Woman on branch
Dinesh was starting to open window when Priti screamed from behind " Don't open! sunlight will fall on my eyes." Dinesh was so shocked. He didn't understand. He looked out of window again as if to confirm his senses. It was night. He was sleeping & due to heat he opened window. He looked out. It was night. He could sense that sun was not in sky. He could easily see twinkling stars. He began to watch them peacefully. He kept watching sky. He felt so relaxed. It was so wonderful. He was enchanted by it's look. He started to feel wonderful touch of cold air. He began to feel that touch of weather. He was so pleased. He started to sense a different smell. He knew that it was from garden. He didn't understand from which plant but he loved it. He always felt so locked in house. He loved this smell. He started breathing it. It was so wonderful. He began to count stars. In his childhood he used to do it. He used to watch out of window. He used to count stars for hours. He loved it. He knew many people did it. But suddenly Priti screamed from behind " Close that window! It is irritating me." He was so shocked. He didn't understand why she wanted to keep windows closed. They had AC so throughout day she forced to keep them close. But he wanted to see nature sometimes too. He knew that for AC he needed to keep it close. He closed it. Then he went in gallery. He closed it's door too. He started watching. He could see pleasant garden. He was so happy. Then he suddenly felt that someone was on tree. He began to watch carefully. He felt as if some woman was climbing on tree. He shiverd. He wanted to go back but his legs seemed to stuck on that place. That woman was still on tree. He couldn't see her face. Then she suddenly turned. He was so shocked. It was Priti on tree. He screamed loudly. Then he sensed that someone was on other side of door. Priti screamed from other side of door "What happened come inside?" He turned his attention back. Then he looked towards tree. No one was on tree. He didn't understand what was wrong with him. Then he felt that he might be fallen asleep while standing. He looked around. Then he sensed that he was no longer standing. He was sitting in corner of gallery. He felt so confused. He just ran towards door. He opened it. He saw Priti was standing on other side. Priti asked " What happened?" He felt so confused. He didn't remember when did he fall asleep but he was surely sleeping otherwise how could he manage to see Priti on tree. He needed to adjust that incidence. He smiled & said " I don't felt sleepy so I went out to count stars & fall asleep while watching it." " But you screamed?" " Ohh I felt a rat was near my feet." She didn't like this idea at all. She knew that how did have rats but rat could enter from garden in balcony. She screamed " Why did you went in that balcony in beginning?! If rat entered in house? Don't you remember how hard it was last time to throw that rat out?" He nodded. She immediately locked door connecting to balcony. He went to bed. He was so scared. She was his wife but he was feeling strange fear about her. She smiled & asked "What happened? Your clothes are totally wet. Why does you sweat so much?! Just due to one rat?!" He looked in her eyes directly & asked " Have you ever visited garden in night?!" She looked shocked. He sensed that he managed to catch her some secret. She gave one artificial smile & said " No I never went in garden!" This answer managed to confuse her. " You never went to garden?" She nodded. He didn't believe it. " You are trying to tell that we got one beautiful garden outside & you never visited it?" She nodded. He asked " Why?" She just avoided watching him. He began to suspect. Something was wrong. He was looking towards her carefully. He started to sense that she was different. She was so beautiful as if something artificial. She seemed like perfect doll created by God. She was too perfect. He began to doubt her beauty. He started watching carefully. She didn't have any defect on her skin. She didn't have any rash or sun tan. She was too pale. He never noticed her pale complexion before as he did today. She was something strange. He began to see her more carefully. He was married to her for six months. They always planned honeymoon but they never went. She always kept getting sick. She always stayed in house. She was not normal. He suddenly remembered that woman on branch. He knew that it was not possible. But then he remembered something he saw on TV. He even saw it in movie. He shiverd. He knew that it was fiction. Still he felt a strange fear in soul. He felt as if she was still a ghost. A ghost could marry! But then he remembered how did they married. It was daytime so much people! He couldn't believe she could be ghost. She was so normal. He didn't understand what did he dreamt. He just smiled & said " Let's go to sleep." He closed his eyes. He was so shocked when once again he started seeing that face. He opened his eyes & sat in bed. He didn't understand what was wrong with him. He took deep breath to calm down his thoughts. He was so shocked. He didn't expected that he could keep seeing that face. He shivered. He looked around. Something was not right. She was sleeping near him very peacefully. But he knew that something was wrong with her. He could sense it from soul. He didn't understand what was it but she was not normal. Her pale face her habit to keep everything closed! He felt that she was not normal. He began to observe her carefully. He was looking at her every feature with hope that he would get some clue. But he didn't. She didn't show any sign of non human entity. But he knew that he could sense it. He started to feel so breathless. Once again he went to open window. Then he remembered how much scared she was of moonlight. He slowly opened window & started to throw moonlight on her face. He could sense that she must be exposed in moonlight. So he threw it on her face. He didn't see much difference. He began to observe carefully then he noticed a burn. She was burnt near her neck due to moonlight. She was a witch or some monster. He felt so scared. He ran out of room.
