Freaking Romance

24. Where do the souls go?

Chapter written by Aaku_14

A few weeks later
N A N D I N I

Leaning on the railing of the balcony, I stared at the night sky. The sky looked calm and beautiful with just a minimum number of twinkling stars.

I had gone to visit the hospital the other day when I got to know about Jeff's disappearance. She had spent seven freaking years in earth as a ghost. Despite being a ghost she was cheerful and she treated me like her own sister. Everytime I went to her she had this warm welcoming smile on her face.

"If we ever get a chance to meet again in another life, let's meet as humans and not as ghosts." Those were her last words for me.

"You seem lost." Manik's voice broke my trance. I looked at him and he had already been looking at me. Those eyes which once used to be filled with rage and irritation on seeing me, were filled with warmth or so I felt.

"Ah. I was just wandering where the souls which disappear from earth go to?"

"Isn't it obvious? To the afterlife." Manik said averting his gaze from me to the stars.

"Afterlife. Do you believe there's something like afterlife?"

"Well who knows? But isn't it good to be hopeful that there will be a life after this life." He smiled.

"Wow wow!! Is this really the Manik Malhotra I know?"

"Hey, c'mon I was just trying to sound a little hopeful. And I guess I have been infected by your positive virus."

I let out a laugh at his remark before we both fell silent. "Hey, Manik. You will never forget me right?" I asked, breaking the silence.

His face scrunched a bit on my remark."Why are you suddenly bringing this up?"

Though for a second or so yesterday night my whole spirit had faded away just like the last time. I really couldn't comphrehend anything. Was that all a signal telling me that I was about to disappear from earth? If it was then I at least wanted someone to remember me.

"Well I just wanted to make sure if my monster will remember me or not?" I faked a smile.

"Well I can't help it. I have never met a shameless girl like you. So it's obvious you'll stay in my memory as the most most most shameless person."

I chuckled."Well I have told you so many times and I would still tell you. It's called being straightforward and not shameless."

"That's being shameless for me."

"Ah, whatever."

"Nandini." He called after a moment of silence.

"Hmm."

"Why aren't you pestering me to find your body?"

"Huh?"

"I mean that was your initial request. So I thought you would pester me but strangely you didn't."

At first I did want Manik to find my dead body. But now I just didn't want to trouble him with my matters. I just wanted him to live his life to the best.

"Ah. I just felt that I wouldn't be able to muster up my courage to see my dead body."

"If that's the case then what's your resentment?" He asked, shifting his gaze towards me.

"You are concerned about me, aren't you?" I smiled cheekily.

"Nonsense why would I be concerned about an annoying ghost like you." He put on a poker face. "I was just curious and I honestly don't care about your resentment."

"I don't believe you." I shook my head lightly. "It feels as though if I were to disappear now you would cry your eyes out."

"How delusional of you to think so. I would rather buy a bunch of firecrackers and celebrate if that ever happens." He huffed, crossing his arms around his chest.

"Such poor lying skills."

"Don't believe me if you don't want to but that's the truth." He said as he made his way out of the balcony.

M A N I K

Five minutes had passed by since I had left her alone in the balcony. I had thought that she would follow me in but miracleousoy she didn't. I slowly and steadily peeked inside the balcony only to see her scribbling something in her notebook. What was she scribbling? Moreover she gave off a little sad vibe, at least that's how I felt.

"Hey what are you looking at?" Navya's voice from behind startled me, making me jump on my place. I immediately straighten myself.

"Nothing." I frantically shook my head. She looked past me towards the balcony. I followed her gaze but Nandini wasn't there. Where did she go?

"What's that in your hand?" I asked on seeing a file in Navya's hand.

"The extension contract with the lighting team." She said, handing it to me.

After giving me the contract and wishing me 'good night' Navya got out of my room. I looked around my room and then in the balcony. Nandini wasn't there instead her notebook and pen was lying on the ground. Where the hell did she go leaving her belongings this way?

I picked up the notebook and scanned through the pages notebook. Almost half the notebook was filled with her conversation with Cabir. Damn I really didn't think they would chat this much.

Then my eyes stopped in the second last page. It was a letter addressed to me.

'My dear little monster,

I don't know if you'll ever get to read this letter but if you do get to then I want you to know that I was happy. I was really happy with just being around you and I am happy right now too. When I first met you, you were so afraid of me that you ignored me. I had to use so many tactics to get your attention. Now when I remember even those days are precious to me.

I don't remember anything about myself from when I was alive and I do get curious about myself from time to time but I really don't feel so bad about it. I lost my everything and I found you instead, so I have no regrets. You were my first memory and probably you will be my last one too. And I am happy that it's you.

We went through a lot of ups and downs in this three months that we spent together and I wish I would get to spent more time with you, even if not seven years but just a year more with you. I wa-

And that's where her letter ended. There were splatters of ink after that. And looking at the letter, I could figure out that it was written just recently. Probably she had been writing this when I had been peeking at her.

"Nandini." I called, looking around me. I was hoping for her to unexpectedly come out and scare me but no such thing happen. She didn't appear. "I would start ignoring you again if you don't appear now." I tried to threaten her but nothing worked.

As seconds turned to minutes my anxiety level increased, what if she had disappeared like the last time?

*****

Hoh hoh hoh any guesses as to what's happening?
Is she gone for good or will she be back or do you think she's playing some kind of a prank?

I am not sure as to how the update is. For no damn reason I had a hard time writing this. Writing this wasn't as smooth as writing other chapters. Anyway I hope it's worth reading.

Stay safe. Stay happy.
Love ❤️
AT