by Sanchit Garg
It was 9 in the morning, and Nandana served us breakfast while my mother was in the kitchen. At this moment, all I could do was remember that dream and keep on staring at everyone, turning my gaze from one person to the other. Luckily, no one stared back at me.
After having breakfast, my father called my name, “Rameshwar! Let’s go to work. Today will be a busy day.”
What! No! I can’t go right now. I have an important mission.
“You go first, Father. I would join you in a couple of minutes.”
He suspected it, “No! Just come with me. What urgent job do you have apart from going to work with me?”
What to do? Think. Fast.
“Well! Mother asked me to drop some fruits at Purnima's house. I would get them to her quickly and come straight back to work.”
“Okay! But if you don’t come fast, be prepared for a beating.”
“Father! Why would I do that? And I am married. So, please don’t treat me like a child.”
He grinned, “You will always be a small child to me, no matter how much you grow up. Okay! We will wait for you at the shop.”
After confirming that my father had gone out from the main door, I quickly traced my steps to my mother.
“Mother! Can you come with me for a second?”
“What happened? You didn’t go to work with your father?”
“I would, but leave that for now. I have something important to discuss with you. By the way, where’s Nandana?"
“She’s in her room.”
“Good. Let’s go to your room, Mother.”
She was shocked, “Okay! But why such a hurry?”
I pleaded, “Please, just come with me. I will explain everything.”
Once in her room, I closed the door as soon as my mother entered.
She was perplexed, “What are you doing?”
“Mother! Just listen to me now. Last night, I had an uncanny dream. It was something that felt so real yet so horrific.”
“What? Just tell it to me.”
“Hmm. I was back in that old, abandoned house. There was very little light, and I kept on running. I heard a child crying. So, I followed the voice and then someone started laughing, making me dizzy. I tried to gather my strength and checked my surroundings to find a lady with a baby in her hands. When I reached close to her, it was Purnima.
She shouted, “Purnima? How is this possible?”
“Wait! Just listen to the whole thing. I tried to reach out to her, but she kept staring at me. When I looked at the baby… I…”
She sighed, “What happened to the baby?”
I... I… don't want to remember that scene again, but I need to.
“The baby didn’t have any eyes. Just a black socket for the eyes. And what was more terrific was that the baby was crying with blood like tears coming out from its eyes and then somehow, I dropped down and woke up in my bed.”
“Maybe it was just a bad dream. We already left that place, so nothing can harm us now. Just forget it.”
“No, mother! You are not listening. Something is not right. It’s not just a dream, but bad things are about to happen.”
“Things! What things? What are you not telling me?”
“Actually, when I went to Purnima’s house, I saw a blood-stained mark on her house’s nameplate. When I asked her, she said it was a prank by some kids. But then I checked every other house near her’s, and none of them had anything like that. So, I think this was not a prank but something else. Something sinister.”
She started crying, “No! No! Why did you tell me this? Maybe, it’s just nothing and just what Purnima said.”
“Mother! Please believe me in this before something adverse happens again. I don’t want anything to happen to her or her baby.”
“I don’t know what is real or what is not. But I think we need to do something and we can’t tell this to anybody else in the house.”
“Yes, mother. I knew this. That’s why I came straight to you. I knew only you would understand me. But what do we do now?”
“I still don’t know much about this place. The temple priest may know something about such a thing. I will go to him. For now, you are going to work.”
“Okay, Mother! I am going. But don’t go to him alone. Let’s go in the evening when I return. It would be better that way.”
“Yes! Now, just go.”
I somehow reached our shop on time, but I couldn’t get my head into work. Everything else was revolving in my head. It was like reliving the same scene, again and again. My father shouted at me a lot many times. But what could I do? I was trying hard to get my mind into work, but I just couldn’t. Luckily after 2 hours, my father finally told me to go back home and get some rest.
“I didn’t counter-argue with him because right now the condition I was in; I was just a liability on him. So, without saying anything, I stood up and started walking towards our home.
I went inside through the main gate of the house and was about to reach the front door after walking some 20 steps when a man probably in his 50s called out to me.
“Hey! Who are you? What are you doing here?”
I was confused, “Me? Who are you mister, and what are you doing here? This is my house, and I am going in?”
He shouted, “No, it’s not. Are you out of your mind? This is my house, and I have been living here since I was a child. Are you drunk? Go away or else I would call everyone.”
“Hey! What are you saying?”
I got a little panicked with the tone this person talked to me about and so, I quickly checked my surroundings.
What!!! This isn’t my house. I have never been to this part of town. What the hell is wrong with me? Maybe my mind was so engrossed in the bad thoughts that I took a wrong turn and reached a totally, different house.
I pleaded, “Sorry! It was my mistake. I am going. No need to call anyone. I was confused. This won’t happen ever again.”
The man was still giving me a dead-serious look.
