Follow…I hesitated a bit on the window sill, the city traffic ringing loud and clear in my ears. It wouldn’t hurt…I told myself. It was just that I wasn’t in mood for fun. Right from the middle of nowhere came horrible wails of an ambulance. The sound Right from the middle of nowhere came horrible wails of an ambulance. The soundVIBGYOR
brought to my mind the picture of a faceless black cloaked figure…roaming the streets looking for victims. Cold…uncaring…irrational…deaf to everything. Where? Where the hell was the victim? Ah! In front of a traffic light blinking red was a crunched up motorbike. The smell of blood pierced me as two green clad people lifted up a…no…that thing with blood all over where eyes should be and only half a hand cannot be a human being…No…Not the thing without legs….
“Shakti!”
I covered my face, trying not to shiver. What on earth! I am supposed to be a goddamn spirit! I am not supposed to go all shuddery and weak-kneed. “Hit and run…”
A mechanical sound, fine tuned to perfection, floated towards me. Creepy…No one with a heart can be that unemotional and matter of fact.
“No witnesses. No information about the vehicle.” No witnesses! I almost laughed incredulously. The roads and pavements were overflowing. There were cars, buses and heck people in every corner. And yet! No witnesses…
“Shakti? What in the world is wrong with you? Just jump down already!” Just look behind you Goldy! Just step out of the bubble you are floating comfortably in! “Are you going to come down or what?”
“I’m coming.”
I jumped down, hardly noticing the air gushing up. No panic enveloped me as the ground rushed upwards. All I saw a white vehicle, closed up to the rest of the world. All I heard was a monotonous mechanical voice as it shouted more and more instructions.
“Finally! What on earth were you watching?” People were striding past the ambulance without as much as a second glance. Some asked around questions and departed, happy perhaps that the youth was not a friend or family.
“Are you coming?” A little girl running out of a sweet shop had stopped by the bike, her eyes, blue and happy, turning very round. She ran towards the front side, her tiny hands trembling as she her eyes fixed on something.
“Mummy! Mummy!”
My hands trembled too. Such a sweet little voice shouldn’t sound so horrified…A scream shouldn’t be coming out of such tiny rosebud lips.
“Hey S!” Several heads turned. A policeman came towards the child, asking something in a kind voice. The girl appeared not to hear. Tears gushed out of her eyes as her lips quivered.
“Mummy!”
A woman rushed out of her sweet shop. Horror dawned in her eyes as she looked at the bike and then at the girl. “Daddy…Daddy…”
The little girl pointed at the ambulance with a trembling finger.
A violent pain erupted in my head. No…No…I shook myself hard, trying not to pass out. What the hell! I wished there was someone I could ask about this. I mean… Someone wise and good who would know all the answers. Unfortunately, no such people existed. Not in our world.
“Shakti…Let’s go. I mean…” The ambulance door was opening. The woman, dry eyed climbed in. Time ticked by and then…An earsplitting scream came. The child attempted to climb in but the policemen held her little hand firmly, saying something I didn’t catch. I felt a painful jolt in my head.
“Shakti…”
Goldy pulled me away, as the child broke free from the policeman’s grasp. I heard the sound of little footsteps climbing in and then a gut wrenching scream. “What in the world happened to you out there, Shakti?”
We were outside Nandan’s apartment. A sleek black car purred past us in the parking lot, not slowing down at the scene of the accident.
“Should I pull you in?” Goldy’s exasperated voice was chorused by the ambulance siren. I turned back to look. A pool of blood and the sorry remains of the bike remained. The traffic light turned green. A group of cars, honking impatiently, burst to life. Two buses roared and the passengers heaved a sigh of relief. Another ambulance made its way through the traffic, its sound heralding bad news.
“Horrid…”
I muttered without thinking.
“Come on!”
“Ok…”
We flew up together, entering the apartment through Nandan’s bedroom window. The wall I had used before had been wiped clean. A picture of Nandan and Anasuya hung there, filling the air with a heavy ‘sickly sweet’ scent.
