Demon At My Back....

While white walls shinned like a spring alive,

While injections and drips made me physically strong,

Fireflies at 3 am smoothed all my pains,

While mom was my strength,

Fireflies showed me the way for my dreams at 3 am,

I was not alone, I wasn’t left lonely,

While everyone slept, fireflies were still awakened in me….

As I woke up, I saw a white curtain and white walls. There was severe back pain I was not able to get up… mom rushed to help me!!! What’s all this mom? I am not understanding anything !! what’re all these?? When was I admitted here?? When…. Sssh sshh I will explain everything now you better take rest – mom replied…!!!

Far in distance, I heard someone saying- Riya has partly recovered, you cannot take her home in this condition !! her back needs dressing at least thrice… mom did not answer any of my questions, I had to ask my cousin about my condition…it actually started when you came back from your friend’s funeral Riya, you feel…!!... Komal moves aside, stop this nonsense – mom interrupted. I held Komal’s hand - I want to know the truth, what is it you are hiding from me?? Better tell me the truth – I shouted.

There was a demon at your back Riya... mom started sobbing!! What are you insane? what are you telling mom please be cleared I cried… Komal interrupted – I’ll explain Riya calm down... aunty if you don’t tell her now how will she understand the situation that she is facing now, won't it hurt her more? Let me explain aunty you calm down, here drink some water – she handed mom a glass of water.

Look Riya, whatever I am gonna tell you it may hurt you mentally, but don’t lose hope and don’t get scared as you are safe now… okay?? The day when you came back from your friend’s funeral, you fell unconscious and later the things that happened were completely strange…. Yes, Komal I remember that everyone looked strange at me, I was thrown out of college as I murdered a girl, but I don’t know the reason Komal, I did not kill her!!… why have they done plastic surgery to my back Komal? What is happening??

Yes, Riya... there was a demon at your back!!! We have seen demons attached to your back!! What nonsense Komal? It's bullshit – I yelled at Komal... Komal is right Riya… do you remember your shirt was torn at the backside, that was because I was stuck by rod at college maa!! Yes, Riya even we thought the same at first…once, twice torn ok it's by miss but if torn every day you can’t tell the same thing Riya!! one day your class teacher called me to meet her without your knowledge... do you know why? It’s because everyone at college has seen that demon attached to your back, you frequently had backache because of it, one night we even saw you lifted in air… mom started sobbing again... people have seen it Riya, they have seen two eyes rolling at your back, your back skin was completely torn ……

You had lost your consciousness Riya, when we informed everything to our priest about your situation as soon as he saw you, he said that spirit in you was a guy and asked us whether you had attended any funeral? When we said that you had attended Harsh; your boyfriend’s funeral he said his soul has entered Riya’s body to take revenge!!! do you remember the girl whom you had murdered? It was Kritika – Harsh cheated on Kritika, when pregnant Kritika demanded Harsh to marry her he refused, as the fight grew big Harsh was pushed down accidently by Kritika in order to protect herself, arrested Kritika was released on bail just a week before you killed her!! Harsh’s soul in you killed Kritika….

I was devasted…. I started crying!! Harsh’s soul entered your body soon after his funeral, by the time we could take a step you had killed Kritika but soon the priest took control over the situation and trapped Harsh’s soul...!! he wanted you to die too... but thank god Riya priest saved us all, It was very difficult to take his soul out when the soul came out your back was torn, you were in immense pain; doctors said it was difficult for them to keep you alive – but they gave all their time and effort later your plastic surgery was successful and you have recovered – Komal and mom smiled wiping their tears...

I cried too; besides my physical pain, I was hurt by Harsh – the one who gave me the feeling like he was my complete world I was not able to recognize his other side. I was in the hospital for nearly three months as my back was completely damaged and needed more treatment. I was slowly forgetting the past; my anger was reducing day by day- I had decided to start over… The white walls gave me lots of strengths and courage to move on….

Riya was discharged from a hospital but she still needed some rest, we looked after her carefully. She was getting well day by day. The unexpected had happened…. One night as my and uncle was returning back home after buying medicines for Riya, we heard aunty screaming loud!! as I and uncle rushed in… aunty had fallen down! what happened aunty? Please tell me, auntyyyyy ... aunty... please open your eyes… what happened? Open your eyes uncle and I cried…

Lo... look for Riya Komal, I am gonna die. Save Riya …Harr..Harrss..he is back he won’t spare Riya please save her… aunty was breathing heavily… just a few minutes she spilled her last breathe on my lap… auntyyyyy; we cried… we heard Riya laughing… as we rushed towards her, Riya had a knife in her hand she had cut her wrist and her cheeks… she stabbed uncle, she was possessed again… Help… please help I screamed aloud. I heard a slit sound as I turned back, I saw Riya had slit her neck…. Riyaaa… what have you done to yourself … Riyaaa… I tried lifting her up… Riya is mine now, she is mine… as I looked back, I saw Harsh soul with a grin smile… he laughed loud over his victory of killing Riya… your priest thinks he is the strongest one but look even he is just a mere soul like me now... neither your family nor that priest can separate me and Riya.. he pushed me down, he held my hair and pushed me against the wall… No..noo... ple …please………... lemm mee livvee……….

As I woke up... I saw police talking to Riya’s neighbors… hospital person was lifting aunty, uncle and Riya’s body – I rushed towards police, sir, I know who has killed them all I’ll give you all the details but police don’t seem to hear my voice, I held his hand but he couldn’t feel my touch… as he lifted a white bedsheet… I saw my own dead body!!!! Please take this body too even she has been murdered – Its Komal, her name is Komal note it down the police said… I saw my body being carried away by that hospital person…!!!

…………… That’s it, I still wander aimlessly in that house. I still feel Riya and me playing, uncle and aunty are smiling looking at us. I have scared many people who had come to purchase this house… this house is mine, it’s my place where I have spent most of my time when I was alive… I won’t leave anyone to purchase this……………. I saw fireflies which Riya truly admired flying around her grave which kept her soul calm…