Trembling Shadows
A romantic, psychological thriller
Kotra Siva Rama Krishna
“Why the climate suddenly turned like this? It was quite bright and shiny until we entered into this village” Rajesh said as it was to himself than in particular to anyone. He stood up from the chair and walked a little forward near to the rain as he had got bored being seated like that for more than half an hour or so in it. “This rain started just from the moment we entered into this village and did not stop till now.”
“Something wrong with something, in your opinion?” Malathi, co-doctor in his hospital, said adjusting herself in her chair to be a little more comfortable. Her frame exactly fitted in the chair she sat then. It was difficult to assume to anyone that she had fifty three years of age by that day. She maintained her diet so and did exercise everyday until then to see that her body never would become fattier and her skin not to lose its sheen. Her beautiful eyes and natural glamour make it difficult to anyone to avert their gaze immediately from her.
“Everything is wrong with everything it seems” irritation was quite clear in Rajesh daughter Sameera’s voice. “First thing we should not have stepped into here at all.” It was not just the climate creating irritation in her like that. As she looked at her father and the doctor Malathi together so and talking like that till seconds back she got that irritation. In fact any type of intimacy between them two would create irritation and anger in her. But ironically her father had to be together with this woman more time than with her mother as Malathi was the co-doctor in his hospital.
“I did not particularly invite you to here. Moreover I have suggested to you to stay in town itself at your friend’s home. Why did not you do so?” Rajesh as well equally irritated. It had become usual for the last six months or so the father and daughter got irritated with each other whenever they met together. Very seldom they were talking cordially with each other. Sameera was doing everything that would irritate her father. Now the outfit she was wearing making him embarrassed even to look at her. It was not just then she wore such type of clothes, every time she was wearing such type of skimpy dresses only to irritate and infuriate him. He too understood the purpose behind her wearing such type of dresses. But why, he could not understand. He did nothing less to her. He had provided everything she needed even before she asked till that day. Sameera was the only daughter to him. He indeed has lot of love and affection on her. It had become a big puzzle to him why his daughter developed such hatred on him. It had become even more not understandable to him that why it all started just six months or so back.
“Why you father and daughter quarrel like this always?” it was the duty of Tanuja, wife of Rajesh to make a truce between father and daughter whenever a situation like this erupt. “It is not at all a time for arguments or quarrels” placing her right hand firmly but friendly on her daughter’s left shoulder she said.
The irritation in Rajesh slowly vanished and he considered his wife with a smile on his face. His mind was trying to make contrast between Malathi and his wife as he was quite intimate with both of them. Tanuja was quite young having only forty six years of age comparing with Malathi. She would not do exercise and follow any particular diet to keep her body fit and see her glamour not to fade away. But still she was as she was twenty five years or so before when he had got his first acquaintance with her. She was a glamour doll then and now too. She became a little fatty and got one or two grey hairs which were quite inconspicuous. In fact what he loved more in her was her always amenable nature. She always tried to be helpful co-operating with him and their daughter. Sameera used to be so good with her parents until half a year or so back. The change that has taken place in their daughter was irritating her as much as it was irritating Rajesh but she was trying her best not to show that out. For the last six months she was trying to know the reason for the change in her daughter but in vain. Sameera was unbreakable and not letting anything out to be known.
“But a time for what --- enjoyment, making merry” Sameera sarcastically asked looking into the face of her mother with the same disgusting look every time she cast while talking with her.
“You have said it quite right. That is the other reason we have come here besides seeing your grandmother” Vinod a psychologist, husband of Malathi might have thought it was perfect time to intervene.
“Is it is so? Is this lore sky, this old house, this old woman that much enjoyable to you?” the sarcastic note was still there in Sameera’s voice and she turned her head to him. “It is indeed very peculiar of you to get an enjoyable feeling here.”
“Talk properly Sameera. She is your father’s grandmother. Don’t call her as old woman. You also better call her as grandmother.” Removing her hand from Sameera’s shoulder Tanuja said. A little anger for the first time crept into her after they entered into the house and her facial expression was reflecting it.
“I cannot feel anything like that in fact” Sameera mumbled. However much she did not like the old woman, she knew her father respected her a lot and any disrespect towards her would cause ire to him. “Anyhow I call her from now on as grandma.” For that time she decided to be compromised.
“What is really wrong with my grandmother? It is a big conundrum to me”. Going to the chair nearby and throwing himself into that, Rajesh said irritatingly putting aside what was going on around then.
