He Found Rohini...

“When I saw her for the first time, I felt like I never saw something this beautiful in my whole life,” Daniel said to Lia. “But she wasn’t worth anything to you Dan,” Lia told him, Daniel looked at Lia, and he frowned listening to her, “no,” he protested, “no, she was, she was worth it,” Daniel said, and opened his eyes. This was the sixth time in three weeks he dreamt of Lia. He was vexed by those dreams. Whenever we try to run away from something, something unresolved, they haunt us the most. Which was happening with Daniel. He sighed and rubbed his eyes. Daniel got out of the bed and glanced at his luggage.  

Daniel was 26 years old and worked for the water resources investigation and development department as an agriculture specialist and engineer in agri-mechanical. He was devoted to work, an adventurous, and sprightly man, until 6 months ago. Now he was just a man, with numbness. We become numb whenever we are broken, whenever we are betrayed. Something like this happened to Daniel. Something impaired him, impaired him from the radix. After three years of his job in Kolkata, he voluntarily transferred to Sikkim to avoid old memories of his life. Especially the memories of her. That’s why he was getting transferred, but ‘irony’ is something that makes us inadequate. He was being transferred to Sikkim in Pelling town. Pelling was the town where she was born. She also stayed there for some time. Daniel chuckled thinking about all those. Mandira, Daniel’s mother noticed that. She knew exactly when her son used to chuckle nowadays. It had been one month since she noticed him, he used to go out only for work and return home. The rest of the time he stayed indoors and read books or in his diary, where he used to describe her, the beauty of her, the activities they used to do together, the formidable meetings, everything. Just two days before he was about to leave for Sikkim, he was packing up and found her picture again. He sat down on the bed, holding the picture in his hand, staring at the picture. Whenever he looked at her, he always felt alive, even when he was staring at her picture, still that soothed his eyes. Then suddenly his smile faded remembering the night of the 1st of January. He kept the picture on the bed beside him. ‘one and half months passed….’ he wondered, ‘time doesn’t really care about how much pain we are suffering…’ he muttered in his mind, He sighed and kept her photo beside, “And now that I’m going to her hometown… the pain is going to inflict me more and rip me apart,” Daniel muttered to himself.

“Will you ever tell me what happened between you two?” Mandira demanded. Daniel looked at her and said, “No… you don’t need to know,” Daniel said curtly.                                         

 “Why are you torturing yourself like this?” Mandira asked in annoyance. 

“I have been tortured by my life, all my life I was in lies, in darknesses,” Daniel said petulantly. 

“Look, Daniel, it’s your life, of course…. you will live your life with your choice, but….. remember one thing, escaping from the truth is not a solution, and that is what you are doing….. no matter how much you run away from the truth…. it will always haunt you,” Mandira snapped and left the room. Daniel threw the picture in the trash and completed his packing.

 On 7th February, Daniel got on the train to Siliguri, three months ago he didn’t even think of getting a transfer from Kolkata. He never wanted to leave Kolkata, but suddenly everything changed. Her presence used to make him crazy, she became a good and healthy drug to him. ‘But….’ Daniel mumbled in his head, ‘nobody lasts in my life, this is the truth, everyone is a liar,’.

After a one-night train journey, he reached Siliguri and took a taxi to Rangpo station. After reaching Rangpo station he thought he would book a car to his destination, but surprisingly a man came to pick him up from the station.

 “Hello sir, I am Munshi Deka, assistant engineer in Agri Mechanical,” the man said, “I am going to work under you,”. 

“Oh, you are Munshi Deka, Pradip sir told me about you, nice to meet you..” Daniel and Munshi shook hands. 

“I heard about you a lot. Your research on agriculture mechanisms, those are very fascinating…. Pradip sir told me also,” Munshi said.

“Well, I know how devoted you are to your work, I am lucky to have an assistant like you,” Daniel warmed Munshi.

  “Still, there are many things I still have to learn from you,” Munshi praised back.

“Our learning never ends, Munshi, every day we learn something, and the more we learn…. the more we grow..” Daniel expressed.

“Right, sir..” Munshi said and smiled.

“So, you are from Sikkim?” Daniel asked Munshi,

“Yes sir, I was born and brought up here,” Munshi said. Munshi took all their luggage from Daniel and they started to walk. There was a car standing beside the station, Munshi took all his luggage towards the car and Daniel was following him. Munshi put all the luggage in that car’s boot, then they got into the car and they started their journey towards Pelling. Pelling is situated along the Teesta River near the Sikkim-Westbengal border. The population of the town was ten thousand four hundred and fifty. Daniel was watching the river Teesta and comforting his eyes. He always loved hills, mountains, and greenery. This reminded him that once his father promised to bring him to Pelling because this town had many histories. He never thought that he would be here someday, with many questions.                          

He was feeling the air that was passing by his ears, smiling seeing the sunlight, and clouds floating by the mountains. Munshi observed him.

“Is it your first time, Sir, in Sikkim?” Munshi asked Daniel. Daniel was startled by Munshi’s voice.

“No, not really… I have visited Sikkim before, when my father was alive… but never been in pelling…. once he promised me that he would bring me here, but unfortunately, he left us… heard many stories about this place from my father… and these mountains, hills, greenery… they have positivity in them,” Daniel explained as looked outside the windshield. 

