He sprang towards the road, where Iyer had fallen in a swoon. In the meantime, the woman had disappeared around the bend in the road. He knew she would return in a few minutes.
Rushing to the unconscious officer, he carried him across his shoulders and ran towards their suite. Not once did he look back.
‘She’s a ghost,’ Iyer stammered after he regained consciousness.
‘I advised you to keep away, but you were determined to behave foolishly,’ retorted Sameer. ‘The next time, I may not be around to save you,’ he warned.
Although Iyer nodded in an obedient manner, his mind was made up. He would not give up, he decided.
‘I don’t believe in ghosts,’ he said after recovering from the shock. ‘It must have been a delusion.’
‘Why don’t you accept that she is a ghost? You can do nothing about the matter. Just forget all this madness and concentrate on your work,’ advised Sameer.
‘For the sake of argument, even if I agree that she is a ghost, should we not find out where she goes?’
‘It’s of no use.’
‘I hate mysteries,’ said Iyer. ‘I will not be able to relax till I have solved it.’
Sameer was surprised at Iyer’s stubbornness, but there was nothing he could do.
From cajoling and coaxing to threatening, he had tried everything, but Iyer remained firm in his determination to follow the woman.
The next night, Iyer dressed in black. He wore a pair of running shoes so he could chase her if necessary. There was a state of heightened excitement in the room as the two officers waited for the woman to arrive. She arrived promptly at midnight, her anklets jingling musically. They allowed her to pass, since Iyer had planned to follow the woman on her way back.
A little later, they heard the sound of anklets. Peeping out, Iyer saw the lady returning. One last time, Sameer tried to dissuade his friend and failed. Iyer stepped out of the room. Slipping into the shadows, he began following the woman. She walked at a brisk pace and headed towards Sansarpur. Iyer was familiar with the route, since he used it for morning runs with the troops.
All of a sudden, the woman turned towards the left fork on the road and took the lane that led towards the graveyard.
Iyer halted behind a banyan tree and waited. He knew that the huge iron gates of the graveyard were locked. The woman, however, walked right through the locked gate. Iyer waited and watched till the lady was out of sight.
Sameer, who was following at a distance, was relieved when Iyer decided to turn back. The two of them jogged back to their rooms in silence.
‘Now that you are convinced that she is a ghost, I hope you will give up,’ Sameer remarked at the breakfast table.
‘No, sir! I am all the more determined to confront her.’
Iyer’s father had been a colonel in the army. When he retired, the old man had handed over his pistol to his son. As per army regulations, the pistol had been deposited in the armoury for safekeeping and could be taken out only after the necessary paperwork.
That evening, Sameer saw his friend cleaning the pistol. His worst fears seemed to be coming true. Iyer seemed to be rushing towards his doom.
‘What are you doing?’ he asked the officer.
‘Nothing!’ replied Iyer with a sly smile. ‘I am readying myself for a battle with the ghost.’
Sameer was aghast. ‘When did you get the pistol from the armoury?’ he asked.
‘I got it issued after lunch.’
‘What are you planning to do? Why do you need a pistol?’
‘Tonight, I will follow her right inside the graveyard,’ replied Iyer.
‘Have you gone crazy?’ Sameer shouted. ‘You can’t shoot a ghost.’
‘I am not convinced that she is a ghost. Perhaps, she’s trying to hoodwink us by pretending to be one. I will shoot at her. If she is a human, she’ll die and if she’s a ghost, there will be no loss.’
‘You have gone mad. I refuse to be a part of your crazy plans.’
But curiosity got the better of him and Sameer decided to follow his friend.
After dinner, Iyer donned black once again. He was carrying his pistol in his belt and a torch in the pocket. As usual, the woman walked towards the military hospital at midnight. The moment she returned, Iyer slipped out and began following her.
After the two of them had gone about five hundred metres, Sameer began following them. This time, Iyer had no idea that Sameer was on his tail. At the graveyard, just like the previous night, the lady walked through the locked gate.
