Tears of Blood

Author Introduction: I would not call myself a writer. Or a poet. What I am is, creatively inclined. My education has nothing to do with it. It's just programmed in my genetic code. I love to read. Mostly classics and poetry. I love music. Art. Cinema. Nature. I blog about my world at http://www.medhakapoor.blogspot.in

‘Hurry up, Raju! Run or those dogs will be upon us in minutes!’

I watched as Raju struggled to move with his pot belly impending him, wheezing and coughing on the way. I was a hundred meters ahead of him and before me stood the mighty trees of the Chiranjeevi forest. We were being chased by a group of policemen for escaping from prison and had just been able to lose them through some really quick thinking on my part. I knew they would never follow us into the forest, at least not at night. They were a bunch of superstitious fools who believed it to be haunted. Well, haunted or not, it was the only place for us to escape from the jaws of prison life.

The forest was cold, dark and damp. The flashlights we were holding were of little use, scarcely illuminating the space around us, thick with foliage as it was. The sound of leaves crumpling below our feet hung in the night air like a lone beacon of light on a stranded shore. And I was afraid that it would attract the wrath of wild animals.

‘Raju, I believe we’ve made a grave mistake, we can’t spend the night in this place…it may be full of wild animals!’

He looked at me with a grim expression, before turning away and regarding the darkness, ‘There is a way, Shyam…I’ve been in this forest before and I know of an old fort, I’ve seen it as a child, I think I can lead us to it…we’ll be safe from the animals there…’

‘Alright, is it far?’, I asked him.

‘It is in a clearing at the heart of the forest. But it is our best chance’.

‘Hmm. Let’s go then’.

Raju nodded and studied our surroundings for five minutes before starting down a path…

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It has been years since I’ve seen the fort of Rudrapratapa. It used to be our favorite spot for playing hide-and-seek as children, with its plethora of rooms of all shapes and sizes and the passages set out like a maze. One could easily get lost there. Our elders would often warn us against going to the fort. Apparently, it had been cursed by a witch. They would try and scare us with various stories but it never deterred our free, adventurous spirits.

‘Where is your god-damned fort Raju? I’m exhausted from all this trekking in the forest…’

‘Here, here; just beyond these trees…Can you make out the outline from here? Look there…’

And there it was, looking melancholy and desolate against the silver moonlight. All its past glory turned into just bricks and stones. How time ruins things! Not a sound to be heard except the chirping of the crickets. I could see an own perched atop a tree near its boundary wall. Its yellow eyes shone at us menacingly. I flinched.

‘How do we get in?’

‘Look for an opening in the wall…there should be a crevice wide enough to let us get in…’

‘Bats! Yikes!’, Shyam shouted, ducking and waving his arms around. Ah, the perils of spending a night in the wilderness. I thought we had had enough of crazy nights in the prison.

Fifteen minutes later, we are inside the fort. It’s much cooler than outside and we are shivering slightly. I feel uneasy, I have a feeling we’re not alone in this place. But then, the fort is huge enough to grant refuge to an army of hundreds.

‘Shyam, let us just find a nice spot and hide till the morning. I’m very tired.’

But Shyam would not pay any attention to me; he was like a man possessed! He ran from room to room, admiring the splendor of the place while the thief inside him looked for items to pick up.

‘A couple of rare antique items from this place, Raju, and we’ll be millionaires! Just think about it!’

‘Don’t be stupid! If there was anything of value here, it wouldn’t be laying open for scavengers like us!’

‘Hey! Look! Look here!’

Shyam turned my attention to a heavily ornamented door. It was studded with gems arranged in an intricate design. I couldn’t recall having seen anything like this here before.

‘I’m sure there’s something of value inside! But this big, fat lock! Do something about it, Raju, my mastermind!’

Wordlessly, I got down on my knees and examined the lock. It looked simple enough; just some careful ministrations with my master key and it would give away. Yet, my hands trembled as I inserted the key in the hole. It felt as if there was someone on the other side of the door, waiting to be set free…

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

‘Holy Cow! Look at the size of this room! And it’s loaded with stuff! We’ve hit the jackpot, my friend!’

The room was impressive! It was full of caskets and cupboards and drawers. 

The walls were adorned with paintings. There were desks, chairs and a huge bed. All made of expensive mahogany, I presumed. We were going to be rich! No more petty thievery for the rest of our lives! The only problem was, Raju wasn’t willing to share any of my enthusiasm. He was silent and subdued, transfixed to a spot near the door. Maybe, he’s scared, foraging in the dark like this. Hah! What a child!

‘Oi, come over here, you go and check out the other side of the room, I’ll look here…’

‘Okay…alright…’

I looked on as Raju gingerly walked to an almirah, stumbling over a couple of caskets on his way.

I sigh and turn my attention towards a painting on the wall. The frame seems to be made of gold. It is a huge piece of art, a life-sized portrait of a reclining woman. I trace her figure with the light of my torch. She’s draped in a blood red saree, snugly fitted to her voluptuous figure, curly black tresses, full lips, pierced nose, eyes…eyes? I froze in shock as I realized that her eyes were missing! Their place was marked by two blotches of red, as if the eyes had been slashed off. What a weird painting! Those kings must have been crazy!

‘Shyam…’ somebody whispers.

‘What, Raju?’ I turned to speak, but he wasn’t there. ‘Raju?’I swung around to the other side but there was no one. I turned back to the painting and was immersed in complete darkness. The batteries had died. Shit. Okay, calm down, just walk towards the entrance. There was a still a glimmer of moonlight coming through. I could just focus on it and it would guide me to the door. I start walking, carefully. I realized that I was sweating. The darkness that surrounded me was oppressive. It felt like it was suffocating me. Somehow, I could not get the image of that blood stained face out of my mind.

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People say that when you are deprived of the use of one or more senses, the other remaining ones become sharper. Standing in this room with only a dim source of illumination, I became aware of my surroundings in a most unique manner. I observed the smells and the variations of temperature. My mind was just not burglary today. I felt myself being drawn to a cold corner that smelled, quite unmistakably, of blood. The metallic, nauseating smell of congealed human blood. Could somebody have dumped a dead body here? I wonder as I walk towards the source of the odor. I'm very close to the spot, the smell is so strong that it makes me want to throw up. The air surrounding me is perfectly still and chilly. I can feel goosebumps on my flesh. Footsteps! I hear footsteps. Thud thud thud thud thud. A dull, rhythmic motion. We are not alone here. Someone is coming to get me. Maybe its the murderer! What should I do? I take a confused step forward and feel my foot strike against something coarse and ice-cold. I freeze. Oh my god, its flesh! It’s human flesh! 'Shyaaam! SHYAAM! Where are you? Get the fuck here immediately!' 

Trembling, I move my flashlight to get a look at the body but there is nothing there. I glance around, move back and forth but there's no sign of a body. Cold fear grips my spine and I turn away, ready to run just as a hand shoots out of nowhere and grabs my foot. 'SHYAAM!!Help me! SHYAAMMM!'. I can feel its rugged claws biting into my skin. I can't free myself from its grip. I scream as another hand grabs the other foot, completely immobilizing me. It’s dragging me towards itself.

Suddenly, I receive a slap to my face and the hands that gripped my feet disappear.

'What on earth is wrong with you Raju? You're screaming like a madman!'

'Oh Shyam! Thank god you are here! Lets get out of here. I beg you. Please, let’s just go.'

'Why? Why should we go?'

'Because this place is haunted Shyam! There is a ghost here! I felt it! It was gripping me! I couldn't move! It was gripping my feet! Both my feet!'

'What nonsense, Raju! There is no such thing as ghosts! You must have been dreaming! Now give me your flashlight and let us see what is there to take!'

I had never felt so angry with Shyam before. How could he disregard my opinions this way? Does he take me to be a fool? I fumed.

'Shyam, I want to go. You have no right to talk to me in this manner. What do you think of yourself? '

'Raju, please just calm down. There are no ghosts here, its just your mind playing tricks.'

