“A ray of light is enough to sustain any form of darkness”. Even I am in search of one to lead me to a better understanding of things.
“Who could have conspired to lead me into a different world altogether?
What was the underlying purpose of such an act?
Was I having something special that was never known to me, but to others….?
Who was he, Parth?”
These questions perplexed me. My surroundings have changed drastically, saying so, Aastha looks outside her window. Is it the same vegetation that was present near my house in park street, Kolkata? Or, things are not what they seem. No, it doesn’t seem to be the same set of trees. They seem to form a pattern of some sort. Recollecting the reminiscences of the game, she could understand that something was not right. Something had changed in the surroundings or the whole surroundings have changed.
Trying to collect herself wasn’t easy for Aastha when she hears some voices in the vicinity. It was a very familiar voice that she could connect to instantly. It was that of her mentor, Sebastian Sir whom she was very fond of. He was her father figure. Thinking about him, she drifted into a warm gush of emotions when some shocking revelation came before her. A commanding voice could be heard from a distance – “I had bought you from your father. You are my slave. Our slave. Nobody is your parent. We are your masters and seek your allegiance. You will be used and reused by me. I have hated you enough but I hate you even more than before.
After some time, the voice disappeared leaving Aastha dumbfounded. She stood there like a statue for some time except that tears started rolling from her eyes. She couldn’t understand anything.
Another voice appeared on the horizon.
“Welcome to the Aks family!” laughed Harry.
“Aks. What are they?” Aastha thought
“Mind your language, Aastha,” cried Harry.
“Oh. I forgot. Aastha doesn’t know who she is then how will she come to know who we are. An Aks is a form of demoniac energies, the satanic power of the Universe. I hope this is enough of an explanation for you.”
“May I know who is speaking through the skies?”
“We are your kith and kin with whom you had spent your life”.
“Kith and Kin? But where are you speaking from? I cannot see you around”.
“We are everywhere, Aastha. We can speak through any medium.
“We are the biggest black magicians community who have practiced necromancy on you since your childhood till now. And we will continue to practice as per the rules.
“Rules. What rules?” cried Aastha
“Every game has rules and you are a game for us which has to be played as per the rules”, said Sebastian who was hiding beneath his magical sheath.
“Wait. Sebastian. Let us reveal everything to her. Time has come when she should be told about everything,” said the voice from above the horizon. “Girl, you have several questions in your mind which I laugh at. I am not allowed to satisfy all your queries at this juncture but will try and reveal some of the important things to you”.
Firstly, you were given to us as a small baby. We are necromancers, sorcerers, and black magicians of high repute in our community. You were part of an oral agreement between me and a gait who gave you to me when you were small. You were an agreement of magic for us. The agreement was to use you throughout your life for our purposes.
“We are not your family. In fact, we were never a family. We had to stay together only for you and till the time you were there in the family”.
“I didn’t understand. You were never a family? How can that be?”
“We are like different parts of the same tree. Family Tree. But were never a close-knit family. That is why nobody in the joint family could stay with each other for a longer period in your presence. Even so, with you. Hence, there were dry arguments whenever everyone met each other in your presence so that everyone’s food could be made. Your ill-treatment was their food.
“I also couldn’t be with you when she was around or what? remarked Sebastian
“You came much later in the scene, Sebastian”, said Harry.
“And thankfully so,” replied Sebastian. She is a pain in my ass. I never liked the girl”.
“Let me reveal something more to you”, said Harry to Aastha.
“Reveal? Anything more is left to be revealed”, mocked Aastha
“Many things. We have just started”.
“Do you remember something coming out of your stomach at the age of nine?”
“Certainly not. I don’t remember anything”.
“You were never an ordinary doll. A magical part came out of your stomach at the age of nine. After that, you lived on due to the Aks given by your uncle, Kamal Sidhwani. You were nothing more than an Aks box.
“I am unable to understand how did I survive then?”
