The Haunted Factory

Sevak Ram Sharma wanted this job badly. He was in desperate need of money to sustain himself and his family of two kids, a wife, an ailing mother and two younger siblings. So when he was offered the job of a security guard at an abandoned factory, he willingly took up on the offer. The only catch was that it was a night-time shift of twelve hours.

“Can’t you get a morning shift?” His wife Shanta asked.

“Why?” He asked with raised eyebrows.

“No, I mean, if you are required at home, or if some emergency takes place in the middle of the night. Where would I go?”

“You can take the help of the neighbors, or you can send my brother to call me.” Sevak Ram replied.

His wife was not happy with the situation but she knew that they had no other option. The real reason for her hesitation was that she had rumors about the factory being haunted. That a strange noise could be heard and sometimes even some parts of the factory would be illuminated at odd hours, as if someone was still working there! She had also heard rumors that whosoever went into the factory never returned! Anyways, she knew that she could not dare mention her fears and apprehensions regarding this job as he would get irritated and pissed off, so she meekly complied.

Even Sevak Ram had heard stories about this factory being haunted. What if someone went there he/she would either go completely insane or would be never heard of again.

“Bhai, be careful of beautiful and attractive spirits!” His friends joked.

“I would send them your way” He responded.

All of them had good laugh about this. But some elder people of the area did show some concern and tried to warn him.

“Be very careful and try to find an alternate option as soon as you can.” They said.

The factory that was in contention was a hundred-year-old textile factory right in the middle of Nasik city and not from where Sevak Ram lived. It was a huge factory where around 300-350 workers used to work at any given point in time. But, now, unfortunately, for the last 30 years or so it was abandoned and no one had shown any interest in re-starting its operations. Maybe they had also heard rumors about its reputation, or simply no one wanted to risk investing in it. Anyways, Sevak Ram did not pay much attention to these stories and he did not believe in ghosts and spirits also.

He was just apprehensive and a bit nervous about what his first day would be like. Even the guy who had got him this job had told him

 “Don’t pay much attention to the stories attached to this.”

“You just concentrate on your job.”

 “Just don’t venture into areas that are off-limits.!” He had also warned.

Sevak Ram was a bit surprised by this warning but he agreed to abide by the rules laid down for him. So he went that night being the first night of his job. As he saw the factory he was overwhelmed by the sheer size of the factory. It sprawled over a huge area. Though weeds and wild vegetation had claimed most parts of the premises for neglect and lack of maintenance; still it was an impressive sight. Sevak Ram looked at the broken chain-link fence gate and thought of getting it repaired the next morning. He made his cursory rounds and went back to his guardhouse. Everything looked calm and peaceful. His guardhouse needed some work as the light-bulb was flickering a lot.

There was also a pleasant breeze and the surroundings seemed to be calm. Sevak Ram thought “I have to get the light-bulb and chain-link fence fixed tomorrow.”

“Also, I would ask Ketan Gadiya to get the premises cleaned from tomorrow.”

Ketan Gadiya was the man who had got him this job and laid down the rules for him. With all these thoughts Sevak Ram settled down for the night with his mobile playing his favorite show. After a few minutes, the show on his phone started getting all fuzzy and stopped for the moment.

“Must be a network issue.” Thought Sevak Ram and he went outside to check for better coverage on the premises.

The breeze outside had also stopped all of a sudden and it seemed that something had sucked out all the air from the surroundings.

As he was about to go back to his guardhouse, he suddenly heard a sound. It felt like some machine had started up.

 Sevak Ram was surprised. He knew that this factory was abandoned and owner less for so many years. Then how could this sound of the machine start-up come at this time of the night?

He went where the sound was coming from. It was coming from the west side of the factory where all the heavy machinery was kept.

As he neared the building he saw that all the lights were also on. This was strange.

“I just checked a few moments ago then everything was quiet and also the lights were off. “

“Who could have switched on the machine and the lights?”

He called out “Hello ?”

“Is anyone there?”

“If there is anyone found trespassing he will be turned over to the police. So now is a chance to scoot from here.”

“If anyone is there please come out and identify yourself. Or else, I will call the police.”

There was no response to his repeated calling and the sound of machinery whirring seemed to increase!

