Rishi was lying on his bed feeling bored of his mundane life. He wanted someone who could have made life a little interesting for him. That evening he was visited by his cousin Mac who always had some wonderful experiences to share. Mac shook him a little to know what had happened and Rishi, with nothing much to talk about, said: “I am bored and want to listen to one of your interesting experiences.”
Mac, with one of his hands scratching his head, started narrating him a story. According to Mac, it was something that had happened to him and he feared to share it with anyone. He started “I once fell in love with a devil, a “Rakshasi.” Rishi was all ears and he hadn’t heard of such a thing before. Rishi asked, “How could a devil be pretty enough to fall in love with?” Mac said “One of the Pandavas married a devil, “Rakshasi, Devi Hadimba” and it was none other than Bheem. She was a wonderful strong woman who loved him more than any goddess could have loved a man of that power.”
Rishi was done with his questions and wanted Mac to continue. Mac continued :
“I was too devoid of affection from “Ria,” the girl I had been with for almost 7 years and there was no chance I could have left her. She was a part of my life and so was the baby in her womb and I could not have left either as it would have meant a strong sacrifice. But it was true that I didn’t love Ria anymore.
One night as I was thinking of getting rid of the negative feeling against Ria, I heard some sound in the kitchen. I ran to see if there was a mouse playing in the dirty dishes or some thief who had managed to barge in. As I reached the kitchen I was amazed to see a beautiful woman sitting on the kitchen shelf and looking out of the kitchen window. She wasn’t beautiful as per the ideal image of beauty created by the advertising and the Tv industry but there was something that I liked about her. I kept looking at her until she found me staring at her.
I found that she was frowning and cursing the world. I said “Hi” and she moved her head a bit and replied with a “Hi.” I was worried to ask her anything but I had to as this woman was inside my house when the gates were locked and she was sitting comfortably in my kitchen and was even replying to my greeting. I dared to ask her “Who are you?” She replied in an angry tone “Betty.” I found her tone a little disrespectful and I surely wanted to talk more. I asked her again, “Betty, was I expecting you here or is there something I should know about your presence in my kitchen?”
Betty with an angry tone shouted at the top of her voice “Am I supposed to tell you everything? Why don’t you mind your business and go and sleep to wake up fresh and not find me here at all?” She continued saying “and yes, I am a devil, someone you would never like, someone you won’t be a friend with, so better shut up and sleep.”
Even the last bit of sleep I had was now far far away and I wanted to talk to her more. I realized she is no ordinary human being and I wanted to know what made her so angry. And yes, I had been listening to supernatural things happening in the neighborhood. Now with all these thoughts running through my head, I thought she is the devil who has been roaming around and troubling people. I dared to ask again, “Are you the one Betty who has been visiting Mr. Sharma’s residence quite often; and Mr. Verma’s and Mr. Vatsan’s.” The reply was in the same impolite and aggressive tone, “Yes, it’s me and I love troubling people, do you mind leaving me alone?”
I left the kitchen to leave her there before she could harm me, the way she had harmed Mr. Verma’s dog who had gone crazy after being bitten by someone cursed and had been left to a dog’s shelter to avoid any harm in the society we stayed in.
And guess what, she never left my residence after that. I got to meet her everyday…..”
To be Continued in Part 2 of the story.