“You survived due to magic but you are a miracle for us. I cannot say further on this except that you were then transformed into a magician’s doll for us. You are the only soul on whom we have practiced black magic every second of your life. You are linked to us since your childhood…
“And.. it means that…that you knew about my every move in advance?” continued Aastha
“We knew about your everything in advance. All those whom you met or were introduced to throughout your life were magical gaits. Our every move was pre-planned to give food to all the magical gaits.”
“What about my college days? Did you keep an eye on me?”
Harry laughed and said, “Girl, your whole family had to be informed about you because you were our food of magic since childhood. We kept an eye on you, alright.”
“It means I was very important to you. If that was so, then why did you send me to a faraway place?”
“You were instrumental. However, we kept you away from us by sending you to Pune, Mumbai, and Delhi so that we can practice our black magic more properly in your absence. It was the need of the hour. Also, we had to be made. Further, we created unfavorable situations for you only for our food which was your torture and bad.
“I thought you supported my education of law and you had supported me every time I wanted to pursue further education”, cried Aastha.
That is true. I showed that I supported you but we never wanted you to pursue education and do law for we could never do anything except practice magic. Still, we had to send you to Pune for your pursuing law as that was necessary for various reasons.
“What were your reasons for sending me off to Pune?”
“That is my secret. I cannot divulge”.
“I understood,” said Aastha
“What did you understand?”
“I understood everything. I am of the impression that the reason could be attributed to our joint family dispute only. Isn’t that true?
“Joint family property dispute. Oh that”, laughed Harry
“What about it? I want to know it all”, queried Aastha
“We gave you a story to read which was our joint family property dispute so that we create tensions for you throughout on which we thrived. Our real property was none other than you over which we always wanted to exercise control. We created magical parath (magical sheets) through you and sold them in our market of black magicians, about which we cannot reveal further. Your value as a doll was a matter of pride for us and our family.
“Whoa. I don’t believe my ears. My family was the biggest player in the market of black magicians. How can that be?”
“We had to hide everything from you. We had to hide beneath our magical sheath like your Sebastian Sir,” Harry laughed.
“Don”t bring me in”, said Sebastian. “I hate this chick”.
Interrupting their conversation, Aastha asked –
“Am I entitled to know who else was involved in the gameplay along with my family?”
“Oh. The Game. Are you asking about the Game?”
“Yes.”
“It was more than a game for us. However, we can divulge limited information on the game. We cannot reveal who all are involved in the gameplay except that you too are familiar with some of the names.
May I know who are the familiar names?”
“You were not only played with by me and my family which is a renowned black magician’s family but were also played by the gaits of the building and other magical gaits who stay hidden from the rest of the world. And that world is “You”.
“How can anybody be hidden from me?”
“That is my secret which I cannot divulge. The only thing that can be revealed to you is that you were on your own throughout your life and will have to remain so. We are not your gaits.”
“Why was the game played against me? Was it something to do with taking some kind of revenge against me?” quizzed Aastha
“The game has nothing to do with any revenge of any kind. However, you are not supposed to know the reason why the game was played. Concerning other queries, I will try and answer all your other doubts that you hold in your mind.”
“Hmm. I do have some doubts like that of my olden days in college and legal practice.”
“What doubts do you have regarding your olden days?” he asked
“Was I played with during those times by you? If yes, then who all played with me and how?”
“You were played throughout your life by me and all other magical gaits. We followed you wherever you went. We also created situations like the two accidents that you escaped, one of which was the most brutal one. Your accident was caused by your mother, Rita Sidhwani who practiced black magic on you. She never liked you and hence practiced all forms of black magic on you, beginning from giving you contaminated food to setting up accident-like situations for you. However, none of us were allowed to play with you beyond a certain limit as your life was more important to us than your death.”
“Why life. You are important to Harry even after death”, grinned Sebastian
“Don’t sound romantic”, laughed Harry
“Seriously, you were my responsibility and hence I created all types of troubles for you so that we could get our food. You were the only instrument given to us for the said purpose. We committed sins over Mother Earth through your instrument in your name. You were our license to do certain things in the universe that no one can ever do, for example, commit a crime against the order of the universe.”
“If I was that important to you, why did you play with my mind? Wasn’t that a ruthless idea on your part to play with some human instrument and in such a fashion?”
