Kalsoom had fed me her blood. I was a beast now. She kept on feeding me the blood till I got better. After two weeks I was standing on my feet. I was feeling strong but was unable to go out in the sun as it would burn my skin. I was constantly fighting with my soul. I had thought of asking Kalsoom as to why she did that to me but she did what every good wife would have done for her husband. I stopped drinking blood when I got up from the bed. Few months passed without any signs of sickness but then I started feeling sick again. It was not the fits but I was having constant mild strokes. This time I gave Fazlo baba the task to arrange blood of animals for me. I knew my grandfather had been surviving on it. It took me longer to recover but I was on my feet again. The cycle continued till I got fed up with it. Earlier, I had fits attacks every six months but its frequency was now decreasing. But as soon as I tried to quit drinking blood, I started having strokes. It was a vicious cycle that was now becoming beyond worrisome. I knew I would soon be in need of human blood to survive.

A year passed like this. I had not stepped out of Ayesha Manzil. I could walk a bit and knew all the magic spells taught to me by Nazir Bux. I had written all the spells in my secret diary which I kept hidden. Not even Kalsoom or Fazlo baba knew about it.

One evening, I was sitting in the garden with Kalsoom. Her son from Faizan was now about 4 years old. He was playing with a cat which I had not seen before in the house. It was black in color and had red eyes. My cautious eye caught something wrong. I called the nearby gate guard and asked him to call Fazlo baba. The cat would look at me after every few seconds and it sent the chills down my spine. As I saw Fazlo baba, I got up and walked up to him.

“Does this black cat belong to this house?” I asked Fazlo baba while pointing to the cat.

“I saw it this morning for the first time,” he said in a whispering tone while looking at the cat normally.

I told him to get rid of it after we go inside. He nodded and turned back.

Next day, I saw the black cat again. Fazlo baba told me that he failed to get hold of the cat. He even tried poisoned meat but the cat did not even touch it. Anyhow, I asked Kalsoom to keep the boy away from the cat. I became more cautious and started sleeping in a protective circle which Nazir Bux had taught me to draw in case I sense danger. I was able to defend myself when I was awake but I needed to be safe while I was sick or sleeping.

Then it happened which I had suspected. I was sleeping alone in my bedroom when one night I got up and felt myself suspended in air. Initially, I felt scared but I had experienced worse. I knew I was in the protective circle and nobody could hurt me physically. I only had to keep myself in control and take deep breaths. I closed my eyes and starting feeling normal. I opened my eyes and found myself on the bed again. Then I saw two black cats walking on the side walls. They were trying to get to the ceiling but were unable to do so. I could disappear but I wanted to see who was behind all this. My protective circle was strong enough to keep them away from me. Both the cats then came down on the floor and turned into humans. Kalsoom always kept the night lamp on in my room. She still slept in Hakeem’s room with her son and never bothered me without my consent. My room door was closed. I was now able to see both the individuals. A smile appeared on my lips. It was Nazir Bux with some another weirdo.

“What are you doing here Nazir Bux and who is this other person?” I asked.

“My name is Shamshar. I am a jinn. I am sent by the master of Nazir Bux. I have come all the way from Bengal and was tasked to kill you,” the stranger spoke in a strange freaky voice.

My heartbeat was now raised. I knew I was safe in this protective circle but my family was out in the open. He could harm them or even blackmail me to come out of the circle.

“Nazir Bux has taught you some dangerous spells without the permission of grand master. He is worried that since you have turned into a beast you can use these spells to harm people. But I have noticed that you don’t even use them at all,” Shamshar said.

“I did not learn those spells to get any physical benefits. Yes, I have a woman to look for. Yes, I have some enemies to destroy but my sole purpose of learning the magic was to heal myself. You must have seen my condition when I have fits.

I have been drinking animal blood to get better. The only human blood I have ever tasted is that of my wife. I want to get better and do good to this humanity. I want you to please request the grand master to help me. I will forever remain in debt to him,” I made a request to Shamshar.