Sevak Ram grew a bit apprehensive of what he might find inside but he still had to do his duty. So he went in and saw that there was nobody inside. Only the machine was whirring by itself.

“I must have missed it in my rounds a few minutes ago.” Thought Sevak Ram.

He went and switched off the machine and the lights and closed the door carefully behind him. With that, he returned to his guardhouse. The network had also come back and the show on his phone was almost at its end by the time he reached.

“Damn! I missed the entire episode. This was stupid of me.” He cursed himself.

Anyways, he settled down for the night. Not just a few minutes had passed when Sevak Ram heard sounds of running feet just outside his guard-house. He was startled and jumped to his feet!

“Damn children. They must have slipped in through the broken fence.” He said to himself.

He went with his baton and torch to look for them. As he started searching for them he could hear their giggles and the sound of small feet scurrying here and there, but he could not see anyone.

“Come out you little scoundrels.” He shouted.

“If I catch you I am going to give you a good spanking and then hand you over to the police.” He warned.

Strangely, he could hear their giggles and shouting but could not see any children. The machine in the west wing had again started whirring. And this time it was making a ruckus.

Now Sevak Ram was reminded of the warnings and this increased his nervousness and fear. Somehow, he again went to the west side section from where the sound was coming. This time he decided to peer through the window first instead of going inside.

Sevak Ram saw something so terrible and frightening that all color drained from his face. He could not utter a sound and strangely he could not move an inch! That was the last that was seen or heard of Sevak Ram.

The next day, Shanta, Sevak Ram’s wife was anxiously waiting for her husband to return. When she saw that it was way past his due time of return, she grew a bit worried. After a few hours had passed Shanta now was growing concerned for her husband. The rumors and stories about the factory also were constantly running in her mind. She decided to go out and ask around. Well, nobody had seen her husband. She then contacted Ketan Gadiya, the man who had got him his job.

“Sahab, my husband is still not back.”

“Arrey, he must have stopped to talk with somebody,” Ketan replied.

“No, I asked around but no one has seen him. I am growing tense and worried sahab.”

“Don’t worry. Let me go and check if he still doesn’t return. Contact the police.” Ketan said.

Now, Ketan was a wily old man of sixty years. He had an uncanny aptitude for convincing his people to do his bidding. He was also very keenly self-conscious about his preservation and safety. As he had also worked in the factory some time back as a manager and knew a lot about the factory’s history; he was also a bit apprehensive about this development as he was in the process of acquiring a new owner for this factory.

“Now where did this rascal go” thought Ketan.

“He will ruin all my plans about getting this factory sold.”

Anyways, he went to the factory and did a thorough search of the premises but could not find any sign of Sevak Ram Sharma! On the other hand, Shanta had contacted the police and lodged a missing person report. The Police Officer, Inspector Kamath, was a no-nonsense guy and he took his duty very seriously. Though he was known to crack jokes at the most serious of times, still he was highly effective in his duties. When Shanta went to the police station to lodge a complaint he was in an irritable mood.

Just because his wife had not been on talking terms with him for the last few hours, despite Kamath’s repeated attempts, this had pissed him off also and he had stormed out of the house. So he was not paying much attention to Shanta’s complaint but when he saw the fear and grief in her eyes, he decided to go over and enquire.

So he went to the factory and found Ketan giving instructions to a few laborer who were milling around him. He went directly to Ketan and started asking him questions which made Ketan a bit nervous.

“Did you offer the job of night watchman to Sevak Ram?”

“Yes,” Ketan replied.

“How long have you known him?” Kamath asked.

“I have known him for a long time, sir,” Ketan replied.

“He was my friend and co-worker a few years back,” Ketan said

“Do you know where could he have gone?” Kamath enquired pointedly.

“Sir, I honestly don’t know. I have been looking for him.” Ketan responded earnestly.

Inspector Kamath was not satisfied with Ketan’s answers but could not do anything as he was not under any kind of suspicion. Instead, he had the whole factory searched more thoroughly this time but still, unfortunately, there was no sign of Sevak Ram!

Meanwhile, Ketan had been successful in finding a new buyer for the factory. The new owners were Indian-Americans and had wished to come back to India to start a new business there.

So, they were looking for a place to set up their new textile factory when they had met Ketan and he had given them this idea. So that day, they were coming to visit the factory. That’s why Ketan Gadiya was worried about this development and also eager to get everything cleaned up and operational for their visit.

