The Manager had directed them to Bluebell's school and thanks to the GPS, they found their way back. But, the day wasn't with them and their stars aligned a bit too late. The night had settled in and the school that bustled in the morning seemed haunted. Fab 5 were used to night layovers in schools, but those days were special and the circumstances were different. In the present, they had two options- look for a hotel to crash at or wait for her at the school. With the thin winds blowing through the pine and hooting of the crickets and ruffling tress, the later didn't seem appropriate. The temperature dipped so going back to far off hotels didn't seem reasonable. Mukti surfed near by hotels and identified one that was five minutes away. They took off from there and settled in the hope they would land in a decent place.
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The night was young and filled with craziness for Nandini, Aryman and Abhimanyu. The three had played games, watched a movie, caught up on gossip, burnt a cake, enjoyed a food fight, and freshened up. The only thing left on Nandini's list was to go for a pleasant walk and have her favorite ice-cream. Aryaman was new to the tradition and so, as any sane person would, he countered, cribbed, and put up a fit on how she had the most pathetic idea for a place that was lathered in a centimeter of snow. Abhimanyu had done the same mistake in the past and though he still stuck to those rationales, he cared little to enter the debate; rather, he silently got up to grab the keys of the house. Nandini and Aryaman fought the argument with the least of rationale and though both sides had the utmost craziest, nonsensical reasoning, the girl always had to win. He slipped on his shoes and the warmest jacket he had and dragged himself out. Nandini hopped and skipped on her way out to join Abhimanyu. She grabbed his arm and snuggled into him warmly and the magic of her chatter started. Her voice gargled in the empty streets and the trio walked walked their way up to the Clock Town's main street.
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Fab 5 had been lost and roaming in circles since the past five minutes. Yes, they had found a hotel, but then, they hadn't.
Their jeep and Manik's bike parked in front of the gate of a tall white building with a small dusty door. The crickets hooted in the background and the wind whistled away. They got off and entered the hotel to be welcomed by an old, senile man who shivered and had bulging eyes with slightly ragged clothes. He looked at them with an intense, sharp gaze and muttered something inaudible. He went inside and soon returned with a younger, yet old man. At least he was well built and more decent in appearance, Fab 5 sighed in relief. They were chatting about availability when Cabir questioned about the painting that hung behind them.
"The last supper!" the old man shivered. "It was the painter's last painting and supper at this hotel. That innocent soul died here. Tales have it, his wife murdered him with a cup of poisoned coffee. Love does that to you, you know! Poisonous stuff!"
Fab 5 gulped audibly and glanced at each other horrified at the finding when the Manager handed them the rusty keys. The senile man walked them to their dusty, sneaky, low-light rooms not before warning them in the shakiest voice- "Life and death! Friends are fraud, believe or not, she comes on the days of odds!"
His lines was convulsed and left the frightened Fab 5 shaking more than ever.
"May be the school was safer!" Aliya muttered with sweat dripping from her fright. Dhruv held her hand tightly and reassuringly. The gesture turned Fab 5's weariness on and they narrowed their eyes. Knowing that it may not be the best time to say it but, also seeing that they were caught, Dhruv and Aliya thought to let the cat out of the bag.
"Guys, we are..." Dhruv stammered.
"In a relation..." Mukti completed him and crossed her arms.
Dhruv and Aliya nodded meekly and looked down for their mistake to hide from Fab 5. Cabir, Manik and Mukti made a stern face.
"Sorry guys, but..." Dhruv and Aliya said in unison and went on their guilt trip and explanations. It wasn't far into their list of inhibitions and fears when the trio grabbed the couple in a tight hug and shouted that they were happy for them.
"Pehla nasha, pehla ghuma", a shrill feminine voice rang in the room. Fab 5 broke the hug and looked at each other with wide eyes. The ghost was the first thing that filled their minds. The voice continued in a hoarse, feminine, squeaky unplugged version of the song. Their fears seemed to fog their minds and turn true. They shrieked loudly and grabbed their belongings and jumped off through the low window. They ran towards their car, stumbling and screaming for each other. Their jeep and bike revved at the fast it could and they made a dash for the gate.
The roads hadn't ever taken them to known places and now, they drove in front of a big clock and very intellectually, the signs read- Clock Tower.
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"No Aryaman! I promise this going to be fun. Don't be a bummer, please!" Nandini pleaded in utmost might.
"I don't see the point. I don't see an open creamery or parlor. I don't see anything but snow darling." Aryaman stayed making the little issue of no ice cream-wala a big deal. "And also, how in the world are you roaming in the minimal of your pajama and jacket! It's burring cold, Nandu!"
"Let it go!" Nandini said and twirled on her feet in the middle of the abandoned road. "Let it go! Feel it Aryaman! A very wise man had told me once that this time, these memories won't come back and people, though like clouds would fade away but what stays with us are the memories. So let's build those, nah!"
She had finally found her nirvana and Nandini was stubborn enough not to let it go. She was enjoying the abound-ness she felt inside and what she experienced on the empty road, until a blazing car light blinded her and she stood rooted at her place.
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Cliffhanger pause! After a long time, I feel I'm getting somewhere!
I'm sorry this story is a mess. I think writing is just too personal of a deal for me and it varies greatly for the day I'm in. Sorry once again! I m going with flow right now and don't know how this will end-sweet or bitter. I don't know how this journey is gone and, but I 'll revisit it with a fresh mind, hopefully one day and let you all read a fine cleaner and edited version! Till then no promises and no commitment just apologies for starting you all on high hopes and crushing them later on.
Happy Reading!
Love,
HF
YOU ARE READING
Cordially, Yours!
FanfictionLet's start with a fiction of a fiction. Plot Brief: Everyone knows the background and if not, all the better, the mystery awaits you! So let's dive in! As a time perspective, the story starts from the night of the Talent Hunt when Manik stands on t...
