MIDNIGHT RIDER PART 11

'In the wake of this...threat what should be our next step?'mused Roha talking more to herself than anybody else.

She was propped up in the middle of the bed while Amish and Kyra  occupied pouffes,sitting as far from each other as possible,leaving a wide space for that hideous graffiti even as the dead rabbit hung ominously above their heads.

Roha had hoped that maybe the present scenario will knock some senses in her friends,but she was proved wrong.Amish and Kyra were perceptibly standoffish towards each other,spasmodically shooting disdainful looks at the other when they thought Roha wasn't looking.

'I don't know,but these people certainly have got an eyeful of us and may cause harm if we go prying.'Kyra said uncertainly.

'Shall we report the matter to local police ?'Amish suggested.

'Hmmm..I think that's the best option we have.But first we need to tell Mrs.D'souza everything-including yesterday's misadventure.'

'What will we do that for?'Amish looked thunderstruck.

'Do you want her to eat us alive?'Kyra demanded,looking at Roha as if she were insane.

'Guys try to understand my point.Even if we directly approach the authorities,Mrs.D'souza will come to know about it and then we will be in a graver trouble.Besides if we tell her the truth,she may even prove to be helpful.'Roha said reasonably.

Kyra and Amish stared at her and she could see her logic working on them.

'OK!But who will tie the bell around the cat's neck?'

'I think you should do it Ro as you are her favourite student.That's the best shot at damage control that we have.We'll accompany you of course!'Kyra said nervously.

Roha took a deep breath,gathering her courage.

'Alright,let's go!She must be in the garden with others.'

'NOW!' a startled chorus rang in the room.

'So when?The sooner we get through it,the better!'

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The trio strolled in the garden,amidst their chattering classmates,who were lolling around in twos and threes.

'Hey book worm!How many poor books did you feast on today?'

Fred joked to general sniggering,which was studiously ignored by Roha.

Mrs.D'souza was sitting in a secluded corner,with a book in her hand.Kyra and Amish practically hid behind Roha as she looked up,sensing their presence.

'Yes dears?'

'Ma'am actually we've g..got something important.. to tell you.'Roha began nervously.

'Am I about to find out what three of you were doing when you were supposed to be in your bed last night?'

Her solemn question shocked the trio into silence.

MIDNIGHT RIDER PART 10

A truck rolled to stop.Roha,Amish and Kyra waited with bated breath as a rota of men descended from it and several others detached themselves from surrounding gloom.

''Did you bring the catch?''

''Of course!These babies will yield fortune for us.He will be pleased.''

Good,you'll be rewarded beyond your expectations.''

''I hope so. Anything new?''

''No..much the same.People here are just as big a fool as ever.''

''That old crackpot is still doing round,letting us milk for its worth.''

The goons laughed eerily sending chills down the spine.

They were brought up short by a sudden scream.Kyra leapt out of the bushes,wildly brushing her jacket.

''Ky!''Roha and Amish screamed,trying top pull her back,but it was too late.They were already spotted.

''Catch them!''one of the goons roared,taking out his gun.

''Guys run!''Roha screamed,seeing a posse of men running towards them.

There were several loud bangs and something whizzed past Roha's head,missing her by inches.

''Don't let them escape!''

''Round them up!''

But Roha,Amish and Kyra had already disappeared in the blacks of forest.

''Where did they go?''

''Boss will kill us!''the men looked at each other in bewilderment and anxiety.

''Don't worry''came a deadly voice from the back.

''I know who they were.Roha sharma,I will clip your wings down.''

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Inside the forest Roha,Amish and Kyra ran for their dear lives,slipping and stumbling in the dark,not daring to use their flash lights lest they were caught.

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Just as the Sun touched the horizon,Roha woke up,sleep deprived and puffy eyed after a disturbed night's sleep.Somehow her plans for last night had gone horribly awry,leaving its brunt in considerable amounts.

