greatpeanutcomputer

[greatpeanutcomputer]

nature

[greatpeanutcomputer]

horror part 2

"How are you, Memsa'ab? the voice greeted her from the window. I have come to take Veera with me..." The sound was different from the last time It was resounding and hollow- like an old broken record. It was not a natural human voice. Neema's hand froze at the wheel of the machine. The tick-tack of the running machine slowed down. the wheel continued to move for a while and then gradually stopped. The profound silence added to the stock. A chill was running down her spine. She couldn't dare to raise har eyes to look at the visitor. Her heart shuddered with fright-her hands and legs trembled. why is Hari Ram after my veera? where does be want to take my child? doesn't be realize be's dead? from the corner of her eye she noted that veera had stopped paying with her toy. She was gazing at the window and smiling .she had recognized the visotor. Then the child slowely got up and began to move towards the window with her arms extended. On an impulse she glanced at the window. Hari Ram wasn't like the last time. He was ghostly pale with his eyes sunken in to two large sockets. His attention was focused on veera. A soft smile played on his lips. An enigmatic smile. Her baby was now just four feet away from the window.n Neema screamed and and jumped as if she had recived a thousand volts current. She rushed grabbed veera and pulled her back. The child was shaken at the abrupt and rough treatment. She darted towards her little baby calmly sleeping in her cot. Snatching her up she ran towards the door. She undid the latch with a jerk. She didn't stop to put on her slippers didn't glance towards the visitor Barefoot,she dashed out and into the absolutely desolate exteriors. In ten secound she was running away from her house.her howling daughters tightly clutched in each of her arms. she knew no help would be available here today.she the narrow pathway the institute building. sprinting up the narrow pathway she reached the broad dusty road. Veera was now clinging onto her and had stopped crying. But the small baby had been rudely woken from her sleep and was frightened at the abrupt and rough handing. She was wailing her lungs out. Neema was breathless but she didn't slacken her pace. she ran like a possessed woman. sharp stone pricked her soft feet the bare skin got pierced by the thorns and began to bleed. Her strong instinct to save her child from the looming danger made her heedless to all the physical pain. Tears streamed down her cheeks making her almost blind she reached the uphill path that led to the institute building and her salvation. As she fell on her kness however prevented her daughter from getting hurt by supporing them with her elbows planted firmly on the ground. Her kness and elbows were severely bruised. She remained mindless of the injuries. She didn't even realize thagt she was badly hurt. with superhuman efforts, she sprang to her feet again. she threw a quick glance behind her. Acloud of dust that she had produced was thinning a shadow was clearly visible behind the dust screen. Following her.She muffled her scream and ran with all her might. the path was steep and rocky cut into broad steos. with her two daughters held tightly in her grip, she sprinted on. Neither did she reduce her speed nor turn to look back again. On and on she reaced till she reached outside the building,She stopped there for a moment foe she could hardly breathe now her head was spinning. A severe pain tightened her chest She took a few deep breaths to steady herself and instinctively glanced to her left towards the path she had just traversed. The ghostly figure of heri Ram stood at the edge of the path expressionless and somewhat vague now almost a translucent shadow of his original self It was the She shrieked and dashed towards the door. With both her the door it was then she sensed it-a sudden pressure on her left arm and a strong jerk where she was holding veera she tightened her grip on her doughter."Leave her the door was not bolted it swung open and she stumbled into the reception area. She couldn't maintain her balance and creshed against a table her waist talking the blow. There staff.She rushed up the stairase but stopped halfway. she couldn't go on, not anymore her waist hurt badly. Her lungs were bursting. Her arms were stiff from exertion. She ciuldn't hold her elder one any longer. She needed one hand to take the support of the railing. the child understood and clung onto her giving her a free hand. holding on to the railing she pushed hereself up and up, one step at a time with all her might with the last bit of her strength guided by her maternal instincts. The creepy scream had woken Ma up. she still lay in bed wondering if she had dreaming. She was unsure. But her headache was