By Priyanshu Misra
Is reincarnation possible? Is there a way of hijacking a ride back to the land of the living after one's death? These are a few questions that I have seen many mortals ask themselves time and again. Of course, they may not say it in a straightforward fashion but the question is there, lodged deep in the bottom of their hearts. Now, what if, one was murdered in their previous life and when they, by some ill-luck, have to come back again into this sorry world only to see that the killer from your previous birth is now your life partner? The nastiest thing that could happen to anyone, right? Well, that's what happened at least in the case of this particular couple whose tale I am about to narrate here. Let's see, where did this horrible realization got them to.
With a sudden jolt, Simon woke up. Drenched in sweat and panting horribly, he looked every bit the man who had been subjected to an awful nightmare, the kind of one where everything feels vividly real. His right hand jerked up towards his chest almost instinctively and searched for the hole that he expected to find there. There was nothing there to be found though, and he breathed a sigh of relief when the cognizance of the fact hit him.
His eyes then traveled towards his left and he saw his wife Edna sleeping peacefully, a few snores escaping through her throat. A wariness entered Simon's eyes when he took that long glance at his sleeping wife though. It was not the first time that he had been subjected to this particular nightmare. In fact, this was the third instance that the similar dream had disturbed his sleep, a fact that was proving difficult for him to comprehend. On the top of that, it was always a woman whose face exactly resembled his wife that gave him that fatal blow in the chest.
He took a deep breath and glanced at the alarm clock to note the time. Its needles showed the time to be 2:30, the exact time when this particular dream always haunts him. Hastily, he climbed out of the bed and decided to go sit in another room to give his tormented mind some rest. Just as his legs hit the floor, Roscoe- their two year old golden retriever, immediately sat up on his little dog bed. Edna, though, was perfectly unaware of anything and the flow of her snoring didn't skip a beat.
Roscoe quickly followed Simon as he exited the bedroom and made his way downstairs. Theirs was a small flat in the middle of downtown London and the only spacious corner available was the drawing room where currently Simon switched on the controls of the electric fireplace before settling himself on the sofa. Roscoe came and perched himself beside it, his eyes staring intently at his master.
" You having bad dreams too, Roscoe? " Simon asked the dog in a whispering tone.
The dog's answer came in a series of huffs and puffs and that made Simon crack a crooked smile.
" You are also aware of the strain these past three weeks have been, aren't you, Roscoe? I mean, your mum and I just fight and fight nowadays? " Simon said in a voice that reeked of utter dejection.
Roscoe moved forward a little and laid his head on the feet of Simon. It was like the dog was acknowledging the question too and was replying with an approval with that simple physical contact.
" And the funny thing is that we promised each other before getting married that we would never become like the other couples, always bickering and always on the edge. But, here we are, after just a year of matrimony and we can't stand the sight of each other, " Simon said while staring intently at the fire glowing in front of him, his dark eyes perfectly reflecting the turmoil that was erupting inside him.
" And, now these incessant, ever troubling dreams, " he remarked after going quiet for a second, " Are these just an extention of my own fucked up mind or is there a deeper meaning to them? ". He muttered the last question in an extremely thoughtful manner, with a grave voice and furrowed brows. The mutt lying at his feet jerked up his head and whimpered a little. Simon looked at Roscoe and gave out a half whimsical smile and then breathed a deep sigh. His tired eyes stared at the glowing fire a little bit more before they could bear to remain open no more and heavy slumber eventually took him in its sweet grasp.
It was eight thirty in the morning when his eyes finally decided to open their shutters. Quickly, Simon got up from the sofa, disturbing Roscoe's peaceful beauty sleep. The mutt grumbled and whined when his master did this inconsiderate thing but Simon had no time to look back. He had to report at his workplace in exactly an hour and he had not an instant to lose over trivial matters. As he ascended through the stairs, he came across his wife who was trotting down the stairs while yawning heavily.
" You didn't even bother to wake me up, did you? " Simon's voice was harsh and biting.
" You are a grown man, aren't you? Perfectly capable of taking care of your needs. Why should I bother then? I am not your mother, " Edna retorted, her voice equally sharp and cutting.
Simon's mouth twisted to say some more in his defense but time was running against him. Also, he was not in a mood to have a row before starting his day. So, quietly he slid past her and ran towards the bathroom to get fresh and ready for the day.
The breakfast too was a cold affair like it has been for these past three weeks now. Edna munched on her toast without even glancing at her husband. Simon, too, kept his head down and just focussed on the food before him.