Nazir Bux was still hiding behind Shamshar. “I have begged the grandmaster on your behalf. He has stripped me off all my powers and sent Shamshar to kill you. I had told him of your good nature and that you will not do any harm to humanity. He did not believe me but he has now seen it with his own eyes and I am sure he will go back and…”

Nazir Bux had not completed when both of them disappeared. The lamp turned off. There was pitch dark in the room when I felt somebody’s presence behind me. All my senses heightened. A chilly cold wave froze the sweat on my forehead. I considered about running out of the room but then I thought that I was in the protective circle.

“It must be the jinn who is forcing me to get out of the safety of this circle,” I thought to myself. And then my body got lifted in air and I was thrown away from the bed. I closed my eyes for a second and prepared for the worst. Nothing happened. I opened my eyes and found myself in an entirely different world. It was a big empty hall. There were fireplaces which were burning fast. I got up from the floor and started looking around when the main door of the hall opened. There he was, the grandmaster. I recognised him from his appearance. He was a tall and lean man. His thin long white beard was neatly combed. His head was shaved. His long snowy mustache was hiding his mouth completely. He had the same red flared eyes which Nazir Bux possessed and which Shamshar had. He walked up to me. My feet were stuck on the floor.

“So, you are the beast. I have been told that you drink blood and know some of my spells. I have also been told that you are a good person and want to treat your illness,” he said coming close to me.

I wanted to beg him to teach me more magic and how to heal my sickness but I could not utter a single word. I was frozen. “I will help you but then you will give me next fifty years of your life. You will be my slave. You will do whatever I will ask you to do. Do you agree to this deal?” he said looking at me.

I was now shaken badly. The grandmaster seemed to be a good person. He ensured that I don’t harm anyone with the magic I learnt from Nazir Bux and now he is asking me to be his slave and do whatever he will tell me to do for next fifty years. I was in a tricky situation. I had to decide now.

“Should I get myself treated or not? But what will be left of mine. I will have to serve the grandmaster for almost entire my remaining life,” I started thinking on these lines.

“I wanted to meet you and beg you personally to heal me. But I am highly disappointed after listening to your part of the deal. I don’t want to get better and then become your slave,” mustering all my courage, I spoke finally as he started walking away.

“You have my answer now. Please send me back to my place,” I finished talking. Perhaps, I talked too much. He might hurt me or keep me his prisoner forever. No one will ever know about me.

In the next instant, I was back in my room of Ayesha Manzil. There was no sign of the protective circle. I was thinking of what to do next when the jinn appeared again.

“What do you want from me now. I have told your grandmaster that I don’t accept his deal,” I looked up at him and asked.

It was the day time and suddenly Kalsoom walked up in the room. She was accompanied by Sakina. They both had heard me talking with someone in the room and had come to inquire about the same. I told them to go back to their rooms and leave me alone. They were not able to see the jinn. They looked puzzled but left abruptly. After they left, Shamshar spoke, “Grandmaster asked me to help you.” Ignoring all the dangers, I replied, “I am not willing to spend rest of my life as a slave.”

Shamshar spoke, “It was only your test. Grandmaster wanted to see that to what extent you are willing to go to learn the magic. The grandmaster has sent me to help you without any conditions.”

I suddenly felt so contended. All my plans were about to materialize. I could once again explore the world. I will find Saman and I will take her to every corner of the world. I will help humanity. I will treat the sick people and I will carry the legacy of Hakeem to the farthest extents. I had to take care of Hakeem’s sister as well. Kalsoom was married to me as a necessity but she instead took good care of me. She had dreams too. I was thinking about her when I felt her cold soft hand on my burning forehead. I opened my eyes. She was looking prettier than ever. Her flowery lips touched my forehead.

She then whispered in my left ear, “Shah Jee, I am expecting.”

It was the news that excites every father however my eyes got darkened. My heart sank. I knew my child would carry my gene and my disease. I did not want my child to suffer like me. Then I thought of the conversation with the jinn. A ray of hope emerged. I could see light at end of the tunnel. But where has Shamshar gone? “Was I day dreaming?” I asked myself and closed my eyes again.