“You don’t know anything about you, Girl. You are our dream machine. The nightmares and dreams you got were enjoyed by us. We opened the dimensions and enjoyed ourselves through your dreams.”
“Did you play with my dreams? Who are you to do that?
“I am not allowed to tell you what I am. However, what I can reveal is that I was the biggest devilish presence in your life and “I” in essence means “all of us”. That explains the number 666 series that Boudhyan explained to you.”
“So, you played with my body, mind, and reputation? cried Aastha
“I played with your body and mind?”
“As regards reputation”, said Harry
“That I played with”, laughed Sebastian.
“Sebastian, you will also get an opportunity to speak but let me finish”. Harry laughed and began –
Your body was turned into a magician”s hub for our purposes. We prepared all types of food through you for the magical gaits throughout your life till the age of 33 after which we played the biggest game ever played on any spiritual plane.”
“Your mother…” spoke Harry
“What about her?” Aastha looked startled.
“Your mother, Rita Sidhwani is a magical gait. She is another Aks. We are different from you in all respects. Since, we are living dead entities, while you are a human instrument, we were jealous of your existence and always hated you. We wanted to live a life like yours. Your immediate family also wanted your bad every second of your life so that they could make their food.”
“Do you know that you were an aura ridden doll?” spoke Harry
“What is Aura?”
“During the game, we threw our heaviness (aura) on you so that you bear our burden of every bad during the game. Neither we are ordinary gaits nor you were an ordinary kid. We are magical entities”.
“Do you know the truth behind the joint family property dispute? Do you know that the ancestral property on which you are staying now was given to us along with you as a gift? It was connected to you since your birth. It has now been turned into an incantation cell.”
“What is an incantation cell?”
“An incantation, a spell, a charm, an enchantment or a bewitchery, is a magical formula intended to trigger a magical effect on a person or objects. The formula can be spoken, sung, or chanted. An incantation can also be performed during ceremonial rituals or prayers. In the world of magic, incantations are said to be performed by wizards, witches, and fairies. A cell or a bank of enchantments is an incantation cell through which food of magic is given to all magical gaits.”
Harry continues – “That was all about Game. Incantation cell was part of our game plan. Let us talk about your life till now. All the incidents in your life were more or less controlled by me – like the Terrorist Attack that happened -where hell virtually broke loose on everyone surrounding the areas where such incidents occurred. Your presence was necessary around the incident even though you could not be present on the spot of the incident. You were our only instrument for committing such heinous acts.
“Do you remember the Delhi Gang Rape? It was caused by us. We are magical gaits committing sins on Mother Earth and we are everywhere. You were psychologically affected by it and we got our food of your bad.
Leave that apart, do you know why did you fail all the exams, particularly Delhi Judicial Service Exam?” remarked Sebastian
“Not now, Sebastian. You add some spice to the broth once I am done”.
“Okay, you continue till I finish my other tasks,” replied Sebastian. Harry continued –
“You were a pious gait, a spiritual soul. However, your spirituality was always meaningless.
“How can you say that? cried Aastha. I am a god-loving person. How can my spirituality be meaningless?”
“Your spirituality could not be of any help to you as we played with your mind and conscience throughout. You are just an Aks box, a malba creator, an instrument for all our purposes. How can you be a spiritual person? You were our magical doll but still, you managed to read some scriptures given to you so that you achieve stability through your devotion.”
“Your uncle played well with you with his Aks”.
“Oh! Yes. He is my favorite”, said Sebastian.
“Is your task completed, Sebastian”, asked Harry
“Yes. I am done”.
“Your uncle arranged for our visit to Ahmedabad.”
“Remember, our visit to Ahmedabad.”
“Ahmedabad?” pondered Aastha
“Yes. Our visit to Ahmedabad was the first step towards my plan of bringing you down to this den. We had to create tension and financial difficulties for you so that you go to Mumbai in search of another job, which you did. Everything was part of our planning. After our plan here got finalized with your cousins who conspired with me to bring you to this dimension, we left for Kolkata for the phase-by-phase execution of our plan which could not be made possible without your presence. Hence, you were also called to Kolkata.