“Yeah, that is true…” Munshi replied, “And sorry about your father sir,” he gave condolences.

“It’s okay, death is the only truth of our life,” Daniel said smiling with some thoughts. Munshi nodded.

“By the way, what is the name of the village where we are going to stay?” Daniel asked, 

“Khewapalri village” Munshi replied.

“It’s a weird name,” Daniel said. Munshi laughed, “Yeah...it’s kind of a weird name,”. Daniel chuckled. 

After a pause suddenly the driver said, “You have come to Pelling,” his voice was grave, “there is a lot of weird stuff you are going to see here, sir,” he added.

 Daniel simpered remembering his life in Kolkata, “let’s see…” he added 

They reached Khewapalri after a 2-hour journey. Daniel came to Pelling to work on a specific lake, named Kha-Chot-Palri Lake. After reaching Khewapalri Daniel and Munshi went straight to the bungalow where they were going to stay. There was a man named Subhanto, who was the caretaker of the bungalow, also he was going to cook for Daniel and Munshi. Daniel was so tired that, the day they reached there he didn’t go out of the bungalow. After having lunch Daniel said, “You are a really good cook, Subhanto, the food was really tasty,”. 

“Thank you, sir,” Subhanto replied, he was a really well-mannered person.

 Daniel went to his room. He fell asleep easily because of the journey. Soon he woke up sleeping on her lap, she was caressing his hair, “You forgot me, Daniel?” Daniel heard a voice, he looked at her, smiled at her beautiful face, and caressed her cheek, “How could I forget you, you are the only thing I want to remember for my whole life,” Daniel said. She smiled and kissed Daniel’s forehead, then his eyes. “I cannot resist myself far away from you,” she uttered, in a velvety voice.

“Neither, am I,” Daniel replied. 

“Then come with me,” she said and took out her hand towards Daniel. He held her hand with faith in his eyes, somewhere he knew she couldn’t let him regret his decisions. Daniel noticed it was the same place, he had seen this place before also. Daniel was walking with her. “Where are you taking me?” Daniel asked curiously.                                                              

“In heaven,” she said and jumped from the edge of Tiger Hill. Daniel woke up. He was panting and sweating and he was dreaming. He wiped his sweat with a towel and checked the clock. It was 5 a.m.

 That day in the evening, some men from the village came to the bungalow, they asked Daniel to come with them to the lake, they wanted to show him something. Daniel and Munshi went with them to the Kha-Chot-Palri lake, those men showed Daniel that the lake’s color became dark and dull and according to villagers when the color of the lake became dark and dull, it implied gloomy times ahead.                                      

“I’m sorry, but we don’t believe this,” Munshi said curtly to them. Daniel didn’t say anything. He didn’t want to say anything, as if he knew something as if he knew those men were right.

“We are trying to warn you, and you should be warned,” a man said,

“I’m sorry,” Daniel said, politely, “we can understand your belief, but we cannot stop our work… it’s a big project, and I came all the way from Kolkata, to complete this project, and this project is for you people, with the help of lake water your agri-mechanical system will be developed so, so please cooperate with us,” he explained. 

 Those men didn’t say anything else. They left the bungalow. Daniel sighed. “These villagers are going to be a pain in the ass,” Munshi said. Daniel heard him, he frowned at him. “Well, if you remember, then you are also from this village, Munshi,” Daniel reminded him. Munshi smiled awkwardly. He nodded. “I’ll go, check if dinner is ready,” Munshi said. Daniel purred. Munshi went inside. Daniel was thoughtful, he stood there for a while. 

‘Maybe this mystery of Pelling can help me to find her truth…. and I will do that but even if I have to, wreck up the coverall or break the rules, and will find out who she was…’ Daniel depicted in his mind and locked it in an obtrusive way. He saw the moon was beaming, he sighed saw the moon, and went inside. 

The next day, Daniel and Munshi went to visit the Lake. Daniel was observing the lake, he was observing the trees, and leaves, and was examining the soil. Suddenly, he remembered her voice, ‘My grounds were from Pelling, I was born there,’ the lake reminded him, and a smile was fighting on his face.                             

 “Munshi,” Daniel called him, Munshi came to him, “have you done the paperwork for our project?” he asked.                  

 “No, It’s not completed, but I’m going tomorrow at Pelling, I’ll complete it,” Munshi said.                             

 “Good,” Daniel said, “otherwise we cannot start our work,” he added. They also visited the nearby rural areas. Around 7 p.m., they returned to the bungalow. Munshi slept early because he had to leave early in the morning for town. Daniel had his dinner and was standing on the balcony. From the balcony, Daniel could see the small hills, and the huge trees, it was an amazing view. After some time he went to his room and fell asleep. The next day, he woke up from a dreamless sleep. He went outside his room, Munshi was gone for Pelling. He went for a run. Running also helps him to know his surroundings more. He could also get to see some mesmerizing scenarios of Sikkim. He returned to the bungalow around 8 p.m. and went to the washroom for bathing. While the hot water was rinsing his body, that was a peaceful moment for him, as if everything around him was, as usual, everything was just like before, ‘as if her essence is again in my life,’ Daniel wondered… He opened his eyes. His attention came back to his actual life. ‘but nothing is normal,’ Daniel wondered, ‘nothing is like before,’ he turned off the shower and went outside the bathroom. He got dressed up and came out of his room. He could smell the delicious aroma of Subhanto’s food, so he rushed downstairs. “What is today’s menu, Subhanto?” Daniel asked. 

