House Number 24

House Number 24

#housenumber24episode8
#Housenumber24episode8

Links for earlier episode: #housenumber24episode1, #Housenumber24episode1, #housenumber24episode2
#Housenumber24episode2, #housenumber24episode3
#Housenumber24episode3, #housenumber24episode4
#Housenumber24episode4, #housenumber24episode5
#Housenumber24episode5, #housenumber24episode6
#Housenumber24episode6, #housenumber24episode7
#Housenumber24episode7

©All rights reserved
#rhituparnachakraborty
Author: Rhituparna Chakraborty
#Disclaimer: This is an original work of fiction with no relation to any person/organism living or dead. Every episode, every character is a work of imagination. Any resemblance to any person, organism, place, character or situation is purely coincidental. There is no intention to hurt or rebuke anyone or any profession through this work. This story/episode cannot be copied, published or reproduced without the permission of the author RhituparnaChakraborty.

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Mushtaque was tired. The breeze from the window made him fall asleep in a manner where it was hard to believe whether he was asleep or had fallen into a deep swoon. Mushtaque fell into a dreamless sleep which he had not got in ages. With his work schedule, sleep was a far fetched dream for him. But he never complained about it. All the same, no matter what his schedule was, he would ensure Saanchi and Mehek’s routine did not go haywire.
……………………………………………………………………………………………
Mushtaque woke up, looked around, and sat up on his bed. He yawned and stretched and went to the open window. The weather was gloomy and it was drizzling. He looked at the window sill . Seemed there were some dust particles there. He touched those with his index finger. Well, did not seem like dust. Seemed more like ash.
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
After freshening up, Mushtaque came out of his room. He was wearing a pair of blue denim jeans, a black collared tshirt and round neck bottle green woolen sweater. Rahul and Geeta had already left for office and school respectively. Preeti was in the kitchen. Mushtaque went to the kitchen and said, ‘Good Morning!’ Preeti looked at Mushtaque and wished him good morning. She looked worried and worn out. She did not have a smile on her face. Mushtaque asked Preeti, ‘What happened to you Preeti? Where is that chirpy, happy Preeti?’ Preeti kept the bread toasts on a plate, put the nice fluffy omellete she had just made, beside the toasts, gave the plate to Mushtaque and said, ‘I am fine Mushtaque. Here, please have your breakfast. I will make tea in a jiffy.’ Mushtaque kept the plate on the kitchen slab, took a slice of toast, munched it and said, ‘So….now that we know that there is something going on, we need to take action on it. If you keep on worrying, nothing is going to work out.’ Preeti was quiet.
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Latika had come early today. She was busy sweeping the floor. Seeing Mushtaque, for a moment, she could not take her eyes away from him. Mushtaque took his plate of food and came out of the kitchen allowing Latika to sweep the kitchen floor. While sweeping Latika asked Preeti softly, ‘Who is this Sir? Your brother?’ Preeti replied nonchalantly, ‘No. My friend.’ Latika said, ‘Is he going to stay here for some days?’ Preeti nodded, ‘Hmm….if you need extra money for doing extra dishes, I am okay. I can give you.’ Latika said, ‘Why, No! I don’t need extra money. It’s fine. I was just asking.’
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
After breakfast Mushtaque went to the verandah outside. Latika came there to water the plants in the flower pots. She smiled at Mushtaque and blushed. Mushtaque smiled back at her and asked, ‘So, you have been working here since Preeti and her family moved to this house?’ Latika was taken aback when she found Mushtaque talking to her. She loved his baritone voice. Coyly, she said, ‘Actually Sarju was working here when I was on leave.’ Mushtaque then asked, ‘And who is Sarju?’ Latika replied, ‘My friend.’ Latika tried not to look at Mushtaque’s eyes while talking. She was spellbound by his looks. But she also did not want Mushtaque to notice this. Mushtaque then asked, ‘If I understand well, Preeti has moved to his place very recently. So, why did Sarju leave so soon? Latika said, ‘She had to go to the village.’ Mushtaque then asked, ‘Where is her village?’ Latika said, ‘Umm….Sumedhpur….’ Mushtaque asked, ‘And how far is Sumedhpur from Revati?’ Latika replied, ‘V..v..very far…..’ Mushtaque looked at Latika’s eyes and said, ‘Very far means how far?’ Latika said, ‘I…I….Preeti didi is calling me….’ Saying that, she walked away from there.’
Mushtaque was curious now. He had the habit of asking questions. However whenever someone behaved strangely, the cop in him would become alert. There was no reason for Latika to stammer while answering questions. And he knew for sure Preeti did not call Latika.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Mushtaque wanted to step out and explore the neighborhood. But now he was inquisitive. He wanted to know more about Latika and Sarju. Well, he might be wrong in suspecting them for anything. There were times when he was suspicious about certain things and he was proved wrong sometimes, ofcourse, not all the time. Perhaps this time too he could be wrong, but then, no harm in some sleuthing.
……………………………………………………………………………………………
Latika quickly finished her chores and left. She tried to avoid Mushtaque. Mushtaque became all the more curious to know more about Latika and Sarju. He went to Preeti and asked her, ‘You had a different househelp before Latika?’ Preeti nodded, ‘Yes….actually Latika was supposed to work at my place. But she fell sick. So her friend Sarju came as Latika’s substitute.’ Mushtaque then asked, ‘Do you have any id card or anything of hers?’ Preeti said, ‘Ofcourse I have. I did get her details verified. You need photocopy of her government ID?’ Mushtaque said, ‘Yes. I need that. I need Latika’s ID too.’ Preeti looked at Mushtaque and said, ‘Could there be a connection?’ Mushtaque thought for a while and said, ‘Don’t know. Just trying to join the dots. Did Sarju inform you before leaving?’ Preeti replied, ‘No! Just that Latika came and told me that Sarju had gone to her village.’ Mushtaque said, ‘I will find that out. For now, I want to know, from where did ash come on the window sill in the guest bedroom?’ Preeti froze. She exclaimed, ‘Ash?’ Mushtaque nodded, ‘Yes…. Ash….’
Preeti asked shivering, ‘Were you able to sleep well last night?’ Mushtaque smiled and said, ‘Ofcourse…….’
While Preeti stood there, Mushtaque called his trusted officer Abhay:
Abhay: Yes Sir…….
Mushtaque: I need information about two people. Latika and Sarju. Latika is in Revati. And as per Latika, Sarju is in Sumedhpur. Sending their IDs right away and I want you and Sofia to go to Sumedhpur and bring this lady name Sarju to Revati. Don’t be too stern with them. Not sure if anything is fishy or I am finding it fishy. Anyway, you find all the information and ask Sofia to call me
Abhay: Okay Sir!
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Preeti asked Mushtaque, ‘Ash in the window pane! There are evil spirits here in this house…..’ Mushtaque said, ‘Well, perhaps in the house, maybe outside the house, but yes………..there is some mystery and……..’ Preeti stared at Mushtaque , ‘And?’ Mushtaque smiled and said, ‘And, whatever you do in this house, whatever you talk about in this house, the “spirits” know about it………’
Preeti stood there like a statue. Mushtaque said, ‘And….I will find that out. But yes…….now don’t take Geeta to a counsellor any more. She does not need to see a counsellor.’ Preeti looked at Mushtaque and asked, ‘You mean……..she is right about those old people………..?’
Mushtaque said, ‘She is right about many things…….’
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Latika met with an accident on the way and she had to be rushed to the hospital…………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
To be continued……………..