Suddenly, though, an image popped up in front of his eyes and immediately his hands went into the action. " No, you are not getting me this time, " Simon shouted while his hands went forward and caught the knife that was coming to poke a hole in his chest. Although, everything was imaginary but in his mind's eye, everything was real and his face glowed with a look of triumph as he felt that he had successfully stopped the attack. In reality though, he had just tossed over the glass of orange juice lying in front of him and the liquid unapologetically spilled all over the table. Edna winced as a streak of that liquid splashed at her white shirt too, soiling it awfully in the process.
" What the...? Are you daft or something? " she cried as she got up from the chair and started to shake the liquid from her clothes as if it were a speck of dust.
Simon, as if suddenly coming out of a dream, started shaking his head while trying to get a sense of reality. " I don't know what the hell happened. I just... an image of a knife was all I remember seeing before my instincts took over, " he mumbled absentmindedly. Edna looked at him with what looked like a guilty expression to his eyes but quickly she recovered her composure.
" Oh! You and your stupid dreams. Never fails to amaze me, " Edna said while laughing sardonically.
" What's that supposed to mean? " Simon said angrily while rising up from his seat.
" Don't try to show ignorance. I mean, it was your dream to live in this stupid metropolitan jungle, in this fucking little matchbox of a house. I was pretty satisfied living in Lavenham while running the bakery. But, no. You had to follow a dream and here we are, " Edna said venomously.
" So, what had you hoped for me? To just be a fucking accountant for your father's bakery for the rest of my life. After studying day and night and being a graduate in economics, that's what you expected me to do for the rest of my miserable life? " Simon's eyes flared with anger.
" No, I didn't. I always wanted the best for you. For us, in fact. But, a life in this crowded city and this sorry excuse of a living space, that's not something I ever envisioned in a million years, " Edna retorted back in equal vexation.
" I would..." Simon started to say his piece but before he could do that his eyes wandered off towards the clock on the wall in front of him which showed that there was only a half an hour window where he had to report at his office. So, reluctantly and with great effort, he swallowed back his anger and after throwing a supremely peeved look at his wife, he grabbed his little bag and hastily went out the door.
Simon worked at HSBC bank, the branch at Piccadilly to be exact, and it usually took him about forty minutes to reach there. Today, although his reporting time was 9:30 am, he was a little bit late due to that morning row and he reached his workplace around 9:50 am. Panting horribly, he somehow walked towards his desk and settled heavily on his chair. It took him a few seconds to make his brain come to order so that he can get on with the rest of the day.
" Today's definitely an anomaly. Simon Wright reaching late to his workplace is something that couldn't be considered as a normal occurrence, " quipped his co-worker Dylan Gruffudd. Dylan was older than Simon in age and his portly frame made him look even more older than he actually was. But, he was a person of very jolly temperament and even though Simon was his junior, they both interacted like old chums.
But, what he said was indeed the truth, though. This was indeed an anomaly as Simon was a very punctual and meticulous man and being late for something wasn't in the cards for him.
" Hey, Dylan. Finally, your day has arrived, hasn't it? I mean, you reaching here before me, that's definitely an anomaly, " Simon chimed in an equally good-humored fashion while simultaneously adjusting his tie which was proving a little too tightly knotted for his liking.
" Are you alright though, Simon? " Dylan asked next after fixedly looking at him.
" Uh, yeah. Why do you ask? " Simon cleared his throat while trying to appear composed.
" Well, I asked because you look a little shaken. As Pale as a ghost, " Dylan said with a snigger. " Seriously, though , " Dylan added concernedly while pulling the empty chair lying in front of Simon's desk and getting seated on it, " you look a little ill mate, ".
" Yeah, I uh...do you sometimes... get visions of your... death? " Simon broached the subject hesitantly, his voice littered with little pauses.
" Death? What the fuck are you even implying at? Are you thinking about committing suicide or something? " Dylan whispered gravely while looking in all directions.
" No, of course not. It's just... I am having these stupid dreams lately. This dream…it's…I am getting stabbed in the chest and that too by my dear wife. But I can't figure out why this particular dream has decided to haunt me off late, ” Simon felt slightly ashamed to discuss this topic with a co-worker but he was on his wits end by now and had to get this load off his chest and unfortunately, Edna and him were not much on speaking terms. They only interacted nowadays when they craved a good arguing session.
" Uh, I can't say anything about it. Maybe it's something that's going to happen and your instincts are just giving you a fair warning, " Dylan said while laughing softly.
" Hey, I'm not kidding here, Dylan. I am losing sleep over this strange situation, " Simon said in a pleading tone.
" You have been working overtime, haven't you? " Dylan suddenly questioned back.
" Yeah, I have been for a few days? But, how is that relevant to any of this? " Simon asked, the confusion palpable in his manner of speech.
" Well... I think your current predicament is just the result of an overworked mind. Go easy on the donkey work for a while and see how all this will automatically cease to exist, " Dylan said with an air of surety.