gone. she felt much better. She looked at the clock. it was close to five. The move should be getting over shortly anyway it was also time to go the kitchen. Children would come home hungry. It was then that she heard a desperate knock on her door "didi"...please open the door didi, quick... please hurry.Ma recognized Neema's voice why was screaming and rasping? She sounded so awfully panicky. Ma jumped out of the bed and ran to open the door. The moment she did that Neema swooned and fell unconscious in her arms. Ma managed to grab chitra and prevented the baby from falling. on the head floor and getting badly hurt. Veera hopped off her mother's lap at the end moment and stood next to her sprawled body -shocked shivering and snivelling. Ma intuitively shut the door and locked it. She then put the baby on the divan and rushed to featch water for Neema. Her condition frightened her; tears-stained cheeks dishevelled hair her salwar torn at the bloodied knees arms and feet coated with mud and blood. Something terrible had happened. When she returned Neema had regained her consciousness and was looking around with her eyes wide open. veera sat clinging to her mother.Neema was wheezing and trembling She appeared so frightened that even Ma was shaken she hadn't ever seen such intense fear in anyone's eyes. what had gone wrong with poor Neema? Perhaps she needed a doctor. "here, Neema, sip some water. It'll make you feel better. Neema accepted the glass of the water in her shaking hand as Ma rushed towards the door to call for help. "Don't-please don't open the door." Neema could barely speak. Her hoarse, desperate whisper was terrifying Ma halted and turned back.what was outside that had so badly frightened Neema? "Didi, don't go anywhere. Don't leave me alone," NEEMA cried pitiably. Tears were rolling down her cheeks. Ma was confused whom to pacify- the baby who was hysterically crying and howling or Neema who was sobbing and looking at her with utter halplessness.Ma returned from the door she picked up chitra in her arms and tried sooting the baby, "Are you well, Neema? what happened?" Neema swallowed a few sips of water and nodded slowly from where she sat-on the floor resting against the wall. "DIDI" hari ram had come to my home stood outsidemy window. He wanted to take veera with him He's dead! Isn't he? Ma couldn't even nod, so shocked was she at what Neema was stating she simply stared at her. "Where does he want to take my baby? Neema's sobs changed into hiccups. "please don't let him take my baby away,please,"she pleaded piteously and grabbed veera to hold her tightly in her lap. Ma was by now breathing rapidly her heart almost jumping out of her mouth. Neema raised her voice, "DIDI, he has followed me. He is here-outside."Ma become stock-still. she instinctively glanced at the window. dusk had begun to fall on the landscape. A few stray dogs suddenly yowled. A murder of crows rose and flew past the window fluttering and cawing. Just than with a loud report A windowpane of the room crecked. ma shrieked lounder than NEEMA and then loudly began to chant the Gayatri Mantra in a Shaky voice to keep the wandering spirit from entering her house.

[greatpeanutcomputer]

HORROR

Mashobra is a small hamlet about thirteen kilometres from Himalayan town of Shimla an hour's drive from there through a winding ,twisting narrow moountainous road througha landscape of sheer virgin beauty. With the comping up of a whole lot of hotels guesthouses and resorts. it has become quite a crowded place today.Once this was no more than a peacefull little village situated in the middle of a thick coniferous forest- stark and glorious.Mashobra is my birthplace.Despite the fact that i spent only the first year of my life here i have a special attachment to it.THE lonely hills supporting a dense coniferous forest the lush undergrowth the exotic himalayan birds the glorious sunrise and sunset-they all hold a magical attraction for me.I love the intensemystical silence that gets interrupted only by the tweets of the birds,or by the chattering monkeys fighting inter troupe battles. And when the wind blow through the bush,it creates its own music-intensely haunting and hypnotizing.this pristine forest is timeworn-mony of these luxuriant deodars pines junipers, and oaks tall on these slopes have witnessed several generations come and go.they are mute witnesses to epochs of the known and the unknow history.Mystery is concealed in every nook and corner of these mesmerizing hills.I remember one episode from the time i was a little schoolgirl.I had gone with Pa to Mashobra,where he was presiding over a seminer at the GramSevak training centre.His seminar had continued unendingly ,leaving me bored and hungry.Our driver Sant ram offered to take me for crispy hot pakoras to a dhaba at talai abiut a kilometre