Chapter 6

Preparations started for Amara's marriage. Calls were made and invitations were distributed far and wide even to the most distant relatives.

Amara's grandfather came just then into the house after fixing the venue of Amara and Alexander's marriage. Lima came rushing to him from the kitchen. "When is the date fixed?" She asked in enthusiasm wiping her hands with a rag. "It is on Friday the sixteeth of August."

As soon as she heard the date Lima's eyes trickled tears,  exultance as well as perturbation were embarking her features at the same time. She was exultant because her granddaughter was soon going to get married to the man of her dreams.

Lima was perturbed because Amara's marriage was fixed exactly on the same day 300 years ago when Princess Veronica's wedding was performed. It wasn't a coincidence but destiny defined.  Lima's conscience couldn't be wrong. Amara and Veronica were the same. She had taken rebirth to end the monster.

Lima's existence was in tenterhooks. She could not bear to see her innocent grand daughter suffering the punishment of destiny.

Before surrendering her life for her kingdom the Princess had nothing to say but she will come back to rule her land. For three generations, the royal family had no females born. Amara was the first girl after the princess to take birth and she looked exactly like Veronica.

Lima was worried about her granddaughter. The recent incidence she had during the night in her bedroom was causing unsettled feelings in her though she wouldn't divulge her concerns to anyone. She wanted her granddaughter to be safe by any means and thus she took a decision for the safety of her.

The work of distributing the invitation cards of Amara's wedding was taken over by her uncle Benjamin and aunt Stella. Stella was speaking to Lima. They had just crossed the board beside the road which had bold letters implanted on it 'Tehran'. A low growl was heard by Stella and the same was heard by Benjamin but both thought it was just their illusion.

Stella ignored her inner voice and continued to talk to Lima. But then something strange happened frightening everyone. Tehran was once upon a time called Hamster the city where Princess Veronica ruled.

It was past twelve in the night. The power was down and there were no street lights glowing. Benjamin and Stella were passing through the road of the mansion Princess Veronica had locked long years ago.

The street was completely dark and dead silent but suddenly strange voices were heard from the mansion. "Come on release me. Come here.... please...." There was a desperate growling of a monster.

Benjamin's hands tightened on the steering and Stella's forehead was covered in sweat. Turning a deaf ear to the groans of the monster Benjamin drove his car ahead but from somewhere across a dry branch of a tree in a horrifying shape fell on the car's windshield.

Benjamin abruptly stopped the car hitting it to the tree trunk. He walked out of the car to throw the dry branch when he saw a hand bleeding completely covered in blood.

Stella screamed shaking with fear and collapsed to the ground going unconscious. Benjamin dropped the bleeding hand in fright and rushed into the car to drive Stella to the hospital. But the vehicle had gone broken.

He picked his mobile to call his family for help but both their phones were out of charge. How could everything happen all of a sudden? Two minutes ago they were speaking delightedly to their family?

Unexpectedly as if somebody had done a sorcery upon him Benjamin drove inside the mansion which was now suddenly dazzling with lights. The desperate growls of the monster heard earlier were heard more clearer tuning to enthusiastic expression. "Come on just a few steps more. Come release me of this crematory." His voice pulsates in excitement.

At once a man appears in front of him out of no where, as soon as Benjamin opens the gates of the haunted house. "Do not go there. It is just an illusion." A man in a long coat with no limbs flying in air appeared in front of him. "It is the evil spirit which is calling you." He warned him. But Benjamin did not care for his words. On a trance he continued to walk ahead towards the mansion.

"Our phones are dead. I need to call somebody for help. My wife is laying there unconscious." He points to his broken car.

"There is no phone inside. Nobody lives there. It is just an illusion. You are driven here by the ghost." The man flying in air once again tried to caution him but Benjamin wouldn't listen.

He walked inside the mansion and in a stupor towards the room from where the desperate growling was heard. The place was surrounded with cobwebs, deserted and dirty covered with dry leaves and dust. A vulture was flying on the top in the same room Benjamin was, and a fierce sound escaped out of it.

Taking a huge stone Benjamin hit the lock and the door bolted upon. "Come inside release me." The voices went much more eager now accompanied with a devilish laughter.

Ahead were huge iron plates in the shape of the doors tied together with steel wires and inside was a weeping voice heard.

"Release me now." There was a loud growl heard and the next second was the desperate whimper of Stella. "I'm jabbed inside these huge iron plates Benjamin, please release me. Break these iron ropes, shatter the locks and smash these steel strings wrapped around me. Come on release me." The volcanic violent road brought shivers down Benjamin's spine.

A MAN WHO DIES WITH VENGEANCE BECOMES AND STAYS A GHOST, UNLESS THE SOUL TAKES ITS REVENGE.

******

The next day morning Benjamin returned home like a psycho patient. His shirt was torn and hair disheveled. He was limping and threw stones on whoever approached him. Nobody knew where his wife was and what happened to her.

But he was telling everyone to unlock the haunted mansion and release his wife who was laying there with no conscience.

Amara was quiet disturbed learning her uncle's health status. She wanted to take him to a psychiatrist immediately but Lima stopped her.

She was suspecting the worst and knew the inevitable was bound to happen in the very near future.

"There is a queer fellow who lives here. He cures many people's psychological problems by his mystical mantras." Lima adminished Amara blatantly.

Amara looked at her grandmother quizzical. She knew Lima wasn't a well educated woman and believed in black magic, sorcery and such other practices.

When Amara tried to argue Lima became more adamant and decided to take Benjamin to the queer fellow who was popularly addressed as 'Fakir'.

Lima reported the issue to him. The fakir looked into the eyes of Benjamin and slapped him.

Amara instantly got angry at the mad practices and immediately challenged the fakir who said he was only trying to drive the evil spirit away.

He threw the white powder in the air and showed the pictures of ghosts in the smoke like a mirror.

Amara went frightened and as soon as the fakir had a look in her eyes, the locket hanging around his neck  fell down.

The fakir closed his eyes holding the white powder in his hands. Amara turned around and was about to walk away from the fakir. But....

"Madam wait." He called her prominent. "The danger doesn't lurk your uncle but revolves around you. You have a strong evil spirit that is chasing you. Go away from here, go away from this city before you see tomorrow's sunrise. Else you are in for a lot of trouble." He marked his words strong and authoritative.