THE OBSCURATION

On a beautiful sunny day, as the school day finally came to a close, the excitement amongst the children was almost palpable as they spilled out of the building. Laughter and chatter filled the air, mingling with the warmth of the sun’s rays. Some children eagerly awaited their parents by the main gate, their faces flushed with anticipation. Among the throng stood a little girl, her striking deep blue eyes sparkling with joy, a tiny button nose dusted with freckles, and rosy cheeks that suggested a recent bout of play. She nervously clutched her skirt in one hand while her other hand gripped the strap of her colorful backpack, her gaze darting around as she eagerly searched for her mother.

Soon enough, a figure approached her, and as the lady gently knelt down, the resemblance was unmistakable. “Anu, my sweet baby, please forgive your mumma,” she pleaded softly, her own deep blue eyes mirroring those of the little girl.

“Mumma, why are you saying sorry? Is it because you’re late? It’s okay! But you have to get me an ice cream, okie?” Anu replied, her voice bubbling with excitement and innocence, the promise of a treat brightening her countenance even further.

The lady, whose name was Ashi, smiled gently at her daughter, affection radiating from her demeanor. With a soft pat on Anu’s head, she took her small hand in hers as they began walking toward their parked car, the anticipation of the ice cream tantalizing Anu’s senses.

“Mumma, is Papa still not home today?” Anu asked, concern etching itself across her youthful features as she looked up.

“Anu, sweetheart, he’s eagerly waiting for his little princess at home,” Ashi reassured her with a warm smile, hoping to ease her daughter’s worries.

At her mother’s words, a huge grin spread across Anu’s face, her initial concern forgotten as the thought of her father waiting for her filled her with joy.

As they approached, *the car stopped right in front of an enticing ice cream shop*, the shop’s colorful sign and the sweet, creamy scent wafting through the air capturing Anu’s attention completely.

“Anu, go and pick your favorite ice cream. Mumma will join you shortly after making a quick call,” Ashi encouraged, ushering her daughter toward the shop, knowing how much she adored her favorite treats.

Without a moment’s hesitation, the little girl bolted toward the shop, her laughter ringing out as she dashed inside. The world outside faded away as she perused the myriad flavors before her. However, after what felt like an eternity and realizing her mother hadn’t returned yet, concern began to creep back in. She turned around, ready to hurry back and find Ashi.

**clash**

“MUMMMA!!” she cried out, her voice laced with anxiety.

****

“MUMMA!” echoed her plea through the air.

*Suddenly, an alarm rings, shattering the tranquility,*

*Alarm rings, drowning out the memory.*

**Sky Tower, Toronto**

*(Anshita’s penthouse)*

“Argh, why am I dreaming that again?” I muttered to myself, shaking off the remnants of the dream as I trudged toward my bathroom to freshen up. After attending to my morning routine, I splashed water on my face at the basin and caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror. There I stood, strikingly similar to my mother, with the same deep blue eyes and button nose that had once brought my father joy. A bittersweet smile crossed my lips as I pondered my fate and the so-called “love” I felt from my family. Family? Do I truly have one?

*Suddenly, my phone interrupted my thoughts, ringing insistently.*

*(On the call)*

**ANSHITA:** “Hello?”

**XX:** “Damn girl, where were you last night? You have no idea what happened here!”

**ANSHITA:** “Stop beating around the bush. Tell me, Arush, what’s the problem?”

His voice crackled, filled with urgency.

**ARUSH:** “You remember Mrs. Dhillon?”

**ANSHITA:** “Yeah, what’s with her?”

**ARUSH:**“She’s dead.”

**ANSHITA:** “WHAT?!” My heart sank, confusion swirling in my mind.

**ARUSH:** “Yeah, I’ll fill you in on the details later. First, come to her place, and please make it quick.”

**ANSHITA:** “I’ll be there in a while.”

Mrs. Dhillon was my client, a kind lady who had been a beacon of warmth and guidance. But after her husband’s death, something changed within her. Family members whispered about her being possessed, a fact that left me troubled and unsettled. We had conducted an investigation for a month, and she had seemed completely normal just a few days ago when I last met her. How could this have happened? Oh God, where did I go wrong?

Bridle Path, where she lived, was only 18 minutes away from Sky Tower. My mind raced with questions as I drove through the familiar streets, anxiety gnawing at me. Upon arriving, I noticed the unusual stillness surrounding her home. It felt eerily quiet—a stark contrast to the vibrant life I had known her to possess. That’s when I spotted Arush emerging from the Dhillon mansion, his face pale and troubled.

“Arush, please tell me what happened in detail,” I implored, urgency and concern flooding my voice as I stepped closer to him.”

“Last night, Mrs. Dhillon’s children called us in a panic, saying their mother hadn’t left her room all day. Concerned for her safety, we made the tough decision to break down her door. As it swung open, we stepped into a dim, silent room, filled with an unsettling tension, there, she was lying on her bed lifelessly we called the doctor and the police also came .. doctors did her postmortem and they found out that her internal organs were completely damaged...their next words were shocking, they said, that her organs were half eaten”

Arush’s unexpected reply left me utterly flabbergasted, as though the ground had been pulled from beneath my feet. I could hardly comprehend what I had just heard. My mouth fell open in disbelief as I stammered, “W-What?” I struggled to piece together the words he had spoken, feeling a whirlwind of confusion and shock swirl inside me.

“Yes, afterward when we reviewed the CCTV footage, it revealed something startling. After your encounter with Mrs. Dhillon, she was seen leaving her home at midnight two nights ago. According to our sources, we traced her movements and discovered that she headed to theFairmont Banff Springs Hotel,” Arush explained, his tone mixture of urgency and disbelief.