                                                                                                  Kyra and Amish had a heated row after their daring escape.They both had stood ten feet apart and yelled themselves hoarse on each other,playing deaf to her desperate pleas.Though she knew that Amish was right as Kyra was responsible for the last night's gaffe,yet he couldn't really blame her knowing that Kyra had great fear of darkness and wild animals,which literally verged on phobia.Yet she couldn't help it.She knew it very well that she was in for a long day,tring to mollify her friends and she wasn't exactly wrong.

                                                     Kyra and Amish cold-shouldered each other,pretending as if the other didn't exist.Roha sat between them,making forced conversation,attempting to thaw them out but to no avail.Her friends were just as obstinate as ever.She had never felt so down and nothing not even the balme weather could perk her up.She entered the hotel after their tiring excursion,relieved to have the draining day towards its end,not knowing even in slightest that a nightmare awaited her.

She entered her room to find Kyra sweating as shivering as if in a fit.

''What's wrong?''she asked worriedly.

But instead of giving a response,Kyra rushed to the washrooms,puking her guts out.

''Ky!''Roha started behind Kyra only to come face to face with a hideous sight.

A dead rabbit was suspended in the middle of the room from the ornate chandelier-its neck was half slit,turning its fur scarlet and dripping blood over that horrible graffiti.

'DON'T POKE YOUR NOSE,OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE THE NEXT!'

                                                                                                       

 

MIDNIGHT RIDER PART 9

''What do you think Ro?''Amish enquired.

It was dusk.Sun was setting in the horizon,throwing huge shadows across the room.Roha was standing near the bay windows,gazing absent mindedly into the space.

''Well...I don't know what to make of it.But I'd wager something pretty big is going on here.''she began slowly.

''By the sound of it,theu'd k..killed someone.''Kyra said uncomfortably,looking fearful.

''So where does it takes us?I mean what do we do now?''

''We can't leave the matter where it is.''Amish said.

''Shall we go and report this to Mrs.D'souza and let her deal with it?'' 

''Are you nuts?''Amish asked incredulously. ''Roha will give up her books for good,before Mrs.D'souza believes even a single word that we utter.''

''So it comes down to this.Doesn't it?''Roha turned,her eyes glittering.

''What do you mean?''Amish frowned.

''I'll go to that old temple tonight and try to find out what's going on.''

''Have you lost your marbles?''Kyra looked aghast. ''Those people are dangerous!''

''I know it Ky.But we .really can't put a sock in it and go about our business.Something pretty fishy is going on here,probably affecting several innocent lives!They are killers.Its not safe for people to have such kind of low lives out and about.They need to be punished and I'll be damned if I don't see to it.''she spoke firmly.

Kyra and Amish stared awestruck at their feisty friend,knowing she won't give up until she thoroughly looked into the matter.

''How will we go out?''Amish asked,breaking the silence.

''We?''

''Of course Ro!You really didn't think we'll let you go alone!''Kyra said indignantly.

''But..''

''No buts!I'll meet you two tonight at 11:30 and then we'll set off.''Amish said firmly,putting an effective end to their arguments.

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''They should be here at any moment now.Its going to be 12.''Amish said tensely,glancing at his watch.

Roha,Amish and Kyra were hidden in thick bushes on the outskirts of the surrounding forest.A clear night's sky was flaunting all its glory,without a trace of cloud.

The ancient temple was silhouetted at the foot of Mani hill,casting a garagantuan shadow in the moonlight.A pristine silence wrapped the place,occassionaly dispelled by jingling of temple bells or cries of night birds.

''They should come before a wild animal or a reptile provides us with free tickets to heaven.''Kyra said nervously glancing around in pitch black.

''Don't worry Ky.They won't want to pop their clogs by having you in their bowels.''

''You..''

''Cool it guys and listen!''Roha said impatiently,straining to hear a faint sound.It was the revving of a huge vehicle

MIDNIGHT RIDER PART 8

The glorious dawn chased the blemishes of the nightmare away from Roha's mind.After having a hearty breakfast of mouth-watering,local delicacies,the group set out again  to unravel the untainted serenity of Jalna.

                                                                                                          They hiked for hours,Forest spread around them in a vast labyrinth of ancient trees as a brighter jade filtered through the thick canopies,Air was cool.gilded and refreshing.Just as the Sun rose in its halo,illuminating the hill top in a warm,buttery haze,they stepped out of the green maze.

