“Now you must decide my fate, shall I leave her to death or stay?”

Curiosity always leads to somewhere or something, whether it’s an adventure, mystery, trouble, lesson and the list doesn’t end. My childhood and innocence also lead me to one of these. I remember I was in fourth grade when this incident took place. The age when I just started observing the things around me and most of them won’t make any sense to me.

I was not one of those notorious kids who needed to be followed all the time. I often used to visit my neighbors, as a kid you are always welcomed everywhere.

 

However, there was a forbidden house in my colony and I was not allowed to be their visitor. There were days when the house is empty and I hear no sound at all and then other particular days it’s full of strange things and strangers and that’s what was magnetic to me. The one thing that remained common is, it’s dark, always dark.

 

One particular day, when I saw people paying a visit, I also decided to be their guest. I followed them till a dark room where they joined other people who seemed to be in the middle of something. They all took their place in the corner and so did i.

 

 

“What shall I call you? Where are you from? I want you to begin with it and then I will decide what to do with you.”, a strong voice filled the dark room.” and you must be obedient if you want me to be merciful else I have other horrible ways to bring pain to the dead.” he shouted, even more, this time.

 

“It’s too late to speak of my name or the place I belong to, as I have left no one who will call my name or call me home.” a female voice answered.

 

“You have no home now. You do not belong here anymore, you must return to your world,” the first voice commanded again but before I let you go, you owe an answer to this poor woman that you have possessed and her family, what did she do to earn such trouble?” the same dominating voice demanded a reason.

 

“I must tell you my story and then leave all to you to decide who is poor? If I leave or stay.” the same female voice replied in a humble way.

 

I was an only child, who lived a poor life. My parents died after I got married and then there was no one to stop my husband to contribute in my tragic fate. The only hope to my miserable life was my infant but the destiny did not stop here. I died of uterine contractions of childbirth. Thanks to Lord! that it was a son so my husband accepted it and thought he is fortunate for him as he brought my death along with him.

 

He did not wait for long and married another woman to satisfy his wants, covered under the reason that he needed a mother to take care of his newborn. I was still the same, a woman before and now a soul but with the same identity, poor and helpless. My affection for my newborn did not let me travel from one world to another. I wanted to stay near him, touch him, feed him and take care of him but again I was helpless. I could see my son crying of hunger all day and night as the other woman was busy in feeding her lust than my poor son’s hunger. I used to sit by my son’s side and cry along with him and then one day my destiny thought to take another turn.

 

Somehow a Tantric came in search of me. He said he could hear my sobbing from miles and came here to offer his help. He has a task to accomplish and has been given the enough reward already but he is looking for a source to complete his task. To make things simpler for me he said I need to possess a lady for a while and after that, he will cast a spell that would let me be with my son forever, the poor and helpless mother inside me got carried away and I agreed.

 

He asked me to follow a woman who seemed to be one of his obedient and when you reach her home, possess the one she would give the fruits to. I obeyed as he said.

 

The woman went to her home and she went straight to her sister-in-law, she greeted her and offered her the fruit she bought from the tantric. The lady ate it as she thought it’s the prasadam she bought from the temple and I knew what to do then. I made her body my abode and dominated her soul, breath on her blood and fed on her health. She started getting weaker day by day.

 

She belonged to a family where people believed in prayer over medicines, Instead of calling any doctor they called a tantric, now it was an irony that they found the same tantric who actually caused all this to her. He was also stuck in the situation. If he tries to save her he would be disloyal to his obedient and if he doesn’t the family will probably go to another tantric and his sin must be disclosed.

 

He reached to a conclusion where he found a way to save himself and earn money from both the parties after all promises are meant for humans or livings only. There is no harm to cheat  or betray a ghost.

 

He chanted some other words and within a few seconds he turned her body into a coffin for me. Where I could lay but never get out. He has done something that if I live in her she will die slowly but if anybody tried to free her from me she will die at once.

 

I have been with her for years and you can ask her if I ever hurt her family. I took care her children like my own but I have no control over other things. My presence will affect her health but my absence will cause her end.

 

“Now you must decide my fate, shall I leave her to death or stay?”

 

I got up and found the way to get out of that house and decided never to look back. The question did not leave my mind for many days but I never thought to go back as I knew where the mystery would lead me again.