away I jumped at the tempting proposal.An almost flat undulating patch of the grassland,that steadily rose up into a hillock to the south and subsided into a gradual velley to the north,talai was a very alluring playground.I chased butterflies around a small insignificant pond of green thick scum of moss, while hot pakoras were being freshly fried for me at the dhaba. Once we sat down to eat, Sant Ram informed me,"you knows ,baby ji entine area acquires its name from this humble pool-Talai ""oh". My eyes roved around to unearth more mysteries.I than spotted a large mansion hidden behind a thick cluster of trees at the top of the hillock.Who lives that house, SantRam?""That's the faridkot estate owned by the Raja of Faridkot.Faridkot is an panjabi."  Hmm Visible from the dhaba was also a dilapidated house."Why is that house so broken and worn out?No one lives there?" I asked, enjoying a hot pokara in yummy tamarind chutney."Oh Baby ji, it is supposed to be a bhootia banngla a haunted house."I stopped munching. my interst in a ghost made me forget how famished I was. Ieyed the house in an entirely new perspective.curiosity and fear were two strong contenders in my young mind producing goose pimples all over my little body but I allowed my curiosity to override. Hesitating a little, i asked, Really ? Teel me about it.Sant Ram was quiet for a few seconds .He must have been making up his mind whether to tell me the story."there had been a terrible fire here long ago." I watched the dhaba owner nod spiritedly. His upheld opinion added more flavour to the story.I now noticed the blackened stone structure and the frameless windows and doors-whatever had survived the assault of fire and time. Sant Ram elaborated,"the fire broke out at night. the lady living alone in it was fast asleep and was burnt alive. Some think the fire was started deliberately-asabotage. IT is belived that her spirit lives in the house.""Who was the lady? Didn't she have children?" "No, no children. She was very close to the Raja, hos special friend, you know-girlfriend. He had given her this house."Sant Ram explained with a meaningful smile. He thought I would not understand. But I had instantly perceived what he meant;the way he exchanged glances with the dhaba owner. " But , no one dares to touch the house. people who tried had bad experiences once they began removing the wreckagr."What bad experience, Sant Ram? i insisted timorously .it would be a nice ghost story to tell to my friend."They fell ill, or had nightmars i which a woman  told them to leave her house alone etcetera ." Sant Ram's pursed lips and enlarged eyes unnerved me, which he didn't notice. "No one dares to repair or live in that house,despite it being located at a very prime site.All of a sudden, it occurred to me that the ghost was perhaps watching me from the ruins. My little body shivered.I hurriedly gobbled the leftover pakoras. "Sant Ram, please take me back to pa." the house, seemingly right out of a horror story had begun to frighten me.Much later,when I was a young collage girl, I come to know about a creepier supernatural incident that had transpired here in Mashobra many year ago with someone very close to my family. It happned before I was born In 1952 at the behest of the government at new delhi, a Gram Sevak Training Centre came up at Mashobra and Pa was appointed its first principal. My family lived on the first floor of the main building. its ground floor had the administrative offices. The lecture rooms and the auditorium were housed in an adjacent building. The Students' hostal and the staff quarters were about a kilometre walk down the hill near the famous coutts garden.The student and staff community wasn't a large one.There were about twenty students and six members of the teaching faclty. only one of the lecturers ,Raj Vaidya, was married. It was a mid-january evening of the year 1953. Dark clouds had descended like a gigantic rolling ocean in the sky.It had been snowing non-stop for the past two days.Two feet of frozen vapour covered the land scape,hiding all colours under its white caps.The bitter cold had restrained folks inside their home.The students and the teaching staff of the centre were on two months long winter break. only my family and some of the administrative staff had remained behind at the Centre.The deserted expanse was even more desolate now and over whelmingly silent.It was well after dinnertime.My parents were in the sitting room warming their feet in the dying fire at the fireplace and exchanging notes on the day's events before retiring for the night. they were jolted out of their reverie by a loud knock on the door. " I wonder who has come at this time.,"  Pa got up from his chair to check on the unexpected caller. When the door was opned in breezed a draught of chilled wind and centre's compounder krishan das Negi. wrapped in a blanket over his khadi coat, BUSHEBRI cap and a home knit woollen muffler he stood shivering with a worried frown creasing his brow. Pa quickly shut the door.  "I am worried about Hari ram's health," Pa later expressed to Ma. he looked so ghostly pale.I wonder what's wrong with him then he added hope the doctor on duty is efficient.By lunchtime there was still no news of the sick man if everything went well they should have reched the hospital by ten thirty, Maybe eleven even if they went slowly." Pa eyed the telephone."I had specifically asked Krishan to call me.Why hasn't he?'His restlessness made Ma concerned for him."Why don't you call the hospital?. she posed."I have tried the hospital reception,Can't get through."Pa shook his head dejectedly."they must have got busy looking after the patient,or maybe the telephone there is out of order.You know it's very common in winters.WIRES SNAG." Ma tried to put his mind at ease.She wanted keep them away from this unfortunate death. they were too tnder to be exposed.It was later that details were divulged to her.of about four miles when they came across a huge mound of snow completely bloking the road It was a minor avalanche but couldn't be cleared without the help of the public work department. but there was stranded on the orther side of the blockade agreed to return to shimla and arrange for the required. Hari Ram condition continued to deteriorate. his body went into tremors and he began to get disoriented. By and by he went silent. the men accompanying him thought he had fallen asleep.The temperature was dropping fast and the light was fading. they waited and waited for someone to arrive to clear the road.None came when Krishan tried walking Hari Ram up, to make him drink some tea, he realized he wasn't hotnanymore. Had the fever subsided? He then realized Hari Ram wasn't breathing.he trived reviving him all in vain Hari Ram's spirit had long been released and his body now lay lifeless.Hari Ram belonged to a remote village in theog tebsil of Himachal. He had lost both his parents ,however his two older brothers still lived in the village with their families.Pa telephoned the agriculture inspector posted at theog, asking him to inform Hari Ram's family of the misforture. He expected Hari Ram broyhers to take his body to their village for the last rites.Meanwhile the body was kept buried in snow for two days. when even by the thidr day nobody reached Mashobra to claim the body, pa sent another urgent message. Pa quickly shut the door."What brings you here at this time,Krishna?" Krishna rubbed his ice-cold hands."Sir,Hari Ram is running a very high fever for the past two days,and it's showing no sings of subsiding.I have been giving him paracetamol table every four hours since yesterday but it hasn't made any difference ti his fever. There is no cough no running nose." Hari Ram was the peon at the centre. "Stomach infection?" Pa asked ."No, Sir. No diarrhoea, no vomiting. He's complaining of a severe headache though.i fed him half a slice of bread and half a cup of ter with great difficulty.He hasn't eaten anything else the entire day. I don't know what is wrong with him .I checked his temperature before comeing to you. it was 105`fahrenheit since the evening he has also been blabbering incoherently he's very serious SIR he need to see a doctor.Hmm we must admit him in a hospital immediately. Pa shook his head worriedly."It is too late now, sir. driver pitamber has left and his house is three kilometters away There is no way we can take Hari Ram to the hospital now.'Oh NOT much can be done immediately in this bad weather keep cold compressess on his forehead and try to keep his fever down.If his condition doesn't improve by the morning go and fetch pitamber from his house and take himto SHIMLA, TO Snowdon hospital.Krishna appeared dismayed. it wouldn't br easy to plod through mounds of snow early in the morning in the bitter cold especially if he was going to be looking after the patient the entire night. Pitamber should be reporting on duty around nine. Sir. Even if I leave at seven to call him we can't be back before nine .'YOU forget Krishan,tomorrow is sunday. pitamber will not be coming. go as early as you can. Let's not take chances." oh yes, sir I WILL leave as soon as I can." And Krishan once again retreated into the dark cold night. there was no improvement in weather conditions the next morning. It was a daRK COLD AND blustery day. around nine there were noise of hectic activity outside. The frozen engine of the jeep took consistent effort and warm weter to come to like.Krishan and Pitamber brought Hari Ram on a chair and lifted him into the jeep. He had lost tremendous weight in just a few days and looked so pallid that Pa was taken aback. A STRANGE abnormal look in his eyes