Thanks so much for reading the previous chapter and loving it. Guys your support is the author's best source of inspiration.
Kuki17 :- Thanks Mogambo for that huge review. And even I wish we were soul sisters. And you write better than I do, and don't argue that one.
Drizzle1640:- Thanks so much Drizzle.
Madhumanti:- Thanks and yup all those genres are a part of this fic. And your name's really nice.
DayaVineet's Girl:- Thanks di. I am glad I could portray Ruhana as she is. Also I am glad you loved it.
Mithi:- Thanks so much. And I will portray them as they are.
Kiya :- Thanks a bunch dear!
Now, happy reading.
The four friends finally left the hotel at 8 pm after Kuki had finished bashing Kavin for his tardiness. She was really in a foul mood that had to be changed to regain the peace in the car. So Ruhana had an idea.
Ruhana :- Vineet kyu na hum Baladev Mandir chale. Bohot purana mandir hai aur aaj ka din bhi bohot accha hai. Aaj Phalguni Pournima hai aur aaj ke din mandir ki murtiya sajayi jaati hai. Log kehte hai bohot khoobsurat lagta hai aaj mandir. Aur safar shuru karne se pehle, Bhagwaan ke darshan bhi ho jayenge.
Vineet :- Nice idea Roo. Jaroor chalte hai. Kyu Kuki, be nice?
Kuki :- Actually great idea Jiju.
Kavin (murmuring to himself) :- Thanks bhabhi, topic change karne ke liye. Warna yeh toh mera dimag poora kha jaati.
Kuki :- Maine sun liya Kavin.
Kavin :- Oops! Mar gaya.
And they all have a laugh.
After about 5 minutes, they reach the grand Temple engraved with delicate carvings. The Temple was built in the 16th century by the orders of King of Kujanga, Raja Gopal Sandha. Lord Baladev defeated and killed Kandarasura and in his honour the people here had started worshiping him. The beautiful ancient temple consisted of the Bada Deul or Shri Mandir, the main building of the Temple, where the idol of Lord Baladev was placed. The Majhi Mandir or the Bhog Mandap, where the prasad would be served. The Jagmohan or Natya Mandir which was made for the entertainment of the people of old times. And the Bata Mandir or Mukhashala where the important things would be placed.
Ruhana (happily):- Kitna khoobsurat hai yeh Mandir. Kitni shanti hai yaha! Aisa lagat hai jaise kisi great presence mein aa gaye hai hum.
Vineet is very happy to see his wife so happy.
Vineet (smiling):- Tum bohot khush ho na?
Ruhana :- Haa.
Kavin :- Chalo andar chalte hai.
They are about to enter the temple when they see the Pujari of the temple.
Four of them :- Pranam Pujari ji.
Pujari :- Pranam. Bahar gaon se aaye ho?
Kuki :- Ji Pujari ji.
Pujari :- Bilkul sahi samay par aaye ho. Aaj Phalguni Pournima bhi hai, aur yeh samay Nisankhudi Dhup ka hai, yaani ratri ke bhog ka. Pooja hogi abhi. Aao.
They all enter the mandir and pay tribute to all the idols of different deities placed at the different smaller temples in the main temple.
A Pandit there guides them about the different deities of the temple.
Pandit :- Aaj Phalguni Pournima ke din, is mandir ki saari moortiyo par alankar chadhaye jaate hai. Poora mandir sajta hai. Kehte hai, aaj ke din pooja karne ka bhaghya jiska hota hai uske zindagi mein se rakshaso ka prabhav door ho jaata hai. Unki saari chintaayein bhasm ho jaati hai.
Kavin :- Accha! Phir toh hume yaha se jaana chahiye, warna Kuki ko kho denge.
Kuki :- Pandit ji ne rakshas kaha. Iska matlab tum. Samjhe Mr. Narcissus?
Kavin :- Kuki, how could you be so mean?
Kuki :- Kuch nahi inspector sahab, aapki sangat ka asar hai. Warna hum toh aise nahi they.
Vineet and Ruhana look at them and smile at their cute fight.
Vineet :- Sahi kehti ho Roo, yeh dono kabhi bade nahi honge.
Ruhana :- Agar yeh bade ho gaye na, toh sabse jyada inki shaitaniya tum hi miss karoge.
Vineet :- Bilkul khari baat kahi hai tumne.
Again RuVi share a smile.
Meanwhile a young Saadhvi informs them that the Pooja is soon to begin. They leave for the pooja and as they are the guests of the town, they are given the opportunity to perform the pooja. After the pooja, they also present the offerings to the Gods and distribute the prasad.
Ruhana notices that Kuki is thinking about something and approaches her.
Ruhana (placing a hand on Kuki's head) :- Kya soch rahi hai meri Jhansi ki Rani?
