Closed Doors

By Kotra Siva Rama Krishna

They all have entered into that old palace, in the suburbs of that small village, just at the beginning of a tiny forest, with an expectation of just entertainment and fun. But the unknown fear, the uneasiness which greeted them as soon as they stepped into it was quite unexpected. The psychologist Susmitha's repeated saying that it was quite natural to feel in such a way in an odd palace in a faraway place to their usual dwellings did not have much effect on them. The situation became too complex when Susmitha herself started confusing and baffled when she too subjected to that unknown fear and uneasiness.

They could not know whether the ghastly experiences they were having in that palace were real or just their hallucinations and imaginations. Their predicament reached its motto when one of the young girls, Prameela, missed in the tiny forest which was just on the backside of the palace. A situation like that came to them that they could not stay in that palace anymore while could not leave it until the missed girl was found.

It was the place where new loves have started. Thanuja and Sasikant who were just known to each other after they entered into that palace found out that there was love started in between them. This palace has given a chance to Rajesh, the owner of that palace, who was the rich man among them all to show and express his love to Susmitha who was the psychologist there. Moreover here they all have opened up their hearts, remembered their long forgotten memories, and shared their views. Here Sailaja the gynecologist changed the orthodox thinking of Mrudula.

It was difficult to say what the people underwent in that palace during their stay of few days in it. Despite the unknown fear, despite the uneasiness and despite their ghastly experiences, to some extent they enjoyed their stay in it also. Witchcraft, split personalities, hallucinations and disembodied voices! Strengthening of old loves and stemming up of new loves between the couples. The palace had become a stage to display all their emotions not just love and affection but rancor, hate, jealousy and envy also.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kotra Siva Rama Krishna
• Release date: Dec 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215116272

Kotra Siva Rama Krishna

The twenty two romantic and suspense thrillers of this author ‘A Mansion Of Illusions (1,17,731 Words)’, ‘A village, a forest and an old mansion (1,13,049 Words)’, ‘Chasing butterflies (1,11,211 Words)’ ‘Across the river...under the bridge (1,02,739 Words)’, ‘Enna (1,03,119 Words)’ ‘Strawberry (1,11,700 Words)’ ‘Amaswitha (1,51,618 Words)’, ‘Sasikala (1,09,423 Words)’ ‘Just Relax! (1,15,793 Words)’, ‘ House of Delusions (1,18,530 Words)’ ‘Half Opened Doors (1,23,600 words)’ ‘Lovenest (50,565 Words)’, ‘Moonshine (51,427 Words)’ ‘Nirupama (51,675 Words)’, ‘Scarecrow (52,226 Words)’ ‘Rose Garden (62, 284 Words)’, ‘Dusk (53,856 Words)’, ‘Rain Flower (53,139 Words)’ ‘rustle In The leaves (3,52,000 words) and ‘Snow Flower’ (2,15,200 words), Wisps Of Smoke (3,20,500 words), Split Personality (3,30,000 words) along with a short stories book ‘Sand Dunes (24,973 Words) and two non-fiction books ‘Body, Mind And You (16,533 Words)’ and ‘English Grammar Simplifier (18,436 Words)’ are available as ebooks and paperbacks only on Amazon websites. The total word count of all these books is more than 29,00,000 (Twenty Nine Lakhs words). The same can be found by searching with author’s name ‘Kotra Siva Rama Krishna.’

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License Notes

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return the same and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Disclaimer

The concept, plot, story, characters and everything in this novel are only fiction and emerged only out of the imagination of this author. If anything in this novel even a small part of it resembles, similar or identical to any living or dead or to any literature, anywhere in the world even remotely it is only coincidental and this author has no knowledge whatsoever of it and cannot take any responsibility for the same.

