Shadow in mirror
Dipa started her packing of snacks. She began to do it fast. Today they were going out for picnic. She was youngest daughter-in-law in family. When they went for picnic, it was big event since her mother-in-law's entire family was invited in it. It was big family. Her mother-in-law was second sister. She was not alive but they always kept one picnic. One family member took responsibility of picnic for each year. They arranged it in alphabetical order. Dipa was lucky that her husband's name came last so they managed to save money. Many time she just didn't understand why did they waste their money like that. She knew that no one was actually interested in it except few family member who were rich and wanted to show off. But no one dared to say no. Since no one wanted to take blame of breaking family. But somewhere in heart Dipa felt that their family was broken long ago. Even when her mother-in-law was alive. Relatives came to meet her just for formality not for affection. But still it was big thing for her mother-in-law specially since her elder son went abroad. She wanted to see family members on each week. Dipa was so burdened by this. Every time she needed to welcome guest with smile. Her husband's earning was good but she never liked to waste money. But when guest entered in house, she needed to keep every thing before them. Somewhere in heart she knew that guests were not going to eat any of it. But still it was their culture so she had cook every thing and put before them. Then when they didn't eat, she had to put it all back again. It was not easy for her. But she kept doing it. Since it would make her mother-in-law happy, she wanted to please her. Then finally one day her mother-in-law died. After that every thing stopped. She never saw those family members again. But then one day suddenly they received call telling them that their family picnics were going to be continued. She wanted to reject them. But her husband Tarun said that it would create bad effect on them. Tarun " Our kid need backing of family when they plan to marry. If we cut our ties like that, we will get bad name. You did every thing for Mom.Don't back up now. It will be just once in year." She didn't like it but when Tarun insisted then she had to say yes. So she was standing here now. She was arranging snacks. She looked around. She had three servants to help her but it was not enough. She was getting sense again and again. She knew that she had enough help at hand. But she knew that her relatives were going to taunt on something. It was their nature. She managed to waste so much money on this picnic. She called two buses when one was enough. But she wanted to extra space to keep things. Actually if she booked just one bus, six members would be extra so she booked another bus. She decided that she might took servant with her too. Dipa asked them and they agreed so she had help with her too. Still she was scared. Her cook Janvi " Madam just relax. We did everything in perfect way. No one will criticize it." " You don't know my relatives. Some of them are just complaint box." Servants started laughing. But then they all claimed that they also had same type of relative so this problem was universal. Dipa decided that she must ignore it. She started to call bus drivers. She was relaxed when she knew that they were coming. She started calling Tarun. " Where are kids?" " They are standing near gate. I told them to call us as soon as buses came." " Alone?" " No..No..Rajani came early. She is standing with them." Dipa smiled. She was glad that Rajani came early. She needed as much help as possible. Then she heard her daughter calling. " Mom buses came." She smiled. " Let's go." She took one bag. Each servant took one bag. She turned to servants " I thought you are going to bring your kids too." One maid " No. Madam they were not interested." Other maid " My son is with kids." Janvi " My daughter went to some school picnic too." Dipa nodded. So they all went down. One bus was standing before them. Dipa screamed " Where is other bus?" Tarun " It will come after some time." " Come on. We need to reach on time." Her phone started to ring. " Yes.. bus is here. We are just going to sit in it and come, Sorry..we are little late but we are on our way." Tarun " We are not late. We are on time." Dipa pointed Tarun to keep quiet. Dipa " We can't fight like that. We need to say like this in sweet way." Tarun " I don't understand why did you have to act so softly with people." After saying this Tarun went inside bus. Rajani followed him with kids. Then Tarun screamed " Come inside and take this bus ahead. I will come with next bus." " But.." " Come on. I don't want more phone calls." Dipa nodded and went inside that bus. When she moved ahead, she was tense regarding next bus. But still she started giving direction. Soon Rajani came ahead and started helping her too. So their picnic started. They started to picking people one by one. Dipa was so tense. She didn't want to miss any one so she kept making check mark on every family. She didn't want forget any family. She didn't want to receive any blame. She just wanted every thing to be perfect. So she kept planning every thing. She started moving ahead step by step with her bus.
Dipa started looking at paper and counting guest when she noticed some thing on window. She sensed that something was moving fast on glass behind her. She didn't understood what was walking behind her. She felt some strong movement. She felt so scared. Then she convinced herself that it was just her imagination but soon people in bus started screaming. She was so scared when she heard scream of little girl. Soon she sensed some thing was attacking then she started to scream on driver to stop bus. Driver stopped it. Then he came behind. He said loudly " How did this cat enter in bus?" He took hold of it and threw it out of bus on foot path. That cat immediately ran away. But Dipa became breathless when she saw scratched face of little girl. She was her niece. Her family was cursing her. That girl's face damaged by scratches. She felt that she was watching some horror movie. They immediately turned bus to hospital. Doctor came out with nurses after hearing screams of that girl. They checked her then they gave her injection to put her to sleep. It was horrible but soon Doctor told that nothing was serious. They told those scratches would be healed soon. It was horrible. Then one of relative asked Dipa. " I don't understand how did that cat entered in bus." " It must be hidden in bus." " No it is not possible. We entered first and we have checked that bus in every corner." It was so confusing. Then some one said " It was street cat must have entered while loading language. " But it had managed to destroy my daughter's face. I never forgive you Dipa for this." " But it was not my mistake." Driver " I have washed bus properly. That cat was not there." Soon Doctor came out. Doctor smiled. " Nothing like that happened. It was just one scratch. Soon she would woke up and you can take her with you." " But that blood?" " It happens sometimes. You can see her. Go inside." They all went inside. There was one snatch on cheek. It was red and deep. Doctor " Don't worry. It will vanish soon." But every one was scared. Then Rajani started to suggest " We must not all stop here. Doctor might not like it." Dipa was so confused when suddenly her phone rang. She saw Tarun was calling. Dipa " Just a moment." She went out. Tarun " Where are you? We have reached to picnic stop." " There was one cat in our bus which managed to hurt Priti."" Priti? My god! where are you? " " In hospital." " Ohh god so this is serious." "Yes. Cat scratched her on face." " I just don't understand. May be I should come there?" " No..no..you must attend people with you. I will manage here." Tarun " I hardly have any one with me expect five to six people." " I will come." Then Dipa controlled her feeling and went inside. Rajani was already outside with relatives. Rajani " We must move ahead with picnic. No logic in waiting here." " But Priti?" Then Priti's parents came out. Priti's Dad " Sorry. It was not