Mind Your Business - Part 21

Pallavi walked around the house to find the perfect place to start. She tried to find the spot where she could feel the presence more. She stopped at the center of the hall - the exact place where Shekhar had fallen to the ground and Vicky was grabbed by the demon. She could sense the presence of demonic energy. The area where she stood was very cold unlike the rest of places. 

She brought her things to the selected place. She took out a chalk piece and bent down to draw on the floor. She drew a small circle and then continued to draw more bigger circles around the small circle. She then coloured them with kumkum and turmeric alternatively. She placed the Yagna Kund on the center of the small circle. She then decorated the surrounding of the pot with marigold flowers and fruits. She placed the small bowl of rice grains next to her.  She sat on the ground with legs crossed and burned the Kund.  She started chanting mantras softly, calling out names of God. 

While Pallavi was busy with the rituals, Sakshi searched for her siblings and mother. They were no where. She was worried. She searched every nook and corner of the house. Her heart was filled with worry than fear of demon wandering in the house. The safety of her family mattered her more than her life. "Where were there?", she thought.

She was at the kitchen after aimlessly searching them everywhere. This was only location they could be there. She looked around as she walked behind until she stepped on something next to kitchen center island. Suddenly she heard a low scream. She bent down near the island to see what it was. She was astonished to see Sheila and kids hiding. "I am sorry.", Sakshi said as she hugged Sheila. "Why are you hiding here? Where is Vicky and mother?", Sakshi asked.

Sheila didn't answer instead she asked, "Where were you?"  Sakshi replied the whole ordeal she had gone through getting Pallavi and about the priest who had given information about Pallavi at the temple. "I didn't have time to tell Vicky enough details about Pallavi. I had to go before it was too late. She is in the hall, trying to summon the God. What happened to mother and Vicky", Sakshi added. "When you left, demon had possessed mother. She was attacking kids and me. Then Vicky intervened and helped us out. He pushed mother which led to her hitting the table and falling unconscious. He felt very guilty and stayed next to her. Suddenly something appeared from the ceiling and took him. I couldn't help him. After helplessly standing and looking at Vicky disappear, I checked on mother. She wasn't there. I looked her everywhere. Then something followed us till the kitchen.", Sheila said.  Sakshi felt even more guilty for leaving them alone. But she had no other way.

They headed towards the hall where Pallavi was performing the ritual. "Mother and Vicky are missing, Pallavi.", Sakshi said. Pallavi turned her focus towards Sakshi and others. "Hmm!! You found rest of the family. Your brother and mother are somewhere here. You need to look closely. You will find them. And... by the way, there are two demons not one.", Pallavi said while Sakshi and Sheila stared at her with confusion and fear. They had thought it was work of one evil spirit till the time. "What did you bring, Vicky?", Sakshi muttered softly. 

(To be continued)

Mind Your Business - Part 20

It didn't take long to reach the place than it took time to make preparation to reach home. Sakshi worried constantly about her family. She had managed to convinced Pallavi to help her but the real problem lied on how quick they would reach the house. She didn't want to keep her family waiting for her. The evil was too dangerous for her family to face it alone. She thought about her brother's tensed expression. He didn't want her to leave.  She didn't want to leave them but she had to. 

As Vicky grabbed his neck , he starting rising up every minute in the air. Within few minutes, he was already floating. Sheila rushed towards him, pulling him down. Her energy and effort was not enough. Vicky looked down in shock, unable to do anything. Once his head touched the ceiling, an off white skeleton hand appeared from ceiling. It gently touched his face and stopped near his neck. Everyone watching appalling at Vicky as he was dragged by the skeleton hand . 

Slowly his shaking torso disappeared into ceiling. The kids panicked, crying and holding their mother. Sheila sobbed softly as she thought about Vicky, "Where did it take him? How would she find him? Was he safe? Was this last time she would see him?". She freaked out at the thought of this. She prayed God to do some miracle to save her family. "Where was Sakshi?", she thought. She had seen her outside. Only Vicky knew where she was gone. Now with him gone, she wished Sakshi was here. She felt miserable for not helping Vicky out.

Sakshi stood in front of her house with Pallavi. They had reached not too late to help the family out. Sakshi walked around towards the balcony where Vicky had entered. Pallavi watched the house for clues of the ghost that haunted the family. All the doors and windows were shut. There was no open door to lead them inside. The house looked calm from outside to fool the outside world. 