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I could not understand why Raju was being so irrational. Sure, the place is scary, but then, any place would be so in the darkness. And ghosts? He couldn't be this foolish. And then it struck me! Raju is playing a game with me. He wants me out of here so that all the goods can be his! That old fox! I knew I could never trust a man like him!

'Shyam, will you listen to me?!' Raju shouted, grabbing my arm.

'No, you listen to me, Raju! You leave if you want to! I'm not moving!'. I pushed him away.

'I will not leave you alone to die and you will listen to me!', he was grabbing me again.

'Is that what it is, huh? I can see right through your stupid plans, Raju. You want all the riches to yourself and so you're inventing all this nonsense! You can easily trace this place in the morning and can come conveniently to claim the stuff for yourself!' It was my turn to grab him by the collar.

'How dare you! You insolent, greedy man! How dare you!' His knee meets my stomach and I double up in pain. My hands immediately fly to his neck. I wanted to squeeze the air out of the slimy bastard but he had his hands on my arms, restraining me. Damn, he was strong. I fly into a rage and attack his face with my hands. I dig my nails in his eyeballs and scratch; I scratch and claw at them till I can feel his blood dripping down my fingers. He had started howling. Haha! No one messes with me! I step back to let him moan in agony. 

Before I knew it, he came charging at me like a bull, head first, right into my gut. I stumble backwards with the force of the blow and fall, from the feel of it, in an open casket. I grab the sides and try to get up but this monster placed the lid over me. I could barely move my arms but used all my strength to beat against the top. It would not budge. It was too heavy. I'm going to die here. God please. I don't want to die. I was beating on the lid with everything I had. My breath came in gasps and shudders. I was using whatever air there was in my lungs to shout to Raju to open this thing. But it just wouldn't move. Darkness, the darkness is coming to get me. It has won. I could hear the mad laughter of a woman and I knew it is her.

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The pain in my eyes is unbearable. I am bleeding tears of blood. I could barely move so I settled myself on the casket. Beneath me I could still hear the mad screams and knocks of Shyam, asking me to let him out. I ignored them. He could die there and be eaten up by rats and rot in hell forever as far as I was concerned. How could he do this to me? He is a sick man! My eyes! Oh my eyes! I sit there nursing my precious eyes, blood all over my face. I try opening them as the pain subsides but can hardly see anything. Everything is red. I weep more tears.

And then I see her. An apparition, a ghost, a ghoul, a witch or a goddess. I do not know what she is. Skin a sickly green color; she is standing in front of me, wearing a red saree over an emaciated frame. She smells of rotting flesh and blood. Her hair hangs down loose over her bosom and her face is as bloodshot as mine. But the most horrific part, she had had her eyes gouged out! And in spite of it all, she bared her bloody teeth at me and laughed. I had never seen or heard anything this horrible and vindictive. Her laughter shredded my soul in pieces and suddenly I wish I hadn't ever hurt Shyam. She kneels forward and grabs both my feet with her claw like hands, pulling me down slowly from the casket. Despite her skeletal frame, she is stronger than me. I fall on my back and my head hits against the edge of the casket. I feel dizzy and light-headed. I didn't have the power to scream or struggle, fear had stupefied me. I just stare at her terrible form, waiting for the torture that I knew was coming but she just laughed and laughed. Her voice echoed and the walls laughed with her. I could not take it any more and let myself drift away into oblivion...

The Spirit of the Haunted Chest

Author Name: Seema Gopalan

Author Intro: Well about me, my traits can be described in 3 words - possessive, steady and focused. Like a true Taurean I simply want things to be get done which may be sometimes viewed as stubbornness. The good life in all it's guises appeals to me. Down to earth with a no-nonsense approach, saying what I mean with a very strong sense of values.I blog at My Endeavors

Word Count: 2525

Story

The night was dark gloomy dusky and silent. All around the tall trees looked like they were dressed in their own shadows. Moss dripped from the sickly dark trees like decayed flesh. Every branch held the promise of something dark, gray and slavering for blood. Even the wildlife held its breath, seemingly sharing my fear. Every tree in this thickly forested, misty and light less glade seemed to hide some ghastly secret or ghoul. Even the wind in the boughs sounded thin, sickly and fearful. I couldn’t hear anything apart from my footsteps and the one behind me.

It was by sheer luck a year ago that Jamal occupied the prison cell with me. He was very soft spoken and kept to himself most of the time. He was in for assault but his demeanor told otherwise. He was alone most of the times, keeping a distance from everyone, only his shifty eyes could be seen noticing and grasping everything. Being a blacksmith’s son and knowing much about the trade he got to work in the prison’s sheet metal shop. The only other time I saw him apart from my cell was during the gym session. I , myself was quite a veteran around the prison cell , on first name basis with almost all the guards and also sort of a mini leader among the inmates. One day in the gym as Jamal was doing his exercises I saw something shining brightly in his waistcoat and knew immediately it was a pocket knife. Nearby one of the guards was suspicious and came towards him, I immediately distracted the guard with small talk.

Later in our cell,

“Hey, Jamal! You idiot, you would have been caught today if it were not for me! What are you trying to do with the pocket knife?”

“None of your business Baban”

“To hell with you, tell me immediately or else I will inform the guard”

That statement did the trick, he was spitting everything out. He first and foremost sworn me to secrecy and then told of his plan to escape. He was creating a duplicate key to the back door of the gym. Beyond that there was a perimeter fence that would have to be cut through (hence the pocket-knife) and then we would have to scale the prison wall. If we got a good headstart it was very unlikely we would get caught. I was stunned beyond words when I heard of this stupendous escape. I already started visualizing myself walking freely in my village.

“How will you get the impression of the key to make a duplicate” I asked

“Not to worry, I am making a set of keys. One of them will definitely work” replied Jamal coolly

From then on me and Jamal were inseparable. I severed my ties with the others and stuck to him like glue. After the keep-fit session in the gym, there was one hour where the prisoners would chat and laze around. For quite a few weeks now me and Jamal had formed a routine to sit near the back exit door and chat. Initial few weeks one or two guards looked at us suspiciously but later on they never even bothered to come so back in the gym. We were left on our own for most part of the time. One fine day we decided to put our plan into action and after trying out a few keys we walked out through the back door. Our adrenaline pumping high we managed to scale the wall and were out in the dark forest. Now that I was away from my confined security I was shivering with fear of the consequences, of being caught, of being dragged back into prison and out in the dark hole. Jamal, on the other hand was quite composed in his stature. Not far away I could see a fort, the whole ordeal had tired me and the eerie forest was not adding to my already wildly beating heart.

“Hey Jamal, there is a fort out there, let’s take some rest”

“No, we should keep going, we can still be apprehended”

“Come on, let’s rest for the night, get some sleep, recharge ourselves and we will head out first thing tomorrow morning.”

*****

I was fed up with Baban’s non-stop chattering and also his tagging along with me. I curse the day when he saved me from the guard and in a split second of indecision I spilled my guts out to him. Then on, he stuck like a leech, talking about his village, his child-hood friends, the temples, the devas, asuras. I wish I had a solo escape from the prison. His talking gives me a splitting headache that rips through my mind like gale- driven thunder and lightning. The place that he had pointed out just now stood alone on a hill, a gaunt and crackly relic of an old Victorian architecture (built by the British perhaps). It was dingy grey, paint –flaked and neglected and its brickwork crumbling away. The path to the door was overgrown with bushes and it looked an ideal place to spend the night.

On Baban’s insistence we slowly and steadily climbed the hill and crept inside the door. Once inside I glanced around nervously at the portraits staring at me from behind layers of dust, seemingly penetrating my very being. Cold hesitant moon light streamed in through cracked windows casting eerie shadows on walls. The ceilings were covered with cobwebs hanging upside down. There were stairs running in two directions. The floorboard creaked as we went up the stairs.

At the top of the landing there was a locked room. Maybe there was some treasure inside the room, why else would it remain locked I wondered intent on picking the lock. On realizing my intent

“No Jamal, don’t mess with all that! Let’s just take some rest in this room here, waha pe Bhoot-Preth will be there”

“Keep quiet Baban, there is no such thing as bhoot-preth”, How I wished one of the booth came out and eat him alive. Good riddance!

