It was as usual a cold and chilly morning in bangalore. I sat in an auto to get home after night long journey from Hubli. It was like blades gliding through your skin from both sides of auto. After 20 minutes of windy morning trip finally the driver stopped in front of the 15 floored building.. my apartments... The Angel's Nest.
Anybody can loose their sleep once he enters our lift. It gave just a perfect jerk to wake me up from my sleepy mood. I reached my floor 7 fully awake . I rang the bell of no 14. But no answer. It was no use waking up Mr Mahadev( Kumbakarna of our group) but ashwin used to wake up at one ring of a bell. I rang again and again with out any response. After trying for sometimes .. I sat on the steps waiting one of these guys will open the door. My eyes moved on the House No 13.
Siting there my idle mind went for a walk in the past...
We had moved into this building 3 months back. After our late night parties sent us out of our previous home. We had tried a lot to convince the previous owner that it was not us who made the noise, but the family living above us. But he was reluctant. And that way we had to move from green landscape of two girls PG in the neighborhood to a desert like 5th block. The first month at the new house we kept quiet. No parties, no loud music. We were living like most bachelors won't even think of. We were scared if the house no 13 people will complain about us then we are out here. So we kept quiet.
Ya House no 13... the story is about that house.
In a city like bangalore, neighbours hardly communicate with each other. So it was no strange thing that we never spoke or met the people residing behind opposite door. We gradually started our regular routine of partying and loud music was being heard almost all the evenings in 7th floor. And we were delighted that there were no complaints from anyone. There were only two houses in each floor. I thought the No 13 people are too co-operative. After a month I started observing a strange thing in that house. The rooms were always in dark except one bed room. The bed room's room was always in on state. One day out of curosity, I went near to the room's window. I heard a sweet singing voice " Jaa ne tu ... Ya Jaa ne na... Maane tooo .. ya mane na" . I came back rushing to my living room , paused our music player and announced that a girl lives next door. Mahadev,Ashwin and Vinay .. my room mates had only one question each....
Did u see her?
Married or single?
Beautiful ?
I said guys i just heard her singing. So lets wait and keep a close watch on the next door. All the heads nodded unanimously.
The next day I was coming back from the office. I tried my key at my door. Heard again but this time not one but more sweet sounds. Went near the window . I heard 4 sweet voices singing " Dum aroo Dum .. mit gaye hum .. bolo subha shaa . hare rama hare krishna". That day for I had real good news for my room mates. 4 girls living just opposite our door.
Mahadev that night had a question....4 gals .. atleast one will be beautiful?
So our logic vinay told. Don worry be there will be atleast 2 beautiful out of 4 girls .. after all god is not that bad.
Mr Mahadev was ready with the next .. what if they already engaged? ...
I asked him does that really bother us???... everybody smirked and that smile was the answer.
Oops I went into a long flash back let me come back to the present or pleasant morning when a sweet voice disturbed my memory lane...
"Excuse me you can wait in our house Mr??"
I was surprised a bit and mumbled ...
"Itsssss Abhi .... abhishek."
"Hi ... i am Shalini.. Come on in .. Its too cold out here.. lets have a cup of coffee..."
I hesitated a little... she looked at me ..and said
" don't be shy .. if you stay out here a moment more, you can get cold and again you have to come to me only.."
I asked "So you are a doctor??"
"Yes almost.... I am doing my internship right now" as we went in.
My mind said "Great news", as my mind went back again to my conversation with rohini .." Find my Mom a doctor bahu..." n here she was .. Shalini... her height was around 5'7 fair, little weighty but height nullified it. Typical girl you take to meet your mom.
I sat on the sofa. She was back with two mugs of coffee.
I asked her " You stay alone ?"
"No ways.. I stay with my class mates ... three of them. They are making the break fast ready.
By this time my mind had almost finished first floor of the building my dream home with Shalini when suddenly Nisha asked me to get freshen up and wash my face. The break fast is ready. When I came out of the bath room two more of them had joined. They were Rakhi and Manya. Out of the four single doctors Shalini was the most beautiful and I was thanking my lazy room mates for not opening the door.
During the breakfast my mouth and hands were co-ordinating only physically. My Mind and eyes were on the opposite side of the table. Looking at shalini. Our eyes met and locked at each other. I knew something never experienced was happening to me.
Is this love at first sight??? God knows... Just experimence the moment right now.
We finished the breakfast. The gals said they have to go college at 9. I opened the door still no signs of any living things in my house. Sweet sound of Shalini offered me to wait in her house till my room mates get up. I readily accepted the offer.
They all went and I had a short nap on the sofa. It was around 10 when I woke up and went to my house. Mahadev finally had woken up. Everybody was in hurry to go office so I didn't tell anybody what a great thing had happened. I thought of telling in the evening. I was last one to get ready for office so everybody left. I was alone again. The bell rang. Our new owner was outside standing. He had come for the rent. During chat he asked what were our plans for the weekend. I said we are going for a trek at dhavalgiri. His face suddenly dropped with anxiety.
He said " Young blood .... be damn careful at that place." I asked why? what so dangerous about that place. What he told tumbled my world upside down.....
" Last year in December season , a group went to trek there, All young college boys and girls. But 5 of them didn't return. No body knows the reason. Some say they slipped into the clouds. And of the 5 , 4 girls were living in this apartments itself. .....Just opposite to ur house... yes House No 13. Its empty since last December. Nobody has taken that flat for rent after that incident."
My mind again went into flashback.. this time just a few hrs back....
