The ‘MYSTERY’ Book

Pravin a young, enthusiastic man was in the library that weekend. He was in the mood to read a mysterious book. After going through some books, he decided on a book titled MYSTERY. He got it issued.

On reaching home, he kept the book on the reading table. He finished his dinner and got ready to go to bed. While lying on the bed, he picked up the book and began reading it. He found it very interesting and did not want to keep it aside before completing it. Rapidly, he reached page number 273. He saw a picture of rope nicely printed on it. He looked at the picture and wondered what role the rope was to play in the mystery. He was sleepy and could not read it any further. He kept the book aside with page 273 open.

Pravin closed his eyes. But soon he heard some movement on the table. With half-shut eyes, he looked at the table. He saw, the rope from the picture was unwinding itself and when it could not contain itself in the page, it came out of the book. And yes, it was growing in length, wriggling continuously.

Pravin was shocked. He sat upright. He saw the rope had become 4 feet long. It began crawling and jumped onto his bed. Before he could move, the rope reached his neck and started strangulating him. With all his might, he tried to pull it off. He tried to cry out aloud but his voice was muffled. The rope tightened its grip around the neck, and in no time he was left motionless, dead.

The rope then slid back onto the table, crawled to the open page 273 of the book and got into the picture rewinding itself. 

The next morning, when the domestic help arrived, he found Pravin lying dead on the cot. Page 273 of the book was fluttering.

When informed, kith and kin rushed. Everyone was shocked. Grieved, They could not assert any reason for Pravin’s death. The police and the detectives were left completely clueless.

One of Pravin’s friends returned the book MYSTERY to the library.

Days passed.

Dilip, a youthful man in his twenties, went to the library and got the book, MYSTERY issued to read a mysterious story.  He was staying in a hostel. After dinner, he began reading the book. Interesting that book was, he could not keep it aside. He was engrossed in reading. And all of a sudden, there was a blast of wind. The pages of the book fluttered and page 273 was opened. He was surprised at the happening. He saw the picture of rope on the page.

He saw the rope in the picture was unwinding. When it could not contain inside the page, it crawled out of the book. Soon, it increased in length and became almost 4 feet long. Wriggling it came onto the table. Quickly, it crawled on Dilip’s body. It reached his neck and started strangulating him. He tried to pull apart the rope but failed. He shouted aloud but his voice was muffled due to the rope tightening around his throat. In a few seconds, Dilip was dead lying in the chair.

The next day, when his friends arrived, they found Dilip dead. Again, the police were clueless about Dilip’s death. They contacted the detective, Dhananjay. He took pictures of the room. They found the library book MYSTERY on the table near Dilip. One of Dilip’s friends, Rakesh noticed the library book. Intending to return it to the library, Rakesh picked up the book and carried it to his house.

After dinner, Rakesh began reading it in his bedroom. After midnight, he was sleepy. He kept the book on his bookshelf along with other books and lay down on his bed. He put off the light. And all of a sudden, a few books from the bookshelf, fell to the floor. Rakesh wondered despite keeping the books properly, how a few fell. Sleepy that he was, he ignored it and continued sleeping. But the disturbing noise of fluttering of the pages of a book continued. Reluctantly, he got up. Put on the light.

And he was aghast seeing what was happening in front of his eyes.

The rope from the picture in the book came out of the book. He was so much awestruck that he couldn’t utter a single word. The four-foot-long rope jumped out of the book and onto him. He tried to run away. But the door was locked. He started banging on the door. His brother from the neighbouring room responded.

“Rakesh, what is wrong?”

But Rakesh could not say anything. The rope was already around his neck strangling him. Rakesh’s shouts were muffled up. Rakesh’s brother took a few minutes to open the door. By the time he entered the room, Rakesh had already breathed his last. The rope had taken its position on the open page 273. Brother was horrified. He immediately called the police. They told him not to disturb anything in the room till they reach.

