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The Enigma

Chapter 1

       Vaibhavi stared at the swirling mist outside her window.  It was biting cold and the log-fire was blazing in the hearth in her drawing-room.  Though she sat on the couch as near to the fire as possible, she was chilled to the bone.  She had got tired of reading the novel with fine-print and had hence started staring into space to relieve her tired eyes.  After all, how long could one read in the dim light of three candles?

        The lights had gone off an hour ago.  They often did and never failed to, in such foul weather.   She was in her small bungalow which had a very pleasing view of the lake in Ooty.  She had settled down in this quiet, peaceful, beautiful and serene hill-station after her husband’s demise. 

        Her husband had been a Senior Scientific Officer in a premier Defense Research Establishment of the Central Government.  He had died a mysterious death, as he had suddenly collapsed one day in his office.  Though the doctors had said that he had died of a massive cardiac arrest, somehow Vaibhavi had never really believed them.  She had somehow intuitively felt that he had been a victim of foul play and been done away with by either someone from his office itself or by foreigners who were always persuading him to part with the Defense secrets. 

      He had been brave and honest, foisting off their pressure as long as he could.  When he couldn’t, he lost his life!  To Vaibhavi, he was a true patriot.  As she didn’t have any substantial proof to back her murder theory, she had just squirmed and remained silent, much to her dismay and discomfort.  The officials in the Defense Department Office where he had served for 40 long years, were tight-lipped and met her accusations with a terse ‘no comments’ when she had dared to voice her doubts, soon after her husband’s death.  They were of the opinion that once the doctors at the Government hospital had given their verdict, there was no reason to disbelieve them.  Hence her request of autopsy of the body was also denied and the last rites had been performed.  With that, any hopes of proving ‘murder’ were effectively quashed forever.

        She had then shifted from Bengaluru to Ooty.  Her only daughter Vidya, was married to an NRI who was settled in Australia.  She came once a year to meet her 60 year old mother, with her two kids; and that was it.  She never made the time to call her mother up and chat with her or find out about her well-being.  She knew her mother was a confident lady who could manage living alone very well.  Besides, since her mother wasn’t techno-savvy, she couldn’t correspond with her through e-mails or other avenues like through social networking sites.  Who had the time or patience for snail-mail?  She was employed and led a busy life in Australia.  One could say that as far as she was concerned, her mother almost didn’t exist!  She just paid her the mandatory yearly visit out of a sense of duty!  Of late, she had forgotten that duty too.  It had been three years since she had visited her mother.

        Vaibhavi had by then, given up hopes of seeing her again.  She had reconciled herself to the ‘empty-nest syndrome’ long time back.  These days she was totally at peace, pursuing her various hobbies like gardening, reading, painting and crocheting.  She was even involved in doing some social service.  She taught the 3 R’s, Reading, Writing and Arithmetic to poor children.  She had volunteered her services for a local NGO. 

        She had genuinely believed that the senior citizens who had lots of spare time in their hands must contribute towards a better society.  They could share their knowledge, experience and wisdom, couldn’t they?  Instead of hankering after kids or friends or even relatives who no longer cared about them!

         Well, on that cold wintry night, in the dark outside, she could feel the swirling mist taking some shape.  As she watched fascinated, it took the shape of her dear handsome husband Neeraj.  He slowly moved towards her.  She was scared and thought that she had gone out of her wits and that her mind was playing dirty tricks on her.  Though she admitted that she would’ve loved to have his gregarious and intelligent company, just then!  She was so tired, cold and miserable.  She was craving for the warmth of a human presence!  ‘Human’ she thought and then she shuddered.  But he had been dead for 5 years now!  She was then sure that she was imagining things. 

        She went to close the window from where the mist was arising and felt a chill draught brushing her face.  She shivered uncontrollably.  The window escaped her nervous hands and banged back open, against the howling wind.  The atmosphere had suddenly become eerie and deathly calm.

        “So how are you my dear?”  a bass voice asked of her, just out of nowhere!  Unwittingly she replied “Fine thank you, Neeraj.  Hope you are the same too!”

        Then she realized that had anyone seen her then, he would’ve definitely thought that she had lost her marbles! 

Chapter 2

        Still she knew that no one would see her or hear her.  She was completely alone in that secluded bungalow tucked away on a hill-slope in front of that vast, gleaming lake.  She had never believed in ghosts and spirits and had always laughed them off as figments of one’s fertile imagination.  But still, here she was, conversing with a ‘spirit’ which was that of her husband.

        He had by then ‘materialized’ in front of her disbelieving eyes.  He shook her by her shoulders.  Her shawl fell away and she started trembling violently.   “Are you- you - f- for r- real?” she stammered.  “Of course I am, Vaibhavi.  Don’t be so silly!  Can’t you feel my touch?”