Mohan Doshi, the Indian-American who was buying this factory was a 6feet tall, fair, handsome guy. He had studied at Cal Tech University and had a comfortable job and a nice family there. But he always wanted to come back to India and do something new. So here he was now with his beautiful wife Teena, four-year-old daughter and two-year-old son.

Though, normally families don’t want to come back to their homeland; but, Teena was more than eager to come back to India, the land where her parents were born.

Ketan, on the other hand, with extreme difficulty convinced Gunga Din, to take over from where Sevak Ram had left as a night watchman. With extreme hesitation, Gunga Din had accepted knowing fully well about the reputation of the place.

That night, while Gunga Din had settled in the guardhouse after making his rounds, he heard some sounds of small feet running in the premises. He was surprised.

“How come these little devils have entered the premises?” Gunga Din thought.

He went around but could not see anyone.

He came back and was about to have his food when he felt that there was a slight knock on the door. He went and opened it but could not find anyone.

“Must be the wind.” He thought.

As there was a strong wing brewing that night.

Again he heard someone call out his name.

“Gunga, Gunga !”

He was suddenly a bit taken aback and also a bit curious to know that who was out there.

So he again went out and found his old friend Sevak Ram standing there!

Sevak Ram looked haggard and it seemed as if he was in a trance.

“Where have you been?” Gunga Din asked.

“Shanta and the police have been looking for you all over the village and this place.”

“Especially, Shanta has been frantically looking for you.” Gunga Din further said.

There were just tears in Sevak Ram’s eyes and his lips quivered but he could not utter a single word.

Gunga Din thought this was odd of Sevak Ram and as he tried to come closer to him “Don’t” shouted Sevak Ram.

Gunga Din stopped dead in his track and looked wide-eyed at Sevak Ram.

“Tell her that I love her very much. Also, tell her that I am at a place where no one can reach me, but I will always be around her and the family.” Sevak ram said.

“What are you talking about?” Gunga Din was confused.

“I am going to call her right now that you have been found and you are going to go straight to your family.” Gunga Din asserted.

Sevak Ram just looked at his old friend and gave a weak smile.

All of a sudden the machines from the same west wing started whirring and all the lights were all started lighting up.

Gunga Din looked abruptly and was about to turn when Sevak Ram shouted a warning.

“Don’t go there Gunga. It’s not safe.”

“Why?” Gunga Din asked.

“Just don’t ask and please get away from this place as far as you can and as soon as you can.” Sevak Ram said with folded hands.

Gunga Din was surprised at his friend’s strange request and he was shocked to see his friend pleading.

Just at this moment, it felt that someone had brushed past him at full speed. Gunga Din nearly toppled over but somehow managed to balance himself.

The minute he looked at the place where his friend was standing, he was stunned. He could not see Sevak Ram anywhere! It was as if he had disappeared into thin air!

“How could he go so fast from here?” thought Gunga Din.

“Especially, when he has to pass me and walk for a few minutes to reach the gate?”

These thoughts now made him a bit tense but still, he had to go and find out how did the machinery start all by itself and how had the lights had come on.

As he kept walking, he could sense that someone was following him. He even felt that someone brushed past him; but when he looked, there was no one!

As he neared the building he also decided to peer through the window. He also saw something so terrible that he gave out a scream and ran from that place never to come back again!

Ketan was however oblivious to all these and the next day he was furious when he found that Gunga Din was not at his post. He called out his name but did not get a response. Strangely, he did find all of Gunga Din’s things like his mobile, his food packet, his torch etc. all neatly arranged at the gatehouse. It was something similar to the time when Sevak Ram disappeared. All his things were also neatly arranged at the guardhouse.

Anyways, he did not have time to ponder on such things as that day Mohan Doshi was due to arrive at the factory with his family and a few of his friends and investors.

Mohan Doshi arrived the next day with his family and a group of investors to inspect the family and finalize the deal. During the puja ceremony, Siyaah, Mohan’s four-year-old daughter was getting bored when she suddenly spotted a colorfully dressed man standing at some distance with colorful balloons. Being a child she was naturally attracted to balloons. She saw the man beckoning her. She looked around and when nobody was looking, quietly tip-toed out of the ceremony and headed towards the man.