was frightening. Despite his condition he threw a weak smile at Pa. "you" ll be fine Hari Ram, Pa assured him be strong.Hari Ram nodded faintly. I ll be back soon he whispered.Pa stroked his head.of couse,you ll be!Before they left pa gave Krishan strict instructions,"Call me as soon as you reach the hospital.I wiill speak with the doctor on duty." though he personally knew a few doctors at the hospital he also knew that it being sunday not many doctors would be available at the hospital except the ones on emergency duty. THE clock tricked on. there was no information about hari ram's health even by the evening.Finally at five o' clock, Pa had enough of waiting around in tension.grabbing his overcoat he got into his snowshoes."where are you going in this cold? It'll be dark soon."Ma eyed him check.""You can't walk till the hospital,ten miles away in this snow,"Ma expressed her apprehension."No,I am not going to the hospital.Of course not! Will just walk till talai.I need some exercise."Ma nodded. A short walk would do him good ease him out a little. she ardently prayed for hari ram's health as she stood at the window watching Pa trudge through the snow. he had been away for barely fifteen minutes when Ma rushed out on hearing the sound of an approaching vehicle. It was the centere's jeep as she had expected Pa alighted from it.He looked pape and immensely miserable. In an instant Ma realized that things weren't good.Pitamber got off and rushed to help other from the back of the jeep.Krishan was next to dismount.Then both of them removed hari ram from the jeep.he was wrapped in a sheet from head to toe."Oh my God! What happened? Ma was shaken and upset."Sorry, memsahib we couldn't bring him back alive,"Krishan spoke through his choked throat. tears streamed down his cheeks. pitamber sobbed openly "He was such a wonderful man. why did he have to go so early?"Ma closed her eyes and silently prayed for the departed.the handsome cheerful face of Hari Ram hovered for the departed.The handsome cheerful face of Hari Ram hovered before her eyes.He was too young to die.After the intial shock she hurried inside to her children.The body couldn't be kept forever .this time he was told that hari ram's family was finding it difficult to travel due to the blocked roads.It was left on Pa to undertake the required ceremonies. Early next morning a priest was arranged. he came reluctantly;he couldn't be blamed. It hadn't stopped snowing for the past four days. More than three feet of snow covered the entire expanse of the town, draping it in white as if in mourning for the departed.Hari Ram's body was taken in the jeep to the cremation grounds. Clearing a small patch. they made the funeral pyre under a makeshift tin roof. It become very difficult to light the damp wood. finally krishan consigned the body to flames after a great struggle and many tins of ghee. the priest half-heartedly chanted mantras for the peace of the departed soul and shivered continuously in the cold. As if this wasn't enough a raging blizzard struck soon after the pyre was lit. blinded by the snow crystals, they all had to beat a hasty retreat.THE next day when krishan and pitamber went to the cremation ground, they were stumped. Hari Ram's body hadn't burnt completely. the keeper of the cremation ground had neglected his job of watching over the burning pyre. they were now in a dilemma ."the best thing now will be to do the needful in haridwar suggested krishan. Hari Ram's remains were anyway to be taken to haridwar as customary in hindu religion."how will we take these half burnt remains there? Pitamber probed. "The interstate bus service has been suspended dee to the snowstorms. And ,i don't think I  can take the risk of driving through this strom.We'll get stranded for sure so don't even make that suggestion to principal sahib."Neither were the remain in a condition to be kept for too long. the keeper of the cremation grounds suggested burying the remains of hari ram in a suitable place realizing it to be the most expendient proposal in the given circumstances the men complied and kept silent over the whole affair.Early march with the culmination of the winter break the hustle-bustle of the insitute was restored. In the close knit community of the centre the death of a young man was shocking-almost unbelievable. Hari Ram's affable smile happy go lucky persona and free spirit had fetched him lots of friends among the staff and students. Now he was so far away from them all.A condolence meeting was held which held which was attended by all except one person associated with the community. Raj Vaidya a senior staff member had returned without his family. his wife neema had stayed back to spend more time with her parents looking after the younger doughter just a few months old was easier with the help of her mother .