Kuki :- Kuch nahi di, kitna peaceful atmosphere hai na. I mean, aisa lagta hai yeh peace humare andar samaa gaya hai. Koi chinta ya dar mehsoos hi nahi ho raha.
Ruhana :- Mandir, Masjid, Church, Gurudwara, etc., ki yahi toh khoobi hai. Ek ajeeb si atmiya shanti hoti hai yaha. Sukoon sa milta hai.
Kuki :- Right as always di.
Vineet (returning from the idol):- Meri dono jaan-e-mann kya baate farma rahi hai?
Kuki :- Kuch nahi jiju. Waise aapka dost kaha reh gaya?
Vineet :- Modak they prasad mein.
Ruhana :- Oh! Uff, Kavin bhi na. Koi iski harkate dekhenga na toh manega hi nahi ki yeh ek CID officer hai.
Vineet :- Ruhana ji, aapka hi ladla devar hai. Bigada toh aapne hi hai.
Kavin :- Meri bhabhi hai, mujhe bigade chahe sudhare, tumhe issase kya?
Vineet :- Kuch nahi. Chalo nikalte hai, already 9 baj chuke hai.
Kuki :- Haa jiju. Hume chalna chahiye.
When they are about to leave, the Pujari stops them and inquires about their journey.
Pujari :- Aage aap logo ki manzil kya hai?
Vineet :- Ji, Pujari ji, hum Hukitala jaa rahe hai. Waha kuch din bitaenge aur phir wapas Mumbai ravana.
Pujari :- Par pournima ki raat us raaste se safar karna uchit (sahi) nahi hai. Waha dono taraf samudra hai. Raat mein waha bohot uchi leherein aati hai.
Vineet :- Ji Pujari ji, aap sahi hai. Par humare pas jyada din ki chutti nahi bachi. Hum toh char baje hi nikalne wale they, par der ho gayi.
Ruhana :- Shayad humari kismat mein yeh pooja karne ka saubhagya likha tha. Tabhi der ho gayi.
Pujari :- Agar tum jaane ka aagrah (zid) hi kar rahe ho toh ye taveez hi rakh lo. Tum log is sab mein vishwas karo ya na karo, par yeh Bhagwan Baladev ka taveez hai. Unhone yaha ke bohot bade asur ka vadh kiya tha. Vahi aapki raksha karenge.
Kavin :- Aapki khushi ke kiye hum yeh rakh lete hai Pujari ji.
Kuki :- Accha ab hume agya dijiye. Pranam.
They touch his feet, take his blessings and again start their journey.
The road leading to the small but scenic town of Hukitala was en-wreathed on both sides by the Bay of Bengal. The white waves splashing over the road polished its beauty over and over again. Lined with beautiful palm trees on the either side, this street gave a soothing environment to anyone who strode over it. The people who started late would witness the black silhouettes of the palms against the deep turquoise skies of the evening. Bestowed with the ceaseless sound of the waves and filled with the salty warm humid air of the Bay, the road had a mystic aura about it. Especially during the evenings, when the sun would be too dim to lighten up the whole scene, the day birds would retire to their nests and the background would be filled with the chirping of the crickets, the street would become spooky.
On one such evening, two friends with their wives were travelling in a black SUV which camouflaged completely with the surrounding. They were making their way to Hukitala for the remaining days of their holidays. The full moon was raising slowly as the sun was leaving the street in pitch darkness. The climate was slowly turning eerie. But overlooking the backdrop, these friends were merrily making way towards their destination, singing and joking. But Ruhana was getting worried because of the eerie climate.
"Lets drive faster. Its getting late and there are no street lights on the road", Ruhana said to Vineet who was behind the wheel.
"Offo Di, itna beautiful road hai, dekhne do na. Don't be such a spoilsport!", exclaimed Kuki from next to Ruhana.
"Actually bhabhi sahi hai. Hume bohot jaldi waha pohochna hoga, kyuki aaj full moon hai aur iska matlab hai we have a high tide on the way. Aur raste ke dono taraf samundar hai. Hume bohot jaldi nikalna chahiye tha", Kavin, said from next to Vineet.
"Ha na Ru, Kavin sahi hai. Hume bohot jaldi nikalna chahiye tha. But tum ladies ko taiyyar hone mein waqt hi bohot lagta hai", Vineet, said from the driver's seat.
Ruhana (angrily) :- First of all, mera naam ulta bolna band karo! Whats 'Ha na Ru'? Next tum log thode na bags pack karte ho, woh hume hi karna padta hai, aur pata nahi tum logo ka samaan kaha kaha faila hua rehta hai. We always need to do the thankless jobs.
Kuki :- Aur hume ready hone mein waqt lagta hai? Hum dono se jyada waqt to Kavin ko lagta hai ready hone mein. Itni der shower mein tha ye Jiju, ke main to poori tarah se irritate ho gayi. Honestly! 3 hours! Tumhe toh award milna chahiye is khoobi ke liye.
