CHAPTER - 21

Seeing Ananya laugh like that was the most surprising thing Akash expected from her.He kept on staring at her and Ananya said,”Baapre baap kya family hai aapki?Full on entertainment.Hume ye sab bohot achche lage hai khaaskar aapka bhatija Neil.He seems to be a really smart boy aur lagta hai aap dono chacha bhatija kam aur best buddies zyaada hai.”Akash was still staring at her and she noticed that and waved her hand on his face and asked,”Kya hua aap aise ghur kya rahe hai?”Akash’s trance broke down and he said,”Oh…vo kya hai na jabse main yaha Vijaygarh mein aaya hu maine aapko tabse lekar aajtak kabhi haste huye nehi dekha aur vo bhi is tarah se.”Ananya suddenly became very conscious and said,”Vo…vo hum…Hum yuvraani hai Mr. Saluja aur phir…”Akash,in an attempt to make her feel comfortable said,”Yuvraani hone ka matlab ye to nehi hai ke aap insaan hona bhul jaaiye.Vaise yuvraani banne se koi alag pankh nehi lag jaayenge.Khul kar hasna,apni zindagi jeena koi gunaah nehi hai.”Ananya got up and replied,”Aap samajh nehi rahe hai hamaara khaandaan shraapit hai.Yaha paida hone waali har ladki ki maut ho rahi hai aur vo bhi sab ajeebo garib haalaton mein…”Akash cut her in the middle and said,”Dekhiye paida jab huye hai tab ek na ek din maut to aani hi hai.Sabko ek na ek din maut aayegi,kisiko pehle ya kisiko baad mein but marna to sabko hai.Ab is baat ke liye abhi se rona aur dukhi aatma bankar ghumna ab isme kaunsi…you know bahaduri type hai.”Ananya made a sad face and said,”Aap kabhi hamaari problem nehi samjhenge.”Akash replied,”Aapki problem na mujhse zyaada aapke khudke samajhne ki hai.Vaise galti aapki bhi nehi hai aapka ye jo environment hai na ‘HUM  RAJWAAR  HAI’ type ka vo mahaul hi galat hai.Main aapko ek deal deta hu,aap mere saath kuch dino ke liye mere ghar par chaliye.Mere ghar ka 24 hours entertainment channel dekhengi na to aap ko kabhi bhi apni bimaari ko lekar maatam manaane ka time nehi milega.Aapki bimaari koi lailaaj bimaari nehi hai bas aap iske baare mein overthinking karna bandh kar dijiye.””Sahi hi to keh rahe hai ye Ananya!!”Both Ananya and Akash looked behind them and found Natasha and Rohit were standing.Ananya asked,”Tum dono kab aaye?”Rohit replied,”Jab aap has rahi thi.In fact humne aakar Akash ki baate bhi suni.Mere dost ko aap jitna paagal aur ajeeb samajhti hai na vo utna bhi nehi hai.Aakhir crime reporter banna itna asaan to nehi hai na.”Akash and Rohit exchanged looks with each other.Natasha said,”Ye sab choro!!Akash pehle aap ye bataaiye ke aap hum chat par kyu bulaaya tha?Ab to hum yehi hai neeche aur koi aas paas hai bhi nehi to hum saari baate yahi par bhi kar sakte hai.”Akash agreed and said,”Ha hum saari baate yaha par kar to sakte hai par jo baat main karne ja raha hu vo baat shaayad aap so called rajwaaro ko pasand nehi aayegi.Kisi bhi conservative Indian ko ye baat samajhme aa hi nehi sakte.Baat thori ajeeb aur atpati hai but sach hai aur main is baat ko support karta hu aur kyuki ye aapka family matter hai isliye main chahta hu ke aap sabko ye baat pata chale aur please ye baat hum chaaro ke beech mein hi rahe to zyaada behtar rahega.”Before coming to the point,Akash created such a hype that with his each and every word that with his every sentence the rest were thinking Akash was now going to say something shocking.At last,Ananya lost her patience and asked,”Aap bataayenge kya baat hai?”Akash took a very deep breath and without any more elongation replied,”Vijay is in love with Gayatri!!”Saying that,Akash thought that all the three will be kicking him but instead of that three of them stared at him and Akash said,”Agar aap log ye soch rahe