your mistake. Priti just confessed that she had hidden that cat in her bag. She wanted to take her to play with." Priti's Mom started crying slowly. " These kids!! Let's go." Then they all went ahead. During whole journey they just kept discussing about kids and their wrong decision. Dipa was so scared. She felt one thing that now she would never able to encounter cat without screaming. So she told driver to drive them to Picnic stop. It was clear now that they needed to stay for more one more day. Since if they reached at night. It was not suitable to go back immediately on next day. When Dipa was so upset, she planned it all in perfect way. She was sitting on her seat feeling sad when her Auntie came. " Honey you did all in right way don't feel upset." " Yes. It was great." " And we are going to enjoy it." " But can we increase our stay." Dipa looked at others. Mostly people nodded. Dipa smiled. " Fine I call Tarun to reserve for one more day." " Yes. I need three day vacation." Dipa smiled. She told Tarun who was happy to do that. It was exhausting journey since Priti's face kept coming before her eyes. But finally she went to sleep since she knew that they might reach to spot on midnight. She was so happy that Tarun was already waiting for them. She woke up by driver's voice. Driver " We have arrived." She told Driver to stay there for three days. He was confused then he agreed when she told she would pay him as per each day. Then Tarun came with hotel manager. Waiter took their language. Each guest had given one key and they all went to sleep. Every one was tired. Kids were totally scared. So it was not happy picnic crowd. It was group of people who were exhausted and scared. Tarun " Don't worry every thing will be fine by morning." " I am going to hate cats for entire life." " But how did cat came in bus?" " Priti took cat in bag." " These kids!!" Then their kids started calling so they went in room to settle down. But before going in room Dipa confirmed that every one got their room properly. So finally they all went inside their room. Dipa was so tired but still she had to take shower and forced kids to do same. So finally after taking shower they all slept on bed in such way that even earthquake didn't manage to wake them up if it had happened on that night. They were too tired to move.
Next day when Dipa woke up by sunshine, she felt so fresh. She felt as if she was alive. She needed a vacation and suddenly she felt that this one could become her dream vacation. She knew that she had responsibility but she felt that she could handle it. She was so happy. She looked around in bed. Tarun was sleeping so she was first one to wake up. Since she was sure that if kids were woke up they must had came running in their room. It was their habit. They never stayed in their room. When they were small, they used to jump in bed. Now they kept wandering near door. She smiled and went in Balcony. She was so lucky today. She didn't need to ran in kitchen. Every day she needed to be prepare kids on time for school. She needed to pack their lunch and cook breakfast so she had to start running around from morning but today she was relaxed. She didn't need to run around. She looked down. She saw few of her relatives were swimming. Kids were making noises. She felt so happy. She didn't learn to swim. But she loved to sit near that water. She decided that she must go down. Then suddenly she felt some one behind her. She turned behind it was Tarun. " Tarun!! Are you trying to scare me?" Tarun started laughing. Tarun " You never feel scared " " Because I know that it was going to be you."" Ohh really. How can you be so sure?"" Who else it can be?" She started laughing. Tarun always loved coming from behind to scare her and she just loved it. She started to feel so happy now. Dipa " Let's go for swimming." " But you don't know swimming."" You can swim. I just want to sit near swimming pool. Let's wake up kids." " Come on let them sleep. We can go." " But.." " They are not small kids now. Let them live their life." " But like this alone. I will just go and tell them." Dipa went out. But kids were already woke up and they were getting ready for swimming. She returned back. Tarun was already ready. Tarun " I am going down with kids. You can change and come down?" " Sure. Now don't you remember that I am not kid and I can take care of myself." Tarun started laughing. Tarun went down with kids. She was so relaxed. She decided that she must go and change. Then she went to change. After changing her clothes she decided that she must look in mirror. She wanted to look great. She was watching her face when she suddenly sensed. Someone moved behind her in mirror. She suddenly shivered. A scream escaped from her mouth before she could sensed it. She just ran away from that mirror. It was horrible for her. She sensed something was behind her. She was so sure. She went out in hall. She sensed that every one left for swimming. She was alone. She just decided that she must ran out of that hotel room. She took keys and ran out of hotel room. It was really strange. She never felt so much scared in her entire life. But now she was totally scared. She didn't wait for lift. She just took stairs and ran ahead as fast as possible. Finally she reached to bottom of stairs. She ran towards swimming pool. She sensed so much happiness when she saw known people where standing around her. She smiled. She started searching for Tarun. She didn't find him quickly. She just went near pool. She was so scared that her feet suddenly slipped on water near pool. Before she could sensed anything, she just managed to fall on her face near swimming pool. Every one around her came to help her. It was embarrassing. They told her to sit on chair. She started to drink fruit juice which was given to her by waiter. She was so upset. Then suddenly Tarun and kids appeared around her. Every one started to showing concern. Tarun " My god!! How did you slip here? You need to move carefully near swimming pool." " I know. But sometimes it happened." Her daughter " Mom your head had cut." Then someone immediately brought first aid. Rajani " What's wrong with our luck this time? Something wrong just kept happening." " So true. As if some devil want to hunt us." Dipa started laughing. Dipa " Come on. I just slip on floor. I must have slipped countless time." Then she stood up and started walking. " So do you see any thing wrong with my walk?" Every one started to smile again. " We are just over reacting due to last incidence. Let's start swimming again." Then every one started swimming. Dipa sat on that chair happily. She took one of the story book and started reading it again. She was so calm and peaceful. She began to feel that every one was over reacting. She did same thing inside room. No one was inside her room. She started laughing at her own imagination. Then suddenly a ball came on her lap from swimming pool. Kids started playing catch catch with her. She smiled and started playing game. After all she came here to enjoy. She decided that if she felt any pain then she would just take one pain killer. She was not going to reduce fun from her life. She decided that she needed happiness in her life. She started laughing and playing again. Every one had most memorable moments on that pool. They just enjoyed their life and managed to reach on top of their world. Dipa was so happy that their trip was turning into successful one. She was no longer scared of anything. After playing those games they enjoyed their breakfast near pool only. Then they all went to wash their hands. Tarun planned a nice outing for them. Dipa also went in washroom. But this time she just didn't want to look in that mirror. She felt that her face might look worst so she just washed her hand and avoided mirror. Then she changed her dress and went out. Every thing was perfect for her. She knew that some bad things had happened but she felt sure that she had kept them behind. She didn't want to show fear especially before her kids. But then she felt that there was not any fear in her heart. She smiled happily and went ahead to guide people in those journey.
