Isha was confused, and this confusion had nothing to do with 'what to cook, 'what to wear', 'where to go' 'what veggies to buy' etc..
Since past few months, there was something weird about the house. Every now and then when she got back home after picking up her kid from school, she felt as if someone had been present at home in her absence. The first time, the pillows were put at the headboard, while Isha remembered having tossed them aside as she had to rush to school. Then another time, the bath towel was put out for drying, whereas she had left it in the bathroom. Once when she got back home, she had found sand grains in the bedroom and sometimes there was a faint smell of something sweet or flowery. All these incidents started scaring her, they anyway lived in hilly areas as her husband Sanjay worked for tea estates, and she had always heard in abundance the ghost stories and how they were present in the misty hills, on top of it, Sanjay had to travel frequently. "Get some holy water from the village Saadhu, memsahib," the maid said, "It will kill the evil eye or wear a black thread... Hang lemon and chilies" she continued. Once when she had shared the sand incident with Sanjay, he had brushed it aside saying it must be from Megha's shoes, she would have walked in with them after playing. And she knew Megha wouldn't have done that. She started having sleepless nights, she was tired and it showed, there were eye bags, she looked pale. "Is there actually a spirit lurking around?", she thought. While watching one of the reality shows, she got an idea and the timing was perfect to implement it with Sanjay being out till late.
She waited patiently for a few weeks to pass by. Then one evening when she switched on the tv, she was shocked.
Sanjay got back a Lil early that evening, Megha was playing in the neighborhood, he saw Isha, her face was sullen, he noticed dry tear marks. "What happened Isha?" He cupped her face in his hands, "Is the ghost troubling you again?" He joked. "Guess what Sanjay, I actually tracked the ghost, turns out that I have known him for 7 years". "What do you mean?" Sanjay asked with a confused expression. Isha went and switched on the tv, and showed Sanjay his secret rendezvous with Mrs. Arti who lived next door. "Isha, how dare you install cameras without telling me?" Sanjay flared up. "You didn't believe the 'housewife' who has been making your bed, cleaning your house, when she said there is something strange happening, had you then you could have continued your quickies" Isha smirked.
"Oh, by the way, the taxi will arrive any minute now, I am going to Chennai with Megha. My lawyer will call you soon". Isha heard the honk of the taxi, went to pick up her luggage. The maid walked in, "Where are you going Memsaab?" "Looks like you were right Rukmini, there is a MONSTER in my house".
Since past few months, there was something weird about the house. Every now and then when she got back home after picking up her kid from school, she felt as if someone had been present at home in her absence. The first time, the pillows were put at the headboard, while Isha remembered having tossed them aside as she had to rush to school. Then another time, the bath towel was put out for drying, whereas she had left it in the bathroom. Once when she got back home, she had found sand grains in the bedroom and sometimes there was a faint smell of something sweet or flowery. All these incidents started scaring her, they anyway lived in hilly areas as her husband Sanjay worked for tea estates, and she had always heard in abundance the ghost stories and how they were present in the misty hills, on top of it, Sanjay had to travel frequently. "Get some holy water from the village Saadhu, memsahib," the maid said, "It will kill the evil eye or wear a black thread... Hang lemon and chilies" she continued. Once when she had shared the sand incident with Sanjay, he had brushed it aside saying it must be from Megha's shoes, she would have walked in with them after playing. And she knew Megha wouldn't have done that. She started having sleepless nights, she was tired and it showed, there were eye bags, she looked pale. "Is there actually a spirit lurking around?", she thought. While watching one of the reality shows, she got an idea and the timing was perfect to implement it with Sanjay being out till late.
She waited patiently for a few weeks to pass by. Then one evening when she switched on the tv, she was shocked.
Sanjay got back a Lil early that evening, Megha was playing in the neighborhood, he saw Isha, her face was sullen, he noticed dry tear marks. "What happened Isha?" He cupped her face in his hands, "Is the ghost troubling you again?" He joked. "Guess what Sanjay, I actually tracked the ghost, turns out that I have known him for 7 years". "What do you mean?" Sanjay asked with a confused expression. Isha went and switched on the tv, and showed Sanjay his secret rendezvous with Mrs. Arti who lived next door. "Isha, how dare you install cameras without telling me?" Sanjay flared up. "You didn't believe the 'housewife' who has been making your bed, cleaning your house, when she said there is something strange happening, had you then you could have continued your quickies" Isha smirked.
"Oh, by the way, the taxi will arrive any minute now, I am going to Chennai with Megha. My lawyer will call you soon". Isha heard the honk of the taxi, went to pick up her luggage. The maid walked in, "Where are you going Memsaab?" "Looks like you were right Rukmini, there is a MONSTER in my house".
Classic... I always love your final touch :-)... But where is the title of the story ??? Dont stare at me I am not going to ask the moral of the story hehehe ;-)
ReplyDeleteGowri...My stories have no morals, otherwise it would become boring ;). Title I think you should suggest.. Please do, for all of them that I have written..
ReplyDeleteWhat? Do you want to spoil your beautiful short stories by the titles ??? No way..
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