the routine at the institute resumed. the cold began to wane and with it the memory of the departed. A new man replaced the deceased and life's routines continued.Summers arrived in may and Neema Vaidya returned home.the day temperature were comfortable twenty five degree and the night were cool the bright sunshine had begun to spread its golden warm cape over the mountains. the honeysuckle creeper scrambling up on one of the pillars in her house's portico was in full bloom and had spread its heavenly aroma far and wide. THE chestnut tree was once again filled with prickly fruits the apple,plum,and apricot tree on the hilly terraces were laden with small unripe fruits. May 10,1953 around four in the afternoon- the routine bustle in the students' hospital adjoining Neema's house was missing usually the students returned after classes around this time but presently the annual examinations were going on and today's paper was scheduled for the afternoon. IT would finish at five her husband was on invigilation duty and hadn't come home for lunch.the hectic toil since the morning had exhausted the mother of two children ever since her exhausted the mother of two children ever since her return a few days ago her seven=months=old  chitra had been a bit cranky taking time to adjust to her new environment her three-year-old veera was happy to be back with her father and in an overly playful mood. today much to her relief both her gils had decided on a long afterniin nap.It was a warm languorous afternoon inducing drowsiness and Neema took advantage of the opportunity. A short nap of half an hours was very rejuvenating.Once up she decided to finish her knitting. There was no season in shimla when the children could do without woollens. opening the window of her sitting room wider to enjoy a fresh cool breeze she sat down on an easy chair facing the window with her knitting. She must have been at her work for berely five minutes when she dropped a stitch and got focused on retrieving it. it was then that she heard a voice.someone greeted her from the open window."How are you,Memsa'ab?"She raised her eyes from her task to check on the visitor a man in a loose whitish shirt stood just outside the open window. oh hari ram ? I'm fine. seen you after a long time how are you?""how's veera?""Children are doing well thank you."i'll take veera with me."thank you hari ram not now she's sleeping. with great difficulty she went to sleep."Neema smiled."Maybe later in the evening you can take her to play outside. Hari ram nodded and left.She found nothing amiss except hari ram had sounded very different his voice was much deeper and distant as if he was making an effort to speak.

Hari Ram had often looked after looked after Veera. He was such a fine person.After chitra had been born he had been a big help when neema was struggling alone with the household chores and her children before she had gone home to mandi for winters he had come so often whenever he had some free time at hand. He loved to play with her little girls, especially veera-a very happy and lively child ,and very pretty with lovely pinkish complexion and large expressive hazel eyes. ever since she had learnt to talk she had become a non-stop chatterbox.Neema would smile seeing Hari Ram burst into laughter at her baby prattle.It 'll be nice if Hari Ram came in the evening to take veera out to play. Raj will come tried, and probably won't have the energy, Neema reflected and continued to knit blithely.Raj came home late the evening around six thirty.Students had appeared in his subject's exam that day, so it had taken him some time to count the papers and make the bundles.With the bundles under his arm,he reached home with the intention of starting to correct immediately,after his usual cup of tea. THE children were up and playful.it was a pleasure to come back home to his lovely family.the couple sat down to their evening tea in the dining corner of their sitting room Little chitra was happing gurgling in her father's lap and veera was making all efforts to climb onto his lap too.What an attention seeker she's becoming! wouldn't let her father have A cup of tea peacefully. Neema gently held the child's hand and pulled her towards her. Veera go and play with your toys.No, I want to sit on papa's lap. You take chitra away , the three-year-old persisted."Papa is tired,beta.""No,papa is not tired.He will play with me.""Now,don't be an adamant child,and come here,"the mother chaged her tone to sound firmLet her be Neema. She needs an outing. though I need to start correcting the papers,I'll take the girls out a while after I finish the tea."No, you don't have to. you can do your corrections .Hari ram said he would come to take veera out to play.He's late. Maybe he's on his way."Raj stared at her. 