The village residents had assembled within the courtyard within the swirling mist of the early daybreak. The large peepal branches enveloped the courtyard in an eerie shade. The glistening mustard fields, encircled by clusters of low-roofed brick homes, painted the monotonous panorama of the abandoned village in hues of yellow and inexperienced. A herd of goats, sheep and buffaloes was grazing on the plush pastures close to a water trough. Kids hopped about on an outdated crimson rusty tractor parked underneath a shelter.
However the each day customary village routine was thwarted. The peasants hadn’t taken their ploughs to until the fields. The ladies, clad in loose-fitted shalwar kamiz with chadars pulled over their heads, appeared petrified as they mumbled to 1 one other.
Yusuf Baba, the village head, regarded stupefied, seated on a picket slab bench. The frail-looking aged man, wearing a beige-coloured dhoti-kurta, restlessly ran his fingers via the scanty hair on his head. ‘I sighted the identical ghost final evening. We have to beware. Our village is possessed,’ he urged.
The villagers gathered near him as he spoke about tossing and handing over mattress all evening after he felt he had seen a ghostly determine. ‘At half-past 4, my sleep was interrupted by the faint buzzing sounds of pesky mosquitoes. I discovered thick layers of smoke frothing into my room, which gave me a whooping cough.’
‘I shortly bought away from bed to hurry in the direction of the window and caught sight of a mysterious determine of mist roaming just a few miles over the fields, within the deep darkness of the evening,’ the villagers observed Yusuf Baba’s feeble fingers trembling like a leaf.
A sinking feeling of paralysing concern swept over the gang. The kids jumped off the tractor and stepped nearer. Their eyes have been broad open as they hung onto his phrases.
‘Plunging my head out of the window, I used to be shocked to see that the ghostly mist had become a hulking full-bodied ghost that disappeared into the air on the opposite facet,’ he recounted.
Cries of horror have been heard from the gang that had been anxiously hooked to Yusuf Baba’s tales whereas recalling their very own experiences of the ghost’s presence within the village. Gossip was heard from all corners about uncanny happenings. Residents claimed to have witnessed unusual marks on mirrors, some had heard heavy appalling voices, some reported disappearing objects from their properties and a few talked about doorways being locked on their very own.
A tall, full-figured girl in her fifties started beating her chest, screaming: ‘This ghost is popping our village right into a residing hell, however whose ghost is it? It have to be the ghost of the peasant who dedicated suicide final yr.’
A brief-statured herdsman standing close to the peepal carefully examined it. He scraped off a tiny piece of bark, ratifying that the tree gave the impression to be haunted. ‘My forefathers have been nomadic shepherds and I’ve heard from them that unusual cracks within the tree trunk are suggestive of it being possessed by a feminine ghost,’ he asserted, assuredly. ‘I believe it’s the ghost of the bride who was killed on her wedding ceremony day just a few years in the past,’ he added.
‘No, there’s something fairly totally different about this ghost…. I precisely do not forget that ghoulish ugliness on its face….it’s not from amongst us,’ Yusuf Baba interrupted.
‘Does it actually come from…?’ somebody tried asking.
Yusuf Baba instantly accomplished his sentence in a guarded whisper ‘I’ve informed you a lot instances that it comes from the opposite facet. It’s a Hindu ghost.’
A terrified girl dragged her five-year-old son into the center of the courtyard, warning him towards taking part in underneath the peepal tree until late within the night.
‘That ferocious Hindu ghost will eat you up in case you don’t come house earlier,’ she commanded.
Hashim, a quaint younger man clad in khaki trousers and a saggy navy-blue cotton shirt had been quietly listening to the gang’s snivelling. Thought of a hopeless dreamer, he had a long-standing liaison with unemployment. He was both seen wandering aimlessly within the village streets or hatching weird schemes to flee from working within the fields. And was, therefore, de- moted to belittling standing by the villagers.
‘The Hindu ghost is all in your creativeness. I’ve by no means seen any ghost in our village,’ he stuttered, although, he suspected an outrageous response.
The villagers glanced at one another, tossing their heads in utter dismay as in the event that they have been satisfied Hashim was possessed by the Hindu ghost. Yusuf Baba felt infuriated at being ridiculed thus regardless of for his achieved age-old knowledge and sense of prophecies.
He jumped off his seat, clearing his throat moderately loudly earlier than he said, ‘The Hindu ghost is placing our lives at risk and also you don’t imagine it. You need us to maintain sitting on our fingers?’
Hashim continued taking part in the ghost’s advocate. An argument broke out among the many residents.
In the meantime, Yusuf Baba’s gaze penetrated into the fields on the jap facet, the place he would typically see the ghost disappearing. An prolonged high-iron fence surmounted by loops of sharp barbed wire obstructed the fields. A four-kilometre muddy patch—that belonged to nobody—lay forward, enclosed by one other related high-iron fence.