The more she came closer to the balloon man, the more he seemed to recede into the shadows. All the time beckoning her.

Her mother, Teena, suddenly noticed that her daughter was not there.

She looked around but could not see her anywhere.

She quietly stood up and went looking for her.

She looked all across the factory premises but could not find her anywhere.

“Siyaah, Siyaah”

“Where are you?”

“Come to Mama.” She shouted.

Still, there was no response from Siyaah.

Now, Teena was frantic and she called up Mohan and told him about Siyaah’s disappearance and asked him to meet her near the west wing.

Mohan was alarmed and he along with Ketan and the rest of the people started looking for his daughter throughout the factory.

“Siyaah... Where are you darling?”

“Look your mama is crying.”

“Please answer sweat heart.”

Teena was frantic and nervous as was Mohan.

“Call the police,” Mohan said to Ketan.

Suddenly, they could the giggles and screams of laughter coming from one side of the west wing. All of them rushed in that direction.

They were relieved to see Siyaah sitting and laughing excitedly at something or someone.

They could not see anyone there.

Teena and Mohan were much relieved to find their daughter safe and sound and rushed to hug her tightly.

“What are you doing here darling?” Teena asked.

“I was playing with the balloon man.”

“What balloon man?” Teena asked looking around.

“I can’t see any balloon man beta,” Mohan said.

“He is hiding from you. He is scared of all these people.”

Ketan went and looked around the corner but could not see anyone.

“Must have come to earn a quick buck.” thought Ketan.

Later on, when they were on their way back Siyaah surprised her parents by saying

“Mummy, the balloon man wants to come along with us. Can he come with us please?”

Teena looked surprised and a bit concerned as she could not see anyone around her. She was thinking that her daughter is imagining things.

“He is right here with us mommy in the car,” Siyaah said laughing.

Now both Mohan and Teena exchanged glances at each other as there was no one else except the four of them!

 A couple of days later, Mohan was in the office section of his factory, setting up things to do. Though the factory had not been operational yet as Ketan had said it would take a couple of weeks to arrange for the workforce for the factory.

It was around 8: 00 P.M. when Teena gave a call to Mohan and asked “when are you coming?”

Mohan looked at his watch and said “in an hour as I am finishing up the final touches to the presentation.”

“I will be there by dinner,” Mohan promised.

As he was about to wind up he suddenly the sound of a machine whirring.

“What?”

“Who could be here at this hour?”

These were the thoughts as he went to investigate. Strangely, Mohan also felt someone brush past him but could not see anyone!

“Must be the air.” Thought Mohan as there was a pleasant breeze blowing.

Anyways, as he entered the section where all the heavy machinery were installed, he was surprised.

He found that all the machines were on and making a ruckus of a noise.

“Who could have turned all these switches?” wondered Mohan.

“Especially, when the workforce has not been hired yet and they are two weeks from going fully operational.

He switched off all the machines and started walking back to his office when again it felt that someone had again switched on the machines.

“What in God’s name is going on?” exclaimed Mohan.

He again went back and switched off all the switches and lights.

Mohan got exacerbated when the machines and lights got turned on for the third time.

“Ketan, what’s wrong with the switches and electricity here?” he demanded angrily of Ketan on the phone.

Ketan Gadiya was surprised at hearing this and asked Mohan to switch off the lights from the main junction box. Mohan did so with great difficulty and decided to return. This time the lights did not get switched on. Mohan was relieved and thought of getting the electrical wiring checked the next day.

Meanwhile, strange things had started happening with Siyaah back at home. She had started acting weirdly.

“I want to play with others and the balloon man.” She used to scream at her mother at odd times.

Sometimes she used to talk with someone animatedly and when her parents used to come to her room to investigate, they could not find anyone.

Sometimes Siyaah used to stare blankly at the wall and start up laughing maniacally. Sometimes she would just wander around in a trance. Her health had also started deteriorating.

Both Mohan and Teena were extremely worried and concerned at the sudden turn of events.

They could not understand what was happening to their little girl!

One day Teena got the biggest shock of her life and it scared her to the core.

As she was about to call Siyaah for dinner, she peered into her room and saw a dark shadow with balloons on the wall!

Siyaah was laughing and giggling at the shadow.

The shadow quickly melted into nothingness as it sensed that Teena was near.

