The Unwanted Possession

Eloise's POV

"Can you tell me when you'll be back?" I called my husband, Arya, and asked him a question. My boutique was about to close.

"I'll be late, please don't wait for me, bye." He hung up the phone.

We dated for three years before marrying last year. As a software engineer for a Google software firm, he is currently preoccupied with new projects. A cool breeze hit my cheeks as I went out of the shop. My store is on the outskirts of town, yet it is very popular with young girls. I strolled down the lane, adjusting my scarf. Then my sight was drawn to a black cat running along a dark alley. When I turned around to follow the cat, I noticed a girl sitting in the corner. Who is she and where is she from?

"Hey! "Are you all right?" I inquired of her. But all I could hear was her sobbing in response. She stopped sobbing as long as I had my hand on her shoulder.

"I'm not okay," she remarked brusquely. I turned on the flashlight on my phone and pointed it at her. Her hair was open, and she couldn't see her face because of it. Her head was resting on her knee. She was dressed in a knee-length white gown.

Despite my unease with her voice, I asked her again.

"Can I be of any assistance to you?"

"Of course," she answered.

"Yes, please tell me," I asked her.

"Yes, please tell me," she repeated my question. I turned around when I felt something behind my back. But there was nothing there except the two of us. I sighed deeply and returned my attention to the girl. She's moved further away from me now.

"What brought you there?" I grimaced and moved closer to her. Shivers rushed down my spine as I felt a fanning breath on my face.

"Will you bring me anything to eat?" the girl inquired. I looked around to see why I was experiencing these sensations.

"Yes, I'll bring," I responded, oblivious to her presence. My surroundings had a certain vibe that made my heart race. I should bring this girl with me because I don't feel comfortable here.

"Let's go from here," I said. As I approached the girl, she began swinging back and forth. I knelt down to assist her with getting back on her feet. But her body was as heavy as a mountain, and she couldn't move a centimeter. Her being as thin as a wooden scale was ludicrous. How could she have gained so much weight?

"I believe you should accompany me," she replied softly. Her voice shifted from a harsh to a soothing tone. Her face was still hidden behind her hair, which was falling on her face when she tilted her head towards me. My heart leaped into my throat as I swallowed my fright.

"What do you mean?" I questioned her. I drew my brows together and tugged my hair behind my earlobe. She began shaking her body violently once more. There's something strange about her that makes me want to leave.

"I want him back in my life," She snatched my wrist and whispered.

Her chilly hand made me flinch, and I tried to untangle her fingers from my wrist. She loosened her grip and regained her balance. Her white gown was stained with blood, which gradually worsened.

"What's going on with your dress?" I asked, my voice shaking as I pointed my pointer fingers at her gown. Her nails gradually grew longer as well. My stomach twisted with dread, so I tried to pull her hand away, but she tightened her grip even more. It was too painful for me to speak, and the pain brought tears to my eyes.

"Why are you torturing me like this? Please, please leave me."

With each drop that fell to the earth, my wrist began to bleed. It resonated in the silence as if it were a pin drop. I closed my eyes and whispered Arya's name. And her grasp on my wrist had relaxed. I took a gamble and bolted from the dimly lit alley. But it was because of what she had done that I kept returning to the same dark lane.

Who was she ? And why was she causing me pain? These thoughts were circling in my head. I ran as fast as I could, panting fiercely. If I don't get out of this alley, how will I get home? Then I took out my phone and dialed Arya's number for assistance.

"Hello, Arya, I need your help," I said after two rings on his phone. I was panting heavily.

"Why are you panting, Eloise?"

"How are you doing?"

"I couldn't get out of the dark alley near my boutique, Arya. Please come over and help me."

"Don't be concerned. I'll be there in a minute; just wait for me."

"Please, Arya, hurry up." I looked around to see if that girl was still following me. But she was nowhere to be found. And the same cat that I had seen earlier took a different path. It appeared to be staring at me. Its eyes were similarly a bright crimson color. My phone rang after ten minutes, startling me.

"Have you reached?" I inquired impatiently when I picked up Arya's phone call.

"Yes, where are you?" I impatiently asked.

I told him about my surroundings, which might have helped him find me. And, yeah, he eventually tracked me down and saved me from that girl. He wrapped his arms around me and caressed my back.

"Thank God you're still safe. What brought you here?"

"I saw a cat and decided to pursue it. Then I came upon a crying girl and attempted to help her, but she attacked me."

"Which female are you referring to?"

"I attempted numerous times to get out of this lane but always ended up in the same alley."

"Are you all right?"

"No, she assaulted me." I moved my wrist forward to show him the wound she had left. However, I was taken aback when I noticed that the wound had vanished.

Arya's POV

Eloise's lovely face had become pallid. She was babbling about a girl, but no one else was around. As she shivered in dread, my heart twitched.

