chapter -1

December Month

"Hey darling, wake up. It's 8 already. You'll be late for the office. Harry's still sleeping", I could hear a woman's soft voice in my ear bringing me to reality from my utopia. Before you ask, that's no stranger but my lady love, none other than my wife herself. Her face half covered with her silky tresses, deep blue eyes and a dimple on one side of her face which got me smitten. The sun-kissed beauty standing in front, looking away and lost somewhere was all that was there to my world. She stroked her hair behind her ears, giving me a coy look.

I act like I don't care and yet, still smitten, lay on my bed thinking of some mischief. How can I discard the look that she just gave me? She's blissfully unaware of the devil in my mind though.

"Good morning, love" I said.

Within moments, I pulled the blanket aside and rushed to Tracy. I held her waist tightly and suddenly she molded/melted in my arms. I parted her and gently kissed on her neck. And kissed her just below the ear, she squirmed at the attention. That was enough teasing, I returned to my bed and wrapped the blanket over me nonchalantly. I had her flushed though.

"Oooh"

"You tease ...!" she cooed.

"The good girl is getting naughty then...."

"Ohhh"

"David"

"only if you were always this way "

"David (that's me)"

"Yeah David, but you still have to get up and wake Harry" Tracy requested in an unusually sweet voice, defying which could have consequences. It was then I noted she was drying her wet hair and that it was already 8:45 and that I was dreaming. But it was still too cold because of the snowfall last night.

"Sure, love" I said and went to Harry's room and rolled up the blanket.

"You've to make a special cup of tea for me" I asked her just as I passed by her.

"Tea on my table" I added, a little humorously as if I was a Mughal King (google "Mughal Rulers of Indian History", "India" only Lord Knows why that place has fascinated me so much). Its only fair that we shared the responsibilities .

"For once David , would you just have coffee?" she asked , apprehensively.

"Tea my Dear , I said "TEA" I replied , a little annoyed that she'd probably not heard me the first time . I instantly realized that probably I was a little harsh in my tone and went and hugged her from behind and said "you know tracy , I really love you a lot , sorry if I was rude , I didn't mean to be".

"You silly , its alright and don't I love you too?" she grinned.

"And I'll be taking the sedan today."

"Can't say no , besides , what about the big interview you had today ? You know , the Mayor and the corruption issue."

"Nothing to be worried, I will be back before you know it, but you got to take Harry to school " she said , assuring me that her work wouldn't keep her from coming home late (well , mostly she was late but who was I to complain , she was a tough nut.)

Although this morning, I felt like a sloth even hours after waking up. And this cold winter really getting the best of me. But here I was , calling out to Harry so that he would wake up and not miss school . nobody ever told me parenting could be so taxing .

"Dad, can't I sleep a little more?" Little Harry said with little bit of confused expression on his face.

"Harry, mom is busy today. you wake up right now and get ready, I'll drop you at school" I said him, as best I could by mustering courage against my own desire to just cuddle him and go back to sleep myself.

"Fine dad . I'll do it" Harry groggily prodded down the bed and then the stairs.

"Okay, breakfast is on table" I said.

It somehow seemed to me that Tracy was a lot more adept at handling Harry (okay, any child in general) better than I could even imagine myself doing it.

How women handle so much is surreal for us , men. We men seem to be unable to ever do a task alone but there they are ,easily handling the toughest of tasks. Amazing creatures they are.

"I won't be left behind" I thought as I headed for a warm shower to invigorate my cold , lazy , unwilling body and stood under the shower . I closed my eyes for a bit , and again I found myself standing on a road , images of passing vehicles flashing through my head, a woman , blonde and pretty walking up to me and saying "I'm ...I'm unable to hear what she says . And when I opened my eyes , I was standing still under the streaming water. If me having the same dream three times in three days wasn't odd enough , now the visions when I closed my eyes were definitely odd , odd enough to be eerie ." I brushed the images away , went down stairs to sip my hot special tea and read the newspaper. I observed that Tracy is preparing our breakfast in a quite busy manner , but there was another woman standing beside her , she turned back to look at me and I realized that she was the one from my dream . I blinked , only to find her gone , as if she just vanished into the thin air . I hadn't realized that I was staring until I heard Tracy drop the spoon. She looked worried . Then I sat on my favourite leather sofa and asked "what happened Trace? Any problem. You can talk to me sweetheart!"