The solar was, by now, loitering above the horizon, brightly illuminating the large panoramic high-quality inexperienced verdure that prolonged just a few miles down the village on the jap facet. Some ladies carrying earthenware pots have been heading in the direction of the effectively to attract water. Some washermen have been hanging laundry on the clotheslines surrounding a close-by dhobhi-ghat whereas others thrashed garments towards a stone slab.
A coral-coloured saree coated with spices, drying underneath the solar, was unfold on the sloppy courtyard flooring close to a water pump. Ratna Devi, an ordinary-looking middle-aged girl, was seated on a charpoy, making use of a home-made natural balm on her bruised left foot. One other girl gathering dried spices for pickle enquired about Ratna’s foot.
‘I used to be coming downstairs from the rooftop yesterday after I felt like I used to be pushed by an invisible power. I misplaced stability and fell down, injuring my foot,’ she disclosed in a low, pain-stricken voice.
The horrifying expressions on the opposite girl’s face may inform that her coronary heart may be working a marathon. ‘This matter is getting severe now. Have you learnt one thing related occurred with Bhavna, just a few weeks in the past?’ she asserted.
‘Did she additionally get pushed by the creepy ghost? Could God preserve us protected from this ghost’s curse,’ Ratna responded.
‘I’ve heard she had been listening to some horrifying whispers and lately she additionally noticed some phrases randomly showing on her room’s window, which she thought resembled Urdu,’ the opposite girl stated.
‘What? Does that imply it truly is a Muslim ghost?’ questioned Ratna.
The village elder, Mohan Chacha, a cranky big-bellied man, was smoking a hookah whereas resting in a white metallic chair. Over- listening to the dialog, he spoke up in a moderately irritable tone: ‘We’ve got been sighting the ghost for some time now, so we have to be vigilant. However it is best to first go to see the physician?’
‘I may barely stroll, however Chandar has gone to get a prescription from the physician for me,’ replied Ratna as she waited for her son’s return.
Chandar appeared exhaustingly frazzled when he arrived after a hasty stride down the village centre. He got here with the information that the clinic had been shut since early morning. For the previous two nights, the physician had been listening to somebody slamming and forcing open his door. He had been perplexed and had fallen sick.
‘I’m coming straight from the village centre and other people simply can’t cease prattling away for hours about that ferocious Muslim ghost,’ claimed Chandar.
Mohan Chacha sucked in a deep breath, showing nervous by the flip of occasions. Suspecting hazard, he referred to as in for all of the villagers to assemble exterior his home to resolve their most suit- ready plan of action. The peasants have been referred to as again from the fields. The village ladies suspended their family chores in the course of the day—and everybody gathered exterior Mohan Chacha’s dilapidated single-roof home.
Folks have been carefully huddled collectively. The sounds of a heated debate began reverberating as residents plunged headlong into their tales of encountering the Muslim ghost. All people frantically waited for his or her flip for a catharsis whereas recalling their dreaded reminiscences of the ghost.
A person claimed to have seen some mysterious footsteps across the border space. One other warned that the winds appeared ravenous nearer to the border, as if they’d blow one off their ft. Somebody believed that the wrathful Muslim ghost was bloodthirsty and it meant to convey them hurt. After chewing the cud for about just a few hours, the residents arrived at a consensus that most individuals had seen the ghost toiling across the barbed wires.
‘We’ve got sufficient proof that the vengeful Muslim ghost will cross again to its personal facet at any time when somebody catches its sight,’ stated Mohan Chacha.
‘And it’s now in our greatest curiosity that we name upon Swamiji Dharam Raj to pay us a go to and beat back the Muslim ghost, as soon as and for all,’ he continued.
The residents nodded their approval to Mohan Chacha’s recommendation. Additionally current within the crowd was the goat-keeper, Akash, a 22-year-old clean-shaven man who had his uninteresting brown muffler wrapped round his head within the type of a turban. He whispered to Chandar, seated subsequent to him, ‘Let’s go close to the border space tonight to identify the Muslim ghost earlier than it’s gone.’
Chandar was shell-shocked. He immediately turned down the concept, although he was considerably tempted to reply within the affirmative.
‘We will’t put ourselves in such a hazard…it’s not an peculiar ghost…. it’s a vengeful Muslim ghost.’ he asserted, as his eyes cautiously wandered round.
‘Think about our heroic return after confronting a Muslim ghost that has shaken all the village. We will likely be thought of probably the most daring individuals within the village.’ bragged Akash. ‘Sakshi can even be impressed,’ he laughed. His face flashed with a way of pleasure as he revelled in his approaching achievement.
