AkYa FF - The Mystery of the Cursed Blood CHAPTER - 9 , Page - 22. - Page 2

CHAPTER - 1

The night was chilly and dark as if someone has wrapped the sky with a pitch dark blanket,through which even the clouds couldn't be seen.Like many places on the western part of the country,the night was cold but for the people of Vijaygarh,every night is chiller than other places.The palace of Vijaygarh consisted of many places which had turned into ruins but still the palace stood still like a mountain,as the symbol of its glory and pride which it bore once upon a time.About a kilometre from the palace,was situated the village of the locals,which was silent like a graveyard every night.There was no light in any of the village,no one ever lit a single lantern inside their house premises except a light in front of their idol and all the people rest inside their house,but actually sit still inside their houses and prayed to lord so that the nights pass as soon as possible,before going to sleep but no one could actually sleep properly at night.Even the temple of Lord Shiva (Mahakaal),on whose name the forest behind it has been named,which was covering a portion of the boundary of the palace,also closes quickly and even the priest never dares to open the gates and ring the bells.Outside the village premises,there was a royal guest house for visitors and foreign tourists where all the tourists visit the palace and the forest but no one was allowed to cross the palace gates and also entering the forests especially at night.In that guest house,at one night,the watchman and few other staffs were sitting in front of the fire and were warming themselves and having a chat.Among the village boarders,there was a young scholar who was doing a research on the palace and had been staying here for quite a long time.The scholar,after dinner came out of the guest house wearing a sweater and sat beside them in front of the fire and asked,"Kya baate kar rahe ho tum sab zara mujhe bhi to sunaao?"The watchman said,"Arey scholar babuji aap athe itni raat gaye?Aapko to pata hai na athe raat ko kitni thand pare hai aap bahaar na nikliye aap bimaar par jaayenge."The scholar replied,"To main yaha kaunsa kal hi aaya hu,main to yaha kitne dino se reh raha hu.Mujhe pata hai yaha kitni thand parti hai."The cook said,"Na na babuji aapko na pata hai yaha ki raat ghano kaali hove hai.Aapko athe na aana chahiye tha vaise bhi ye aapke seher jaisi thand na hai,humko to aadat hai yaha ke thand ki.Vaise bhi..."

Ae meri zindagi...Tu mere paas hai...

Ae meri zindagi...Tu mere paas hai...

Suddenly a voice was heard,a female singing voice from a distance far away.All the staffs looked horrified towards each other and the staffs who were inside started screaming and asking the others to get inside.The scholar looked towards the direction of the voice and realized that it was coming from the forest and he stood up and walked a bit forward and asked,"Ye kiski awaaz hai??Lagta hai jaise jungle se aa rahi hai?"On hearing the voice,the staffs who were warming themselves already got up and one of them said,"Babuji jaldi se athe se jaao,jaldi apne kamre ma jaao aur vaha jaake andar se darwajja achche se bandh karlo babuji aaj ki raat bari kali hai,ghani hai,aaj ki raat abshaguni hai.Aaj ke raat ko koi hamaare gaao mein bahaar na niklega ghar se.Jaaiye babuji andar jaaiye hum bhi ja rahe hai."They poured water on the firewood and then all ran inside.The scholar turned and ran behind them and somehow grabbed one of them and asked,"Par vo awaaz kiski hai?Kaun hai vo larki?"The man immediately covered his mouth and was very scared and looked at him in such a way as if his eyes will come out of its whole and said,"Na babuji na aisa na bolo,aaj ki raat iske baare mein baat karno bhi paap hai.Uska naam jabaan mein bhi na laani chahiye.Aaj ki raat to shraapit hai,aaj ki raat ko koi jabaan mein is baare mein kuch bhi na laave hai.Jo bhi aaj raat apne jabaan se ye baat nikaale hai,vo jinda na rahe hai.Hume maaf kariye babuji aur jaldi andar chaliye varna ye shraap aapko bhi kha lega."So the scholar was bound to return to his room but he decided that he would go out that night and unlock the mystery of the voice and also the palace.He was sitting in his room,when again the voice was heard -

Ab mujhe is zamaane ki parvaah nehi...

Jaan de du bhi main...jaan le lu bhi main...

Jaan de du bhi main...jaan le lu bhi main...

The scholar was sitting idly and was thinking about that mysterious voice and the moment that voice knocked his ears,he immediately got up and opened the window of his room.He looked towards the forest but could not understand anything.For his research,he brought many important things alongwith him like master keys,binoculars,books and many other such things.He took out his binocular and projected it towards the binocular.He just found a fade white thing moving but could not figure out what that might be.

Koi keemat chukaane ki parvaah nehi...

Ae meri zindagi...tu mere paas hai...

The scholar had already planned of going outside and so he prepared for going out and was waiting for the appropriate time.Slowly all the lights were put off and on seeing the opportunity,the scholar came out of his room,covering himself with the shawl taking a stick,double battery torch and his master keys.With tip-toe movements,he came downstairs and checked whether everything was alright or anyone was there.Checking everything,the scholar slowly walked out of the guest house towards the palace.

