Kalboosh: The Horror story

By Nasiruddin Hamid

It was the most infamous year in the history of our land—when the old stories came true.

The mosque’s  gloomy old building stood at the edge of a quiet, remote town in punjab, surrounded by thick trees and narrow, dusty paths. It was the late 18th century—a time when lanterns lit the night and silence and darkness ruled after sunset. The mosque was old, its bricks weathered and its courtyard cracked with time. The building gave off a sense of mystery and sadness, especially at night when the wind howled through its arched doorways. People said it had always been a little different, a little darker, even doomed by mysteries.

Mr. Hakeem was sleeping in the mosque when he heard strange noises coming from the basement. The whole mosque was under repair, but the basement had not been touched...

He thought maybe it was a cat or dog making the noise. But then, suddenly, he heard someone calling his name.

He picked up his laltain (kerosene lantern) and started walking slowly, full of fear. He had heard stories about something that lived down there—something not natural, not human, or maybe even dead. Hakeem was a religious man, scared of Jinns and other beings from Islamic stories. He started reading prayers in Arabic.

Suddenly, he heard the voice again. This time it was clearer.The voice called his name again and said,“Hakeem… come to me.”

A chill ran through his spine. He could hear his heart in his mouth beating loudly like drumbeats.

He slowly walked down to the basement and saw a shadow. It looked like a human, but something was not right. He tried to scream, but he couldn’t feel his lips or mouth. Somehow, he made it back to the mosque, sweating and shaking. His heart was racing. He couldn’t breathe properly. He drank some water and tried to calm down.

Then he ran to the house of Mirza Baig, the wise old man of the town. He told him everything, word by word. Mirza Baig told him not to be scared. He said it was probably just a dream or a trick of the mind—something that happens at night when you’re alone in the dark.

Hakeem went back to the mosque for his night duty. The night passed. The day was hot and sunny. Work on the mosque went on till evening.

At 9 PM, as usual, Hakeem came back to the mosque, read some verses from the Quran, finished his prayers, and lay down on a mat, reading a book.

He didn’t know when he had fallen asleep.

A loud, scary sound woke him up—like a giant stone had fallen from the sky. Shocked and afraid, he picked up his laltain and pumped the kerosene to make the flame stronger. As he tried to stay calm, he saw shadow of someone walk past him.

His body went cold—he was sure someone had walked by.

He stood up and turned around. A man in a white robe was standing behind him. The man’s face was gloomy. His eyes were deep, dark holes. He was more than seven feet tall and very strong.

Hakeem couldn’t move. He was frozen in fear.

The man said nothing. He quietly walked toward the basement.

Hakeem screamed and ran straight to Mirza Baig. He told him everything but Mirza Baig was not surprised.

He slowly mumbled, “I knew he’d come back.”

Hakeem looked confused. “Who came back? What are you talking about?”

Mirza Baig sat down, his head bent forward, and said in a deep voice,“Kalboosh. He was Kalboosh—the one my father caught seventy years ago and locked in the basement. But now… he’s free.”

“What should we do now?” Hakeem asked.

Mirza Baig said, “First, we must sacrifice ten goats and ten sheep in the basement. We have to clean the mosque with their blood. Now go back to the mosque and watch him and remember never look straight in his eyes if he was eating or drinking blood.”

At first, Hakeem said no. But later, he agreed.

He went back to the mosque and saw Kalboosh on the roof, jumping from one minaret to another. His face had turned fully black. His hair had gone grey. His white robe was now covered in blood.

The sight was so scary that Hakeem fainted.

When he woke up, it was morning. His whole body was shaking as he remembered the night. He wanted to go to Mirza Baig—but the old man came to him.

Hakeem told him everything.

Mirza Baig said, “We don’t have much time. Kalboosh is getting stronger. He can destroy the whole town.”

He told Hakeem to go to the butcher and not to tell him anything. The butcher brought twenty animals. One by one, they were killed in the mosque and in the basement.

Then Mirza Baig told Hakeem to go home and rest. He would stay and watch to see if Kalboosh had gone.

At home, Hakeem couldn’t relax. He kept thinking about Mirza Baig’s safety. Finally, he ran back to the mosque—but Mirza Baig was not there.

Hakeem took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and slowly walked toward the basement.

He went down, scared of what he might see—or what might see him. And then… he saw something that was hard to believe.

Mirza Baig had become Kalboosh.He was drinking the blood of the dead animals like a wild beast. Hakeem tried to run, but his legs didn’t move. Kalboosh—who was once Mirza Baig—saw him.

He was no longer the man Hakeem knew.

Now he was a monster—his face a mix of black and red, long hair, huge nails, deep empty eyes, and a mouth full of blood. Hakeem stood stunned with extreme fear, He walked toward Hakeem…ripped out his spine…and drank his blood and ate his flesh.

By Nasiruddin Hamid