Finally one of the keys clicked and I could open the lock. A cold gush swept through my body as I placed my hand on the knob. The huge iron black door creaked and slammed against the wall as I pushed it. The room was quite dark but a tiny ray of moonlight trickled in and circled lazily on the candle stand. If it were to somehow spring back to life it would illuminate a scene of utter emptiness and desolation. The threadbare carpet played host to nothing but an old stuffed chair, a table and a heavy wooden chest on it. The chair had last supported the weight of a living person half a century ago. Now it held only the dry and leafy skin and bones of a corpse - its rotting face frozen in a silent scream, and its thin and bony fingers buried in the holes it tore into the fabric of the chair in the final agonizing moments of life. Nothing else. Even the flies had deserted this corpse.

****

Jamal’s behavior always frightened me a little. He hardly spoke about his childhood or friends or of anything else. I pleaded with him not to open the room as I had heard all sort of stories from my grandfather. In olden days kings would perform puja and trap evil spirits in chambers which were never to be opened. But he had gone ahead and now we were in this darkened room. I swear as soon as the room was opened I could hear a ghastly laugh like rattling chains rising from the shattered floorboards to the ancient cobweb strewn ceiling, and echoing around the stained and crumbling walls. There was also a skeleton in the chair, it looks like he was the guardian of the chest. I should have not asked to stop for rest, I will not be able to sleep a wink in here. Suddenly something brushed on the backside of my neck, when I turned there was no one.

“Ja…Jamal, was that you”

“ME what?”

“Did you just brush your hands against my neck?”

“Ha..ha, why would I do that”, Come here and help me open this chest. Let’s hope there is some treasure in here”

“No Jamal, as it is you have opened the door, let the chest be as-is. You don’t understand the work of spirits. I can smell death in the air.”

****

I ignored Baban and walked over to the beautifully designed wooden chest kept on the table. I was going to find what was in there. If I was lucky to break from prison I might be lucky to find some piece of jewel which I can sell and live comfortably. I was very impressed with the neat trick that I did with the back of my hands. Baban was petrified. The look on his face indicated he had seen some spirit. What fun it would be to mess with him.

“Baban, come here! Help me in opening this”

“No Jamal, I want nothing to do with it” said Baban and sat in one corner of the wall hugging both his legs, neck shifting from end to end as if he wanted to be the first to know of any unknown presence. The chest was unlocked, it only had 2 latches on either side that were clasped tightly shut. Unlocking the clasps I had to use both my hands to push the heavy chest open. As I slowly opened the box a cool wind enveloped me starting from my feet and a stale odor filled the surrounding air. In the chest I found tatters of some royal clothes, a man’s armor and vest, a sword and a brightly shining jeweled crown lying in the corner. Ah! Had I struck gold here, I thought picking up the crown. It would definitely be worth a fortune with the rubies and the diamond still embedded in it. I put it back in the chest before it caught Baban’s eye and shut it with a bang.

The loud bang got Baban’s attention.

“Let’s sleep here for the night”, “Morning we can resume travel”.

I was already scheming to somehow leave Baban here and make my escape with the precious crown.

“Nah, you go to bed. I am not getting good vibes here. I’ll keep watch as it is I am getting too spooked here”

“It was you who wanted to rest in the first place” I informed him. But then contemplated that this way I could take rest now, decide to keep watch in the 2^nd phase and make my escape alone. This notion pleased me a lot and dusting one side of the room I laid down.

I had hardly slept a wink when I was shaken awake by a pair of strong shivering hands.

“Do..Do you hear that Jamal?” asked Baban glancing nervously all around the room.

I rubbed my sleep induced eye-lids wearily as my eyes got accustomed to the darkness.

“Hear what Baban, What is it now?”

“The sound of anklets, someone is walking around in this room”

“Now Baban, you have really lost it. Get some sleep , your body is tired and needs rest, your mind is playing games with you”

Suddenly out of nowhere my ears picked up the sound of tinkling anklets. My first thought was of Baban now playing tricks on me. But that was not possible as he had been sitting right next to me until a minute ago. I quickly flashed my torchlight around but he was nowhere to be seen. Did he just outsmart me and run away with the crown. Angered I walked over to the chest to check it’s contents. Something caught my leg and I tripped and fell my flashlight thrown in one corner casting eerie shadows all over the place. I bent to pick my flashlight and that is when I saw Baban lying down on the floor dead as a doornail. His eye was wide open in shock or was it surprise as if he had seen a ghost.

As these thoughts wandered in my head I quickly ran to the chest, picked up the crown and decided to flee from this place. As I neared the door I again felt the presence of something cold enveloping me starting right at my feet and getting higher. An eerie high pitched scream filled the room and then a lady’s voice echoed “ Kaha tha maine…Kaha tha maine raja se…sandook khula toh mar dalungi” ending with a soul shattering laugh. I knew I was doomed as soon as the echo stopped. Baban was right, I should not have opened the chest or this chamber. There were evil spirits around who were guarding the chest. The opening of the chest caused them to come out and haunt and kill whoever did that. Suddenly I was grabbed by the neck and struck once in my neck.

****

Jamal lay in a pool of his own blood. I slowly bend and picked the jeweled crown from his hands. It was good that I had picked the sword from the chest while he was asleep. My intention was never to kill him. I blame it on the atmosphere in this place and especially the corpse sitting in the chair that gave me a tinkling in my hands that had not murdered for long. Finding the precious crown in the chest was the icing on the cake. I knew I had to have it even if it meant murder. I had to act my part of a nonchalant fool to perfection. I had to even control my urges to not stare blatantly at the precious crown when Jamal took it out from the chest for the first time. Truth be told it was Jamal with his hand brushing against my neck that gave me the idea of trying out the spirits in the room idea on him. The stones that I had innocently picked up on or way here when clattered on the floor gave the sound of tinkling anklets which sounded genuine even to my ears. All I had to do was to play my cards to perfection. I first awoke him with a scared story of hearing something, then actually make the sound effect and moved away to act my own part of being dead. I knew his interest would only be in securing the crown and he would not care to see if I was still breathing. The darkness in the room also helped as I knew I was visible only when the flash-light was directly positioned on me. Jamal, the total non-believer in spirits was so spooked by my facial expression that he totally fell for my game and did not even put up a resistance when I grabbed him from behind and plunged the sword in his neck. Baba would have been proud of my perfect voice rendition to that of a revenge seeking aatma.

I scooped my belongings, laid one last look at Jamal’s lifeless body and left the place forever.

A Kiss of Death

Title of story: A Kiss of Death

Author Name: Pankti Mehta

Author Intro: Although I am a number cruncher at heart, I simply love books. Be it fantasy, horror, thriller, romance or chick lit, I simply can't resist them. However, I avoid classic literature and philosophies like anathema. Most of my blogs revolve around day to day incidents and how we react to it. They may be serious, sarcastic, or simply funny. That absolutely depends on my moods and how strongly I feel about it. I hope they make a good read for you.

Story:

Thud!

Phew, Munna did manage to break the lock at last. I never thought he was going to do it. He had said that he will break the lock in 5 minutes flat and given his track record of past few years, I, like a fool, believed him. Silly me. Just because he had managed to break locks of numerous homes and lockers in seconds didn’t make him a master, no matter how much he liked to think so.

“Raja, my work is done. Now you open this door. I am not going to open it.”

Oh God, how much of a wimp this Munna is! He actually believes those stupid rumors about this room being haunted by ghosts. Ha! Who would want to live on this God-forsaken earth even after their death? Only a moron like Munna would think of such people.

As I pushed the door with all my might, I heard the sound that I was expected: loud creak of the doors that were being opened after a long, long time. I just hope my guts are right and I manage to find enough treasure to live the rest of my life in luxury: cars, swimming pools, and clubs. Alas, who wants to keep on planning petty heists throughout his lifetime? As soon as I entered the room, I felt cool. Great, at least this room was not an inferno as the sweltering atmosphere out there was.

“Raja? Where are you? I am not able to see you. It’s so dark here.”

“Of course it’s dark. It’s not your bloody home where your wife is waiting for you with hot dinner. Lit your candle. You will be able to see well. My eyes have already adjusted to this darkness.”