Dipa sat in bus. She began to guide all when some one told her. " There is dirt on your cheek. You need to clean it. I will do it for you. It must have happened go it when you slip on floor." Another relative " You must have got hurt when you slip near swimming pool. You are bleeding." After hearing this Tarun came running towards her. " My god!! Don't you saw in mirror when you change your clothes." Dipa was confused now. She managed to avoid mirror. She didn't want to see in mirror. " Actually it was not bleeding at that time." " Such things happen sometimes. That wound might have opened due to pressure." " So true. She needed to relax." Suddenly she felt scared. She could easily sensed that she was bleeding. Her kid came running with first aid. They did first aid. She was so upset now. She had to watch in mirror. She needed to see what actually happened to her. Her face was injured. She needed to see it. She had to look in mirror but she didn't like that idea at all. She didn't want to watch in mirror. But after doing first aid she knew that she had. She was so confused. But there was not any mirror available on bus in which she could see her complete face. She was glad that she managed to avoid mirror. She smiled but then she started feeling confused. Some one was in her room and she got scared. But she didn't tell it to any one since she didn't believe it. Then she suddenly understood every thing. She felt that it must be her kid who came back for ball. They always did that. She smiled. So she didn't need to afraid. But still she just didn't like idea of watching her face in mirror. It was really strange. Then finally they came to point. They went down from bus. They started sight seeing. It was really wonderful when suddenly one cat came out of nowhere. It was scary thing. Since they were on Valley and suddenly every one started screaming but she didn't felt scared of cat. She forced her to run away with purse. When cat ran away, every one started laughing. Tarun " It was just a cat and every one was running away in such a way as if it was a tiger" Rajani " Actually I need to check my eyes. I saw Tiger instead of cat." Then everyone started laughing. " But Dipa you are most brave. You don't feel scared about cat. After that incidence every one started to feel fear of cat but you are most brave person." Dipa smiled. That Auntie was right. She didn't feel fear of cat. She was really brave one. She wanted to jump with joy. Tarun " Yes she is truly brave. She never felt scared even when I come from behind to tease her." Dipa started laughing " You are too much Tarun." " So am I lying?" Every one started laughing. Then they all went to that point. They saw beautiful sunset and then came back to bus. They went in hotel. Every one went in room. Dipa and Tarun also return to their room. They needed to take shower. She knew that she must clean herself. But she told every one to go before her. Then she slowly went inside. She threw her towel on mirror and then she started to change her clothes. But on that moment Tarun suddenly came. Tarun was confused when he saw that she threw cloth on mirror. Tarun " What did you try to hide mirror?" Tarun started to take out the cloth. But she stopped him. Dipa " Don't do that?" " Why?" " I don't know why but I feel so scared when I look in mirror. It is upsetting me." " Mirror? But you were never scared of mirror. I always remember you standing before mirror for hours to get ready." " I know but now I am scared and I don't want it's mention before kids." " But you can't avoid mirror for entire life." " I can try at least for this vacation." " Just tell me all." She told him about that shadow in mirror." Ohh it was for that moment. Now I am standing near you. Just see in this mirror." Dipa was confused but then she nodded. She stood and let him remove that cloth. She once again saw that shadow. She couldn't able to control herself. She started screaming. She just wanted to go away from that mirror. She ran out of that bathroom. When she came out, she saw that even in that hall there was decoration of mirror. She just turned her back on it. Kids came running from another room. " Mom Dad what happened?" " Mom just had nightmare." " But Mom never went to sleep." Dipa " I just went to sleep on this sofa by mistake." Kids were not convinced but still they kept quiet and went back to sleep. Tarun went near her and started consoling her. " I just don't understand what happening to me. Just few days ago I was perfect and now I am acting like a mad woman." " Just relax. Every thing will be fine." " But I am so scared of mirror. Whenever I saw mirror I just ran out of my mind. I just slipped near that pool due to this mirror only. We have so many mirror in our house. How can we manage to hide them all? And kids need mirror in their room. You need mirror in your room." " Mirror are not important than you. I will tell kids. Just relax." Dipa tried to relax but then she started crying. Slowly kids came in room. Tarun slowly explained them every thing. Kids told her that they would close mirror when she would come in room. Dipa felt so happy that her family really care for her. But Tarun knew that it was not easy. Mirrors were everywhere in world. It could be on dress or bag or vehicles. This way Dipa would be locked in house. But he didn't say it since he didn't want to scare her. He just kept patting on her head. Slowly she went to sleep. He looked at her face. He never saw her such exhausted. Few moments ago she was jumping with joy but her fear managed to eat her from inside. " Dad what happened to Mom?" Tarun " I don't know when we reach back in town. I will talk Doctor." " Doctor will cure her?" " Yes of course but now just cooperate with her. Keep her always from mirrors. " Kids nodded. Then they closed each and every mirror in that hotel room before going to sleep. They didn't want her to get hurt due to fear. They decided that Doctor could only handle this.
