Midwinter Town A Novella

Zara loves travelling but the place she visited earlier was something she didn’t expect; Of course problems do not come knocking the door. Her summer vacations were near and she wanted to spend a beautiful vacation at her grandma’s home, she stays at Mumbai.

When she visited her native place for the first time she didn’t like it because the house was in an isolated area, no sound, no clubbing, and no children around. She thought who could live in such an isolated place! She shrug off that thought and went towards the parking area, it was dark there still she drove her car inside and parked it.

She started walking out of the parking area, there was total silence. She didn’t like that silence so started singing a song, “Waiting for your heart …”

“Let’s start over again…” somebody sang the verse that she was about to sing, she thought maybe, she’s over thinking then she walked out of the parking lot.

Grandma welcomed her with a glass of lemon juice, “Oh, how much I love it!” she exclaimed and sat on the sofa. She watched some old movies with grandma, though she didn’t like them. After her grandma fell asleep she put on ‘The Date’ she had watched the movie before but the thrill of watching the ghost again and again never halts was her view. The movie got over by 02:45 pm; she switched the TV off and went inside the bedroom to take rest.

She freshened up and lay on the bed, her back got relaxed and she slowly dwelled in that night after a one day journey from her new house. She kept rolling while she was asleep; this habit always dropped her down from her bed. She was dreaming about she going to the club and dancing with her childhood friends to her heart’s content, meeting new friends and having fun with them as well.

In the club she sees the blood… wait, “Why did she dream about blood in the club!” she went out of the club and dreamed about her house. When she was about to drive her car towards the basement she saw a person’s dead body… “What is dead body doing in her dream?”

She tried to come out of her dream but was fast asleep, in that paralysis mode she managed to wake up.

A black shadow was looking at her from the window. She went to see who is there at the window; it was 3:45 pm. She opened the window saw no one, shut the door but before she could shut a hand caught her wrist. She was horrified; she peeped out towards the right and saw a guy standing in black suit, light brown skin, blue eyes, and his hair covering his forehead.

Zara asked, “Who are you?” He said, “I’ll tell you everything but let me in first.” “I can’t until you tell me who you are? What if you’re a criminal or something…?” she said.

“I am Richard. Stop investigating and listen some people are following me and they have guns!” he said in a fearful tone.

“Get in…” she said.

He jumped through her window and had a weird look on his face, she asked, “For what is that weird look?”

He said, “No…I was just thinking about you letting me in because I knocked other people’s door but they didn’t lend me a hand…”

“If you scare them in the middle of nowhere, then why would they? Also who wants risk at their house?” she said.

He spoke in a serious tone, “Zara, I need to stay here for a while…when the situation is sound then I will leave.”

“How do you know my name?” she inquired.

“You’ve worn a locket with alphabet Z…” he said.

“And how does that bring you to this conclusion… that my name is Zara?” she said.

“Is that so important than my situation?” he asked.

“Genuinely, not that much… don’t worry I’ll help you…” she said.

He felt relieved hearing her say she will help and replied, “Thanks!”

They chatted for a while about their lives and then she offered him her grandpa’s clothes, he changed over and then he took over the bed and she ended sleeping on the sofa where her grandma lay before. The room was his, grandma in her own room and she in the hall.

Next morning her grandma was reading the newspaper. She asked, “Zara, even you should read the newspaper.”

She took the newspaper that read the headline, “The richest businessmen dashed by a car, died on spot.”

She read the whole article but the image was missing. She left the newspaper on the table and spoke about this to her grandma.

She exclaimed, “That’s why I tell you to stop wandering like a ghost whole night!”

Zara said, “Ma, it’s not about the accident… it’s about the image. The image is missing from the newspaper.”

She went in the hall and took a look at the newspaper and said, “I think you should get your eyes checked. The image is here but your eyes need to go somewhere else.”

She looked at it carefully but could see no image.

Her grandma asked, “Zara, everything, okay?” she said, “Yeah…” Zara assured her so that she doesn’t stress out but she wasn’t satisfied with her grandma’s statement.

She went in to check with Richard, he was dressed. He said, “Finding something?”

“No… you’re planning to go somewhere?” she asked with hesitation.

“What do you mean by I am going? Even you are coming along.”

“No, I actually have some work… sorry can’t join.” she said.

“Fine then, I’ll drive and you will relax, we are going for sky diving and after that there is more to do in my list… so come fast. I’ll be waiting in the parking lot.”

Before she could make an excuse he took the key and jumped through the window.

She had to dress up and go with him. He took her to the airport; stood in the waiting area and said, “Whatever formalities they’ll ask you, answer those with confidence, I’ll give you the details.”

She checked the details and noticed that he owned a plane. She exclaimed saying, “Why don’t you go?”

He said, “I could have but yesterday I told you something…”

“I remember… I’ll go” she said.

They sat in the plane, wore their outfits, she wanted to confirm Richard’s faith, “You know sky diving?”

“Yeah, I’ve been doing this since 5 yrs… I know you don’t.” he spoke with confidence.

“Don’t you think you’re getting to close to my instincts?” she said.

“Still not close…” he said.

“What do you mean by that?” she asked in curiosity but instead of replying he grasped her hand tightly and jumped.

Her heart was throbbing pathetically, she looked at him with terror in her eyes and coincidentally, he too was staring at her, he smiled warmly and said, “Do you trust me?”

“No?” she said.

“Then start doing it…” she found him to be full of surprises. He knew almost everything about her, his thoughts looked creepy, his expressions felt like she was safe with him. She was just going with the flow.

When they landed down, they changed over and then he said, “Zara… you’re feeling hungry?”

“Will you just stop reading me…I’m getting uncomfortable!” she said.

“I heard your stomach’s voice and nothing else. When I’ll start reading your mind…

He stepped closer staring in her eyes no secrets… Saying this he stepped back”

“I’m tired, so I’m going home…” she said.

“You’re not, first you will have something and then we’ll leave. You’ve not eaten anything from last night, after all… the movie was important than food?” he said.

She had to because she was really feeling hungry and whatever he said was right. They sat in a restaurant close by; he asked, “Order Spanish roll. You’ll like them…”

After she ordered the waiter exclaimed, “Nice choice ma’am, even Richard Sir used to have them!”