Recap
A newly married couple, Mohit and Maya, visit Mohit’s hometown to seek blessings from elders. Their stay turns mysterious when they encounter an eerie presence that unsettles them.
Settling Down
The next few days in Mumbai were a whirlwind. Mohit and Maya had to set up their new abode and make it their sweet nest. At the end of the third day, they sat back, exhausted but pleased with the results. The living room, bedroom, and kitchen all looked like a dream home to these lovebirds. The next day, they were to return to work.
The Guavas
The following morning, when Mohit woke up, Maya said she was feeling unwell and would join the office the next day. Mohit left for work, a bit disappointed. All day, he could only think of getting back home quickly. Around 6 PM, he finally reached home. The door was unlocked, and what he saw on the dining table surprised him: a plateful of ripe guavas. He knew Maya hated guavas, but he loved them.
Maya came out from the kitchen and said, “Mohit, your favorite.” A happy Mohit took a piece and was about to eat when Maya suddenly said, “Do you remember how you fell from the guava tree at Trilok’s orchard? Your leg took three weeks to heal…” She then went back into the kitchen. Mohit could swear he had never mentioned this to Maya.
His thoughts wandered back to a rainy summer afternoon when Kusum and he had sneaked into Trilok’s farm to get some ripe guavas. They wanted to pluck some fruits quietly, but Kusum, super excited, started showing Mohit the ripe ones. Trilok woke up from his nap and came with a stick. In an effort to run, Mohit jumped from the tree and landed with a thud. As he limped home, he made Kusum swear never to mention the incident to Ma and Baba.
Mohit asked Maya, “How do you know this?”
Maya replied, “I don’t know, I just said that,” and went back to cooking dinner. Mohit sat there perplexed, his appetite gone.
The Red Bindi
The next few days were spent settling into their new home, getting back to the office, and finishing pending tasks. Before they knew it, Friday had arrived, and Mohit had somewhat recovered from the shock.
That Friday night, the couple relaxed after dinner, sitting in the balcony for a chat. It was raining, and a cool breeze was blowing. Suddenly, Maya asked, “Mohit, do you remember our special day?”
“Of course I do, how can I forget Akash’s party?” Mohit replied. He remembered Akash’s birthday party at 21 Shots vividly. Maya was a new joiner at the office and had been invited to the party. That day, she walked in wearing a stunning black dress.
Suddenly, Maya said, “Wait a minute,” and went inside abruptly. When she returned, what Mohit saw shook him to the core, giving him goosebumps.
Maya was wearing a white saree with a dark red border, and a big red bindi adorned her forehead.
The Rainy Evening
Flashback to a rainy summer evening in Belanger. Ma and Baba had gone out to Mayank uncle’s house. Kusum had mentioned she was struggling with some physics problems and would come to Mohit for help. Kusum was almost like a sister to Mohit, as they had grown up together.
Kusum arrived that day wearing a white saree with a dark red border and a huge red bindi. Mohit had said, “Kusum, you look grown up today, and the red bindi suits you.”
After that, he had focused on the physics problems.
The Phone Call
Present day: Before Mohit could say anything to Maya, the living room landline rang – it was Ma.
Ma sounded worried. “Mohit beta, we rented the upper-storey rooms to a family a few days back. They are reporting strange incidents. I am very worried.” After a pause, she asked, “Do you know where Kusum is now?”
“No,” said Mohit. He thought he would have to call Boral uncle, Kusum’s father, the next day.
He consoled his agitated mother that everything would be okay and returned to the bedroom, knowing deep down that everything was not okay.
Maya was sleeping peacefully, having forgotten to remove her red bindi. Mohit just stood there, dread creeping up his spine.
To Be Continued ………….
Photo Courtesy : Google
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.
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