Chapter-45

Lakshman, Kritak and Navya plunged into a building complex, Dhansi ji, Kimaya looked into houses, rest of the police officers dispersed into the flats, whose lights were switched off.

Lakshman and Navya stepped inside a certain flat, the door is locked, so he broke the door by breaking the knob off, they crashed in, covered in pitch darkness.

Lakshman slowly moved forward in defensive posture, the room was weirdly silent, the electronic appliances were turned off.

Navya paced along with him, no human was spotted until they heard bucket rolling sound.

He crept closer towards the bathroom via phone flashlight, he entered inside the bathroom, flashing the torch everywhere.

But, didn't find anyone but then as soon as he turns, he screams in surprise.

Navya stood behind him, glares at him and comments with hint of annoyance, " Mr. Old man, I didn't know that you get scared for nothing. And, did you forget that I came along with you.

Oh, God!! I am here to help you, not to scare you.

Seriously I thought you would do martial arts on me, thanks to my reflex, I dodged your attack.

Phew! "

Lakshman chuckles, " Sorry, Ms Old lady, I thought I saw a ghost as soon as I turned back.

Good for you, that you still have reflexes even after being 80..hmm..no…100...years old woman. "

Navya displays an imitating funny smile, which made him chuckle again.

The lighter mood drastically turned into haunting experience, in the utter silence of the apartment, their ears caught upon a weird hissing sound coming from nearby, their mind froze as they heard a child's giggle sound at the next second.

Out of scare, Navya held Lakshman's shoulders and hid behind him, taking a glance at above Lakshman's shoulder.

Lakshman's directed his flashlight around them, then his eyes caught upon slithery tentacles hovering over door's handle.

Navya gasps in fright, Lakshman is blinking hid eyes too much, he shed light slowly upon the figure and discovered a child of approximately 10–12 years, rotating his head like spinning wheel, his eyes noticed their presence, he flashed a creepy toothy smile.

His teeth were more of fangs than normal teeth, he didn't have two eyes, there were a thousand of black eyes developed on his face, which is bone chilling experience for both of them.

Navya cries in fright, her legs felt wobbly, she felt like she is going to faint, but she still had a drop of courage left within her allowing her to withstand this mortified sight.

Lakshman silently slid his hand into pocket and grabbed his dart gun, slowly raising upwards to send him to unconscious state.

The child took notice of his movement immediately through his thousands in high resolution, he adjusted his tentacles and took the posture of pouncing onto them.

Out of fright, Navya started loudly chanting religious mantra repeatedly, the child withdraw his tentacles from them, he scowls with upset look on his face.

Suddenly there were more hissing and growling sounds resonating in the bathroom, she took favor of this opportunity, grabbed Lakshman's hand and dragged him out of that building without turning her head back even for a second.

Navya released her breath of relief, Lakshman stares at the building with deep look, Navya remarked his expression, she was going to ask him.

But,he asked her first before she could with curious tone, " Navya, did you notice how that Shawmy child appeared fearful when you were chanting mantras as if those mantras will burn him alive.

This is kind of a weak point of their source, the shadow, of course, is an evil greedy being, which always stay away from love, light, hope and optimistic and pure feelings.

There is no logical way to defeat Kali but semi-fusion of logic and magic can work effectively against the Demon King of Era.

Don't you think this might be a good idea? "

Navya opened her mouth to share her thoughts, but her attention got diverted towards something behind Lakshman, before Lakshman could follow her gaze, she dragged him into the bushes.

Lakshman exclaims out loud gasp, Navya's eyes went round when she saw that Shawmy glanced in their direction, she shushed him to avoid the Shawmys attention.

She observes the surrounding while hiding in the cover of bushes, Lakshman realizes the reason behind her action.

He was surprised by her sudden reflex, but then he was relived that she saved them from being noticed by those Shadow beings.

Although he was grateful for her good observant skill, still he felt something churning in his stomach, he felt sweet pain in his stomach, his worries, problems, tensed feelings disappeared in thin air when he is unconsciously observing her face, calmness settled within his heart.

He then realized what emotions are arising within his heart, he shook his head as if trying to throw it out/ hide it in some corner.

He turns his head opposite to her face, Navya sighs in relief when she saw no Shawmys around them.

She came out of the bushes but Lakshman stayed there, engrossed in his thoughts.

Navya clears her throat to bring him out of his thoughts, Lakshman realizes and came out the bush. Lakshman's eyes looked for safe spot to discuss what to do next as they have discovered a potential clue against this Shadow beings, he took her behind a car, they remained hidden.

Navya scolds him for being so oblivious at that time, " Mr. Old man, do you realize how much dangerous position you put us in by being lost in your 'whatever' thoughts.

We both need to be careful and alert.

Tell me, what important were you thinking at that time

Tell me! "

Lakshman turns serious while voicing out his thoughts, " Navya, I was just thinking how effectively this holy mantra scared those beings to their core. This is a big clue/ hint for us to use this information against these torturous shadow beings.

Holy mantras might be the magical shield that can protect us from the darkness of Shadows. I think we need to modify the plan and revise it in new way. But first, tell me about these mantras and explain it to me since I am little weak in this subject.

Would you do it for me, Navya? "

Navya replies with compassionate tone,

" Of course, Lakshman and sorry, I thought you were just thinking useless things, I am sorry.

And yes, you are on point, Holy mantras are known as the magical shield, the protector, the vault of knowledge, the sea of mystic spiritual energies.

