Looking at fog
Seema looked out of window entire road was full of fog. She knew about cold weather of winter but still she didn't experience it that much. She was new in this town. She came here for job. At beginning her parents were against sending her. But then Auntie offered place to stay and everything was changed. Her parents knew that getting job was not easy. That job was from prestigious company. It was full of hopes and this Auntie was living alone. Leela Auntie was always nice to all. Her two sons were settled in abroad. They hardly showed any interest in their country. They just kept insisting parents to join them back. But Leela Auntie and Uncle never agreed. Leela Auntie told her Mom truthfully. " My daughter-in-laws seemed sweet now since we are staying separate but I don't know how much they like me if I join them. They will want privacy. And if I stay with one son, he will complaint that I am staying just with him so entire burden on him. I need to stay half months with another son too. It is horrible. I need to keep shifting from one place to another again and again. It will be hard for us." At that time Uncle was alive. Leela Auntie had big support of him. After his death their children insisted little bit. But Leela Auntie stayed firm so she was staying alone in that big house now. It was nice house. They had many rooms. Once it used to be big joint family but now most of them were settled in different parts of world. Leela Auntie was staying alone. Everyone was suggesting that she should shift but she was not willing. But when Seema got job there, Leela Auntie immediately told her Mom that she was welcomed to stay with her. At beginning Seema was confused. She felt that it might upset auntie's children. Seema told Mom that she would stay with some one as paying guest. But her Dad opposed this idea. Dad " I can't permit you to stay with unknown person. It can be risky." She felt so sad. She needed that job. It was so upsetting. But then Mom said " I feel you should stay with Leela Auntie. If her kids got upset, we can manage something else. But you can surely stay with her for at least one year. It will upset no one." She agreed so now she was standing here looking out of window. She tried hard to make sense of things she was watching on road. But nothing was making sense. She couldn't imagine what was happening on road. She kept watching in fog. There were some moments in fog. She was sure about them. She felt that strange mystery was hidden in that fog. She was feeling so thrilled by it. She wanted to catch different aspects of it. She was so happy in this game. It was her first day in that new town from tomorrow she was going in that office. She wanted to make it all successful. She was so scared. But beauty of this fog was giving enchanting feel to her. She felt that this fog potion of courage and she could drink it with her eyes. She liked fairy tales from childhood. She liked to live in imagination. She was watching it and laughed. When she suddenly heard scream from behind, she turned back. Leela Auntie was screaming. She didn't understand why. She could sense that Leela Auntie was seeing something from window which she couldn't. She felt that it was possible that she didn't see things in fog but Leela Auntie could. Nothing was making much sense in her eyes. But she felt so scared that she immediately closed window. She started shivering with fear. Seema " Auntie what happened?" Leela Auntie once again looked out of that window and smiled. Leela Auntie " Nothing dear I just felt that some snake was coming inside from window." Seema shivered. Seema " Snake came in house?!!" " Yes..yes rarely but sometimes. After all you can see we have land around us full of trees." " Yes..yes it is beautiful. I just fall in love with your house." " No doubt it is enchanting. But it is inherited house so my kids don't want to spend on it. They feel it will be wasted. They always keep telling me that this house belong to all so when it comes to selling every one will get share so we must not spend money on it alone. But I know those people don't care about house. I do so I want to spend. Your Uncle use to spend money on this house. He use to take care. But now I can't spend money as per my choice since it is divided. My kids don't want to spend their share on me so I must use my share properly. I am not permitted to use it as per my choice. I am stuck in my limited budget." " Sad!!" Seema said while looking at that house. It was so nice. But she could see it required lots of repairing. She knew that it was wonderful house. She couldn't blame Leela Auntie to wish that she could spend money on it but she knew that her kids were acting right too. They couldn't spend so much money on property which finally didn't belong to them. She was feeling so sad. She didn't able to understand who was right. Then she took deep breath and relaxed herself. She knew that she needed to prepare herself for job of next day. It was important for her. She knew that she didn't know what was her exact work but she could remain ready for basic things like typing and book keeping. She knew that she needed to handle accounts. She decided to go back in her room. She was about to lock window when Leela Auntie came running towards it and she locked it with actually chain and lock which couldn't be opened without keys. She felt as if she was jailed. But she didn't say anything. She just gave artificial smile and went in her room. She knew that she was living here without cost so it was like charity so she needed to tolerate all. She once again wished that she was staying with some other person as paying guest. She felt that it was perfect. She couldn't do that. She knew that her Dad would object. She smiled and went to her room. She was feeling so hurt. Her room was nice too. She looked around. She saw window. She started to go towards it. But then she remembered what Leela Auntie did. It was their house. She opened her bag and took out book of accounts. Then she sat on sofa and started reading. She needed to remain ready for her first day on job.