“The nerve of him…He..” Goldy shook her head in disgust. I barely listened. Drums were beating inside my ears. My sight was turning red. The flowers, smiles and leaves in the picture irritated me, made me want to go completely nuts as Goldy had done.
“He deserves a surprise.Why don’t we give him that.” I know I should have explained what I was going to do and all. And I should never have flown at the picture, slamming my fist into the glass, without warning. And I should not have thrown the broken photo at Goldy’s feet and stamped on it.
“Shakti…”
The red went out like a light bulb. The drum roll ended. Goldy and I faced each other, both staring at the shattered glass on the floor between us.
“Have you gone mad?”
“I…”I kicked absently at a piece of glass, trying for a minute to make sense of what I did. “It was the whole point of us being here, right? I mean…we were supposed to…” “Could you at least have told me before you decided to go berserk?”
“Did you warn me before you gave him a beating?”
“But…”
“Did you?”
“No but that…He was being a…a sorry excuse of a human being and any decent human or spirit would have hit him. But this…”
“You can do whatever you like but I cannot?” “But I wasn’t the one who passed out, Shakti…And I am not the one who is involved to the point of forgetting what is to be done.”
Even before I started to argue I knew I was being irrational. Goldy had been right to worry about what happening to me and I was worrying about the same thing but…I don’t know. Maybe I didn’t like to think myself as a weakling. Maybe I was afraid of what it meant.
“You are scared, aren’t you?”
I must have gasped out loud. The shrewdness startled me, especially coming from a Yellow. “Who in the hell told you that?”
Goldy laughed as she took several steps towards me.
“What do you take me for? A donkey?”
I was about to retort when the door opened. Nandan strode in, humming to himself, a heavy plastic file rustling in his hands. I couldn’t help giggling to myself( and that I think scared poor Goldy senseless) as he stiffened, his eyes darting here and here.
“Hey butler!”
Footsteps came running. The door opened as an emotionless face peeked in. “You called, sir?”
I shook my head at the rehearsed voice. Really? Just how long can a human being go on saying ‘Yes sir’, ‘No Sir’ and ‘May I Sir?’. How long can someone knuckle down, throwing aside all self respect and dignity? How low can people sink for the sake of earning a livelihood? Muddling…It’s a wonder I don’t have steam pouring out of my head?
“Clean this up!”
Nandan pointed briskly at the glass. “And don’t dare step inside my room without my permission.” “Yes Sir!” The servant said, his face smooth. I must have let of a yell of exasperation. You weren’t there, you idiot! You didn’t break the glass so why don’t you come out and say it?
“I’ll get…”
“No. Wait till I leave. I have an appointment with the dentist. Tell the driver to get the car ready.”
“Yes Sir.”
The door was shut in the proper polite and respectful manner. I would have slammed The door was shut in the proper polite and respectful manner. I would have slammed the door…I… “So…what are you going to do?”
“Get me a pen.”
The pen hunt wasn’t that hard considering a new e
xpensive one was sitting right there on the desk. Perhaps the replacement to the one I ruined. Also destined to the same fate. I picked it up, threw off the top and headed towards the same wall. Through the coat of fresh paint I smelled the ink. Some things just don’t go away.
“A message? Again?” “A message from the dead.” I muttered, as I scribbled on, this time, a clear message. Short, though not exactly sweet, and to the point. Not that I had to exactly work hard to get it right. Someone supplied it to me, free of charge.
Happily Never After There was a small sound as the file in Nandan’s hand hit the floor. His eyes fixed on those letters were simply emanating fear. His hands, tightly holding on to the desk were trembling. I let the pen go. Nandan cringed as it hit the ground, breaking into two pieces.
“What do you want and why are you doing this to me?”
He shouted at the air. “I…Why…”
Hmmm…I had fully intended to end the prank with the dropping of the pen but… Some questions do deserve answers.