As Pallavi headed towards the front door and touched the door knob, Sakshi said nervously, "All the doors are closed from inside. No one can open from inside or outside. We tried to banging the door open. The only safe exit that was my room's balcony door is also closed. There is no way we can enter the house."

Pallavi smiled. She opened the door easily. It was like as if the front door was not locked. Sakshi was stunned. "How did it open?",she wondered. " The evil's strength does not stay too strong in front of good for long time.", Pallavi said. There was no sign of Vicky or Sheila or kids or mother. Sakshi wondered where there had gone. Pallavi looked around her surrounding with wide eyes .  Her stature was confident and powerful. It seemed like as if she would kill the demon in one blow.

(To be continued)  

Mind Your Business - Part 19

The dwarf let her inside the house. The house looked more ruin than it was outside. It was dark. The only light in the house was the flickering dim light of bulb placed on the portrait of Lord Shiva. The lady who had called Sakshi inside was lighting the diya placed at the table below the Lord Shiva's portrait. She was praying, murmuring the sacred mantras. There was some of sort of queerness inside the house that bothered Sakshi. It seemed like a ghost house itself to her.

 The lady turned as soon as she was done with the prayer. She was huge lady with big eyes, round nose and large mouth. Her hair was long , thick and unbound. She wore big black bindi and  long black kurta with matching black skirt that covered her feet. She looked strong , powerful and dangerous. "Hello, I am Sakshi. I am looking for Pallavi.", Sakshi greeted with weak smile.


"I am Pallavi. What do you want?", the lady said with tone of rudeness in her voice. "My family is in grave danger. This spirit has been troubling my family for unknown reason. You are our only hope.", Sakshi said. Pallavi at once snapped after hearing the word 'hope', "Hope! I can't guarantee you that here. If you are looking for hope, then you are at the wrong place." She asked her to leave at once. Sakshi couldn't bear the hope slipping away from her hand.

"Please don't say that. I have left my younger brother, sister in law and mother alone at home to fight the spirit. My elder brother is fighting for life. God himself had shown me the way towards you. Only you can help us to fight this. Please listen to my story once.", Sakshi pleaded , kneeling down in front of Pallavi with teary eyes begging for help.  Pallavi didn't stop despite wanting to throw her outside.

After listening to whole story that Sakshi narrated, Pallavi said smirkingly , "Your younger brother has indeed made a sin not a mistake- Entering a devil's place and not minding his business. But one can forgive the mistake because he at that age where he is inquisitive , rebellious and innocent. I will help you not because you need me, only because God wants me to help you." Sakshi smiled unaware that her family was in disaster without her.

Vicky caressed his mother's head while feeling guilty about what he had done. "Sorry, Mum. I am really very sorry." Sheila watched Vicky sadly while she sat , holding her kids tighter to her chest. Suddenly Vicky got up , grabbed his neck tightly with one hand. He was huffing and trying to release his hand off from the neck. Sheila screamed him to stop, covering her kids's eyes. But to her horror, her voice didn't come out. Something was holding her voice. She cried as she watched Vicky trying to take his life in front of her and she couldn't do anything.

(To be continued)

Mind Your Business - Part 18

Sakshi turned back to see her brother. He looked worried, confused and fearful. She tried to wave and smile to give him courage as she walked towards her new found hope. She felt bad leaving him alone. She had no choice. Sheila and kids were alone. Mother was possessed. Vicky could be some help to them. But she could read from Vicky's face, he needed her. She pitied Vicky's cowardly attitude. He wasn't like this before. The guilt and evil's presence had changed him from brave boy to a coward one.


Vicky watched her leave. He had many questions in his mind. What was Sakshi doing? Where was she going? Why did she leave them? Why did she not take him with him? How can she trust him? How can he help Sheila and kids and face the evil when he himself feared the demon's presence? He wished he had listened to his friend's advice. He remembered reading newspaper headlines and receiving calls from his friend's relatives about how one by one, his friends died mysteriously. Immediately, he felt guilt pang hit his heart.


He went inside as soon as she was outside the vicinity of his sight. The house was dark. The windows were covered with thick curtains that blocked the sunlight to penetrate inside the house. It was different world inside. He walked slowly, looking for Sheila and kids. They were nowhere. Suddenly something caught his hand from behind. He turned to see what it was. It was mother. The grip grew tighter. Mother's eyes were red. Her face was dry and had scratch mark all over . Her hair was unkempt. Her lips were dry and purple. He tried to loosen the grip.

