naina stared around trying to locate the source..

Naina……. Yeh koi trap hai….. yeh chacha nahi ho sakte…. Said Rajveer…. Infact he too tried to find the source of the voice……. Naina……. Kitchen ki taraf se arahi hai awaz………. Dekh ke aaun?? Curiosity engulfs him more….

Nahi…… aap kahi nahi jayenge… Chacha is dead……..naina shouted hysterically as she came closer to take a hold of Rajveers hand, making herself sure by clasping his hands tightly so that Rajveer dosent leave for anywhere alone.

Ha Naina…. I know chacha is dead…. But unki aatma…..syed kaid hai yaha……he said doubtfully looking at her… chalo…..tum bhi chalo… dekh ke ate hai…. May be koi raasta mile is ghar se bahar jaane ka… without waiting for Nainas answer, he went forward pullimg her along with him, tip toed…

Waiting for few minutes outside the kitchen door,Rajveer pushed the slight open door wide open. Inside ….. darkness…..just a single lighted candle couldn’t remove the darkness in the kitchen. Slowly, they walked in….Rajveer Held naina tight… the sound, it appeared to have its origin from the sink.  As the moved towards the sink with baby steps, the weeping sound increased.

Hehe hehehe hehehe hhehehhehehehehh…… sound of giggles from the hall made them turn around towards the door again………

Raaj…. Yeh to koi bachhi ki hasne ki awaz hai….. said Naina starteled…. Kya ho raha hai Raaj….

Mujhe bhi samajh nahi araha hai kuch…….replied Rajveer in a chocked voice…..

The sink Tap suddenly turned automatically, causing water to gush out……..and the sudden sound of the flowing liquid attracted their attention again..

Naina chalo….sink mein dekhte hain……. Chacha ka awaz wahi se araha tha…… saying this, Rajveer again moved towards the sink.. Naina behind him, holding him by his arm….. slowly….Rajveer came front…. Taking the candle from the kitchen slab, he slowly came in front of the sink…..water still gushing out at high speed….. minute droplets got sprayed  on Rajveers palms….. the cold water droplets made him shiver………… cold wind from outside rushing in, makng the candle flame flutter…… Naina, immediately came forward, covering the flame with her palm, protecting the only flame of their hope from getting extinguished!