Her Voice

Episode 10

    Anuj and Naina reached Vikram’s house and was about to enter inside when they saw KK coming towards them and stood there.

    KK looked at them and smiled and asked, “why did you stop?”

    What are you doing here? Asked Anuj confused.

    Sir, called me, you know, he always wants me to be at his side.

    Anuj and Naina smiled and all three knocked on the door and when no one answered from inside, KK slowly opened the door and peeped inside and as nobody was there, he went inside and asked them to come in and made them sit on the couch and went into the kitchen to bring water for them.

    Anuj looked at the dining table and saw Sneha sitting there and said Hi to her.

    Naina looked at him confused and asked, “whom you are saying Hi?”

    KK, who stays in this house?

    KK smiled and said just sir, and Lata, his maid, who comes and does all the cleaning and cooking and goes.

    Anuj looked at him and before he could ask anything, Vikram came from inside and greeted them and all turned towards him and greeted him back.

    So, all are ready to open the book and get into it? Asked Vikram showing them the book.

    All said yes in unison and started laughing.

    Mrs. Saxena, this is a very short book, and did you ever opened this book and read?

    “I read only two pages, but I thought, I will get the required information from it,” said Naina looking at Anuj.

    In this book, there are details of another book as well, which we will get in one hour, as Peter has gone to bring that book.

    Whose book was that? Asked Anuj looking at him confused.

    Vikram smiled and said, “your mom’s book, Mr. Saxena.”

    Stop calling me Mr. Saxena, call me Anuj, when we became friends, I think we don’t need formalities.

Then you should call me Vikram, said Vikram smiling

Anuj smiled and said okay.

    Vikram gave the book to KK to read and he looked at him confused.

KK you are good at reading, read for us, he said pleading.

KK opened the book and looked at it and looked at KK and smiled.

    I am writing this book to inform you, what has happened and why my family members died one by one. I want Anuj to be safe, but I won’t be to protect him as I am also going to die soon, she is back of me and can kill me any time, I just want this book to reach Anuj; so, that he knows his enemy and protect himself before he gets trapped by her.

    It all started, when my wife Rani’s brother died in an accident and she brought his daughter to give shelter in our house. Her name was Priya and that was the big mistake I made by allowing her to stay at my house, which cost me the life of my wife, son, and daughter-in-law.

    The decision was taken by wife and I didn’t have any other choice, as she had good bonding with her brother and she didn’t want to send his daughter to an orphanage or hostel.

    Suddenly, one day when I was busy with my work, Rani came to me running and said, “she is not a good girl, we have to get rid of her as soon as possible, we will send her to the hostel.”

    I was shocked and not able to understand what she wanted to say and made her calm and asked her what happened, but before she could say anything, Priya came and knocked on the door and we both turned and looked at her.

    Aunty, I am hungry, can you give me something to eat.

    Rani, looked at her and went towards the kitchen and I looked at that girl, who was calm like always and thought what is wrong with this girl and went out to do my work and that was another big mistake I did.

    When I returned to my house, I saw Rani was lying on the floor unconscious, I took her to the room and called the doctor and came to look for Priya, who was studying in her room.

    Without disturbing her, I went to my room and waited for the doctor and after about 15-20 minutes, the doctor came and checked my wife and declared her as dead.

    I was shocked by the news, but I gathered all my courage and dared to ask him, how my wife died and the reason shocked me more. The doctor told me it was a heart attack. When Rani didn’t even complain of chest pain any time, how can she die of a heart attack, which, I thought was impossible, but didn’t dare to send her for postmortem.

    My son, Ashok, came for her funeral along with his family and when he saw his cousin, he told me he will take care of her studies and took her along with him.

    That was the other mistake I did, as I was not in my senses at that time, I allowed him to take that girl with him. I don’t know what happened there, but two deaths made me alert and I took responsibility for Anuj and before Anuj could get back his senses I did the final rites of my daughter-in-law.