About me

Iam an Indian English writer write mostly fiction books and so far I have written thirty books out of which twenty eight books are romantic, psychological thrillers and the remaining two are non-fiction books, Body, Mind and You and English Grammar Simplifier. The word count of my books range from 15,000 to 3,50,000 and the total word count of all my books is more than 30,00,000 (Thirty Lakhs Words). I have a weakness, I don’t get the feeling that I wrote the book if someone else edits the same, so I am my own editor to all my books. As such there is a pretty chance that you may come across grammatical, verbal mistakes, incongruities and inconsistencies while going through my books, then please pardon me and go ahead. I am always open as much as possible when it comes to sexual narrations in my books as I think sex is very main and natural characteristic not just in human beings but in all other creatures also. So you can find sexual narrations in my books graphical, absolute and complete. My heart-felt thanks to all those who have been purchasing my books all along, encouraging me and supporting me.

Prologue

It was the inside part of a big house and those two elders sat facing each other. That small boy was standing a little away from them. His sight was fixed on them both and his feet glued to the floor there. There was surprise and fear in his face while he was looking at the other person who sat in the opposite chair to his father. That other person was dressed in pure red colour clothes and there was a garland in his neck the flowers of which were withered a little. He was leaned back in the chair and looking at his father with half closed eyes.

Is everything alright now sir? there was abundant reverence in his father’s voice which was surprising and not liked by the boy. He did not see his father that much obedient to any other person.

Alright, of course. The other person nodded his head. There would be no problem. I have got them sealed in the palace with my spells. They cannot come out now. They cannot do any harm to anyone. He said before closing his eyes fully.

I am feeling happy now. There would be no problem to any of us from now on. His father’s face was beamed with happiness.

But you people must not open the doors of that palace under any circumstances. If you do open the doors of it, my spells shall be weakened and the devils come out of it. No one can bind them again in that palace. It would not be possible to stop their menace either, if they are freed from my spells. There was warning in his voice which caused an immediate alertness in the face of his father.

No one does open the doors of it sir. I have made the family members of that rogue as well understood this point. Even they do own the palace they would not think to open it. After knowing everything in detail they have agreed to it without an argument.

The other person stooped forward in the chair and looked once again into the face of his father with those red colour eyes. He did not know how his father was feeling but his heart was filled with fear whenever he looked into those eyes.

Those souls in that palace are tormented souls. There is no peace to them either before or after death. In fact I did not do a good thing by sealing them in the palace like that. But we are having no alternative except that, do we have? it was in fact a statement rather than a question.

No sir, we don’t have. The reverence in his father’s voice was continuing without any change.

Who is that boy? looking at the small boy the other person asked.

My son, sir. His father as well turned towards the boy and said. His name is Bangaram.

Cute boy. The other person laughed and said. Please come near to me.

Bangaram did not move at all.

There would be no problem to you at all. Please come. The other person said once again.

Come here Bangaram, my good boy. His father said.

Then the boy walked with slow short steps towards them.

I think this boy would be the future village chief. With a smile on his lips the other person said.

Yes. His father nodded his head. Until now we are following the tradition of making the elder son of the village chief as the next village chief. As it is so, my son would be the next village chief.

Then after you it is his responsibility to see that the doors of the palace never opened. Boy, would you see to it so? Would you see that the palace never disturbed?

It was difficult to say how much the boy understood that but he nodded his head.

Chapter-1

It was afternoon time and Sailaja was in that room for the past one hour. More than two days had been passed after they entered into that palace. An untellable fear entered into her heart no sooner than she stepped into that palace. Even more uncomfortable thing to her was she could not understand even a little why she was feeling fear like that. She did wander in the village along with others and met people there and heard some awkward stories about this palace and the person who constructed it. Even they were all quite disturbing to hear, she struck them as absurd. She was an educated woman, a practicing gynecologist, never be cowed down or believed such type of stories involving ghosts and supernatural. Even to assume the fear she was experiencing was because of the stories she heard, it had started as soon as she entered into this palace before she heard them. The forest, just adjacent to the back side of that palace was pumping some more fresh fear into her heart as for the first time she was observing it minutely through the window of that room. She could remember her feelings about this trip before she entered into this palace. She dreamed for it and eagerly waited for it as it would give her an opportunity to spend time with her beloved Vineet and she could escape from her every day dull routine atleast for some days. If she could spend time with the other people there she might not be felt like this but as there were plenty spacious rooms in that palace each person had been allotted a room. Her beloved Vineet spending most of his time with his friends and he was hardly spending any time with her after they entered into that palace. Her pride came in between when she felt strongly urged to ask Vineet to spend time with her. She was wondering whether she was the only victim of this unknown fear here or the other inmates in the palace at present as well subjected to it.