As I stepped forward, I could make out a rectangular shape of a huge chest. Yes, this was it. I am 100% sure that alas we have struck gold. Literally. As I started pulling at the lock of the chest, Munna started screaming behind me. “Who’s there? Come forward in the light? Who’s there?”

I knew Munna was not going to give up. So I ignored him and started breaking the lock on my own. I didn’t want to entrust this task to Munna or he would take an entire night to do it. How hard can it be? I can just hammer away the lock, can’t I? “Munna, throw some light over here. I need to break this lock with the hammer.”

“R-Raja, I think we should leave. Something weird is going around here. I don’t feel safe here.”

“Why? What happened? Did you see anything that you shouldn’t?”

“No, nothing like that but it’s just that it’s spooky over here. Especially, that painting a king over there. It seems like he’s grinning at us. His eyes don’t look right to me.”

I turned around to see the painting. Oh yes, quite a majestic painting. Although I have no idea which king he was as I never paid attention to the particularities of the rumor, I was mesmerized. What jewels! Just look at his fine clothes! Is that emerald in his turban and rubies and pearls in his necklace? Oh, how I wish to find that treasure in this chest!

“Okay. Enough of this silliness; just throw some light over here. I need to break this lock. And be fast. I don’t want to spend an entire night opening this chest. We will need time to carry the treasure we find back to home before the night is out, and it’s already midnight.”

With just two blows, the lock opened. Ah, this lock is weaker than the one at the door. Shaking my head at the stupidity of the so-called king to use such weak locks, I pulled open the chest. I simply couldn’t believe my eyes for what I saw. My wish just got fulfilled. There is that turban with big emerald smack in the middle. And ah, there’s that august ruby and pearl necklace above the crown. Yes, we are rich. Finally I was going to shake off the dust of this filthy village and live in style at some big city, where everybody minded their own business.

“Yes Raja, you were right! We are rich now! Yay!” Saying this, Munna threw himself over the open chest and started digging all the jewels and wearing them.

“Hey, what are you doing?” I simply couldn’t understand what was Munna doing hugging all those coins and necklaces instead of starting to pack them. Couldn’t he understand the importance of time?

“Well, I am just enjoying little bit of our good fortune before I start packing away. See this beautiful cup. I think these are real sapphires in gold setting. What do you think?”

“Just shut up and get those bags you left over there. We need to start packing if we want to reach home before sunrise.”

“Oh, okay. I will get those bags.”

Just as I caressing a particular bracelet, I heard Munna scream. “Raja, get away! Get away from there. There’s this lady in red sari floating over you.”

I looked up but couldn’t see anything but darkness. The fear in Munna’s voice made my blood run cold. Even though I didn’t believe in ghosts and all those rumors, I could hear something different in Munna’s voice. I immediately took out the lighter from my pocket and threw the light toward the ceiling. Still I couldn’t see anything.

“Raja, stop scaring me. Get your ass over here. We need to start.”

“Munna, I am not kidding. She’s just standing over you in red sari with loose hair. Please, please come over here. Blood is dripping from her mouth and she has a small sword on her hand. Please, please listen to me. Please. I promise I am not going crazy. I too want that treasure but only if I manage to live.” Saying this, Munna started crying loudly like a baby. Oh my god, this is so creepy!

Suddenly my eyes fell on a sword lying on the top of the turban. Where did this sword come from? It wasn’t there five minutes back, or was it? Out of curiosity, I lifted it. Hmm. Even though it’s light in weight, it’s feels sharp and strong enough to pass through a thick tree trunk without any problem.

“Raja, throw that sword away. It’s dripping with blood. Your hands have started getting bloody too. Please throw that away and come here. We need to leave.”

Now, where’s the blood? Why can’t I see it? Why is only Munna able to see it? It’s not as if I don’t believe Munna but this is beyond madness. When we are finally having riches beyond imagination within our grasp, Munna is losing his sanity. I took the sword and started walking toward Munna. I wanted to show him how clean and beautiful the sword was.

“Munna, please calm down. See this sword is clean. There’s nothing wrong with it. Let’s get those bags and get to work.”

“No, no, don’t come near me. How can you not see the blood dripping from the sword unto your hands? See that female is still standing over there and laughing maniacally over you.” Again I looked back with the hope to see something. I was getting tired of Munna’s hysterics. Either I wanted to see the ghosts that Munna somehow managed to see without being high or drunk, or I wanted to get down to business. But again I was disappointed. There was nothing but darkness.

“Enough is enough. Munna, pull yourself together or we are done. I don’t want to spend my time with a lunatic.”

“That’s it! You don’t want to believe me because now you want to have everything for yourself. How can you be so callous to me? Me!!! Your childhood friend who supported through thick and think! I should have listened to my wife. I shouldn’t have come here. Well, I don’t want your bloody money. I am going back. I don’t want to become rich. I am happy being a petty thief.”

Saying this, Munna started running away but before he could go out, the doors crashed closed with a bang. Both Munna and I were stunned. How did the doors get closed? There’s not even wind strong enough to do that. Suddenly I started feeling cold. Something odd was going on; I couldn’t decipher what was wrong but I knew one thing: I was getting goose bumps. Before I could react, Munna again started yelling and sobbing.

“I told you! I told you! I told you so many times not to come here. But no, you didn’t have to listen to me. Oh God! Oh God, what are we going to do now! See that woman is coming near you again. Raja, for God’s sake, come here! Don’t stand over there. She will kill you; she’s already eyeing you if you are a piece of chicken. Please, please listen to me. Come here.”

I too started believing that there’s something creepy going on here and we should have left this place alone. Clutching sword in my right hand, I started moving toward Munna. Maybe we can use this sword to pry open the doors and get out. Maybe we could come back during daytime and try to steal these jewels then.

“No, no, don’t come near me with that bloody sword. It’s not safe in your hands. It seems like that sword has a life of its own. Throw it. Throw it away before it kills you. Just throw that away.”

I again looked at the sword intently. I still couldn’t see any trace of blood on it. “Munna, we need this sword to pry open the doors. Do you want to spend your entire night over here? I am ready to let go of this treasure and go home with you.”

“Yes! Yes, I want to get out but keep that sword away. This sword is controlled by that witch. It will kill you and me. If you continue to keep this sword in your hands, we might never escape alive. Throw it, throw it away.”

As I couldn’t find anything wrong with the sword, I decided to ignore Munna. Alas, what was more important? Reassuring Munna or getting out? As I moved forward, Munna started backing away from me, screaming “No! No! Please Raja, don’t do this! Don’t kill me! Please, please, for God’s sake, please throw away the sword.”

Exasperated by Munna’s illogical pleadings, I just sped up to reach the doors. Sooner the doors are open, sooner we can get out. Just as I reached the doors, Munna suddenly threw himself over me to knock away the sword from my hand. But I didn’t want to throw it. It was our lifeline. It was going to help us open those stupid doors. Why can’t he simply get it? Why does he always have to get his own way? Why can’t he just trust me for once? Was that too much to ask from your childhood friend? Determined to get the doors open with this sword, I firmed my hold over the sword. Munna gripped my wrist and started squeezing it to loosen my grip. “Munna, leave it. I need the sword. I…I sa-said leave it.” Now this hustle was on the verge of turning into a full-on fight, which I didn’t want to get into.

Suddenly I lost my footing and we both fell. I on the bottom with Munna on the top, screaming and writhing. I saw Munna’s eyes getting rolled at the same time felt something wet on my hands. I was horrified when I realized what it was. Blood. Munna’s blood. When we fell on the floor, Munna fell on the sword that somehow got wedged between our bodies. How could this happen? My hand was on the side. How did it come between our bodies? Oh God! I just killed my friend. I actually killed my childhood friend, with whom I used to play, with whom I planned heists. Oh God! This was just so wrong. I started feeling sick. I wanted to puke. Everything was roiling in my stomach. I couldn’t breathe. I need space. I need to get out. I need to get cleaned. Now my hands, shirt and pants were wet. Wet with blood. Warm blood. Munna’s blood. Oh God, my best friend’s blood was on me. I have to get out. Right now before I lose my mind. I need to think. And think fast. Pushing Munna’s body on side, I scrambled up. I still had that sword in my hand. I wanted to throw it away but I simply couldn’t make my hand let go of it.