Kavin :- Oye Jiju ki saali, chup hoja. Ab handsome hoo to thoda to apna khayal rakhna padega na warna ladkiya ghas nahi daalegi.
Ruhana (Holding Kavin's ear) :- Sudhar ja Kavin, meri behen se shadi ho chuki hai teri. Agar toone flirt karna band nahi kiya na toh aur kisi ka to pata nahi, yeh Jhansi ki Raani hi tujhe nahi chodegi.
Kavin :- Kya bhabi, aap to apne devar ka saath do, yeh dono to pade hi hai mere piche. Ab aap teen aur main ek, bacche ki jaan loge kya?
He says this and gives a hurt look, all share a laugh at his antics and they continue with their talks.
A couple of hours passed and now the full moon glowed brightly sending a milky white light over everything because of the absence of the electric lights. Now even Kuki had started to get a bit panicky as the sounds of the day birds died. The only sound that was left was the constant humming of the car engine and the never ending sound of the waves of the Bay, that would continue for all eternity. But their ears had become accustomed to these sounds and were completely ignoring them.
Kavin :- Ugh, mujhe bhookh lagi hai.
Kuki :- But hum yaha kaha ruke? Kitna sunsaan raasta hai.
Kavin :- But bhookh toh lagi hai.
Kuki :- Seriously, tumhare time waste karne ki wajah se main khana bhi pack karna bhool gayi.
Ruhana :- Don't worry maine kuch khana pack kiya tha.
And she hands them some sandwiches.
Kavin:- Thanks bhabi, you are such a life saver.
Kuki :- Yeah like I always carry a hammer in my bag to smash your head.
Kavin :- Ouch, kaha tha na bhabi ke yeh ek number ki chudail hai!
They all share a laugh. Just then Kavin spots some lights on the road.
Kavin :- Look I am hallucinating now. I think I just saw some Dhaba lights.
Vineet :- Fool, that's no mirage. Main gadi rok raha hoo waha. Tum logo ko khana hai to khao nahi to jao.
Kavin :- Ha roko, cause I am famished now.
Kuki :- Haa Jiju, aap gaadi roko, warna yeh hum sab ka dimag safa-chat kar jayega.
Ruhana (sternly) :- Kuki, yaar kyu bechare ki khichai kar rahi ho?
Kavin :- Now, that's like my sweetheart bhabi. Jab aap is Mogambo ko dant lagate ho na, tab iska muh dekhn layak ban jaata hai.
Luckily for Kavin, Vineet stopped the car at that exact moment since Kuki was ready to hit him.
They stopped the car at the dhaba. It was around 11 pm at the time. They enjoyed their diner watching the TV in the dhaba, occasionally commenting and making jokes on the horror movie going on. As they finished with their dinner, Kuki suggests that they leave since they still have to drive a good 2 hours on this dangerous road and they would witness the spring tide.
Kavin :- Jaan, yeh meri favourite film hai. Aur thodi hi baaki hai, bas 30 minutes more.
He said without taking his eyes off the screen. He was scandalized at the thought of leaving his favourite movie without watching the climax.
Kuki :- You have watched this movie like a ten thousand times Kavin! Whats so interesting about this movie?
Now she was totally exasperated because of his obsession with this film.
Kavin :- Well I love sci-fi horror movies and this is one. There's this mad scientist who experiments on humans. One such experiments ends up making the humans part animals. They otherwise look perfectly human but turn into their monstrous form every full moon night. The scientist, leaves them on a deserted island which is very beautiful. The houses in this island are of the ancient British style making the atmosphere more suspicious and surrounding them are the farms of the people who live there. This film is regarding the events of the one night on that island when normal humans accidentally end up staying there. The film is regarding what they do for the experimented people and whether or not the scientist stops his experiments.
Ruhana (chiding Kavin) :- See, Kavin you know the story and I can bet anything that you know the dialogues by-heart. Whats the point in getting more late and risking the safety? And moreover we will be feeling sleepy after this dinner.
Kavin :- But we are going to feel sleepy anyway! Just 20 minutes left, see! Lets just complete the film.
He makes a puppy face, knowing very well that this trick of his never failed working on the three people accompanying him.
Vineet :- Fine. But then you are driving us safely to Hukitala. Got it?
Kavin (glad at the prospect of watching the movie) :- Yuppity yups.
Kuki :- Jiju, I thought you were on my side.
Vineet :- Sorry jaan, par kya kare, kabhie kabhie dushmano se bhi haath milana padta hai.
Kavin :- Dushman?
Kuki :- Ha, akal ka dushman.
Ruhana (sternly):- Kuki!
Kuki (puppy eyes):- Jiju!
Vineet :- Bechari ko jaane do na Roo.
Ruhana :- Bigaad rakha hai tumne isey.
