Adventure In The Haunted House

By Prabir Kumar Datta

“Do you mean ghost? No, No. I don’t believe in those bullshits.” Rony told in a defiant tone.

But the man is not convinced. Rather he is trying to establish what he has told earlier,” Don’t take them so casually. They actually exist. I have experienced myself. I have seen them just like I see you now.” 

“ Is it ? That looks interesting!” Rony told in a sarcastic tone. “Then you are the first human being I have ever met who claims to have seen ghost. Ok, then let me know how it happened.” 

The man is not pleased in the disrespect shown to the spirits to whom he appears to have enough reverence. Reluctantly he started his story.

Even if the story may be a concocted one, but the environment is perfectly suitable for that, Rony thought. They two are standing inside the old and dilapidated house in the jungle outside the town where they have met one hour back. Rony is a stranger to the town and he has come only to visit this haunted house defying the warning of his friends and well wishers. It is said that the building was once the residence of a cruel ruler who had buried many people inside it. Nobody dares to visit this deserted structure due to a lot of horrifying tales in the air about the unsatisfied souls.

But Rony is a dare devil man who has never believed in superstitions and always loves to explore places full of danger. His today’s expedition is also for the purpose of verifying the myths about this palace for which he has set out alone. The time is only early afternoon, but due to the shadows of the big trees and a dense cloud in the sky it looks like evening. He was enjoying his adventure in the garden when the rain has come compelling him to take shelter under the shade. The man also came running after a while probably for the same reason.

Rony has felt a bit comfortable to see a human being in this lonely place and in no time conversation has started with the man. He has told that being a local man he comes here very often for collecting woods for fuel from the jungle. Rony is happy that at least there would be good time pass till the rain subsides.

The man appeared to be a good story teller. He told, “In fact due to my profession  I can’t afford to shun this place like others. Rather it is lucrative to me, because hardly any of my competitors dare to come here for fear of ghosts. But I can assure you that they don’t harm you unless you disturb them. I regularly beg apology to them before coming here. Believe me, they also have never scared me or created any problem to me except that day when it happened a bit different.”

He stopped for a while. By now Rony is greatly interested by the attractive style of his narration. He asked, “What happened that day? Please don’t stop.”

Showing enough respect to the unseen spirits with his body language the man continued,” After coming here for many days safely I gradually had a feeling that people unnecessarily get scared about the place. So one day I was courageous enough to try the forbidden places of the palace and made the greatest mistake of my life. I tried to open the closed door in the rear portion of the building which leads to the notorious hall where men and women were slaughtered.”

The sound of some birds flying inside the building distracted the man. But Rony does not like any interruption now at the climax of the story. He promptly said,” Interesting! What did you see?”

The man is now very serious, “That is why I am telling that nobody should show disregard to them. I couldn’t believe what I experienced. I heard a woman giggling from one corner of the room.  It was so unexpected that I practically froze as she proceeded towards me slowly continuing that horrifying laughter. Suddenly she shouted at me and wanted to know why I had entered the forbidden place to disturb them. I trembled in fear and stood still as if waiting for the last moment of my life.”

“How did you survive ultimately?” Rony was curious.

The man started laughing so loudly at his words that Rony was startled. Sound of his laughter reverberated from the walls and he said in a cracking voice,” You are talking about survival! Has anyone ever been able to escape from their grip? No, I too couldn’t save myself. I lost my sense and breathed my last almost immediately.”

“ What!” Rony exclaimed,” Don’t talk rubbish. Then how can you stand in front of me now? ”

“Here you are, my dear! I told you not to jeer with us and ignore our existence. Look at me carefully. You yourself will understand everything. “

The very next moment Rony discovered with great horror that the man’s appearance has changed into that of a white skeleton with red eyes like balls of fire and the figure is gradually proceeding towards him with its bonny fingers advancing towards his throat. Rony tried his best to resist and shout, but no voice came out of him. He felt an ice cold touch on his face before falling senseless on the ground.

Rony’s dead body was recovered by police next day in the palace. 

By Prabir Kumar Datta