Dipa tried to enjoy vacation but it was not normal. Every time she walked out. She just kept feeling scared that in road she would find some mirror. She just began to hate mirrors. She wanted happiness in her soul. She needed to enjoy different thoughts in mind. But whole time she just kept looking for mirror. She wanted to avoid them. But she just kept searching for them. She just didn't able to enjoy life, since she was to busy in searching mirror. Tarun " Why are your looking in those mirrors if you are scared of them?" " I just want to avoid them." " Really? Did you understood that few moments ago you have crossed road without looking on left and right side? You are not kid now. I can't teach you every day to cross road carefully. Dipa was so confused. She didn't sense when she managed to do such a big mistake. " I don't sense.." " I know but I just feel one thing. We must visit doctor immediately." " Doctor?" Dipa was so scared of doctors. She wanted to argue but it would look wrong before people. So she just nodded. " I know you hate Doctor. But look at me and look at our kids. We are nothing without you. Please take care." Dipa saw tears in his eyes. She sensed one thing that she couldn't survive like that. Dipa " Okay." Tarun smiled. " I have taken psychiatrist appointment of tomorrow." " Psychiatrist? I am not mad." " Come on. Don't start this now. I have talked with our Doctor. He told this to me. We must trust our family Doctor." Then she suddenly looked in mirror near driver's seat. It was far away still she started shivering. On that point she sensed that she couldn't go on like that. Since she took hold of Tarun's hand in such way that her fingernail managed to cut him. Tarun screamed. Every one looked at him. " What happened?" Tarun " Nothing my hand hit on chair." " Tarun !! be careful. We don't want accident now. But any way I say that this trip must get five star." Every one screamed "Yes." Dipa smiled happily. She managed to do every thing in right way. Then she took a seat in corner and slept. Tarun told relatives that her wound was paining so she took pain killer. She could clearly heard them talking that she must take rest. So she just kept sleeping entire time during journey. She was so sad and scared. She suddenly began to feel so much burden on her shoulder. She never sensed such hopelessness. When suddenly her maid came near her, she just screamed. But her maid patted on her head. Her maid Janavi "Madam it's me." Janavi was more like friend to her than cook. They always kept sharing their domestic problems with each other. Dipa felt so relaxed when she saw her. Dipa sat carefully and looked around. She confirmed one thing nobody was watching her. Then she started to tell " It is horrible but I have started to see ghost in mirror." "Ghost? "" Not actual ghost but something like it. I just kept seeing shadow from behind. Whenever I stood ahead I just see some shadow behind me. "" What kind of shadow is it? "" I don't know. " Janavi looked scared. Dipa" What did you feel? "" I don't know much about those things. But people say sometimes cat carry soul. "" You feel this is ghost. "" No.. No ghost are just part of our imagination. But why don't you wear this? " She gave her a blessed thread. Dipa felt so secure by touching it. She began to wear that thread. Then Janavi suggested that she should look in mirror. She was so scared. She looked in mirror. She was so happy when she didn't see any thing. She called Tarun and told him. Tarun was so confused. Tarun " Still I want to go to psychiatrist tomorrow." " No Tarun I am fine now." Tarun looked at Janavi with anger. Tarun sensed one thing that his wife had fallen in clutch of superstition. Tarun " Fine as you wish." Dipa was so sure that she was fine. She started chatting around. But then she saw a big mirror. She located a shadow again. She screamed loudly. She began to run toward far corner of bus. She began to scream " I can still see her." Tarun ran towards her. She was turning literally white like paper. " You saw whom?" " Her? I mean that shadow." " Mom how did you know that shadow is her?" Dipa was confused now. Tarun " This is enough. We must go to Doctor." Dipa looked around in bus. Now every relative knew her problem. They were watching her with shock. Janavi was so confused and scared. Tarun " Just sit in that corner." After that for entire journey she just sat in that corner seat. Then after dropping every relative in their home they finally reached to their home. But Dipa didn't dare to enter in home. Since she wanted all mirror to be hidden. Tarun " We are going to that psychiatrist tomorrow." Dipa nodded. She just didn't understand why did that thread didn't work. After that she was very careful that she didn't see any mirror. Their house was looking so strange. Tarun increased his vacation for one more day. They decided that they must visit psychiatrist as soon as possible. These days were worst days of Dipa's life. Uncertainty was scaring her on every point. She wanted her life to turn in normal way. She was so scared that it would not work. She just kept hidden in her house. When finally Tarun told her that they must go to psychiatrist, she went out. She scared of that shadow on every moment. When they went in room of psychiatrist she saw mirror and she immediately started screaming. Then psychiatrist told receptionist to hide that mirror. After that Dipa sat there. Psychiatrist talked with her. Step by step she told every thing to him. Psychiatrist " So you saw that cat in mirror and this began?" " But I am not scared of cat?" Psychiatrist smiled " Mind is not as simple as you feel. You are not scared of cat but you are scared of it's shadow in mirror and that fear increased so much that you are scared of mirror now." Dipa was so shocked. " You have developed catoptrophobia which mean fear of mirror. Normally it developed in figure conscious ladies but in your case due to trauma it developed in you." " So when will I able to see in mirror?" " It is not so easy. Give it some time. We will move ahead step by step." " But I can't live like that." " Of course you can. Many people do. I will teach you how to survive it." Then psychiatrist taught her methods to control her fear when she saw that shadow in mirror. Then before going away Tarun told psychiatrist story of thread. " How did it stopped?" " Due to her faith and positive thinking. But it was not strong enough to survive for long. After all it is just game of mind. Many times with positive thinking people can handle it. But then negative thinking and fear enter and every thing will start again. Don't worry. Slowly she will be fine." They both nodded and went away. In her heart Dipa was scared but due to psychiatrist she felt one thing that she could survive it. Most importantly Tarun was confidant that she would be fine. She decided that she would keep faith on his positive thinking. She smiled while trying to avoid as many mirror as possible on road towards her home.