Her eyes glued to the scene before her even the denseness of the forest increasing the fear in her. She could see some hasty movements behind the bushes and trees and wondered what caused them.  This forest might not be that much big to shelter tigers, lions but rabbits, deer etc soft animals could be managed. She could not understand why this much big palace had been built in the suburbs of the village and almost into this forest.

What was more surprising in this all was the owner of this palace Rajesh was not known until six months back or so that there was a very big palace like this was built by his great-grandfather here in a remote village.  Once he had known about that fact through a document which he had found in his home itself, he could not wait at all to come here and see the same. After he had seen the palace he was mesmerized and felt so much happier and took the decision to renovate it and make it worth living once more. Money was not a problem to him as his family was having lots of properties and many businesses and with ease he spent some crores to make this palace not just livable but magnificent and splendid. He invited some of his close friends and relatives to come and enjoy some days along with him in this palace and Vineet her lover, Vineet’s sister Susmitha and herself were among those who agreed to that request and came here now.

What made you fall in such deep thinking, Sailaja?

She turned at once back and it was indeed a relief to her to hear a voice then and she felt even more happier as it turned out to be her Vineet himself.

Her relaxation was quite evident in her face. Oh, you have forgotten about me completely. It seems you are making your time quite nicely so far here. She suddenly felt lot of anger as he left her on her own so and it sufficiently expressed in her voice.

He came near to her and put his hand on her shoulder which felt smooth as usual. I felt utterly bore so I dared to come here without bothering about the admonition of my family’s strict disciplinarian, Susmitha.

The small laugh she made was still out of her relaxing mood being in the company of the person she so much liked. It appeared to her that the predominant uneasiness and fear were lessened a lot in the company of Vineet and she was so desperately wishing that he would stay with her. But the fact that he had let out for his making her lonely like this made her uneasy. The role his sister Susmitha playing on their lives made her little irritated. She liked Susmitha as Vineet liked her. Susmitha was indeed such a sweet girl! But she did not like Susmitha having a dominant influence on her beloved.

She is sometimes neck in the pain but she promised to me to see our marriage would be performed as soon as possible. Trying to read the expression in her open eyes he said. She was still feeling the heaviness of his hand on her shoulder and enjoying the touch of it.

Oh, you have fallen for it! she laughed derisively. She is quite younger to you and me too and she does see that our marriage would be performed!

You just don’t know what a darling she is to all of us. My parents sure do hear whatever she does say. Making himself even more closer to her Vineet said.

I don’t think that your father such easily would bend considering what my father did. She may have a bearing on the other family members. She despairingly said.

My father is not as much cruel as you are thinking. He paused for a moment. He too sure does hear if my sister talks to him.

Forget about our marriage for the present. Removing his hand from her Sailaja said. Now tell me how she is doing here? Has she as well been given a spacious room like this? It seemed silly to her what he had said that they both who were professionals and leading their lives independently should seek the permission of their elders to be got married. Their elders already declined to their marriage but his sister came in between and promised to him that she would see that their marriage would be performed soon with the approval of their elders. As she was the dearest one to all his family members he knew that she could do what she promised. Sailaja also knew that she could do that but not much liked to depend on Susmitha for this.

Of course, she has been given a spacious room like this all to herself. I really did not expect that this palace would be this much big and consists this many rooms. Even more surprising thing is Rajesh indeed could make this palace so good and so comfortable. He went near to the bed and slumped on it still keeping his sight in the direction of Sailaja.

Is everyone enjoying so much in this palace now? I agree Rajesh did all he could to make our stay here comfortable in all respects. That bed made a creaking sound when she thumped her weight as well on it.

I am thinking like that. Why are you asking so? Who does not enjoy in a place like this? These type of environments are quite rare to us. The odd expression in her face was puzzling to Vineet then. The fear she was feeling was spread over on her face which he could not understand.

