#Rajpurepisode6

#Rajpurepisode6

#rajpurepisode6

#rajpur

#Rajpur

Link of previous episode: #Rajpurepisode1, rajpurepisode1, #Rajpurepisode2, #rajpurepisode2, #Rajpurepisode3, #rajpurepisode3, #Rajpurepisode4, #rajpurepisode4, #Rajpurepisode5, #rajpurepisode5

#Author: #RhituparnaChakraborty

#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 or character is purely coincidental. There is no intention to hurt or rebuke anyone through this work. This story/episode cannot be copied, published or reproduced without the permission of the author RhituparnaChakraborty.

Nihaar was rushed to the hospital. Nirali and Naina accompanied him. Sarita was trembling with fear. She wanted to leave but she had strict instructions from Nihaar and Nirali not to leave. The family doctor was called. Saanchi was sedated. Sarita bolted and barred the door of Saanchi’s room. When Mushtaque came, he was shocked on hearing all that happened. He insisted on opening Saanchi’s door. However, the doctor told Mushtaque that Saanchi needed rest. ‘Let her be’, said the doctor. Mushtaque looked at Saanchi from one of the windows. The girl who only knew how to make people smile is suffering so much. He won’t spare the person/people responsible for this.

Abhay and Sofia arrived in Rajpur. They rushed to the service apartment. Mushtaque was waiting for them. Abhay and Sofia were pained to Saanchi’s condition. Mushtaque’s blood shot red eyes depicted a story of anger. Abhay said, ‘Parvati maám told us all. What’s next?’ Mushtaque told Abhay, ‘Keep an eye on Naresh Sharma and his entire family and their house. Find out who comes, who goes, what are the places they go to and all their activities.’ Abhay nodded and said, ‘Yes Sir.’ Mushtaque then told Sofia, ‘I want you to keep an eye on all the activities of the women of that family, Nirali, Naina, Nitisha, and their mom Shubhangi.’ Sofia said, ‘Yes Sir.’ Mushtaque continued, ‘We need to search this entire house as well. Also, we will have to find information from the neighbors here.

Sofia went to talk to Sarita. Sarita was looking pale with fear. She was sitting on a stool in the corner of the kitchen. Sofia said, ‘Hi, my name is Sofia.’ Sarita replied(with her teeth chattering), ‘I have told Sir. There is some ghost here. We should call some paranormal expert. Sir, never listens. Damn it. I can’t even go home.’ Sofia knelt down beside Sarita, patted her shoulder gently and said, ‘Why do you think that there is some “ghost”?’ Sarita said, ‘You haven’t seen how Saanchi maám has been behaving. Humans don’t behave this way. They are all sedating Saanchi ma’am. What they don’t know is that spirits cannot be sedated by medicines.’’ Sofia then said, ‘Since how long have you been working here?’ Sarita replied, ‘I am new here. The cook Suresh knows me. Through his reference I got this job.’ Sofia then continued, ‘Suresh has been working here for sometime now?’ Sarita said, ‘Yes yes. He is from our village. He has been working with the Sharma family since he came to Rajpur.’ Sofia said, ‘Hmm.’

Abhay went to the hospital to check Nihaar’s condition. He was stable now. He could have died. There were prominent strangulation marks on his neck. Abhay knew Saanchi could not have done that. With the doctor’s permission, he met Nihaar. Abhay did not tell Nihaar anything about Mushtaque. He pulled a stool near Nihaar’s bed, flashed his identity card and said, ‘Hi, I am Abhay. I have been sent from the police headquarters. Apparently someone lodged an ‘attempt to murder’ case against Ms. Saanchi. I can’t disclose who did that, but, I wanted to know if this was true?’ Nihaar looked at Abhay weakly and said, ‘No. Ms. Saanchi did nothing of that sort. Close this case.’ Abhay knew that Saanchi (unknowingly) tried to strangulate Nihaar. But, then, why was Nihaar refuting that?’ Abhay continued, ‘According to sources, apparently Ms. Saanchi had accused you of clicking her pictures without her knowledge. Is this true?’ Nihaar hesitated and said, ‘Yes, I did click her pictures. Maybe I should not have done that.’ Abhay then asked, ‘But, why did you do that?’. Nihaar replied without making eye contact with Abhay, ‘Because……because, she is beautiful.’ Abhay got the hint. Nihaar was inclined towards Saanchi. Should he tell Mushtaque about it? Well Abhay knew nothing can miss Mushtaque’s super vigilant eyes. Mushtaque sure knew about this.

Suresh was in the kitchen cooking. Sarita was constantly blabbering out of fear. Suresh was quiet through out. Mushtaque went to the kitchen and told Suresh and Sarita, ‘I have to step out for sometime. Please see if Saanchi needs something.’ Suresh nodded. Sarita said, ‘Don’t go Sir.’ Mushtaque said, ‘ My friend Sofia is here. Don’t worry.’

Sofia looked around the house. There was nothing worth suspecting. She went to all the rooms. There were a lot of paintings in the house. Sofia touched the walls and knocked at them gently. They seemed all ok. However, there was one painting which was way different from the rest. It was the silhouette of a nude lady. There was nothing in the painting except for the sketch. Sofia did not know if her eyes were playing tricks but the silhouette seemed to move. The frame was intact. Sofia did find this peculiar. Suddenly a sharp breeze came and Sofia felt a piercing pain on her back. She screeched and looked at the painting. The silhouette disappeared and the frame was blank. There was nothing. Sofia froze.

Mushtaque went to the Sharma residence. He rang the door bell. Naresh Sharma opened the door. Mushtaque said, ‘I am Mushtaque Khan. I am staying at your service apartment.’ Naresh Sharma froze. He did not want to face the guests of the service apartment. Before Naresh Sharma could say anything, Mushtaque said, ‘Can I come in? I need to talk to you.’ Naresh Sharma said, ‘uh huh sure.’

Mushtaque looked around the house and said, ‘You have a beautiful home.’ Naresh Sharma said, ‘Thank you.’ Mushtaque then said, ‘How is Nihaar?’ Naresh Sharma said, ‘He is fine. My daughters and my wife have gone to the hospital to meet them.’ Mushtaque nodded. Mushtaque then said, ‘Actually, if you don’t mind, can you please give me a cup of tea or coffee? Even a cup of hot milk will do. The thing is, I have a splitting headache. I am so sorry for the trouble’ Naresh Sharma said, ‘N…no trouble at all. S…Sure. I will get it.’ Naresh Sharma went to the kitchen to get tea for Mushtaque. Mushtaque took this opportunity to scan the house as much as he can. When Naresh Sharma got the cup of tea, Mushtaque said, ‘I need to wash my hands.’ Naresh Sharma took Mushtaque to one of the rooms and showed him the bathroom attached to that room. Naresh Sharma then left. Mushtaque looked around. Everything seemed okay. Only curious thing was an empty picture frame. Why would someone keep an empty picture frame? Whose room was this?

The phone rang. When the call was answered, the voice at the other end said, ‘ He is there in the house. Remove all the paintings and frames in that house. You know what I am talking about? Right?’ Suresh replied with a smile, ‘Sure. I will.’

Meanwhile blood started oozing from Sofia’s head………………………..