hai ke main jhut bol raha hu to main bilkul bhi jhut nehi bol raha hu aur na hi main mazaak ke mood mein hu aur main mazaak kar bhi nehi raha hu.”Both Ananya and Natasha yelled,”What???”Rohit replied,”Dude Gayatri ka husband ek monster hai.He’s horrible man!!Vo itna ghatiya aadmi hai na ke maine to ek baar usko Vijay ke saath bohot bura bartaav karte huye bhi dekha hai aur vo bhi isliye kyuki usne Gayatri ko jalebi laakar diya. He just treats his wife like a trash!!Gayatri se umar mein bohot bara hai vo uske saath khush nehi hai aur isse to achcha yehi hai ke ye dono alag ho jaaye.”Natasha said,”I second you!!Main bhi yehi chahti hu but Vijay bhaisaa???”Rohit said,”Hey why not???Vijay ek achcha insaan hai ha vo bhi Gayatri se umar mein bara hai lekin…vo age bar thik hai aur kisi se pyar karna koi gunaah nehi hota hai aur kisika relationship status dekh kar bhi pyar nehi hota hai.”Akash replied,”Maine khud dekha hai jis tarah se vo Gayatri ki care karta hai,he genuinely loves her.Main pehle din se notice kar raha hu Vijay ke andar ke us change ko. Sabko ek achchi zindagi jeene ka haq hota hai.””Oh stop it guys!!”Ananya yelled out being fed up of them. Everyone looked at Ananya and she said,”Gayatri bhabhisa ek shaadishuda aurat hai for God’s sake! Main ye nehi kehti ke bhaisa ka unse pyar karna galat hai lekin bhaisaa ko unhe bhulna hoga. Ye sahi nehi hai aap aisa soch bhi kaise sakte hai?” Akash replied,”Isme sochne waali kaunsi baat hai? Meri nazar mein ye jurm nehi hai. Ek larki maut se bhi battar zindagi jee rahi hai aur aap ye sab kuch dekh kar bhi chupchap ye sab kuch hone dena chahti hai? I’m surprised. Agar sach mein aaj Gayatri meri behen hoti na to main is Dheeraj ke bachche ko jaan se maar deta aur uski laash aisi jagah par dafnaata ke koi usko dhundh ka nikaal hi nehi paata.” Just at that moment, they heard a scream which came from inside the palace and they rushed towards it. After they went inside the palace, Natasha asked,”Itni zor se chillaya kaun?”Akash replied,”Ye to puchne par hi pata chalega na.” Ananya called one of the servants and asked,”Kya hua ye chillane ki awaaz kaha se aa rahi hai?” That servant was extremely scared and replied,”Vo…vo yuvraanisaa vo aapki bua sa ke bete hai na vo…choti bahurani ko maar rahe hai.”Ananya was shocked and asked,”Kya?? To ghar ke baaki sab log kaha hai? Kisi ne roka nehi unhe?” The servant replied,”Kaun rokega yuvraanisa? Vo aapki bua ke bete jo hai.” Natasha asked,”Par maar kyu rahe hai?” The servant replied,”Vo unko pata chala hai ke choti bahurani ko beta nehi beti hone waali hai.” Rohit exclaimed,”What the hell?” The servant said,”Vo yuvraanisa Vijaysa to phir bhi unhe rokne gaye the, lekin unko bhi bohot buri tarah maara hai unhone. Abhi Ranaji aur Parvati baisa unhe lekar aspatal gaye hai.” Saying the servant left from there and after she left, Akash said,”Main aapko yehi samjha raha tha ke vo aadmi nehi jaanwar hai. Kya abhi bhi aap yuhi chupchap beth kar sab kuch dekhti rahengi? Abhi aap chahe beth kar apne kaan bandh kar le par main abhi chup nehi rahunga.” Ananya made a fist out of anger and said,”Dheeraj bhaisa aapne bandh kamre mein chahe kuch bhi kiya ho lekin aapko hamaare bhaisa par haath nehi uthaana chahiye tha.” She walked towards Dheeraj’s room and found that Gayatri was sitting on the floor all scared with scar on her face and shivering with fear. She was begging and said,”Hume mat maariye, aap jaisa kahenge hum vaisa karenge. Hamaare bachche ko mat maariye isme uski to koi galti nehi hai. Iske janam ke baad hum isko ghar nehi laayenge hum usey kahi aur chor denge par isko mat maariye.” Dheeraj grabbed her hair and pulled