Here was a person , not knowing if something was wrong with his mind or he was just having visions , asking his wife if something was wrong. Irony .

"What's there to say" she stared at me, with an expression of despair . And her sentence indicating as if the world had already lost its identity to her .

"What happened to people being all modern , David? But still behaving like their ancestors without any scientific reason" she wondered and her right-side eyebrow slightly raised up.

"Let me know the reason behind your tension, you know I can't say anything unless you tell me the whole thing" I said her in a soft and sublime voice, I wanted to know the absolute reason so that I could solve the matter.

"Actually, I read out the whole of articles, those were published in our newspaper "she explained shortly.

Again, she continued "The same kind of articles, published repeatedly, without a hint of logic to them"

"I…I mean, which type of articles" I wanted to know the actual reason and pointed her directly on the main topic.

"The unknown mystery stuff on this earth, believes alive till these modern days" Tracy said but still the sentence needed some words to make some sense.

I, unable to understand her line and yet, clearly distressed by my own dreams and her words said. "What…? The unknown mystery stuff on this earth "I said, my facial expression changed to that of a confused ape for some seconds.

"I think, you are getting it properly but forcing me to speak it myself" she stated.

"Believe me Tracy, I am not getting it properly" I claimed ignorance before Tracy.

"Of course, I will tell" she replied arrogantly.

"Actually I…I'm talking about the negative powers, evil spirits and all. And that they're really meaningless stuff, just alive because of our beliefs" she groaned.

I am confused that how should I understand her about that matter. But I still wanted to convince her so she wouldn't get any more worked up on that topic." Please don't fret the newspaper or the article. If you do not believe then it's okay. But isn't it possible that someone might have had a difference experience about it? Hence, the reporter has been reported in newspaper."

"I know all of them all well because I'm also a reporter" she admitted the truth." Also, I know just the article that you should write and get people to draw people's attention. It's just that I'm not in favor of publishing blatant lies just for the sake of publishing and sure as hell, I don't promote terrorizing the readers without any solid evidence"

I tried a lot to keep her calm but couldn't.

"Only if she'd have had seen the woman standing by her and vanishing in a split second" I muttered to myself.

"But as a reporter, you must have heard about many paranormal activities that have been observed and documented" I asked her as a matter of fact.

"But I don't believe in stuff like ghost, soul etc. doesn't science give enough to feed your mind" she replied with much calmer voice before she stepped out from kitchen room.

And again, I saw the blonde from dreams walk past her and fade away, couldn't she see her or was she just too scared to ask ?

"I'm totally neither supporting nor believing them" I supported her.

"You get on with your work."

(I supported to my wife because I love her so much. And I don't want that for this babbling topic, she would angry upon me. She is assiduous towards my family and it's uncountable. And a lady has enough idea to handle a family comfortably. I am nothing without her and can't able to stay a single minute without her presence.)

I just supported her in the matter since I didn't want any tension between us as of that time and neither could I afford her disagreement with me given that her presence was really a blessing to me. A lady like that shouldn't be trifled with, not by me at least.

Then I flipped that newspaper and took the cup to sip the hot tea.

Tracy supposedly resumed from the pause I hadn't realized she had taken "I was 8 "

she continued "I would see people move in and move out of the villa adjacent to our home .

I would hear stories regarding the villa being haunted or a paranormally active scene but had never actually experienced anything out of the ordinary , no sounds, no disturbances . But these were mere stories to my little mind, like fairies and demons. It was believed that it housed a soul that possessed people in their weakened state of mind and wits. Mom, being one of them, didn't want me anywhere near that villa "

.

("It may be but I'm not sure about that" I expressed it unwillingly. Still Tracy busy in making breakfast for us.)

There was an air of tension, some uneasiness, yet I pitched in "what if it was true, trace? I mean your mom probably had valid reasons" she gave me a sideways look, a little bit of disdain again changing into thoughtfulness.