I turned around and started walking towards the main gate. The man followed me to the gate and closed it as soon as I got out. It was scary but at the same time, fun too. Luckily all those bad thoughts went away due to this episode. So, it was a good thing that happened. I followed the road back and finally reached home.
Back at home, I called out for my mother as I thought it would be an excellent time to reach out to the priest.
I shouted her name again, but there was no response. I quickly checked the whole house, but she wasn’t here. Only Nandana was present at the moment, and sadly, she wasn’t talking with anyone. Still, I reached out to her and asked her about the whereabouts of my mother. She didn’t say anything. I told her that this was important and if she could, please tell me if she knew where Mother went.
Eventually, she nodded her head from left to right in a ‘No’.
Maybe she went to Purnima’s house.
I went to check at her house, but she wasn’t there either. And I had to tell her a lie that mother went to the market to buy some essentials, and I thought maybe she came here on the way back.
Now, where could she have gone at this time? Don’t tell me she went to the priest on her own? No, it can’t be. She told me she would go to him with me later in the day. But maybe she did go to him.
I wasn’t much of a believer in God or anything supernatural or otherworldly until I experienced the things that happened at that cursed house. So, I was now ready to try anything out to make these things stop, anything at all.
I should check it out. But, I don’t even know where the temple is or where the priest lives. Maybe, I can find some passer-by who knows where it is.
stood outside my home for close to 15 minutes and then my eyes sparked seeing a woman probably in her 50s passing by. Seeing her, I smirked a little.
To this, she fastened her pace. Why did I do this? Now, maybe she thinks I am a mugger or something.
I quickly caught up to her and screeched politely, �
��Hey, Aunty! Please wait!”
She sighed, “Get away from me! What do you want from an old lady like me?”
“Nothing! Just wait a moment!”
“Stay back, or I would scream. I don’t have anything worth with me.”
“Sorry! It’s nothing like that. I am new to this town and wanted to ask for the location of the temple.”
“The temple?”
“Yes! The temple.”
She stopped and turned back, “Why didn’t you say so before? You scared me.”
“I tried to stop you, but you didn’t give me any chance. So, can you tell me where it is?”
She giggled, “Yes, why not! I am going to the temple, too. So, follow me.”
I smiled, “Sure. Thanks a lot.”
I kept on following her for around 10 minutes and finally reached the place.
“See. This is the temple. Good luck, child.”
I pressed my hands together in Namaste, “Thank you once again, Aunty.”
It was a massive temple and coming from the village, I never expected one of this feat in the town. All we had at our old place was a 10 by 10 square feet small temple housing a shiv-ling and other gods. But this was the next level. It could be close to being made on a 3000sqft land. Even the walls were engraved beautifully. The big central dome housed the gods- Krishna, Hanuman, Ram, and Sarasvati. For the other gods, there were smaller domes, adjacent to the central dome in a U shape with the open end of U facing the entry gate.
I went straight ahead to the central dome. Removing my slippers outside the entrance stairs, I went in. After reaching the centre of this dome, I took a 360-degree view of the whole place, looking closely at each person to locate my mother. But she wasn’t here.
What! All my hard work was in vain.
Now, where could she have gone to, if not the temple?
Suddenly a priest sitting near the idol of Krishna called me. I smiled a little. Maybe he knows something. I quickly walked towards him.
Reaching him, I asked, “Pandit Ji, why did you call me?”
“Child! Stretch out your hand.”
I stretched out my right hand, and he dropped some drops of water from a pot into my hand. I knew what it was, as whenever my mother prayed at home, she used to mix sugar in water and distribute it to everyone after praying as this was considered to be energised and blessed by the gods. I brought my hand to my mouth and drank it. As I was about to turn back, he called me again.
“Hey, son! Don’t you want to pray to the gods and possibly give some donations in the hope of their goodwill.”
Now, I understood what it was. It was his tactic to give me something in return for something monetary, and at this point, I couldn’t say ‘No’ to him. I checked my pocket, and I only had a 5 rupee note, so without thinking much, I just dropped it into the puja plate. Seeing this, the priest gave me a smirk. I knew he would like it. 5 rupees were enough to get him 2-3 days’ worth of meals. But I still gave it to him, so he didn’t bother me again.
I was wrong. Now, he started explaining the services that he provided.
“Son, do you know I have been in this temple for the past ten years, and I am the only priest here that is even called to some good temples in the city for rituals. So, if you need any ritual performed at your place; like if you move to a new house, you can call me to bless the place. If you get married or someone else in your family, just ask for me. I am very good at my work. And do you know that….”
I halted him in between, “Yes, Pandit Ji, I would ask for no-one else but you. And even if there’s some auspicious functions, not just in my family but near me, I would tell everyone to call for you and no-one else. No one at all but you.”
He smiled and was about to speak again. So, I quickly joined the palms of my hands together in Namaste and speed-walked towards the exit of the dome.
Like, what torture did I just go through now? I am never coming up to this priest again, never ever.
