Message-Due to sudden death of Anitaji, we will remain close for the day.

Stupa is a 19 year old newbie in martial arts training center. Every day after her college, she went for her training at 5 pm. One such day after returning from her college at 4:30 pm she gets from her home on her bike for the classes. When she reaches there, suddenly clear blue sky got covered with dark grey clouds and loud thundering started.

Grrrrr…

Stupa stopping her bike-“ohh shit… how can I forgot raincoat, I have to drive faster.”

As soon as she reaches the parking space, it started raining heavily. She covering her head with her bag runs in, but to her surprise no one was there. Only an old lady was standing at reception.

Stupa-“where is everyone?”

Old receptionist-“you didn’t receive the message?”

Stupa-“message?” and checked her mobile. “It’s dead. I might have forgotten to switch it on after college. What a day? Few minutes earlier, I was happy thinking I am lucky enough to reach here without getting wet but look at this — first raincoat, then rain and now this. Anyways, thank you ma’am.”

And she went outside to leave but what, the rain. The daytime has turned into a dark no moon night. Everybody out there has hidden finding some hideout to avoid this thunderstorm. It’s raining like it will only stop after a flood.

Stupa-“now what, I’ve to wait for this to calm down” and again went inside taking her mobile out and switched it on. When she reaches in, the old lady at reception is not there on her table. It looks like that there is no one in there.

Stupa leaving her phone back in her bag-“but how could she leave, there is only one entrance /exit. I was standing here only, how can she? I am sure, I have seen nobody going out from here. Might be she is in bathroom…”

After few minutes when nobody comes out of bathroom, she went in to check.

Stupa-“Ma’am, are you alright? Ma’am…?” and knocks the door. The door seems free, she was feared to death but recalls her moto of joining Marshal Arts course to be brave.

Stupa murmured-“Stupa, you are brave girl, might be that she need you? You have to…” and pushes the old door.

Krrrrr , the door moves slowly.

Before she could open the whole door, a loud thunder of striking light — Grrrr. Stupa listening it moves back with a shudder leaving the door half-open. Her hands moves on to her face covering her eyes. As the sound stops she slowly slowly removes her hands off her face and again went ahead to look. She showing courage and controlling her fear, opened the door. She was shocked to look that there was no one inside.

Out of fear she turned back to run outside, that old lady was standing just in front of her. She trembles and moved back.

Old lady-“hey, it’s me”

She looked her properly, takes a breath of relief;

Stupa-“Where were you? I thought…”

Old Lady-“I felt asleep on the chair and while sleeping I fell on the ground.”

Stupa-“what…? I think I have to stay here as its rainn…”

Before she could complete, again a sound of clouds bursting come and everywhere black ink had spread.

Stupa shouts-“mummy… Where are you ma’am?”

But nobody answers.

She was shivering out of fear and could not thought of anything else. She puts her bag on her shoulder and tries to move out, but someone from the back holds her bag. She was so scared that her tongue fumbles. She slowly turns around looking downwards and tries to pull her bag without looking up. But it didn’t get free and she looked up and terrified to see a large flame infront of a large dark face full of shadows. Stupa screams and leaving her bag there runs out in rain.

“Hey kid, stop it’s me.”

It was the receptionist.

Stupa hearing her voice stops and looks at her clearly and after confirming, she was so relieved that she runs towards her and holding her hands sat on the sofa. Candle was kept on the table and she takes her phone from her bag with one hand as the other one was holding old lady’s hand. She opens the lock camera was already open.

Stupa-“what its camera…” and was closing it but before closing her eyes fall on her reflection. She could see herself but the old lady is nowhere seen. She turns side and looks at her hand holding the lady’s hand. Her heartbeat stopped for the moment and she closing her eyes tight for a second turns her face up to look her.

And, the message that was sent to her was arrived on her mobile-