Chapter 7-
My POV:
From the next day onwards, I changed my morning routine back to previous ones, 6 to 7 am jogging & walking with yoga from 7 to 8 am. At 6 a.m., I wore my jogging suit & came down. But as soon as I stepped outside the campus in the daylight, I felt a sharp pain in my chest. I clutched my chest with both my hands trying to breathe normally & within a second, everything was normal. This made me dumbfounded. I scratched my head, being clueless & started jogging. I saw a few students from our college walking along the road. After an hour, I came back & saw a few of my batchmates woke up, taking in fresh air & roaming in the campus. I went to my fixed place where I usually do my yoga & and meditation in the sitting place near the pond. It's calm there. I did my yoga one by one & now it's time for my meditation. As soon as I closed my eyes, I again felt that same sharp pain & couldn't see anything. It was a blur. I blacked out within a few seconds. (In mind)-" Where am I? Why is it so dark? Is there anyone here? Can anyone hear me? It's too cold in here..... wait, is this water? I am drowning..... Help me, somebody, please help me. I can't swim, help me... how am I on the ground? My clothes are dry? This seems like river Ganga. Woah, is that an Axolotle spirit? Do I know it? That is fighting a Shadowmorph. Why is the river water all black? Why can't I move! I want to help. Vikash da?.... yes, he is Vikash da. But why can't he hear my shouting? That spirit bonded with..."
" Wait..." I sprang up all sweating & breathing heavily. I adjusted my eyes to the light & saw I was in my bed, Neha & Shruti were looking at me with concern. Shruti gave me a glass of water & Neha sat beside me, patting my back. I drank the water & asked -" What happened? How am I here?"
Shruti -"You were unconscious for 15 mins laying on the ground. Ayan found you & called us for help. Now tell us what happened?" I rubbed my face with my palm, controlling my breaths -" I don't know. I was just doing yoga when I blacked out & then had a bad dream. Don't ask me about that. I can't say. "
Neha -" It's okay Malini you take a rest, don't have to attend the class. We will supply today's notes to you. Now lay down & breakfast will be sent to your room." They left as I lay again. I was in deep thought about my dream. A knock brought me back to the earth.
"Come in," I said in a cold voice. I was surprised to see him carrying a food plate in his hand & and standing in front of me. He looked up with his blank expression & I looked at him with a cold expression. I asked him, " How come you are in room no 13? Yours is room no 15, right?" He replied -" I just came to give you this breakfast. Please have it, Sis....I mean Malini. Bye for now." He kept the plate on my table & went away. I stared at the door thinking, "He changed a bit after coming back from home. Maybe hit his head in the way, " & finished my food. Two hours passed, and I felt better. In the meantime, Neha, Arin, and Shruti came to accompany me for some time. I feel better now, so I thought, "I have to confront Vikash da with this matter. I can sense him involved in the whole Shadowmorph matter." I locked my room & went towards his room, which is opposite to our dormitory. I knocked 3 times & then I heard him. "Come in." I went inside & as usual, he had a calm & cool face. He told me to sit on his chair.
"I know you came here with many questions in your mind, but I will answer a few of them. Because I don't wanna be involved in this quicksand. "
Me -" You don't have to answer every question of mine, Vikash da & actually I am already dragged in this quicksand. So my 1st question: Are you also a psychic? My 2nd question: When did you involve Arindam & Anirban with you? The last question is: when are you going to teach me how to control my powers & expand them?" Vikash da looked at me with shock & said -" You are intelligent Malini. Ok, then my 1st answer is yes. I am a psychic just like you. My 2nd answer is I didn't involve them by my choice, they just got dragged to it out of curiosity unlike you who is directly related in this case & my last answer is I am free every night from 11pm onwards. If you want I can train & guide you at that time." I thought for a moment & then I accepted his offer. He continued-" But there is a condition, promise me my child unless & until you are ready enough to face them you won't leave the campus. I am afraid that one type of Shadowmorph wants to kill you for your power & that can bring fatal conditions in this region. " I kept my eyes on him & and said ," I promise you Vikash da till you make me eligible to fight them. I won't leave this campus at night." He hummed in my response & indicated to leave him alone. I came back to my room & turned on my phone to see 6 missed calls from my father. I felt a cold drop just run down my spine. I called him back immediately & got to know that he just wanted to have a chat with me. I was relieved.