The hissing sound she made with her exhaling breath confirmed to Rajesh that she was struggling for something. You are not feeling well. That much I can say. Just tell me what it is and I am sure that I can be helpful to you. this time he put his hand on her naked hip and squeezed there.  In other situations there would have been some favourable response from her for his doing so but the unknown fear was so predominant in her she just ignored it.

‘I am feeling fear Vineet. I just don’t know why but I have started feeling a strange fear very soon after I have entered into this palace and it intensified even more as I have started observing this forest minutely." Her voice was low but conveyed her feeling in an unmistakable measure.

But why you are feeling like that? he clutched her chin with his right hand and turned her face towards him. Why is that fear?

I have said to you. An unknown fear. I have tried to know why I am feeling that fear but I could not. The irritation she exhibited made her inner feeling more evident to him. I have tried to convince myself that there is no necessity to feel fear here, but .... I am helpless. I just cannot manage myself without feeling it. She took his hand off and freed herself. Before he disappointed himself being deprieved of the smooth contact with her skin, she put her hands around his neck and hugged him. I just don’t want to stay here, Vineet. We may better go away from this place as soon as possible.

The silky touch of her so made him instantly happy but the immediate wish of her made his mood dampened. He too put his hands around her and looked into her eyes. Please don’t say like that. You know very well with how much interest Rajesh renovated this palace. At present his heart is predominant with only two things. One is my sister Susmitha and the second is this palace. If we do say something negative about this palace and go away from here he would feel so bad. He is a very good friend to you too and helped you in many a way on many occasions. Would you like hurting him?

Of course, no. But .... She immediately found herself in a dilemma when Vineet said like that. But with a new thought she regaled and said looking into his eyes hopefully If it is so, please stay in my room all the time. If you do stay with me, I would not feel any fear.  

My sister would not approve it at all. She sternly warned me not to spend time like this in closed confines with you until our marriage is over. You know she promised....

Just stop it there. This time it had become difficult to her to control her anger. Bloody hell with her discipline. If she too has loved someone like I did, then she would know.

Of course you are right. She is a real toughie and her heart is not made for love like things. You know how much that poor Rajesh struggling to win her heart and she is not even talking with him. Then he found that she was slowly advancing towards him. Surprisingly there was no anger or fear in her then. He could see something else other than the fear in her face and he understood immediately what was that. A small smile launched onto his lips.

What made her come here then? It is really a surprise to me. She said in a casual way and put her hands around his neck again. She still could feel full the intimacy she had got with Susmitha. She shared so many things with her which she would share only with her closest ones. She had shared even that thing, the rape to which she was subjected by her friends as well with her. Always her reaction was soothing, smooth and alleviating her distress. Even there was considerable age gap between them both, Susmitha had become so close to her. It was indeed difficult to get angry with her.

Quite involuntarily he dragged her near to him with both of his hands and so willingly she submitted herself to him. For half an hour or so they were completely oblivious about everything. But by the time it was finished they were exhausted and completely satisfied.

M ay I hope all of you are enjoying your stay here? observing all of them with his narrowed eyes Rajesh enquired. He was indeed feeling quite satisfied looking at them all taking their dinner so then. He dreamed for this moment and to get realized this dream he invested crores of rupees on this old palace.

The big room was the kitchen in that huge palace and however massive and long the dining table was, it came only half of that kitchen. All those who were seated in the chairs around it were eating the food served to them just ten minutes or so before considerably relishing the same. Huge money was invested in this kitchen as well to get it rid of the foul smell and to make it good. Forest could be seen through the big open windows there on the back side of it but none of them were interested to look at it in that night time. Even in the day time itself that forest was appearing threatening to them. Everyone of them was feeling a sort of fear which entered into their hearts just after they entered into that palace. But none of them wanted to discuss about that fear in open. Most of them were not doing it mainly for two reasons. One was it loosen them in the others’ eyes. The other one was it would hurt Rajesh’s feelings.

Who does not enjoy in a place like this?

