Then everything became completely silent.
For a few moments, there was only silence in the room.
Terrified, Areeba looked toward the door.
“Dadi?”No answer came.
Meher immediately ran outside.
Areeba followed behind her.
Near the stairs, Dadi Zohra was sitting on the ground.
Her eyes were closed.
Areeba sat down on her knees next to her.
“Dadi…
open your eyes.
“After a few moments, Dadi Zohra slowly opened her eyes.
This time, her eyes were completely normal.
Tears came out of Areeba’s eyes.
“Dadi.”Dadi Zohra took her face in her hands.
“Child…
you finally set it free.
“Areeba asked: “The Shadow is gone?
“Dadi Zohra nodded slowly.
“Yes.
“Areeba looked toward Meher.
But Meher was not there.
“Meher?
“Dadi Zohra lowered her eyes.
Areeba panicked.
“Where is Meher?
“Dadi Zohra said: “Her work is also complete.
“Tears came to Areeba’s eyes.
“I do not want to lose her again.
“Dadi Zohra held her hand.
“This time, you did not lose her.
“Areeba asked in surprise: “Then?
“Dadi Zohra looked ahead.
The first light of the sun was coming inside through the window.And in that light, Meher was seen standing and smiling.
Areeba ran toward her.
But no one was there Only a small red doll was kept on the ground.
Areeba picked up the doll.
Tears were flowing from her eyes.
Dadi Zohra said softly: “Now this mansion is free.
“Areeba turned back and looked at the mansion.
For the first time…
that mansion did not look scary to her.
But just as she was about to step outside, her gaze fell on the doll.
Inside the clothes of the doll, a small paper was hidden.Areeba pulled out the paper.Only one sentence was written on it: “Every secret has an end, but not every story.” Areeba smiled slightly and looked toward the sky.
And on that day…
the secret of Andheri Haveli ended forever.
Areeba read the paper again: Every secret has an end, but not every story.
“She carefully kept the paper inside the diary.
Dadi Zohra slowly came outside the mansion.
Looking back, the mansion was completely silent.
No scream.No sound of anklets.
No that cold wind.
There was only morning light.
Areeba held Dadi’s hand.
Chapter Start)”Dadi, is everything finished now?
“Dadi Zohra smiled slightly and said: “Yes child.
Now nothing will happen.
“Areeba looked at the mansion one last time.
She felt as if someone was standing in the upper window.
She rubbed her eyes and looked again.
The window was empty.Areeba said softly: “Goodbye, Meher.
“A light gust of wind came.
The hair of the red doll moved slightly.
A smile came onto Areeba’s face.She knew.
Meher was gone.
But her memory would always remain with her.
Areeba and Dadi Zohra went far away from the mansion.
And left behind was that old mansion,which had hidden a secret inside itself for twenty years.Now its door had closed forever.
Returning home, first of all, Areeba placed that old diary in front of her.
Dadi Zohra was sitting quietly next to her.
For some time, neither of them said anything.
Then Areeba opened the last page of the diary.
The sentence that was written before had now disappeared.
In its place, only one small word was left: “Free.
“Areeba closed the diary.
“Dadi, do you think Meher has really gone?
“Dadi Zohra said while looking outside the window: “Some people leave our lives, but their love and their memories never leave.
“Areeba smiled slightly and kept the red doll near her.
That night, for the first time, she closed her eyes without any fear.
Far from the mansion…
the shadow was finished.
Meher had become free.
And the twenty-year-old secret…
finally was buried.
But in the morning when Areeba’s eyes opened, a small paper was lying on her room’s window.
She picked up the paper.
On it, only this much was written: “Areeba, the story is not finished.
“Areeba kept looking at that paper for a few moments.
Then she looked outside the window.
In the distant sky, clouds were gathering.
And in her heart, for the first time, a question arose: “If the Shadow was finished, then who sent this message?
“Areeba looked at the paper for some time.
The old fear began to arise in her heart again.
But this time, Dadi Zohra placed her hand on her shoulder.
“Child, not every unknown thing is terrifying.
“Areeba gave the paper to Dadi.
Dadi Zohra read it and a slight smile came onto her face.
“This is Meher’s message.
“Tears came to Areeba’s eyes.
“Meher’s?” “She is not scaring you.
She only wants to tell you this, that her story will remain as a memory in your life.
“Areeba pressed the paper against her chest.
She closed her eyes and said softly: “Thank you, Meher.
“A light gust of cold wind came inside through the window.
The paper kept near the red doll moved slightly in the wind.
And then everything became silent.After that day, Areeba never opened the door of Andheri Haveli.
But she definitely wrote its story in her diary.
So that the truth which was hidden in the darkness for twenty years,should never imprison anyone inside itself again.
Areeba closed the diary.Looked toward Dadi Zohra.
Both smiled.
Outside, the sun had fully risen.
And for the first time,there was light over Andheri Haveli too.
Areeba closed the diary and kept it in the wardrobe.
She looked outside the window one last time.
Far away, that same old mansion was visible.
But now there was no mist around it.
There was no shadow.
No voice.
Dadi Zohra said softly: “Now forget that mansion.
“Areeba replied smiling: “I cannot forget, Dadi.” “Why?” “Because that mansion taught me one thing.” Dadi Zohra asked: “What?
“Areeba said while keeping the red doll near her: “Every darkness does not stay forever.
“Tears came to Dadi Zohra’s eyes.
Both sat silently for some time.
Then Areeba kept the doll in the wardrobe.
After that day, she never looked back.
Months passed.
The mansion remained deserted.
And Areeba’s life became normal again.
But sometimes in the complete silence of the night,she heard a faint sound of anklets.
Chan chan.
Areeba would open her eyes.
The room would be empty.
Then she would smile and say softly: “Meher…
I haven’t forgotten you.
“And a light gust of wind would pass by touching her face.
As if someone was saying from afar: “Neither have I.
“Areeba closed the window and turned off the room’s light.
That night, for the first time, she felt that the burden which was hidden inside her since childhood had lifted from her heart.
Meher’s memory was still with her, but now there was no fear in that memory.
Only a strange peace.
In the morning, Dadi Zohra called out to Areeba: “Areeba, breakfast is ready.
“Areeba replied smiling: “Yes Dadi, I am coming.
“When she passed near the wardrobe, suddenly her gaze fell on the red doll.
The doll was kept exactly as she had kept it at night.
But near it, a small white flower was lying.
Areeba picked up the flower.
She understood immediately.
This was Meher’s final message.
Areeba kept the flower inside the diary and closed the diary.
Then she went downstairs.
Sitting and eating breakfast with Dadi Zohra, both did not even mention the old mansion.
As if both knew that some stories end…