Teena was too scared and shaken to the core.

She just took Siyaah up in her arms and went for her dinner.

She, later on, discussed this with Mohan but he discarded all this as a child’s imagination.

“She is in a new place. It’s going to take time for her to adjust here.” He said.

Strange things had started happening at the factory also. Things like bales of white linen kept for distribution would be smeared with colors.

This happened quite a few times.

Some of this was even witnessed by the workers there. As eye witness accounts confirmed that bales of perfect bales of white lines stacked at one moment would appear smeared colored the next moment.

As if this was not enough, something happened that shook up everyone for years to come.

Shinde, a worker went to the men’s washroom one day. The experience had made him so scared and nervous that he decided to leave the factory and this place for good. As it happened Shinde was all alone in the washroom when suddenly he felt that someone was in the room with him.

As he relieving himself, he heard footsteps but could not see anyone.

“Hello...Is anybody there?”

There was no response.

The temperature of the washroom seemed to grow cold, despite the day being intensely hot.

All Shinde could sense was that someone was watching him and this made him quite uncomfortable.

As he lowered his face for a wash, after a few minutes, when he looked up at the mirror he got the biggest fright of his life.

He saw a man with a hideous face staring back at him from the opposite side of the mirror on the wall!

Shinde was taken aback screamed “Arghhh...”

Then all of a sudden these words appeared on the mirror “Get out or else” and the mirror cracked.

Shinde was so terrified that he felt paralyzed for a few seconds and then ran screaming from the washroom.

“Help..... Help”

When others asked him what was wrong.

He just looked at them with a bewildered expression.

After someone offered him a glass of water and after taking a few sighs of relief did Shinde come back to his senses.

“Yeh jagah bhootiya hai.”

When others looked at him with strange expressions, he said “this place is haunted.”

“Just now I barely escaped with my life.”

“Where did you see this ghost?” Others asked.

“In the washroom,” Shinde said.

Hearing this others laughed but Shinde was so terrified that he said “I am going to leave right now.”

“If you value your lives you should also do the same.”

With that, he left the factory forever.

A few days later, one of the workers was working near one of the cutting machines when he felt someone push him towards the blades of the machine. He was about to fall into the gaping space of the two blades of the machine.

“Ahhhh.......Help”

 Somehow he managed to balance and save himself. Others came rushing to the spot hearing his screams.

Even Mohan came running hearing the commotion. When he heard the news he went over to the man and asked “are you okay?”

The man looked him over and started abusing him in a heated tone

“It is all because of you!”

“If you had not started this factory, this would not have happened”

“I am leaving right now. I will be able to get other jobs if I am alive.”

Mohan was completely surprised at this outburst. He could not understand why this man was

Venting it out on him. Ketan, the manager, tried to calm him down.

“You are the man who is responsible for this.” Blurted the man angrily at Ketan.

“Shinde was right. This place is haunted. He did warn all of you”

Now, some of the workers started realizing how right Shinde was.

Mohan Doshi still was not able to understand what was wrong and why everybody was fretting nervously.

“What are they talking about?” Mohan asked Ketan

“It’s nothing, sir. These are superstitious people and believe in made-up stories about this place.”

“What stories?”

“That this place is haunted!” Ketan replied.

Mohan was surprised at this. He was a modern man and did not believe in ghosts and spirits. He believed these were conjured up by tricksters and con men to swindle innocent people.

Meanwhile, remember Gunga Din? He had barely escaped from the factory. He had been completely terrified and psychologically, a wreck of a man since that night.

He did not talk to anyone. Not even to his family!

He had rushed straight back to his house and was hiding in his room since that night. His room was all covered with images of gods and goddesses and he wore layers of sacred necklaces around his neck.

Whenever someone asked him to come out he would say “She will get me. She is waiting somewhere here!”

“Who is here?”

“Why would anyone kill you?”

But Gunga Din would be too far away in his expression and keep on looking here and there with terror in his eyes. His wife was both saddened and frustrated by his odd behavior all these days.

Nobody could blame Gunga Din also. He was so scared and stressed that he was unable to put a foot outside his safe environs. One day, however, “Gunga Din... Gunga Din.” He heard his wife call out from outside the house.

He thought his wife might be in danger. As he was about to step out of the house, he was prevented by doing so by his wife who was in the house only.