"You should take some time off." I shushed her and took her in my arms like a bride. Her huge eyes were wet, and her hair was tangled. I believe she was stressed out and acting in this manner. She found out she couldn't have children after the doctor told her. To cope with the news, she has lost her appetite and buried herself in boutique work. Despite my best efforts to support and stand with her. She shoved me away from her and engaged in combat with me. As a result, I became frustrated and began to spend more time in my office. I slid her into the driver's seat and stroked her cheek.

"I'm right there with you," She softly closed her eyes and took a deep breath. I drove over to our house and handed her the key to our bedroom. I laid her down on the bed and covered her with a blanket. With one hand, she grabbed my wrist and patted the bed near her. I kissed her on the cheek and sat next to her. She rested her head on my chest and placed her hand over my checkbook.

"I saw a female, but she wasn't a normal girl; she was a ghost." She remarked that she was tightening her grasp on my shrinking shirt. I stroked her back and tried to make her feel better.

"You've joined me now. So, Eloise, take it easy, "I mumbled. She may be hallucinating due to stress, but I can't make her sicker. As a result, I'm forced to agree with her.

"I believe you, my love," I said. We slept together the rest of the night after she hummed in response to my response.

My phone continues to ring the next morning, causing me to groan.

"Hello, Arya, we need you my son." As I picked up the phone, my father, Raj, said. He lived in India along with my mother, Rita.

"Dad, what happened?"

"Your mother is gravely ill, son. I am also an elderly man, and I am unable to get her to the hospital on my own. We don't want to be alone when we die. Please come back and serve your folks for a few days," he hissed.

I took Eloise's hand away from me and got out of bed.

"I don't want you to be alone, Dad. I was preoccupied with some office job, and Eloise was depressed at her inability to become a mother."

"Your work and wife take precedence over your parents. Isn't that so?

"No, dad, you've misunderstood me. If my Gracy had been here, I would not have contacted you, but God only knows where she has gone."

Gracy's name brought back memories of her. My obstinate childhood friend, with her lovely face and lovely grin, brightened the atmosphere. She abruptly vanished during my last visit to India, leaving only a note stating that she was heading to her Aunt's place. She has lived with us for 15 years and looks after my parents as if they were her own.

"I miss my daughter Gracy and son Arya," Dad's voice was hoarse as he cried.

"Please, don't cry, Dad. "I'll be back with Eloise."

"Thank you, son," he said, pleased with my response. He hung up the phone. I returned to my room to inform her about our trip to India. She was still dozing off, a cushion propped up against her. Living in India would be difficult for her because she would be unable to communicate in our native language of India, and my parents disliked her. To establish a strong connection with my parents and Eloise, I need to become a competent medium. Sauntered up to her, pecking her on the cheek and shaking her slightly to rouse her up.

"Please, Eloise, get up."

Her large hazel eyes slowly opened as she scratched them.

"Hello there," I kissed her on the lips. She took a seat and pulled her hair back into a bun.

"We're heading to India, Eloise."

"Why?" she might wonder.

"Mom is quite ill, and dad requested that I take her to the hospital and look after them," I moaned sadly.

Her face was expressionless, and she patiently listened to me.

"You'll be able to spend time with my mother." I kept my hand on her shoulder, hoping she would agree with me. I don't want to put any unnecessary pressure on her.

"I'll accompany you and look after them. It could be a new experience for me, " she smiled a little at me. I wrapped her up in a hug and thanked her for accompanying me. If she had objected, it would have been quite difficult for me to leave her alone in London. After that, we collected our belongings and headed to the airport. I took the tickets for us and asked Eloise to wait while I went to the restroom. I walked out of the restroom after freshening up. Suddenly, I ran into a female who was wearing a mask due to a covid.

"I'm sorry," she muttered.

"No, I'm sorry," I said in response. She stepped backwards for a few steps. I returned my gaze to her, and she smiled as she removed her mark and gazed at me. I was taken aback when I realized the girl was none other than Gracy.

"Gracy," I murmured.

Meanwhile, the flight notification was made, and the area quickly became crowded. I walked closer to her, but was frequently stopped in my tracks by the mob. When I got close enough to the girl, I put my hand on her shoulder to stop her. She turned to face me, but it wasn't Gracy she was talking to, but someone else.

"Yes, what can I help you with?" the girl inquired, raising her brows. I looked around for Gracy but couldn't find her.

"Nothing." With a shake of my head, I moved over to the waiting room. Eloise got out of her seat and gave the luggage to me.

"What were you doing?" She drew her brows together.

"I was looking for something but couldn't find it. I'm hoping to find it again this time."