her up and she screamed in pain and on seeing that scene, Ananya could not tolerate more and she yelled out Dheeraj’s name. Dheeraj turned and saw Ananya and on seeing her, Gayatri screamed,”Jijisa hume bacha lijiye jijisa!!” But Dheeraj grabbed Gayatri’s hair more tightly and said,”Aaj main bhi dekhta hu ke thaare ko mare haatho se kaun bachaave hai. Main ne thaare se kaha tha ke mare ko chora chahiye chori na par tune maari baat maani ko ni.” Ananya stormed inside and grabbed Dheeraj’s hand but she could not stop him from pushing Gayatri on the floor and she fall upside down on her stomach. Ananya remained astonished and Gayatri screamed in pain. Ananya left Dheeraj and attended Gayatri. Akash, Natasha and Rohit were just standing outside unable to react as things happened so quickly and suddenly. When Gayatri fall, as if their trance broke and they rushed inside and held Gayatri. Akash said to Rohit,”Tu gaadi nikaal Rohit, main Gayatri ko lekar aata hu aur manjli raajkunwariji aap jaakar sabko bata dijiye ke hum Gayatri ko lekar hospital ja rahe hai.”Dheeraj said,”Ye maari lugaai hai isey kahi le jaane ki jarurat na hai. Bachcha marta hai to mar jaaye manne chori na chahiye.” Akash was extremely mad in anger and without even thinking for a second he stood up and punched right on his face. On getting that hard hitting punch from a military trained hand like that of Akash, Dheeraj fall on the ground and blood oozed out of his mouth. Akash said,”Itne waqt se main tera lihaaz isliye kar raha tha kyuki ye yaha ka personal matter hai lekin main Gayatri ko apni behen manta hu aur tune uske saath jo kiya uske baad mujhe tujhe officially jaan se maar dena chahiye magar maine aisa nehi kiya.” Dheeraj got up and wiping the blood from his lips said,”Tune manne maara?? Thaare ko pata hai main kaun hu?” Akash replied,”Tu hoga kahi ka rajwaar par main bhi punjabi hu. Abhi jo tujhe maine maara vo trailer tha agar puri picture nehi dekhni hai to abhi hume rokne ki koshish mat karna.”Akash picked up Gayatri in his arms and asked Ananya to come and then left from there.

                                                                                                        In the hospital, the doctors immediately Gayatri Gayatri to the ICU. All were walking outside in tension while the doctors were checking an unconscious Gayatri and after some time, the doctor came out and informed that Gayatri has lost an amount of blood and she needs to be operated immediately as soon as possible. For operation, a bond is required to be signed by a family member and Ananya stepped in to sign but the doctors were scared to take the risk. Ananya, in a firm tone replied,”Dekhiye doctor sahaab agar aap operation nehi karte hai to vo vaise hi mar jaayengi lekin aapke operation karne se shaayad vo bach jaaye. Inke parivaar mein se koi nehi aayega inki madat ke liye aur agar operation karne se koi risk hota hai to uski saari responsibilities hum lenge. Aap operation kijiye please kamsekam aap log koshish to kar sakte hai.” She persuaded the doctors but still they didn’t agree and then Ananya finally played her masterstroke and said,”Aapko shaayad pata nehi hai ke aap kisse baat kar rahe hai. Hum Vijaygarh ki yuvraani hai aur aaj bhi yaha hamaara kanoon chalta hai aur Vijaygarh ke rajgharaane ka hukum na maanne ka kya anjaam hota shaayad vo hume aapko bataane ki koi zarurat nehi hai.” There was something in her eyes of wheich even the doctors were scared of and they took Ananya’s signature on the bond and prepared for the operation. When the operation started, Ananya said, “Aap log please yehi rahe aur hume pal pal ki khabar dete