" But, what about my wife's face in those dreams? What explanation can you provide for that strange phenomenon? " Simon vehemently implored for an answer.
" Mate, the closest thing you can have to an enemy after entering in the circle of marriage is your wife. Hell, I have been married for twelve years and my missus's face is the first thing that pops up whenever I experience a nightmare, " Dylan said while trying hard to control his building laughter that was ready to burst out at any given moment. On that note, their little discussion ended and as the workplace started to pick up the regular commotion and both of them drifted towards their respective tasks on hand and everything else took a backseat.
It even remained in the backseat for the whole evening which, by a stroke of good luck, went away without any tussle. In fact, his wife even provided a concise apology to him when they sat around for their supper.
" I believe I overreacted a little in the morning. Sorry about that, " Edna said without looking at her husband. Her voice still sounded frosty though and it seemed that offering this little apology was proving as quite a taxing effort for her.
" I was in the wrong too. It was my clumsiness that started the argument. So, sorry from my side too, " Simon said softly while gulping down his half chewed food.
" How's your dress, by the way? I hope it's not ruined completely, " Simon asked after a second, trying to open a line of communication. Edna, on her part, didn't look too enthusiastic to participate in it though.
" Yeah, it's fine. Nothing a good wash can't get rid off, " Edna said while absentmindedly munching on the piece of steak.
" Good to hear that. It would have weighed heavy on my conscience if it was soiled permanently because of my ineptness, " Simon said while laughing out a silly laughter.
" What are you doing, Simon? Why are you suddenly being so chirpy? " Edna, for the first time, looked at him with eyes that looked hardened with irritation.
" I am... I am just trying to have an open conversation with you. I mean, we haven't had one in ages. Now, is that also too big of a thing to ask for? " Simon retorted, his voice openly exhibiting the anguish he felt because of her rebuke.
" Isn't the answer written on my face? " Edna said sarcastically.
" Can't we just put all this negativity behind? Come on, how long are you gonna be mad at me for just making you move here? " Simon said in exasperation.
" Let me see. I am known to be quite stubborn and can hold a grudge for years. So yeah, I can manage to go like this forever, " Edna said with a heavy hint of mockery in her voice.
" Edna, what do you want me to do? Do you want us to leave and return to Lavenham? Is that what will make you happy? " Simon asked in a frustrated tone.
" Don't you try to paint me as a mean bitch who doesn't want her husband to experience happiness. What I want you to do is at least be transparent with me while taking decisions that relate to both of us. I mean, you just decided to move here one fine day without even bothering to ask for my approval. Is that how you view me? Some slave of yours whose outlook is not worth considering? " Edna barked ferociously, her face getting redder with each passing second.
Simon remained silent the entire time and simply listened to his wife's harsh but true words. Somehow, he can see the fault now. Yes, he was wrong to not take her opinion on the matter and he immediately decided to rectify that mistake.
But, before he could open his mouth and offer an apology to his wife, his ears started buzzing with the voice of his dead father and that instantly stopped him in his tracks.
" Still not having the guts to stand for yourself, huh? Still getting dominated by everyone in every sphere of your life. Look at you. Getting tyrannized by your own wife, " the words echoed inside his eardrums and like a statue he remained glued to his seat. A veneer of shame covered his face by now and slowly he raised up from his seat and started to walk away.
" Where are you going? " Edna asked, her earlier anger subsiding as confusion started clouding her voice.
" I am going to bed, " Simon answered back in an almost mechanical voice totally devoid of any emotion.
" What? We just had this heart pouring session of arguments and you are just gonna walk away as if nothing happened? " Edna stated, her confusion deepening with each word spoken.
Simon turned around and looked at her blankly, " I don't have the strength to fight anymore. I am tired and I want to rest, ". His voice was a sea of sadness and Edna became concerned for him even though they were at loggerheads.
" Simon, are you really alright? " she asked in a solicitous tongue, her earlier frustration and anger completely dispersed.
Simon didn't answer the question immediately and just gave her a long, hard stare. Then, he cracked a silly laugh before commenting, " That's funny. Come on, now. Don't try to upset yourself by pretending that you care about me. For this past three weeks we have been behaving like we were mortal enemies of one another. So, let's drop the charade, ". His voice was brimming with sarcasm and hearing that made Edna's ire return once again.
" Alright then. Go and sulk on your lonesome. See if I care, " Edna bluntly blurted out before picking up the plates from the table and walking hastily towards the kitchen to dump them in the sink. Simon too, in his own fit of anger, went towards the bedroom and slammed it's door with his full bodily might and their little argument ended on that sour note.