The End
Dipa started her packing of snacks. She began to do it fast. Today they were going out for picnic. She was youngest daughter-in-law in family. When they went for picnic, it was big event since her mother-in-law's entire family was invited in it. It was big family. Her mother-in-law was second sister. She was not alive but they always kept one picnic. One family member took responsibility of picnic for each year. They arranged it in alphabetical order. Dipa was lucky that her husband's name came last so they managed to save money. Many time she just didn't understand why did they waste their money like that. She knew that no one was actually interested in it except few family member who were rich and wanted to show off. But no one dared to say no. Since no one wanted to take blame of breaking family. But somewhere in heart Dipa felt that their family was broken long ago. Even when her mother-in-law was alive. Relatives came to meet her just for formality not for affection. But still it was big thing for her mother-in-law specially since her elder son went abroad. She wanted to see family members on each week. Dipa was so burdened by this. Every time she needed to welcome guest with smile. Her husband's earning was good but she never liked to waste money. But when guest entered in house, she needed to keep every thing before them. Somewhere in heart she knew that guests were not going to eat any of it. But still it was their culture so she had cook every thing and put before them. Then when they didn't eat, she had to put it all back again. It was not easy for her. But she kept doing it. Since it would make her mother-in-law happy, she wanted to please her. Then finally one day her mother-in-law died. After that every thing stopped. She never saw those family members again. But then one day suddenly they received call telling them that their family picnics were going to be continued. She wanted to reject them. But her husband Tarun said that it would create bad effect on them. Tarun " Our kid need backing of family when they plan to marry. If we cut our ties like that, we will get bad name. You did every thing for Mom.Don't back up now. It will be just once in year." She didn't like it but when Tarun insisted then she had to say yes. So she was standing here now. She was arranging snacks. She looked around. She had three servants to help her but it was not enough. She was getting sense again and again. She knew that she had enough help at hand. But she knew that her relatives were going to taunt on something. It was their nature. She managed to waste so much money on this picnic. She called two buses when one was enough. But she wanted to extra space to keep things. Actually if she booked just one bus, six members would be extra so she booked another bus. She decided that she might took servant with her too. Dipa asked them and they agreed so she had help with her too. Still she was scared. Her cook Janvi " Madam just relax. We did everything in perfect way. No one will criticize it." " You don't know my relatives. Some of them are just complaint box." Servants started laughing. But then they all claimed that they also had same type of relative so this problem was universal. Dipa decided that she must ignore it. She started to call bus drivers. She was relaxed when she knew that they were coming. She started calling Tarun. " Where are kids?" " They are standing near gate. I told them to call us as soon as buses came." " Alone?" " No..No..Rajani came early. She is standing with them." Dipa smiled. She was glad that Rajani came early. She needed as much help as possible. Then she heard her daughter calling. " Mom buses came." She smiled. " Let's go." She took one bag. Each servant took one bag. She turned to servants " I thought you are going to bring your kids too." One maid " No. Madam they were not interested." Other maid " My son is with kids." Janvi " My daughter went to some school picnic too." Dipa nodded. So they all went down. One bus was standing before them. Dipa screamed " Where is other bus?" Tarun " It will come after some time." " Come on. We need to reach on time." Her phone started to ring. " Yes.. bus is here. We are just going to sit in it and come, Sorry..we are little late but we are on our way." Tarun " We are not late. We are on time." Dipa pointed Tarun to keep quiet. Dipa " We can't fight like that. We need to say like this in sweet way." Tarun " I don't understand why did you have to act so softly with people." After saying this Tarun went inside bus. Rajani followed him with kids. Then Tarun screamed " Come inside and take this bus ahead. I will come with next bus." " But.." " Come on. I don't want more phone calls." Dipa nodded and went inside that bus. When she moved ahead, she was tense regarding next bus. But still she started giving direction. Soon Rajani came ahead and started helping her too. So their picnic started. They started to picking people one by one. Dipa was so tense. She didn't want to miss any one so she kept making check mark on every family. She didn't want forget any family. She didn't want to receive any blame. She just wanted every thing to be perfect. So she kept planning every thing. She started moving ahead step by step with her bus.
Dipa started looking at paper and counting guest when she noticed some thing on window. She sensed that something was moving fast on glass behind her. She didn't understood what was walking behind her. She felt some strong movement. She felt so scared. Then she convinced herself that it was just her imagination but soon people in bus started screaming. She was so scared when she heard scream of little girl. Soon she sensed some thing was attacking then she started to scream on driver to stop bus. Driver stopped it. Then he came behind. He said loudly " How did this cat enter in bus?" He took hold of it and threw it out of bus on foot path. That cat immediately ran away. But Dipa became breathless when she saw scratched face of little girl. She was her niece. Her family was cursing her. That girl's face damaged by scratches. She felt that she was watching some horror movie. They immediately turned bus to hospital. Doctor came out with nurses after hearing screams of that girl. They checked her then they gave her injection to put her to sleep. It was horrible but soon Doctor told that nothing was serious. They told those scratches would be healed soon. It was horrible. Then one of relative asked Dipa. " I don't understand how did that cat entered in bus." " It must be hidden in bus." " No it is not possible. We entered first and we have checked that bus in every corner." It was so confusing. Then some one said " It was street cat must have entered while loading language. " But it had managed to destroy my daughter's face. I never forgive you Dipa for this." " But it was not my mistake." Driver " I have washed bus properly. That cat was not there." Soon Doctor came out. Doctor smiled. " Nothing like that happened. It was just one scratch. Soon she would woke up and you can take her with you." " But that blood?" " It happens sometimes. You can see her. Go inside." They all went inside. There was one snatch on cheek. It was red and deep. Doctor " Don't worry. It will vanish soon." But every one was scared. Then Rajani started to suggest " We must not all stop here. Doctor might not like it." Dipa was so confused when suddenly her phone rang. She saw Tarun was calling. Dipa " Just a moment." She went out. Tarun " Where are you? We have reached to picnic stop." " There was one cat in our bus which managed to hurt Priti."" Priti? My god! where are you? " " In hospital." " Ohh god so this is serious." "Yes. Cat scratched her on face." " I just don't understand. May be I should come there?" " No..no..you must attend people with you. I will manage here." Tarun " I hardly have any one with me expect five to six people." " I will come." Then Dipa controlled her feeling and went inside. Rajani was already outside with relatives. Rajani " We must move ahead with picnic. No logic in waiting here." " But Priti?" Then Priti's parents came out. Priti's Dad " Sorry. It was not your