Nearer to midnight, the heavy yellow moon was shining on the face of the darkish star-strewn skies. Each Akash and Chandar confirmed up close to the village’s tube effectively. Akash had wrapped a khaadi scarf and was carrying his lengthy sturdy stick. Chandar’s hunchback turned extra seen as his half-bent physique turned stiffer and colder with concern. Tightly holding a lantern in his left hand, he walked with Akash as they took to the dreary path etched between the fields.
They reached near the barbed wire in almost twenty minutes. They stood there stealthily; their gaze remained frozen to the opposite facet to catch that one glimpse of the Muslim ghost crossing into their facet.
‘I’ve heard from my grandmother that ghosts don’t reveal themselves to everybody,’ Chandar uttered timidly, as if he had already surrendered, ‘So, it may not seem tonight and we’d as effectively return.’
‘Half of our village has seen that Muslim ghost and so will we. Don’t attempt to rooster out on the final second like a coward,’ responded Akash.
He wasn’t completed but after they heard some creepy high-pitched screams echoing within the evening air. The screams appeared distant, however their actual supply was not identifiable. Chandar squeezed his eyes shut, turned again and in a flash of a second began dashing again via the identical rugged path that had introduced them there. Akash’s show of utmost bravery had nearly vanished. He may really feel his feelings tumbling and physique quivering as he ran again unsteadily after Chandar. Akash tried to steer himself that they hadn’t heard any screams, although deep down, they each appeared satisfied that the Muslim ghost was chasing them.
‘Akash, run sooner. And don’t flip again,’ stated Chandar. Defeated by his flaring match of curiosity, Akash, nevertheless, did flip again. He discovered nobody behind. However observed some fidgeting within the homes throughout the border. He noticed lights in a number of the homes steadily switching on.
Hashim, mendacity on his shabby charpoy, additionally heard the scream. He staggered down from the rooftop via a crumbling staircase and overheard an ongoing dialog concerning the Hindu ghost’s screams from a home within the neighbourhood.
The subsequent morning hadn’t solely introduced with it an agonizing sense of fright however had plunged the village into spirals of lamentation. Shahid, the short-statured herdsman, was mourning the lack of one in all his cows—his very supply of revenue.
‘It had not even occurred to us in our goals that the Hindu ghost would make our cow disappear,’ murmured Shahid’s spouse as tears crammed up her eyes. Two different village ladies snuggled near her, holding her tightly in a comforting embrace.
Yusuf Baba provided his comfort and knowledgeable them that the Peer Baba Yaqoob Din was on his manner. ‘He will likely be right here anytime quickly and can destroy the Hindu ghost, you simply wait and see,’ Yusuf Baba’s tone bought grim and livid.
Shahid, seated on the fringe of a rumbled chair as his legs paced restlessly, stated, ‘Peer Baba is the one one who can seize the spiteful Hindu Ghost, however don’t you assume that the police must also be told?’
Hashim cautiously interrupted, ‘I additionally heard the lethal scream final evening. I’m fairly satisfied it’s the Hindu ghost. Why on this planet would the Hindu ghost belief us beef-eaters with a cow?’
The villagers mocked him regardless of his final acceptance of the Hindu ghost. Within the eyes of the villagers, he was a deranged man who made acutely aware efforts to impress. Whereas Hashim made preparations to depart for the town, the Peer Baba arrived.
The outdated man was moderately tall and powerful for his age. His face was luminously brilliant and a prayer bump was seen between his thick eyebrows, bearing testimony to his piety and non secular devotion. Draped in a crisp white shalwar kurta, he donned a skullcap that partially coated his thick gray hair.
The Peer Baba obtained a courteous standing ovation from the village residents. Males got here touching his knees to pay him respect. A finely embellished blue-coloured couch, thought of the very best within the village, was introduced from Yusuf Baba’s home for him to take a seat on. A splendid meal was laid out for him on a lustrous dastarkhwan. Not a lot time was misplaced in his pompous bragging about triumphantly searching down ghosts earlier than he started his exorcism rituals.
‘I’ve acquired the data of capturing ghosts from our forefathers. We’ve got been serving individuals for many years,’ he revealed.
He displayed a set of things on a picket desk beside him; his bag exhibited a number of distinct herbs, spices and bottles of oils that have been every ready to be used towards totally different sorts of ghosts. He pulled out and burned some unique leaves, putting them inside an intricately carved metallic plate.
Quickly, the air bought heavier with the scent of burning leaves. Inhaling the fumes, he started chanting and synchronically spun his head at an incredible pace. Having fallen into supposedly a mystical trance, he spoke one other language.
He revealed in his regular, raspy voice that he had an encounter with the ghost. ‘This ghost has all of the sinister qualities possessed by the Hindu ghosts,’ he confirmed.