After that, I opened the page where the article was described. There were many incidents with fact described on that page according to news reporter. And everybody will shock by listening to that place name as NH 16, way to the church. A church is there after you cross that place fortunately. Tracy stared me as I read those incidents secretly. According to Tracy, there have not any scientific reason behind this stuff. Among all there's only one incident which attract my eye's lens. That was;

I figured maybe I should dig a little deeper, check out some of the articles. And I did, and found many incidents described in the reports. Many incidents, or rather accidents had taken place at the same spot described as "NH 16, way to church" in particular. I figured "at least a church is just beyond the point" but wasn't sure if it'd change any of the accidents that had taken place. True to what Tracy had said, there was no possible scientific causes for the accidents, no skid marks, no failed brakes, no dislocated vehicle parts; just accidents, looking as if the drivers had intentionally rammed into the trees.

"A newly wed couple, from a nearby town, had to pass by that road. Unaware of the events, they were headed for the church. As the bride described "It was daytime, so no events happened whatsoever but while returning late in the evening, the vehicle suddenly stopped. My husband went out, popped the hood and was checking the engine for issues when I saw a woman standing behind him with malicious intent. I tried to react but I was struck with terror, I couldn't move and suddenly he moved towards me saying that it was the cable that was disconnected as it was loose and that we were ready to go. "She's noted to have discussed the issue later that night with their neighbors who warned them against using that route at night.

But they reached to home safely neither they may also face the problem as like others who have lost their life on that surrounding. That's great that they could able to reach their home and they promised that they won't go on that way."

After getting the information, I kept away the report and went to dining table. During that, Harry came to down stair to join with us to finish up the breakfast. My family is so fond of sandwich that I find it unbelievable.

"Dear, I may be a li'l late today" Tracy said before taking sandwich to her mouth.

"Okay then. I'll keep the food ready" I said, the tension still existing in the air.

After completing the breakfast, I and Harry went our own way and Tracy went to attend her press meeting, after making sure that she locked the heavy iron front gate. I observed, she's quite serious, the kind of serious I haven't ever seen her before. Again, I was in dark so as to what the reason was. I was also worried lest she might have a mental breakdown due to all the effort she was putting in and all the stress she was taking. On the flip side my own boss had given me a load of work to finish up. Now, all the procrastination and overthinking were overkill. After completing the work, I came back to home at 4 pm with Harry. After little rest, again I engaged my culinary expertise to finish cooking the dinner. Done and dusted, I eagerly waited for Tracy and sat in the drawing room, in a deafeningly loud silence. After waiting for a while, I heard the doorbell ring and I presumed it was Tracy. I ran to the door quickly and opened it by saying "hey trace, welcome back".

Tracy just said a "hey" and trudged along, a dull, worried Tracy.

"Tracy, are you okay" I asked, clearly worried now.

"I'm fine" she replied in an extremely unconvincing voice.

"Ahh, but guess what? I made your favorite today."

"I'm extremely hungry today". She said, somehow eased up.

"You just come with Harry after getting freshened up. I'm setting the table" I said.

After waiting for a short time, she came to downstair with Harry. The silence was still so heavy, looming all over the place.

"Trace, you were supposed to have a meeting...." I asked just to be interrupted midway.

"we'll talk about it, just not now" she said as she was digging in at the food.

"Of course, "I had no option but to agree.

OH, how much I missed a good night's sleep. I laid on my bed, wrapped in a thick, soft woolen blanket and took the weekly from the nightstand. After some time, Tracy stepped into the room and locked the room. I wanted to know about today's conference, and here she came to the bed after locking the door.

"Are you forgetting something" I asked, reading to magazine.

"Ooo... about that."

"The meeting was all about that stupid topic. I got to know about it after entering inside the room, all of them were very curious regarding that topic" Tracy explained as I stroked her hair softly.

"Then for NH 16, way to the church" I said calmly, biting my lip, anticipating a retaliation from Tracy.

"My Boss said that our newspaper has got good readership in our country. He really appreciated us and also to our effort towards this. And its noteworthy that our newspaper sold over two million additional copies for that topic only and in that way also got some more subscribers, a win-win scenario" Tracy explained. But I could point out something was being omitted by her, the look on her face being suggestive.