'What? what did you say?'"Hari Ram had come in the afternoon, around four. I told him to come in the evening and take Veera out to play,"Neema reiterated. She couldn't understand the changed expression on her husband's face. she lifted her cup to take a sip."Are you sure it was hari ram the peon?It could have been someone else,"Raj spoke gingerly. Neema put her cup down on the saucer.why someone else?don't I know Hari Ram? He used to take veera out to play so aften and at times help me with the household work. It could have been the new peon who has joined recently Raj affirmed despite his doubts.He know that the new peon was nowhere close to resembling hari ram.He was short short and stout unlike the deceased man moreover Neema hadn't even met the new peon.  what wrong with raj? Does be think I can't recognize people well? why are you saying that?Being away for a few months has not made me forget Hari Ram's face."when did he last come to help you?Raj spoke warily his heart in his mouth.beads of perspiration had collected on his brows.Neema remained unawere of it all."Hmm... He come after a long time today. Neema frowned and than said,"In fact for the first time since my return from mandi. "did he come in-inside the house?" Neema wondered why raj sounded so anxious and afraid NO, he stood outside at the window. children were asleep so I didn't feel the need to let him in. Though he will come now; he said so Neema sipped tea and watched Raj looking at the window as if it was something out of the world. why was he acting so weied? The window was still open. beyond it the twilight was slowly slipping into night. Only the pillar was faintly visible in the grey haze the cool breeza of the mountains streamed in generously through the window wafting in a little chill. Neema couldn't grasp what was making Raj so nervous,He was trying to stand but couldn't since veera sat at his feet.Neema please hurry shut the window. The desperation in his voice was palpable. Why does be want to shut out the lovely breeza? Neema relucatantly got up. she peeped out of the window. the fragrance of the blooming flowers was heavenly. she took a deep breath and lingered at the window for a few seconds.Neema shut the window Raj's voice rumbled a mixture of concern and fear.OKay I'm closing it why are you getting so worked up? Neema grudgingly closed and bolted the window and returned to finish her tea she frowned when she took a ship It had gone cold She liked to drink it hot she peeped inti Raj's empty cup and then picked up her cup and moved towards the kitchen to reheat it. Raj was sitting absolutely still on his chair looking pale and distrubed. What gone wrong with his mood Neema wondered would you like another cup of tea, dear.?NO, When Neema returned with her steaming cup refilled, she found Raj still sitting frozen in the same pose as she had left him. He was tightly holding in the same pose as she had left him.He was tightly holding on to his daughters. chitra was peacefully playing with her father's tie. Veera had lovingly rested her head on his chest and was sucking her thumb.Is something the metter?Are you not feeling well?"Neema sat down with her cup of tea.I relly don't understand.....understand what?, Neema lifted her cup and brought it close to her lips.Hari Ram is dead."What rubbish! He was here around four in the evening ." She frowned. She was about to take a sip but her hand froze in mid air."Did he die after that? He seemed all right. Was it an accident "NO. he died this winter, when we were away, Raj spoke slowly guardedly. he didn't want to frighten Neema. but he hadn't chosen the right moment. A choked scream escaped Neema's throat. she dropped the cup with its hot tea on her lap, scalding her thighs. the cup rolled down crashed on the floor, and broke into fragment. the children got frightened at the clattering and their mother's sudden reaction. they begen to wail. Neema's vision automatically traversed to the window. She was relieved it was shut. She was shivering and her burnt thighs hurt. But she remained glued to the chair. The couple gazed at each other. Had Neema known about the man's death and then had seen his ghost, it could have been taken as a figment of her imagination a hallucination. but she had no inkling to the fact that Hari Ram had died while he was away to mandi. No one had bothered to let her know for Hari Ram was a forgotten man now out of most lives  and minds. After comforting their daughters, the couple rushed to the little shrine in the corner of their bedroom. they lit a lamp burnt a bunch of incense sticks and offered prayers for the peace of the wandering soul. they prayed for the safety of their daughters. "Please protect us. No harm should ever come to our little family," They appealed to God. Later when Neema went to the kitchen to cook dinner, her husband followed her with his daughter still held protectively in his arms. The silence around their house felt unnerving. The students were busy preparing for the next day's exam and there wasn't the usual bustle around. Neema loudly and continuously incanted hymns to keep the restive spirit a bay. She could berely give attention to her cooking. As they sat down for dinner ,Raj expressed, "Neema, let's just keep quiet over the incident. There in no need to spread panic among the students. Most will not believe us anyway. Neema nodded. there was hardly anybody here with whom she shared that kind of rapport except with Mrs. Sharma the principal's wife she was like a older sister. But if Raj was insisting there most be a good reason for not disclosing it unless the ghost appeared tp more people, it may be a good idea to keep it a secret. The next few weeks went by smoothly. There were no unwanted visits no eerie visitor. the dread and dismay to fade from their lives. The routine at the training centre went on undisturbed. NONE except the couple had the knowledge about a wandering spirit among them. but they had prayed for its peace and perhaps that had its effect Hopefully the spirit had gone to its eternal rest. The examination at the school were over and the results were