A Single Breath – Part 18

Geet was very happy today. A relief had embraced her. She herself didn’t know the reason for this relief yet, she could feel the change. Maan was a police officer, the term itself raised respect for him. Yes, indeed he hid things from her, but there must be any strong reason behind his action. She was still angry with him, but not hated now. He had come to investigate her case, he will remove her sorrow, that could be the reason for her happiness.  

Or he touched her, that’s why she was cheerful? 

She could still feel his touch over her lips. She blushed and hid her face in a pillow. She wanted to play the piano to confront her joy. Her mind tried to refuse the plan but the heart did not agree. It was stubborn. “Anyway, uncle must have slept after taking his sleeping pill” she knew his habit of taking sleeping pills every night. 

After a lot of debate, her heart was won. Quietly, she came out of the room. And moved upstairs. Reaching the front of the room, she took out the key from the flower-pot kept there. This was the secret place to keep her keys. Nobody knew about it in the house, not even Pratap. She went inside and locked it from inside. The room was dark. But she did not light it. She lit a candle on the table. She often decorated her room with candles. She opened the windows to let the breeze come inside. 

She took the candle and walked towards the piano. At first, he kissed the piano as if it was her old friend. Then she started playing it. Initially, she was playing slowly but then she lost her senses. She started playing loudly like she used to play earlier. Music started echoing all over the house. 

It reached Pratap’s ears also. Pratap sleep got disturbed. “The Sound of Music?” At first, he felt that he was dreaming, but then he realized that this is not an illusion but a reality. “The sound is coming from this house only” He got up from the bed and came out. The sound got louder. “The sound is coming from Geet’s room” he realized. 

He recognized the tune. This was the same tune that Geet often played. “But who’s playing it in her room?” Once, he thought that maybe Geeta would be there, “No, she can’t have that much courage. Anyway, how that village girl would know to play the piano. That too the same tune that Geet used to play” he shoved the thought. Yet he went to check the key. The key was kept there in the study. “The door is locked then who can be inside?” He started going upstairs to the room. 

On the other hand, Geet, who was lost in her own tune, suddenly woke up. “What I am doing?” she realized. As soon as she got up to go,  she heard someone’s footsteps outside. She hid under the bed in a hurry.

Unlocking the door Pratap walked inside. As soon as he came in, the cold air hit his face. The room was quiet. The curtains were fluttering from the wind. And the candle was burning near the piano. Everything was very strange. He lit the light quickly. “Who’s here?” He asked loudly. 

Geeta was sitting under the bed holding her breaths. 

“Who is here, come in front?” Pratap shouted again. Hearing Pratap’s voice and seeing the light of the room on, the guard came running. “What happened Sir?” he asked. 

“Did you see anyone coming inside?” Pratap asked him. Guard said no. 

“Then who was playing the piano?” Pratap was shouting in frustration. One, he was already disturbed by Maan’s question and now this spectacle. Suddenly the Guard remembered today’s incident. 

“It will definitely be the ghost of Geet Madam”, he quickly said. 

“What? Ghost?” Pratap was surprised. 

“Yes Sir” guard told him how he had witnessed her today. 

“What the hell are you saying? I don’t believe in ghosts” Saying he blew the candle off. Turned lights off they walked out locking the door. 

“Where is Geeta? Tell her to bring tea for me. My head is bursting with pain?” commanding he walked to his study and guard went to call Geet.