Sameer remained hidden behind a tree just outside the gate, watching as his friend leapt over the gate and landed smoothly on the other side. Military training can come to one’s aid at the oddest of times.
The winter fog was setting in and visibility was low. Soon, Sameer could not see his friend. He grew restless as the minutes ticked by. He strained his eyes, but could see nothing. Despite perking up his ears, he couldn’t hear anything.
Time seemed to stand still. Tension grew as the minutes passed. Sameer began fretting as he wondered what Iyer was doing in the graveyard. Fearing that he was in trouble, Sameer began moving towards the locked gate of the graveyard.
He had jumped over the gate and landed in the graveyard when he heard the sound of a gunshot followed by a loud scream. Realizing it was Iyer’s voice, Sameer raced in the direction of the sound.
Stumbling and falling over graves in the dense mist, he sped up. His heart was beating rapidly and his hands were frozen with fear as he hastened. Something untoward had happened. He could feel it in his bones.
Low visibility hampering his progress, Sameer called out for Iyer. A deathly silence greeted his shout.
It was not a very big graveyard. Fifteen minutes later, Sameer found himself standing before a grave. Unlike the other graves, this one was in good condition. There were no weeds or grass around it. Instead, there was an orderly row of lilies all around the grave.
His eyes fell on Iyer. He was lying on the marble slab and a pool of blood covered the area around him. The officer had been shot in the head. The gun lay a few feet away from his body.
A fragment of white coloured fabric was clutched in his right hand. The rest of it had disappeared inside the grave.’
13
A LETHAL GAMBLE
Anirudh looked around the room and sighed with relief. Almost everyone had narrated his story. The only person left to tell his story was the jeweller from Gujarat.
All eyes turned towards the jeweller.
‘OK, OK, I know it is my turn,’ chuckled the jeweller before anyone could speak. He had a guttural voice and spoke slowly. ‘I am from Surat, and my story is based in the town I lived in all my life. I wonder how many of you have heard of Old Civil Hospital at Surat?’
Although everyone knew about the city, not many knew about the hospital.
‘The Old Civil Hospital at Surat has earned laurels for its efficiency during times of crisis.’ The portly figure of the jeweller shifted in his chair as he began narrating his story. ‘You ask anyone, and they will tell you how the hospital played a major role in controlling the pneumonic plague that ravaged Surat in 1994. Then again, during the floods in 2006, they prevented the spread of epidemic in the city. It is all thanks to the doctors and their medical teams, who worked round the clock with total dedication.’
‘Have we switched to narrating historical stories?’ came a sarcastic question from a figure in the dark. ‘Let’s not deviate from the original objective.’
‘Have patience, my friend,’ the jeweller tried to appease the protestor. ‘You will find that my story has not deviated from the original objective. Paying tribute to the hospital is not the purpose of this story. I am trying to give you the background of my setting. Just as the doctors work hard during the crises, they are known to enjoy themselves when the going is smooth. This happens when people of Surat are in good health and more than half the beds of the over 1,200-bedded hospital lie empty.
&nbs
p; As always, it is the younger lot, mostly the interns, who are prone to mischief, adventure and merry-making. Mahesh and Dhaval, two young doctors of the Old Civil Hospital, had been friends since their days in nursery. It helped that the two families lived in adjoining apartments in Vadodara. The boys played gully cricket in the space between the two apartment buildings, flew kites on the terrace, ate at each other’s dining tables, talked to girls and played pranks. After they passed out of the same school, they went on to appear for the entrance examination for their medical degree.
To their surprise and happiness, both of them were successful in getting admission to the Government Medical College at Surat. Coincidences didn’t end with the medical degree. It was like fate was bent upon keeping them together. After completing their medical degree, the two friends found themselves together at the Old Civil Hospital. Most of the interns lived in the hostel adjoining the hospital, so that it was convenient for them to report for emergencies and night duties. Mahesh and Dhaval were allotted a room on the first floor of the hostel, which had three floors.