“Whoa. Such a big conspiracy against me?” Aastha looked down in serious contemplation.
“This wasn’t enough a conspiracy or what that you made her lodge a police complaint. And you made me a part of the whole school drama”, grinned Sebastian.
“So…the Police Complaint was…”
Yes. It was all a setup. The Police Complaint that you lodged with the police officials, was nothing more than a mockery as both of us, I and Kamal wanted you to file the said Complaint. You did it because we wanted you to do it. We allowed you everything only for some purposes of ours which we cannot disclose further. We wanted to feed on your tensions and difficulties which would be brought about by litigation. The police officials were part of our drama that was created by us for you. They were our men.
“I remember, all my career prospects and educational endeavors got thwarted because of pending litigation and the police complaint,” cried a bewildered Aastha.
“Pending litigation? That was our favorite. You don’t know who we are. We breed on dry arguments and struggles and love to dwell in places like Court. Hence, we created all circumstances for you so that you file a case before the Court. You were a good lawyer though,” laughed Harry.
“Career? You never had one. The firm where you applied – M/s. Bale & Co., was a firm comprising of magical gaits and M/s. Ranjan and Associates where your stay was brief, were other magical gaits – all tolerating you at my request.
“Do you remember your first job with Adam and Co.?”
“It was all arranged by me. I took you to the astrologer who was another magical gait so that he could eat up your career prospects before you search for a job in Mumbai, where you also met with an accident on your way to job search. I arranged your meeting with the head of the law firm Adam and Co., who was my friend and a senior magical gait. They were also a group of magical gaits who practiced magic in secrecy. Hence, you were deliberately sent there for my purposes of their food making and their playing with you.”
“We hampered not only your career but also educational prospects. We gave you our Aks, and through that, we challenged you mentally so that doing certain things would seem insurmountable to you. While you prepared for the civil services exam, we laughed at you because we knew that you could never pass any exam as we played with your mind every second. The resultant failure in all your attempts made us happy and gave us our food.”
“With no career advancement and educational progress, your life was a mere struggle for your existence. We had allowed you some earnings while playing with you. We came to know about your every move in advance. Hence, you were our game of chess for times to come. We manipulated every situation in your life by playing with your mind to affect your results to our good and your detriment. Your disappointment and anxiety arising out of your failures were our food. However, your determination was far more commendable than other things.”
“Further, we being your caretakers never bothered about your health. It was never a concern for us as we were the reason for your bad health. We were your tormentors and affected your health badly.”
“Do you remember your Bharani Mam who allowed you to teach at her place in Mumbai?”
“Yes. I do remember. She was the owner of a coaching Institute in Mumbai and helped me with my earnings.”
“She was a magical gait. She had given you a pomegranate juice to drink at my behest. The juice was replete with black magic spells in your name and was given to you for your detriment. She practiced black magic on you considering you were my doll to make her food. Your mother also needed to make her food of your bad health hence she joined me in this endeavor. The resultant worst condition of your stomach and bad health.
So much for your health. Now let me talk about your wealth. Your interests were jeopardized to the extent of your struggle for mere existence. Remember how you had to save money from your salary every time only to give us some money. We almost ate up your wealth throughout your life till now by showing our penury.
We are mere eaters of Aastha Sidhwani. That is one of the primary reasons why you never had enough money above a certain benchmark decided by us.”
“As regards the jewelry that we purchased in your name. We practiced our magic through it. We are the magical gaits having a penchant for gold, foul smell, prostitution, betting, and all things bad. You were everything to us and the only one given to us.”
“This was all about your health and wealth. Now we come to your “other endeavors”. It was first taken care of by me, your uncle, and your mother. Then Parth came into the picture. He was introduced into your life at the opportune time for our purposes. One of which was to make our food and the other was to execute the plan further. He is a magical gait whom you started loving more than your life and god,” Harry laughed.
“He was never a Greek God. But you adored him like one.”
“On a serious note, I had sent him to pursue you for our purposes.