That night, as usual, that same dream made an appearance and disturbed Simon's already disarranged sleep schedule. With a groan of frustration, once again, Simon woke up and went out of the bedroom with Roscoe again following his master like the ever faithful companion.
" What shall we do Roscoe? Should we put on the telly? " Simon asked the mutt as he heavily collapsed into the sofa with the remote glued to his right hand. He was aware that sleep had, for the time being, evaded him and was not going to return for a while. So, he had no other option than to just watch some boring program on the telly to kill time. Roscoe, on his part, whined excitedly and climbed on to Simon's lap this time for better comfort.
" Let's see. What good program is coming on at this ungodly hour? " Simon mused while changing the channels rapidly to find something of interest. Suddenly, his hands stopped on a channel when he heard the first word utter.
" If you want to know the mysteries of your life, both your past, present and future then come to this place and have the answers that has been eluding you forever, ". Just that one tagline was enough for Simon to get hooked and like an obedient child he started to view the telecast.
" If you are viewing this program then it clearly means that you are seeking answers to things that are beyond any rational explanation. But, there's no question relating to one's life that Madame Sati can't answer. So, write this address down and come to seek an audience with the woman that could make your arduous life a little bit easier than before, " . The message ended on that note and immediately the address popped up on the screen.
Simon's phone was in the bedroom upstairs and he had no other option but to run towards the corner of the room and grab a pencil and paper lying in the little drawer placed there. So, in an extreme haste, he got up from his seat and ran towards the drawer, knocking Roscoe down in the process.
" Sorry about that, bud, " Simon apologized when the mutt whined and complained about being tossed about like a toy. His apology was quickly accepted though and Roscoe slumped on the floor and started to lick his paws.
" Alright, I have got it, " Simon grabbed the items in a childlike giddy excitement and ran back towards the telly muttering the whole time as if somebody else was present in the room who needed to hear those words.
||
The next morning when he woke up on the sofa, there was a different shine on his face. His usual face in the morning resembled that of a grumpy cat but today, it bore a resemblance to a golden retriever puppy. Gently he got up from his seat as Roscoe was sleeping on his lap and he didn't want to make the dog fall again like last time. The dog's eyes instantly opened though as he felt his master's gentle touch and almost immediately sat up to give him a morning lick.
" Okay, okay...a very good morning to you too, mate, " Simon said gently while trying to prevent Roscoe from turning this one lick into a whole washing-up session. He then looked at the clock on the wall and saw that the time was just six thirty. He had plenty of time before his working hours started and his senses implored to breath in some fresh air. " Apparently, we can go for a walk then. What do you say, Roscoe? " Simon muttered in a relaxed cadence and Roscoe immediately started dancing around with excitement. So, quickly he retrieved Roscoe's collar and away they went to put some fresh morning air into their lungs.
The rest of the day went away uneventfully as Simon had hoped for. There were no rows with Edna when they sat for breakfast. She had prepared a large breakfast consisting of bacon sausages, black pudding and baked beans, a very unfamiliar thing as she had not done it for sometime.
" What's the occasion? " Simon asked sparsely.
" Why do I need an occasion to cook some good food? " Edna said while sitting down on her chair. A hint of a smile was brimming on the corners of her lips, something that took Simon completely aback.
" What? Why are you smiling like that? "he asked while raising a brow.
" How about we start over once again and make things between us just like it was before this recent ruckus? " Edna said in quite a jolly manner.
" You being serious right now? " Simon asked with a puzzled look.
" Of Course. Why, don't I sound sincere? " Edna questioned back.
" It's not that. I just...never thought that your disappointment with me will ever end, " Simon replied back in a voice that reeked of amazement.
" Well, I thought about it. Our little ongoing squabble, I mean and I realized that maybe, due to our egos, we just stretched it out than it should have been. And now, I want to give it a rest, " Edna once again stated in a voice of extreme honesty.
Simon's face instantly brightened on hearing that. " Nothing makes me happier than to hear that, " he mumbled with a voice choked with emotion.
It was this sudden reconciliation that made the rest of the day pass off like a breeze. Dylan even mentioned it the first time he laid eyes on Simon. " Looking more chirping than usual. Something good happened, right? " he said, which made Simon smile a wide grin, something which he hadn't done in a while.
When evening came and with it the end of the slogging workday, Simon was in two minds whether to go to the address he had jotted down last night or let it pass. His recent reconciliation with his wife was a major factor in producing that hesitation. He wanted to rush home and spend time with her. But, the other part of his brain instructed him to go find that address. " Don't you wanna know the reasons for those dreams? Do you wanna spend the rest of your life being tortured by them? " These thoughts reverberated inside his cranium and he decided to take the right course of action - to find answers for his current nightly predicament.
