Chapter 25: Out at Night

" What!?," exclaimed Raghav.

" Devashish?," repeated Mohan in disbelief.

" Yes, he's the one who's helping the killer," Shiva told.

" Devashish?," said Raghav. " How?,"

" I noticed a few things about him which seemed very strange to me,"

" Like what?,"

" First thing I recalled from the day Mr. Joshi was found dead, everyone in the village was gathered there but not Devashish,"

" Maybe," said Mohan. " He was busy in the Library,"

" Wait, no, the Library opens at 11 am and everyone was gathered there from around 10 am," Raghav told.

" Exactly, why wouldn't he come there, it means that he already knew that it was going to happen,"

" Maybe you're right but that's not enough,"

" I have more, and by the end of my explanation you'll understand what was the plan,"

" Okay tell,"

" The second thing that I noticed was his phone, his new phone,"

" What about that?,"

" You see, he's just an assistant of librarian, I'm sure he doesn't get that much paid that he would buy that phone,"

" Yeah, it's very expensive," said Mohan.

" You mean the killer gave him?,"

" Yes, as a reward,"

" And?,"

" The third thing I noticed was his behavior, whenever we would sit and discuss our plans he would try to listen it,"

" But that's just your assumptions, right?," Mohan spoke.

" No, I'm sure about it, remember when we went to him to ask about Mr. Joshi's past he himself led us to our table,"

" Which means he keeps watch on us everyday," Mohan spoke to himself.

" Wait," said Raghav finally realizing. " Does that mean the letter was...,"

" No you get it!, yes, the letter was for him so that he would inform the killer,"

" But, I don't get it, you told what you've written in the letter, what does it have to do with the killer?," enquired Mohan.

" That's exactly what my plan is,"

" Plan?,"

Shiva explained his plan to both of then and now they were smiling with certainty and confidence.

" You're really a genius Shiva," said Mohan.

" If everything goes according to our plan then we will be one step closer in finding the killer,"

" So when are we going to execute your previous plan?," asked Raghav.

" Which plan," Mohan questioned.

" The plan of getting out at night,"

" We will do it tonight," Shiva told.

" Tonight?,"

" Yes, it will be a perfect timing,"

" Okay, at what time should we go out?,"

" I think, we should go out after 11 pm so that everyone is asleep," suggested Mohan.

" Yeah, we'll go out at 11,"

" Where do we meet?," Raghav enquired.

" Uhh," Shiva thought for a moment. " We'll come at your house,"

" At my house?, why?,"

" Even though we know that there is no spirit but there is a killer, it's risky to go put alone,"

" Hey, I am not a baby,"

" Try to understand, it's for the safety of all of us," said Shiva firmly.

" Fine,"

Shiva looked at the sky and stared the moving clouds. A smile crawled onto his face, he knew that his plan was dangerous but they had to do it. According to Shiva they are very close in finding the killer and now they can't back off.

The boys were discussing their plan meanwhile Ramkrushna's house was today filled with people moving from here to there, attending call and doing different works.

Abhishek, Geeta's fiancee was explaining one of the workers he work he had to do.

" Alright?," asked Abhishek.

" Yes," the worker said.

Ramkrushna walked in.

" Dad, why don't you rest?," said Abhishek.

" Rest?, there is no rest till your engagement is done," Ramkrushna chuckled.

" Is there any work for me?,"

" Work, uh..., yes, Geeta was calling you I guess,"

" Oh, okay,"

Abhishek went in Geeta's room and found her sitted at one of the chair. Abhishek sat on the chair in front of her.

" Dad told me that you called me," said Abhishek.

" Yeah!, look at this," said Geeta referring to the catalogue of Sherwanis.

" Woah, they're great,"

" Which one do you like,"

" You choose, your choice is better than mine,"

Geeta noticed the smile on Abhishek's face was fading and he seemed to be concerned about something.

" Hey," said Geeta as hold his hand. "What happened?,"

" No, it's nothing,"

" Come on, tell me, I know there's something that is bothering you,"

" Well, it's the village, the situation of the village, you see, people are going missing overnight, some are even found dead, it's not a safe place now,".

" I know, but it will be over soon,"

" What is the guarantee?, look what I'm saying that you and your family should move with us to Pune,"

" What?,"

" Yes, atleast till everything gets normal here," said Abhishek as he put his hand on her's.

Geeta sighed and spoke. " Dad will send me with you but he'll never leave the village,"

" You should try talk to him, it's not safe here for anyone,"

" I'll try, and I hope he says yes,"

The day was over and the night had fallen, everyone had closed their doors and turned off their lights. It was 10:50 now and the entire village was asleep except some. Shiva and Mohan were still up waiting for the right time.

" I've checked the house, everyone's asleep," Mohan told.

" They seem to be sleeping soundly," Shiva said.

" Yes, everyone had a busy day today,"

" That's good," Shiva glanced at his wristwatch. " It's time, let's go,"

It was not possible to leave the house from the main door so they boys used the exit door near the washroom and exited from the back of the house.

" Have you told Raghav that we left?," asked Mohan.

" Yeah, I texted him,"

The boys silently and carefully made their way to Raghav's house. They had never experienced such dead silence in their life. They wore as much black clothes as they can so that they can't be seen.

Shiva and Mohan reach Raghav's house. Raghav was in his room, at the first floor.

He climbed down with the help of the water pipe but had to take a big jump to the ground.

" Carefully," Shiva said.

" I'm fine, let's go," said Raghav.

The boys now headed towards the Vasusthala forest. The three of them had wore black clothes and masks that almost made them invisible.

" Vasusthala Forest, here it is," said Shiva.

" We can't go inside just like this, we'll need some weapon in case of emergency," suggested Raghav.

" Yeah, he's right," said Mohan.

" Look around and pick up some stones or stick," said Shiva.

" Really?, stones and sticks?,"

" We don't have any other option,"

The boys equipped themselves with the strongest weapon they could get. They turned on their torches and proceeded into the forest.

After searching in the entire forest the boys came out. Sadly they didn't found what they had expected.

" The search is done, we found nothing," said Raghav.

" How could we–," Shiva was going to say something but he didn't.

" What do you mean?,"

" No, it's nothing, atleast now we are sure that there's no spirit, if it was then it should've showed up,"

" Yes, you're right," said Mohan.

" Let's go back to our homes,"

" Yeah, see you," said Raghav as he was about to leave.

" Hey, you're not going alone," said Shiva.

" Why?, now we know that the killer is going to do anything today and we also know that there is no spirit,"

" But–,"

" Don't worry, I can go,"

" You know what you have to do, right?,"

" Yeah, I do," said Raghav assuringly.

The boys now had separated. Shiva and Mohan left to their house. On his way back, Raghav was getting a strange feeling that he never had before, it was of fear. Raghav was sure that there is no spirit but the very atmosphere of the village made his guts uneasy.

" What is this?, I've never felt it before," said Raghav as he walked on keeping his hand on his stomach.

He was still near the forest area and now Raghav was hearing some strange sounds, but he ignored it. And then a voice came from the bushes. Raghav stopped. This time he was sure about the voice and he couldn't neglect it now. He stared the bushes, the bushes moved, It gave a Raghav a heart attack and then something rushed out of the bushes, hitting Raghav straight onto his chest, making him fall. Raghav panicked, he didn't knew what it was, but he knew that he must run now. He stood and what he saw made his jaw fell.