Third Person POV

It was a dark night with heavy rains and thunderstorms Rita, Arya's mother was passing from a corridor, where her steps halted by a piano voice. She looked around and turned her steps towards the end of the corridor. She stood in front of the locked room, she ran her fingers over the lock and sighed heavily. As she was about to turn on her heels, the piano played music. Her heart beat palpitates rapidly. she went closer to the door, And kept her ears to confirm that the piano sound was coming form inside. "How could be it possible ? when noone is inside and the piano music is coming from inside," she murmured to herself. She walked few steps and peeped through the window to see who was inside. But no was there, except the broken table, dusty, clothes and a bed. she chuckled that she might be daydreaming. Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder, she swirled around to see. The next moment as she faced it, her body turned pale and a scream in fear came out of her mouth. Raj was on his bed when he heard scream of his wife, He get down from the bed, and run to his wife, Rita . She was unconsciously lying on the ground and bleeding from her head.

"Rita, what happened you ?" he murmured, shock her body she did not respond him back. Raj quickly picked up her in his arms like a bridal style and took her inside his car.

He drove his car at high speed and soon reached to near hospital Rita was admitted in the ICU, while Raj anxiously waiting for outside the ICU.

Arya and Eloise took a cab and reached to Arya's house, which was like every Indian bright, beautiful and big surrounded by a garden. Arya's heart overwhelmed after coming back his house after a long time.

Flashback:

"Mom, I don't want to marry any Indian girl. I already love a girl in London, I can't leave her," Arya hissed. He stood from his seat and kicked of the chair angrily that it throw away. Rita startled from his anger and moves closer to his husband Raj.

"We have not expected this from you. We taught you and did every thing since childhood. And in return you are giving me this freaking attitude," Raj snapped angrily.

Arya pumped his fist on the wall and let out a snort. He fell like he was stuck between his parents and love. Neither he wants to love his love nor his parents.

"Dad, she loves me a lot. I can't leave her. She will die without me," Arya said in low voice. Raj caressed his wife Rite back and consoled her. She was upset that her son chose a bride already without her consent. She always wanted an Indian daughter in law, not a foreigner.

"I wanted you and Gracy to get married," Rita confessed her feelings.She pulled apart from Raj and averted her gaze to Arya, with sadness. "Mom, we both are only friends. I have never seen her beyond a friend?" he stated twisting his lips in disgust. Raj turned his face away from him in anger and same Arya did. She did not want her husband and son to fight with each other. So she sighed heavily and agreed to his son.

"Okay, back to London and marry your love. But we won't attend your marriage," she mumbled. And walked closer to her husband and intertwined her fingers to him. Raj body has stiffener as it was the first time that Arya was arguing and raising his voice against him This gave him a reason to hate Eloise more.

"Just leave now. We don't want you here anymore. We have only daughter Gracy and will be always for us," Raj groaned. Arya knew that his parents are angry with him. When they will be calm, he will come back to meet them. So, he took his bags and stepped out of the house.

End of flashback.

"Arya, Arya," a voice pulled him out from his thoughts back into reality. He averted his gaze back to his wife Eloise. She took off her sunglass and carrying her bag, sauntered towards him.

"Hmm..yes," Arya murmured. She came closer to him and going on her toes she pecked on his lips, clasped him into a hug.

"Are you okay?" she asked him. Her touch made his body relaxed and calm. Though, they had distance themselves yet, she understood him very well.

"I am okay," Arya answered her back. Arya cupped her face and pecked her on her nose.

"Let's go inside," she said smiling. They stepped inside the house and looked in search of Arya's parents. But there was no one inside the house.

Arya took out his phone and called his father Raj, to ask him where they have gone , leaving the house opened.

Raj was waiting for the doctors when his phone rang and saw Arya was calling him.

"Arya," he murmured as he picked up the call. He would not tell his son that his mother had head Injury. But his mother will be happy if he comes here.

"Dad, where are you? I reached at home and saw that no one was there," Arya asked worriedly. He was standing the center of the house.

"We are in hospital. Your mother had an accident few hours ago?" Raj answered him with a rough voice in pain.

"What? How is she? I'm coming there please send me the address," Arya said panicked. He was in shock, that words could not be uttered properly.

"I am sending you the address please come fast," Raj said lowly. He went for a silent few minutes, then he answered me back.

"Okay, hope you stand as a son this time," he said and hung up the call. My heart felt contentment after hearing his reply I kept my phone inside my pocket and looked for Eloise.

While Eloise was roaming around in the house, as she liked the house decoration. She had never lived in Indian house. She stood in front of a big oval shaped mirror, as it looked very beautiful. It was carved with a sculpture of a girl to the side of the mirror.

She gave a smile to herself and tugged her hair strands behind her earlobe. But suddenly, she saw a shadow behind her. As she turned around to see, no one was there.