Seema started to read those books of accounts when she heard strange voice. She felt as if someone was digging something. She wanted to check out. She even went towards window then she stopped. She felt that she must not disobey Leela Auntie. Auntie clearly told her to close window and this house belonged to Auntie she decided that she didn't want to open window. She started to concentrate on books. She needed to read them. But that noise was too much. She slowly went towards window and started watching out of closed window. She tried to make out meaning of shadows. It started to scare her. She began to feel someone was digging something. She could see a shadow. She shivered with fear. She was so scared. Then she sensed that her imagination was becoming overactive she needed to confirm facts. She immediately decided to open window. She needed to work hard to open it. Leela Auntie did everything to keep it locked. Luckily it didn't need key. When she opened it cold wind touched her body she shivered. She began to sense that now entire room was going to get cold. She sensed her mistake. She knew that heat was stored in that room now due to her mistake she needed to shiver in cold entire night. She truly didn't like this idea but she didn't have much option. She knew that she did mistake so she must tolerate. On that moment Leela Auntie came running inside room. Leela Auntie screamed on her " Stupid girl!! Why did you open window? It will kill you." Leela Auntie pulled her out of room. But it was too late she was already shivering. Seema felt so guilty for not listening to Auntie. She did all according to her thinking which was so wrong. She just hoped from heart that it wouldn't harm that much to her health. She didn't want to fall sick and became burden on her Auntie. If she was in her home, it was different story. Then she suddenly remembered that tomorrow was her first day on job. She felt so scared. She didn't want to be absent on first day. She knew that if this happened then they would surely keep someone else on job. She went in hall and sat near heater. It really helped her. Then suddenly she sensed that someone was pressing hot cup of coffee in her hand. She felt so glad. She began to drink it immediately. Then she saw Leela Auntie was taking out red wine for herself. She was so shocked. She never expected that Leela Auntie would drink alcohol. But then she was adult and doing it in her senses. Then Leela Auntie offered her wine too.She immediately denied. " So you don't drink?.." She nodded. Leela Auntie smiled. She took her glass of wine and sat beside her. Leela Auntie " Good thing. Once you started drinking it is hard to control yourself. Look at me. I took my first drink due to this cold. It looked promising at first but then slowly step by step it started to hurt." She stopped talking and took another sip. Seema sensed one thing that Leela Auntie was no longer interested in controlling her habit. Seema didn't like this at all. Seema " Auntie can I go to my room?" Auntie started laughing. Leela Auntie " Your room? It's our room." Seema felt so hurt but it was clear that Leela Auntie was drunk so it was useless to argue. Seema " Yes. I mean room which you gave me to stay." It became clear to Seema and Leela Auntie was clearly drinking before she entered in her room. So Leela Auntie get drunk every day and it was not good news. Seema was so scared. In her house no one touched alcohol. They were clearly against such a type of addiction and Leela Auntie was doing it before her. But Seema was not going to object since it was auntie's house. But Seema started to regret coming there already. It was so frustrating. She didn't want to stay with person who get drunk every night. She decided that she would discuss this with her Mom. After this her Mom might able to convince her Dad about keeping her PG to someone else. But then she had doubts if her Dad would agree. She kept feeling that it was not about just staying with unknown people but it was about money. Her Dad didn't want to waste money on her. She hated to admit it but it was truth. She felt so sad when she forced herself to accept it. But she couldn't run away from truth. She must accept it as fact of her life. She felt so sad. Then suddenly Leela Auntie came near her with blanket. She saw genuine concern on her face. She seemed like nice lady. Leela Auntie " Are you alright?" Then Leela Auntie sat beside her. Seema felt smell of wine. She hated it but then she sensed that many people drank alcohol. It was their lifestyle she couldn't object them all. It was their choice. Leela Auntie was smiling towards her. She returned smile. Leela Auntie " Are you angry? I mean I screamed on you without second thought. But I was so scared. You are my responsibility and I totally forgot to warn you about fog."" About fog? What is wrong with fog?" " Well it is so harsh that it can kill you." " What?" " Yes in this area fog is risky. It can even kill you." Seema was so shocked. She heard that fog was risky and it could kill but she never took it seriously. She always kept feeling that it was exaggeration. But then it was also written in some part of history. She knew that history couldn't be wrong. But she started to see different items in fog. She could see movement inside it. She felt that those movement were just normal things. She knew that she sensed something inside that fog. But she knew that Leela Auntie was telling about just feeling of sickness. But she began to feel that it had something more sinister. She knew that it was madness but she sensed it. She felt so sure that fog had something. She began to remember all those movies in which ghost entered from fog. That fog was so scary. Suddenly those all imaginary ghosts were began to become truth. She began to feel that she surrounded by ghosts and this house was her only safety. She looked towards Leela Auntie with fear. Leela Auntie " If you are scared you can share my bedroom. I am just like your Mom." Seema nodded and she went in Leela Auntie's room.
