Chapter 24: The Network

Shiva was shivering with cold but for not so long. He could feel the warmth now. He felt comfortable. He finally opened his eyes and found himself sitting in his old house. He was there, alone at the dining table. Then he heard some footsteps approaching towards him. He could turn around to see but he decided not to do so. He waited patiently. It was his mother, she was serving him now. She had cooked all of Shiva's favorite dishes. He had forgotten by now that it was a dream. After serving, Shiva his mother sat on the chair in front of him. Shiva heard another footsteps, it was his father. Amish smiled at Shiva as he muffled his hairs, but then Shiva was shivering with cold. He was not at the dining table now, he was surrounded by the endless fire. Although he was surrounded by the fire but he still felt cold. Shiva found himself tearing up. He tried to control them but he couldn't. " Wh-where am I?," Shiva sobbed. Amish who was standing in front bent at his level, looked in his eyes, smiled and spoke," You're home." Shiva looked around, his gaze shifted at his house which was burning, he stretched his finger to point at it. Amish turned around to look at their burning house, he looked back at Shiva. " Yeah, it's burning but you're at home," Shiva gave a confused look to his father," Home?," Amish held his both hands with his and said," It's not necessary that you call four concrete walls a home, no, it's not like that. Home is any place where you feel comfortable, so tell me, where do you feel comfort?," Shiva thought for a moment and said," With you," Amish smiled out loud at that." So, as I said, you're at home." Despite everything going around him, Shiva didn't bother, he had stopped crying and was smiling now but then Amish stood up and started walking towards the burning village. Shiva was confused. " Where are you going dad?,"

he asked but Amish didn't answered nor did he turn around, he just kept walking. " Dad!, dad!, what happened?, dad!," Shiva kept screaming but it was no help. Shiva tried to run and go near his father but he could not move. He just watched the distance between him and his father increase and shortly his father was out of his sight.

Shiva woke up panting hard and found himself sweating, his hands were trembling. He took a deep breath, calmed himself and swept his gaze around only to find that Mohan was standing at the door looking at him.

" Mohan?," asked Shiva as he narrowed his eyes and shaked his head.

" Yeah, it's me,"

Shiva looked at his hands which had stopped trembling now.

" A horrible nightmare huh?," asked Mohan.

" Nightmares," Shiva chuckled. " Each of them are horrible,"

" But this seems to be more horrifying then any else, your hands, they were trembling, I never saw it happen before,"

" Yeah, this one was more horrible than the rest,"

Shiva got up from the bed.

" But we don't have time to waste on these stupid nightmares, we got some work, right?," Shiva said.

" Yeah, but I'll not be able to join you guys today," Mohan told.

" Why?,"

" My bad that I woke up early,"

" Huh?,"

" Ramkrushna uncle gave me some duties for the management of Geeta's engagement,"

Shiva laughed and spoke. " Bad luck, very sad,"

" Are you laughing?,"

" Yes I am, because what a coincidence it is!,"

" Coincidence?," Mohan narrowed his eyes.

" Yeah!, yesterday I came up with a new plan in which you are not needed,"

" What?, you excluded me?,"

" No, it's the requirement,"

" What is the plan?,"

" I'll tell you after it's executed, come at our spot once your work is done,"

" Okay,"

Shiva left for Raghav's house meanwhile Mohan became busy in helping Ramkrushna uncle.

Shiva reached Raghav's house and found him waiting outside.

" You ready already?," asked Shiva.

" Yeah, first tell me what's the plan," said Raghav as they both began walking together.

" I can't tell you what exactly the plan is but just do what I say,"

" But–,"

" Just do what I say and after we execute the plan I'll tell you,"

" Okay, what are orders sir?,"

Shiva began to explain the plan and shortly they were in front of the Library. Shiva had given all the instructions and now Raghav was ready.

Shiva and Raghav reached the Library and made their way in through the dim and silent passage. Devashish who was busy in his work didn't notice them until they stood in front of him.

" Hey you guys!," said Devashish putting down his pen.

