Chapter 12: Unravelling the Mystery
The tension in Sayali's room was palpable. Each child was lost in their own thoughts, processing what had just happened at the old house. Meera couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to this mystery than mere superstition.
"Sayali," Meera began, breaking the silence, "do you know anything more about that house? Anything at all?"
Sayali shook her head slowly. "Not really. I've only heard the same stories everyone else has. But I do remember my grandmother mentioning something about a family that used to live there. She never finished the story, though. Every time she started; she would stop herself."
This piqued Meera's curiosity even further. "Maybe we should talk to your grandmother," she suggested.
Sayali hesitated. "She gets very upset when we bring up that house. But we can try."
Meera Said but before that we must called Nilu and Nilesh hear, I want to know something from Nilesh.
The day had given way to a tranquil evening as everyone from the medical camp returned to the Sarpanch's mansion to freshen up. The sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue over the village. The varandah of the mansion was bustling with activity. Dr. Sanket, Dr. Yash, and other doctors and nurses, along with Sarpanch Mahesh and Shyam, sat together, for enjoying evening renowned tea. The sarpanch wife Neelima, Anvi and Apurva preparing tea for all of them,
Meera, Supriya, Jayesh, and Sayali quietly made their way to the varandah, sitting in a corner as they had agreed not to mention the day's incident near the old house. Shyam, who had been observing the kids since their return, noticed their unusually quiet demeanour.
As Anvi, Apurva, and the Neelima served tea to everyone, Sarpanch Mahesh addressed the doctors. "Are there any serious health issues among the villagers?"
Dr. Yash replied, "So far, we haven't encountered any severe cases. Most of the issues we've seen are related to diabetes, high blood pressure, and general weakness. Since it's the first day, fewer people came to the camp. We need to visit their homes and encourage them to come for check-ups. We're planning to organize a team to go door to door and ensure everyone gets the medical attention they need."
Shyam continued to observe the kids, noticing their uneasy silence. He got up, walked over to them, and sat down. "Hi, baccha party! How was your first day in the village?" he asked cheerfully. "Sayali, did you guide them around?"
Sayali hesitated but then replied, "Yes, Shyam Kaka. We wandered around the village, visited my friend Neelu's house, and then went to the farm. We ate mangoes and had a lot of fun."
Meera chimed in, "Yes, we enjoyed it a lot!"
Shyam found their responses strange and probed further. "Apart from the farm, where else did you go? I was at the farm myself, checking on the water motor for Sarpanch Mahesh, but I didn’t see any of you."
Sayali’s face turned pale, and Meera looked shocked. Trying to cover up, Meera said, "No, we were just wandering nearby the farm and then came back. Maybe that's why you didn't see us."
Shyam gave them a knowing look. "I thought I saw some kids coming from the direction of the jungle, near that old house. You weren’t those kids, right?"
Sayali and Meera tensed up. Fearful that Shyam might tell her father, Meera quickly replied, "No, we came straight home."
Shyam, aware of the truth, decided not to push further. He said, "Alright, maybe I saw someone else. But remember, you shouldn’t go there. It's not safe."
He stood up and walked back to sit near the Sarpanch to discuss the next day's plans. He decided to keep an eye on the kids, knowing that city children often didn’t believe in village superstitions and could get into trouble.
As night fell, the women busied themselves preparing dinner, and the kids helped in the kitchen. The day's activities had left everyone exhausted, and they fell asleep earlier than usual, their minds heavy with thoughts and plans for the next day.
to be continued........................
