The car screeched to a stop and Mr. Robert, a businessman, stepped out into the daylight along with his two companions – Mr. Gupta and Mr. D’Souza .
The village of Sonapur, like any other village, has a rustic charm about it - The busy bazaar, the children bumbling around, the men and women bustling about on their work, the elders chewing tobacco, smoking cigars and gossiping and the soothing breeze. It makes you think about your grandfather days… and also about ghosts.
For it’s a village that is the true home to haunting horrors - bountiful of bhoots, banshees, witches, jinns, prets and their family live in almost every village of the country. The cities, however, hold no charm for these ghosts. We love ghost stories told by our elders despite knowing it wouldn’t let us sleep the whole night!
But Mr. Robert is a man of logic. Ghosts cannot bother him more than the bank loans do! He has come to this remote, forgotten village, for he has heard about an old palace holding enough business potential if it is renovated to a grand 5-star Resort.
“That is a cursed mahal, saheb!” exclaimed a wide-eyed grocery seller when Mr. Robert asked about the palace, “Evil souls sing there in the dead of the night! A king and his two queens haunt the mahal!”
“Yeah…my great old uncle once went there seven years ago; we haven’t seen him ever since!” quipped a middle age man, joining in the gossip. Soon, people gathered around and spun their own tales of tragedy and horror.
The ruined palace, as the people told, was in the outskirts of the village. No one dared go there, not even in the daylight.
“People here are nuts! Complete nuts!” remarked Mr. Robert. It was afternoon and he lunched with his companions at a small hotel.
“But the way people are reacting…” said Mr. Gupta uncertainly, “It sounds fishy.”
“It’s your imagination running wild,” countered Mr. Robert, “perhaps you watch plenty of ghost movies, eh?” He jibed and laughed.
“I don’t believe in such cock-bull stories,” said Mr. D Souza, “but still…it might be a trap…I won’t go there without a body guard.”
“Ha! Arrant nonsense! I’ll go to the palace on my own!” barked Mr. Robert and he spat on the floor, “I’ve come here for business, not to hear about blithering bhoots! I’m brave enough for those coward ghosts!”
The two attempted in vain to stop their adamant partner, but to no avail. Mr. Robert, turning a deaf ear, left the two in the lodge behind and alone he rode away his car towards the palace.
It was rough ride through zigzagged roads and by the time he arrived at the uninhabited location, the sky had turned red; the sun was about to set.
In front of him lay the forsaken palace with two small turrets; all ruined and rusty. Perhaps, the creepy appearance of the palace might have sparked paranormal tales, he thought. The large Iron Gate stood ajar and he walked inside the gate to explore.
A foul smell hung about the palace. He picked up his way carefully through the wild brambles, shrubs; Insects and bugs bred in the grounds. A large stony staircase in front led up inside the palace. As he ventured ahead, the sound of footsteps behind made him look around.
An elderly man, dressed in black, his head hooded, was walking towards him.
“Have you come to see the palace, young man?” asked the old man as he came closer.
“Yes…who are you” Mr. Robert, replied, taking in the eccentric appearance of the stranger. Something about the old man made him feel uneasy.
“I am an old man, you can see. I live nearby. I can tell you everything about this beautiful old fort, if you so desire,” the old man said somberly.
“Even about the ghosts?” Mr. Robert asked with a wry wink. He no longer felt strange. The old guide seemed to be quite brave unlike the villagers.
The old man merely nodded and beckoned to move further. Once inside the palace, Mr. Robert looked around with awe. It was the perfect place for a lucrative investment. The magnificent halls, the high ceilings, the ancient, artistic handiwork on the walls were impressive. However, the murky ambience, the shadows throwing shapes on walls and the stench made everything appear creepy. Still, Mr. Robert couldn’t help feeling, there was something more to it, something definitely eerie about the place as if he was being watched…But he shrugged off the feeling as mere trick of mind.
“Allow me to glorify the king and the queens,” The old man said with reverence, “But beware, young man, do not even think to harm the palace. It would wake the king’s wrath!”
The way he speaks, would really wake the king, Mr. Robert thought sarcastically.
“One of the queens lived here,” the old man spoke with reverence as he led inside a square room, “Her beauty was praised even by the Gods. She was as beautiful as the bright full moon, her voice as gentle as the gentlest breeze. She was the love of the King beyond all…”
"The way you compliment this young queen would put even the Miss World to shame!” Mr. Robert joked, scanning the room with the eyes of greedy businessman.
The old man gave a twitch of anger and led the way to the second circular room.
“And this is where the valiant warrior lady - the second queen - lived,” the old man said, “Strong, proud and clever her sword had crushed the pride of many. Even the king once fought her and received a lasting wound on his head. Since then, he honored her with the title of a warrior woman.”
“I don’t like the sound of her…warrior woman…” Mr. Robert said, thinking to make the room as a luxuriant wine shop.
The sun had already set. Mr. Robert was eager to reach the lodge, tell his friends about his daring venture and the business plans he had thought.
“C’mon it’s getting late; thanks for your guide. I’ll come tomorrow with my two friends to discuss more about it. I may even appoint you as the palace’s guard for the time being. You needn’t worry; you’ll be paid a good salary.”
“You promised you shall not harm the fort,” the old man reminded with a hint of anger in his voice.
“Harm? Are you crazy? You village folks are abysmally dimwitted!” Mr. Robert mocked, “My business plans will make this dying fort as new as newborn baby!” He stared to leave but the old man didn’t move. “Not so early. The king wants to meet you.”
“The King?” asked Mr. Robert curiously, and then gave a short laugh, “Oh! I got you! I’ve to take his permission to build my hotel! Ha! Show me his bones, old man!”
The old man suddenly came closer; his face unreadable and spoke in a whisper suggestive of a conspiracy, “You are treacherous. Now watch the king’s wrath!”
Mr. Robert recoiled uneasily, the hairs standing on his skin. Instinct warned Mr. Robert that something wasn’t just right tonight…
“What-what do you mean?” he stammered, his mouth going dry, the hairs standing up on his skin; he looking around wildly, expecting hidden men to attack and rob him.
Suddenly, the hood of the old man fell back, and out revealed his bald head, upon which was a wound- a long scar - which the valiant queen had given him…
“I am the king…”
A second later the whole of Sonapur heard a blood curdling scream of terror tearing the night, waking everyone. It soon becoming the much talked about gossip for months and years to come.
And as for Mr. Robert, believe me, the police are still searching for him…
***