“Luchi and aloo curry,” Subhanto replied and gave him his breakfast. Subhanto’s homemade food used to let Daniel miss Kolkata very frequently. Just like the other day, Subhanto made French toast, and again he remembered her. Daniel took a bite of french toast and her smiling face flashed in front of his eyes. The taste of the toast was not the same, she used to make it better, actually, the best.

“Do you like that sir?” Subhanto asked. Daniel smiled vaguely and nodded. Subhanto was a gentleman he always gave a charming innocent smile whenever Daniel appreciated him. His age was around 23 to 24. He used to cook and then go home, and before 5 p.m. he used to come back again to the bungalow and used to clean the house and cook dinner. Munshi was going to stay for several days in Pelling for documentary work for the Lake project. Daniel was surveying surrounding the village. He asked how people work there, and what was their source of income. People there worked in tea gardens, some were farmers, and some worked in wine factories. Sikkim’s wine or alcoholic liquor is very famous and reasonable. The next day, he thought of asking something else. One, out-of-the-blue question. He decided to ask about her, and her family, to the locals. He knew he had to find someone who was the oldest in that locality. He had to go to the deep, in the roots. He went to the local area, there was a school in the market. The school was small and had one decker. Daniel went inside the school. Kids were playing on the ground. He went straight to the school’s headmaster’s room. The door was opened, he knocked twice and entered the room.

“Yes,” the man said. Daniel smiled and said, “I want to meet the headmaster of this school,” 

The man frowned and said, “I am the headmaster, how can I help you?” he said.

“Oh, Umm… I am Daniel Chakravarty, from Kolkata… I am…. here for the project in Kha-Chot-Palri lake,” he said and took out his hand for the shake. 

“Oh, so you are that engineer, who is about to ruin our peace, but don’t worry if you wreck mother nature, she is not going to forgive you too, nobody is forgiven by her,” the man said,

“Who?” Daniel asked, the man looked at him, “Who is not going to forgive me?” he added. 

“Nature… she will not forgive you too..” the man said. Daniel nodded. He came closer and sat on the chair. 

“Look,” Daniel spoke gravely, “I know some things... I know that Pelling has many unique histories, and I want to know them, everything about Pelling,”.

 The man frowned deeply, “why?” he asked.

“Because… I know that everything around me, or you, aren’t usual, there is something extraordinary… and I have EXPERIENCED IT!!,” Daniel explained. 

The man stared at Daniel for some seconds, “I am Raghunath Ghimire…” The man shook hands with Daniel, “Before I explain to you everything, you have to tell me why and how you have experienced it?” Raghunath approached. 

“No, I’m not going to tell you anything until you show me where Shankara house is…. will you?” Daniel asked. Raghunath smirked, he looked down and up again, and he nodded, “Okay, I will, but you must know, there will be obstacles” Raghunath replied. 

Daniel smiled. “I’ll come back after 3 days in the afternoon,” he said. 

“Okay, bring two torches and some water,” Raghunath replied. 

That day, in the evening, Munshi called, he informed Daniel that the paperwork was done, and Munshi was returning the day after tomorrow, he had some work at his home, so he took permission from Daniel. Daniel approved. After having dinner Daniel decided that he would go to the lake tomorrow. He got into bed. But sleep was away from him. He was crawling in the bed. He turned on the lights and took out the book ‘The Notebook’ by Nicholas Sparks. He started reading it for the fifth time. Daniel himself also didn’t know why he was so attached to this book. Because of the bond or estrangement and then reunion between the characters, or maybe that book was the last piece of memory lane to Daniel which was gifted by her. Also maybe Daniel could find himself similar to Noah, Noah always loved only Allie and waited to be loved by her. And then she returned to him. They became the ‘Happily ever after’. “Happily ever after….” Daniel repeated the line and half-smiled. After a while he felt dizzy, so he kept the book in the drawer beside his bed, turned off the light, and put down his head on the pillow. He closed his eyes and fell asleep. He knew he was going to dream. So he started dreaming, and he could see the lake, the Kha-Chot-Palri Lake. He was there standing on the grass, near the lake, the surrounding was dark. ‘Why am I here?’ Daniel wondered. He stood there for some time. 

“Don’t wreck the rules,” He heard her dulcet voice, abruptly. the voice came from behind. 

Daniel turned towards her. He was staring at her. “Why?” he asked. 

“Because that will be dangerous, for everyone,” she uttered in a scared voice. 

Daniel shrugged, “I do not care,” he replied curtly. She laughed, and looked down, “You care way too much Dan…. that’s why you are here, you came here from Kolkata, to know about me, to know... about who Kalindi Shankara was,” she reminded Daniel. Daniel clenched his teeth because she was right. 

“I don’t care about you,” Daniel said and tried hard to hold the tears in his eyes. 

“You do,” she uttered in a calm voice. 

