Dusky Moonlight

Chapter- 13(3)

"Amma," a child's voice startled Rathi. She was standing in the middle of a dark place more like a paradise.

She turned and saw a toddler boy. He's looked like a fallen angel and his eyes are like... Aadhiyan's.

Rathi can't help herself and smiled seeing him.

"Amma," he starched his hand wider.

Rathi's legs were already on the motion to hug him. When she was about to reach his hand, the ground creaked open and engulfed the boy in front of her eyes.

"No," she shouted and fell down on her knees feeling like she lost her kid.

Panting heavily Rathi got up from her sleep. It's all dark and she felt the moisture between her legs. Her stomach cramps indicated that she's menstruated at this difficult time. She got down and searched for the matchbox to light up the lamps.

She doesn't know what time it is, but surely it will be close to midnight. The sky was still gathered with the clouds; spontaneously shedding one or two drops of rain and the place is still and quiet, even she couldn't hear the sound of the ocean.

She came out and saw a shadow standing beside the balcony. With a nervous-filled face, Rathi walked to it thinking it's her husband. But he didn't turn even hearing the sound of her anklet. This made her feel eerie.

When she gets closer to it, there's nothing.

Her eyes widened in shock when she saw the same shadow down on the garden, it moved in an unusual way, not like a human, and then totally vanished in the darkness. Her heart throbbed against her rib, her words stuck on her throat, and her eyes were wide in shock witnessing this.

Rathi shouted in panic and closed her eyes when someone touched her behind.

"Hey, it's me," Aadhiyan told, she can't come out of the panic and she couldn't open her eyes.

"Rathi looks at me," he gritted and pulled her hand.

She cried and hugged him. "What happened?" he asked.

"I... saw... something. It's that dark shadow," she stammered.

"That's nothing, I am with you right, get up," he calmed her and lifted her body to stand up.

"I am afraid," she cried and clenching his shirt.

"I am here with you, Rathi," he embraced her and patted her back.

"I won't let anything to hurt you,"

Rathi came to her senses and looked at Aadhiyan. "I got my periods?" she told.

Aadhiyan took his hand from her and stepped back. "I need something," she bites her lower lip. She looked too pitiful at that moment.

"First get out of this house," Aadhiyan ordered her and she stared at him with wide eyes.

"Come with me," he dragged her without giving a moment for her to think what he's trying to say.

Aadhiyan stood near Masumi's room and banged the door. "Why you're disturbing her?" Rathi asked.

"Then what you want me to do. You can't stay in the house during the menstruation period." Hearing that Rathi felt like crying.

Masumi came out and looked them both in surprise, "She's bleeding, give her some cloth," Aadhiyan told.

She went inside and Rathi looked at him, "You stay in that room," he told pointing to the old dark chamber room the Masumi's chamber.

"Why can't I stay with you?" she asked.