“Hahahahaha……Hahahahaha…….”

Who’s laughing? Who could laugh at this time? I got to the burning candle that was lying on the floor couple of feet away. Just as I straightened up with the candle, I saw a female clad in red sari with loose hair. Oh God, she is what Munna was talking about. Oh God! Munna was right. Blood is really dripping out of her grinning mouth.

“Hahahahaha…..Hahahaha……” She was laughing like a lunatic and flying in the air. Oh God, I need to get out. I need to get out right now.

I quickly turned toward the doors and tried to pull it open. But they didn’t budge. Taking a deep breath, I again pulled the doors with all my might. They didn’t even shake. Exhausted, I gave up. Turning around, I leaned back on the doors with the sword raised over me, ready to strike that witch if she comes up to me. But she didn’t come near me. She kept on laughing like a lunatic and flying in the air. Her sari and hair was billowing like a small girl swinging in the garden. It was a bloodcurdling sight that I never imagined to witness. For the first time in my life, I started praying. I started to beg forgiveness for the robberies that I had done in this lifetime. I started promising God that I will reform if I manage to get out alive. I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to see that witch playing in the air. I closed my eyes tight and started praying with ghoulish laughter ringing in my ears. Suddenly the laughter stopped. I got hopeful. Maybe the witch got tired and she went away. Still, I didn’t want to open my eyes but I knew I had to.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly opened my eyes and nearly missed a heartbeat. That witch was standing just couple of inches from me with an evil gleam in her eyes. The red pupils of her eyes were as large as the size of her eyes. Looking at me, she was licking her bloody lips. It seemed that blood constant emitted out of her mouth and she kept on licking it over and over. I wanted to move away from her but I couldn’t with the doors at my back and her in the front. She again started laughing, sending chills through my spine. It seemed like she was playing a cat and mouse game with me. She was toying with me, and I, being a helpless mouse, couldn’t do anything. Suddenly I realized I still had a sword in my hand. Sharp and lightweight sword that was easy to manage. Easy to run through her, wasn’t it?

As if she realized my thoughts, she got blissful expressions on her face. She still moved closer to me. I felt her touch – cold touch, a touch that felt like thousands of worms crawling all over my body. Just as I lifted my sword and swung it, she hugged me tightly. She started kissing me. She opened her mouth on mine and started sucking. Blood started coming out of my mouth. I could feel her long tongue gliding around my mouth, dueling with my tongue. She was sucking my mouth as a newborn babe does from a mother’s breast. My shirt was getting wetter. I started feeling weak. Pain started setting in. I was losing blood through the ribs where the sword was lodged, and through the mouth where the witch was sucking.

I wanted to hit her. I wanted to kill her. I wanted her to suffer the way I was suffering. But she kept on kissing me, kept on sucking me until I couldn’t feel anything. Then there was darkness. Pitch black darkness that was beckoning me like a mother. And with a smile, I surrendered. Surrendered to that kiss of death.

The Eerie Maze

Author: Nabanita Dhar

About Me: I love to write. It is a passion; a compulsion; something that gives me an avenue to express myself. I write when I am happy; when I am sad or when an issue touches my heart. I find inspiration to write in every aspect of life. Professionally I am a Software Engineer, but my first love has always been writing! I write at http://nabanita-blacknwhite.blogspot.in/

Story:

I had it all planned, the escape and the life thereafter but everything went awry. And now I’m stuck with Mr. Dumb here for God knows how long! If it wasn’t for Baloo’s diarrhea of mouth, we would have been out without creating the ripple effect that we eventually did. I would have left him if I didn’t owe him one back from our rookie days. So much for honor among thieves and now I’m lost in some god forsaken forest without water or food!

“Hey Madan, look over there.” he said breaking my chain of thoughts and pointing towards a dilapidated old fort on top of a hill at some distance. It was almost dark and considering where we were it looked like the only spot good enough to spend the night.

“Looks like we found our lodging for the night Baloo” I said.

We began walking towards the fort braving thorny bushes, some almost chest high. Tired after running for almost an entire day without food or water, all we wanted was a place to take a break for some time without any fear of being caught.

The fort was huge and must have been enormous in its hay day but it was in shambles now, atleast most of it. It was built on a perpendicular cliff with the forest on one side, the river Bhadra on the other and the deep gorge behind. Built strategically, it would have provided a good line of defence for its occupants. On the other side of the river Bhadra was a small settlement, a village of perhaps a few hundred folks. Well, that was what it appeared like when we crossed it a few hours back. Looking up at the parapets made the fort seem huge, as if it reached out to the sky. We found a thin, winding path leading to a small opening in one of the walls and continued walking towards it. It was full of shrubs and bushes; a path hardly used from the looks of it. Everything was awfully quite, except the sound of our shoes breaking twigs and branches as we walked.

“It’s getting dark Baloo” I said. “Let’s take out the torches that we swindled on our way here.”

Baloo nodded and took those out, keeping one with him and handing the other to me. We were almost at the opening near the forts southern wall when darkness overwhelmed the surroundings. The fort looked even more imposing aided by the eerie silence. The only consolation was the moonlight sky, atleast the darkness wouldn’t gobble us up completely.

As we entered we could see many broken temples, chambers and halls in the compound. What would have once been the royal garden was now a royal mess. Everything was in ruins and from the looks of it everything appeared untouched for years. It was strange considering it was so near to a village but still unfrequented. We made our way up some steps and found more rooms and chambers. Anything we touched, doors or windows were either broken or jammed and made creaking sounds as we made our way through them. The place looked just like a horror movie set similar to one I had watched in my village years ago. But it was good; a place such as this would be safe for thieves and fugitives like us.

“Madan this place is giving me the creeps” said Baloo as he looked lost and almost ready to jump with the slightest provocation.

“Relax it’s just a fort and the best place for us at the moment. Infact, we could spend a few days here till the search is called off. Nobody would consider searching us here” I said.

As we made our way through hall ways and floors, we came upon a floor which looked stranger than the rest. It has just one chamber with a huge wooden door with countless horse shoes across it. It was bolted; a huge lock hung across it and over it about thousands of holy threads lay wound. For a moment Baloo and I stood looking towards the door. There was something about it for we felt drawn.

It must have been a few minutes since we had been there but it seemed as though we had been there for eternity. The horse shoes, the lock and the threads all pulled us towards it.

“What do you think is behind that door?” Baloo asked, his eyes gleaming in the dark.

“Treasure of some kind” I said without even realising what I was saying.

“But why would someone keep a treasure in a room that could be found by all”said Baloo.

“You have a point. Guess there’s just one way to find out” I said and moved towards the door. As I slowly touched the door a chill ran down my spine. The door was icy cold and every time I put my hand on it I had to immediately retract. It was as if my hand would fall off if I kept it on the door for long, that’s how cold it was.

“What’s wrong?” asked Baloo and came forward to touch the door himself. “Oops! What was that!”

He bent down and tried to look through a crack in the door with one eye shut and his torch precariously pointed at the hole. But no sooner than he did that, he fell back with a jerk and began rubbing his eyes.

“What?”I asked.

“I think it’s some kind of weird ancient or medieval freezer back there for my eyes almost froze with chill” he said and stood up.

“Oh come on man! Think about it. If there is some treasure of gold and silver behind this door we could be rich and lead a good life. We wouldn’t have to run forever and live on petty thefts!” I said.

“If we live that is! I think it’s a bad idea. Look at the horse shoes and the threads. Something is surely wrong here Madan” he said nervously.

“Oh relax Baloo. Nothing will happen. Don’t tell me you are not the least bit curious about what is behind that door. Our lives could change forever you never know!” I said and hoped he would be persuaded too.

“Okay but I’m just helping you because you helped me escape out of prison.” He said and then shouted further as if addressing someone beyond the door “I don’t want to disturb you; whoever you are, if you are listening!”

“Arghh!”I frowned.