Once out of the central dome, I slowly walked towards the entrance gate, my eyes were looking around for some sign of my mother, and unfortunately, I found none. With a dejected face, I decided to walk back home. I was out of ideas, so it was better to get back and wait at home. I moved out of the entry gate and headed towards home. After walking around 50-60 steps, I saw a lady walking in front of me. She was wearing the same saree as the one my mother was wearing in the morning.
With a grin on my face, I quickly rushed towards her and called her out.
“Mother! Wait!”
But she kept on walking.
“Mother! Wait! It’s me, Rameshwar.”
She stopped in her path.
Oh, God! Finally, my mother heard my call.
I quickly raced towards her to stop at arm’s length.
She turned back towards me and there she was; a lady who was not my mother. She stared at me with point-blank eyes.
“Hey! Who are you? Were you calling out to me?”
I shivered my shoulders and quickly replied, “No! Not you! I was calling out to my mother, but she didn’t hear me and walked away.”
“But then why did you stop near me?”
“Sorry! When you stopped and turned, I thought maybe you needed some help.”
“Okay! Leave it. I am getting late.”
“Sure. I need to catch up with my mother. Bye.”
I quickly walked by her and speed-walked towards my home.
Just what day is it today?
My mind replied, "Tuesday."
I mean, what did I do to deserve these uncanny encounters? If I keep on doing things like this, sooner or later, I am going to get beaten up.
I reached home and went inside. I was hoping that by the time I get back, she would already be home, but she wasn’t. I rechecked every room, but I couldn’t find her. Just where the hell did she go off to?
I decided to wait for my mother in the drawing-room as it had a large window from which one could get a direct view of the main gate.
I kept on staring at the gate from the window and a single minute felt like an hour. But I didn’t move. I kept at my task. Somehow, half an hour passed, and my eyes were already sleepy when I heard a click sound. I tried to open my eyes in hysteria, but they still weren’t fully open. It was blurry, but someone had opened the latch to our main gate. I tried a little hard to force myself to see better and there she was. Yes! It was none other than my mother. I had never before waited to see her this much. The smile on my face was just naive. I stood up and ran towards the front gate and out to her.
I screamed, “Mother! Mother! Where were you? Do you know how much I had to go through to see your face again?”
She was startled, “Slow down! What happened? I am not going anywhere.”
A tear rolled down from my eyes. It was a happy one.
I bawled, “But I….”
“Let’s go inside and tell me everything.”
She moved past me and walked inside from the front gate, and I followed her like a lost kid.
“Sit down here! I would bring you a glass of water, and after that, you can tell me everything.”
Yes, she was a hard worker, and there was never a moment when I found her slacking off on her daily household duties. I nodded and walked to the dining-room to sit while she went to the kitchen to grab a glass of water for me.
“Here!”
Handing me a glass of water, she went to sit on the seat adjacent to me. I quickly gulped it down and put the glass on the coffee table. It felt like I needed it. Maybe that’s why it is said that mothers know everything.
Before I could even utter anything, my mother spoke up.
“Sorry, Rameshwar! I told you I would wait for you to come back, but I couldn’t wait that long and let the thoughts bite into me. I just couldn’t. Also, there was a possibility of not finding the right time to go out of the house, in case your father came back before that. So, I went alone to the priest.”
“I am not questioning you, Mother.
I know what you did was totally okay. I would have even done the same and taken the move at the right time. It was just that I searched everywhere for you, I even went to the temple on my own, but I couldn’t find you. The thought of something bad happening or you disappearing away was too much for me to handle."
She petted my head, “Don’t worry! I would never leave my child alone.”
“But mother, why couldn’t I find you at the temple?”
“Well, I went to the temple first, and on asking for the head priest, I was told he was ill. So, I went straight to his house, which was hardly 10 steps away from the temple.”
“Ohh! Now I know the reason! So, did you get a chance to talk to him?”
She beamed, “Yes, I did!”
“That’s good. So, what did he tell you? Did you tell him everything that happened and also about my dream?”
“No! I didn’t tell him everything. I didn’t want to spread the reason as to why we left the village and came here. I told him about your dream and the bloody hand. That’s all. It was enough for him to get an idea of this.”
“Hmm! Then it’s good that I didn’t go with you. Else, I would have spilt everything to him. So, did he tell you what to do next? How can we save ourselves from this situation?”
“Yes, he told me everything. He was very learned. He told me to get a pure black cloth about a square foot in dimensions, half a kilogram of wheat, a pair of small snakes made from silver, 250 grams of black lentils, a coconut and one rupee. Then we need to adjust all the items on the black cloth so that we can pack them up into it. When this is done, we need to run it head to toe and back to the head in a clockwise fashion seven times on your sister and drop it in a flowing river. Doing this would remove all the negative energies that are planning to harm your sister, and we can live happily. But we need to do this continuously for 7 days, or else it won’t work.”
