Chapter 12

Aniash

@Aniash

Part 12.

Two days passed and only then a call came from the police department instructing Rupi to identify a dead burnt body found finally nearby the cliff area. The face was totally damaged and unrecognizable. The dental records matched Jasmin's. The findings from the forensic report were disclosed to the distraught family. 

The next day

Jasmin's final rituals took place. The virks were not aware. Harman decided not to inform them. As it is , they were already going through a lot of pain lately and jasmin's sudden death news would shatter them more. One sorrow after the other.

Tejo was devastated. She lost her one and only sister.  Sati remained in a state of shock sitting at one corner.  She didn't utter a single word   The rest were upset . Biji was in the hospital, recovering after a minor surgery. She was kept under observation. The kind neighbour helped to settle her bills as Sandhus had other expenses to bear for jasmin's final rituals. They would repay mr. Inder later on.  

 All the while Rupi who was calm and controlled his emotions finally shed tears when he was instructed by the priest to light the fire to fulfill her last journey. His hands shivered as he held the wooden stick .

" Kaha tha tujhey jasmin sudherja, lekin tune meri aek baat nehin mani. Apney karmon ka phel akhir bugetliya tune. Aek bhar apni maa key bare mey soch leti. Kaise jiyegi vo tere bina". 

 Abhiraj supported him and completed the final rituals. Atma shanti prayers ( Garud Katha) followed by a hawan took place later on. The thirteenth days rituals after cremation were fulfilled to bless her soul to be in peace and to allow the family to live peacefully as well. 

They were worried she might haunt them in the form of a ghost. She didn't spare them when she was alive. Will she permit them to be happy after her death?? They were anxious. Dolly even invited a tantric baba to check if there was any spirit roaming in the hse named jasmin Sandhu. 

Biji who finally was discharged from the hospital , instructed abhiraj to smear salt at all corners of their residence. It is believed that salt prevents the entry of the evil spirits into one's house. 

The fourteenth day

As they say once the grey clouds are removed , the bright ones returns, Sandhus received a good news in the form of a courier parcel.

It was addressed to Sati Sandhu 

The content

A covering letter and a legal document of a property located at Hoshiarpur. A renovated , well maintained bungalow of 7800 sqft with a market value of 360 crocre was gifted to Sati Sandhu from the owner , 

Mihika Chauhan. 

Sati was instructed to be in Hoshiarpur in a week's time to place her signature on the property transfer documents . Sandhus were extremely shocked. It took them a while to settle. 

An hour later,

Abhiraj closed the front entrance so that neighbours couldn't hear them dancing with joy with the beat of a drum . Why allow people to talk? A death just took place in the family

Sati couldn't believe her eyes and kept reading the docs numerous times till tejo had to snatch them away from her before she( sati) went crazy. One shock after the other.

In her bedroom

Tejo kept the documents in her drawer. 

Who was Mihika Chauhan. The name sounded familiar. Like she heard it before. 

Why did she gift her bungalow to my mother

What is her connection with my family. 

Thousands of questions. She needed answers . She decided to leave for Hoshiarpur immediately before her mother signed the property papers. Something was fishy. 

She had to go alone. Her father won't allow her to do so as he would be worried for her safety. She had to make ecxuses. The NGO work at neighbouring villages was a good excuse. 

She read the name of the sender and was determined to meet him 

Mr. Ashok Chabra , Chandigarh. 

Tejo took off to Chandigarh the next morning. 

Why did Mihika gifted Sati her property? 

What was Mihika and Sati's connection? 

Was the second letter addressed to Tejo ?

Did Mihika know Tejo would come looking for her?

What was written in the letter?? 

And where was Jasmin. Dead or alive?

To be continued

( Pt 13 on pg 9)