We found some rocks that we would use to break the door and began to hit the lock repeatedly.

“Sorry!”Baloo shouted suddenly.

“What? To whom and for what?” I asked panting with the repeated bangs at the lock.

“I’m just putting it out there. I’m sorry” he shrieked again. I should have known, he really was useless!

We kept hitting the lock but it refused to give in. But I wouldn’t give up either. While Baloo retired in one corner after an hour or so, I continued with all my might. If we were to break it open it had to be done in the night when nobody would venture out here even if they heard the sounds.

Finally after hours of toil, the lock broke. Baloo stood up; his eyes wide like that of an owl, resting at the broken lock at one moment and at me the other. I removed the threads, threw away the lock and began opening the latch. It was horribly rusted and that made it difficult to open it easily.

“A little help?” I looked towards Baloo and said.

Though he seemed reluctant he came and helped me open the latch.

We were ready to push open the door and see what lay beyond. But Baloo as usual had other important things to do. He stopped and recited some sacred verses.

“Oh come on man” I said tired of his antics.

He didn’t seem too pleased with my impatience but nevertheless reached the door and we both began pushing it with all our might. It creaked but finally opened and there it was ahead of us a room which was probably being opened for the first time in hundreds of years. It was chilly inside; utterly chilly which was bizarre considering it was pleasant just outside the room’s threshold. But it could have something to do with the room being shut for so long; I didn’t know and frankly didn’t care.

“You go ahead. I’ll keep a look outside” said Baloo.

“Look out for whom Baloo” I teased and dragged him inside.

It was pitch dark and dusty. Even out torches weren’t able to provide much light. We tried hard to look what was inside. There was just one window and that too built quite high which was again abnormal but perhaps people in those times were peculiar I thought. There was some broken furniture which we found out when Baloo tripped over a broken chair of some kind. I thought it was hilarious but he certainly thought otherwise.

I couldn’t wait to find the treasure that I was hoping to find in this room. Slowly and carefully I went from one end to other looking with the precision of a professional. I must have been looking for over half an hour or so when I saw Baloo standing in one corner of the room, near a broken cabinet with his gaze fixed on something.

“Baloo..! Keep looking man!” I said annoyed at his tardiness. But he didn’t reply and still stood there like a statue and even in the dark I knew he wasn’t blinking as he continued looking at whatever he apparently was.

“Don’t tell me you found the treasure” I said and walked towards him. I took the torch up at his face and he looked pale as if he had seen something he wasn’t supposed to see.

“What is it man?” I asked but he just didn’t listen and continued staring. So I followed his gaze and pointed the torch towards his line of sight and there it was. A man or a woman, I didn’t know but it sat there between the wall and the cabinet looking towards us with scary eyes, its head bent backwards. Those eyes were not normal eyes just something white.

“What the” I said and shouted “Who are you?” but it didn’t move and kept looking.

I looked towards Baloo and shrieked. Blood was oozing out of his nose and that ghost or creature whatever it was stood next to him. I didn’t know what to do. Hell, I didn’t see that creature move either but it was there now standing next to both of us with its daunting face or the lack of it. Sceptical as I am, at that moment I knew we had to move out of there. I pulled Baloo who seemed to jerk out of slumber and scream.

“Run I said” as pulled him along towards the door.

But the ghost or man was at the door looking at us menacingly. It stood there as we tried to figure out what to do. Baloo was at his wits end changing mantrasbut none of them seemed to drive it away. Instead it started walking towards us in a zombie like fashion. I could feel blood curl up inside me but I had to do something. It was me who forced Baloo to open this door when he advised otherwise. But there was only one way out and that was through whatever stood infront of us. I held Baloo’s hands and dragged him towards the door!

“What are you doing?” he screamed.

“Just run Baloo” I said. We ran and just as I thought we would collide with the ghostly creature nothing happened and we seemed to pass right through it. I wanted to look back but I didn’t and kept running. We were out of the door and made our way down the stairs and through floors. We kept running and running without stopping for a moment. It was after a while when we stopped panting that we looked up. It was at that moment that we shrieked together. We were in that room again. But how could that be possible. We had just ran out of that place? We looked around and yes we were undoubtedly there. But where was the ghost or apparition we had seen we thought and just at that moment we heard the door slam shut. We looked behind and the door was indeed shut. We ran towards it and tried to push it open but it was locked.

“I told you we shouldn’t open the door” screamed or rather cried Baloo.

I didn’t have an answer. He was right but I still had to try and get us out of here. I kept pushing the door but to no avail.

“It won’t open. Don’t you get it we are screwed big time” he said.

“Where is he? Where is he? He will kill us you know Madan.” he continued and began shouting for help.

“No one is going to hear us Baloo” I said trying to figure out what to do next.“We need to help ourselves”

“But how!” he said and just at that moment a golden hue come through the only window in the room. We could now see the room completely. It was in ruins no doubt but one could get the idea that in its prime it must have been decorated regally. As we looked around the room our eyes stopped at the corner where we had first seen the ghost. Nothing explained the golden hue that came through the window and we were utterly flabbergasted and scared to say the least.

There in that corner between the wall and the cupboard stood a beautiful lady now all dressed in her finery. She looked like a princess. She stood there and her eyes were sad. We still didn’t know what we were witnessing. But there she was pretty and dressed up but just at the next moment blood stared oozing out of her neck as if someone had slit it right open. Everything around became red, there was blood everywhere and we felt we were covered in it too. But what disturbed us was that a wry smile came on her lips as her pupils disappeared, her head turned backwards and she began moving towards us. We stood frozen with fear without any escape in sight. She didn’t stop and made her way towards us slowly while her appearance too changed from that of a girl to that of a demon from underworld.

I could feel Baloo peeing in his pants as he was petrified. As she advanced we took steps behind. She looked in a sinister way at us and all we managed were frightened looks. I was scared too and in that moment began reciting prayers that I hadn’t in ages.

We had nowhere to go as we stood against the door. But just then it hit me- the horseshoe! One had fallen when I was trying to break the lock and for some strange reason I had put it in my pocket. It was the only option left. I had heard that cold iron was often used to thwart ghosts and this was a good time to test it. I pulled Baloo behind me and took out the horseshoe. I held it out and for some weird reason dashed towards the ghost and this time I managed to make contact. It began making scary noises, scratching me but I pressed it against its forehead. It kept screaming and everything in the room was flung across but I kept at it. It was a long fight but it seemed to be working. The horse show trick worked and the spirit suddenly burnt and along with it my hand. But the good news was that the golden hue disappeared, the door flung open and it was dawn. My hand was still burning when Baloo came up and put his shirt over it to douse the fire. I was in pain but we had to get out of there.

Baloo picked me up and we made our way out of there down the winding path towards the banks of Bhadra. We didn’t want to look back but still we did. In one corner of the fort we saw the window of the same room and uncanny as it might be the ghost seemed to be staring at us through it. As I contemplated if we were really out of her reach, Baloo’s screeching voice hit my eardrums and I turned in horror towards him.

“Nooooooooooooooooo....Madan, we are still in the room!”

Exercise for Edition 8

Plot: Jayashree Srivatsan
Judges: Leo, Jayashree, Rajrupa Gupta


Exercise genre: HORROR

Exercise:

There is a dilapidated old fort in a forest bordering an Indian village. The villagers believe that inside the fort is a chamber, locked shut by an ancient King, and guarded by spirits invoked and trapped inside the chamber by that king.

Unknowing of the folklore, two thieves who have escaped from a nearby prison take shelter in the fort. Thinking that there might be treasure inside, they break open the door.

Narrate the events up to and after this point, in FIRST PERSON POV of the thieves. You can choose to do it from POV of one thief, or alternating between the POVs of both.

Rules:

1. This is a horror genre story, so the story must be spooky and scary!
2. The story must be written in first person POV of the thieves. You can choose to do it from POV of one thief, or alternating between the POVs of both.
3. The major characters must be the two thieves
4. There must be no loose threads when the story concludes.
5. Minimum 2525 words and Maximum 2828 words.