‘It’s not simply ghoulish to take a look at however can show to be fatally threatening for the village residents if not expelled quickly,’ he commanded. His face assumed an ambiguous smile, revealing warning cues to the villagers, ‘Some ghosts are simpler to search out, however this infidel Hindu ghost may require a number of periods.’
A startled little one within the courtyard inquisitively requested his mom, ‘Amma, do we’ve to really feel extra scared when a ghost is a Hindu?’ ‘Sure, son, our personal ghosts are harmless, god-fearing beings. Hindu ghosts are infidels and might go to any extent to trigger us hurt,’ defined the mom. The surprised look on the face of the kid meant he’d been scarred for all times.
Having half-heartedly witnessed the torturous exorcist rituals, Hashim lastly set off on his journey to the town. He drifted down the village streets reminding himself of his plan for the day: he was going to select up the hidden cow from the deserted dust floor, occupied by the craggy households of nomads, after which head straight to the principle avenue resulting in the town to promote it.
‘Now that the Hindu ghost was accountable for the cow’s disappearance, why should he really feel responsible and tolerate the callousness of the villagers,’ he thought to himself.
He, nevertheless, appeared puzzled pondering of final evening’s lethal screams that Akash was additionally nonetheless reeling from.
Akash was making an attempt to rise from beneath the consolation of his quilt in the course of the afternoon. The Muslim ghost’s scream gave him nausea-inducing goosebumps at any time when it replayed in his ears.
Nonetheless dazed by slumber, he washed his face with the water drawn from the hand pump within the courtyard. He heard Mohan Chacha’s irritated voice from behind, ‘You may even have sought Swamiji’s blessings had you gotten up a bit earlier.’
‘Swamiji was right here? Did he catch the Muslim ghost,’ Akash requested.
‘Sure, he nearly captured the Muslim ghost nevertheless it’s not so easy. Organized poojas, which Swamiji will likely be main, will likely be held within the village on specified dates, and the Muslim ghost will finally be forged off to the place it belongs,’ responded chacha.
‘Swamiji knowledgeable us that this Muslim ghost has devoured many Hindus. The repulsive-looking ghost is cannibalistic and can proceed its terror on our land till it’s expelled,’ added chacha.
Ratna Devi, leaning towards the wall close to her doorstep, breathed out a deep sigh earlier than saying, ‘I’ve been asking Chandar to recite Hanuman Chalisa however he by no means listened to me. Final evening, he bought tremors from a excessive fever.’
‘Sure, Chandar is possessed by the Muslim ghost. Swamiji may even see the Muslim ghost hiding behind his blood-red eyes,’ disclosed chacha.
‘The Muslim ghost nonetheless hasn’t left his physique and the concern is that if it stays longer, my son may begin talking Arabic,’ cried Ratna.
Akash didn’t utter a phrase. He sat down on an elevated stone slab in a head-down place along with his legs broad open and fingers clasped within the entrance. Guilt trickled via him as he raised his head and glared on the remotely seen barbed wire within the fields. Recalling final evening’s ordeal, he was engrossed in deep thought.
How may the fields tremble with the whooping sounds of the screams? Why have been the winds so wrathful there? How may the screams engulf all the space of their agency grip? He broke into a chilly sweat as he tried to dig deeper into the thriller. He stared on the deserted four-kilometre piece of land between the 2 villages.
‘That patch of land that belonged to no-one, may it, actually, belong to somebody?’ he thought.
‘No, however why would it not then goal us Hindus solely?’ he shortly refuted himself.
The ghostly screams continued to echo in each villages, getting all of the extra alarming and fearful. Uncanny happenings in each the villages didn’t come to a halt. Unusual footprints have been captured, objects have been moved and disappeared, mysterious whispers have been heard, petrifying shadows emerged from the fields and residents have been randomly grabbed and pushed.
The concern within the villages continued to intensify. The 2 villages appointed their very own guards to defend themselves from the menace of the ghost. Safety vans have been additionally seen patrolling to catch something out of the peculiar at nights. However the ghost didn’t go away.
The villages sank right into a deeper state of misery and panic. Many startled peasants stopped taking their tractors to the fields. An eerie silence prevailed within the abandoned village streets. The fields of gold steadily become a desolate wasteland. The sickly our bodies of the youngsters quickly turned crooked as their limbs shrunk. The darkish circles underneath the eyes grew deeper on the pale, haggard-looking faces of the villagers.
Particular prayers led by Peer Baba and Swamiji continued to be held. However the ghost nonetheless didn’t go away.
As days become weeks and weeks into months, the ac- counts of the ghostly presence reached adjoining villages and from there, they unfold deeper into smaller cities and a number of other large cities. And that’s how, steadily, the concern of the ghost turned bigger than the ghost itself.
Excerpted with permission from The Different within the Mirror: Tales from India and Pakistan, edited by Sehyr Mirza, Yoda Press.