Now let me come to the most important gait, who is more eager to share something here. “Your Sebastian Sir whom you call your father figure”, laughed Harry, “is my friend and a magical gait”. He is more powerful than you can ever imagine. I had sold you to him through some share certificates. It was a buy and sell out amongst two magical gaits for you were just a slave to me. He knew about your whereabouts and advances and hence played with you as I and others did. He never wanted to allow entrance to you into the Aim Law Institute. However, it was because of me that he allowed you into the Institute.”
“You are right, Harry. Now let me continue from this,” remarked Sebastian.
“I never wanted her to work and study in the Institute. But I was constrained to take her in the Institute only for you. She was part of our plan. She was a multi-purpose vehicle for us. Then how could I encourage her creative endeavors? But I did because I still had time for the final execution of our plan and till then I had to make food for myself and everyone.”
Tears began swelling from her eyes after hearing such words. Sebastian Sir continued further –
“I created unsuitable conditions for her in the office. She still managed to work and prove her mettle. She undertook various tasks in the Institute. Soon, it became one of the best periods for the Aim Law Institute which progressed financially and whose reputation increased substantially. All this affected my health badly. Hence, I had to stage a drama whereby I shouted at her and show her a way out of the Institute. She could never understand my dilemma. We belong to the reverse world where we breed on her economic distress and bad reputation.”
“I take pride in saying that I was one of those who could eschew her dreams. She never had a fixed career due to my friend and her uncle, Kamal Sidhwani’s Aks playing mind games with her and hence she could never succeed at anything. With me, she could never get promoted in the Institute, despite the immense hard work she had put in and the progress we made due to her. I kept her financially embarrassed most of the time. Pressures and worries took most of her day in the Institute. However, I failed to get any food through her as she could finish any daunting task given to her with ease. She rejoiced in everything she did.”
“What about her results?” queried Harry
“What results?” asked Sebastian
“The results of the mains exam of Delhi Judicial Service Examination. It was the talk of the town in those days. It was pending litigation. Remember?”
“Oh Yes.”
“You had even manipulated the results of the exam through magic. You had kept it hidden from her that she had passed the exam.”
“Hush. Hush! Don’t say that Harry,” laughed Sebastian
“Why not? Isn’t that a revengeful idea?” Both laughed.
“Yeah. Aastha had passed the exam with good marks and was even one of the topmost candidates. Her papers were rechecked after the decision of the Court in pending litigation. All went well except that the results were manipulated and kept hidden from her so that we could proceed with our evil endeavors. She is our food first and then something else.
What about you? Harry. You also played well with her. You had delayed the whole process after her name came in the newspaper for clearing the mains exam of the West Bengal Judicial Service Exam. She was about to receive a call letter when we began the worst game to be played with anyone ever.”
“So much for her career and educational endeavors, some of which were hampered by Parth, who entered the scene when she was preparing for her last attempt of civil services examination.”
“She is just a doll, Sebastian. Leave Parth, now. He is not her gait.” “Everybody knew that she is just a piece of shit. She could have never cleared the prelims (first stage) of the civil service examinations nor receive love, care and attention from Parth for both were beyond her reach.”
“So much for our playing, now let us summarize everything. You, Harry was in charge of her accidents, Parth ate up her name, fame and career through black magic, her mother and uncle played with her mind and intelligence control”.
“Where am I in the picture?” cried Sebastian
“You played with her finances, Sebastian”, laughed Harry.
“All the main characters in her life’s story were sent to her at the right opportune in an orderly form only for making food and in the execution of the plan (the Game).”
“How long will I have to stay in this world?” worried Aastha
A reply came from around which said – “It is all about time. Once the time is ripe, you will be taken up. Till then, you will have to stay in this magical garden with my magical gaits.
Your body was dismembered during the game so that it is suitable for staying in the magical world.”
“You forgot to mention, Harry,” cried Sebastian.
“What did I forget to mention?”
‘That Aastha can never marry and become a mother”.
“How can she marry? whom will she marry? We are all magical gaits”.
“So much for our conversation, let us now proceed with our work”.
Give instructions to the immediate family members of Aastha to take good care of her in keeping with my strictures, commanded Harry. And ask the girls to be prepared for my wrath…