“If you are here then who was calling me from outside?” Gunga Din asked.

His wife looked at him strangely but did not say anything.

This continued for a few days and Gunga Din was so frustrated that he decided to end all his misery and suffering by ending his life.

He went inside his room took out a long clothesline and threw it over the ceiling fan. Then took a final longing look at his house and picture of his family he hung himself!

Meanwhile, things were not looking good at Mohan Doshi’s house also. One day, Teena had gone out along with the kids shopping.

While coming back in the car she could see that Siyaah was laughing and giggling at someone. When she looked at the rear-view mirror she got the biggest scare of her life!

She saw the same shadow stare back at her with a hideous grin on its face and then turn back to Siyaah.

She was so terrified that she somehow managed to grab the kids from the car and run like hell from there. The shadow kept on following her.

Even Siyaah was screaming like an insane person demanding to be left alone.

That very night Teena barely escaped with her life. It so happened that it was around 7:00P.M when Teena heard a deep rumbling sound and Siyaah’s scream at the same time coming from Siyaah’s room!

She panicked and rushed to see what was wrong.

What she saw made her blood freeze on the spot!

She saw her two-year-old baby boy being tossed around in the air by the shadow. Siyaah was huddling in a corner and screaming.

When Teena too screamed, the shadow suddenly dropped the baby back in its cradle and melted into thin air!

Teena just grabbed her kids and ran from the house. She could feel that the shadow was also following her. She ran at full speed with the two kinds until she reached a small temple and it was here that the shadow could not follow them in.

She called Mohan and apprised him of the whole situation. He was too stunned to speak.

Later on, in a hotel room, Teena convinced Mohan to get the help of a professional.

Though Mohan was a sceptic he still looked around until he found Paramjeet Sengupta, a professional Psychic, Paranormal Investigator and the leader of Paranormal Research & Investigation Society of India.

Now, Paramjeet, or ‘Parry’, as he was called by his friends and colleagues was a man of contrasts. On one hand, he was deep into the latest trending Mobile games and Hard-Rock music; on the other, he was a very sincere and passionate man about helping people with problems that no one else could solve. That is the case of haunting, possessions, demonic encounters etc. Most of the time he would be found researching various paranormal incidents and stories around the globe. He had also done his Masters in Paranormal Studies from Saint George’s Rectory in Pennsylvania, U.S.A. He was also a well-renowned paranormal investigator and had solved cases like “The Haunted Burari House”, “The Lady in Sanjay Van”, “The Haunted Flat in Versova, Mumbai”, The Case of the Witching Tree in Orissa” and many more of such cases. He was also a very tall, fair, handsome man. People used to be mystified about his choice of profession. His reply would be when being asked “I have to help the lost souls to reach their destination.”

“God had chosen me for this since I was a child.”

This statement was peculiarly true because of his childhood experiences. He was a very sensitive person since his childhood.

Well, that’s another story to be told in the next edition.

Coming back to the present, Paramjeet was surprised and a bit curious after he had heard the whole story from Mohan Doshi. He even mentioned Siyaah’s deteriorating physical and mental condition. All Paramjeet said hearing the whole story was:

“I want to meet Siyaah.”

Mohan just nodded. The next day, Paramjeet, along with his team went to Mohan’s house.

Here they saw a sweet and beautiful little girl withering away. Siyaah had lost weight, her eyes were hollowed back into her eye-sockets and she had a faraway look in her eyes. They kept on observing her for a few moments.

Sometimes Siyaah would just giggle, other times she would keep talking to someone. Most of the time she would just blankly stare at the wall!

Paramjeet went up to her and said “Hello Siyaah.”

“I am your father’s friend and I have heard a lot about you.”

“Will you be my friend?”

There was no response from Siyaah till now.

Then suddenly she blurted out “I can only be your friend if you become friends with the balloon man and not harm him.”

“I will most definitely be his friend. Can you see him?”

Others, including Teena and Mohan, gave surprised looks at Paramjeet, but he raised his hand and gestured that he would explain everything later on.

After spending a few minutes with Siyaah, he turned around and addressed Mohan &Teena directly, who was looking distressed and in grief.

“This entity has attached itself to Siyaah. It will only have a solution if we find out what had happened at the factory.”