The address was pretty easy to find. The house Simon was looking for was located on Duke Road in Marylebone, one of the gorgeous pieces of Georgian architecture. Twilight had by now taken the shape of a full blown evening and the recently lit streetlights were emitting a nice, golden hue covering the entirety of the area. Simon, with a few resolute steps, walked up towards the house and rang the doorbell.
The door was opened by an extremely tall, middle-aged gentleman who looked at Simon with heavy, scrutinizing eyes. Simon almost had to adjust his stance and give out a nervous smile, so rattled up he felt under that man's watchful gaze.
" Yes, how may I help you? " the man asked in a heavy baritone.
" Uh...yeah, um... I am looking for Madame Sati. Does she live here? " Simon inquired while clearing his throat frequently as his nervousness was trying hard to burst into his speech.
" Yes, she does live here. May I ask your name and the purpose of your visit? " the man again asked in an impassioned tone of voice.
Simon was about to open his mouth to give an explanation when suddenly there came a voice from inside which did the work for him.
" Let him pass through, Devon. That's Simon and he is just here for some answers, " the voice said, its timbre admirably sangfroid.
It took all in Simon's power to hold himself from not falling down right on the doorstep when he heard that stranger announce his name in such an endearing way as if they were long lost pals. Even Devon leaned forward to help him from not staggering down.
" Are you alright? " he asked in a calm but concerned voice.
" Yes...yes... I am perfectly fine, " Simon said while trying to get his shocked senses under control.
" Madame Sati is expecting you, then. Please, come inside, " Devon said politely and stepped a little away from the door to let Simon pass.
They walked past the corridor and was led into a big living room which smelled of sage and lavender. The furniture and ornaments in the room screamed of a mixed origins. There were Persian carpets, oriental vases and Greek figurines perched in every nook and corner of the room. In the middle of all that, atop a sofa that had been covered with cashmere wool, sat a woman of extreme leanness, with hollow cheekbones that resembled the moon's craters and sharp eyes as black as the night sky. Her hair was partially gray and was neatly flowing towards her back. One glance at her could make anyone instantly guess that she was a psychic and had some secret knowledge hidden in that brain of hers, which could make mere mortals bow down to her in awe.
" Go ahead, Simon. Take a seat, " she motioned towards the other sofa lying in front of her, a bright and inviting smile glued to her features.
" How did you know my name? " Simon asked while taking his seat, his eyes tersely looking at the women's zen countenance.
" I always know the names of the people that are seeking my help. Your name echoed in my ears exactly in the dead of the night when you first became aware of my existence, " Madame Sati said with an air of sincerity.
" Then, you must also know the reason for my visit. About my recent affliction, I mean? " Simon asked in a demure voice.
" What? About your sleepless nights? Yes, that was conveyed to me, too, " the woman again said in a frank manner.
" What is it, then? Why all of a sudden the same dream is putting me through such a hellish experience? " Simon asked in an expectant, almost begging voice.
" Are you a religious person, Simon? " Madame Sati asked, suddenly going completely off-topic.
" If you are asking about going to the church every mass, then no. I haven't been to that place in almost a decade. Why, is there any relevance to my predicament? " he asked, intrigued beyond measure.
" Oh, I was asking that to see how rigid your beliefs are. You see, sometimes when people are overly religious they have a very narrow view of reality. So, my advice is not readily welcomed. I just wanted to make sure that you were not one of them to get offended by my suggestion, " Madame Sati said with a wry smile.
" No, you don't have to fear that from me, " Simon said while smiling crookedly himself. " Anyways, what is it that's causing this ailment? " he added his query immediately a second later.
" I can perceive auras, Simon. It's a latent ability of mine that developed quite early in my childhood, although I can't put a finger on any exact reason. Now, you have to understand that there are two types of auras- one that appears to my eyes in the green wavelength of light and which I like to call as the fresh harvest. The second aura appears in the form of a red glow and I call it the bygone aura, " Madame Sati said gravely and Simon listened to every word with utmost concentration.
" Now, these auras actually denote the age of your soul, " she continued. " In your case, your aura is a light red color. Which means that this is not your first time in this realm. This is your second birth. The more births you take, the deeper the colour becomes, ".
" Hold on, are you suggesting reincarnation here? " Simon said in an amazed fashion.
" That's right. That's exactly what I am implying at, " the woman said with naked honesty.
" Is this even possible? " he asked next, his voice reeking of suspiciousness.
" If people can believe that there are two separate realms for us to inhabit when we die then why can't reincarnation be possible? " Madame Sati said while laughing softly. Her words had conviction though and Simon saw the point she was trying to make.