    I saw the diary, which my daughter in law wrote, in which she wrote how much she suffered from Priya. I thought it is not safe to keep the diary at home, so I kept it in my hidden locker. I am trying to find her, but no one was able to get her information. I didn’t understand where she disappeared suddenly. I tried to ask Anuj, but always I got the same reply, that he doesn’t remember anything.

    Days passed by, I know I can’t take care of his company anymore, so I started to involve him more in it, so he can take its rein after my death.

    Last night, I saw the shadow following me and thought death is nearing me. I know, I can die any time, but I can’t stop praying for Anuj and his safety from the evil Priya.

    KK closed the book and looked at others and said, I don’t think there are any details about what we want.”

    There are a lot of details KK, but we are missing some links, hope we will get the diary soon.

    “Till then why don’t we make dinner arrangements?” said Vikram going towards the kitchen.

       Naina stood up and said, “I will cook for you all, you sit and relax” and went into the kitchen and Vikram looked at her smiling and said, “do you even know which items are at which place, that you came running into the kitchen?”

    She smiled and asked, “you are there to help me, right?”

    They both made dinner and arranged the table and called KK and Anuj.

    Vikram, I have a doubt, said Anuj coming towards the dining table.

    Yes, tell me…

    I want to know about the accident, how many people died, exactly why that accident occurred, everything…

    Vikram thought for some time and said, “I don’t think anybody can tell about that accident except you, as the accident occurred with your car.”

    I don’t remember anything Vikram, but, if in any way my memory would come back, it would have been nice.

    Sneha looked at Vikram and said, “tell him, that would be the worst thing, he would ever want to see in his dream also.”

    Anuj looked at her shocked and asked, “how do you know that it was worst?”

    Vikram cut it off and said, “we will have dinner first, we can talk about it later. First time, I am going to eat Naina's handmade food.”

    Anuj was eating, but he was looking at Sneha from time to time, as he was getting a feeling that he has seen her somewhere.

    After dinner, they cleared the table, when the doorbell rang and KK went and saw Peter standing there with a diary.

    Hey man, what are you doing here at this time?

    Playing cricket, do you want to join? Asked KK teasingly.

    Peter pushed him and came inside and saw other people in Vikram’s house and he became suspicious.

    Hey Vikram, are you hiding from me anything? 

    “No man, nothing like that, these are my friends, and the work you did was for them only,” said Vikram introducing him to Anuj and Naina.

    Peter looked at him for some time and asked, “you are Anuj Saxena, the person who caused the accident a few years ago, in which one of my relatives died?”

    Anuj looked at him shocked and asked, “do you know anything about the accident?”

    I am still investigating, I am not able to get to any conclusion, but I know your fiance Neena also died in that accident.

    Vikram smiled and asked, “Peter, let’s sit and talk.”

    "No man, I am not interested in talking with anyone now, I just want to go home and dress my wound, I don't know, how I got injured, but it is paining like hell," he said showing his hand.

    All looked at his hand and Naina came near him and raised his sleeve and tried to open his hanky, which he has tied to cover the injury.

    Hey man, it is hurting, and are you a doctor? Why do you want to take a look at it?

    She is not a doctor, but she can treat any wound, don’t worry, said Anuj taking his seat on the couch.

    Naina made Peter sit on the couch and asked Vikram to bring a first-aid box and opened his hanky.

    Peter, do you wear a Cross?

    Yes, he said showing his Cross.

    She looked at the injury, which was a deep cut, and said, “we need a doctor to do the sutures and tried to cover the injury with the same hanky.”

    Do you mean, I have to go to a doctor and spend my time in the hospital to get it sutured?

    Yes, it is a deep cut, there are high chances of getting infected.

    Peter laughed and stood up from his seat and before he could go out, he said, “I will return after meeting with the doctor to collect the medical expenses.”

     Anuj smiled and nodded as okay and Naina said, "we will be waiting for you Peter."

    Peter smiled and left from there, but before he went out, the Cross he was wearing got stuck in Vikram's door and broke. He went away without even realizing that it fell.