[ Delhi , 1 week later ]

In the playground of a housing society,a boy hit a sixer and the other team mates clapped for him.They ran to him and said,"Arey yaar tune to kamaal hi kar diya.Kya shot maara hai tune to aaj."The boy replied,"Mujhe pata hai main hamesha hi achche shots lagaata hu aur hamesha se main hi team ko jeetata hu.After all Iam Neil Saluja,koi aisa vaisa player thore hi hu."Just then a big car stopped in front of the gate and a handsome man came out of the car.He was a handsome looking man and a police officer by profession,Akash Saluja.He is in the specialized force whose duty is to deal with crimes involving terrorism but it was his dream to solve such cases which include a lot of mystery,suspense and thrill,a crime which has an interesting story behind him.Neil is his nephew,his elder brother's 10 years old son.Neil and Akash share a friendly relationship and even share their secrets with each other since according to Akash,Neil understands everything much more than his age and he is the only person in his family,who understands his most complicated emotions very well and so this uncle - nephew had a very cool chemistry with each other.When Neil's eyes fall on Akash,he took his bat and ran to Akash and said,"Chachu aaj pata hai six maarkar team ko match jeetaya hai maine."Akash made a face and said,"Arey isme kya bari baat hai?Tu mera bhatija hai,kiska?Akash Saluja ka,main apne college ke dino mein opener cum captain hua karta tha apne team ka.To tu mera bhatija hokar team ko nehi jeetaayega to laalat hai tujhpar."Neil was very angry hearing this and said,"Chachu aap har baat par aise footage kyu khaate ho?Hamesha har baat par aap apna credit lete ho.Thats not fair!!Aap apne aapko samajhte kya ho?Koi Hollywood ke hero ho kya aap?"Akash slapped on his head and said,"Oye!!Chacha hu main tera.Tameez se baat kar!!"Neil replied,"Tameez se baat karu aura apse aisa kaunsa teer maara hai aapne.Aapke vajah se meri zindagi haraam ho rahi hai.Aap jab kaam ke liye bahaar jaate ho na tab colony ki larkiya mujhe dekhte hi sawaal puchna shuru kar deti hai ke aap kab aaoge?Main kya aapka personal assistant hu?Aap na status update karke jaana jaane se pehle."Akash laughed and then said,"Ha to tujhe to proud hona chahiye ke main itna famous hu tabhi to tujhe bhi itni footage milti hai.Abhi chal andar."Saying he picked Neil on his shoulder and then went to his apartment.

