“Make that ten, another five grand from me if you can spend a night in 'Moonlight Mansion,'” Sushant added.
Nirbhay narrowed his eyes, looking at his friends wondering if they were joking. His heart was pumping more blood than it was just five minutes back upon hearing the amount at stake. He lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply, closing his eyes.
“Fine,” he said. “Be ready to hand over the money to me the morning after I'm done with your so called 'evil spirit.'”
“We'll see,” Samir said with a smile.
“So when do you want to do it?” Sushant asked.
“Why don't you ask that 'evil spirit' when it wants me to come calling for dinner?” Nirbhay retorted.
“Tomorrow night then?” Samir said, ignoring Nirbhay's remark. “You go inside 'Moonlight Mansion.' Both of us will put up at my farm-house and the first thing at dawn, we'll come to collect you.”
“I'm ready to barge in that stupid mansion at this instant and give your 'evil spirit' a taste of my arse,” Nirbhay said, puffing up his chest.
“Just one more night, my friend,” Samir said, patting his shoulder.
“What's so special about tomorrow's night?” Nirbhay remarked. Sushant looked quizzically at Samir, who answered it with a sly smile playing on his lips.
“Tomorrow's Amavasya, the moonless night. It would be interesting to see how much light 'Moonlight Mansion' throws your way.”
Lonavala was a couple of hours away from the city and the trio took turns to drive on the smooth Mumbai-Pune expressway experiencing the adrenaline rush of racing on pothole-free roads. Once Nirbhay touched 120 kmph while trying to overtake the vehicle in front and just about managed to avoid a small car coming from the opposite end. Sushant admonished him.
“Chill Sushant, nothing's going to happen. Everything is waiting for Nirbhay to step inside 'Moonlight Mansion,'” Samir said with conviction. Nirbhay grinned and pulled over at the sight of an eating joint.
“I say let's release the adrenaline, grab something to eat and drink, refuel and then head for your evil spirit's abode,” Nirbhay suggested and both, Samir and Sushant nodded, eager to get the wheel away from Nirbhay's pumped up hands.
Three burgers and a couple of hours later, the trio reached a narrow path overlooking the deep valley beneath. The sun was just about to lower itself down the horizon when Samir abruptly braked the vehicle.
“Moonlight Mansion,” he said, pointing ahead. The two-storied bungalow stood out even in the half-light with an added layer of darkness enveloping its faded indigo walls. The tall dense trees and wild growth of grass cast menacing shadows on the walls in the fading light. For some reason, they could not quite shake off the feeling that the bungalow was staring back at them and responding to their nervous glances. They could just about read out the name of the property engraved on the wall near the iron-gate. 'Moonlight Mansion' it screamed in their eyes. Whether the sound was a warning or a threat, they couldn't quite make out. As they neared the fencing, they saw the rusty old lock resting on the hinges of the iron-gate, engaged in perpetual slumber.
“This place sure does give me the creeps,” Sushant whispered, eyeing around pensively. “Don't think it's a big deal for our Nirbhay who fought off a bear with his bare hands to save his sister six years back,” Samir said, looking at his friend almost sarcastically.
“Nirbhay, you sure want to do this?” Sushant asked in a tepid manner. For a second, Nirbhay seemed to falter, still surveying the shadows that surrounded the mansion; he swallowed the spittle in his mouth.
“Of… Of course, once I set my mind on something, I don't back out… My name is Nirbhay Kumar and I fear no one,” Nirbhay said, looking at the mansion.
“Well, I really hope you survive the night. I have heard some pretty nasty stories about this one,” Samir said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Sh… Shut up! There's nothing in there, ok?” Nirbhay retorted, displacing Samir's hand. “We hope so too. Anyway, you'll have to climb the fencing to go inside the compound. Want me to lend you a hand?” Samir asked.
“I'll manage,” Nirbhay said and slowly took a step towards the boundary. Using his strong forearms, he hoisted himself up the low-wall, straightened his well-built frame and tumbled straight into what seemed like an untended garden on the other side. He quickly got up and walked over to the gate where his friends stood. The iron boundary made him look like a prisoner inside the mansion.
“Here's your bag of supplies,” Sushant said, pushing it in from the narrow gap beneath the gate.
“Why don't you people come inside too for an hour or two?” Nirbhay asked, hoping they'd accept his invitation.