12 Was she gonna die?

Visha got ready and left for college. She had to start preparing for her next round. Fashion walk won't be easy. Even though she thankfully had a great figure she was clueless to fashion. She will need a lot of help regarding this. So she went and called Priya out as well. She decided to wait for her to in the cafeteria and saw Dhira and Shivam on the way. Shivam looked at her and smiled. Visha smiled back and went to greet them.

"I am working really hard. I spent all night memorising." Visha boasted. She was always so cheerful and looked like a puppy waiting to be called a 'Good boy'. Dhira smiled and patted her head. She grinned at that. Shivam was shocked to see this. Dhira hadn't found a new friend, she had found a pet. Poor Visha. She didn't even know she was a dog wagging her tail.

"So what is the smartest girl upto?" Shivam asked to break off the dog and master display.

"I have to prepare for the next round. It'sa fashion walk. I don't know anything about it. So I asked Priya to help me with it." she replied. Shivam looked at Dhira and saw her temper rising after Priya was mentioned. But she was a professional at containing her emotions. He was the only one who could read her. After all, they had been friends for the longest time.

"Meet me after college. There is something we need to do." Dhira ordered. Visha nodded and then left for the cafeteria.

She reached to find Priya sitting there already. Priya saw her and smiled. Visha went and sat down beside her.

"Priya the fashion walk is the day after tomorrow. I need your help. You know Nitya in the fashion society. Can you get me a dress from her?" she pleaded.

Priya saw another window of opportunity to get Visha humiliated. She instantly agreed and headed out to meet Nitya. This time she won't fail. She needs to get rid of Visha.

Visha on the other hand felt like she might drown in her favors. Priya was such a good friend, always ready to help her. That she was lucky to have Priya around.

She remembered Dhira had wanted to meet up for some work. Was it witch related? The thought excited her too much. The witch world seemed so appealing. She couldn't help being attracted. She immediately picked up her phone and called Dhira.

"Visha, this is not the time. Something happened to Dhira." Shivam had picked up. He sounded panicky and breathless.

"What happened?"

"We are behind the basketball court. No time to explain." and Shivam disconnected the call. Visha frantically picked up her bag and rushed to the basketball court.

When she reached she saw Dhira coughing, and some drops of blood on the floor. Shivam stood beside her terror-stricken. She crouched beside Dhira and desperately rubbed her back, but all in vain. There seemed no end to this horror. Dhira kept on struggling and clawing at her throat. As if she was choking on something. Dhira kept on coughing like crazy and blood drops splattered on the floor each time. After madly clawing and coughing she spit out a needle covered in blood. Dhira continued coughing up blood. Visha's eyes widened, she didn't know what was going on. How did Dhira cough up a needle? She then turned to Shivam. He was staring at the needle and then dropped helplessly on the floor. Tears appeared in his eyes. Visha still looked at both of them dumbstruck.

"What the hell is going on?" Visha yelled.

Shivam turned to Visha, his face had lost all emotions. "It's black magic." The words struck like thunder. Visha looked at frantically coughing Dhira then back to Shivam, "Do something then."

"I don't know how." Shivam uttered and broke into sobs, "This is a high level black magic. She won't stop coughing up needles and blood till she dies. Dhira could have stopped it but..." and he trailed off. Tears appeared in her eyes as well. Dhira was gonna die? Visha thought. Her mind started to buzz. She couldn't let this happen. There was still a lot left to know about her mother. She had to know mlre about the witches. And Dhira was a great friend. She was just not used to people but she was good. But what can she do? Shivam doesn't know how to stop this. Dhira does but she can't. She is the one being attacked. She brainstormed and a solution finally struck. There was a way, it was a little risky. But Dhira had helped her before she even knew her. She owed her too much.

Visha held Dhira's hand and started chanting. Shivam looked in awe as Dhira slowly stopped coughing. Her pale face was steadily returning to its usual colour. She was looking better. She was breathing normal. Shivam let out a sigh of relief and wiped his tears. A smile appeared on his face as he saw Dhira will live. This joy was short lived as it was now Visha who started coughing vigorously and spat out a blotch of blood.