rahiyega aur please yaha se koi kahi mat jaaiyega.” Natasha asked,”Par Ananya aisi situation mein tum ja kaha rahi ho?” Ananya made a grin and replied,”Ek yuvraani ka dharm nibhaane. Vo kaam karne jo hume bohot pehle hi kar lena chahiye tha.”Saying she just stormed outside and drove back like a mad towards the palace. On reaching the palace, she stormed inside where she found everyone has gathered in the hall. First of all her eyes fall on Parvati and she rushed towards her and asked,”Ma bhaisa kaise hai?”Parvati replied,”Vo thik hai bitiya apne kamre mein so raha hai. Tu bata Gayatri bitiya kaisi hai? Hume to je sab aane ke baad pata chala. Bhagwaan kare bahuraani aur aane waale bachche ko kuch na hove.” Ananya replied,”Bhabhisa ka operation chal raha hai. Doctors ne kaha hai ke bohot khoon beh chuka hai.” Gayatri’s mother in law Kalyani said,”Beta mujhe le chaliye Gayatri ke paas. Usey is waqt meri sabse zyaada zarurat hai.” Ananya said,”Abhi nehi buasa baad mein. Natasha, Rohit aur Mr. Saluja hai waha par humne kaha hai ke kuch bhi agar progress ho to vo hume inform kar denge. Bekaar mein waha par bheer jama karke koi faayda to hai nehi.” Kalyani’s husband Ratan Singh Chauhan said,”Koi zarurat nehi hai us ladki ke liye hospital jaane ki. Ek to hamaare vansh ko aagey baraane ke liye beta nehi paida kar saki to uske liye kaisa maatam? Hamaare vansh mein doliyaan aayi hai gayi nehi. Hamaare bete ne jo kuch bhi kiya vo bilkul thik kiya.” Ananya was so mad with anger that in order to ease her madness, she made a fist and walked upto him. She gave Ratan Singh a cold look and said,”Ji nehi phuphasa aap yehi galti kar rahe hai kyuki aapke bete ne jo kiya vo unko nehi karna chahiye tha aur hum aaj bhabhisa ko hospital mein us haalat mein chorkar isi vajah se to waapas aaye hai ke hum sabke saamne aaj ye bata sakey ke Dheeraj bhaisa ko ye kyu nehi karna chahiye tha aur jo unhone kiya uski sazaa Vijaygarh ke rajgharaane mein kis tarah se di jaati hai. Aaj hum aapke bete ke saath vo karenge jo pura Vijaygarh hamesha yaad rakkhega, hum aaj aapke bete ki zindagi mein vo kohraam machaayenge jo itne saalo tak khud Neelakshi ne bhi yaha nehi machaaya hoga.” When Ananya said all those things, she had something in her eyes which even scared Ratan Singh away. She stepped back looking at Ratan and then warned everyone,”Aaj agar beech mein koi bhi aaya to aaj unhe bhi sazaa milegi aur ye sazaa hum nehi Vijaygarh ki yuvraani degi.” She called the royal guards and asked them to pull Dheeraj out of his room and drag him downstairs. When Dheeraj was brought downstairs and was thrown on Ananya’s feet. Dheeraj got up and looked at Ananya in such a way as if he would turn her into ashes with that one look. He yelled at Ananya and asked,”Ye kya badtameezi hai? Hume yaha aise ghaseet kar laane ka kya matlab hai?” Ananya, instead of replying him, said to Kalyani,”Hum aaj aapse maafi hargiz nehi maangenge kyuki aaj hum jo karenge uska hume koi gila nehi hoga.” She asked the guards to tie him up beside her car so that she could drag him to the village. When Ananya left for the village, Kalyani came weeping to Uday not just because she wanted to save his son but also because she was feeling guilty of her son’s attitude. On seeing her Uday said,”Hum jaante hai aap humse kya maangne aayi hai Kalyani lekin is maamle mein hum bhi kuch nehi kar sakte hai kyuki ye yuvraani ka faisla hai aur aap to jaanti hai ke uttradhikaar ka elaan jab ek baar ho jaata hai to uska koi bhi faisla taala nehi ja sakta hai. Ek paraja ke alava uttraadhikaari ka faisla khud raja bhi badal nehi sakte hai. Yehi Vijaygarh ke raajgharaane ka usool hai.” Ratan