General ground rules:

1. The entry has to be sent by e-mail to the workshop e-mail id posted on FB along with Exercise declaration.
2. The entry should be in the body of the mail. Do not send as attachment.
3. The body of the mail should contain (in order): Title of story, Author Name, Author Intro, Story. If an entry is not complete in all respects it shall not be considered a valid entry.
4. The post shall be carried in this blog. You are required to post in your blog either a link to your post on this blog or your entire post with a link to your post on this blog and give accreditation to Jayashree Srivatsan for the plot line. Once your entry is put up, the link to your entry shall be put up on the Indifiction group in FB – and within 48 hours of the link being put up on FB, you are requested to post in your blog and intimate the post link on FB. Otherwise, your entry shall be taken down from the blog.
5. The judges’ decision shall be final and the winners will be required to give the plot line, critique every entry as well as declare the winners of the next edition (Exercise 9). The judges of the previous edition – Mixi, The Fool and Nabanita - shall not be declared as winners in this edition even if their entries happen to be the best. This is in order to ensure that the load of judging does not fall disproportionately on a few.
6. Though it is not obligatory, we do request everyone to take the time to read and give constructive criticism on as many posts as they can possibly manage.
7. Please note that there shall be no extensions of deadline. If we face a situation of insufficient entries, we shall still close the exercise and proceed with the next with volunteer judges.

Timelines for Exercise 8:

• Exercise 8 begins: Tuesday, 11th June 2013
• Exercise 8 concludes: Sunday, 30th June 2013
• Exercise 8 results/judges’ comments: Sunday, 7th July 2013
• Exercise 9 begins: Friday 12th July 2013

Seventh Round Feedback and Results

Seems like whenever humor is involved number of entries drops drastically. But as usual we had a quora of 4 entries to choose 3 from. We should have discussed the idea of having lesser winners in case of lesser entries. But since we did not, going by existing rules, we shall have 3 winners. After the exercise let us discuss what to do when entries are less.

General Gyan about humor, I tricked Suresh into giving and saved myself the trouble. Not that I could have been able to give so much insights anyways. For the individual posts, we have given the feedback as comments on the post itself. More than any other genre, humor depends much more on personal tastes. So the judgement reflects a fair amount of personal taste as well. So especially in this exercise, the rankings should by no means be considered absolute.

The winner selected unanimously by the 3 judges is Jayashree Srivastan. All of us really liked that story. I liked how she had taken the unknown soldier's point of view and narrated. That is my personal favorite kind of humor wherein a person is not trying to be funny, but he is in placed in such a situation where his view of things appears funny to the reader.

The second prize by majority voting goes to Leo. It was a great attempt - trying to bring multiple points of view. It is indeed an arduous task bringing so many voices, that too in such a short piece, make them all sound like different people and to top it all make them all humorous. Can't say he was entirely successful but even a reasonably good job with such a high ask is great stuff.

The final winner is Rajrupa Gupta. It was possibly the funniest one. But I personally have seen too many people attempting Ramayana, Mahabharata etc. in modern style narrative on blogs. And as some of you may have been already aware, I am a novelty seeker. So this type of modern narrative did not hold much attraction to me. But from Suresh's post, it is evident that this is also one of the popular humor styles. I called this style slapstick while Suresh has called Jayashree's post slap stick. I possibly need to properly look up the definition of slap stick. None of the other judges also rated this one as the top most entry possibly because in terms of effort this is the easiest.

Last but not the least, Seema Gopalan missed out closely. By no means is she the last. The third person narrative is again an excellent humor style in my opinion. And I could see flashes of brilliance. But I feel she lost out by mixing up humor in narrative and humor in dialogue.

So that concludes the seventh episode of Indifiction Workshop and it is up to the three new judges to keep the workshop afloat for the eight edition. Taking your leave,

Yours Truly
The Fool

The Garden of Roses

Author: Leo

Author Introduction: I'm a writer. That's who I am first. What I am otherwise is not really important! Mostly I write poems, but love to dab in fiction as well. You can find my occasional works at my blog "I Rhyme Without Reason".

Story:

“Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the handsomest of them all?”

Oh who am I kidding? I used to be. I’m no longer that person. These beady eyes that stare back at me right now, are they really mine? They are cold and unfamiliar, much like the shaggy mane that is falling unkempt on my sagging shoulders.

Just the pale light from a full moon that falls through the glass roof lights the darkness of this night. The halls behind me are devoid of footsteps, the silence as eerie as the wind through the bare branched trees in the courtyard. Only a few days ago, her anklets used to chime softly and her laughter echoed through the hall. Was she happy here? I remember asking each day but she never told it in so many words, and I never thought to press my point further. Maybe I should have. Maybe I should have. If I had, she might have told me. If she wasn’t, I would have moved heaven and earth for her happiness. But alas, she’s gone now. And with every passing minute, I feel like I’m going too. Going away from this world where I found my true love, going away without knowing if she loved me too, and going away knowing my past has come to haunt me.

To this day, those words reverberate in my ears. Those words borne from a broken heart, uttered with pain and anger, pain and anger that I had gifted with my recklessness. I remember laughing it off… after all, who believes in curses? I didn’t then. I do now.

“What have you done, stranger? What have you done, oh stranger in the mirror?”

**********

I never thought I’d live to see the day when a plain white curtain would cover one of my windows. But alas, that is what has happened. I’m away from home for a few months and my sisters make my home look like a hospital. Curse their lack of interior decoration sense. Come to think of it, I’m not sure they have much sense in anything. Thankfully, father doesn’t depend on them at all.

“How have you been, my child? Have you suffered because of this old man’s folly?”  he asks.

I have never thought of that. Have I been suffering there? True, it was my father who gave a promise to the guy but I had willingly accepted that it should be me who returned there and not he, for it was the gift that I had asked that had got him caught. If only I hadn’t… if only he hadn’t gone on that wretched trip… maybe all would be well, and I’d be happily living with my father instead of a stranger.

Stranger… I wonder, after so many months, why he still is a stranger to me… is he? I have been away just a few days, but I miss him. From the day I entered those halls, he has only called me as his princess. Not a day has passed there that he hasn’t asked me of my happiness. He’s taken care of me like a queen, not a servant that had returned to his castle in place of a poor silk merchant who he was expecting. Every night he used to stand at the foot of my bed and utter those five words, those five words that any girl would want to hear from her lover.

“Princess, will you marry me?”

I had denied him every time, for my heart belonged to someone else, someone who I had only seen in my dreams, who was handsome beyond my imagination. But did my heart, unknowingly, fall for the stranger who called me his princess? Was he in love with me? Am I in love with him?

“Heart, oh my foolish heart, what have you done?”

**********

I took to drink from the day my father passed away, leaving me as the sole heir to a rich estate that was far away from the city. I think it was my way of mourning, because I shed no tears as I lit the pyre and watched him burn to dust. Perhaps I even rejoiced that I was alone now, no more voices to tell me what to do. Mother had given up on me years back and left for heaven. I knew I’d never see her again, I knew if there was such a place called Hell, it was destined… it was made… only for me.

I had lived recklessly, and hurt everyone who was part of my life, hurt them so much they couldn’t take it anymore. It was a bet that started my undoing. Drunk and staring at my hostel ceiling, I had no clue what I had said, and by the time I did, it was too late.

“You’re such a wimp, you can’t even make Priya fall for you,” my roommate had challenged.

Priya, the plain-Jane of our class, who stayed away from us and hung out only with herself... who was short, five foot at most and whose eyes were mostly sleepy and devoid of life. To us, her only goal in life seemed to be to get high marks and be the topper of the school. No one saw anything in her, and my roommate laughed maliciously as he was met with my silence.

“You’re a good-for-nothing wuss. I knew it!” he poked at me.

That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. It hit my ego hard, and I took the challenge. Frankly speaking, it wasn’t a challenge at all. My friend was left eating his words when a few days later, she and I were the talk of the school.

“Plain-Jane and Prince-Charming together, pigs would fly soon,” they said.

I took it a step further. She willingly gave herself to me, and in the gym room between the boys and girls hostels, we became one.

“You made me a woman, Adi,” she told me happily afterward.