“It is irritating to me also. I too cannot see any wrong with her. Physically she is quite alright.” Leaning back in the chair Malathi said. Her gaze fixed on Rajesh. Her chair was quite near to his chair and her body was almost touching his body. He was feeling her breathing on his shoulder but completely oblivious of that. They enjoy such type of intimacy between them whenever they were together. What they both did not notice then was that Sameera was observing them with her scrutinizing eyes with lot of disgust and hate in them.
“But why she is bedridden like that?” wrinkles on the face of Rajesh were even more deepened.
“In the best of my opinion she is not bed ridden” it was Aravind who was silent until that moment just observing the rain and appearing quite indifferent to what was happening around him suddenly said. “Sorry for the interference”
Aravind was in fact a guest like character in the house of Rajesh. He was the son of one of his best friends, Mukesh. After his parents tragic death in a plain crash Aravind shattered completely. That incident happened six months before. There were no other close relatives to Aravind. Rajesh though it would be quite wise to take him to his home and keep him with them until he completely recovered from his sorrow. Tanuja too well acquainted with Aravind’s parents and she liked Aravind. Aravind was such a good boy all the people would like him instantly. She gladly agreed to her husband’s proposal and five months back Aravind came to their home.
The only person in that home not liking Aravind was Sameera. It was indeed a big puzzle to Rajesh and Tanjua why their daughter disliked Aravind. He was really a very handsome boy and well educated. Any girl of her age would die to make friendship with him. But Sameera was not even in talking terms with him. At last they came to the opinion that their daughter would hate everything which they loved and liked.
“In the best of your opinion why she is so then?” turned his head backwards and looking at the boy Rajesh asked.
“She is on some soul journey” Aravind said in a small whispering tone. “Her soul left the body here and went to some other place”
There was complete silence then. The sounds of whirling wind and drizzling rain made the climate there even more eerie.
This was the only thing, the only thing that Rajesh and Tanuja dislike in that boy. How and why he was acquainted with the shadow world they did not know but it was taking most of his interest and time. What all they knew was he had spent until his fifteenth years or so at his maternal grandparents home and the village in which it located was very backward and practicing witchcult was a common thing in the homes there. He would often talk about parnormal matters. He would not adore and respect gods and goddesses the common people normally do. There was an unknown eeriness in him which sometimes was troubling Rajesh and Tanuja. They very badly want to make that boy to come out from the hold of the shadow world but they could not think of how to do that.
“Is there any such type of thing?” looking at Vinod, Rajesh asked. He hated himself to ask like that. He never liked to believe in such type of matters.
“I have heard such type of things. But I am not having full knowledge about them. Anyhow they are not concerned with psychology.” Putting both his hands into his pockets Vinod said. The small smile which he always kept on his lips was playing its part then too.
“When I touched my grandmother I felt her body lukewarm as she was with a mild fever. Except that I could not see any wrong with her” turned his head and looking into the open space before him Rajesh said.
“My cell phone is not working” Sameera said while looking at her cell phone as if she did not hear anything that her father and Vinod talked. “From the moment I have entered into this house it lost the signal.”
“I am also facing the same problem.” Sunanda said. “The signal may be available if we go out of this house”
Then all the others as well said that there was no signal in their cell phones.
“Why it is so? Is this house built specifically like that not to allow cell phone signals? Or are there cell phone jammers unseen here? Not even one of our cell phones is having signal” Vinod surprisingly said.
“No problem if our cell phones don’t work for one or two days. I am not going to bother about it that much” Tanuja said.
“But I will. My friends always try to contact me through phone. If my cell phone does not work here I shall be shut out completely from the outside world.” Sameera said.
“Nothing serious happens if your friends cannot contact you just for one or two days. If you want that much, go out of the house and see if signal is available.” Sunanda said.
Sameera did not say anything. It seemed that all the others there as well sharing the opinion of Tanuja regarding cell phones.
“In fact I wanted to bring my laptop here. But in hurry I have forgotten to take that with me. If I have brought my laptop with me we would have good time pass here” looking at Sameera, Sunanda said again.
“You are right” Sameera nodded her head. “I also did not get the idea of bringing my laptop with me while starting to here. Otherwise I myself have brought my laptop with me” she regretfully said.
(I hope that you enjoyed upto here. I shall publish the next chapter as soon as possible. Please don’t forget to rate and review.)