“No no no…….,” Daniel screamed and opened his eyes. He looked at the clock, it was 5 a.m, He got out of bed and went to the washroom. Then he went for a run. He returned and had a bath. He ate his breakfast. Then he left the bungalow and reached the Kha-Chot-Palri lake. Daniel was moving around the Lake, he examined some trees’ leaves. Next, he examined the soil. The soil was wet, because of morning dew. That reminded him, of the morning of Kolkata when he walked on the grass holding her hand, she used to say, ‘You know Dan...we should walk on the grass barefoot, by this our sight will stay good,’ her voice was still ringing in his ears. He tried to concentrate on work. Suddenly, he noticed something strange on the grass. There were footprints, several footprints, and the strange thing was, that the color of the footprints was golden. Golden-colored weird and shining footprints. Daniel moved his fingers on the footprint, it was a fluid thing. It felt dense and warm. He was wondering what it could be, he smelled that thing, the odor was ambrosial, and then he noticed that the footprints had gone, at some distance, and then vanished. He was wondering, and suddenly something caught his eye. There was a girl far away beside the lake, who was lying on the grass, he frowned. Daniel walked towards her. Her skin complexion was light brown color, she was wearing an ivory color saree and maybe she is in her mid-twenties. That girl was really attractive. She was sleeping, maybe. Daniel couldn’t help himself from staring at her. Some minutes passed, and she didn’t move. “Excuse me,” Daniel spoke. She opened her eyes and was startled. She stood up. Daniel noticed that there were brunt marks on her both hands and neck area. “You don’t look good…. What happened to you? Why are there burnt marks on your hands…?” Daniel asked in concern. The girl was silent.                               

“Look, you can tell me, I can help you…. you don’t look healthy,” Daniel urged.                                       

 “Something hit me… badly…” the girl replied.               

 “Let me take you to the hospital… come with me,” Daniel said and started walking. The girl hesitated to go with him.         

 “You can trust me,” Daniel said.                             

 “No medicine can heal my wounds,” the girl said.        

  Daniel couldn’t hear what she said, he was busy taking out the handkerchief from his pocket, he asked her to take the handkerchief, and she took it. Daniel was in shock seeing her wounded like that, but her hesitancy was reasonable, Daniel was a proper stranger to her. 

Still, Daniel insisted, “Please come with me to the hospital, I hope they will help you,”. She agreed to go with him. She followed him towards his jeep.                                                

While Daniel was driving, he looked at the girl several times, there was no painful expression on her face. She was badly hurt, she should be devastated now. She was weird. Daniel remembered he hadn’t asked her name, “What is your name? By the way….”,                      

“Rohini” the girl answered, Daniel, nodded as he informed her.  “Where do you live?” Daniel asked, Rohini was silent, she didn’t answer anything. Daniel noticed Rohini’s foot, there was a deep cut.                                              

“Aren’t you in pain? Your foot is badly hurt….” he demanded. Rohini looked at him when he asked that. She fell into deep thought. She was looking at him as if Daniel asked something that she never expected. She was sinking in some thought.                                      

 “It’s okay, the hospital is almost near….” She heard Daniel saying, and she realized Daniel was talking.                          

She clenched her teeth and said, “I don’t feel pain always…” Daniel looked at her, and frowned, “but those who live with me, they can,” Rohini explained. Rohini reminded him of her. As if history was repeating itself. No matter how much you run from a person that person’s memories and realizations never leave you. His stomach ached.                                    

 “Is blood dripping from your leg? then I can give you a bandage, I have some in the jeep,” Daniel asked in an irritated voice.

“No… no thanks,” Rohini answered. Daniel clenched his teeth and didn’t say anything else. She was weird, and not answering properly. Talking with her soberly was next to impossible. She was dropping puzzles in every talk. Which was really obnoxious. He drove fast towards the hospital. 

   They reached the hospital in 10 minutes. Rohini entered the hospital, limping. Daniel noticed that. While a doctor was checking up on Rohini, Daniel waited outside. The doctor gave Rohini a prescription where some medicines were written. Daniel took the prescription from Rohini and went to the pharmacy. Rohini walked outside the hospital. Daniel bought all the medicines and returned to the place where he left Rohini, but she wasn't there. Daniel thought she left. He sighed and cringed his face. He walked outside the hospital. He was walking towards his jeep when he saw Rohini standing beside the jeep. He walked near the car, Rohini looked at him, “Sorry I came out. Inside was getting crowded, so…” she explained.                                          

 “Oh…” Daniel replied, “Here….” he gave the packet of medicines to Rohini, “your medicines…”.                                                                                                                                    

Rohini took it and frowned, she was thankful but some thought made her agitated, "These are worthless, nothing will be useful on my wounds," she muttered.                            

Daniel frowned and tried hard to avoid her blathers. "Where do you live?" Daniel asked curtly. 

"You don't have to drop me, I can go… and if you really want to, then… you can drop me near the lake," Rohini replied.                                                                                                

Daniel loured. He totally unlistened to her,                      

  “Look, miss, enough of your craps, I am not leaving you anywhere alone, you are not healthy right now, so tell me where is your home?" Daniel snapped. 

Rohini frowned. She thought for some time and then glanced at him. She was silent for some time then sighed a deep sigh. Rohini realized she was feeling safe with Daniel now, otherwise, she could leave, but she didn’t. She understood she could trust him. Rohini glanced at him and started to explain, "Actually… I used to live in another village, three days ago my house got burnt and I don’t know where to go, I came to Khewapalri while wandering…". Rohini looked down and up again. "My parents and one sister have died in that house, they also got burnt with the house" she completed.

