The Haunting

It’s 6.30 p.m. I decide to call it a day and start from office. I get into my brand new Hyundai i10 Sportz, turn on the integrated music system, tune into 98.3 F.M, switch on the A.C and start driving. I reach J.N.T.U and as luck would have it, the signal turns red just when my turn comes. I press the breaks and my car comes to a halt. At the signals, I see the regular scenes of chaotic traffic jams, tired employees crossing roads everywhere, street hawkers trying to sell all they could as it is the close of business hour.

And then, amidst this busy environment, I see a small cute little girl running. Pre-occupied in her own world, she appeared jubilant, excited yet serene. She was running around with bare feet, to catch up with her friends. There was something about her, which caught my attention. As I watch her, the cacophony of honking distracts me and then, I realize that the signal turned green. I change the gear, press the accelerator and cross the road.

Finally, after one and a half hours of strenuous journey, I reach home. I decide to take the staircase and slowly reach 2nd floor where my deluxe flat is. I walk in the corridor and once I reach my flat, I grope inside my big Baggot leather handbag and successfully pull out my keys bunch. As I try unlocking the door, I hear a huge laughter. I turn around to see who it is and it’s again her. I see her sitting on the floor and playing with her friends while an old woman who appears to be her grand mother struggles to feed her the banana. Perplexed to find her in my apartments, I step inside my flat. I turn the light on and the sounds of calmness in my house win over the small girl’s laughter. It’s two weeks that my Husband left to U.S and I already feel the boredom. I switch the T.V on and aimlessly browse through all the channels, watch the news for some time and then decide its time to prepare dinner. I do not fall in the category of people who love eating; I eat for mere survival whereas my Husband is a great lover of food. So after he left, I do not have any interest or motivation to cook variety. I head towards the big double door refrigerator and open the door. As I look for vegetables, I notice something. Oh my God! It’s the Sundae Family pack ice cream which we had bought 2 weeks ago, I got just too busy and forgot eating it. Looks like there was a power failure for a long time, the ice cream not only melted but also leaked down the chill tray. Having no choice left, I go into the kitchen to get the wiping cloth.

Unbelievable, but I see her yet again. The little girl is standing in the corner of my kitchen, licking the cover of a small vanilla ice cream cup. Cute she was with ice cream all over her face. Before I ask her who she is and what is she doing in my kitchen, she vanishes. Strange hallunications… I think I should owe it all to my project stress…
I pick up the wiping cloth and clean up the mess. I am so tired that I decide not to cook anything but drink a glass of milk and sleep. I boil the milk, drink it and decide to go to bed early, as I have to start my day early tomorrow.

I make my bed, switch off the lights and stretch myself. It’s early March, but summer started showing its power already. Unable to bear the heat, I decide to turn the A.C on. I search for the a/c remote, but unable to locate it in the darkness, I switch on the lights and try looking for it through those unfolded comforters on my bed. My search operation goes in vain, so I decide to sleep in the next bedroom. All our bedrooms are air-conditioned. In fact our deluxe flat has all facilities (except for the fact that there are no people nor there is time to relish these luxuries).

I step into the other bedroom and this time I first ensure that the remote of this a/c is there and the a/c is operational. I go to bring my comforter and when I re-enter the bedroom, I notice that the room is full with 5 people sleeping down on the floor. People whose faces I am unable to recognize, but yes, one face does appear familiar. This is impossible! It’s the little girl again. I see her sleeping next to another boy who should be around 4 years elder to her. They are both pushing each other so that the stronger one gets to sleep in front of the small air cooler. The girl finally wins over him, not with muscles but with her mouth. Suddenly, I realize that all these unknown people are sleeping in MY bedroom. I get pissed off by these continuous, strange encounters and decide to shout at them. I enter the room but yet again, I see no one in the room and its absolutely silent. I get irritated but feel helpless, so get onto the bed and quietly go to sleep.

Entire night, the little girl with her bright eyes, lively face, and broad smile continues to haunt me in my dreams. Is it a ghost? Or some kind of black magic someone is trying to play? Can’t be! I am not a person who believes in all these, but now I start getting anxious. I try diverting my thoughts and finally fall asleep around 2.00 in the midnight.

Next morning, after snoozing the alarm six times, I finally manage to wake up at 6.45 a.m. I go straight to the washroom to wash my face and when I look into the mirror, instead of my image, I find hers.
It is only then, that I realize. I recognize that smile, I recognize those naughty looks and I have known this face for years. Because, that face is my own face when I was 8 years old. The 8-year-old face never traveled in car, never had a family pack ice cream, never slept in an air-conditioned room, but always had a bright face and an untiring smile. Over the years, as I grew, I probably got busy in my daily chores, so left that face behind. My soul misses that face so started haunting me.