Pathshala

By Shahnaz Hassan

It is a horror story that started with an interesting event in the Pathshala(school), a long time back. It ends dramatically with lots of breathtaking events.

Characters:

Grandma - the main character

Radha - a friend of Grandma

Rita – another friend of Grandma

Ghosts – unseen, shadowy creatures

Darwan – gatekeeper

Ayah – a maid

It was a story narrated to us by our Grandma – The real hero of this peculiar horror, ghostly story.

All this began when there was a big newly built Pathshala, far away from the village. Our grandma and her best friends Radha and Rita joined her. Radha was a pretty girl with long hair while Rita was short, fat, and dark. Rita was an intelligent girl in the Pathshala. The trio used to go to the Pathshala together.

There was a rumor in the air of the village that whosoever passed through late at night can hear laughter, and loud voices of males, females, and children. The villagers started keeping their children away from the Pathshala. But not any such scary events occurred in it during school hours.

Once the school organization decided to organize a cultural program. The children were started selected by the concerned class teachers as well as by the principal for the role of the play and so on.

Radha was selected for folk dance and Rita for singing folklore. My Grandmother was anchoring the program. While rehearsal once Radha was pinched at the back of hers, she felt, turned but couldn’t find anyone and continued singing. However, she never shared her odd feelings with anyone. On her way home, she sang folklore to Grandma and Radha and was highly appreciated by them for her mellifluous voice. This made her happy.

The next day again the rehearsal was on and this time Rita felt the same pinch again. On turning back, she didn't see anyone around and was astounded to see the room empty. Her blood ran cold as she hurried downstairs to where her other friends were. On seeing Grandma and Radha, relief ran down her face and she neared them. On their way back home, she stayed quiet throughout. Meanwhile, Grandma and Radha assumed Rita to be tired due to continuous rehearsals and decided not to interfere with her state of quietness.

Then the final day arrived, and the whole Pathshala was swaying in the lore of the cultural program and its discussion. All the staff members were busy decorating the Pathshala with streamers and ribbons. Flowers were set everywhere. My Grandma was a good narrator and host, her beautiful style of narration and vocabulary was the plus point. The Pradhan of the village was invited as the chief guest. He gave a short speech on the progress of the Pathshala and appreciated the hard work of all the teaching and non-teaching staff. The principal honored the Pradhan with a garland and a Torah (a bouquet) known at that time.

Many of the students were escorting the parents. An open stage was made in the heart of the Pathshala ground. Food items – Puri Tarkari, Jalebi, Bambaiya Mithai, tea stalls, and Kulfi stalls were set around the school’s gate. It was a very chaotic atmosphere.

After the speech of the Pradhan, the program began, and was applauded by everyone. Then came on the stage the most beautiful girl of the Pathshala – Radha. She put the stage on fire by her enchanted dance and the movement of her beautiful eyes with a bewitching smile. Suddenly, she started gazing behind with her blank-wide eyes at the stage and she twitched her dance steps. But Rita’s folklore made the Villagers chill and relaxed their minds and body on the lore of her song it was like dopamine. Suddenly, something unusual happened Radha twitched her dance steps again while Rita was trying to run forward to hold the mic. Soon, Radha tangled her feet with her saree and fell to the ground with a loud shriek. Rita too started running forward the stage and fainted. The Cultural program ended then. Everyone was shocked and started making stories of the Ghosts. Radha and Rita were taken to the classroom with the help of the Ayah. The Vedji was called, he examined them and said that the girls were tired of programming the events. Soon, the whole Pathshala was vacant and empty. Grandma along with her mother visited Radha’s and Rita’s house. Radha was quiet and scared. She never disclosed what she saw that day. Rita was somehow able to speak and said, that it seemed to her that someone is snatching the mic and running toward the main gate of the Pathshala. The whole village was silent. And thus, the Pathshala was closed for one week. Not a single villager was eager to send their ward. The village Panchayat decided to call some Tantrik and do the needful. The Tantrik came and started their Puja but all in vain. They too ran away in fear. As a whole, the Pathshala was closed forever.

Then after two years, some Englishmen came to buy the Pathshala. They demolished the Pathshala plot and made it their Head Office. All the officers used to work peacefully, but when the night shift began then the true drama begun. The officers could hear people laughing, chatting, dancing, and singing. The giggles of children could be heard also. Many priests, maulvi, and pundits worked together to free the Pathshala plot from the unusual spirits. After a long fight with all the pious people, it was decided that the Head Office will be closed in the evening as few spirits stay there with their families.

The village headman and the authority of the Pathshala and English officers called a meeting and decided that no one will stay here in the evening. Half of the plot was given for the Pathshala purpose by the Englishmen and a small office was set up.

The Pathshala is still there in their village. It is no more the same as it turned into a High School. Grandma became the principal and she knew many mantras for safety. The same mantras were taught to all the students and officers as well to be safe. A Pathshala, an office in the morning, and a ghost house in the evening.

By Shahnaz Hassan