mistake. Priti just confessed that she had hidden that cat in her bag. She wanted to take her to play with." Priti's Mom started crying slowly. " These kids!! Let's go." Then they all went ahead. During whole journey they just kept discussing about kids and their wrong decision. Dipa was so scared. She felt one thing that now she would never able to encounter cat without screaming. So she told driver to drive them to Picnic stop. It was clear now that they needed to stay for more one more day. Since if they reached at night. It was not suitable to go back immediately on next day. When Dipa was so upset, she planned it all in perfect way. She was sitting on her seat feeling sad when her Auntie came. " Honey you did all in right way don't feel upset." " Yes. It was great." " And we are going to enjoy it." " But can we increase our stay." Dipa looked at others. Mostly people nodded. Dipa smiled. " Fine I call Tarun to reserve for one more day." " Yes. I need three day vacation." Dipa smiled. She told Tarun who was happy to do that. It was exhausting journey since Priti's face kept coming before her eyes. But finally she went to sleep since she knew that they might reach to spot on midnight. She was so happy that Tarun was already waiting for them. She woke up by driver's voice. Driver " We have arrived." She told Driver to stay there for three days. He was confused then he agreed when she told she would pay him as per each day. Then Tarun came with hotel manager. Waiter took their language. Each guest had given one key and they all went to sleep. Every one was tired. Kids were totally scared. So it was not happy picnic crowd. It was group of people who were exhausted and scared. Tarun " Don't worry every thing will be fine by morning." " I am going to hate cats for entire life." " But how did cat came in bus?" " Priti took cat in bag." " These kids!!" Then their kids started calling so they went in room to settle down. But before going in room Dipa confirmed that every one got their room properly. So finally they all went inside their room. Dipa was so tired but still she had to take shower and forced kids to do same. So finally after taking shower they all slept on bed in such way that even earthquake didn't manage to wake them up if it had happened on that night. They were too tired to move.
Next day when Dipa woke up by sunshine, she felt so fresh. She felt as if she was alive. She needed a vacation and suddenly she felt that this one could become her dream vacation. She knew that she had responsibility but she felt that she could handle it. She was so happy. She looked around in bed. Tarun was sleeping so she was first one to wake up. Since she was sure that if kids were woke up they must had came running in their room. It was their habit. They never stayed in their room. When they were small, they used to jump in bed. Now they kept wandering near door. She smiled and went in Balcony. She was so lucky today. She didn't need to ran in kitchen. Every day she needed to be prepare kids on time for school. She needed to pack their lunch and cook breakfast so she had to start running around from morning but today she was relaxed. She didn't need to run around. She looked down. She saw few of her relatives were swimming. Kids were making noises. She felt so happy. She didn't learn to swim. But she loved to sit near that water. She decided that she must go down. Then suddenly she felt some one behind her. She turned behind it was Tarun. " Tarun!! Are you trying to scare me?" Tarun started laughing. Tarun " You never feel scared " " Because I know that it was going to be you."" Ohh really. How can you be so sure?"" Who else it can be?" She started laughing. Tarun always loved coming from behind to scare her and she just loved it. She started to feel so happy now. Dipa " Let's go for swimming." " But you don't know swimming."" You can swim. I just want to sit near swimming pool. Let's wake up kids." " Come on let them sleep. We can go." " But.." " They are not small kids now. Let them live their life." " But like this alone. I will just go and tell them." Dipa went out. But kids were already woke up and they were getting ready for swimming. She returned back. Tarun was already ready. Tarun " I am going down with kids. You can change and come down?" " Sure. Now don't you remember that I am not kid and I can take care of myself." Tarun started laughing. Tarun went down with kids. She was so relaxed. She decided that she must go and change. Then she went to change. After changing her clothes she decided that she must look in mirror. She wanted to look great. She was watching her face when she suddenly sensed. Someone moved behind her in mirror. She suddenly shivered. A scream escaped from her mouth before she could sensed it. She just ran away from that mirror. It was horrible for her. She sensed something was behind her. She was so sure. She went out in hall. She sensed that every one left for swimming. She was alone. She just decided that she must ran out of that hotel room. She took keys and ran out of hotel room. It was really strange. She never felt so much scared in her entire life. But now she was totally scared. She didn't wait for lift. She just took stairs and ran ahead as fast as possible. Finally she reached to bottom of stairs. She ran towards swimming pool. She sensed so much happiness when she saw known people where standing around her. She smiled. She started searching for Tarun. She didn't find him quickly. She just went near pool. She was so scared that her feet suddenly slipped on water near pool. Before she could sensed anything, she just managed to fall on her face near swimming pool. Every one around her came to help her. It was embarrassing. They told her to sit on chair. She started to drink fruit juice which was given to her by waiter. She was so upset. Then suddenly Tarun and kids appeared around her. Every one started to showing concern. Tarun " My god!! How did you slip here? You need to move carefully near swimming pool." " I know. But sometimes it happened." Her daughter " Mom your head had cut." Then someone immediately brought first aid. Rajani " What's wrong with our luck this time? Something wrong just kept happening." " So true. As if some devil want to hunt us." Dipa started laughing. Dipa " Come on. I just slip on floor. I must have slipped countless time." Then she stood up and started walking. " So do you see any thing wrong with my walk?" Every one started to smile again. " We are just over reacting due to last incidence. Let's start swimming again." Then every one started swimming. Dipa sat on that chair happily. She took one of the story book and started reading it again. She was so calm and peaceful. She began to feel that every one was over reacting. She did same thing inside room. No one was inside her room. She started laughing at her own imagination. Then suddenly a ball came on her lap from swimming pool. Kids started playing catch catch with her. She smiled and started playing game. After all she came here to enjoy. She decided that if she felt any pain then she would just take one pain killer. She was not going to reduce fun from her life. She decided that she needed happiness in her life. She started laughing and playing again. Every one had most memorable moments on that pool. They just enjoyed their life and managed to reach on top of their world. Dipa was so happy that their trip was turning into successful one. She was no longer scared of anything. After playing those games they enjoyed their breakfast near pool only. Then they all went to wash their hands. Tarun planned a nice outing for them. Dipa also went in washroom. But this time she just didn't want to look in that mirror. She felt that her face might look worst so she just washed her hand and avoided mirror. Then she changed her dress and went out. Every thing was perfect for her. She knew that some bad things had happened but she felt sure that she had kept them behind. She didn't want to show fear especially before her kids. But then she felt that there was not any fear in her heart. She smiled happily and went ahead to guide people in those journey.