When Priti opened her eyes she was shocked to notice her husband was missing. She knew that he slept there on every night. He never acted unreasonably like that. He always so kind & considerate. She was so happy. She even began to think that she couldn't tell him her secret. She couldn't go out much due to her agrophobia. She wanted to hide it. From childhood everyone treated her badly due to it. Her friends never liked her. Her parents considered her abnormal. Her parents always used to scream on her to go out. But she was so scared. She never understood why. But Dinesh was different. He was so compassionate. She felt that he would understand her fear. She smiled & went out to search for him. She smiled when she saw his in rocking chair. He was sleeping like baby. He was so cute & innocent. She slowly touched his shoulder. He woke up & screamed. She was so shocked. She asked " What happened?" He controlled his emotions & said " Nothing just bad dream!" " But you were sleeping peacefully like baby." He looked confused. Then he smiled. He said that he needed to take bathe. She nodded. She was so confused. She was sure that something was wrong with him this time. She didn't understand why did he screamed like that. She noticed even his breathing was not normal after seeing her. She didn't understand what did he saw. She started looking around herself. All seemed totally perfect. She didn't sense what was there. Dinesh went in room. He didn't understand why he was feeling so sick. He wanted to feel happy & normal. He was happily married man but that one dream managed to scare him. He started to feel fear in his soul. He was so upset. He knew that he didn't want to see Priti's face again. She was something evil. He began to feel fear of her existence. He was so confused. He knew that she was his wife. He needed to love & care for her. She kept looking at him with hope. But he was scared of her now. She came near him & smiled sweetly. She asked " What do you want for breakfast?" She was so sweet. He didn't understand what was his feelings. He was confused. He smiled back & said " You cook everything so nicely. Cook whatever you want!" She smiled happily & went in kitchen. He could smell her cooking. She was such wonderful cook. She was so wonderful wife too. But his dream was biggest obstacle. He began to feel so scared of her. He kept seeing her in that strange way. He started to feel two sides of his mind. He decided to call his Mom. His Mom took call. " Mom something strange happened?" " What happened?" He calmed himself & slowly told everything. His Mom didn't say anything then she said " You need to pay attention. Are you sure that she is not ghost?" He started laughing. " Mom stop this nonsense. Come on! Ghosts are fiction!" " And who told this to you?" He felt so confused. His Mom started to tell him a ghost story of one maternity hospital. He began to shiver. Suddenly Priti touched his shoulder. He screamed. She started laughing. " You scream every time I touch you! I am your wife not ghost of horror movie." He tried to smile but he was so scared. He didn't sense that he was breathing deeply & making strange noise. She asked " What happened? What is wrong with you?" He tried to stay away from her. He literally ran in washroom. She was so embarrassed. She was his beloved wife still yesterday. But today suddenly he wanted to run away from him. She felt that this caller might be feeding something wrong about her so she took his mobile which she felt that she would hear some human voice. But she was shocked when she heard tape played on mobile claiming this number does not exist. She was so sure that she heard him talking. She was so confused. She began to check his mobile. She didn't see any number. She wanted to ask him questions but then she decided to ignore. He went to washroom to take shower. He was hoping that it would take away confusion of his mind. He wanted to think clearly. He got dressed after shower but still that nightmare remained alive in his mind. He began to think about discussion with his Mom. His Mom sounded so sure as if she had seen ghost. He decided to call her back. When he came out, he saw that she was watching his mobile. She was trying to call. He screamed " What are you trying to do?" She began to cry. " I was just calling my Mom." " But that is number of my Mom." "What? But your Mom is dead?" "Yes she is." He said but he was truly scared. He knew that he was talking to his dead Mom few minutes ago. He decided that he needed help. He smiled & ran inside room. He began to search for family Doctor's number. He knew that he needed help. He began to search for number. Finally he found it in cupboard. He called Doctor. He started to tell everything to him. Doctor " Did you visited psychiatrist I recommended?" " No. Actually I got married.." " Got married? In this mental condition? Are you out of mind?" " That proposal came suddenly. I don't hide anything told everything to her parents." " About what? You have not even went to psychiatrist?! You don't know your sickness! You must visit." He began to feel so scared. He knew that she was perfect. He was wrong now. He immediately took deep breath. His breathing was no longer normal. He sensed that he was mad. He married to an innocent normal girl. He didn't want to go to psychiatrist & confirm his crime. He decided that if he didn't go then they couldn't say he was mad or he knew it. " I will go after sometime." " Sometime? You must go today!" He started to feel confused. He said " Okay." Then Doctor gave him number & name. He wrote it. He kept watching it. He regretted his decision to get married. He never thought his mental trouble was such big thing. He began to cry. He knew that he cheated an innocent girl. He knew that he needed to answer her now.