The revelation struck me like a bolt of lightning—confusing and utterly surreal. The distance from Bridle Path in Toronto to Fairmont Banff was approximately a grueling33-hour journeyby car. It raised a swarm of questions in my mind. Why on earth would she choose to travel there, especially at such an odd hour?

“How is that even possible, Arush? When exactly was she spotted at that location? What sort of timing are we talking about?” I asked, trying to wrap my head around the timeline.

“She was recorded, there, just two hours after leaving her house,” he replied, his eyes narrowing with concern.

“That’s impossible!” I shot back, unable to comprehend the logistics.

“Arush, you must be mistaken; the woman you saw near Fairmont has to be someone else. That scenario doesn’t add up; it’s simply out of the question,” I insisted, my voice laced with skepticism.

“Just take a look at the video yourself,” he urged, tapping his iPad and forwarding it to me. My heart sank as the screen lit up with footage. The image was unmistakable: it was indeed Mrs. Dhillon making her way toward the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, an establishment notorious not only for its grandeur but also for the eerie tales of hauntings shared by locals and paranormal enthusiasts alike.

After a few moments of silence, Arush broke it with a heavy declaration. “Anshita, given everything that’s happened, Mrs. Dhillon’s own children are refusing to carry out her last rites.”

I felt a surge of determination rising within me. “Don’t let that worry you. We’ll take care of her last rites ourselves. Once that’s settled, we need to call our squad because we are heading to Banff to conduct our investigation,” I instructed, my mind already mapping out our next steps.

“Absolutely, we’ll get right on it,” Arush responded with resolute agreement. “I should take my leave now to get the arrangements in order,” he added, and with a slight hum of acknowledgment, I watched him depart, knowing the journey ahead would be anything but ordinary.

“This situation is certainly going to be challenging,” I murmured, my fingers nervously tracing the ornate locket hanging from my neck—a family heirloom, I always turned to in tough times.

“Ashi Mumma, please guide me through this.”

**Time skip to the cremation of Mrs. Dhillon.**

As we trudged away from the cremation ground, a somber pall hanging over us, Arush’s voice broke the heavy silence. “I can’t believe her own children couldn’t come together to cremate their mother. They’re so consumed by fear that they’re afraid something will happen to them too,” he lamented, glancing back at the glow of the flames fading in the distance, carrying a small urn containing Mrs. Dhillon’s ashes.

I looked at him, feeling a mix of sadness and frustration. “Let it go, Arush. There’s nothing we can do. The fear of death can turn even the closest of family members cold and unfeeling,” Amelia replied gently. Arush and Amelia were not just my friends; they were integral members of my squad, and I had felt their support ever since we embarked on this journey together.

“Guys, this isn’t the time to dwell on someone else’s life choices. We need to get moving to Banff without delay,” I interjected, shaking off the heaviness. “Amelia, please take the urn and deliver it to the Dhillons. Arush, have you informed Noah and Carl about our departure to Banff?”

Amelia nodded solemnly and took the urn from my hands, her expression resolute. I flicked open my iPad to review our plans while discussing logistics with Arush.

“Yes, they’re already aware. They’ll be waiting for us at the airport. I’ve booked us on a flight, and we have accommodations at the Fairmont Banff. Once we arrive, we can also review the CCTV footage from inside the hotel,” Arush replied, his excitement tempered by the solemnity of the day.

**(At the Airport)**

As we settled in to wait for Noah and Carl, I glanced around the bustling airport, filled with travelers hurrying to their destinations. Noah and Carl, both talented sound engineers in our squad, were crucial for our initial paranormal investigation. Their specialized instruments captured sounds of supernatural phenomena that often eluded the human ear, adding an essential layer to our research.

A few minutes later, I spotted Noah waving as they approached, and relief washed over me. We quickly checked in and boarded our flight. As the plane ascended into the sky, my mind raced with questions about the hotel that had garnered a reputation for being haunted. The guests’ accounts made me curious, but as a dedicated paranormal investigator, I knew I couldn’t simply take their words at face value. I needed to gather credible information, ideally from someone familiar with the historical intricacies of the hotel.

I knew just the person for the job: Karanveer Singh Gill. He had been my batchmate and is now one of the foremost names in the field of paranormal research. His extensive experience and research about Banff surpassed any ghost stories shared by the hotel guests.

**(Time skip back to the cremation of Mrs. Dhillon)**

I found myself reflecting once again on Mrs. Dhillon’s demise and the eerie silence of her family’s discord as we navigated the emotional aftermath. As the ashes of a life once full of love and warmth rested in Arush’s hands, I felt the weight of our own pursuits—what led us here, and what could we potentially uncover in Banff.

**(Arriving at Banff Airport)**

After a flight lasting four hours and twenty-five minutes, we finally touched down in Banff. The breathtaking scenery of this charming Canadian town greeted us, an enchanting mix of majestic mountains, delicate glaciers, and serene frozen lakes. It was my first visit, and each glance out the window left me awestruck by the untouched beauty. Banff’s peaceful ambiance wrapped around me like a soft blanket, contrasting sharply with our grim purpose.

Once we arrived at the Fairmont Banff, the focal point of our investigation, I was captivated by the hotel’s grandeur. It resembled an enchanting castle, its iconic architecture whispering tales of the past—a sharp juxtaposition to the alleged hauntings that sent chilly shivers down some spines. I couldn’t help but ponder why Mrs. Dhillon had chosen this very place to visit before her untimely end.

I checked into my room on the eighth floor, the window showcasing a stunning panorama of mountain peaks and the surrounding snow-laden landscape. The beauty was almost surreal.

Now, I needed to coordinate with Arush about retrieving that CCTV footage of insides of the hotel—it could be our key to, unraveling the mysteries that awaited us inBanff.