"Hmm… I see, I’m sorry for your condition, I can understand how terrible your situation is..." Daniel replied, Rohini sighed a deep sigh, "...so I cannot leave you alone…” he uttered, Rohini looked at him, “Come with me…. to my house,” Daniel said, Rohini didn't argue anymore. “Okay,” She agreed to go with him to his bungalow. Daniel smiled at her, he felt relieved that she agreed to go with him. 

They reached the bungalow. Daniel instructed Subhanto to clean a room where Rohini was going to stay. Subhanto also brought some sarees from his wife and gave them to Rohini, Subhanto was a gentleman. 

Around 6 p.m. Daniel got a phone call from Munshi, he informed Daniel that he was returning to Khewapalri the day after tomorrow in the afternoon. Daniel told him everything about Rohini, Munshi said that he did a good thing that Daniel brought her to the bungalow.

 Daniel was very tired, that he fell asleep. Around 10 p.m., he woke up when Subhanto was knocking on the door. Daniel opened the door.

“Sir, dinner is ready,” Subhanto said,

“Okay, you go and serve, we are coming,” Daniel said, Subhanto left. Daniel went to call Rohini. After three knocks, she opened the door. Daniel noticed that she had changed the saree, and her hair was wet. 

“Sorry, I took a little longer to open, I was taking a shower,” Rohini said.

“It's okay…” Daniel said, abruptly he also noticed that she unbandaged her wounds, while Rohini felt uncomfortable so she covered her hands with the fringe of her saree. 

Daniel looked to the other side, and said, “Dinner is ready, let’s go?”. Suddenly his eyes caught something queer, he saw golden, shiny footprints in Rohini’s room, which he saw in the lake on the grass. He frowned seeing those. He thought he was seeing something wrong so he tried to see them clearly, While Rohini came out of the room and shut the door.        

 “Shall we..?” Rohini asked, Daniel, glanced at Rohini.

“Sure,” Daniel uttered in confusion,

Rohini stepped forward and Daniel followed her. At the dinner table, Daniel asked Rohini, “How is your pain?” Rohini stopped eating and glanced at him, “I see that you’ve unbandaged your wounds…. why?” Daniel added.

 Rohini smiled sarcastically and said, “I told you before…. nobody can heal these wounds… until I want to”,

 Daniel chuckled, he glanced at Rohini, grinning, and said, “Then heal yourself, being in pain and giving someone pain is not really a good thing,”. Rohini smiled and nodded. Daniel started eating again. Rohini glanced several times at him. "Thank you so much for helping me," Rohini acknowledged. 

Daniel smiled, "Make yourself comfortable here, you can stay here, as many days as you like to," Daniel assured. Rohini nodded and simpered.

They finished their dinner and went to their rooms.

The next day, in the morning those men came again and warned Daniel and Munshi about the lake before. They informed Daniel that a 150-year-old lake tree had suddenly collapsed last night, and according to them, this kind of incident happens only when god leaves his footprints in the world. Daniel became wistful here that, from inside he was curious but he didn't react that way, “I can understand your matters, but, we can't stop our work, I'm sorry, it's a very important project for us, and I cannot waste my time by hearing these rubbish things,” Daniel said to those men,         

  “We are not forcing you to believe us, Sir,” a man from the group spoke, “but don’t you dare to insult our faiths…. just come with us to the lake”.                                                  

“Okay,” Daniel agreed to go with them to the lake to see the matter. 

 Around 10 a.m., Rohini came out of her room. She knew that Daniel was not there in the house. Rohini came outside her room and went downstairs. She saw Subhanto was cooking in the kitchen. Rohini was standing near the staircase, and staring at the Subhanto. She was staring at Subhanto as if she wanted something from him, Subhanto didn’t notice Rohini. 6 minutes passed, and Rohini was still peculiarly staring at Subhanto. Suddenly Subhanto's finger got cut by a knife, he rushed into the storeroom and applied some medicines to the cut and when he returned to the kitchen, the place was filled with smoke. It was hard to see anything in the smoke, he somehow turned off the gas. Rohini was still staring at him like before. Subhanto couldn’t see anything in the smoke. Rohini closed her eyes and covered her both hands and neck area with the fringe of her saree and suddenly the sound of Subhanto’s screaming came from the kitchen. After a while, Rohini opened her eyes and rushed into her room. Subhanto was screaming from the kitchen. Rohini went inside her room and closed the door, she closed her ears with her hand to avoid Subhanto’s scream. 

 10 minutes passed, and Subhanto wasn’t screaming anymore, Rohini came out of her room and went downstairs. she called Daniel from the landline and asked him to come quickly. She went near Subhanto and very easily she picked him on her shoulder and put him on the sofa. He was unconscious.

 After 15 minutes Daniel came and saw Subhanto lying unconscious on the sofa. Daniel's eyes widened seeing Subhanto. Subhanto’s hands, stomach, and neck area were burnt. Daniel was thrust by seeing Subhanto in that state. Rohini was standing beside the sofa, "what happened to him?" Daniel asked in a furious voice.

"I was in my room, suddenly I heard his scream, so I came down… and I saw him leaning on the sofa," Rohini lied. He looked at Subhanto and caressed his head. "We should take him to the hospital hurry," Daniel uttered. Rohini nodded.

