MIDNIGHT RIDER PART 14

'Ro!'someone screamed.Roha opened her eyes,but there was no one in front of her.The ghost of Sir Edmund Hathway had vanished in thin air!

'Ro are you Ok?'Amish yelled frantically.

'I..I am f..fine.'she replied shakily.

'But where did he go?'

'Who?'Kyra asked 'There is no one here beside us.'

'No,he was here,that old man...he....'

'Guys we can discuss this later.Right now we need to reach hotel as soon as possible or Mrs.D'souza will hamstring us.'Amish said solemnly,pulling Roha and Kyra along with him.

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'Did you actually see that phantom of Sir Edmund Hathway?'Kyra asked for what would have been hundredth time in an hour.

'If you ask this one more time,I am surely gonna chuck this vase on you!'Roha warned irritably.

'I am sorry,but I simply can't grapple with the idea of a ghost haunting this town.What with those goons,its pretty much icing on top!'Kyra muttered warily,looking fearful.

'Don't be a dickhead Ky! How on earth is a decade old dead lunatic supposed to be roaming about the streets now?'

The recent incident had thawed Amish and Kyra out.Sometimes some strange or a highly dangerous situation-as in the case of Roha-can restore your friendship and rendezvous with the ghost of a nutter officer was one of those things.

'Exactly!There has got to be some logic,an explaination to it that we are unable to see!'

'But Ro....you saw the ghost and so have many others.How can so many people be mistaken?'

'Ky,Indian mentality  is marred by superstitious dogmas.Its steeped so deep that at times we fail to see the mundane practicality in such situations.But if you look at it prudently,you'll see that superstitions in the present age of science and technology is pretty oxymoronic.'

'S are you planning to go back there and do a bit of sleuthing?'Amish asked quitely.

'Don't give her ideas Ami!How thick will Roha have to be to go back there?'

'I'm neither going back there,nor leaving it.'She gritted her teeth.

'I'll be damned if I don't find out what the heck is going on here.'Roha resolved,her face just as determined and obstinate as her voice.

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Thoroughly drained and sleepy after night's adventure,Roha,Amish and Kyra trudged lazily behind their gushing classmates.They were going atop hill Ratna which enjoyed a great penchant of being the most picturesque one in Jalna and the words couldn't have been truer!

                                                              Nestled in the lap of lush green maze, its foot was washed by the gurgling stream,which was deepest at the place as compared to anywhere in Jalna.The scarlet great orb in the sky had illuminated it with purest of gold,adorning it magnificently.The sight literally rendered them breathless,entranced by its beauty.

                                                             Soon everyone took to feverishly clicking their cameras,impatient to capture the scenery.Roha slowly walked around,taking pictures to cherish the memories forever.Lost as she was,isolated by quite a distance from her friends,she didn't notice a creepy shadow sneak behind her.

                                                                                                                       Suddenly she was grabbed from behind and smothered.She struggled desperately to free herself,but she was no match to the man's power.The stranger lifted her as effortlessly as if she were a rag doll and pushed her off the edge.With a bloodcurdling shriek,Roha tumbled down,to hit deep,icy water below.

              

                                   

 

MIDNIGHT RIDER PART 13

Roha was tossing and turning in the bed,her mind a violent whirlwind of thought.Though she knew she should be relieved on being off the hook by informing the police yet she was constantly haunted by a hollow feeling in her stomach that told her something was amiss.She didn't simply seem to put a finger on it and the thought disturbed her.Her brain felt like a wrought sponge,its stuffings squeezed out.

                                      Just as she was feeling drowsy,absolutely whacked, something very important from the night before struck her like a bolt of lightning.She jumped up on the bed,her heart beating feverishly due to her sudden,probable epiphany.The words resonated in her ears continously.

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

'That old crackpot..........'

Though Roha knew that it was a mere possibility yet she was filled with a conviction.After a lot of pondering,she decided to take the risk,but this time alone.......

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It was well beyond midnight.Darkness and silence embraced the town,nothing like the day time hustle-bustle.The stream passed by stealthily,reflecting the beauty of night sky in its blacks.The culvert was just as forbidding looking as ever.The woods beyond it queerly still-dead looking.

                                                                                         Roha gulped,clutching the flash light tightly in her sweaty palms-sense of de javu was overwhelming.She stepped on the ancient bridge cautiously.The rusted metal creaked with every step that she took,chilling her spine,making her question her own decision of coming alone.Suddenly a wolf howled in the distance,making her heart jump out of her skin.

                  She looked up horrified to see a great chestnut horse coming towards her majestically from the depth of the forest, and on it sat a man.He was tall and well-built and flaunted clothes that had been out of vogue at least for a decade.He wore blackest of scowls on his face which radiated tyranny and contempt.

                                                                                                                               Roha was benumbed at the spectacle in front of her.Her throat was dry and her limbs were paralysed due to fear.She couldn't move a single muscle,not even to blink.

                                                                                                                                    The old curled his lips in a lone grimace,showing his mottled teeth.He raised his claw-like hand to attack.

                                         Roha squeezed her eyes tightly shut,shuddering madly,thinking she was about to die.

MIDNIGHT RIDER PART 12

'H..how did you know?'Roha spluttered.

'Ms.sharma,you are forgetting that you are talking to a woman who has handled hundreds of whacky pranksters for past 15 years.'

She sighed dramatically,nodding towards Fred who was now scating a couple of girls with an insect.

'Er..right.'Roha muttered awkwardly,feeling stupid.

Taking a deep breath,she narrated the entire incident to Mrs.D'souza with occassional helps from Amish and Kyra.

'Well..I must say though what you all did was very irresponsible as it may have landed you in life threatening trouble,still there are not many teens who are gallant enough in face of such adversitries.'she finally said,breaking a long pause,but added sharply at the gleeful look onht their faces.

'But of course that doesn't mean that I have given you license to fool around at night.I'll report the matter in local police station,but before that I want to have your firm words that you people won't go roaming about in nights or be ready to face the consequences.'

Roha,Amish and Kyra nodded obsequiently,relieved on getting such paltry scoldings.

Soon the sub-inspector,Mr.Brijesh Chauhan arrived.He was a beefy man with barely any neck and a moustache so bushy that it gave the troll-like goons of old hindi movies,a run for their money.His pig like eyes were fixed unblinkingly on the cadaver of the dead rabbit as he circled around it.

'Kids..its nothing to worry about.Just a sick joke that's all!'he boomed jovially,like Father Christmas giving desired gifts to children.

'What!We've got this horrible threat with this revolting corpse which some mad delinquent has sent us,who might even be planning to finish us off at this moment and you are saying its a mere joke.'Amish fumed,looking outraged.

'So you will tell me what's right and wrong?Besides I have served in this town for years and never got a single whiff of these strangers as you told me.Then why should I believe you?'

'Please officer.I apologise on his part.Its just that they are frightened.Please don't be offended!'Mrs.D'souza pleaded,glaring at Amish.

'OK!I'll look in the matter and do the needful.'

He paused and then in a sneering,sickly smooth voice.

'By the way,if I were in your place,I'd look after these children.You know roaming about in the dead of night can prove to be dangerous.

'Uh..of course officer.I'll take care.'Mrs.D'souza flushed.

'Good night!'The man went out of the room,giving a smirk.

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As soon as sub-inspector,Brijesh chauhan stepped out of the hotel lobby,he dialled a number.

'Hello!'

'Yeah they called me.'

'Don't worry!I've nailed their teacher.That old hag will get them grounded for good.'

He leered evilly and disconnected the call,slouching off in the dark.

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.