After all, truth of light has the greatest potential to defeat the false delusions, negative feelings, evil shadows.

I think this might be the ultimatum solution, let's use this as shield against those shadow beings.

And, yes, we need to revise the current plan along with suggestion of other officers. "

Lakshman connected his call to other officers via Bluetooth earphone, he explained the whole incident that they experienced and then explained the important information gained from this insight.

Kimaya gives a suggestion of chanting mantras whenever they sense/sight a shadow being near them.

Kritak also gives suggestion of using the dart gun when they are weakened from the magic of mantras.

Dhansi ji gives another suggestion of reciting mantras loudly continuously so that shadows don't come near them.

Lakshman heard all of their suggestion buy he didn't know which suggestion would be the most effective technique.

Navya analyzed and processed most of the suggestions and then a plan brewed in her mind, she exclaims with confident tone,

" I have a plan, If I am permitted to speak in this matter, then I will explain you my plan.

Shall I? "

Kimaya, Lakshman encouraged her to explain her plan, she explains with hopeful tone,

" See! After hearing all your suggestion, a plan cooked in my brain, the plan involves combination of all your suggestion into one plan.

So, my plan is to use the speakers, mic, and everything that will amplify our voices in such way that the whole city can hear.

So, we need to gather all our police officers at open place and recite the mantras/sing religious song/chant God's name repeatedly via mic until the shadow exposes themselves and then one group of officer will fire the dart guns at one tin direction of Shawmy without giving them any chance to escape.

And about the shadows, the speakers will do the work against them, weakening their power rapidly and at some point, they would vanish *poof* .

But for that we need huge and booming speakers to blow these shadows away from our lives.

Remember one thing, we can't more than a second breath of relaxation when we start this, we need to have patience because this fight might take long and difficult.

But, we have no other choice than to fight for our survival/freedom/existence of humanity. We are doing this."

Kimaya agrees with her plan, then Kritak and Dhansi ji also agreed with his plan and eventually all other officers gave green signal to her plan except Lakshman who was deeply thinking about the pros and cons of the plan.

But then, he discarded the thought, and he too also gave green signal to her plan. Navya then directs them through her plan with the help of Kimaya.

Lakshman and Kritak are arranging the equipments, devices in large amount as per required, whereas Dhansi ji leading the groups of police officer to a particular open place, and he also assigned everyone's position and the group which is supposed to armed with dart guns are spread evenly in the crowd of officers to fire from every angle at the target.

On the other side, Hrida is on the streets, searching for her loved ones, her gaze determined, but her hands are shaking, she hums in low volume, she follows her gut and paces forward based only on her instincts.

She confronted a few Shawmys that noticed her presence, hungrily observed her, she was mentally and physically prepared, she didn't step back and clashed against Shawmy and held him in hug while moving his arms slightly behind his back.

Hrida hisses when she felt her skin being burnt, she could barely tolerate this suffering, yet she withstands her suffering and tied a red protective thread on his both hands with tight repeated knots making it stuck against his both wrists.

The Shadow scowls, she didn't flinch at all, then within few seconds, the civilian fainted, the ink black shadow didn't leave his body, but the monstrous form disappeared, now just the civilian was covered in faint black hue in its human form.

And the best part, the shadow could neither leave the victim and target any other human being nor he could control its victim to cause harm to others, or its own host.

She found many Shawmys on her path, she put everyone in the zone of unconsciousness, she whispered with slightly lighter mood,

" No one would ever think of hug being deadly, hmm, Deathly hug technique of mine.

Tchh.. I have evil proof bracelets on my both hands tightly knotted and gently wrapped around my wrists.

Oh no, this isn't the time to joke, I need to focus.

My loved ones, I am coming to rescue you out of this chaotic mess. "

Kali's creepy smile didn't waver at all even after watching over them from the shadows and knowing their act, he is still confident and relaxed.

He whispers with evil mischief tone,

" No matter how much you try Or whatever force you apply, you won't be able to break my spell.

I am going to seal the wrap with tight grip of mine and the entire world will be trapped in my web.

Major fun part is the master key would be Hrida, my chosen bearer.

Oh! And yes, my wild card performers haven't been released yet, still, there is chaos and turbulence of beautiful essence of mine, overpowering upon human minds.

My wild card performers are getting ready for their turn and their turn will come within a just few minutes. It would greedily fun to watch this show, *smirk*."

Hrida has been walking for a while but at some point, her alert mind became silent, she just let her feet lead her to places, she was unconsciously walking and walking till she stumbled on her own feet, but she balanced herself.

She recognizes the entrance, her world spins around her, when her gaze fell at the pavement. She noticed the signboard decorated in autumn orangish color, ' A Pretty doll's house' written in bold italics.

She felt the ground shaking, she felt she is being pulled towards the ground.

She shook her head and mumbles in desperation," Not again, not again… nnot again.

Please, not again. It's hard, it is painful to face the poison truth of my life, the standing proof before my eyes.

But Navya Didi said, if we don't consciously realize where are we going then we are walking on loop and if we want to walk on new path, we have to break the loop by not repeating the same mistake/action/habit.

Even if my feet are desperate to run but still, my heart is asking me for to face it and let myself feel the pain that this place holds in order to liberate this place and myself from unwanted agony.

Okay, Hrida, let's do it. I have reached at the same place from where I started my journey and this is a sign for me to end this chapter once and for all.

And after all this ends, I will make a decision about my and Tapish's stay."