" Besides, " Madame Sati added, " reincarnation seems more of a probable thing than the heaven and hell concept. I mean, by now we all are at least aware that the soul is just an energy and energy can't be created nor destroyed. So, where does it go after a person's demise? Surely, it enters a new life to continue the ongoing cycle of life, ".
" Yes, I can see the point you are trying to make and I believe in it too. So, this recurring dream is some sort of earlier memory, you say? " Simon asked in an intrigued yet shocked voice.
" Yes, that's the memory of your death from your previous lifetime which is still lodged into your consciousness in this one. That's a very rare thing to happen but I have seen it before, " Madame Sati stated in a candid manner.
" But, why am I seeing my wife in those dreams? " Simon asked next, his voice hesitant.
" About that. Well, I feel very awkward saying this to you but your wife was your killer in your past life, " Madame Sati said, her voice somber but sympathetic.
Simon listened to her silently, not a single muscle in his body showed any movement.
" Your dream creeps up exactly at 2:30 in the morning because that's the hour of your demise in your previous life, " Madame Sati added a moment later.
" Why did this thing trigger all of a sudden? " Simon finally found his lost voice and he spat the question in an almost whispering tone.
" How long have you been married? " Madame Sati asked frankly.
" If you know all about me, don't you have that information? " Simon asked in a perplexed manner.
" The knowledge of your current ailment is something that the universe delivers to me and not your whole biography, " the woman said while cracking a dim smile.
" Well, it's been one year since our marriage. Before that there was a year of courtship, if you would like to call it that, " Simon said while clearing his throat feeling a little uncomfortable in putting out this sensitive information of his life in front of this complete stranger.
Madame Sati didn't answer immediately. There was a pin drop silence of five minutes when she furrowed her brows and concentrated on the matter. Then, very mildly, she replied, " In my belief, it's triggered recently because you are now living in close proximity with the killer from your past life and your senses are warning you about the danger. Sort of just like a fawn or deer is alerted when a tiger is nearby, " Madame Sati said while looking the epitome of thoughtfulness, with furrowed brows and a grave voice.
" But, even if what you are implying still happened, why are these things manifesting now? I mean, whatever happened, happened in a different era, in a different time. Surely, I don't have to be bothered about my own wife killing me now, right? " Simon asked a little unsurely, his voice getting smothered by his hayward emotions.
" If you are having visions from your past life then it's probable that she must be getting her own inputs too. How's her behavior around you? Has there been a change in her attitude all of a sudden? " Madame Sati asked abruptly although her voice sounded unenthusiastic.
That little query suddenly made Simon's head spin. Edna's complete u-turn from hating his guts to cooking breakfast for him and making amends was something that was starting to look suspicious in his books, especially after receiving all this information about past lives and their respective roles in it.
" Yes, now that you put it like that... I believe there had been a few changes in her behavior, " Simon said while staring into empty space, his voice sounding hollow and distant.
" Then, I would be careful if I were you. I can't honestly say if she is having visions from her past life like you- the universe hasn't whispered her name in my ears, but I would implore you to still be cautious, " Madame Sati said in a slightly ominous tone and that made Simon's already downtrodden heart to feel more dejected than ever.
All his life, Simon had been someone who craved knowledge but this was the first instance where he was really cursing himself for being inquisitive. Madame Sati's words were still echoing inside his head when he came home and was sitting at the dinner table. Edna's each and every action was being carefully scrutinized by Simon's wary but alert eyes. A simple smile from her now looked like something that could hurt his very being.
But, the real blow came at the deep end of the night, at the exact hour when his nightmare always crept up on him. As he woke up from his awful slumber, viewing the vivid, brutal stabbing of his past self for a millionth time, he found his wife wide awake and gazing at him with a sly grin which appeared to have a malicious glint to his paranoid eyes.
" What's wrong? Did you had a bad dream? " Edna asked in a solicitous tongue.
" Yeah, I had actually...why are you awake at this hour though? " He mumbled at first while furnishing his answer but his voice shed the sleepiness and regained its vigor when he threw that question at her.
" Oh, Roscoe was whimpering and that woke me up. Perhaps he was feeling cold so I got up and upped the heating a little, " Edna confessed earnestly. " That's when you started mumbling and groaning in your sleep, " she quickly added.
" I, uh... I had this awful dream of getting stabbed by someone, " Simon said while scanning every expression that danced on his wife's countenance.
" Really? That made you whimper like a child. Come on, you can do better than that, " Edna said while laughing gently.
" I am not joking, Edna. It really felt very visceral, " Simon said with emphasis, his eyes still sticking to noting any change in Edna's behavior.