" Busy in work huh?," Shiva spoke.

" Yeah, but I see, something is different today,"

" Different?,"

" Yes, today just you two came, where's Mohan?,"

" Ah, Mohan, well actually we decided not to bring him along because it's a personal work,"

" Personal work?,"

" Yeah, of Raghav,"

" I see,"

" Would you please give us a pen and a paper?," asked Raghav.

" Yeah, take it,"

Devashish handed over the pen and paper to Raghav and the both boys headed to their everyday table.

" You know what we have to do now, right," whispered Shiva as they came to their table.

"Yes, I do,"

The both boys took their seats. Raghav sat facing Devashish and Shiva sat in front of Raghav.

" So I want you to write a letter for me," Raghav spoke.

" Okay, and what's the topic?," asked Shiva.

" Just keep writing, you'll know,"

Raghav then started dictating the letter to Shiva, a few minutes passed and they were done with the letter.

" I wrote it, but–," Shiva was cut off by Raghav.

" No, don't say anything about it,"

" But how your–,"

" Shiva, please, it's my decision,"

" Fine," saying this Shiva stood up.

" What happened?,"

" Nature's call,"

Shiva went to Devashish and asked. "Where's the washroom?,"

" Uhh, it's on the ground floor," replied Devashish.

The Library was on the first floor and the ground floor was occupied by various other stores. It was like a complex.

" Okay," Shiva said.

After a few seconds Raghav's phone rung and he picked up the call.

" Hello, hello?," said Raghav.

Raghav then stood up and walked around the Library.

" Hello?, can you hear me now?,"

Raghav then walked to Devashish and asked. " Isn't here network?,"

" I don't know, uhh, maybe you should try going out or..," Devashish paused. " Yes, walk through passage and take left, there's a window, I'm sure you'll get the network there,"

" Thanks," saying this Raghav went to find the network.

Shiva stood in the washroom, it was cool in there. But the coldness reminded him of his dreams. He had been to the therapist many times but it was no use, he knew these nightmares wouldn't stop until he finds out what really happened twenty years ago.

Raghav was the first to come back and then Shiva came. They both collected their things and were about to leave the Library.

" Are you sure about the letter?," asked Shiva as they came near Devashish's table.

" Don't know, but most probably I wouldn't need it, I will tell them everything once I do what I aim to," Raghav told.

" Are you sure?,"

" Yeah, totally,"

The boys were now outside the Library.

" Where are we going now?," asked Raghav.

" To the godown," Shiva told.

" Godown?,"

" Yes, something's there, I'm not sure but let's see,"

The boys headed to Mr. Thackeray's old, burnt out godown. They checked their surroundings and carefully sneaked inside.

" What are you searching for Shiva?,"

Shiva swept his gaze across the godown and said. " This place, I don't know why but I'm getting gut feeling about it,"

Shiva continued to scan his surroundings. He moved around the place. Shiva did his observation and the boys went out.

" Raghav," Shiva said. " Turn on your Wi-Fi,"

" Wi-Fi?," asked a completely clueless Raghav.

" Just do what I say,"

" Okay okay," saying that Raghav turned on his Wi-Fi,"

" Okay, now move around this place, searching for a network,"

" Ah–," Raghav was about to say something but he thought better of it.

The boys were now moving around the place, searching for the network. Shiva went some feet behind the godown and searched for the network, he walked a few steps further and there it was, his Wi-Fi had detected a network, Shiva smiled and went to Raghav.

" No network here," said Raghav.

" I found it,"

" What?,"

" Let's go away from here,"

" I don't understand, what are you doing?,"

" I'll explain you everything, let's get out of here,"

The boys were now standing under the Mango tree, waiting for Mohan.

" So, tell me now why did we do all this?," asked a completely clueless and curious Raghav.

" I'll tell, let Mohan come,"

Mohan arrived shortly and joined Shiva and Raghav. Shiva explained everything that he and Raghav did in the Library.

" And what was the plan you were talking about?," Mohan asked.