 They reached the hospital. After admitting Subhanto to the hospital Daniel went to Subhanto's house to inform his wife. Rohini stayed in the hospital. She was waiting for Daniel to come back and waiting to say ‘sorry’. A doctor was checking up on Subhanto, he was in the CCU ward. Rohini's eyes were wet watching Subhanto from the glass door. She wiped her tears, “I’m sorry,” Rohini mumbled.                                      

"It's okay," she heard Daniel's voice from behind, Rohini turned. "He will be fine, don't worry," he added. 

"I'm… I’m… so… sorry," Rohini said and hugged Daniel at once. “I…. I could have saved him......” she added, Daniel felt clumsy. He didn't hold her, "It's okay don't be sorry, Rohini…. he will be fine…" Daniel assured and patted her shoulder. Rohini released him and wiped her tears with the fringe. 

Rohini asked, "Where is his wife?" 

"Umm... actually, she is pregnant, I don't think it's a good idea to bring her to the hospital, she was all crying, and… insisted on coming here when I informed her about Subhanto, but I rejected the idea. So, I gave her my phone and assured her that I'd inform her of everything," Daniel replied. 

“You did right," Rohini said. Daniel smiled. They waited there outside the CCU. 

 After one hour doctors shifted Subhanto from CCU to a semi-private room. Daniel went to see Subhanto. Daniel saw Subhanto’s hands, stomach, and neck area were bandaged. Subhanto became conscious of Daniel's arrival. Daniel smiled vaguely, he started to caress Subhanto’s hair.

“how all these happened to you, Subhanto?” Daniel asked, calmly. Subhanto started talking, but his voice was mild. Daniel gave deep attention to hearing his voice, “I… I was in the…. kitchen, cooking..... Suddenly my....my hand got cut with a...kni….knife. It was….bleeding...so..so I rushed to the storeroom and, and applied medicine on the cut. When... I returned, and the whole kitchen was filled with smoke. I was unable to see anything. Some...how.....I ...I turned off the gas. My eyes.... were burning… I was groping for a plate to cover the pan. But...I don’t know... how... suddenly…... the burning oil of the pan fell on me….” Subhanto explained Daniel’s eyes widened, and he cringed his face thinking of the pain Subhanto felt at that time. “And, then…….” Subhanto struggled to remember, “I don’t remember what happened then, I… I just…..blacked out..” Subhanto explained. Daniel moved his hand on Subhanto’s head for a while, seeing Subhanto’s condition, he was feeling very bad. 

“It’s okay Subhanto, don’t worry no serious injuries took place, and you will be fine soon…..doctor said you can go home after 4 days, and don’t worry, I and Rohini will take care of your wife, she will be safe with us,” Daniel told Subhanto. Subhanto smiled and closed his eyes. He needed sleep, Daniel caressed Subhanto’s hair one more time and withdrew his hand. He stood there several times, thinking of the consequences. “Did you see that?” suddenly he heard that dulcet voice. He looked up. “I told you before,” she said,                                                    

 Daniel frowned, “am I hallucinating?” he asked himself,                                      

“I have told you before, haven’t I?” she asked again, Daniel glanced at her,                                                   

“I’ve told you, not to wreck the rules…” she uttered, Daniel was spellbound, “look at him,” she said pointing at Subhanto, “are you liking the consequences?” she asked, with a warning.                                           

“No, I’m not…. I’m not liking it,” finally Daniel spoke, “but….I wanted to know the consequences… the consequences of wrecking the rules,” Daniel explained.                                               

 “You cannot hurt other people or yourself, because of your need…. just think of your mother for once, Dan” she uttered in anger.                                                   

“I’m not thinking of anyone else until I got my answers…..” Daniel replied and stormed out of the ward. He was breathing heavily. ‘what is happening to me? I just hallucinated her……’ Daniel agreed in his mind. He took deep breaths and closed his eyes. He opened his eyes after a while and saw Rohini, she was sitting on a chair. Rohini saw Daniel and came near him, “how is he now?” she asked.

 “Well, not so good, he has to stay in hospital for 4 days,” Daniel replied and squeezed his eyes with his fingers. Rohini nodded as he informed.                                            

 “I was thinking,” Daniel spoke, Rohini glanced, “I think we should bring Subhanto’s wife in the bungalow, then you and I can take care of her, together,” he said.

“Yes, yes definitely,” Rohini jumped, “we should do that, I will be delighted to take care of his wife,” Rohini expressed. Daniel smiled and suddenly noticed Rohini's hands, the wounds had gone. The wounds had gone as if her hands never had been wounded. Daniel was surprised to see that. Burnt marks take a long time to omit completely. And Rohini’s hands were clean like some shiny thing. Daniel frowned and looked at Rohini, “Wow, your wounds are gone, that means medicines are working..” he said to Rohini. He looked at her foot, the foot was covered with a black cloth. 