" Well, Simon Wright, you don't have to worry about anyone doing that as long as I am with you, " Edna said in an amused voice while raising the quilt towards her neck and again settling into a comfortable sleeping position. It was at that moment that Simon saw something shine in between Edna's finger which she quickly slipped into the drawer of the bed stand.
" What's that thing that you put inside the drawer just now? " Simon inquired inquisitively.
" Oh, just my hairpin. I had kept it lying around the bed- blame my clumsiness for it, " she said without turning around to face him. Her voice shook and faltered a little while saying that though and it instantly dawned on Simon that it was a lie. But, she was quickly asleep though and as usual, Simon spent the rest of the night with Roscoe for company, constantly mulling over inside his head about what his next course of action should be.
" Look at you. You are still back to looking pasty again, " Dylan remarked in jest when they met the next day.
" Yeah, it's almost impossible for me to avoid looking like that nowadays, " Simon replied back in an apathetic tone of voice.
" What, troubled in paradise again? I thought you two reconciled, " Dylan said, sounding surprised.
" Well, some strides were made in the right direction but it seems like we are back to ground zero, " Simon said while rubbing his temples vigorously.
" What is the reason for all these bickering between you two? You never outrightly mentioned it, " Dylan asked with curiosity.
" Mundane stuff, mate. Anything I do aggravates her and vice-versa, " Simon confessed candidly.
" Lately, she's been nice to me, though, " he quickly added. " I mean, I seriously can't understand the reason but everything's sailing smoothly for two days, ".
" Then, what's the reason for this pensiveness that you are carrying around? " Dylan mumbled while smiling crookedly.
" I don't know. The fact that her behavior abruptly changed is something that's bothering me. Can it happen though? Obviously, you have been a married man far longer than me so you ought to have some experience, " Simon asked.
Dylan smiled a little and leaned forward while resting his right hand on Simon's shoulder. " Mate, the only time your wife is good to you is when she wants to accomplish something. Either she is planning some surprise for you or she wants something from you, " his whispery voice had a roguishness to it. Before Simon could talk anything more about the affair with Dylan though, the first customer of the day entered the bank and the discussion fizzled out immediately.
But, Simon became even more vigilant than before when he returned home that night. On his way back home, he purchased a small pocket knife and he held onto the weapon the whole time when he sat for supper with his wife. His alert eyes took every note of Edna's actions and he didn't even partake a single morsel before making sure that she had it first lest it was poisoned. He did it covertly though and Edna did not have a slightest bit of hint that he was scrutinizing her.
Finally, came the time for bed and with it the fear of impending doom. Simon kept the small knife tightly grasped in his hold while he retired for the night. He even planned on not shutting his eyes for once but that didn't work out accordingly as his eyes gladly welcomed beauty sleep when it knocked on his heavy lids.
When the dreaded hour approached, it brought with it that awful nightmare that had been hounding him for days on end now. The experience was more perplexing this time for him for it dragged on longer than before and for the first time, he heard his past self interacting with the killer woman.
" I have been hit. Whoever resides in this hut, I command you to open up the door, " his past self said while getting off his horse and banging on the door of a lonesome hut, his left hand clasped to the wound on the right abdomen from where blood was spurting profusely. The voice sounded raggedy too and it seemed like without proper care, this man would die right on the spot.
Readily, the door opened though and out stepped the woman who had the semblance of Edna. " Oh, my God! Sire, you are hurt. Here, let me help you, " she said concernedly while leaning towards him and giving the injured man a shoulder.
Very carefully, she half carried the wounded man into the small hut and made him lie on the wooden table perched in the middle. Quickly, she tore off the armor which had been ripped off at a few places and took a good look at the naked body of the knight. The man didn't have much energy to utter anything and just winced and groaned while battling the surging pain.
" I have to seal the wound first. Lay still, while I retrieve the suitable items, " she said while hastily running towards the corner of the room.
" Where are you, woman? Hurry up, " the knight shouted as the lady did not come to tend him after a whole minute had passed, his voice an endless well of agony.
Still, no reply came from the woman's side and the knight started to grow restless.
" Where...are... you? I will..." he again started yelling in a tortured voice when suddenly a very hot object came in contact with his already wounded site and pierced it further aggravating his pain by ten folds.
As his eyes reverted in the direction from which this sudden attack had occurred, he saw the woman wielding a big, red hot knife which was lodged into his abdomen, a malicious smile lighting up her features.
" Yes...shhh...be very silent now, sire, " the woman said in a voice brimming with ecstacy.
" Why...why? " the knight simply managed to utter these two words while his right hand tried to clasp the woman's face but failing in the attempt.
" Why? This is for my brother, Victor. Remember him? The man whom you murdered in cold blood, " the woman screamed awfully.
" Vic...tor, " the knight said in a manner which easily denoted that he remembered that name.