Amidst the different sort of munching sounds, Prameela temporarily suspended her eating and passed this remark with enough fastness before anyone took the opportunity. She was so much waited to come here and it was indeed a God given opportunity to her and she decided to get what she aimed to get in this place itself before moving away from here. That was to woo Rajesh towards her and make him to say ‘I love you’ to her. She had to make him so that he would marry no one else except her. In all possible ways she was trying to please Rajesh.

But her trials did not please Rajesh and instead he got irritated and had to use his power not to show that out. He knew that Prameela wanted him so desperately. He knew that as well why she was showing interest in him so. He was well aware about the love affairs she had with the other boys. But still her trying to put him into love with her was indeed making him irritated. What even more agitating him was he was loving Susmitha and she might misunderstand seeing the advances of Prameela so. She sat just two people after Prameela and relishing her food so, as if she noticed nothing around.

Without making any reaction to that reaction, he looked at the place where Susmitha sat and she was consuming her food opening her mouth enough only that much to accommodate the tiny morsels of food she was making to eat. Occasionally she was stopping to eat and talking with Thanuja who sat beside her and who was also as glamorous and beautiful as Susmitha. Even they both were competitors to each other in beauty there were slight differences between them. Susmitha was tough with reservations especially to the male folk but Thanuja appeared more amiable and good natured and she mingle easily with any sort of people and share her feelings freely. Her character was like a baby, that she laughs heartily and talk with openness and try to be friendly and that was which gave a different dimension to her beauty. It appeared as if Susmitha did not even hear what Rajesh had said which cringed his heart and resulted in creases on his forehead.

As he was involved in his own malady he did not consider or care how Prameela would feel about his non-reaction to her amiable and pleasant remark so. She was observing him carefully and her sight followed his looks after she said that and when his looks concentrated on Susmitha she burned with uncontrollable rage in herself. She knew that Rajesh was attracted too much towards that chick and in fact it was understandable as well to some extent since no one could resist being attracted towards her glamour. But Rajesh knew that she was so much interested in him and moreover both their families were known to each other for more than thirty years, even before from their births but still he was not caring her even a little. In fact he did not make even a formal invitation to her to come to this palace and she fell into deep thinking whether to come here or not, then her father said to her.

I can understand your feelings Pramee... But an alliance with their family would be so much beneficial to us. We are having properties, we are rich, of course but compared with Rajesh’s family’s properties and their richness our position is quite tiny. Moreover our business have been in losses and we need more capitably terribly now. We can get that much of capital only with an alliance to that family. Rajesh is the only boy to her parents and if you can manage to marry him somehow or other .... I need not explain the rest to you. This is indeed a golden opportunity to you. You just plan in the way you want but he must say that he would marry no one else except you. He paused for a moment and then said Don’t feel that he did not invite you. He would not say a no if you yourself decide to go with them. It may lower you in his eyes but no problem. Necessity is ours. We must stoop sometimes to get our ends meet.

Her weakening resolve to come with these people to this palace strengthened a lot by her father’s words and she took the decision to come to this palace. As her father said Rajesh could not say no when she expressed her desire to come with these people to here. She was quite sure and confident in herself that she could make Rajesh say ‘I love you’ to her because she knew that she was quite beautiful. But she did not expect at all of an obstacle to her hopes in the form of Susmitha, a glamour doll, who would also come to that palace.  When she found Rajesh was quite interested in her and attracted towards her, Prameela’s immediate reaction was uncontrollable irritation and maddening rage. But she was not foolish to give away herself and spoil all her chances and pour water on her hopes. She started thinking furiously what to do to get the love of Rajesh to herself removing Susmitha from her way.  