Police arrived in half an hour. They found Rakesh dead lying on the floor near the door. There were clear indications of Rakesh struggling desperately to open the locked door. His attempt to save himself was evident from the position of his hands and the state of his eyes.

Police confirmed that Rakesh was attacked by an intruder. But both the doors to the room were bolted from inside. That means the attacker had not gone out of the room. Where was he? They cross-checked with his brother about when he broke open the door, anybody could have escaped. They looked at everything around Rakesh’s body. Except for the fallen 3-4 books, nothing suspicious was found.

Detective Dhananjay was again contacted. He arrived on the scene and had a look around the room with his magnifying glass, Then he took pictures from various angles. He noticed that the book MYSTERY was lying near the dead body. He also noted that the book was open on page 273. His detective’s eyes marked the photo of a rope on page 273.

This was the third mysterious death case in a very short time. Every time there was no evidence found. But detective Dhananjay could not ignore the presence of the book MYSTERY and the picture of a rope on page 273. But nothing beyond that.

Dhananjay picked up the book. Noted the library and went himself to the library with the book. He returned the book and showed his identity to the librarian.

“A big mystery is behind the death of three youngsters in just 15 days. The only common clue we have discovered is this book. In all three cases, this book was lying near the dead body. We now request you to immediately contact us as soon as anyone takes home this book after getting it issued. This is extremely important as it is a matter of life and death.”

The librarian made a note of it and restored the book in its place.

Dhananjay was wondering how could a book be involved in mysterious deaths. But he was convinced that nothing else was common in three deaths.

Two days later, Dhananjay received a call about the issue of the book “MYSTERY”. The name and the address of the member taking the book were also mentioned. The time was 4 pm. Dhananjay promptly contacted that person. Reached his house and told him how important it was to watch his room under the c.c. cameras. Vinay, a member of the library, allowed the use of cameras in his room to be monitored from the control room.

After dinner, Vinay got ready to lie down in bed. He took out the book MYSTERY and began reading. Dhananjay and his team were monitoring the cameras. After some time, Vinay was sleepy. He kept the book aside and fell off to sleep.

After midnight, the book MYSTERY opened up. The pages began fluttering, and stopped at page number 273. The picture of ropes on this page began readjusting. Slowly the rope was wriggling and it increased in length to 4 feet long.

Dhananjay’s team was on high alert.

The rope jumped on Vinay. He tried to throw away the rope. But it had all the strength. It slowly moved up to Vinay’s neck. At that moment four of the Dhananjay’s team, Atul, Arun, Amey, and Anil rushed towards the room. But the doors were bolted from inside. They had laser cutting machines with them. They broke open the door. Entered the room. But the rope had almost reached Vinay’s throat.

They jumped over the rope and tried to pull it off Vinay’s throat. All four applied their might and tried to break the rope. But unbothered of the four, the rope had begun strangling Vinay. Atul took out a knife from his pocket and started cutting the rope. With great difficulty, he could cut the rope into two. But the two parts of rope started increasing in length.

In a short time, there were two ropes trying to strangle Vinay. All were confused. But then Arun looked at the book. He decided to tear off page 273. He picked up the book and began tearing off page 273. One piece of the rope jumped onto Arun. It crawled speedily towards his throat and tried to strangle him.

Amey and Anil came close to the book, and tried to tear off the page. But the rope had a grip on Arun’s throat and was strangling him. Meanwhile, Amey took out a lighter and put page 273 to flame. It started getting burned. The ropes lost their strength and they jumped back to the picture of ropes. The page got into flames. The ropes left their attempt to strangle Vinay and Arun. Hurriedly, they got close to the picture. Very soon, the ropes and the picture of ropes turned into ashes. In a short time, the entire book was burnt. Vinay and Dhananjay’s team were relieved.

The rest of the detective team joined the happening. They ensured that no trace of the book was left behind.

Dhananjay congratulated the entire team for getting rid of the mysterious murderer. He went to the library. He told the librarian about the incident and the loss of the book. Dispassionately, he claimed the cost of the book.

Vijay Likhite

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