angrily said,”Aap logo se aur ummeed bhi kya kiya ja sakta hai. Aapke khaandaan mein to apni hi beti ko jala kar maar daalne ki pratha hai. Hum keh rahe hai agar aapne apni beti ko abhi isiwaqt rokna hoga varna do raj parivaaro ke beech mein jung cheer jaayegi. Agar hamaare bete ko kuch bhi hua to Vijaygarh mein khoon ki holi kheli jaayegi.” Uday was extremely angry on hearing those words from Ranjit and he shouted angrily, “Ha hamaare khaandaan mein hamaari ek beti ko bohot saalo pehle zinda jala kar maar diya gaya tha kyuki usne khaandaan ki izzat mitti mein milaayi thi lekin hum apne khaandaan ki bahu betiyo ki izzat aur jaan dono ki hifaazat karna jaante hai. Afsos to hume bas is baat ka hai ke jo kaam hume karna chahiye tha vo aaj hamaari beti kar rahi hai. Hum to bas aajtak isliye chup the kyuki ye hamaari behen ki zindagi ka bhi sawaal tha. Par aaj hum khush hai Ananya ke is faisle se aur hum bhi unhe support karte hai.” After an hour almost, Ananya returned in her car and the royal guards too followed her carrying a badly injured and unconscious Dheeraj with them. On seeing his condition, Kalyani rushed towards his son and the guards took him to his room and Ranjit asked Ananya, “Kya kiya hai aapne hamaare bete ke saath?” Ananya, without any hesitation replied,”Aapke bete ko humne khute se baandh kar tabtak chaabuk se maara hai jabtak unke jism ke har roye se khoon nehi nikla. Jinko dard dene ki aadat hoti hai unhe dard sehna bhi aana chahiye. Aap fikar mat kijiye vo arenge nehi bas bhagwaan se prarthna kijiyega ke bhabhisa aur unke bachche ko kuch na ho varna aapki cheeta ko aag dene ke liye bhabhisa ki bachchi ke alava koi nehi bachega.” Ranjit grinned, “Aapko shaayad ye nehi pata hai ke aapne kanoonan kitna bara jurm kiya hai.” Ananay replied,”Ye hamaara Vijaygarh hai aur yaha hamaara kanoon chalta hai. Yaha faisla hum karte hai aur hamaare is faisle ke khilaaf jaane ki jurrat is Vijaygarh mein koi nehi kar sakta hai aur ye baat aaj humne purey Vijaygarh ko phir se yaad dila diya hai.” Just then Ananya received a phone call and she was informed that Gayatri had been operated and the child was delivered prematurely and was kept in incubator. She also asked the caller to ask the doctor to send a team to the palace for Dheeraj’s treatment. After disconnecting the call, when Ananya turned, she found Kalyani standing joining her hands in front of her. Ananya held her hands and asked,”Ye kya kar rahi hai aap buasa?” Kalyani replied,”Bitiya aapne maare bete ko sazaa di us baat ka maare ko koi dukh nehi hai kyuki usne kaam hi aiso kiyo hai bas uske taraf se main maafi hi maang saku hu.” Ananya replied,”Nehi buasa aapko maafi maangne ki koi zarurat nehi hai. Bhabhisa abhi khatre se bahaar hai lekin bachche ko incubator mein rakkha hai uski jaan abhi bhi khatre mein hai bas aap bhagwaan se yehi prarthna kijiye ke vo bhi bach jaaye.” Kalyani left from there to attend her son. Ananya turned towards Uday and found that he was only staring at her. She never found him staring at her like that in her whole life and she felt that this was might be the outcome of her action. She immediately said,”Papa hum kisise maafi nehi maangnewaale hai aur ye baat hum pehle hi saaf kar dena chahte hai.” Uday held her arms and said,”Nehi beta hum aapse maafi maangne ko nehi kahenge balki maafi to hume maangni chahiye kyuki jo kaam hume karna chahiye tha vo aapne kiya hai. Agar humne pehle hi koi kadam utha liya hota to aaj baat itni dur tak nehi jaati.” Ananya held her father’s hand and said,”Jo hua usey bhul jaaiye ab hume aagey ke baare mein sochna hai. Hum hospital jaakar aate hai.” Saying Ananya left from there.