As usual, the two medicos had to face some amount of ragging, but their friendship kept them going. Ragging was done discreetly since it wasn’t allowed by the college. No one reported nor resisted. The ragging was neither unbearable nor did it last long. So, everyone took it in their stride.
Life became easier after the juniors were accepted into the fraternity. What didn’t end was the endless round of duties that the juniors were assigned. They were kept on their toes. ‘There’s a lot to be learnt,’ they were told by the seniors. ‘Unless you work hard, you can’t survive in this profession.’
Despite the duties, the high-spirited interns managed to find the time to indulge in mischief and fun. Weekends were easier as the seniors relaxed or went on outings. Those who worked during the weekends were generally allowed an easier time sometime during the week. Although they were put on weekend duty, Mahesh and Dhaval found themselves looking forward to the days when their rosters would be easier and things slackened slightly.
A visit to the Dumas beach had been on their list for some time. The two of them had visited the beach several times as students, but they never tired of the place. Romantic by nature, Dhaval could spend hours watching the swirling blue waves kissing the shores. He loved breathing in the salty air.
Mahesh, who was a matter-of-fact person, loved sampling the snacks that the vendors had on offer. Paani puri, Lashkari tomato bhajiya and tender coconut water were his favourites. Whatever their interests, they both loved the vibrant atmosphere at the beach.
Unlike many visitors, the two friends didn’t believe that the beach was haunted or that the spirits of the dead wandered around at night. It was rumoured that some beachgoers had disappeared while taking a walk at night. Many claimed to have experienced spooky happenings after sunset.
‘I wish we could run into a ghost one evening,’ Dhaval said during one of their visits. ‘That would add an exciting experience to our lives, don’t you think?’
‘That’s known as wishful thinking! You can meet ghosts only if they exist,’ Mahesh scoffed at the rumours of paranormal happenings. ‘I think the tales originated because the beach was once used as a cremation ground. Isn’t it ridiculous to believe that the black colour of the sand comes from the hundreds of bodies burnt on the beach? Cremation grounds and burial sites never fail to create spooky stories.’
‘I think the stories add to the thrill of the place,’ said Dhaval. ‘Besides, most people leave the beach just after sunset and that will allow us to enjoy the place in peace.’
‘That’s true! I don’t mind adding to those rumours,’ Mahesh grinned mischievously. ‘We could claim to have run into the ghost who is supposed to attack the people who stroll on the beach after sunset. The yarn could make us famous.’
The beach, with its black sand contrasted against the blue sky and waves, looked especially beautiful during sunset. The best part was that the place became isolated as soon as it was dark. There was no doubt that the place had an eerie atmosphere, but that could be due to all the popularly-known tales about the place.
‘Let’s spend a night on the beach,’ suggested Dhaval. ‘I am sure we will see some paranormal activity.’
‘Are you crazy? There is no paranormal activity on the beach. Besides, I would rather spend the night on a comfortable bed than the sand.’
‘It is all bakwas,’ said Santosh, the coconut vendor, whom the two patronized. ‘People get drowned at all beaches. Some have drowned on Dumas beach, too. Anyway, the stories are good for business. Lots of visitors come to the beach expecting to meet ghosts.’
‘How long have you been selling coconuts on this beach?’ Mahesh asked the wizened old man.
‘I have been here for the past fifteen years and I have never seen a ghost.’
‘Someone must have seen something,’ insisted Dhaval. ‘How else would the stories have originated?’
‘Neither me nor the other vendors have seen a ghost,’ Santosh nodded his head. ‘But, I go away at night. Who knows, the ghosts could be visiting the beach after midnight.’
Several months passed and a couple of new interns joined the hospital. The arrival of the juniors created excitement amongst the seniors in the hostel. There was ragging to be done, and all the unpleasant duties could be passed down to them. Varun Mehta, who was one of the new arrivals, was allotted a room at one end of the corridor. It was a tiny room with a single bed and a closet. Its window opened towards the thicket of trees at the back.
Like the other seniors, Mahesh and Dhaval were waiting to pounce upon the juniors. The two of them decided to rag Varun.
