Maya

Get in.

I am asking you to go inside.

You're at it again.

Your child is with me.

She doesn't respect you at all.

Look, there's your child.

What is it? - She's missing.

I shall come back.

Where's she? Who's that? - She's the one.

I will.. - If the warden finds out, we'll be so dead.

Go, catch her. - ...come back..

Get her! Go! - I shall

come back.

Have you heard of Bloody Mary?

Blackberry?

Like in the English horror films

if you stand before a mirror and say Bloody Mary thrice

a ghost appears.

Haven't you seen it? - Who has the time?

She watches them always.

Don't you believe in such things?

I don't know. Why? - Okay, drop your card.

Yesterday, the editor had mailed a story.

A ghost story.

I started sketching as soon as I read it.

I've been sketching here for six years.

Not once have I been distracted while sketching.

When I'm sketching, I'm not even conscious of my surroundings.

But last night, exactly 5 minutes before 12

there was a strange odor in my room.

You know the odor specific to hospitals..

It was like that.

It was there and then it was gone.

I've never believed in ghosts.

But last night, I was terrified. - What happened?

Who is it at this odd hour?

Leave that.

I'll tell you how the story ends. Do you want to listen?

A forest named Mayavanam.

In that forest stuck alone..

A guy is running for his life, lost in the woods.

He doesn't have a torch or anything.

His clothes are in tatters and blood is oozing out of his body.

As he runs

he somehow manages to reach the entrance of the forest.

He is terrified. His heart is racing.

He takes a step forward.

As soon as he does he feels someone's presence behind him.

He hesitates for a second

and starts walking again, slowly.

And he says..

"Maya, I don't have your baby."

"Maya, I don't have your baby."

"Maya, I don't have your baby."

Thrice.

As soon as he says so an odor fills the place.

The next second

he senses someone breathing down his neck.

Immediately he tries to run for his life.

The ghost grabs and pulls him up and he screams.

He couldn't hear his own screams.

Just a baby's cry.

And?

The rest will be revealed next week.

What? Are you creating suspense?

Haven't you read stories like this before?

At the end of that story, there was a disclaimer

stating that if one wishes to read Maya's story the next week

one should not call out her name thrice at night.

Why is it always thrice? Won't four or five times work?

To heck with your logic. - I was skeptical too.

So, last night I turned off all the lights

and called out Maya thrice.

Believe it or not

as soon as I did, someone touched my neck.

I jumped in shock and turned the lights on

but nobody was there.

And? What's next?

Are you going to say that you died two days ago and you're a spirit?

Forget it.

^You would believe me if it happened to you.

^I don't want to upset you. Let's try it.

^Try what? I'm not willing to play this game.

Why? Won't Maya appear during power cuts?

^This is not a game, listen to me.

^Wait, let's try it. - Listen to me.

^No.

Maya, I don't have your baby.

Maya, I don't have your baby.

Please listen to me.

Maya, I don't have your baby.

^Will she appear or not?

Don't you smell something strange?

Disclaimer - To read the next episode, don't utter Maya's name

at night.

Still hung over from last night?

Vasanth..

We have around eight more to check.

Who is she? - Katherine, a writer.

She's in India for her research.

What is this?

With whose permission did you upload this?

Why? What's the problem? - Look, Vasanth.

I don't know if you believe in this or not.

But what you and your friend did last night was a big mistake.

What mistake?

The place mentioned in the book exists.

It's called Mayavanam.

There was a plump, dark guy next to me, right?

You should have spoken to him. He is the forest guard.

Do you know what happens there at night?

Maya is not just a legend.

It is specifically mentioned in the story

that you shouldn't utter Maya's name thrice.

What if something happens to you and your friend?

If what you say is true, why didn't Maya appear last night?

Who said that she didn't?

Hello, sir. This week's story was very good.

How many people were at home last night?

My friend, his wife and me.

Why? - Are you sure?

Yes.

Are you sure? - Yes. Why?

And this?

Apsara!

Apsara?

Did you short-list the one who came now? - Yes, sir.

Why do they audition if they can't act?

No experience, nothing!

Sir..

Apsara.. Sit down.

You look familiar.

Have you acted before? - No.

Sir! She is Mr. Arjun's wife.

They're not together any more. - Oh!

Love marriage?

Sorry! Have you read the lines?

This is not required.

I'll tell you the situation, improvise on it.

Your name is Maya. Age 23.

Love marriage.

You're madly in love with your husband.

On the day of your anniversary you learn two things.

One, your husband is having an affair.

Two, you're pregnant.

The same night after dinner

in his juice you mix poison.

Say, I am your husband.

I have five minutes to die.

What will be your last words to me?

Action.

Happy anniversary.

Cut.

You performed really well today. RK was so impressed.

When did you sleep last night?

I'm talking to you.

You haven't slept well in a week.

Look, either you talk to Arjun or do as I say.

I've fixed an appointment for 6:00 p.m. tomorrow.

What appointment? - Counseling.

She's a family friend of mine.

Just talk to her once, you'll feel better.

There's an ATM there. Pull over.

Still not credited? What was the payment for?

For the commercial I shot for the Frames showroom last month.

You deposited it on the correct date, right?

Check again tomorrow.

If it's not credited by tomorrow go to the producer's office.

This is the second time. Are they fooling around?

If the check bounces, we can't let him be.

How devious these people are!

What is it? Isn't he picking up?

Always prefer cash from now on.

When is the due date? - I already paid yesterday.

I'll pay you back in two days. - Just focus on your acting.

Do you have enough money for your daily needs? - Yes.

Well? - Yes.

"You are all I have."

"The bond of motherhood unites us."

"Is life a symphony"

"of pain?"

"Only your presence"

"takes painful memories away."

"Come, sail across the ocean.."

"Come over as a full moon."

"My life."

Did you see the cellophane tape? - It should be under the book.

It's not here.

Swathi, check who it is.

Arjun is here.

Didn't I tell you not to turn off the room's light?

I didn't.

Hello, your husband is here.

Why? - What kind of a question is that?

To see you and Meera. Why else? - Tell him that I'm asleep.

Apsara!

Arjun hasn't made such a mistake that you can't even talk to him.

Why are you so stubborn?

Get married and I'll tell you why.

Don't take any check from him.