declared. The students prepared to go home. the first year batch on annual vacations whereas the graduates would soon jobs. the weather was warmer than the previous month. the weather was previous month the bushes on the hills were filled with vibrant blooms. their exotic, heavenly fragrance infused hearts with joy. Pa decided to organize a special treat for his students and a ferewell for the outing batch. After some deliberation He came to the conclusion that nothing would be more appealing to the young folks than the Indian Cinema.IT was very rare for the residents of this far-removed mountainous region to be able to watch a movie. the nearest cinema hall was in shimla, not easily accessible to all. Also it would be a big hassle to take everyone to a theatre at shimla. So, he decided to bring a cinema hall to the institution. He spoke with the director of the public relations department and he agreed to send his moblie cinema van complete with a screen projector and spools of the latest hindi film.Aankben starring bharat bhushan and nalini jaywant. He would also send along his technicians to set up a mini cinema hall for a day.When the announcement was made about the show there was an air of excitement in the campus. indian films becomes the hot topic for discussions the actors the movies songs and singers the debate kept on till the cinema van arrived on friday morning.Though the movie was to begin after lunch at two all students arrived from their hostel by ten in the morning as soon as the word spread that the cineama van had arrived on they requested the canteen owner to prepare early lunch and he happily obliged. HE didn't want to miss the show either So a picnic in the lawns before the moving got added to the entertainment a package.The technicians got busy setting up the moving theatre surrounded by a crowd of chattering curious excited students. By one thirty a big crowd had assembled outside the makeshift cinema hall word had spread in the two-mile radious and many families arrived uninvited for the show. So the movie was running a full house.Pa's contentment was marred by the fact that Ma wouldn't be joining him. she had developed a severe headache and had declared her inability to come. Another missing member was Neema vaidya. Her infant daughter was running a fever and she decided not to risk exposing her further. The machinery developed some snag and the movie show could begin only by two thirty.Once the black and white movie began the excited chatter instantly died down. Although the area around Neema's house was never a crowded zone due to the presence of the student community, its was seldom that still during the daytime.there would always be some kind of activity, sounds, and laughter around. Today, an overwhelming silence hovered on the region like hushed mist over a clam ocean. Ma swallowed a paractamol table with water and decieded to take's it easy. It was a rare opportunity to rest in the afternoon. All children including the hyper youngset, were away for at least three hours. She made hereself snug inside a quilt. Soon the medicine took effect and she was fast asleep.

A kilomettre away, Neema fed both her daughter. chitra had been restive since the morning; her fever made her cantankerous. Neema put nasal drops into her blocked nose,soothed her, sang her a lullaby and fimally managed to lull her to sleep. Veera was playing with her toys. her sleeping hours were decreasing day by day as her curious little mind was focused on the discovery mission.It was a lovely summer afternoon with a cool and pleasant breeza blowing gently. Neema opened the window to allow fresh air inside her bedroom. she stood there admiring the blooming flowers even though the intense silence in the area was making her uneasy. A fleeting memory of the eerie incident of last month crossed her mind but she immediately tossed it out. Hadn't they prayed ardently for the peace of Hari Ram's soul? She once again joined her hands and said a quick, silent prayer. But the loneliness depressed her today. She felt left out. She wanted to watch the movie. She had seen only two in her lifetime. that was before her children had been born. Raj hadn't even offered to stay back with the babies and allow her to go.But then he was needed to maintain discipline among the students. Neema heaved a deep sigh and withdrew from the window.Since Veera was up and playing, she couldn't lie down to rest even though her back felt stiff.There was some stitching left to be completed. She had been stitching dressess for her daughters. She kept the sewing machine on the tabe and sat down to work on it. An icy draught of air entered her room through the window. she shivered a little. the wheel of the hand-operated sewing machine continued moving in circles. The needle sewing machine continued moving in circles. the needle went up and down to attach the small bodice of the frock with the skirt.A sudden dimness in the light made her wonder if it was getting cloudy. she had her laundry drying on the clothesline outside. The weather in shimla was so unpredictable. the pre-monsoon rains would start any day, declaring an end to the divine summer season of shimla- her mind kept wandering from one thought to another. Her hands  deftly kept on stitching the dress.A stray dog enjoying the late afternoon sun in the porch suddenly whined breaking her thought process.The whining become distant. The dog had rushed away. Had someone hurt it?