“Umm….let’s go then?!” Rohini uttered,                   

 “Yes,” Daniel spoke, “let’s go,” he added. Daniel got in the driver’s seat and Rohini sat in the passenger's seat. Daniel was sinking in thoughts about Subhanto. Rohini’s anklets moved, abruptly. The sound of her anklets reminded him of her. She also used to wear these. It is peculiar to think that no matter how much we want to forget a particular person, the whole universe comes along with a plan to remind us of their every single memory, their every single instinct, and we cannot unfollow the flow of the universe. ‘now I started hallucinating… maybe I am becoming crazy now… Do I need to…un..follow the flow of universe?” Daniel asked himself, he sighed and looked down at Rohini’s foot, she was looking outside the windshield. Daniel smiled vaguely and raised his eyes on the road and saw a truck approaching, he hurried the car to the side and braked. Suddenly Rohini shouted, Daniel looked at her, she was screaming holding her foot, it got hurt again, maybe. “I’m so sorry….. I’m so sorry,” Daniel said. She was holding her foot and screaming in pain, “Take me home…. Take me home hurry please…please…” Rohini urged, screaming.

They reached the bungalow. Rohini rushed to her room. Daniel followed her. Rohini got inside the room and locked it. Daniel was standing outside her room. He was feeling guilty, very guilty. ‘How could I be this irresponsible….’ Daniel wondered. Suddenly again a scream came from the room. “Are you okay?” Daniel asked, screaming. Rohini didn’t answer anything. “Should I call the doctor?” Daniel asked again.                                 

 “No, no it’s okay, you don’t have to call any doctor,” Rohini replied from the room.                                                 

 ‘Are you liking the consequences..?’ Daniel remembered this question, with her dulcet voice. Daniel’s heart started beating fast. ‘Is this a wake-up call for me….?’ Daniel wondered. He sighed and closed his eyes. After some time, Rohini opened the door.  “Are you alright?” Daniel asked,                        

 “Yes, I’m fine,” Rohini said,                             

 “But you don’t look fine,” Daniel said,                      

  “I said, I’m fine..” Rohini shouted curtly. She went inside her room and closed the door on Daniel’s face. Daniel didn’t disturb her anymore. Her anger was fair, Daniel thought. So he went downstairs. In the meantime, Munshi returned from Pelling. Daniel was asking Munshi about the documentary. Suddenly, he remembered that he had left his wallet in the car. “You go to your room and take some rest, Munshi, you must be tired,” Daniel said.                              

 “Okay,” Munshi replied, smiled, and went towards his room. Daniel went to bring all the stuff, he opened the car’s door and noticed something weird. He noticed the same golden-colored footprint in his car where Rohini had been sitting, his car was filled with that same ambrosial fragrance. He noticed something more that day, that golden fluid became frozen and hardened. ‘who the hell this girl is?’ Daniel wondered.

After 3 hours, Daniel and Munshi were talking in the dining space while Rohini entered to drink water. Munshi asked Daniel, “Is she the girl?”

“Yes, she is Rohini,” Daniel replied. Munshi stared at Rohini.             

 “Rohini this is Munshi, my colleague,” Daniel replied. Rohini smiled at Munshi.                                            

   “I have something to say,” Rohini uttered, Daniel looked at her, and she continued, “I’m sorry for the way I’ve reacted earlier…. I’m… I’m so sorry,”                                        

Daniel smiled, “No-no, it’s okay, it’s really...okay….sometimes I become nagging I know,” he added. Rohini chuckled. She glanced at Munshi and her smile faded. Munshi’s looks were different from hers. His look was creepy. Daniel noticed that. Rohini frowned and said “Okay, I’m going to my room,” she said and went away. Daniel frowned and looked at Munshi.                                    

 Around 3 p.m. Daniel came out of his room and was standing on the balcony. He was thinking, suddenly how everything got messed up, and everyone was getting hurt. ‘and she is giving me warnings…’ Daniel wondered and chuckled, ‘I hallucinated her… her beautiful face, her dulcet voice,’ Daniel smiled remembering her face. Sometimes remembering loved ones’ faces soothes our hearts. Because when we truly adore someone, we want them to be happy, even if they aren't with us, even if they don't want us. He opened his eyes and was looking around the garden and noticed that Rohini was standing in the garden. Seeing her Daniel felt like going toward her because whenever he talked to Rohini, he was able to restrain her memories. So, he went downstairs. When he went close to Rohini in the garden, he saw Rohini standing still and looking directly at the sun. He remembered he had seen someone else also doing this thing. His eyes widened, his heart thudded seeing Rohini staring at the sun directly as if she was threatening, ‘Is she also a…’ Daniel wondered. The way, she was staring at the sun as if she would snatch it. 'no-no…..not everyone is a …..' Daniel wondered and stopped Rohini, “My goodness, are you mad, staring like this towards the sun can damage your eyes”. Rohini got startled by his voice, she closed her eyes and turned to Daniel. 

“There is nothing which can harm my eyes easily,” Rohini said. Daniel frowned after listening to her, but he acted normal.

“Well, you always seemed like a very mysterious lady, do you know that?” Daniel uttered with a grin. Rohini smiled, after listening to him.

“Mystery is the only thing sir, which can help us to be tough, and being tough is important in this cruel world...” Rohini said in one glance looking at Daniel. As if she wanted to tell something to him. Daniel’s grin became vague. She was right. Daniel nodded. 

 Daniel smiled and said, “Well maybe this is the first time you talk this much about yourself,”. Rohini smiled and walked away. Daniel started strolling on the grass again. Rohini went some distance, stopped, and turned to look at him, she watched Daniel for some time and chuckled. "Honeybun," she muttered and walked away.            

