A Ghost's Unfulfilled Wish - 19

Chapter 19

John closed his eyes and said " hey good soul when I open my eyes I will look at my bike mirror and I wish to see your image there" John slowly opened his eyes and looked at the mirror but the mirror cracked and shattered... John was in shock, he looked around hoping someone would have mistakenly threw a stone at the mirror but no one was around. It broke on its own. John spoke to himself thinking he is talking to the ghost,” why are you not allowing me to see you? Who are you? Why are you helping me?”. When John was lost in his thoughts, his phone started ringing and it was Sandeep. John answered the call and Sandeep said “sorry dude I was too tired so I took off and slept for a while, that's why I couldn’t pick up your call”, “that's ok” said John...” How about you John? did you get back to work?”

enquired Sandeep, “yes I did” replied John...” Why did you call me? Anything important?” asked Sandeep...” Yes, Sandeep but I am not in the mood to explain everything to you all over again, I just met Charles and discussed it with him, call him, he’ll tell you everything. I am going back home” said John and disconnected the call... John looked at his bike mirror again and said “when Narayan can see you why not me? Fine there must be some strong reason I will not force you” said John and started his bike.

John reached home, Jency came out hearing his bike sound. “what happened John? How come you came back home so early? Were you feeling too tired? Did I not ask you to take rest?” John said “how do you talk so much Jency? Which one should I answer first!? Ok listen I had some important work at the office, I finished that and came home, now can I get into the house please?" asked John sarcastically Jency laughed saying “yes permission granted”... while walking in he asked, “where are the kids?”. “They are playing in their room,” said Jency; John slowly walked into their room and tried to scare them but while John was about to enter the room Liya and Ziya screamed “daddy!!!”, John hugged them both... Ziya whispered into her father's ears "Did you also act like sleeping when mummy came to wake you up in the morning and bunked office" John was shocked! and said “so you acted huh? hmmm, I think I should I tell mummy….” Ziya hugged her daddy kissed him on his cheeks and said “no no no daddy” John laughed loud and said, “ok, I will freshen up and come, after that, we can play for the entire day...” Kids were happy. John spent a good time playing with his daughters, feeding them lunch, putting the kids to sleep in the noon and John came back to his room and checked his mobile he had 4 missed calls, 3 from Sandeep and 1 from Narayan... John decided to call back Sandeep first, the minute Sandeep answered the call he said: "John I can't believe what Charles said". “But that's true Sandeep,” said John . “it's good to know the ghost is helping you and has been there for you at difficult times but why? We can't even trust a fellow human then how to trust a ghost dude? What if it hurts you?” questioned Sandeep. “ I strongly feel it will not Sandeep” replied John... “Whatever man, I want you to be safe. see to that you don't get into trouble” said Sandeep and after a few minutes of general discussion, he ended the call... John decided not to call back Narayan as he knew he would have called to check if he found Swamiji's no to chase the ghost.

Spending his entire day with his family John went to work the next day... The minute John settled at his desk he received a call from Narayan as expected... John was prepared he walked into Narayan's cabin; “Did you find that Swamiji's no?” He enquired, John didn't want to tell him that he has decided not to chase the ghost so he said “yes I found and spoke to him too and he said he will come in a week to help me out with the ghost”...”That's really good” said Narayan and told him about his discussion with Fayaz and asked him to forget what he did... John said “sure Narayan I will let this go and definitely behave like I am not aware of what he did”.

Two days passed and days were going good for John both officially and personally... On Thursday evening when John reached home, Jency opened the door and walked into their room directly... John understood Jency was upset about something... “What happened Jency? Why do you look so upset?” asked John... Jency gave Ziya's school diary in his hand and asked him to read... It was written "Dear parents, from past 2 days we have been noticing Ziya, she is talking to herself, she is always alone but behaves as if she is with someone we request you to look into this matter" John threw the diary and screamed “what crap have they written about my daughter? What are they trying to say? I will sue them!!!” yelled John... Jency said “John stop screaming and listen to me even I got angry when I read this. I called her teacher and shouted at her, but later I realized what they said was true..” she replied... “What nonsense are you talking Jency? She is just 4 years old and at this age, kids pretend to have imaginary friends and talk to themselves don't you know that?” Jency said “true John but what Ziya is doing is something very different, if you don't trust me, go have a look at what she is doing”... John and Jency hid behind the door and watched their daughters, Liya was busy writing her homework and Ziya was standing alone in front of the mirror with a comb in her hand was acting like she was combing someone's hair... Jency said, “look what she is doing?”

An angry John clenched his teeth and said “what is she doing? She is just playing” and walked in, Liya saw her dad but John signaled her not to talk, he slowly went stood beside Ziya and asked, “what are you doing my baby ?” Ziya was also excited when she saw her dad but responded very casually "I am combing my friend's hair". “But there is no one here other than you, me, mummy and Liya,” said John; with her eyes wide she said, “no daddy look my friend is sitting here”. “ But I can't see your friend baby,” said John, “my friend is here daddy “urged Ziya with her sweet baby voice... John carried her in his arms and asked: “ok tell me what is your friend's name?” Keeping her tiny little hand on her forehead she said “oh I forgot to ask wait let me ask” and she ran back to her room and all over the house, John and Jency looked at each other and Ziya sat down in disappointment saying “my friend went back”... John asked "when will your friend ...." Jency interrupted “Ziya go check what Liya is doing and if she is done with her homework bring her here”... Ziya ran and Jency said “let's not ask her too many questions now John, as you said, maybe she is just like that talking to herself and playing”, John said “maybe, tomorrow don't send her to school… let’s observe her”... Jency nodded her head... Kids came to the hall, John spent time playing with kids, by 9 pm they all finished their dinner and Jency took kids to their room to put them to sleep... John came to his room and was continuously thinking about Ziya... The minute Jency entered their bedroom John asked: “have the kids slept?”. “Yes,” said Jency and asked “what do you feel about Ziya's behaviour?”.” it's a little unusual but as I said to watch her activities tomorrow,” said John... 

Next morning John went to work and as they planned Jency did not send Ziya to school.... By around 1pm John received a call from Jency... John “this is not okay, I feel Ziya is imagining there is someone with her, even now she is saying mummy I am gonna put my friend to sleep now don't disturb me and she is singing songs like how I use to put her to sleep”... John said, “don't worry Jency after I reach home let's see what has to be done”... John thought for a while and for some reason John felt ghost is behind all these... The minute John reached home he said "Hi Ziya, did you play with your friend today" Ziya said “I did but I am not talking to my friend now”, “why?” asked John she said because “she is not always with me. Like you, even she will go in the morning, comes to school to visit me once in the afternoon and then again in the evening said Ziya as her eyes gleamed with happiness. She looked behind John and exclaimed, “you’re back?!?” John looked around and asked, “who are you talking to?” Ziya said “my friend! She has come back!!”.