                                                                                                       On the other side, as the doctors already had said that Gayatri had lost a lot of blood, she was in urgent need of blood which was donated by Akash willingly. After donating blood, when it was conveyed by the doctors that Gayatri was out of danger, Akash left the hospital on the pretext of having an important work. He went straight to the dargaah to meet peer baba as he received a message from one of his disciples that he wanted to meet Akash. Akash, on getting there found that peer baba was waiting for him and so he walked straight towards him and asked,”Aapne khabar bhijwaayi thi yaha aane ke liye?” The peer baba replied,”Ha main ek aghori tantric ko jaanta hu par vo kabhi ek jagahp tik kar bethta nehi hai jis vajah se usey dhundh kar nikaalna bohot hi mushkil hai.” Akash replied,”Itna ghana jungle hai ye mahaakaal ka jungle waha par to aur bhi bohot saare aghoriya rehte honge to unme se kisise baat karne se bhi to ho jaata. Aapko pata hai na ke mahal mein bohot jald shaadi hone waali hai aur aise mein agar jald se jald humne ye Neelakshi waala kissa khatam nehi kiya to pata nehi kya ho jaayega.” The peer baba said,”Main jaanta hu ke yaha bohot saare aghoriyaan hai lekin un aghoriyo mein se sabse zyaada taaqatvar hai ye aghori jisey aaj tu milne jaane waala hai.” Akash looked surprised on hearing the last words of the peer baba and asked,”’Main’ milne ja raha hu ka kya matlab hai?” The peer baba replied,”Ha kyuki tu hi milne jaayega unse main nehi. Kyuki ye tera mukaddar hai mera nehi.” Akash said,”Ye koi mazaak nehi ho raha hai baba, aap kya chahte hai ke main aise hi kisike paas chala jaau aur kahu ‘Hi!! Mujhe peer baba ne bheja hai Neelakshi ka case solve karne ke liye’. Aise to main kisike ghar bhi nehi jaata hu.” The peer baba said,”Agar bhukh tujhe lagegi to khaana bhi to tujhe hi khaana parega na thik vaise bhi main bas tujhe raasta dikha sakta hu lekin chalna tujhe parega.” Akash realized that it was useless to argue with the old man and so he asked,”Main samajh gaya abhi kab jaana hai?” The peer baba replied,”Abhi!” Akash almost screamed out of fear and anger and asked,”Kya??Abhi??Aap paagal ho gaye hai? Aadhi raat ko main jaaunga mahakaal ke jungle mein?” The peer baba replied,”Vo din mein bahaar nehi nikalte hai aur pata nehi kal vo yaha par rahenge bhi ya nehi. Isiliye keh raha hu ke aaj aur abhi jaao shaayad iske baad tujhe mauka na miley.” Akash gave a deep sigh and then said,”Thik hai main abhi ja raha hu lekin agar jungle mein mujhpar Neelakshi ne hamla kiya aur agar mujhe kuch ho gaya to mere maut ke zimmedaar aap honge.” The peer baba laughed out loud and said,”Tu pehle bhi gaya tha us jungle mein, kuch hua tha tujhe? Tu uske jungle mein ja raha hai jiski nemat se tu khud maut ke muh se ladkar paida hua hai. Agar vohi tujhe yaha laaye hai na to vohi teri hifaazat karenge, tu unki zimmedaari hai. Abhi tu ja mere namaaz ka waqt ho gaya hai.” The peer baba gave him the direction of reaching the aghori priest but as soon as he was about to leave, the peer baba said,”Ek baat ka dhyaan rakhna ke kabhi kabhi hamaare aakho ke saamne jo hota hai vo sach nehi hota. Mahaakaal ke jungle mein raat ko jo bhi aajtak gaya hai koi laut kar nehi aaya hai sivaay tere isiliye Neelakshi hamesha yehi koshish karti rahegi ke tu apne maksad tak na pohoche vo tujhe uljhaane ki koshish karegi agar khud nehi kar paaye to kisi aur zariye se par tujhe uski chaal se bachna hoga, hamesha chaukanna rehna hoga. Jam era parvardigaar teri madat karega aur main tere liye yaha dua karunga.”Akash left from there with a tincture of dilemma and fear in his heart but he knew that he had to do something and that too very soon since Natasha and Rohit’s marriage was almost knocking at the door. He planned on staying at the hospital that night but now with the recent change of plans he had to go to the forest and for that he had to convince Rohit to stay in the hospital at night.