                                                     Enticing wafts of multi-hued flowers hailed them jovially.A meadow straight out of the fairy tales where you would expect a unicorn to stop by and nibble at bushes or Snow white to walk in any time.

''This is the Kalpa hill range,''The guide offered like a father bragging about his newborn child.

''Several tourists visit Jalna every year just to see this place.It is said that surrounding hills have secret grottoes,entrance to well-laid out nexus that were used by our ancestors to thwart the enemy forces.''

''So can we go and see those passages please?''ejaculated Kyra looking all worked up.

''No we can't because no one knows where those tunnels are or rather to be precise whether they exist or not-myth in my opinion,''

''But there must be some base to it.I mean underground caverns dug out in the bowels of the Earth is quite ommon in our country and for that matter throughout the world.So its quite plausible.''

''My dear child you're talking about something which isn't tangible.Had it been,then it 'd have been discovered long back by countless historians and archaeologists who came here for the same-people who had seen much more grays than you.''retorted Pratap singh who for some unknown reason looked agitated.

''Just enjoy the weather instead of indulging your mind in useless crap.''with that he immediately scurried off,

Roha frowned''Don't you think he was acting a bit strange?''

''Don't be ridiculous Ro!The man just got irritated by your endless questions,quite usual occurence.Thats all.''

''But..''

''You literally chuck to chuck those mystery novels out.You are starting to round on people.''Amish groaned.

''Stop it guys!Lets have some fun.''gushed Kyra,dragging her friends along with her.

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Not too far from the ebullient gathering,two men were meeting surreptitiously in the gloomy shroud of a cluster of trees.

''When is it coming?''the taller one enquired gruffly.

''Tonight at 12.Tell me the place.''replied the other in a low voice.

''Near the ruins of that old temple.I'll be there,but be vigilant.One more blunder and we'll be done for.Our corpses will rot on the forest floor just like his.''he shuddered.

''When he came to know,his fury was terrible to behold.He won't tolerate even slightest of slip.''

''I know!Don't worry it will be here and no one will know the better.''

Both the men slouched off stealthily in different directions,intent on avoiding detection.

                   Unnoticed went by them,the presence of three more persons,who had heard every word uttered and now stood rooted on the spot-sheer alarm and bewilderment on their faces.

MIDNIGHT RIDER PART 7

She was in a familiar place.The rusted joints rankled loudly,owing to the swishing wind-piercing the omnipresent silence.The trees swayed eerily,nightfall making them as enigmatic as they were ghastly.The stream constantly struck the pebbles,as it slinked beneath,adorned with the silvery reflection of the moon,which enchanted her.

''I knew you would come.''hissed an ancient ,cold voice as if the Earth herself yielded those words.

She turned around but there was no living soul whatsoever.

''I'll take you too.''It seemed that the wind itself was the carrier of that disembodied voice.

''I'll avenge.''It was almost a whisper.

She was being sucked ,pushed into an abyss,incapacitated against invisible cords.She thrashed with, yet strangely couldn't move a muscle,not even to blink.

''I shall have my revenge.''the billowing wind whispered,buffeting her like a rag doll.She couldn't breath,something was chocking her,blocking her mouth and nose....

''Ahhh..''Roha sat up on her bed with a startled gasp.She looked around groggily for her attacker only to find herself in the hotel room.

                                                                                          Moon was sifting through the bay windows,dancing on the carpeted floor,even as millions of stars winked at her merrily.

                 She cussed her subconscious for dredging the tale up,yet howsoever hard she tried to pacify herself,she couldn't get rid of that annoyingly persistent premonition. 

Thoroughly ,she put on her ear phone,concentrating with every fiber on each note.The exercise succeeded as the soft song soothed her frayed nerves like a lullaby.Soon she fell into a peaceful slumber.

 

MIDNIGHT RIDER PART 6

Mrs.D'souza crossed the length of the garden quickly and towered over them,her spectacles glinting fufiously,giving a foreboding .

