Aatma

Year: 1980, Place: Rajkot District Roads are meant to lead you to your destination, especially when you’re aware of all the routes that lead you there. Yet there are times when you reach an intersection and wonder which route to choose. Old beliefs claim that a witch resides at every intersection. Her silhouette comes into view only when you utter the dreaded question at an intersection, “Which route shall we choose?” Hari, a tenth grader aged fifteen, from Rajkot district in west India was aware of this belief. He belonged to a family of Hindu priests, who never believed in the existence of ghosts and devils. But as he would often quote, there is no light without shadow just like God without the Devil. Having encountered many during his growing years, he had learnt to believe in supernatural entities.  He was aware of all the do’s & don’ts of the paranormal universe unlike his cousin, Vicky, who made a grave mistake one night. It was during the winters of 1980, when all the tenth graders were busy preparing for their midterm exam. Hari was a bright student and stayed up all day long in his room, studying the notes he had prepared. One day as he rummaged through his drawers for a particular textbook, he recalled having lent it to a friend of his, who lived in the next village. Determined to get it back, he prepared to leave that afternoon, when his mother insisted he let his cousin, Vicky accompany him. Vicky was four years younger to Hari and had come to spend his holidays with them. “Do you really want to come along? I’ll be going on foot, you might not be used to it,” Hari made a face and wondered when Vicky would return to his hometown, since he wasn’t comfortable having cousins at his place. “Not really, your mom caught me sulking in boredom and suggested to go along with you. I hate this place,” Vicky frowned. “Hmm…this place does get boring at times, why don’t you join me? I’m going to a friend’s house to retrieve my textbook, they have a T.V, so we can as well catch the semi finals of the match and return home,” Hari said and glanced at him. He knew he would agree, because those days not every house in the village owned a T.V. “Sounds good to me, do they have food?” Vicky’s face brightened up as he left what he was doing and readily accompanied him. The two walked on foot to the next village and stayed back at his friend’s house to catch the semi finals of the cricket match. It was when night set in  that the match ended, but Vicky refused to head back home on foot. Reluctant, Hari arranged for a horse driven cart and together traveled back to their village. Guided by the moonlight, the skinny horse trotted over the barren path until it came to a halt at the entrance of their village. “We have reached your village,” The driver announced and gestured them to get off. Vicky insisted that they be dropped at the door of their house, but the driver refused to enter the village.  “My horse won’t go any further,” He said with a straight face and left them alone. “It’s not that far now, just stick to me and hold my hand,” Hari assured him and walked ahead. They walked in the dead of night, through the lanes and by lanes of the village that was fast asleep. In order to reach home faster, he took Vicky through a shortcut. It was when they neared the intersection that the unexpected happened. Hari paused to recall which route was the right one, when Vicky blurted. “Which route are we supp…” He had hardly finished when Hari swiftly pressed his hands over Vicky’s mouth. Vicky was taken aback by his cousin’s reaction, he stared at him in confusion while Hari stood still. The dogs that had been barking earlier, stopped as their surroundings fell silent. Hari was sweating in fear and prayed no one had heard Vicky, but the damage had already been done. Far at a distance behind the boys, the soft cries of a young lady crept in and startled them. Hari froze the minute he realized what it was. “Who’s that?” Vicky got curious and softly asked him as the cries got louder. He was about to turn, when Hair stopped him. “Don’t you dare look behind…” He whispered and narrowed his eyes. “But..” Vicky protested before Hari caught his hand and pulled him along as they crossed the intersection. Vicky was clueless to what was happening until he sensed they were being followed by the same crying lady. A chill ran down his spine when he heard her delicate footsteps getting closer. He was tempted to ask Hari why they were being followed, but when the cries got louder and more violent, he realized it was best to keep mum and walk with his cousin. It wasn’t long before they spotted a shadow creeping its way across the path they were walking on. That’s when Hari panicked. “Run!” He yelled  and with that said they both ran as fast as they could. The cries turned deadlier as the lady tried catching up with them, but the boys continued running ahead without looking behind. With his heart in his mouth, Hari looked for cover.  As luck had it he spotted an abandoned shop and pulled Vicky inside before shutting the door. The door banged with force as the lady outside got angrier and began shrieking. “What is happening, who is that woman?” Vicky cried in terror and hid under the table. “Haven’t you understood as yet? You awakened the bloody witch,” Hari yelled and covered his ears with his hands. Vicky panicked and turned numb, for he had never imagined that he would be chased by a witch. Hari however was used to it, he knew the witch wouldn’t leave unless she had captured her victim. The ear piercing screaming continued as both the boys stayed hidden inside. Hari was aware not to pay attention to her screams for she was only doing it to force them out of their hiding. Covering his ears, he tried his best to ignore her screams, but the same could not be said to Vicky. Disturbed by the banging and earsplitting screams, Vicky lost his mind and reached for the door. The noises were driving him crazy, unable to bear them anymore he decided to run out, when all of a sudden Hari pulled him back. Holding him close, he felt his heart pounding against his ribs as he assured Vicky that everything would be fine. All they had to do was stay hidden till she gave up. The night was a long and horrific one as they anticipated the witch to give up.  Vicky begged him to let him go, but Hari knew the consequence and used all his might to hold him back. “Don’t let her get inside your head!” He kept telling him, but Vicky was far from heeding It. Maddened by her screams, he pushed Hari away and barged out before Hari could conjure what had happened. “Vicky!” he called out to him, but it was too late. The screaming stopped and so did the banging, all that Hari heard was his heartbeat. With the first c***k of dawn, Hari peeped out and found that the witch had fortunately disappeared. Relived, he thanked his stars but wondered what had happened to Vicky. He was surprised to find Vicky soundly asleep in his house. Shocked that he had survived, he woke him up, when his mother yelled at him for coming home late. “Where the hell were you? Couldn’t you have just told me that you were planning to stay over at your friend’s house? I was going to send Vicky this morning to look for you,” She complained. “ Vicky? But you had already sent him with me, we were together until the sun came out,” Hari explained in confusion. “What nonsense, I never sent him with you. Vicky has been at home all this while,” she replied and stunned him.                                 ***