“For that, I have to talk to your Ketan Gadiya.”

Mohan was surprised that how could Paramjeet know about Ketan but he just nodded and set up a meeting with Ketan.

Paramjeet knew from the start that Ketan knew everything that was going on in the factory.

“You knew everything right?” he asked.

“Yes,” Ketan replied.

“Then why didn’t you tell this to the Doshis?”

“I became greedy and selfish. I did not realize that it would come to this!” He exclaimed.

“It was for your selfish motives that two innocent people have lost their lives and a little sweet girl is suffering,” Paramjeet said.

Mohan was furious that Ketan had not told him about this factory and kept it to himself.

“How could you be so selfish?” he asked.

“See what your greed and selfishness has done to my daughter?” Mohan cried.

“If anything happens to her I will not spare you.” He warned.

Ketan just bowed his head in shame and grief.

Paramjeet, not wasting time-ordered Meenu, his lead psychic investigator, Joel, his technician, Ketan, Mohan to come with him to the factory. He also asked Priyaank, his cameraman, Shefali, another investigator and the rest of the family to stay back with Teena, Siyaah and the doctors at home.

All of them could feel the temperature drop a few degrees as they entered the dark environs of the factory. The more they proceeded, the colder it grew despite it being very hot outside!

“Param let me lead here,” Meenu said.

“As I can feel there is a lot of pain and suffering here.” She added grimly with a pained expression on her face.

Paramjeet nodded and let her lead the rest of them. She went to the washroom, to the other wings of the factory, all the while in a trance and explaining what all happened there.

As she approached the west wing, something changed in her way of walking! She stopped all of a sudden and grimaced as if in pain!

“What’s wrong Meenu?” Paramjeet asked.

She kept quiet for a few seconds. It looked to the others as if she was experiencing some kind of extreme grief, pain and bodily injury!

The others were naturally shocked to see this and were concerned for her.

As Paramjeet moved forward to help her she raised a hand and said “I can feel someone wanting to talk to me.”

“Don’t be afraid!” She said.

“Tell us what happened here,” Meenu asked.

After a few minutes, she asked “okay, did Ketan Gadiya know this?”

Then she slowly opened her eyes and narrated what she experienced. She said that some 40 years ago, a man had lost his life in an accident at the factory. When his wife along with her children had come there to ask for compensation, she was badly treated and shooed away from the factory premises. Later that night, she had committed suicide by starting the cutting machine and throwing her children into it and jumping after them! By the time anyone could have done anything all of them were dead!

The atmosphere around them had gone deathly silent!

Then all of a sudden all the machines started whirring up!

The temperature of the room fell a few degrees more!

All of those present could sense that someone was there and doing all this. They collectively gave a disdainful expression at Ketan.

“What could I have done?” He asked.

“I was a nineteen year old at the time who had just joined!” He exclaimed.

Meanwhile, Paramjeet and Meenu both said in unison “We think you should apologize for what had happened.” They directed this to both Mohan and Ketan.

“The spirit afflicting Siyaah is that of the father,” Meenu said.

“It will take away her soul if you don’t do this to assuage it.” She added further.

Both Ketan and Mohan then with folded hands stood in front of the machine and said

“We are saddened and shocked to know what had happened with you and your family.”

They said. “We will ensure that no worker ever has to face this kind of situation ever again in his or her life.” They added.

For a few seconds, it seemed that the entity was still not satisfied.

Then Paramjeet and Meenu stepped in and with folded hands requested the entity to calm down.

“Please accept all of our apologies. We know that it should not have happened to you.” They said.

“It is our humble request that you calm down and go peacefully and let Siyaah, an innocent child have a life and allow her to experience the glories of it.” They pleaded together.

After a few minutes, the machines stopped whirring. The temperature of the room also came back to normal. Just then Teena called and informed Mohan that Siyaah has become okay and is perfectly normal again as before. Mohan breathed a sigh of relief.

“Now everything is okay. The souls have gained their salvation and their justice. Now everything will be normal.” Paramjeet said.

Mohan Doshi thanked him profusely and Ketan also apologized earnestly. “You don’t need to thank us. “As we haven’t done anything. It is the Superior One who moves mysteriously.” He said. “We are just his servants doing as he instructs us to do.” He said pointing upwards.

With that Paramjeet and Meenu took their leave.