-Can you keep a secret?
I sighed. It's not my forte.
But I did not want to lose Amy's trust. So I nodded.
- I see spirits.
- Really?
- I saw one going up to my son's room last night.
- A spirit? It could have been anyone. How do you know it's a spirit?
- No one was there in the house. And would you believe, he woke up with fever.
Amy looked troubled.
- Stay with us tonight. I feel scared.
I had errands to run. And there was a coffee meet with a friend. But I could not say no to her.
When I walked into Amy's house it seemed like any other house. Double storied, normal, not where you would find spirits lurking. We had dinner and I decided to use the living room as I wanted to read. Amy's son seemed better today and chatted a bit.
I was amid a mystery. A soldier lost in battle, presumed dead by his family. The son is in distress, being bullied by his friends, cornered, and suddenly appears the father. In uniform.
I feel strange.
The story, Amy's spirit, an alien house and someone is watching me. I turrn around. I see a silhouette. Just there. Just standing.
And then it moves and I feel it's breath on me. And the hands slowly came on me with a pillow!!!!
Am I dead? I let out a muffled scream.
- Hey you need a pillow! Look how you are sleeping!
There was Amy with a pillow!
- Amy? My goodness, I almost saw the spirit!
Amy looked strange!
- Would you believe? I saw it come to the room, I thought it was you, and then I saw you sleeping without the pillow!
- Can you keep a secret?
This write up came back with a note of regret – for not being able to make to the next round in the competition, to the editor's table. Well, this is the first time I competed , that is if I do not count the House Competition essay writing, where I came second after Champa. Actually I do not why I took part – chance, curiosity or plain gambling …..because writing for me has always been a catharsis – an expression that I can share …..So no regrets , really! The road may be narrow and dark…….. It was 1983 and life with Baba always veered on the unexpected and the adventurous. Like that road trip from Kolkata to Delhi via Agra. We had this faithful Ambassador that took us on this journey with Baba at the helm and our cleaner Kalipada as his first assistant. I was the official navigator and Giri uncle, my father’s friend, in charge of our ummm, let’s say security, since me and my cousin Dimpi, both all of 18, needed an escort , officially. Baba always liked the un-tr...
I had no idea you were this good at telling stories ! I see you used the prompt on Reedsy. Wonderful ma'am. 😀
ReplyDeleteThank you...yes the Reedsy was the cue...but what if I tell you this this is true?
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