In the evening, Munshi and Daniel were sitting on the roof and talking. Munshi asked Daniel “Sir, has something ever happened to you that you have never expected..”                   

 Daniel looked at Munshi, and chuckled, “Yeah... Once..” Daniel said.                                              

 “What was that?” Munshi asked.                        

  “I fell in love, unconditionally….” Daniel replied. Munshi chuckled. “This is not unexpected….I mean.. we all fell in love, falling in love is like jumping into an ocean, knowing that….if we don’t have any knowledge of swimming, we will die” Munshi expressed, Daniel, laughed. 

“Yeah….right, but I meant differently, me-falling-in-love with her was expected, but her feeling the same way for me was unexpected to me,” Daniel explained with a charming smile.                                             

 “You were lucky then,” Munshi said with a smirk.                                           

 Daniel looked at him, and half smiled, nodded slightly. “What happened after then..?” Munshi asked.                                        

 “After that, I got to know the actual truth about her.....”               

Rohini arrived and interrupted Daniel by saying, “Dinner is ready… Subhanto isn’t here so I made the dinner”.                                           

 “Great,” Munshi jumped saying. Daniel looked at Munshi, he was pretty excited. Daniel also felt delighted that Rohini made the dinner, so he smiled at her.                                   

“Okay…. we are coming and thank you,” Daniel replied, smiling. Three of them went downstairs. Daniel and Munshi took their seats, Rohini served them the pulao, and then she took her plate and sat. They were eating.

 “This is so tasty, wow….you are a great cook,” Daniel praised. Rohini smiled. 

While eating, Rohini felt something weird on her foot. She looked down, she saw Munshi's foot being rubbed on Rohini's. Rohini looked up at Munshi, he was smirking while doing that thing. She smiled back at Munshi. She completed her dinner, stood up, and said, “I’m done... not feeling good, so I’m going to my room,”            

“Okay,” Daniel said. Rohini kept her plates in the sink and came out of the kitchen, when she was going towards her room, she looked back at Munshi. Munshi understood her gesture. 

Daniel completed his dinner and went to his room. He sat on his bed with ‘The Notebook’. He remembered that he had to meet Raghunath Ghimire tomorrow, they were about to go to the Shankara Mansion. But now Daniel was having second thoughts. ‘I don’t know what I should do…… I am unable to decide,’ he uttered in his mind, ‘then don’t decide…’ suddenly her dulcet voice spoke, and Daniel smiled and glanced at her. “I knew it….I knew that you would comment on the situation,” Daniel claimed, She chuckled, “why not? I can’t see you…. like this…” she said. Daniel smiled widely. Suddenly his smile faded. “But you were okay, hiding many things from me?” Daniel asked with a sulk. She looked down and up again, glanced at him, and charmed a smile, “No, I wasn’t okay, but I had to then,” she replied.                                        

 Daniel nodded. “But I am hallucinating, you are not real,” Daniel said. She was gone. Daniel sighed. He kept the book back in the drawer and lay on the bed. Like always he was imagining her smiling face, and he fell asleep. 

Around 1:30 a.m. a male voice screaming sound occurred. Daniel woke up. He thought he was dreaming but he became sure when the same screaming sound came up the second time. So he was awake and the scream was real. He opened the door and rushed towards Munshi's room. Munshi’s room was open, there was no one. The screaming sound came again, Daniel rushed towards Rohini’s room, it was locked, he knocked three times, and nobody opened the door. He broke the door with a big hammer and entered. There was Munshi, lying on the floor consciously, eyes wideout, seeing Rohini. The whole room had that aromatic odor and those dense and warm golden-colored footprints. Daniel was shocked to see the golden-colored fluid, which was coming out from Rohini's foot. The fluid was gurgling out of her foot, where the deep cut was. Daniel was spellbound, he wasn’t able to understand what was going on there. Munshi couldn’t move his body, because he was in control of Rohini. Rohini was staring at Munshi's foot, Munshi was screaming more and more. And then what Daniel saw he got chills on his spine, and he became tongue-tied. Munshi’s foot was getting cut at the same place on his foot, where Rohini's cut was and Rohini’s foot was healing. Rohini was healing her wound through Munshi. Munshi was screaming his heart out. Daniel was watching Rohini with wide and fearful eyes. Rohini’s cut got healed. That golden blood stopped coming out. But blood was gushing out of Munshi’s foot. He was able to move his body now because Rohini had closed her eyes. Daniel became dumb. He was tacit and mute. The whole room was gleaming with that golden liquid with a beautiful fragrance. Daniel was looking at Rohini. Rohini came down from the bed. The bed was covered in golden blood. 

Daniel asked in a trembling voice, “Who... are….who are you?”

 Rohini glanced at him, and sighed, “I am a living creature like you… but…. it’s just my blood, which doesn’t… match with you, ” she said.

 Daniel was looking at the blood, in the room, his eyes were wide open. 

“Yes, it is colored golden, that won’t harm you, you know that, right?..... you have dated my kind of people…. isn’t it?” Rohini asked with a smirk, Daniel didn’t answer, she didn’t wait for the answer because she knew it. Rohini walked out of the room. Daniel also came out of the room and followed her.