During the lunch time all were present except two boys, Arindam & Anirban. Neha came & sat beside me. She put a spoonful of her food in mouth & asked -" What has happened to both of you? Sometimes you are avoiding us & now he is in his room rejecting anyone to meet with." I just shrugged my shoulders & finished my food quickly. Standing in front of room no. 7, I knocked 3 times. "Go away." A cold voice came from inside, but still I knocked till he opened his door & looked at me with his pale face. I went inside & put the latch on. Arin was sitting on the bed while the genius stared at me with coldness. " Did you eat Arin?" He replied a small no. " Go have your lunch & bring his lunch too after yours. And bring him non veg food in good quantity compared to vegetables. Don't worry, you can trust me with him. Now go fast." He nodded his head & went out, I again closed the door.
" Neha is worried about you." He looked at me in a sad expression, not knowing what to say. I continued, " It's okay. You don't have to say anything. Just listen to me. I assured her that I would take care of you & then hand you over to her. I know everything that happened with & to you. I saw everything with my eyes even if I wasn't present at that spot." I took a breath & and continued -"I haven't said this earlier, but I am a psychic Nir. " his expression changed & his body showed a faint pink glow. I continued again -" That is why I got to see everything that happened to you. Can...can I touch your chest a bit? I want to feel your spirit. " He nodded his head & I went close to him & placed my right palm on the left side of his chest and closed my eyes. I felt an electric shock just go through my nerves. I could feel his heart racing. A few seconds later, the spirit emerged in the Axolotl form. It is so beautiful & elegant glowing in light pink color. It looked at me & then I heard the most angelic sweet voice I have ever heard in my mind.
?? " Hi there Malini, it's been a long time since we met again. How are you? "
Me -" You....you know my name! How? I can't remember our previous meeting? And who are you?"
??-" My apologies, I haven't introduced myself. I am Keyuri, the Divine spirit & protector of river Ganga. We have met before. You will remember me, along with others like me, gradually. How far have you discovered your power till now?"
Me-" I can heal anyone in no time, except myself,I can communicate with any spirit & recently came to know that I can have visualization of a past event. It seems you haven't healed properly. Can I help you both?"
Keyuri-" Yes, you can. I will be thankful if you help him." I removed my hand from his chest & opened my eyes. His body stopped emitting that spark. I asked him to lay down & at that time, there was a knock on his door. ??-" Malini, it's me, Arin. I brought him lunch. Open the door. " I unlocked the door, dragged Arin inside & then locked the door again.
Me -" Sit here quietly Arin, & no question till I turn towards you." Then I went towards Nir & asked him to lay flat on his back. He did so. I extended my two arms on his chest & closed my eyes to think of healing him. My body radiates heat energy with a faint purple glow & through my hands that energy traveled to his body nerves spreading throughout his body. He moaned in pleasure. Next, I asked him to lay on his stomach & repeated the same process on his back. Arin was seeing the whole thing with wide eyes. When I felt he was in good shape, I asked him to sit straight. As soon as he sat straight, I collapsed on the ground, panting. I ran out of breath & was struggling to breathe. Nir tried to support me, but I yanked his hand. After a few breaths, I became a bit stable & stood up with the support of the wall. I felt a liquid coming out from my mouth. As I rubbed the corner of my lips, I found blood. I rubbed it & turned towards Arindam, " Feed him the whole lunch & don't let him get out of the room for a day. He needs rest & you too, " I said with a cold face. I could sense Anirban being worried for me. I coughed for 2 to 3 times & blood spat out on my hand & I almost lost my balance.
" Malini…" Nir came running to me to catch me but -" DO NOT TOUCH ME!!!!"I said with all my anger. I rubbed the blood stain & looked at him one last time before leaving his room.