Dipping my finger in the dark spilling ink, I focused on the wall again. Right under the first message, I painstakingly wrote another one. You murdered me
“No…No…I…”
Oh dear! Humans…They do like deceiving. Too bad we can sense things. I mean… Ugh! I could smell the guilt. “Shakti…I…”
“One more message.”
I enjoyed myself while writing this one. Particularly because I knew it would crush him.
She is lost
Nandan’s hand slipped off the desk. A choked noise came from him then nothing. Like a man in a trance he half-walked, half-ran out of the room. “Clean up the mess!”
His voice bellowed somewhere outside.
Goldy burst into helpless laughter, setting me off too. All that was cloudy in the air between us melted in that moment and the sun showed his bright and smiling face. “You were brilliant, S!”
“I don’t know about brilliant…I….”
I held on to my sides, quite at a loss on where the brakes of this laughter vehicle was. The throbbing in my head subsided, leaving me a bit light headed but better all the same.
The door opened again, startling us out of our precious moment of fun. I half expected to see Nandan and was in a wicked enough mood to continue the joke but it wasn’t him. It was the servant who had been ordered to clean up the mess. His plastic mask was well in place just like his spotless suit. A broom was held in his hand with such poise and grace that I couldn’t help staring. Was he some kind of superhuman?
Not even sighing at the huge mess leering at him, he set to work. The glass shards were swept up neatly, their gleaming pointy selves moved to a corner. The servant went out only to return with a cloth and bucket full of water. He scrubbed delicately at the ink, getting out most of my handiwork. Sweat covered his whole body by the time he was done, stinking the whole room with a nasty odour. But the butler didn’t even flinch. Just stared around with bored eyes. He picked up the bucket and cloth to leave, rubbing his forehead ruefully.
“Quite the servant…” Goldy murmured. I was just about to say he was barely human when the man paused by Nandan’s photograph, set beautifully in a golden frame. The mask slipped off as a contempt filled his eyes. The thin lips curled into a sneer.
“Lousy son of a bitch!”
He spat before striding calmly out of the door.
Goldy gaped at the now firmly shut door and made a face.
“Quite the servant…Indeed!”
I had a bit of trouble responding to that particular comment since I was doubled up with laughter. Anyway, now I knew that the expression poker face was as real as the newly cleaned up wall and the swept up glass. Cool that…
CHAPTER 13
Goldy and I made our way through tightly packed crowds, trying to keep Shiva in sight. Umbrellas waved about in the rain occasionally hitting each other sending a shower of raindrops down below. People in various stages of drenched babbled and grumbled their way, some wearing raincoats and looking as if they’ve been all wrapped up in a plastic cover. It seemed as if Shiva, her elegant flowery sari getting closer to the too-wet meter by the second, was the only person not carrying the necessary human items for a rainy day. Oddly though she looked happy, walking swiftly, humming a little song to herself.
Her stop obviously was Jacob’s apartment building. Poor huge white edifice didn’t look happy, raindrops pouring all over its brilliant magnificence. In fact, it appeared to be whining like a spoilt child, shaking its fist at the horrid skies that was marring its spotlessness. Nice.
“This isn’t becoming a regular thing, is it?”
Goldy asked. Something about her voice made me turn swiftly towards her. “What is it, Goldy?”
I don’t know if my question sounded too defensive or rude but Goldy looked startled and ashamed. Rather like some people do when they are called out for being spiteful and catty.
“I don’t mean to sound like a Green.” She said. “But…I…don’t know…” “Spit it out!”
“Okay…Okay…”
Goldy took a deep breath and coughed dramatically, like an actress preparing for her big speech.
“Call me an idiot if you like but I smell trouble.If this goes on much longer, both of us are going to be bored to death.”
“Idiot!”
I laughed before flying up, yet…something about Goldy’s words stuck in my mind. Trouble… Shiva was outside Jacob’s apartment when Goldy and I made our grand entrance through the window. She wiped her face carefully with a handkerchief before pressing the calling bell with one slender finger.
“You are drenched!”
