The Red Bindi: A Tale of Love And Unseen Presence

A Fairytale Wedding

Mohit and Maya had a fairytale wedding in Goa. All the relatives attended the grand celebration, and the week passed like a dreamy reverie. It was now time to go to their hometown in Odisha to seek the blessings of their elders – a ritual all newlyweds in Mohit’s family followed.

The Beginning of Their Journey

Mohit and Maya were colleagues who met, fell in love, and decided to tie the knot within 12 months of their first meeting. They had so much in common that it seemed like they were soulmates – the connection was instant. The day after the wedding, they were off to their hometown, Bolangir. Maya was excited to see her in-laws’ countryside house, with its open fields, greenery, kitchen garden, visiting birds, and beautiful flowers – all so enchanting, especially for Maya, who was raised in the city.

Countryside Bliss

The next few days were a whirlwind of visiting relatives, exchanging gifts, and enjoying lots of food, fun, and laughter. On Saturday, Mohit’s distant uncle invited everyone to their house. However, Mohit wanted to spend quality time with Maya and wasn’t close with that family. He asked his parents to visit them out of courtesy while he and Maya could rest. They were to travel back to Mumbai the next day, returning to their daily office grind.

A Quiet Day Together

The parents complied and left for the visit. Mohit and Maya finally spent some quality time together. They cooked a delicious meal, had lunch, and then took a nap. They woke up as the sun was setting. Mohit’s parents messaged that they were leaving for home and would be back in an hour. Mohit’s house had a beautiful view of the sunset from the rooftop. He suggested, “Let’s go to the rooftop and have our tea there.” They started climbing the stairs with the chai (tea) and biscuit tray.

An Eerie Encounter

The area near the stairs was dark, and Mohit switched on the light. Somehow, the switch didn’t work – strange, as it had worked the previous evening. “No worries,” Maya said, “it’s a short climb.” While climbing the stairs, Maya suddenly looked sideways and saw a figure in the darkness. She couldn’t discern much, but she saw a woman adorned with a huge red bindi. Her hands started shaking, but she quickly passed the alley and reached the rooftop. Her heart pounded, and she had goosebumps.

Silent Fear

Mohit followed her and seemed disturbed too. Neither spoke about it, but they both had the same fear in their eyes. They drank their tea in complete silence. Suddenly, a phone rang, breaking the silence – Mohit’s dad was calling to open the front gate. Maya stood up, still shaking. They clasped hands and tiptoed towards the stairs. Amazingly, the lights were now on, and a taxi was honking at the gate. They ran down the stairs and opened the gate for their parents.

Unresolved Memories

The next day, they traveled back to Mumbai. Mohit couldn’t stop thinking during the flight. He suddenly remembered Kusum, his beautiful childhood friend who grew up as his neighbor. She often visited Mohit’s house, and one particular trait that stood out was the big red bindi she wore. It was during a beautiful evening on the rooftop that Mohit had told Kusum he was planning to marry Maya. He hadn’t looked back to see Kusum’s reaction that day. Shortly after, Kusum’s family moved away from Bolangir, and they lost touch.

A Shared Unease

“Mohit,” Maya called out, disturbing his thoughts. “Would you believe me if I tell you something? That day when we went to the rooftop, I felt we were not alone.” Mohit just stared back at her, his mind reeling with the possibilities.

Life often surprises us with unexpected twists. For Mohit and Maya, their love story intertwined with a mysterious presence, leaving them with questions that might never be answered.

By Manjusha Dutta

Manjusha Dutta is a Senior Manager with a Software Insurance organization. A movie buff and an amateur dancer, she rocks in the videos that she creates for her YouTube channel. She can be reached at manjushadutta@gmail.com.