Sheila came from her hiding. She tried to loosen the grip on his hand. They couldn't release his hand from mother's clutches. Finally mother left him and caught hold of Sheila's neck and slapped hard. She must have slapped several times. Sheila was loosing her consciousness. Vicky tried to intervene many times . But mother was too strong to stop. With all might, Vicky pushed mother. Mother fell down, hitting her forehead on small table. She lost consciousness. Vicky walked slowly towards mother and checked that she was still alive. He left a sigh of relief. But he felt bad hurting his mother.

Sakshi reached the location as mentioned by the priest. It was located at the outskirts of the city. It took about four hours to reach. As she checked the time from her wristwatch, the fear of leaving her family alone grew deeper. She took the name of God and breathed deeply. The place in front of her looked like a horror movie set. The house situated on center of plot was in ruins. The walls of the house once white was covered with black molds stains due to years of condensation. The surrounding of the house was filled with wild bushes and trees. It was only house inside the woods. There was no one around.

Sakshi was tensed.  She slowly walked towards the main door. The atmosphere was filled with smell of old wood and ruins.  She tapped thrice on the door. No one responded. She tapped again. Suddenly a dwarf man opened the door. He was half her size. He looked up and asked what she wanted. She said that she wanted to meet Pallavi. "You can't see her. Go back.", he said. "Please let me see her. I have left my family in danger to meet her. Only she can help us out of this danger.", she pleaded. "Let her in.", a strong feminine voice called. Sakshi gave a weak smile and entered inside.



(To be continued)

Mind Your Business - Part 17

As Sakshi walked back home, she remembered what the old priest had said.  "Her name is Pallavi. She can be your armor against the evil. She has defeated many dangerous demons and cleansed the evil out. But she is difficult person. She may not help you at first instance. It may take a lot of convincing her. But I know you will succeed in persuade her. Make sure you don't make her angry.", he had said.

She had found a small ray of hope. But she was not convinced yet. "What if she didn't agree to help me ! What if I fail to get her to help her? What if I have to face the evil alone?", she worried. Later, she cleared the doubts by convincing herself to stay strong. She had to stay strong. If not for herself, but at least she should be strong. She had to persuade Pallavi at any cost. 

When she reached home, she was astonished to see Sheila and Vicky banging the door.  She rushed towards them. "What happened? Where are the kids? Where is mother? Why are you both outside?", she asked. "The evil has struck mother again. She is possessed by the spirit. She has locked us outside and has kids with her. We have been banging the door. Vicky even try to break it open. It's not opening.", Sheila cried while Vicky and her tried to break the door open. 

Sakshi banged the door and called her mother, "Ma! Ma! open the door."  "Oh God! Please don't do this now. Please help us.", she prayed silently.  After failed attempts of banging and breaking the door, they all finally tried one last time to break open. At last the door was open. As everyone tried to nurse their bruised arm, something grabbed the hand of Sheila and pushed Sakshi and Vicky out. The door was locked again. 

Sakshi and Vicky tried again to break the door. They were tired after many attempts. "Lets try the back door.", she said. "But we tried the back door, it's the same case", he said as he rubbed the pain on his arm. "We need to get inside. Come. Let's try once more.", she said , running towards the back door. They had tried to open the door. But they failed. Sakshi couldn't wait any longer. She remembered the words of priest, "Go at once. Don't delay before it causes more damage to you and your family."  She had to do something before it was too late. "The balcony of my bedroom is open. Climb up there. You can easily enter there.", she said, thinking why she had not thought about this. 

Vicky agreed. He walked towards the side where his sister's balcony was. He rubbed his hand and climbed the pipe that lead to balcony. The skill he had learnt as notorious kid had got him the wrath of his family was useful now. He easily put one of his leg on side of balcony and held the railing with one hand while he held the pipe for the support with one hand. He slowly got inside the balcony. The door was open. Vicky and Sakshi silently thanked God. He waved at his sister. "Okay. I will go and get Pallavi. You stay with the kids, Sheila and mother.", she said. "Who is Pallavi? Where are you going? Why are you not coming up?", he asked. " I will come back. Pallavi is our only hope to fight evil. I need to go now. I will tell the rest of story when I come back. Don't worry. God is with us.", she said, leaving confused and scared Vicky alone. 