The woman laughed sardonically when she saw the man's eyes go wide when realization hit him.
" And look at the irony here. You killed my brother when he was unarmed and now I am taking your life when you are unarmed, " she whispered into the ears of the knight before twisting the knife inside his gut thus silencing him forever.
Swiftly, Simon's eyes opened as soon as the dream ended and to his great horror he found Edna looking at him maliciously, her right hand clasping the kitchen knife in its tight grip. As soon as she saw Simon regain consciousness, she lunged at him with the fury of a wild animal but somehow, he managed to dodge her and jumped out of the bed in time. The only thing that did suffer the brunt of this attack was his pillow which got pierced horribly.
" Edna, what the hell are you up to? Have you gone mad? " Simon shouted, his voice trembling under the sudden surge of adrenaline.
" Oh right, I have gone mad. And what about you? If you are not being subjected to the same madness then why are holding onto that pocket knife? " Edna retorted in a voice oscillating between anger, confusion and frustration.
" I need to kill you, Simon. If I don't, these dreams... these fucking dreams are not going on to leave my arse alone. I can't... take it anymore or I will go mad, " she confessed in a broken manner, her shoulders slumped and seeming devoid of energy.
" Edna, we can talk this out. I love you and would never dream of hurting you, " Simon said, trying to cull the tension prevailing but still keeping his guard up a little lest something went wrong.
" I love you too, Simon. But, you don't know what these dreams are instructing me to do. It constantly buzzes in my ears telling me that you are my sworn mortal enemy and I need to end you if I want a reprieve from them. Even when I am awake they won't leave me alone, " Edna said while sobbing helplessly. Simon understood that his beloved wife's predicament was far worse than him and that there was no turning back from it now. He saw her hold on the knife get firmer and he too reciprocated it.
" I am sorry, Simon. But, only one of us is going to walk out of this alive, " Edna said while wiping away her tears before lunging at him with immediate affect. Simon was clever enough to dodge that but what he didn't anticipate was the fact that his wife who was much smaller than him in size had the advantage in being more lithe and agile and instantly she turned around to attack him. He was a little slow to dodge this second assault and his hands immediately went up to cover his chest, the part of his body she was aiming for. A guttural cry emerged from his throat as the knife sliced his forearms and made him stagger backwards.
There was not a moment to lose as Edna immediately went to her next course of action and she bent down and sliced on both of his legs. Simon yelled even more than before and immediately limped downwards.
Quickly, Edna aimed for the killing blow but before she could do that Simon who was still trying to fight the surging pain, immediately dodge that attack using every inch of his strength. Swiftly, he got up from his crouched position and immediately he grabbed her neck in a strong secure lock. Edna started to struggle like an animal while spewing a whole lot of expletives at him. An apparition of his past self appeared out of nowhere before him and it implored passionately to go ahead with the task.
" Do it. You know it in your heart that she is beyond reasoning now. Like she said, only one of you walks out of this alive. End your sworn enemy. Do it, " the apparition commanded in a booming voice and Simon couldn't bring himself to refuse that order.
Without a thought, he dug his pocket knife into every inch of Edna's body. He went on stabbing her for a whole minute before his hands refused to comply with his wishes. In the end, there were twenty-two holes in his wife's torso and her limp body immediately crashed on the floor. Blood flowed freely out of her wounds and made a pool in the immediate vicinity. Edna looked one last time at her husband, the earlier malice in her eyes completely dissipated by now. She silently mouthed an ' I love you ' before her soul shed her mortal coil.
Simon immediately slumped to the floor while crying horribly. Only now, when there was no danger to himself, did he get the time to take note of his surroundings. Roscoe’s corpse was lying at one corner and that made him more disconsolate than ever. The mutt must have tried to intervene when he saw the knife in Edna’s hand and he paid the price for it. A pang of guilt struck his heart with full fury as he realized everything that he had so carefully built has turned to dust in the frame of a single night.
Having nothing to lose now, he decided his next course of action. He will leave this mortal realm too and follow his wife to wherever the soul goes after a person's demise. So, with a last vigorous attempt, Simon pierced his carotid artery with his pocket knife thus ending his misery forever.
So, that marked the end of Simon and Edna's little funny story. It was funny, wasn't it? At least, to me it was very funny. Two mortals going at each other because their stubborn souls can't just simply let go. It's true actually. Some souls are certified toughnuts. Even in death, they don't know when to quit. So, they would be back for some more action and continue this funny turn of events in another lifetime. Anyways, let me gather my scythe while I leave you mere mortals to decide whether this was a funny tale of events which deserved a few bouts of laughter or tale of woes that deserved a tear or two to be shed in its wake.
By Priyanshu Misra
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