Was it GHOST?
A torch has enough light to make them reach to death. They were inexperienced and youngsters with stubbornness of visiting that horror place. There was still a chance of return but no will to give up. They continued to walk in the dark and deep forest.
“Did we reach?”
“No, just two km more only.”
In darkness, they are going to journey to the unknown but firmly. Unknown village but with ‘known’ friends, Unknown footsteps but with known talk. It was not out of sudden but it was all planned by themselves. Having been bored by watching movies, especially ‘horror’ movies, they went to feel it, to thrill and maybe to see ghosts. Group of medical college students decided to do something that wasn't ever done by anyone in their college, especially on vacation. Every year, they went to picnics in the forest to enjoy nature and wildlife photography, to the hill station but now they wanted to do something new but with thrill so they decided to choose an empty bungalow which can give horror thrills, to stay one night and then to tell ghost stories to their friends. However, it was safe but not fully.
The horror place was provided by Anay's Uncle who is rich and his empty bunglow in no use for 2 months but well managed in a remote area. Group of five members began their journey. It was full of fun until they reached a place which is more horror than Film’s Haveli.
“Bhool Bhulaiya.”
“In both ways, horror as well as big enough to forget the exit gate.”
Everyone was shocked but no one wanted to admit it because they were ‘modern’ and believers of science, not of superstition. However, they were fond of horror.
They entered with shaking leg and with light of torch. It was darker but they had already told Anay that there must be electricity as well as a generator too. Anay could manage exactly but there was something that Anay was concealing from his friends. They turned on the lights and got relief. It was a well managed home. Electricity changed horror bhool bhulaiya to a luxurious bungalow.
“Wow! It is outstanding and so well managed. There must be caretaker of this house like old man.” said Nidhi, having seen first time such huge house.
“Yes, of course. Anay isn’t it? like movies, there might be anyone who might warn Anay not to go to this house because there is living GHOST…..”
Everyone laughed at Sahil’s movie line but only Anay was calm but perhaps not calm but afraid. Both horror echo of their laughter in an empty house and Anay’s silence were an inauspicious sign of something to be happened.
“I’m too tired. Anay kept telling lies throughout the whole journey that it is not so far, just a few kilometres. He made us leave our car also and made us walk too much. let’s have some food and enjoy our ‘picnic’.”
Suddenly, electricity was gone and the screaming of a woman was heard. Everyone was shocked as well as feared. No one was not able to understand and even to think what was happening and what to do. They all were convinced of no presence of anyone except them. Only Anay knew something but he was so afraid that unable to move. Brave and leader of the group whose mind had created this horror planning, Nimish went to switch on lights and suddenly voices were stopped.
Everyone was staring at Anay and was asking with angry glances about this weird happening. Anay had to tell all what was told to him by his uncle as a warning but he didn’t pay much attention to it because he was told to a horror place anyhow. His uncle warned him about the presence of an unknown lady who lived in their bungalow and was assumed to be a ghost but it was not certain, only possibility as per said by villagers so Anay decided to choose this place for their plan. Everyone was angry but it was not time for scolding but to be worried because there might be a ghost.
“Why? Didn’t you think about us? at least, you had to tell me once as a disclaimer. We could search for a more safe place where at least we might have relief that no ghost will appear.” Varun said what all were thinking. All were thinking what to do but Nidhi started eating and again screaming began and light went but this time, Nimish was nearer to fuse and he started again meanwhile someone snatched away food from hands of Nidhi as Nidhi said and Varun claimed of seeing shadow of woman who might be ghost. It was true that there is someone but some of them didn’t convinced about ghost in the house because they believed It was invention of horror stories and for child’s warning but there is no reality but again before they could complete their discussion about Ghost or not, unknown woman screamed again and threw all foods and cold drinks bottles from last room.
They realized that it was not safe to stay the night at this place and out of fear, they ran towards the gate. Easily, they could manage to exit. It was very unusual for ghosts who left humans and snatched food. and let them go safely outside. Maybe, she was not a ghost but her appearance which everyone saw while getting out, her ghostly scream and thrown foods were telling of something beyond their imagination. There was still doubt of her as a ghost but there was no doubt that they must leave this place as early as possible but It might be silliness to go in dark and deep forest with fear of ghost so they decided to stay outside the bungalow.
* * *
Next morning, Villagers found them lying outside and tried to woke them up. They almost believed them as dead but Nimish got up and asked what was living in the house. Villagers told them what was already told to Anay but one man was searching something from their bags. Varun immediately caught that uncle and shouted, “What?...What were you doing in our bags?” “Did you bring out any food?”
“I was right guys, Ghost must be like me hungry but not of humans but food. Isn’t it interesting?” Nidhi joked. Everyone laughed except that uncle and said softly, “It is not a joke.” Villagers ignored him because he was making stories out of imagination. Villagers guided them to the highway but Nimish’s mind was weaving something. He followed that insane man and asked about a woman who was mentioned by him while talking of a ghost.
That man told them that 7 years ago, a woman named Sarita lived with her young son who was sailing in the sea. One day, her son didn’t come back but till now she couldn’t believe the death of her son. Gradually, Her savings were lost, her rented home was snatched away and she became almost like a beggar. She continued to believe that his son would pay all debts. Everyone stopped to talk with her, to borrow her anything, hence as a result, one day, she left this village and came here but except me no one wanted to believe me. Like her, They also started to ignore me.
Her appearance became ghostly so whosoever tried to enter there, became afraid and due to heart attack, they died but people believed that ghost killed them.
“What about food?” asked Nidhi.
“She is human so she may be hungry and needs food. Searching for food made her ghost because she had to eat animals too. Out of Hunger, She can kill anyone, especially, young person attracts her most.”
“Why?”
“Because, kisan made her realize that Her son is dead because of him. It was just told out of anger and she immdiately killed him. hence, every young ‘boy’ seems to her as killer of her son.”
They decided to leave as soon as possible because they all are young but Nimish didn’t want to leave this woman as she was. Nidhi, without being noticed, went again to house….
* * *
Almost after two years, Bunglow was still as beautiful and huge as it was but only lacked a horror vibe because now there was no scarcity of food nor any fear of death. It was not bhool bhulaiya, not in both sense horror and empty. It was home of famous psychologist, Dr. Nimish Bhatt, whose aunty Sarita lived with abundance of prosperity. That man became owner of bungalow as a husband of Sarita.
what do you think? what would Nidhi have done after entering house?
Please comment.How was the story according to you? please rate.