"But I am not satisfied with my boss's opinion" Tracy shrugged.

"Why are you behaving like this? Have you forgotten or what" I reminded her? "You should work for your company properly considering you're one of their best assets."

"you my dear, of all, should know, my tendency to focus on scientifically and socially acceptable standards of tasks that I take up" Tracy stated nonchalantly. Beyond this, I still had some unresolved doubts, though I let them be for the time being.

Tracy continued, after a little reminiscing "I have debated with my boss regarding this false topic. And common people were giving more attention to this. The editor used to edit my articles in a twisted way, changing its sense completely and negatively."

"Okay, then it's a win-win for you. That's a huge success for your company, and real or fake, that article is the reason, as stands solid" I tried to convince her regarding my point of view. But she behaved like a small kid throwing tantrums.

"Leave it. You're quite tired today. So, Good Night" I wished as usual before I slept.

"Good night" she piped back.

~

Chapter-2

Next morning when I woke up from my sleep and could see Tracy on the bed, still sleeping. I didn't want to disturb her and went for freshen up myself. After some minutes, when I came back, Tracy wasn't on her bed. Simply, I dressed up for office and went down stairs by holding some files for the presentation that day. During that, I saw Tracy in kitchen with her night suit and busy preparing breakfast. I didn't find any hint of regret on Tracy's face for what she said yesterday night. I took my seat and wrapped my fingers around the hot tea cup.

"Did somebody take a day off?" I asked, sipping the hot tea.

"David, I forgot to inform you something last night" she answered in an ever so sublime manner. Then she came near and stood beside me.

"About what." I pondered. Before I could predict the reason.

"Actually, the thing is that I have resigned from my job after serious argument with my boss regarding that topic" she replied in a casual manner.

"My boss had told that if I was to make up my mind I could rejoin" she stated, fingers crossed and silent as if waiting for my response.

I didn't have any interest to influence her judgement because after all, she knew what she was doing.

". You know, you have the right to make your own decisions the way you deem fit. I'd stay out of it" I expressed my view directly to Tracy. She went inside kitchen to bring my breakfast. I ate, she disappeared into the kitchen once more and in mean time, I went to office by closing the door(poof). Tracy should realize that I got angry on her, after this flout attitude towards her. And I forgot to wake up Harry and bring him with me to his school. When I reached to office, I saw a lot of files were kept on my table, looking like big mountains I had to scale to go back to my life. And needless to say, I was torn.

As meticulous as Tracy was, her childish nature still haunts her mature mentality (or mental maturity should I say?).

"Am the only person this office has hired to complete these plethora of files" I thought myself before continuing my work.

"The senior officers have really gone bonkers."

"Our company has got a mega project which can change the face of our company, only if the face of our company would accept it"

All this running through my head.

After completion of all official assignments (a really boring task), I headed off to my house at 8 pm and that's too late today. Ever so slowly, I opened the door before I stepped inside. I really wanted to snub Tracy's words so that she could realize her mistake. I kept my shoes in the shelf and kept my bag on the table.

"Dear, why did it so late today" Tracy whispered in a subtle manner wanting to reduce the disappointment of mine. But I shoved away her words feeling like putting my finger on rose's thorn. And then I bled, not the red of blood that could be seen by another, not even Tracy. Without replying to her, I went to my room. Later I came to dining table to have my food but before me, Harry and Tracy had already taken their respective seats. When I took my seat then Tracy started to serve the dishes.

"How is your study going on, Harry" I asked as I took my food. And as deemed right, talked with him a little, in the fatherliest manner that I could muster in myself and my voice.

"Nothing special dad."

"In last class test, I have secured a 9 GPA, the highest in whole class" he replied happily.

"But"

"I got only a B in mid-term examinations."

"I am in top five in our class" Harry replied and sighed. "Because of mathematics, I wasn't able to score good and always ended up within top five rank, below 4 people. Especially in the part of geometry."

"Hey dude….

"C'mon…"

"That doesn't matter at all. You tried and you did well, fair and square."

"Don't fret over it."

"I'm sure you'll do better this time on."