                                                                                                    It was completely dark outside when Akash stood in front of the forest. He had dinner in the hospital canteen and then he straight away came to the forest. He remembered the incident of his last visit when he saw Neelakshi’s ghost for the first time. He took a deep breath and then touched the locket of Shiva that his mother put around his neck for his protection and chanted the lords name and said,”Ye insaano waala chakkar nehi hai bhagwaan, bhooto waala hai. Mujhe please bacha lena, peechli baar ke tarah is baar vo sab mat karna.” He stepped inside the forest and he felt a splash of wind on his face and he heard the chaos of different night guards of the forest as they chirped all around him. He continued walking and reached a certain point from where the back of the palace could be seen clearly. The palace looked really like a haunted cheteau from the back in that dark night and looking at that Akash said in his mind,”Agar abhi ye mahal shaadi waala ghar nehi hota to sahi mein ye puri tarah se bhoot bangla lagta. Log aise hi nehi darte hai is mahal se aur bhootni mata se.” He again resumed walking and slowly realized that the direction in which he was walking was just the opposite of the way he came during his last visit. After walking for some time, he came across an old small temple covered with dense climbers. He decided to visit the temple and on stepping at the temple floor, he found that it was the temple of Lord Shiva, the mahaakaal himself. He thought to enter inside but was stopped by a voice,”Tu vohi hai na jo Vijaygarh ko Neelakshi ke shraap se mukt karne aaya hai?” Akash’s heart skipped a bit on hearing such a heavy tone at that time of the night in the forest and when he turned towards his back, he found a man in a complete black outfit, with long beard and hair, eyes glowing red with a red mark on his forehead. He looked like a sage and seeing his avatar, Akash assumed him to be the person whom he was searching. He walked upto the man and said,”Kya aap aghori baba hai? Mujhe peer baba ne bheja hai aapke paas unhone kaha hai ke sirf aap hi meri madat kar sakte hai Neelakshi ki aatma ko uske anjaam tak pohchaane ke liye.” The man joined his hands looking at the idol of Lord Shiva and said,”Main to sirf mahaakaal ka chota sa bhakt hu. Par tujhe yaha kisi peer baba ne nehi khud mahaakaal ne bheja hai. Is duniya mein sabko apne paapo ka praayashchit karna parta hai aur kuch paap aise hote hai jinhe khud mahaakal bhi kshama nehi karte hai. Neelakshi ke saath is khaandaan ne anyay kiya hai aur iska dand unhe bhugatna hi hoga.” Akash, in a protesting tone said,”Par jo vo kar rahi hai vo bhi to anyay hi hai na. Uske saath jo kuch bhi galat hua vo uske baap ne kiya tha par usne aajtak jin larkiyo ki jaan li hai vo to tab paida bhi nehi hui thi. Ab ye to kisi ke bhi bas mein nehi hota hai na ke vo kaha paida hongi. Is tarah se un bekasoor larkiyo ki jaan lena ye kaisa nyay hua?” The man asked,”Tujhe pata hai isse tere jaan ko bhi khatra hai?” Akash replied,”Main ye nehi kehta hu ke mujhe apni jaan ki parvaah nehi hai, main itna bhi drama nehi kar sakta hu lekin ye baat to zarur hai ke mere rehte main Neelakshi ko is baar kaamyaab hone hargiz nehi dunga.” The man smiled and said,”Ye to sahi samay hi batayega. Abhi hume yaha se chalna hoga kyuki yaha rehna aur vo bhi raat ke is peher mein khatarnaak ho sakta hai. Agar tu vohi hai jisey bhole baba ne bheja hai to teri raksha karna bhi mera dharm hai.” The man started following and Akash put a step forward in order to follow him but then he remembered the peer baba’s warning about not trusting anyone blindly and that Neelakshi