        Yes she did.  It was warm and nice.  So soothing!  “But, you, you are supposed to be dead,” she blurted out and then averted her eyes from his piercing, troubled gaze.  His brown eyes had that same fire, that same spark.  Now they appeared angry and vengeful.  “I’m not dead.  If I am, then so are you! I am very much alive,” he spat out.

        Seeing her terrorized expression, he said softly, “Don’t be scared dear.  I’m not angry with you, but with them.”

        Her expression which had become puzzled, cleared as he continued, “My murderers!”

        “But you just said that you’re alive!”

        “I am.  I’m talking about those people who had tried to murder me.  My superiors who wanted me to cheat on my job which I held as sacred, and those bloody foreigners who were insistent on buying my honor and honesty. ” 

         So many questions hastened into her mind then and clamored for clarification, that she felt dizzy. 

        “But if you are alive, where were you all these years and why didn’t you meet me?  Why didn’t you ever contact me?  As it is, Vidya has forgotten me,” she sobbed.

        Neeraj led her to her couch by the fire.  He draped the shawl tightly around her shoulders.  Then he himself dragged another comfortable couch and sat as close beside her as possible.  He placed his arms around her and pulled her close for warmth.  She felt safe, secure and warm after so many years of leading a lonely life.  So even if this was an illusion, she didn’t mind it!  Not if it gave her so much love and solace!

        Suddenly the lights came on and the room was bathed in bright light.  The chandelier twinkled, the candles burned with their soft light and the fire blazed, strong as ever.  She looked happily beside her, only to find an empty couch, right next to her. 

        So it had been an illusion after all.  But wait a minute!  That couch beside her had been placed across the fire, previously.  How had it come next to her couch?  Her shawl which had surely fallen off earlier was also snugly draped about her.  How come? she wondered uneasily.  Had she herself pulled the couch next to her, draped the shawl tightly and…… But what about the warmth that still comforted her?  Had she imagined his presence and felt comforted?

        She suddenly felt cold and lonely again.  At least, she had felt happy in the company of her husband’s ‘spirit’!  But what was it about what he had said, that made her feel so uneasy?  Yes she remembered.  He had said that he was murdered.  Then again he had claimed that he was alive.  But if he was alive, why had he disappeared and how?  All the doors and windows were locked securely, except the one from where she’d seen the mist. 

        She was shocked when she realized that it had grills on it.  Surely no one could’ve entered or escaped from there!  She shivered again, uncontrollably.  She decided to sleep on the sofa, there itself.  She was getting scared to go alone, upstairs to her bed-room.  But immediately, she chuckled as she realized that she wasn’t alone for the first time.  She was always alone.  Had been so, ever since 5 years! Still, that night, in her living-room, sitting by the fire, she didn’t feel that she was alone.  She had her husband for company, she was sure, even though he was no more!

        She was sure that he had wanted to tell her something that was important and confidential.  He could’ve trusted only her, when everyone around him was dead against him.  She again chuckled at the pun.  She was feeling light-hearted and relieved, for the first time since her husband’s death.  Though she had led a full life, with no time for regret or remorse, she had missed Neeraj terribly.  They had been happily married for 30 years and then he’d suddenly left her all alone!

        The next day passed off uneventfully.  As dusk fell and the chill in the air intensified, she started looking forward to the night, when maybe, just maybe, her husband would meet her again!  She was sure about it.  She could feel it in her bones!

        And sure enough, there he was, just as if he had materialized out of thin air, the previous night.  This time, she wasn’t a wee bit scared nor did she bother to reason out how he had entered her living room.  He was present there and that was all that mattered!  They met and talked as if everything was just normal.  As if all that had happened five years ago and even thenceforth; hadn’t happened at all.

        Vaibhavi just wanted these illusions to visit her forever and wanted to continue with her delusions, if that was what they were!

        “Why did you vanish yesterday, without even a proper good-bye?” she asked him.  “I’m sorry. My time was up.” 

        She burst out laughing and said “I’m reminded of Cinderella.  I’ll have to think about some ‘fairy-tale’ name for you!”

        He joined in her laughter. Then suddenly he became serious. ”Vaibhavi, I’m going to entrust a great responsibility to you.”

        She looked at him with great interest.  She was excited and nervous. 

        “You’ll have to nail my enemies!”

        “Me, but how?  I’m not young anymore……”

        “Age has nothing to do with it, dear.  Listen to me carefully. And he outlined an audacious, but fool-proof plan.”

        She was amazed at its ingenuity and skeptical about her own ability to carry it off.  But if her husband wanted only her to do it, it meant that he was sure about her efficiency.  He trusted her and that itself would be the catalyst for her actions!  She resolved to clear that test with flying colors.
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