They bought inexpensive black-coloured overalls like the ones worn by mechanics, a tin of white paint and a brush. Mahesh drew a skeleton on the overalls. Once it was drawn, he put on the overalls and switched off the lights.
‘It’s perfect,’ Dhaval commented. He couldn’t stop laughing at the sight of his friend. In the dark, it seemed as though a skeleton was moving around.
‘I am going to creep into Varun’s room tonight,’ declared Mahesh, switching on the lights in the room.
It was the second night of his arrival, and Varun, who had been kept busy through the day, was sleeping in his room. At around midnight, Mahesh positioned himself at the window. He was wearing the black overalls with the skeleton painted on it. Dhaval lurked in the corridor, waiting for the fun to begin.
Mahesh tapped on the window and began making eerie sounds. The junior was fast asleep and it took a lot of noise to wake him up. It was only after the prankster had tossed a small pebble on the guy that his eyes flew open. Still half asleep, Varun saw the ghoulish sight of a skeleton standing at his window. He screamed and sat up on the bed.
Dhaval and Mahesh raced back to their room. In their room, they couldn’t stop laughing over Varun’s reaction.
‘Did you see his eyes?’ Mahesh chuckled. ‘They were round as saucers with fright.’
‘Thank god, he didn’t decide to chase you down the corridor,’ said Dhaval.
In his room, Varun soon recovered from the shock. He realized that some senior had decided to play a trick on him. He had faced a similar situation during his initial days in the medical college. It was a common prank played by medical students. It was only because he had been in deep slumber and was half asleep that he had been frightened. His brain had not been working when he spotted the skeleton at his window.
The next day, while going for breakfast, Varun spotted the smirk on Dhaval’s face. He noticed that both Mahesh and Dhaval were stealing amused looks at him. ‘He seems to have recovered,’ Varun heard Mahesh saying. By the end of the breakfast, he was sure that the two friends were responsible for the trick on him.
Once the two seniors had left for the hospital, Varun stole into their room. He searched the closet and discovered the painted overalls. He was now sure that the prank had been played by Mahesh and Dhaval.
At lunch, he loaded his tray
and sauntered to the table where the two friends were seated. ‘Good afternoon, sirs. May I join you?’ he asked politely.
For a few minutes, they ate in silence and then Mahesh turned to Varun. ‘Did you have a nightmare yesterday?’ he asked. ‘We heard you screaming last night.’
‘Everything fine, I hope,’ added Dhaval, trying to suppress his laughter.
‘That was nothing. It was just some senior trying to play a prank on me. He vanished before I could chase him,’ Varun smiled at the seniors. ‘It’s a very old trick. It doesn’t work anymore. It’s time the seniors thought of new ones.’
‘Hope it was not a ghost,’ said Mahesh. ‘The hostel is supposed to be haunted. In fact, there was a death in your room. Since then, it is said to be haunted by a ghost.’
‘It doesn’t matter, since I don’t believe in ghosts,’ said Varun.
‘You really don’t believe in ghosts?’ asked Dhaval.
‘No, I don’t.’
‘In that case, let’s go to Dumas beach on Saturday. That is, if you are not on night duty. I can guarantee that you will change your opinion after the visit,’ said Mahesh.
The junior intern, who was from Chandigarh, had never heard of Dumas beach or the stories connected with it. He scoffed at the thought of encountering ghosts on the beach.
‘Why don’t we have a bet on that?’ Varun smirked.
The three of them put down a thousand rupees each. It was decided that if Varun spent three hours after midnight on the beach, he would get the money, otherwise the two friends would keep the entire sum. The only condition was that the junior had to remain alone on the beach.
‘Dhaval and I will accompany you to the beach and remain with you till midnight,’ said Mahesh. ‘Thereafter you will be on your own.’
‘I am fine with the idea,’ agreed Varun.
Back in their room, Dhaval and Mahesh began planning their moves.
‘We have to ensure that he does not win the bet,’ said Dhaval. ‘It will be a shame to lose the money to a junior.’
Spooky Stories Page 13