Chapter 8-
Somehow, I managed to lay on my bed. Gradually, I lost my balance & it was becoming hard for me to keep my eyes open. My mind kept saying to me, "Keep your eyes open. Malini don't lose consciousness," but I felt my body to be cold & lost. (In mind) " Where am I? It's so dark here. Is it safe to walk in front? Wait a minute… Did I just enter into the spirit realm? My body is lying there on the bed, cold. Somebody help. " I wanted to shout, but I couldn't. I could just watch my body lay cold on the bed & slowly blood coming out from my mouth. My spirit walked impatiently through the whole room & waited for someone to show. In the next moment, I saw Neha come in & by looking at my body, she screamed to her lungs. In 2 mins a few students along with the teachers ran towards my room. Neha was continuously shaking my body & Shruti had tears in her eyes. Ambulance was called to admit me to the hospital, but they couldn't carry my body. So our principal called the special doctor for my treatment. The doctor said ," Well, good news is she has a pulse, but the bad news is her pulse is too weak. It's like she is too weak from inside & doesn't want to live anymore. " On hearing this, a few of my classmates had tears in their eyes. IV fluid was attached to my hand through the channel. Shruti stayed in my room to take care of me. There was a BP monitor attached to my heart to calculate its rate. On the 2nd day, Ayan came to visit the unconscious me & had tears in his eyes. He said-'' I want to forget every quarrel between us & listen to you. Please, sis, please come back. " My spirit became emotional a bit. On the 3rd day, Anirban came & sat beside me & and held my hand.
" I don't know what wrong I have done with you that you are not even talking with me like the past days. I miss you, my best friend. Just come back & I will never let you go. Tell me why you are hating me & avoiding me so much. Wake up, Malini, wake up. " He had tears in his eyes. I wanted to hug him & wipe his tears, but from the spirit realm, it was impossible. He continued-" If I knew that this would happen to you after you heal me, I would never allow you to do so." He kissed my head & rubbed the stain of blood from the corner of my mouth. After a week, my body started to increase the pulse rate & it was time for me to return back from the realm. I started to gain consciousness & heard everything - the monitor beep, my heartbeats, a weeping sound. Then, I felt heaviness on my stomach. I moaned a bit & tried to adjust my eyes to the lights. Shruti woke up from my stomach & squealed in happiness. She ran to the doctor to inform him. After a few minutes, the doctor came back, checked me up & gave a satisfying nod to everyone. My parents came to visit me after my recovery. Shruti would take care of me like a child. Once in a while, teachers would visit me, but not for long.I could feel that I can heal myself but in a slow process & also gained another ability - I can hear anyone speaking in his or her mind.
I remember Ayan visited me once & I pretended to sleep, but I heard him weeping in his mind & apologizing to me. I will accept his apology but not so fast. Slowly, I became healthy & joined my classes. I continued exercises & yoga in the dawn, and at night, I started my training with Vikash da. He is the best coach, guiding me in every step. I trained a lot to use my powers for benefits. Meanwhile, I would go down to the haunted library chamber & and I would read about psychic skills. Sometimes, I would spend the entire night. At the end of this month, Shruti, Ayan & I completed our assignment properly & submitted it. Our HOD was amazed by our performance. The next day was Saturday, which meant the weekend, so I headed towards Panihati ghat to freshen up & also spend some time alone. I was sitting on the edge of the cliff, looking down at the waves & thinking about all the things that happened in these past few days. -'' May I?" Hearing a voice, I looked up to find Anirban staring & smiling at me. I nodded my head & he sat beside me.
He -" Why alone?"
Me -" I like it."
He-" What happened?"
Me -" Nothing." We were silent for some time.
He-" So be comfortable & tell me what is bothering you all these times." I took a deep breath & remained silent for some time -" Everything is alright, don't worry about it. I know you care about your best friend a lot but don't worry."
He-" Then why are you ignoring me & telling lies?"
Me -" Well, I am not ignoring you. It's just that I can't explain the situation I am in right now. I need time to accumulate it." As we were having our conversation, suddenly it started to drizzle.
Me-" Shit now we have to find a place to take shelter in the rain."
He -" Come this way, there is a small room for the two of us." We went inside that room & sat on the floor. Gradually the rain increased & the weather was becoming more chilly. I was wearing warm clothes but still was feeling shivers. Suddenly, he sat behind me & pulled me on his lap & back hugged me. His actions were so fast that I wasn't able to go against it. When I realized what he was doing, I started to wiggle in his arms to free myself.
He-" Malini, if you move one more time, I may forget that you are my best friend," he said in his deep, husky voice. I immediately stopped moving while my ears became red.
Me -" What are you doing, Nir? Your lap belongs to her, not me."
He-" I know to whom it belongs. But right now, it belongs to my best friend whom I am trying to help. So sit quietly." He hugged me tighter than before & hid his face in my nape. I won't lie, I like being protected by him, I may have kept my reality hidden from him, but it's for his own safety. I closed my eyes & relaxed in his arms. He kissed my head, and that brought a smile to my face. After 2 hours of rain, we came out of that room & ran towards the auto stand to reach our campus.