Dream - Part 7

 

Free Ghost, Paid Human

Evening wrapped the office building in tired light.

Arjun completed his work, shut down his computer, packed his bag, and stepped out. The corridor felt unusually silent.

As he walked toward the parking area, her words echoed in his mind.

“Heavenly people are preparing my palace… arranging welcome party…”

He smiled unconsciously.

“Welcome party aaah…” he murmured to himself. “This girl… even after death…”

“Even after death what?”

He stopped walking.

She stood in front of him.

This time, he was shocked — but not the same terrified shock as before. It was more like… startled familiarity.

“You didn’t go yet?” he asked cautiously.

She folded her arms dramatically.

“As if you have booked a ticket for me with your expense, you are asking. I didn’t go. Don’t worry, I won’t increase your expenses. Now I can’t even eat anything, you know.”

He blinked.

“I tried eating pani puri,” she continued sadly. “My favorite! Uff… I thought everything will be free now. I can eat whatever I want. Though I am not hungry, I felt like eating. But I was unable to eat. Nothing. Can’t taste, can’t swallow. Waste of ghost life.”

He stared at her.

“Free mein dost mil gayi tere ko,” she added proudly. “I won’t add any tax for you.”

He shook his head.

“Hearing your words itself is a tax. It’s been a while since I heard such long, long explanations. God… I just asked ‘you didn’t go yet?’ Your answer was like blah blah blah for five minutes.”

She pretended to look offended.

“Oh… I am tired.”

“This is what happens if you keep talking without full stop.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Oh, I am not tired of talking. I am tired of sitting idle. Now I got you. You are free, right? We have a lot to talk. Come, come… you are going home only, right?”

“Yes, home,” he replied carefully. “But why will you come?”

She made a dramatic frowning face.

“Won’t you allow me inside your house? I had already been to your home. I saw your wife too.”

He stopped walking again.

“Huh? When? When did you go?”

“Calm down,” she said quickly. “I didn’t do anything to your beloved wife. I saw her today morning when you were about to leave for office. After that, I didn’t go to your heavenly house.”

He sighed in frustration. “You and your commentary…”

“With your permission, I will again come,” she continued. “If no permission… then I will stay on trees. Hanging upside down.”

He couldn’t help it.

He laughed.

“Upside down? Nice. It suits you.”

She stepped closer, looking straight into his eyes.

“Hey… shall I come or not?”

There was something different in her voice now.

Not playful.

Not dramatic.

Just a simple question.

And for the first time since she appeared as a ghost,

Arjun did not answer immediately.