FLASHBACK END

I had finished reading Aarav’s Novel. After knowing about Aarav, and his death, I became completely calm, though there were tears in my eyes. Night had turned to day. I didn’t realize when the train reached Faizabad. When I looked around, I found that everyone had de-boarded the train, and I was the only one left in the empty compartment. I was so engrossed in the Novel, that I didn’t realize when everyone got down. For some time, I cupped my face in my hands, and just sat there, thinking about the sad end of a beautiful love story. 

Suddenly I realized that the pages of the Novel had started fluttering very fast. I didn’t know what was happening and why, because there was no breeze blowing. Then how could these pages start moving? When the fluttering stopped at the back cover page of the Novel, I was shocked and scared. How could it happen? There was written on the back page with blood -

“My friend, for the last seven years my soul was wandering in that room. You were the first person who saw me. As a friend, I need a favor from you. In my room, the cup with Rihana’s lipstick mark and my blood stains is still lying.  Take that cup and bury it in the park opposite the building, at the same place, where I had met Rihana for the first time. Only then my soul will get peace. I won’t harm you. If I had to do so, I would have done so by now. My friend, for the sake of peace of my soul, please come back once. I will wait for you.”

As I read this, my mind stopped working. My whole body shuddered with fear. I wasn’t able to decide. I had two options, first – go to my home. And, second, go back to Delhi and help Aarav. Aarav had stayed with me for one month, but never harmed me in any way. And the most important thing, he had become my best friend. So, after thinking for a while, I decided to go back to Delhi, and liberate his soul forever. 

I did not know what would happen to me in the room, but in my heart I believed that Aarav would not harm me. I took a train and came back to Delhi.

When I reached Sharma Building, Mr. Sharma was sitting at the reception. He was surprised to see me there. 

“I have some work with you.” I said.

He was a little scared. 

“Should I give you a different room, son?” He asked.

“No” I said

“Then what do you want?”

“Keys of Aarav’s room. I have forgotten something, have come to pick it up.”

He hesitated for a while, but then without saying a word, handed me the keys. As I began to go upstairs, he asked,

“Should I also come along?”

“No, I want to go alone.” I said.

As I walked upstairs, my heart beats became fast. Will I see Aarav sitting on the chair, when I open the door? I was highly anxious.

Standing outside Aarav’s room, I tried to mentally prepare myself for any eventuality. I took a deep breath, and unlocked the door. The room was exactly as I had left it. I looked around and saw Rihana’s cup lying in a corner. I picked it up and quickly came down after closing the door. I could see faint lipstick marks of Rihana on the cup. And blood marks in the inside of the cup.

After coming down, I straightaway went to the park and looked around to see what could be the place where Rihana and Aarav might have met. I could see only one place where there were two chairs opposite each other. I was sure this would be the place where they would have met. I reached the place. With the help of a stick, which had a pointed edge, I dug a pit between the two chairs to bury the cup. After making a pit about one feet in depth, I placed the cup in it. Suddenly a wind started blowing. When I looked up, I saw Aarav and Rihana’s souls sitting on the two chairs, smiling at each other. As I kept pouring mud on the cup, Aarav and Rihana got up and started coming towards each other. Finally they hugged and vanished together. 

The cup was fully submerged under the mud. My eyes were moist, but this time these were tears of happiness. I was happy that even as souls, I had brought Aarav and Rihana close to each other, forever.

The End