Susmitha was aware of Rajesh interest in her and at the same time aware of Prameela’s anger on her as well. She could not say that there was no interest in her towards Rajesh but it did not take a specific shape by then. She knew that Rajesh was interested to hear something from her but at that time she did not at all be interested in concentrating on that. She was at that moment majorly involved in only two things one was eating her food enjoying it to the full and the other was talking with Thanuja while Thanuja was quite interestingly involved in observing Sasikant who sat just opposite to her. It was not difficult to the people there by that time to notice that Thanuja was showing special interest on Sasikant and most of them including Susmitha amused on that but only one among them was suffering with anger to that fact. It was a middle aged man Vardhan. It was not so that he was hoping Thanuja might fall in love with him and marry him because he was already married and having a female kid who was studying intermediate and his age was nearly twice to the age of Thanuja. But he could not explain to himself why his heart was attracted towards her quite strongly and it had become quite unbearable to him that Thanuja showing special interest towards Sasikant. Her beautiful eyes never leaving him, she was suggesting to him what would be better to eat and occasionally she was asking his opinion how the food was. Even for once she did not look at Vardhan who sat just beside Sasikant and asked him how the food was and to that matter she was not showing interest on anyone else except Sasikant which almost confirmed something to Vardhan that was what he could not tolerate at all now.

All the dishes are really wonderful, Rajesh. You have indeed kept a capable cook with you. Sasikant said making his voice a little louder to make it audible to Rajesh who sat on the other end.

Moreover it seems he prepared everything after consulting you. That is why you are relishing the dishes that much. Keeping her charming smile intact on her lips Thanuja said.

Vardhan was felt as if acid was poured on him and he looked at her immediately but her gaze was completely covered Sasikant. Vardhan never have been considered like that by any girl not to say by a beautiful girl like Thanuja and his heart filled with envy towards Sasikant and rage towards Thanuja. The food had become sour in his mouth and he stopped enjoying it because of his envy and jealously towards Sasikant.

Dabbu is with our family for more than twenty years and he is indeed an accomplished cook. No one can cook as best as he can. Looking admiringly at Dabbu Rajesh said.

It is not completely my skill in fact. Dabbu’s cleanly shaved face blushed when he heard that praise Mallika and her brother Raju as well helped me in all respects. Because of them as well, this food has become this much good.

Mallka and Raju who were busy there with Dabbu to serve the food smiled and Mallika made a grateful look towards Dabbu since he did not prefer to take all the praise to himself. While preparing the food and in the other times as well he treated her and her brother quite well. Moreover his strongly built body was creating new ideas in her. Her acquaintance with Dabbu was not longer but in those few days time itself he could secure a place in her heart. She was forgetting her husband and the family whenever she was thinking about him. The change in her was not completely out of notice to her brother Raju which was a little disturbing to him. Raju very well knew about the capricious character of his sister. He knew she was just waiting for an opportunity. He knew even more that her sister’s husband was an incapacitate person but whatever he might be, he was her husband and how could she forget and forsake him?

But Rajesh there is one problem here. Turning his head towards Rajesh, Vineet said. What he was going to say? Sailaja immediately looked at him with interest.

There is no connectivity in our cell phones here. Even in the village as well there is no cell phone signal. Is it is such a remote village from our developed place! there was surprise and little anxiety on the face of Vineet.

Yes, Rajesh. We have been cut off with the world outside this village. Sailaja said trying to cover her disappointment in her voice. She thought Rajesh might broach about the fear those people feeling in the palace. By then she came to know that some other people as well feeling that unknown fear as she was feeling.

I agree. It is a problem. Rajesh nodded his head. But I don’t know what to do about this.

We are not going to stay here forever. It was again Prameela. By then she had forgotten the insult she suffered by Rajesh indifference. There would not be that much of a loss to us in our twenty days or so of stay here if our cell phones do not work. Moreover it would be a relief to us without outside disturbance.

After that none of them did say anything. But there was the same indifference in Rajesh’s face. He did not even look at her. It kindled the subdued flames of rage in her once again. She did use all her force once again to concentrate on her eating.

Even all of them were consuming their foods with laughter and having amusing talk with each other except Prameela there was a sort of fear in all their hearts and it was increasing even more whenever they looked through the big windows towards that forest. Even Rajesh who caused all of them assembled there not an exception to that fear but what all of them then were doing was not to show that out. Anyhow except for few, they were enjoying their crowding there then so. The dinner took more time to be finished than it ought to have.

U ncle, you did not come into the kitchen to take dinner with us. Observing his uncle Manohar who sat in the chair and closed his eyes as he was in deep thinking,