Chapter 27 He is the Writer!

Shiva was there, once again in that void, the endless darkness surrounded him and the cold made him shiver. Shiva closed his eyes hoping that when he would open them he would awake, but it was no use. Shiva felt like he trapped in that void, the void of his past and memories. He began to walk, he walked two steps further and found himself near a lake. Shiva recognized that lake by the Pandit's house. The darkness had vanished now and he stood facing the lake. He looked at water that carresed his feet gently. He saw his reflection in the water,but it was not him, it was child Shiva. He glanced at feet followed by his hands,they were small, gentle and tender. Then he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. He turned to the man. It was his father, Amish.

" Shiva, let's go home, you've played a lot today, let's go," said a smiling Amish.

Shiva still remembered how his parents used to bring him at the lake whenever he would get bored at home. It was a fun place for him.

" Home?," asked little Shiva.

" Yeah, let's go,"

Just then Shiva heard another voice, the voice was gentle emanating love and care, it was his Mother.

" Amish!, are you coming today or should I wait till tomorrow?,"

" Coming sweetheart!,"

Shiva watched his mother smiling. It was a long time since he saw his mother, but now she was in front of him. The cheerful smile on his mother's face shortly turned into a horrified look and now she was screaming, screaming with agony. His father ran towards his mother. The surroundings changed quickl. The day had turned into night and the lake and green trees were turned into burning houses. Shiva's mother was inside their house which was burning. Amish tried to save his wife, but it was too late. Amish stood there frozen, taken over by sorrow and pain.

" Dad!," little Shiva sobbed.

Amish turned to Shiva and watched with cold gaze. Everything was over he couldn't save his wife but he didn't wanted to loose his child.

" Shiva, you have to go away from this village,"

" But dad–,"

" It's for your safety, I can't lose you my child," said Amish who had broke into tears now.

Shiva didn't knew how to respond he just stood there. Slowly the distance between him and his father increased and shortly his father was lost.

Shiva suddenly woke up and found himself sweating and breathing hard. He looked around, he was in his bedroom. The nightmare was finally over. Shiva shook his head and went to bath.

Shiva and Mohan now headed to the their spot. They were sure that Raghav is allright because they knew that there is no spirit and Shiva hurried today because he has found something, he has found the fifth person !

" What!?,"

" Yes," said Shiva. " I found him,"

" Who is he?,"

" Remember that day when Mr.Joshi's body was found?, that day there was nuisance there, some people were dragging off an old man,"

Mohan recalled and spoke. " Yeah, yes was crying I guess,"

" Yeah, that's what Iam saying, he was crying because...,"

" Because Mr. Joshi died,"

" And that means...,"

" He is someone close to him, maybe... maybe his," Mohan looked at Shiva.

" Yeah, maybe his close friend,"

" But how do we find that old man now?,"

" Maybe Devashish could tell us something,"

" Yeah,"

Shiva and Mohan headed toward the Library and shortly they were standing in front Devashish.

" Hey, Shiva and Mohan!," said Devashish as he saw them.

" We had some questions," Shiva spoke.

" Questions?,"

" Yeah, we wanted to ask if you know anything about Mr. Joshi's close friend?,"

" His close friend?," Devashish tried to recall.

" Yeah, did he told you anything about his close friend or something?," Shiva enquired.

" No, I don't remember him talking about any of his friends, I wonder if he had any," Devashish said.

" I see," said Shiva

A man entered the Library and stood at Devashish's table holding a brook.

" Mr. Shrivastava, you're early!," Devashish spoke.

" Yeah, finished reading it quickly," said the man as he handed over the book to Devashish.

Shiva looked at the man. Shiva felt he had seen him somewhere. He tried to recall and he finally did!

" See you," said Mr. Shrivastava as turned to leave.

" Uncle!," Shiva called the man.

The man turned to look at the unknown boy.

" Yes kid?,"

" You may feel strange that why I'm asking this to you but it's very important,"

" Yes?,"

By now Shiva drawn the attention of Devashish and Mohan.

" The day when Mr. Joshi was found dead, I was there," Shiva paused. " And I saw that some people were dragging away an old man who was crying, you were in those people, right?,"

" Yes, but why do you ask?," the man asked as he felt accused.

" I just wanted to know who was that old man?,"

" The old man, he was Mr. Patil,"

" Mr. Patil?, where does he lives?,"

" Near Mr. Ranjeet's house," the man said." Two-three houses away from his,"

Shiva looked at Mohan, he nodded.

" Thank you very much,"

The boys rushed out of the Library towards the writer, Mr. Patil's house.

Devashish watched the boys rush out and then he called someone.