An incredulous voice exclaimed as the door opened. Dan stared at Shiva as if she were some sort of ghost. No wonder. I mean…I have gone through some of the human ghost stories and the ghosts in them were supposed to be hauntingly beautiful with expressive eyes and mostly wearing white saris. Shiva was pretty close to that description.
“I forgot my umbrella.”
Shiva said mischievously as she stepped in, her eyes twinkling.
“I can smell the rain today…Wonder why.” Jacob smiled from beside the closed window. “Has the rain goddess graced my apartment with her presence?” “Nothing so graceful.” Shivani shot back. “A girl braved the rain and came to keep her promise.”
“As long as her hard work didn’t get as drenched as her…”
Shivani dried her hands with a towel that Dan passed her and opened her bag. A file, cramped inside poked out. “I’ve only done a chapter.” She explained.”And its probably not that good.” “You said you didn’t care if I sang in the horriblest screechy voice.” Jacob smiled.
“Point taken.” Shiva smiled - a smile that traveled to her eyes and set them alight. The last of the raindrops fell from the sky. The thundery grey dissolved and a pale sun poked its head uncertainly out of a cloud.
She sat down elegantly on the couch as Dan came from the kitchen carrying three large cups of tea on a large tray. He offered one to Shivani first before going towards his friend. There was silence for a while except for the sound of Dan noisily sipping his tea.
“See what I mean…” Goldy murmured darkly. “Danger!”
I punched her playfully on the shoulder. “Idiot!”
Pleasant chatter started as the tea cups emptied, Dan trying out some of his jokes on Shiva and Jacob. As Shiva laughed heartily, I realized with a pang as this was the most natural and normal that I have seen her. This girl, with twinkling eyes and cheerful face was the real Shivani.
“She doesn’t do this at home, does she?” “No, she doesn’t, queen of the obvious.” I said, giving Goldy another punch. “Does her father or mother look like nice happy souls to you?”
Goldy gave an exaggerated shudder. “Hell no! Mr. Smiley could go Mr. Sourface in there.”
When our attention shifted back to the three people, Shiva was holding the sheaf of papers in her hand - all neatly typed.
“Like they say…�
�� Jacob said. “Let the show begin. Dan snapped his fingers dramatically. “And if this is the kind of work that makes me run and get the dictionary…” “Every kind of book makes you do that.”
“No they do not!”
“Unless Shiva is a picture book author…”
Shiva shook her head and laughed.
“Considering I draw as well as a five year old…”
Now it was Jacob’s turn to laugh.
“You have never asked a little child to explain a drawing have you?”
Shiva and Dan exchanged a glance.
“Look out! He’s going to turn on his philosophy mode again.”
“Of course not!” Jacob said serenely. “My aunt has a lovely granddaughter, cute as button in looks but cheeky as hell! Lovable little rascal.”
Both Shivani and Dan chuckled. “ Once she did a drawing…It was nothing but a few lines and circles…I asked her what it was.” He paused, his eyes fixed on the ceiling. “And she described a most beautiful park - a children’s paradise - full of flowers and toys and…a mountain made of icecream.”
“I used to dream of a chocolate mountains.” Shivani laughed. “When I was little someone told me that chocolate was broken off from this huge mountain in a place called Chocoland or something like that. And if I was good, the chocolate bunny would come in the night and take me there and I could eat all the chocolate I wanted without getting a toothache.”
“My favourite dream was about a candy factory.” Dan joined in. “When I was in kindergarten, we went on a field trip to a candy factory. I made the most awful fuss when we arrived there. I mean…Where were the talking bears? Where was the tree with heart shaped candy leaves and…Where were the candy butterflies? A most with heart shaped candy leaves and…Where were the candy butterflies? A most
boring field trip.”
Jacob smacked his lips teasingly.
“Delicious! Thank god we were weren’t friends then! I wouldn’t have been able to get an idea like that out of my head!”
“And you would have badgered you mother to take you to this magic land till her head hurt?” asked Shivani shrewdly.
“Probably…” Jacob smiled. “Merit of being a spoilt only child. You get to be as whiny and complaining as you want without any punishment.”
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