might try to deceive him in order to maintain her existence. He said,”Uh… baba maine suna hai ke aghori bohot bare shiv bhakt hote hai aur aap yaha aakar mandir mein bina jaaye, mahaakal ka aashirwaad bina liye aise kaise ja sakte hai? Chaliye mandir mein chalkar unka aashirwaad le lete hai.” The man replied,”Bhole baba ka aashirwaad to hamesha hamaare saath rehta hai. Par main abhi mandir ke andar nehi ja sakta kyuki jaisa ke maine kaha abhi iswat yaha rehna khatre se khaali nehi hai.” Saying the man turned forward and again started walking. Akash too wanted to follow him but his police instincts didn’t let him raise another step but he could not find any other way out. He looked at the temple and suddenly something came up in his mind and he opened his locket and tied it around his palm. He then started walking towards the man and suddenly crossed him and stood face to face. He smiled and said,”Main samajh sakta hu ke aap kyu mandir ke andar nehi jaana chahte hai.” The man squeezed his brows and looked confused but suddenly at one blink, Akash grabbed the man’s throat and the man yelled out and Akash said,”Kyuki peer baba ne mujhe kaha tha ke aatmaayein kabhi bhi mandir, masjid ya aise jagaho par kadam nehi rakh sakte hai jaha par bhagwaan baste hai.” The man cried out in pain and slowly he started getting disfigured and seeing that Akash continued,”Mere locket mein khud mahaakaal bethe hai, to tujhe to vaise bhi iska chua kabhi bhi bardaasht nehi hoga.” Akash removed his hand from the man’s throat and the man slowly got vanished into the thin air. Akash looked here and there and found no sign of the man. He started taking heavy breath and felt a chill down his body. Out of extreme desperation, Akash, in a bit louder tone said,”Main in sab paintron se nehi darne waala hu Neelakshi, chahe tum mujhe kitna bhi daraane ki koshish karo.””Par tu dar raha hai!!” A heavy voice said from Akash’s back. When Akash turned towards the voice, he found another man of almost the same outfit, just the upper portion being naked. He, in a fed up tone, said,”Oh God phir se nehi!!” He wiped his face and then composed himself and continued,”Dekho tum asli ho ya naqli mujhe bilkul bhi parvaah nehi hai. Main aaj ek unit blood chadhakar aaya hu aur abhi aadhi raat ho chuki hai aur mujhe thakaan bhi bohot ho rahi hai. So please mujhe aur pareshaan mat karo.” The man came towards Akash and then gave his hand and said,”Yakeen nehi aata hai to mujhe chukar dekhle.” Akash reluctantly touched his hands and found that the man had no effect of his locket but still he was doubtful and said,”Sorry to say but aap logo ka koi bharosa nehi hai aur Neelakshi par to mujhe to bilkul bhi bharosa nehi hai aur apni jaan ki parvaah sabko hoti hai mujhe bhi hai. Vo to peer baba ne kaha hai ke aap bohot pohche huye aghori hai aur aap zyaada din ek jagah par nehi rehte hai isiliye aadhi raat ko yaha aaya hu.” The man looked at him and said,”Tu to police waala hai phir bhi tujhe andhere se itna dar lagta hai.” Akash was surprised from inside but controlled his emotions at the next moment and then he realized just exactly like that peer baba deduced his real profession and so he said,”I’ll not judge you!! Aajkal mujhe in sab se bilkul bhi jhatka nehi lagta hai. Abhi chaliye finally chalte hai varna sahi mein Neelakshi agar aa gayi to lene ke dene par jaayenge.” The aghori baba looked at the temple of mahaakaal and said,”Iswaqt khud mahaakal ke sharan ke alava aur koi surakshit sthaan nehi hai is jungle mein. Ek yehi mandir aisi jagah hai jaha par koi bhi buri aatma hamaara kuch bhi nehi bigaar sakti hai.” Hearing this, Akash now believed that he was actually talking to the genuine person and so he followed him inside the temple.