Kuki :- Jaise aapke Nawaab saab bohot sudhare huye hai.
Kavin :- Oye Miss Techie, Nawaab bigade huye hi hote hai. Sudhare Nawaab ke baare mein suna hai?
She just gives him a look and he continues on his film as the ad break ends.
Around 11:45 the movie ends and the family of four resume their journey. Gradually, only Kavin was the one left awake. He chuckled at the loud snores coming from his left side where his best friend, Vineet was fast asleep tired from a long day. While adjusting the rear view mirror he saw the calm face of his loving and caring bhabhi who gave him strength in the hardest of situations. He smiled seeing her sleeping so peacefully. Then he adjusted the mirror to look at his sweetheart who was deep asleep but was frowning a bit. He smiled at how she could get irritated even in her sleep. Only he knew what his family meant to him. And he smiled remembering the sweet moments he spent with his family.
Outside, the high tide was slowly building up. Waves as tall as a small car were slapping the road on both the sides. As he looked around he realized that they were the only commuters on the road. No other cars or trucks were present anywhere in sight. Kavin tensed up a bit because of all this. Here slowly but gradually the height of the waves increased. Due to this he had to turn on the wipers at the full speed. This noise woke Vineet and Ruhana up as they were light sleepers.
Vineet looked around and realized the situation while Ruhana noticed Kavin's worried face.
Ruhana :- Kya hua Kavin? Pareshan kyu ho?
Kavin :- Roo bhabhi, hume Hukitala pohonchne mein abhi atleast ek ghanta baaki hai. Tab tak paani ki level aur badh jayegi. Agar kuch ho gaya na toh amin apne aapko kabhie maaf nahi karunga.
Vineet :- Kavin, ghabraa mat. Stay calm, panic karega to situation aur kharaab ho jayegi. Roo, Kuki ko utha do. Hum sab ko savdhaan baithna padega.
Ruhana :- Okay. (to Kuki) Kuki uthh. Uth baccha.
Ruhana patted her cheek slowly and Kuki woke up. One look outside the window and she realized the situation. Seeing the tides she too tensed up. They made their way carefully through the tides.
Kavin :- I should have realized ki aaj jaldi nikalna kitna important hai.
Ruhana :- Its okay Kavin, ab don't blame yourself. We will be fine.
Kavin :- Thanks bhabhi.
After a while,
Kuki :- Oye Kavin, kya badbada rahein ho?
Kavin :- Mantra padh raha hoo.
Kuki (giggling a bit):- Kaunsa?
Kavin :- Wahi joh main tab padhta hoo jab tum gussa ho jati ho.
Ruhana :- Accha, matlab 'sorry' ka jap kar rahe ho?
Kuki :- Di ! Aap aisa kaise keh sakte ho?
Kavin :- Nahi bhabhi, main to Hanuman Chalisa padh raha tha. Iske gusse sey bachne ke liye yahi padhta hoo.
Kuki :- Ek baar hotel pohonch jaye, phir yaad dilati hoo tumhe Hanuman Chalisa.
Kavin :- Kya karogi?
Kuki :- Tumhari pitai!
Kavin :- Pata hai na, Police wale par haath uthana gunah hai.
Vineet :- Beta, Kuki ko har gunah maaf hai.
Kuki :- Thanks Jiju, ab aapke dost ki khair nahi!
Kavin :- Tum hamesha apni saali ki side lo.
Vineet :- Meri saali hai hi itni pyaari.
Kavin :- Ya yeh bol na saari khudai ek taraf aur saali sahiba ek taraf.
Ruhana :- Vineet enough, Kavin driving pe concentrate karo.
Kavin, Vineet :- Ha na Ru!
They all laugh, and suddenly...
Suddenly, they feel a jerk and their SUV skids over to the right side. Kavin tries to take the vehicle under control, but its too late.
Kuki (panicking):- Kya hua Kavin?
Kavin :- Pata nahi, kuch toh takra gaya.
Kavin applies the brakes and the hand brake and finally the car stops.
Kavin :- Phew. Its alright, we are safe now.
Ruhana turned to Kuki to see if she's alright. But she saw that Kuki was shaking a bit and was staring outside. Following her, Ruhana too looked outside and was shocked to see what she had seen.
Ruhana (wide eyed):- Vineet !
He looked behind and she pointed outside the right window. They all turn to see outside the right window.
A huge tide hit the car and it toppled over to the left side. Another wave from the left shore hit the car and it toppled over to the right side. Another wave again hit them from the left shore and the are tossed into the sea.
All inside the car :- Aaaaahhhhhhhhh!
What happens next?
Do all of them survive the accident?
Janne ke liye stay tuned.
I know its not that good. But its all I could write. Sorry.
And do review. Please tell me whether or not should I change my writing style.
Love ya all
Shanaya.