"You are really a topper" I appreciated. "And always try to keep your position in top."

"Okay dad, I will maintain that" he assured me.

"You will get many opportunities to give your best in front of the world and in your life too. Its your beginning but not the end. So, keep trying and try your best to show yourself to be best. You have to appear many exams and some you may fail but never try to get rid of what you learn from the failure. Always try to overcome that critical situation by your strength."

"But my case was different than you. I was excellent in geometry but not good in algebraic portion" I responded by putting my spoon on the plate. "In course of time, I have practiced a lot in algebraic portion." But listening to my response, Tracy cleared her throat. She smiled by leaning her head towards the plate and stroked her front hairs to look at Harry. Her smiling face attracted my attention but I deliberately didn't change my expression and continued on with harry.

"Whenever the teacher is teaching , try to concentrate on their words rather than putting your mind in superficial stuff" I evoked the real cause in front him.

"David, you always maintained your rank in top and for that many girls of our batch wanted you as their boyfriend."

"But you were my first crush and in due time you became mine as my dearest husband. And I'm only the single girl among those who got this opportunity" she wanted to take credit of that work. And I just opened my mouth to speak some words but literally I stopped. she did try to cool me down, but I was pissed and didn't want to be cooled just yet. I stood up and went to my room.

"I have something important to tell you, right now!" Tracy raised her voice suddenly before I climbed the stairs.

"Come to the room then only I will talk to you" I said and went to my room.

After went inside the room I laid on the bed directly. And eagerly waiting for Tracy to come in to the room. First of all, I hadn't talked to her in the morning and not even bothered to ask if she ate her breakfast. I thought she might have realized he reason of me being pissed off. During this time, she entered the room and came directly to my side.

"Hey, why are you not talking with me after returning from your office" she asked in a guilty voice, holding my face in her hands.

I don't even what to say anything. I put out my specs and placed it on the table and concentrate my eyes with hers. I repeated the same words that I had said in the morning. "I have never said a single line regarding your decision till now. By the way, your life, your decision and everyone has their own right to take decision of their own" I sighed. Trying to hide my disapproval that I so badly wanted her to find out.

"what do you mean by your life, your decision" she asked with little bit of disappointment and anger in her voice. "You're my husband and you have to suggest me the proper path wherever I'm going wrong. We're in this together David, it's no more 'me' and 'you', it's a 'we' now. I don't want my wrong decisions affect either Harry or you."

"Why are behaving like a five years old kid, especially in that particular context. You have various options to choose instead of that" I recommended.

"of all the topics you could've worked on you choose to argue with your boss and left the job. That's quite annoying."

"You mean, I should join the job or what" she added in doubt to my recommendation and took her hands away from my neck.

"Not exactly, but I want to convince you that not to think in that way further."

"In short, isn't what you already earn enough for us?" she asked, furiously. As women often tend to be when their views are not reciprocated to positively. And for the first time, she had that unapologetic, cold look in her eyes.

"Hey wait, don't you talk that way, I thought you were there because you liked that job, I never wanted your money for running the house" I replied her and got angry for the second time because of her nonsense sentence.

"And you should remember that I'm head of the family and can manage a family. I don't even need a single penny from your income. Got it...!"

"Ooo really...! For the first time, you've ignored my words without thinking about me that why I have taken this step forward. But you're just opposing. We had started our relationship during the last few months of the University. The way in which you have behaved with me today, that's really intolerable and I have never expected this from you, David."

After she expressed, she laid on the bed silently and put her right hand on forehead. I just thought that what was so wrong with me that there was an imbroglio with her. In fact, she uttered a quite difficult line from her side.

"David, it's too much. I want divorce from you and I don't want to stay with you" she declared and turned her face away, sobbing.

"Fine, you want divorce. If you're thinking that after signing the divorce paper, you would feel relaxed than I am ready to sign. But you should remember, you will be mine forever in my heart after our divorce also" I grinned without making any joke also. And that laugh was meant to express my deepest feelings for Tracy. Without saying anything I just aced up and slept on that position But I know one thing that Tracy claimed for divorce when I ignored her. But she will be normal on next morning. Even if I don't bother about what will happen in the morning.

~