''Having a cozy,little soiree,are we?''Trying to engage your tiny,little brains in codswallop!''her voice was dangerously soft.

''Its really a nice change to see the replacement of that deadpan look,which you all specifically save for classes.STUPIDS!Get inside for supper this instant and woe betide you if I ever found any one of you paying attention to such rubbish.OFF TO DINNER NOW!!'' she shrieked.

                                                                                    Cowering they all scuttled away, leaving the poor guide at Mrs.D'souza's mercy.Dinner was a silent affair and soon everyone called it a day, gladly seeking an escape from 'The Hitler's' jaundiced glare.

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Just a few kms away, several men were meeting discretely in a desolate,macabre room.Moonlight filtering through the broken window was the only swathe of light, cutting the darkness.

''So...we've our guest-of-honour here''ensued a commanding.cold voice from the unpredictable gloom.

The man whimpered in anguish and fear as others laughed sickly at his plight.

''I am sorry...I didn't mean to.Please don't kill me.I have served you loyaly for so many years.Atleast for that sake leave me.I promise to never to repeat the blunder again....Please have some mercy.'' he fell on the ground at his feet.

The Murderer stood up,a sense of cruel loathing filled him.

''I never give a second chance.You shall pay.''he pulled the trigger of his gun and the man slumped on the floor soundlessly with a mundane finality.

''I condole his death.'' he rasped ,his voice now possessed with a delinquent, savage glee.

''Throw him away and let the animals have their gala time.''

He watched,satisfied as his men picked the limp corpse from the ground and marched off.Murders were always invigorating for him-an essential nourishment for him - a deadly killing machine , lethal and potent,complemented by a powerful physique.He took pride in ruthlessly squishing the necks of his troublesome allies and foes alike.

Nobody gets to me.I am invincible,the unproclaimed Emperor of this dark world.

He thought smugly.He turned to his men.

''Next consignment will be here shortly in a day or two so be prepared.Off you go now and remember the protocol.''he dismissed them.

As the last man slinked out of the room,closing the door behind him,he sauntered -pulling nexus of cobwebs-to his catacomb like domain,brimming with unfathomable secrets.

                                  The murderer entered the anteroom,serpenting between numerous crates.His fingers impatiently prodded the alcove,pushing it gently.The grubby,dust-covered wall gave way with a soft mettallic clank,that richocheted in the room,to reveal a vault-like chamber.

                                                                 The Murderer padded in the chamber like a panther anticipating a large,juicy meal and ran a reverent fingure on his most cherished baubles,a manic glint in his eyes,

''I rotted in purgatory for years,you are my reward.''

MIDNIGHT RIDER PART5

''What do you mean?''Roha demanded.

Pratap singh flushed and gave an impish look'

''Probably said more...don't know what I was thinking.....should get going.''he mumbled.desperate to avoid the onslaught.

''Wait''

''You can't go.First tell us what did you mean.''

''Exactly!''

Several voices cajoled him in one go,nearly flattening him to the ground.So Pratap Singh once again picked up his story from where he had left it to avoid being slaughtered by the curious,whacky kids of course!

''Well after the death of Hathway,there were mysterious appearances of a horse rider on that bridge at night.Several people claimed that it was Hathway who had come to seek revenge of his murder,but no one was sure as everyone had seen the person from quite a distance.Then one morning,a local Raja came dashing in the town,looking absolutely spooked.He ran like a maniac and demolished half of the market.Nobody could control him.He kept on yelling things like

'He has come.'

'Hathway will wipe this town of habitation.'

After wreaking havoc for quite a long time,he returned back to those forests crossing the river.People searched for him for hours yet everything was in vain.The next morning,a woman came running telling everyone who would hear that a bloodied corpse lay on the bridge.Everyone rushed to the spot to find Raja's mutilated body lying spread-eagled akin to the way Hathway's was found.

Years have passed after that incident which changed our lives forever and we've lost several people due to that ghost.Ther won't be a single family in this town who hadn't lost their loved ones to it.''he sighed,lapsing into a poignant silence.

''EXCELLENT!'' came a booming,gruff voice,making several people jump a foot in air and clutch each other in a dead grip.