Priti was so upset. She sensed that something was wrong. He was hiding it from her. She even heard sound of his crying. She wanted to know what was wrong. She slowly entered in room. He looked towards her. On that point she was normal. She was loving wife. He knew that it was that moment went that nightmare was out for his mind. He knew that it would return. He ran towards her. He hugged her & started crying. She kept asking what's wrong. He just said " I miss my Mom." She felt so sad. His Mom died due to cancer when he was small. His father never remarried. His childhood was not perfect but it was not so horrible. He enjoyed his life with his father. But he never expressed so much sorrow over his mother's death until now. She was so shocked. She asked " What happened?" He didn't say anything. He just started looking towards closed window. She sensed that he was just avoiding her stare something was wrong. She began to feel so scared. His fear slowly started to shift in her soul too. She didn't understand what was wrong but she was so upset. She felt strange feeling in her heart. She began to feel her head was so heavy. She didn't have fever still her head was shocking all signs. She knew that it was her mental trouble. She started doing relaxation exercise which she was taught in her classes. She needed to go out. She used to do them. She slowly touched him & asked " What happened?" He just said it without sensing what he was saying. " You are ghost!" " What? Are you out of mind?" It was one common line but it managed to hurt him. He was not mad. " I am fine. You are mad from day one I sense it but I don't say anything. I know I need to adjust. But how long!" She was so angry. She never sensed that he was pretending. She screamed loudly. She wanted to throw her anger out. She didn't care anymore what he feel or think her love didn't seem to hold any power on him. She knew that now he would treat her differently. He could hear her crying & screaming. He started to remember dream again. She was witch. His doubt about it started to vanish. He knew that he was not dreaming. He came out & screamed " Go away or I will burn you alive. A witch! I saw you on that tree last night." She stopped screaming & crying. She didn't understand what he was talking about. She always hated tree & garden. She never sat under tree so no question of sitting over it. She began to feel so restless. She looked towards him. His eyes were looking something different. Actually it was not odd look. But it was different look. He screamed "Get out or I will burn you alive." She started to fear about him. She was not sure that he would not burn her. He was looking totally determined. She went in her room to pack bag. But he stopped her. "Get out. I know you are planning to set something to start your witchcraft." She looked so confused. She decided to go home. She ran out. But then she sensed that she was without money. She called her Mom. Her Mom was so shocked to hear this. Mom " But he looked totally normal!" " Yes Mom. I am telling you he is loving husband until yesterday but today suddenly everything changed. I don't understand what went wrong. He began to call me witch. Throw me out of house without bag. It was so upsetting. He was threatening to burn me." " Come home I arrange Taxi." Soon Taxi arrived. She went home. She cried so much. When her father came, he didn't like to see her there. Her father tried to send her back. She was not willing. " Dad he wanted to burn me." " Then let him burn you! I don't want your burden now. You are useless. I regretted to be your father." She started crying. Her Mom began to scream angrily on him " I am not going to let her go back. I want my daughter to be safe." " I earn & you just spend so you don't understand value of money. How much I wasted on this garbage!" He pointed towards her. Her Mom took her in arms. Mom screamed " She is not going back Monster." Priti was insulted but she didn't want to even go back. Mom was supporting her. Still her Dad kept abusing her & finally he called Dinesh. Dinesh clearly said " I don't want her back in my home." " Why? Did she disrespectful to you? She will touch your feet & say sorry. Don't dessert her like that!" She was so shocked. Her life suddenly became some strange movie. She had enough. She screamed " I am not going back. I have right on this home too!" She went in her room. Mom followed her. Mom " I miss you. If you want to stay here then stay for me. Ignore him." She smiled & cried same time. Then she started avoiding her Dad. Mom did all even arranging lawyer. Dinesh agreed to divorce on mutual consent. He was not interested in argument. She didn't want to argue too. Dinesh was so happy. He was no longer seeing dreams. He was so sure that it was just due to her. He was so happy. She was suffering in her soul. She was getting taunted by people for her agrophobia. She slowly accepted it. She began her treatment. She started to accept whatever she faced. It was hard but not impossible. Soon Dinesh became that dream which seemed never happened. She began to move ahead in life in normal way. Dinesh was so happy. He felt that all his troubles went away. He didn't need treatment. He was feeling so relieved. His family didn't understand cause but they supported him. They told him that he could get better girl. They even started suggesting other girls. He was happy but he didn't want to hurry up. But after sometime he once again started dating. He found another girl. She was happy to get rich husband. She didn't even ask about Priti since she didn't wanted to hurt his heart. He got married & everything was fine at beginning.
One day once again Dinesh began to open window this wife didn't object. He smiled. He felt happy that he left Priti. He was so sure about his decision. Then suddenly he heard noise on one branch. He looked outside. Priti was still on that branch sitting & laughing. He began to scream. He started to show her to new wife. His new wife didn't see anything. But soon she understood that he left Priti since he thought she was witch. He kept seeing her on tree. She started crying & said " Ohh my God I married to mad man." He was so shocked. Next day he went to same psychiatrist which his family Doctor suggested but with new wife. She was not going to live him. She didn't love him but she wanted his money & she made it clear to him before going to psychiatrist. He knew that now he would never able to live normal life. Psychiatrist might reduce his mental trouble but he couldn't get nice wife like Priti again. This wife just wanted money from him. He was stuck in worst situation forever. He kept crying & she kept screaming on him to keep quiet.
The End
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