Seema was so confused when she entered in Leela Auntie's room. Everything was so delicate and perfectly kept she didn't want to damage anything. She wanted it to be just the way it was. She didn't dare to touch anything. She just kept observing things around her. Leela Auntie smiled and asked " What happened? Why don't you look around in room? You are standing in odd way!! Don't you like this room?" " No..no it is so beautiful but I am scared I might break something." Leela Auntie started laughing. Leela Auntie " Nothing in this room is going to survive permanently including you and me so why get tense? Come on enjoy yourself." Seema smiled and started looking around. Suddenly she began to sense staying here was not bad decision. She needed to just adjust little bit. She smiled happily. She began to touch things around her. She felt so pleased. She was from middle class family. She stayed in big house they inherited but it was empty kk since they didn't have money for interior or her Dad didn't give since he felt that it was wastage of money. Her Dad always spent as per his choice. He never gave money to them. She always felt only if she could get some money then she could improve her house. She was not planning to tell Leela Auntie anything but suddenly found herself discussing all. Leela Auntie smiled and said "Your Dad was just like that from childhood. He never acted like mature person. I thought that he might be improved by now. But now my hope shattered. He didn't change a bit always I am great." Leela Auntie smiled and said " I know my drinking habit might upset. But it set like tradition by my husband. Don't worry I never get drunk. " Seema smiled and nodded. Leela Auntie " What kind of movies did you like?" Now this question confused her. She needed to study. She was not planning to watch movie at this moment. She needed to study. She turned towards Leela Auntie and said " I want to prepare for first day of job." She felt that Leela Auntie was so upset. But she came here for job so she must study for job now. Seema " Can I bring my books?" Leela Auntie looked so confused. Leela Auntie " Are you planning to study further?" Seema started laughing. Seema " No..no I am not planning to study actually I need to prepare for first day of job." Now Leela Auntie started laughing. Leela Auntie " You can't prepare like your examination. You need to go there and then understand nature of work." Seema was so confused. She didn't understand how could she handle this pressure. Seema " I am so tense. If I make one mistake all will be over for me. My Dad just choose one boy and I will married to him." Leela Auntie " Your Dad will choose? I am confused. We are talking about your marriage not his." Then they both laughed. " Actually I went to meet many boys which were suggested by known people but they were not right for me. I can't say yes to them. It was impossible." Leela Auntie just nodded. She was pointing to continue but Seema was confused. Seema began to feel that she had already told too much to Auntie. She hardly knew Leela Auntie so much that she could tell everything to her. It seemed as if Leela Auntie was drinking and she was the one who was acting like drunk person she was telling everything to her. She didn't understand why but she told everything to Leela Auntie. She chatted her like her mother. In fact she never even chatted with her mother like that. Her mother never got so much time. Her mother was always busy. Leela Auntie " It's not fair. You need to get chance to choose. But this is world. They don't understand. Now look at me. I did all to please to my kids. I feel you can get what you desire here. " Seema nodded. She didn't say thing she was little bit scared. She didn't know her future which was scaring her. She slept on double bed with Auntie. It was large and nice bed and it was wonderful room. But it was unknown. She tried hard to sleep but she kept lying awake. Finally she gave and decided that she might need to walk to get some sleep. She needed to get tired. But she couldn't able to sleep until 3 o'clock. She was clearly looking tired on her first day of job. But her office was full of staff. She was unknown to them. They didn't hate her. They smiled whenever she smiled towards them. But they didn't come to chat with her. They had their own subjects which were unknown to her. She tried her best to become one of them. Finally she found one lady who was ready to chat with her. Her name was Rashmi. They chatted. Rashmi seemed like perfect woman to create friendship. Rashmi told her every thing about office. It helped Seema lot. Seema started to judge people little bit. Then she began to talk about their favourite subject and it started to encourage them in talking with her. By end of day she managed to know all staff. She was so happy her decision to take this job was becoming success. She felt so wonderful. She began to learn different things on this job. She decided in her heart that she would live here. Leela Auntie would become her wonderful companion and everything would be perfect. She went back from office. She kept talking about office. But soon she sensed that Leela Auntie was getting restless. She didn't understand cause. Leela Auntie pointed towards window. " That fog!! It will surely kill me one day." " Auntie nothing will happen if you wore warm clothes and drank hot cocoa or coffee. In fact you drink wine too so what is the tension?" Auntie " That fog!! It will kill me." Auntie started shivering. She tried to help her. She started to offer shawl to her. Leela Auntie was shivering even under it. She kept pointing towards window. Seema was so confused. Seema began to sense that something was wrong with Auntie. She immediately called Doctor. She waited excitedly for Doctor. She shivered. She wanted to stay there. She wanted Leela Auntie to remain alive. But then she sensed that she was getting worst. She knew that Leela Auntie was having heart attack but she didn't have any way to stop. She didn't understand how to get medicine. She decided that she might go to chemist and purchase it. She began to go out. But she suddenly sensed that Leela Auntie was holding her hand tightly. Leela Auntie screamed " Don't go fog will kill you!!" She tried to get out of her hold but it was impossible. Finally she pushed Auntie away and ran towards door. But on that moment she sensed that it was too late but she tried.