Her bubble broke the next day, when my friend, angry on losing the bet told her of it. If I had only told her it was all a lie, she’d have believed me. But reckless as I was, I laughed at her and said goodbye.

“Adesh Sharma, you’ve broken my heart which I willingly gave you, trusted you to keep it safe. You think just because I’m plain, I’m silent that I have no feelings at all? I curse you, when you find your true love, she’ll leave you and you shall die from that pain.”

I never saw her again after that. Someone told me she had cursed herself for falling for my charm and took her life. I prayed fervently that let that not be true. But her last words held true. After college, I turned into a loner and began to wilt away, far from life at my family mansion.

**********

It was a year back that my father decided to go on a pilgrimage, leaving me and my sisters alone at home. His business had been hit hard by the recent warehouse fire, and his choice astrologer had instructed him to visit as many temples as he could, to solve the ill luck that the stars had forced upon him. He wasn’t one to publicize his sorrows, so much so that he kept it from my sisters as well. If only they knew, they might not have asked for gold and diamonds as gifts from his journey. Then again, they were so conceited that they might well have. I knew my father’s worry, and I asked him just for a rose. We lived in a small town, and the florists only had jasmine or kanakambaram flowers.

It was a rose that turned my life upside down.

**********

It was late last year that I caught a stranger plucking a rose from my garden. I tended to that garden like it was my own child, so the act was, to me, the highest sin. I tore down the stairs and flinging the door open, rushed to the garden and caught the scoundrel by his throat.

“How dare you pluck a rose from this garden without my permission, stranger? They are my life. You took my life, so it’s only fair I take your own!”

He was an old man. I could see that he was tired, but I pushed him against the wall and choked him. At the moment, I thought only of the rose.

“Kind sir, forgive me… please! I am returning home from my pilgrimage. My daughters are alone, and expecting that I shall bring to them jewels and riches, whereas I’m nearly broke and cannot afford that luxury anymore. I took the rose only as gift for my youngest daughter, Radha, for she, the apple of my eye, asked me only for a rose. What a cruel father I would be if I were to deny even such a small request? It is only because of this reason that I plucked one from your garden, for I couldn’t find one elsewhere.”

What a remarkable young lady she must be, I thought, for while her sisters asked for luxury, she asked for just a rose. My stone heart repented a little, and I eased my grip on his throat.

“Old man, I release you. Go give your daughter this rose. I shall give you some jewels for your other daughters as well, but only on condition that you shall not tell your daughters about this, and that you will return here. You have plucked one rose, but you shall tend my garden till a thousand roses bloom. If you do not keep your end of the deal, your daughters shall never know happiness again. This is my prediction, and it shall happen, for I say it with all my heart.”

He tried to convince me otherwise, telling him no one else was there to take care of his daughters, but I didn’t accept. In the end, he agreed, and taking his gifts, went on his way. I knew there was nothing but my words keeping him to his promise, but I felt he would return. I was mistaken. I never saw him again.

**********

When father returned from his journey, I was surprised to see him giving gold necklaces and bangles to my sisters. He also had my rose, which I gratefully took from him. My sisters stood in front of their mirrors and began to try their gifts on.

“My angels, I’ve to stay away from you all for a little longer than I thought. I do not wish to, but my business calls and I can’t not go. I have asked my mother to come take care of you.”

It was even stranger to hear those words, for I knew my father was not on good terms with his mother. My sisters, gluttons that they were, were asking him if they’d get more gifts when he returned next time. I waited for them to go to the market, and then accosted my father.

“Father, what has happened? I know you are hiding something from me, and you know me. I will not let go of the matter till you tell me. Why are you leaving us alone and going away again?”

He tried to change the topic, divert my attention but I stuck to it and after a while, he broke down and told me all about the stranger and his promise. My rose, it was my rose that had trapped him.

“I shall go. You stay here, take care of my sisters. I know to tend to a garden better than you. It is I who shall serve that stranger till a thousand roses bloom in his garden.”

He protested, but I didn’t listen. I packed my bag and was soon on my way. I was adamant that my father not be imprisoned for my rose.

**********

I saw her open the gate one morning as a light blanket of rain covered the garden. I never believed in love at first sight till then. She was dressed in a simple blouse and long skirt, her hair tied back in a ponytail, and a bag slung over her shoulders. She resembled Priya in a certain way. The raindrops seemed to kiss her lips as they slipped over them. Who was this angel sent from heaven? My lonesome heart began to beat faster as I opened the door to see her wipe the drops away from her face.

“I am Radha. My father had promised to return to you and tend to your garden. But he is required at home, for my sisters and I will be alone if he returned. I beseech you, kind stranger, let me take his place. I shall do whatever work is needed in the garden.”

She spoke in one breath before I could utter a word. Was she to work as a servant in my garden? No. She was my true love. I felt every fiber of my being shout those last two words.

“No, Radha. You are the girl I’d been looking for. From the moment I saw you at the gate, my heart has been telling that to me. You are the princess of this castle. Please, stay and be my all. I was happy when I heard few words about you from your father. Now I know why that was. Please, come inside.”

I prayed my words wouldn’t make her run away. She wouldn’t have expected a declaration of love the moment she stepped in. Even I hadn’t thought I would say those words. Thankfully, she entered the house, though she had a flummoxed look on her face.

“Stranger, I cannot be your love. My heart belongs to another, he too a stranger. I am here to serve in my father’s place. I would be delighted to be your friend.”

From that moment, I made sure she had every comfort. I talked with her every day as she, adamant as she was, tended to the rose garden. I watched her cook, and helped her clean. A strange energy had consumed me and my vigor had returned. Every night, I asked her if she would marry me, but she just repeated those words she had told me the first time I had asked her.

Months passed by, and our friendship grew. I prayed that it grow into much more. She never asked anything from me. I was happy. Then one morning, I saw her smile slip and asked her the reason.

“I miss my father, my sisters and my town. It has been months since I saw them. Could I go back for some time? I’ll see them and return. I promise.”

I couldn’t deny her. I remembered the curse, but I didn’t say a word.  I told her she could go for a week, and that she should return after. She smiled and hugged me, kissed my cheek. It was the closest she had come to me. As she went out the gate, she turned back. For a moment she waited, like she was unsure, and then walked away.

“Come back soon, princess, for I cannot live without you.”

**********

“Come back soon, princess, for I cannot live without you.”

I don’t know why I heard those words, or if the wind had carried them to me, but I did. I had stayed a day more than I had promised, acceding to my sisters’ tearful request, saying they missed me a lot. I missed them too, so I thought an extra day might not hurt. But those words hit me hard, and I knew in my heart, it was time I returned.

I wasted no time, and saying my goodbyes, I took the next bus that went past the estate. I had never felt such pain. I was praying that he was okay, that he wasn’t taken away from me.

I threw open the gate and rushed inside, only to see him lying prostrate on the carpet in the hallway.

“No. No. Adesh, wake up. Don’t leave me. I too love you.”

**********

“No. No. Adesh, wake up. Don’t leave me. I too love you.”

I opened my eyes slowly to see her face. Tears were streaming down and falling onto my eyes. She had returned. I heard her saying she loves me too. But would I live to be with her? What if I didn’t? She should know everything.

“My princess, you have returned,” I whisper, as she holds me closer.

“Don’t worry, I shall not leave again. It is you I love. My heart tells me too. Don’t speak too much. Let me take you to your room so you can rest.”

I stop her, and lying on her lap, I tell her my story. She listens to everything, and then smiles.

“But I have returned, so you shall not die. What has happened has happened. Let us not worry about that, love.”

Love! She called me Love!

“Princess, will you marry me?” I ask her again.

This time, she nods, laughing and pulling me to my feet with her shoulder under my right hand. It feels right. It feels like I’ve been given a second chance, one that I shall not leave. My true love is beside me. And that is all the strength I need to begin life again. I decide the future needs me to change, and not depend on just my father’s wealth. I know I will do it.

She tells me I must wait for a while, ask her father for her hand in marriage. I tell her I shall. I don’t mind waiting. We have an eternity ahead of us. A few more months won’t change that.

I look at the garden through the window.

The roses have begun to bloom again.