Dipa sat in bus. She began to guide all when some one told her. " There is dirt on your cheek. You need to clean it. I will do it for you. It must have happened go it when you slip on floor." Another relative " You must have got hurt when you slip near swimming pool. You are bleeding." After hearing this Tarun came running towards her. " My god!! Don't you saw in mirror when you change your clothes." Dipa was confused now. She managed to avoid mirror. She didn't want to see in mirror. " Actually it was not bleeding at that time." " Such things happen sometimes. That wound might have opened due to pressure." " So true. She needed to relax." Suddenly she felt scared. She could easily sensed that she was bleeding. Her kid came running with first aid. They did first aid. She was so upset now. She had to watch in mirror. She needed to see what actually happened to her. Her face was injured. She needed to see it. She had to look in mirror but she didn't like that idea at all. She didn't want to watch in mirror. But after doing first aid she knew that she had. She was so confused. But there was not any mirror available on bus in which she could see her complete face. She was glad that she managed to avoid mirror. She smiled but then she started feeling confused. Some one was in her room and she got scared. But she didn't tell it to any one since she didn't believe it. Then she suddenly understood every thing. She felt that it must be her kid who came back for ball. They always did that. She smiled. So she didn't need to afraid. But still she just didn't like idea of watching her face in mirror. It was really strange. Then finally they came to point. They went down from bus. They started sight seeing. It was really wonderful when suddenly one cat came out of nowhere. It was scary thing. Since they were on Valley and suddenly every one started screaming but she didn't felt scared of cat. She forced her to run away with purse. When cat ran away, every one started laughing. Tarun " It was just a cat and every one was running away in such a way as if it was a tiger" Rajani " Actually I need to check my eyes. I saw Tiger instead of cat." Then everyone started laughing. " But Dipa you are most brave. You don't feel scared about cat. After that incidence every one started to feel fear of cat but you are most brave person." Dipa smiled. That Auntie was right. She didn't feel fear of cat. She was really brave one. She wanted to jump with joy. Tarun " Yes she is truly brave. She never felt scared even when I come from behind to tease her." Dipa started laughing " You are too much Tarun." " So am I lying?" Every one started laughing. Then they all went to that point. They saw beautiful sunset and then came back to bus. They went in hotel. Every one went in room. Dipa and Tarun also return to their room. They needed to take shower. She knew that she must clean herself. But she told every one to go before her. Then she slowly went inside. She threw her towel on mirror and then she started to change her clothes. But on that moment Tarun suddenly came. Tarun was confused when he saw that she threw cloth on mirror. Tarun " What did you try to hide mirror?" Tarun started to take out the cloth. But she stopped him. Dipa " Don't do that?" " Why?" " I don't know why but I feel so scared when I look in mirror. It is upsetting me." " Mirror? But you were never scared of mirror. I always remember you standing before mirror for hours to get ready." " I know but now I am scared and I don't want it's mention before kids." " But you can't avoid mirror for entire life." " I can try at least for this vacation." " Just tell me all." She told him about that shadow in mirror." Ohh it was for that moment. Now I am standing near you. Just see in this mirror." Dipa was confused but then she nodded. She stood and let him remove that cloth. She once again saw that shadow. She couldn't able to control herself. She started screaming. She just wanted to go away from that mirror. She ran out of that bathroom. When she came out, she saw that even in that hall there was decoration of mirror. She just turned her back on it. Kids came running from another room. " Mom Dad what happened?" " Mom just had nightmare." " But Mom never went to sleep." Dipa " I just went to sleep on this sofa by mistake." Kids were not convinced but still they kept quiet and went back to sleep. Tarun went near her and started consoling her. " I just don't understand what happening to me. Just few days ago I was perfect and now I am acting like a mad woman." " Just relax. Every thing will be fine." " But I am so scared of mirror. Whenever I saw mirror I just ran out of my mind. I just slipped near that pool due to this mirror only. We have so many mirror in our house. How can we manage to hide them all? And kids need mirror in their room. You need mirror in your room." " Mirror are not important than you. I will tell kids. Just relax." Dipa tried to relax but then she started crying. Slowly kids came in room. Tarun slowly explained them every thing. Kids told her that they would close mirror when she would come in room. Dipa felt so happy that her family really care for her. But Tarun knew that it was not easy. Mirrors were everywhere in world. It could be on dress or bag or vehicles. This way Dipa would be locked in house. But he didn't say it since he didn't want to scare her. He just kept patting on her head. Slowly she went to sleep. He looked at her face. He never saw her such exhausted. Few moments ago she was jumping with joy but her fear managed to eat her from inside. " Dad what happened to Mom?" Tarun " I don't know when we reach back in town. I will talk Doctor." " Doctor will cure her?" " Yes of course but now just cooperate with her. Keep her always from mirrors. " Kids nodded. Then they closed each and every mirror in that hotel room before going to sleep. They didn't want her to get hurt due to fear. They decided that Doctor could only handle this.
