Chapter 26: The Letter

The sun rose over the tall mountains that stood at a far distance spreading its rays all over. Shiva's sleep was opened by the gentle chirping of birds. He got up and found Mohan was still sleeping. On normal days, Shiva would usually wake up early but not on those with the nightmares. The birds' gentle chirping was soon accompanied by the murmuring of people. Shiva walked up to his window and found a small crowd of people gathered. He woke up Mohan

Shiva and Mohan proceeded towards the crowd and found Girish standing over there.

" We should ask dad," Mohan spoke.

" Yes,"

The boys went to Girish who wore a concerned look.

" What happened Uncle?," Shiva enquired.

" These people, they are saying some boy in the village has went missing,"

" Boy?, who?,"

" Don't know,"

The boys went near the crowd and hear them talking.

" Have they called the police?," one of the man asked.

" They must have," another man replied.

" He was a young boy, and how can the spirit get him?, he lives away so much away from the forest,"

" Yeah, I can't believe this,"

" No one's safe anymore,"

" It's all on the Pandit now, the ritual should be done as quickly as possible,"

" Yeah, you're right,"

" Poor Mr. Ranjeet, I hope the police would find his son,"

" What!?," exclaimed Mohan.

******

The siren wailed in the area of Mr. Ranjeet's house. It was of the Senior Inspector, Mr. Kadam's jeep. Mr. Kadam got off the vehicle and walked to Mr. Ranjeet who was comforting his wife who was streaming with tears.

" Mr. Kadam, Raghav, my boy, he's not here, please find him," Mr. Ranjeet pleaded as he broke into tears.

" Mr. Ranjeet, please don't cry, he must have gone somewhere, okay?, please don't cry," said Mr. Kadam.

" Inspector, please find my boy,"

" Yes, we will, we will, I need to ask you some questions,"

" Yes," said Mr. Ranjeet wiping his tears with his hands.

" Can we sit inside?,"

" Yeah, come,"

The Senior Inspector and Raghav's father now went inside the house. Mr. Kadam made himself comfortable and took out his diary and pen.

" So, are you really sure that he didn't went anywhere yesterday or at night?," Mr. Kadam asked.

" Yeah, I'm sure about it," replied Mr. Ranjeet.

" Okay, and was he upset with you guys or something?,"

" No, no way, you think that he left the house?, what are you talking?,"

" Listen," said Mr. Kada firmly. " As a police we have to look at the case from every angle, so just cooperate with me, we'll find your son, okay?,"

" Yes, okay,"

" So, when was the last time you saw him?,"

" At the dining table, we were doing the dinner,"

" I see, at what time?,"

" Around 10,"

" Around 10, I see," said Mr. Kadam as he noted that in his diary.

" Where does he sleeps?,"

" In his bedroom, upstairs,"

" Okay, did he used to talk anything about the spirit?,"

Mr. Ranjeet thought for a moment and spoke. " No, I've never heard him talk about the spirit,"

" Okay," Mr. Kadam stood up. " I have taken all the information necessary and we will find out your boy as soon as possible,"

Just then the main door of Mr. Ranjeet's house was opened. The two boys were standing at the doorstep. They were Shiva and Mohan.

" Uncle what am I hearing about Raghav?, is that true?," enquired a concerned Shiva.

" That's true,"

Shiva looked at Mr. Kadam.

" Don't worry kid, we'll find your friend," saying this the Inspector left.

Meanwhile at the other side of the village, at Ramkrushna's house a postman had come. Ramkrushna was surprised and curious at the same that who would send him a letter in the age of e-mails and text messages.

He took the letter from the postman, went in his room and opened it. He had expected it to be a letter from his office but it turned out to be something else. Something which made him gasp and sweat, leaving his eyes wide open in shock.

" Deshmukh?," he gasped in disbelief.

******

The day was over and the night had begun, the entire village was taken over by the darkness and ghostly silence, the villagers were asleep. Shiva and Mohan too. But somewhere in the village, a man who seemed to be in his late forties entered his base, it was the killer. He saw his accomplice sitting at the table, reading a book. He stood up as he saw the killer.

" How's the situation in the village?," the accomplice asked.

" It's good, good for us but not for the villagers," the killer laughed.

" Yeah, the villagers, they'll have to pay the price,"

" Don't worry, we'll take our revenge,"

" What about that boy, Shiva?,"

" He's no obstacle to us, in fact he may help us,"

" Help us?, how?,"

" Don't worry about that, I have some people," the killer grinned.

" I see,"

" Have you sent him the letter?,"

" Yes I did, but what if he ignores it?,"

" He can't, after all this letter is written by Mr. Deshmukh," the killer broke into a nasty grin.

" Right right, yeah," said the accomplice.

" Great, now you know what you have to do, right?,"

" Yeah," the person grinned, the most sinister smile that you will ever see.