When Seema came to chemist, she told him all. He called one doctor who was nearby. They ran to house. Doctor checked Leela Auntie and confirmed her fear. She was dead. After that he asked about her. Seema told everything while controlling her tears. They called kids and then her son talked with her. " You must go back now. You know rituals if you stay there for this night you needed to stay there for few days." Seema sensed that her kids didn't want her. Seema " But I can't shift immediately." Her son sounded upset. Her son " How long you are planning to stay there without rent?" He asked pointedly. Seema took deep breath and said " I will pay rent if you want!" " And take over my house?" She was so shocked. They never considered this place as house before but now suddenly it became lovely house. She was so confused. Seema " No..no I will leave immediately. Just let me call my parents." " Good. Go away. We don't want you there." She felt so scared. There was threatening in his voice. She remembered her Mom's word who advised her against coming here. She immediately called her Mom. She could clearly hear her father's voice in background. He was cursing her. She shivered. She didn't want to look out of window. But she started to look. Then she saw something. She felt that it was coming towards her. She saw that animal. It had strange big mouth and horrible teeth. She never saw anything like that finally she saw what Auntie was telling. She began to scream and show it to Doctor but he didn't see anything. That thing went in fog again. She was so scared. She called her Mom again. She began to tell her about that animal. Her Mom started asking her about her health. Her Mom was sure that she was sick with virus. She was suffering due to sickness. Seema " No..no Mom it is real. It will kill me." She began to cry loudly. She felt again and again that it was going to attack. She kept screaming. Doctor came near her and tried to convince her that it was just dog. But she didn't believe it. Then her Dad called. Dad " Stop scaring your Mom. Why you are creating such drama?" " It is before me." She screamed loudly. Her Dad was confused now. Her Dad was screaming loudly. " What happened?" Finally Doctor took her mobile from her and told on it. " I think your daughter is having nervous break down. I feel we need psychiatrist!!" " But how did we come there so suddenly!!" " You must. I can't handle it." Then that Doctor called ambulance. They took body away. She kept sitting there. She was shivering. She kept watching at window and kept screaming. She stayed there alone scared without help entire night. She kept seeing them from fog. She was sure that they would kill her so she kept screaming. Finally in morning she woke up with knock. Her parents came. She kept telling them about Fog. They talked sweetly. They took her to Psychiatrist. He talked nicely. She was admitted for few days. Psychiatrist told her parents "Actually husband of Leela Auntie was died due to cold which turned worst and it started from fog so she was scared of fog. And she planted that fear in Seema." Her Dad " In just one day!" "Actually it is just representing her sorrows and fear of her worst future. Seema was settling here everything was perfect. But she had lots of dream and Leela Auntie suddenly died before her. She wanted to stay at least in her house as to restore some memories. But her son rejected that idea and decided to throw her out." Her Dad " But she stayed for one day." " Yes she stayed for one day. But sometimes friendship of one day matter more that friendship of years of blood relations. Maybe Leela Auntie gave her that support." Seema's Mom started crying. Psychiatrist " Don't worry she will be fine soon." Dad " But now she will lose her job and if someone spread news of regarding her visit to psychiatrist then she will not get husband.." " Stop this you are helping her. I will handle all. Just arrange place for her stay she will join her job soon." Dad " But I want her to marry." " But she want to do job. Let her do as per her wish." Her Dad nodded. Since he didn't have much option. He could still hear Seema's screams. He knew that she must cure her so he nodded.
The End
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