(To be continued) 

Mind Your Business - Part 16

Sakshi was surprised at the head priest' memory. She didn't remember meeting him. Unlike Sakshi, old priest could very well remember what he did two days back. His memory power was his strength. He could remember lengthy couplets of Sanskrit verses and philosophies he learnt many years back. His fragile appearance hid his strength from people.

"You were a small child holding your mother's little finger and attending all the functions in the temple. You were very innocent . Eager and curious always. You would ask me the stories of God. How are you, my child?, he asked. She finally remembered her childhood days. She was always excited to go to temples. The aartis, well decorated idol of Lord Vishnu, the sculpted designs on temple walls , sounds of bhajans and fragrance of incense sticks always attracted her. She always eagerly asked stories of Lord from the priest who would promptly recite them all.

As she grew up, she stopped visiting temples. She was no longer attracted to stories of God, partly because she had to take up the responsibility of managing the house from a tender age and partly due to anger on God for poor state of her mother. She switched back to present from flashback of past. The priest patiently waited for her response.

"I am fine. Vicky and Shekhar are all doing good. Mother is still... the same.", she said, gulping the emotions as she spoke about mother's well being. "Your visits to temple have reduced drastically. Do you still hold the grudge towards God? I heard the sad story of your family from Shekhar's wife Sheila. I hope things will be better now. God never leaves his children to fend alone. He is always there even during hard times.", he said.

Sakshi couldn't control her emotions any longer. She sobbed softly. The priest gently patted her while consoling her with kind words. When she felt better, she spoke weakly, "Nothing is better now. It's getting worse. A evil ghost has seized our place. It's tormenting us everyday since Vicky had visited the damned place where the evil ghost was. My family is breaking and I don't know how to free my family from this ghost."

Sakshi narrated the whole story from the beginning till how Shekhar was attacked. The priest listened carefully without disturbing her. After she completed her misery story, he simply said, "There is one person who can help you out. She is highly experienced in fighting dangerous and evil demons, spirits and ghosts. She can help you out. Go at once. Don't delay before it causes more damage to you and your family." He noted down the name and address once his assistant priest offered him small piece of paper that he had asked him to bring. Later he blessed her and gave her Rudraksh mala to keep her and her family safe.



(To be continued)

Mind Your Business - Part 15

The temple invited quite number of devotees and ordinary people at early hours of the morning. The enchanting sound of the bells and holy fragrance from the incense sticks were equally enticing. The temple priests chanted the morning mantras as a part of the morning rituals. The morning puja was about to start as the young priest hurriedly decorated the aarti plate with the lit diya and flowers.

Sakshi stood at the entrance of temple. She was hesitant to enter inside after so many years. After what had happened to mother several years back , she had vowed that she would never ever take the solace of God again. She was teenager back then. She had never realized that she would be back after many years. Sheila had coaxed her several times to accompany her to temple. But she simply declined. Sheila never asked her again. After many years, she was at the same place with a plate filled with offerings to God. She had no option other than praying God for his mercy. Her family was at stake. Only God could help her family and her out.


Few minutes of hesitancy and hidden rage didn't stop her. Her love for her family thawed the hatred for God in her. She stepped inside. She watched some people praying for unfulfilled wishes , while some people thanking God for boons they received and  others praying as part of their duty. She was lost soul looking for tiny hope, strength to fight and help from God.

The puja began. The loud sounds of bell woke her soul from dreams of helplessness. Tears welled up from her eyes as she watched the old head priest chanting mantras while performing morning prayers to Lord Vishnu idol . She asked silents questions to God about how should she start, what she should do, how would he help her and when will this end.  The old head priest walked slowly past the people who stood for Aarti. As few of them placed the coconuts and flowers as offering to god on offering plate, he chanted mantras after asking their Gothras.

He stopped in front of Sakshi as she placed her offering. He asked her for her Gothra for which she replied that she didn't know. He stared at few minutes, chanted few mantras and walked away. While he walked towards the idol, he tried to recollect memories of where he had seen her. He felt he had known her.

The Aarti was performed. He offered the coconuts and flowers to God and did the ritual prayers. He returned the offering to the people with the Aarti. He walked towards Sakshi with her offering and asked, "Are you Lakshmi's daughter?" Sakshi stared at him with astonishment.

(To be continued)