On seeing Akash,all were happy but the happiest person on the earth was his mother Mrs Saluja.Mrs Saluja was always a over acting,over pampering mother for Akash since Akash's birth had many complications and he was about to die during his birth and so he is always kind Ma Da Laadla'.Mrs Saluja rained kisses on her son's face and said,"Haaye mera puttar aa gaya!!Kinne dina baad assi apne puttar di shakal vekhiyasi."Akash freed himself from her clutches and said,"Maaa please!!Menu aise bachche de naal treat na kiya karo.Mujhe achcha nehi lagta hai."Mrs Saluja said,"Arey tu bara kaunsa ho gaya hai?Tu to mere liye mera chota sa Akash hi hai.Tu kinne dino baad aaya hai to main tujhe thora laad nehi karungi kya?"Akash put Neil down from his shoulder and then said,"Ma mujhe andar to aane do,bohot bhukh lagi hai mujhe."Mrs Saluja said,"Itne dino baad ghar mein aaya hai,pata nehi kitnone ne mere puttar ko nazar lagaayi hai,mujhe thori teri nazar to utaar lene de."She took his evil eyes and then looked at him from head-to-toe and said,"Haaye kinna dubla ho gaya hai?Khaana vaana milta nehi hai tujhe waha pe?Kitni baar kaha hai aisi naukri chad de par meri baat tu sunta kaha hai? Vaise bhi tu kitna khatro waala kaam karta hai,mujhe hamesha tujhe lekar tension lagi rehti hai."Akash walked inside and said,"To kya hua ma,bhaiya bhi to army mein hai."Mrs Saluja made a face and said,"Oye vo army mein doctor hai,teri tarah bandook lekar nehi utar jaata hai hai.Vaise bhi maine socha hai ke tujhe abhi main settle karwaakar rahungi,ghar mein bahu aayegi tabhi tu ghar par rahega varna aise hi bahaar phudakta rahega."Mrs Saluja,like a typical mother-in-law,never liked her DIL,as they are never satisfied with them and even after finding with great difficulties,they will always think they could have found a better one and so also was her DIL,Neil's mother.So they always have little fights over everything.Akash's,SIL,Avni came with food for everyone and said,"Ha mummyji,Akash ki shaadi abhi karwa deni chahiye.Mujhe bhi ek devrani mil jaayegi.Kyu Akash koi larki varki hai kya?"Mrs Saluja said,"Koi zarurat nehi hai.Main apne puttar ke liye khud hi larki dhundhungi.Vikas ke time par jo galti hui hai vo main nehi hone dungi."Avni replied,"Mummyji,apne bete ke liye aapne hi mujhe pasand kiya tha,to agar aapko lagta hai ke aapke bare bete ke waqt galti hui hai tab to aapko Akash ke liye larki bilkul nehi dhundhni chahiye."Everyone giggled at the table and Mrs Saluja made a face to Avni and then Mr Saluja,who was a professor of Delhi University,came out from his study and possible listened to the last few words of Avni said,"Beta kabhi apni saas ko sach mat bolna,ek vohi cheez hai jiske baad unhe acidity ho jaati hai."Mrs Saluja yelled,"Aap chup rahiye aur apna nashta khatam kijiye."Mrs Saluja took one paratha and was applying butter on it and seeing that Akash said,"Ma main mota ho jaaunga agar aap itna saara butter khilaaogi to phir koi larki mujhe ghum kar bhi nehi dekhegi."Mrs Saluja said,"Arey kaise nehi dekhengi kudiya tujhe?Kinna sona puttar hai mera."Neil said,"Daadi is so typical chachu."Mrs Saluja glared at her grandson.Mr Saluja opened the newspaper and was reading it and suddenly one news grabbed his attention and his brows twisted.Seeing that Vikas asked,"Kya hua papa?"Mr Saluja said,"Ye dekho ek news aayi hai,hemaare university ka ek scholar,Vijaygarh ke raajmahal par research karne gaya tha.Vaha kareeban ek mahine se tha abhi kuch hi dino pehle us mahal ke paas ke ek jungle mein uski laash mili hai aur waha ke logo ka kehna hai ke usey kisi aatma ne maara hai.Unhone ye bhi kaha hai ke vo mahal haunted hai aur waha jungle mein ek aatma aksar raat ko gaana gaati phirti hai.Vo jis guest house mein thehra tha,waha uske kamre mein us guest house ka ek staff usko subhe ki chaay dene gaya darwaaza knock kiya par kisine khola nehi.Usne manager ko bulaya aur master key se darwaaza khola to dekha koi nehi tha.Vo jo jungle tha waha raat ko to dur din mein bhi koi nehi jaata tha us scholar ko dhundhne ke liye har jagah par talaashi ki gayi par jab kahi nehi mila to vo police ke paas gaye aur unhone hi laash dhundh kar nikaala jungle se.Postmortem ka kehna hai ke heart attack hua hai par log kehte hai ke churail ne hi usko maara hai."He folded the newspaper and said,"Bullshit!!Aaj ke zamaane mein bhi log in aatmao par vishwaas karte hai.I mean ye 21 vi sadi hai,mujhe to lagta hai na ye sab log kahaniya banaate hai taaki ye puraane mahal jaise precious archeological sectors buri niyat waale logo se safe rahe.Bas bura is baat ka lag raha hai ke vo hamaari university ka scholar tha.Par itni raat ko vo jungle mein kya karne gaya tha?"Vikas laughed and said,"Lagta hai 70's ki kisi singer ki aatma hogi jisko filmo mein game ka mauka nehi mila."Akash was having his food and listening to the discussion.He took the newspaper and then read the whole news and said,"Interesting!!"Mr Saluja asked,"Isme interesting kya hai?"Akash replied,"Papa is murder mein,uske environment mein ek interesting si kahani hai.You know mujhe hamesha se na aisa hi case chahiye tha jisme suspense naakhun chabaane jaisa aur ek bohot hi thrilling kahaani ho aur hamaare desh ke puraane mahal matlab kahaaniyo pitaara.I think I should take up this case.Its appealing!!Vaise bhi main terrorist ke peeche bandook lekar bhaagte bhaagte thak gaya hu.Kya pata koi bhut vut sach mein nikal aaye.I love haunted stories!!"Mr Saluja said,"Tu paagal ho gaya hai?Ye tera department nehi hai beta."Akash replied,"Tabhi to ja raha hu,thora change bhi ho jaayega,vacation bhi ho jaayega aur dimaag chalaane ka mauka bhi mil jaayega."Mrs Saluja scolded Akash and said,"Koi zarurat nehi hai in sab jagaho par jaane ki,ye bhoot vut ka saaya bhi na parne dungi main apne puttar par."Neil replied,"Daadi kaunsa aap kahoge aur chachu ruk jaayenge?Chachu mujhe na jaakar har roz update dena aur ha mahal ki agar koi princess miley na to usko meri chachi bana lena suna hai raajmahal ki raajkumariya bari sundar hoti hai."Akash laughed and said,"Thik hai aur churail ko tere liye lekar aaunga."Mrs Saluja tried to change her son's mind but he said,"Ma mujhe abhi bohot kaam hai,bohot research karna hai,phir chutti leni hai aur phir jaana hai.So please!!"Saying,without waiting for his mother's permission,Akash left towards his bedroom.

CHAPTER - 2