The ties that bind...

Note: (It is said that human beings have three basic needs, food, shelter and storytelling. We live for stories right from our childhood that is filled with stories narrated by our grandmothers. These tales are a part of our folklore which in turn is fused with demons, demi gods, wood fairies and other creatures belonging to the mythical world. This story tries to explore those folklores, although heavily inspired by the supernatural tv show The Vampire diaries the supernatural element of this story is deeply rooted in our own local folklore).

The warm water stung her flesh jolting back to reality, Zoya wiped the bathroom mirror off the steam after turning of the shower. A defeated sigh escaped from her as the blue bruises on her shoulders stared back at her. It was a constant reminder of the other night when she was on the verge of losing Aditya. 

How many people were she suppose to lose in this life she thought as she sat on her bedroom, her parents, Kunal now Aditya and again her eyes met the reflection of the girl who had cried her eyes red for Aditya Hooda, a monster who never thought twice to kill anyone for his survival. 

"Where are you Kunal? I can't take it anymore. My head is so messed up."

Zoya whimpered tightly holding onto Kunal's diary, she remembered coming home and meeting her uncle's cold eyes. Sarfaraz chachu was not going anyway and it would only make things difficult for her when it came to finding Kunal. Slumped on the bed she opened his diary,

Dear diary,

Kaahan se shuru karoon, town library...kuch nahin badla hain. The same smell of books, the same old solitude, the only warmth was her peel of laughter but that too has the century old resonance. Same face, same laughter and the same old agony but her eyes...there is this warmth in them it feels so home, her eyes are nothing like that of Maya that had mystery, secrets and riddles whereas Zoya's eyes have so much purity.

She closed her eyes while remembering their first official date after Kunal revealed his real identity in the old library.

Flashback, few moths ago

Her giggles could be heard in the corridor as she ran ahead with the warm evening sunbeams peeping through the french windows. 

"Hey, we are supposed to be quiet okay."

Kunal reminded walking briskly behind her, Zoya comfortably sat next to the window while looking outside in the garden. 

"Here, I got you something,"

he took out a brown packet from his backpack and handed it to her.

'Kunal yeh kaise?'

He smiled at her astonishment, it was a first copy manuscript of short stories written by women writers of pre independent India under male pseudonym as was the practice. 

"You can fully trust me that they were all female writers disguised as male authors."

Zoya was just looking at the book in awe, 

"I owe you an apology, for everything Zoya, for putting you in a lot of danger."

'Kunal, can we for once not talk about all this? I know it sounds strange but can we act normal even if it means for sometime. I can't say about the future but atleast for this moment.'

Flashback ends.

Who could have thought that fate would be so cruel on them, Kunal was lost somewhere in the darkness whereas she was yet again the girl who lost her parents in an accident a year earlier. 

Town Club Hall

"What is wrong with you Shakshi? I thought I could trust you blindly when it comes to my niece and nephew and this town. How come Zoya is hanging out with that Aditya Hooda?"

Shakshi Mathur looked out of the window quietly as Sarfaraaz continued his yelling, 

'make a drink for yourself Sarfaraaz why are you so worked up.'

Shakshi announced as eloquently as she was dressed, clad in a classy saree she looked every inch a powerful player in the politics of the place. 

"Unbelievable Shakshi, you are acting nonchalant to me? Do you think you win elections every time because of your influence on the masses? Don't you dare forget it is us founding families council that backs your victory".

Sarfaraaz was fuming, the expensive all boy's boarding school and reputed foreign university tradition so deeply ingrained in him that it could be reflected clearly through his mannerisms.

'What are you afraid of so much Sarfaraaz? Because I can clearly make out it is not the well being of your niece that is your topmost concern.'

"Are you kidding Shakshi? The Hooda's are back in town, didn't we all grow up listening to the stories of terror that they unleashed in this town."

'Growing up we also were told that all our forefather's were freed fighters during pre independence era when in reality we know they were staunch loyalists to the British Raj'.

For the first time she raised her voice, making Sarfaraaz take a step back.

"So now you are of the opinion that those demons walking as humans among us are harmless, that they don't have an ulterior motive apart from falling in love with beautiful young women with obvious family connection to the history of this town."

'What do you think I am not keeping tract of them. Firstly, the younger one is missing and I would often see him with Zoya and Pooja prior to his disappearance. The elder one obviously came to see me and surprisingly he revealed his identity all at once. There must be something about the temple and it's not the treasure.'

Shakshi tapped her fingers on the table for the first time showing her frustration,

"Whatever be the reason we cannot let that Aditya Hooda succeed in his plans, he needs to be destroyed for the well being of our children, of our town."

Hooda Mansion

Aditya clipped his rolex, staring at his dapper self in the mirror, he was obliged to accept Shakshi Mathur's invitation for a formal dinner where all the powerful people of the town gather. These people held key information which he needed to decode. 

At the time his phone rang and he rolled his eyes at the name flashing on his screen. 

"Is Zoya with you? Her phone is not ringing."

It was Pooja Mathur in the other line and Aditya was annoyed at these kids for confusing him with Kunal then the realisation struck that Zoya was not around and his jaws clenched for he knew exactly where she had gone.

(To be continued...please readers your feedback is important. If you are not the follower of the series somethings might be a little confusing but from next chapter I will clarify everything. Do stay safe and take care.)