CHAPTER 11- Ghost

In Calonia, estimate time 11 am.

'It hurts.... as if someone hitting it with a hot iron rod'

'Why am I in so much pain?'

'Where am I....'

Anu opened her eyes, she was in Soleil's room. It means she was still inside Soleil's body. She sit up from bed.

'Hell no... it hurts.'

Soleil's mother come in the room she holding medical box.

"Soleil... my dear..." She said.

"I am still Anu... mom..." She said. Supporting her back.

"What is the time?" Anu asked.

"It's 11 am..." Soleil's mother replied.

"I missed my school... my body hurts so much..." she said in frustration.

"Oh...dear. why did you fight... you could have called us or police..." She asked with concerned.

"Well... I wanted to Call but I remember that I never knew the police number and calling you..(she signed). the guy had a knife... and they were pretty strong." She said offering her hand to be treated.

"Anu... I may not your mother but I can't see you like this..."

"I know... I am sorry... I didn't mean to. But you know, Soleil is too weak... look her body can't handle a single punch. It was really painful..." Anu said. Soleil's mother listening everything.

"When you fainted you mummerd something..." Mother said.

"What?"

"You said I am strong, I wanna be the strongest..." she had a faint smile on her face.

"Oh! Yeah... that's true. I want to be the strongest women. I mean the fight I had was the worst fight I ever had. I never even defected this badly from my father nor my teacher..." Anu telling her about her wrestling life.

Soleil's mother paused, her hands moving over Anu's bruised ribs. "Wrestling?" she asked, her voice curious.

"Yes… At home, I trained a lot. Wrestling was my passion. But this…" Anu grimaced, pointing to herself. "This body is not made for this. I thought I could handle it, but everything was hurting more than I imagined. "It feels like the strength I'm used to has gone away."

Soleil mother and Anu went silent.

"By the way what happened to those intruder...?" Anu asked. Breaking the silence.

"They are kept in cell. He [Soleil's father] went to discuss further details with the cops."

"Do police find something in the kitchen?" Anu asked.

"As you said, they do. They mixed illegal ingredients in our food as today food inspection was visiting today..." She replied.

"Did you know that food inspection was going to happen?"

"No...not at all. We get to know from those intruder. The gangster is really want to kick is out from here." She said. Bandaged Anu's hand.

"Don't worry... everything will be alright." Anu said. Soleil's mother give a faint smile and hugged her.

*****

In India,estimate time 8:00 am. (At that time in Calonia Anu was sleeping, 11 pm. The fight started at 12 : 30 Am)

Soleil in Anu's body.

At school gate.

'It's my second day here hopefully everything went well... I hope Anu is doing good...' Soleil thinks.

She entered in the classroom.

'They all are friendly and kind to eachother... I never seen a class with much energy and stories... they all see eachother equally unlike...' Soleil looking around her thinking the difference of her Calonia school and thus school.

She takes her seat.

'Vina didn't come yet...' She said to herself seeing the empty seat besides her.

As Soleil was deep in her thoughts. Suddenly someone grabbed her hand and pull her outside the class. Soleil noticed that the person is Vina.

"Vina... where are you taking me..?." Soleil asked.

Vina didn't reply.

Vina took her in the washroom. Slamming her on the wall.

"Who are you?" Vina asked. Her eyes more like to cheetah's gaze.

"I...I am Anu... don't you know..." Soleil replied. Trying to calm herself.

'Did she find out...no... not possible...' She thinks.

"Oh! Really. I didn't realized that. Me and Anu are kindergarten best friends,no one can fool me..." Vina said. Her every step closer to Soleil look like a prey hunting her prey.

Soleil try to end this conversation"I don't know what are you saying... I got Amnesia... you know...—"

Vina takes out a pendent, vermilion, Kapoor, rudrakash, lemon- green chill and various different things. "I know you are an evil spirit in my friend body.... if you didn't came out I have to force you... leave her alone. Or get burned. "

Soleil couldn't understand the situation, Vina through Bahubuthi on her.

"What are you doing...?" Soleil said and cough.

"Look... you are having hard time. Come out otherwise I will burn you from this Bahubuthi... you Englishghostcime out from my friend's body" Vina said.

"Vina... I am not a ghost." Soleil said. She hold Vina's hand.

"Stop it..."

"You are truly a strong ghost... how did you touch me even after everything I had on my body... even I bated with Ganga water today..." Vina said in confusion and shocked.

"Look I am not a ghost... I am Anu..." Soleil said.

"Can't be... I searched on internet. And you know what I found. That Amnesia person writing hand never changes... it means you are a ghost. Indeed a powerful one." Vina said.

Soleil realized her hand. She takes a deep breath, "Maybe you won't believe me but... I and Anu swapped our body... Anu is in my body and I am hers."

'Telling her the truth will be the best.'

"What?" Vian asked.

'Sorry Anu... I have to tell her the truth....' Soleil thought to herself

Vina stared at her, her expression unreadable. Soleil took the chance to explain everything—her struggles in Calonia, the bullying, the soul swap, and how she and Anu were trying to live their new lifestyle.

As Soleil finished, she looked at Vina, bracing herself for disbelief or mockery. Instead, Vina's intense gaze softened.

"This… is crazy," Vina said, shaking her head. "But… I think I believe you."

Soleil let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.

"I mean... I never could I imagined to witness something like this." Vina look more excited rather than scared.

"Thank you for understanding me..." Soleil said.

"Sholay, never mind... we are friends after all." Vina said. Putting a hand around Soleil shoulder.

"My name is Soleil not Sholay..." Soleil said.

"Okay... I will remember it... Sholay... Soh-lay..."Vina said. Trying to get her name right.

Back in classroom.

"Where were you too?" Teacher ask in angry.

"Sorry sir... Anu lost her way in class... so I was telling her..." Vina lied. Soleil looking at her in shocked.

"Ok... get back to your seats" Teacher said and started his lecture.

"You lied..." Soleil whispered to Vina.

"Shh..." Vina quite her.

----------

In recess.

"So how do you feel like living here...?" Vina ask while eating.

"I am so happy... I hever and a friend in the academy... but here I can make friends. No one discriminate...no one ask me about my family earning...no one misuse an innocent life..." Soleil telling Vina about her experience.

"Girl... chill. I feel like you are about to cry. Don't worry no one gonna harm you..." Vina said taking bite from Soleil lunch box.

"Aren't you worry about your friend... I mean Anu. She is in Calonia... she might having hard time..." Soleil asked.

"Worry? Who should I be worried...?" Vina asked in mocking voice.

"Anu... You don't know her yet. She is like a Jaguar... if anyone mess with her, the person is dead... She is tough...both physically and emotionally. You can't compare her with other girls of her age. She never cry... except... By the way, in your school fighting is common?" Vina continued.

"Yeah... almost killing someone..." Soleil replied.

"That's harsh. But I bet Anu will love your school." Vina said with a satisfying smile on her face.