Dipa tried to enjoy vacation but it was not normal. Every time she walked out. She just kept feeling scared that in road she would find some mirror. She just began to hate mirrors. She wanted happiness in her soul. She needed to enjoy different thoughts in mind. But whole time she just kept looking for mirror. She wanted to avoid them. But she just kept searching for them. She just didn't able to enjoy life, since she was to busy in searching mirror. Tarun " Why are your looking in those mirrors if you are scared of them?" " I just want to avoid them." " Really? Did you understood that few moments ago you have crossed road without looking on left and right side? You are not kid now. I can't teach you every day to cross road carefully. Dipa was so confused. She didn't sense when she managed to do such a big mistake. " I don't sense.." " I know but I just feel one thing. We must visit doctor immediately." " Doctor?" Dipa was so scared of doctors. She wanted to argue but it would look wrong before people. So she just nodded. " I know you hate Doctor. But look at me and look at our kids. We are nothing without you. Please take care." Dipa saw tears in his eyes. She sensed one thing that she couldn't survive like that. Dipa " Okay." Tarun smiled. " I have taken psychiatrist appointment of tomorrow." " Psychiatrist? I am not mad." " Come on. Don't start this now. I have talked with our Doctor. He told this to me. We must trust our family Doctor." Then she suddenly looked in mirror near driver's seat. It was far away still she started shivering. On that point she sensed that she couldn't go on like that. Since she took hold of Tarun's hand in such way that her fingernail managed to cut him. Tarun screamed. Every one looked at him. " What happened?" Tarun " Nothing my hand hit on chair." " Tarun !! be careful. We don't want accident now. But any way I say that this trip must get five star." Every one screamed "Yes." Dipa smiled happily. She managed to do every thing in right way. Then she took a seat in corner and slept. Tarun told relatives that her wound was paining so she took pain killer. She could clearly heard them talking that she must take rest. So she just kept sleeping entire time during journey. She was so sad and scared. She suddenly began to feel so much burden on her shoulder. She never sensed such hopelessness. When suddenly her maid came near her, she just screamed. But her maid patted on her head. Her maid Janavi "Madam it's me." Janavi was more like friend to her than cook. They always kept sharing their domestic problems with each other. Dipa felt so relaxed when she saw her. Dipa sat carefully and looked around. She confirmed one thing nobody was watching her. Then she started to tell " It is horrible but I have started to see ghost in mirror." "Ghost? "" Not actual ghost but something like it. I just kept seeing shadow from behind. Whenever I stood ahead I just see some shadow behind me. "" What kind of shadow is it? "" I don't know. " Janavi looked scared. Dipa" What did you feel? "" I don't know much about those things. But people say sometimes cat carry soul. "" You feel this is ghost. "" No.. No ghost are just part of our imagination. But why don't you wear this? " She gave her a blessed thread. Dipa felt so secure by touching it. She began to wear that thread. Then Janavi suggested that she should look in mirror. She was so scared. She looked in mirror. She was so happy when she didn't see any thing. She called Tarun and told him. Tarun was so confused. Tarun " Still I want to go to psychiatrist tomorrow." " No Tarun I am fine now." Tarun looked at Janavi with anger. Tarun sensed one thing that his wife had fallen in clutch of superstition. Tarun " Fine as you wish." Dipa was so sure that she was fine. She started chatting around. But then she saw a big mirror. She located a shadow again. She screamed loudly. She began to run toward far corner of bus. She began to scream " I can still see her." Tarun ran towards her. She was turning literally white like paper. " You saw whom?" " Her? I mean that shadow." " Mom how did you know that shadow is her?" Dipa was confused now. Tarun " This is enough. We must go to Doctor." Dipa looked around in bus. Now every relative knew her problem. They were watching her with shock. Janavi was so confused and scared. Tarun " Just sit in that corner." After that for entire journey she just sat in that corner seat. Then after dropping every relative in their home they finally reached to their home. But Dipa didn't dare to enter in home. Since she wanted all mirror to be hidden. Tarun " We are going to that psychiatrist tomorrow." Dipa nodded. She just didn't understand why did that thread didn't work. After that she was very careful that she didn't see any mirror. Their house was looking so strange. Tarun increased his vacation for one more day. They decided that they must visit psychiatrist as soon as possible. These days were worst days of Dipa's life. Uncertainty was scaring her on every point. She wanted her life to turn in normal way. She was so scared that it would not work. She just kept hidden in her house. When finally Tarun told her that they must go to psychiatrist, she went out. She scared of that shadow on every moment. When they went in room of psychiatrist she saw mirror and she immediately started screaming. Then psychiatrist told receptionist to hide that mirror. After that Dipa sat there. Psychiatrist talked with her. Step by step she told every thing to him. Psychiatrist " So you saw that cat in mirror and this began?" " But I am not scared of cat?" Psychiatrist smiled " Mind is not as simple as you feel. You are not scared of cat but you are scared of it's shadow in mirror and that fear increased so much that you are scared of mirror now." Dipa was so shocked. " You have developed catoptrophobia which mean fear of mirror. Normally it developed in figure conscious ladies but in your case due to trauma it developed in you." " So when will I able to see in mirror?" " It is not so easy. Give it some time. We will move ahead step by step." " But I can't live like that." " Of course you can. Many people do. I will teach you how to survive it." Then psychiatrist taught her methods to control her fear when she saw that shadow in mirror. Then before going away Tarun told psychiatrist story of thread. " How did it stopped?" " Due to her faith and positive thinking. But it was not strong enough to survive for long. After all it is just game of mind. Many times with positive thinking people can handle it. But then negative thinking and fear enter and every thing will start again. Don't worry. Slowly she will be fine." They both nodded and went away. In her heart Dipa was scared but due to psychiatrist she felt one thing that she could survive it. Most importantly Tarun was confidant that she would be fine. She decided that she would keep faith on his positive thinking. She smiled while trying to avoid as many mirror as possible on road towards her home.
The End
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