A SCARY NIGHT AT SID'S RETREAT

Nightmare repeated 2!

We were waiting outside the gates of the villa at around 8.15 a.m.By now all cars had lined up to take us to the bride's home.There were around 6 cars and 3 Tata sumos.5 cars were black and shining .Only the groom's car was pristine white and decked up in flowers.The Tata sumos were booked for the helpers and their families.Soon people in their colorful paraphernalia gathered outside the gates.There was a lot of commotion and just then uncle announced in his deep voice,All set! everyone's here.Did you all load the gifts properly?The family replied in affirmative. He then asked everyone to get into the cars.I was about to get into the black car when uncle said, beta you and your husband will sit with aloke.We got into aloke's car without further delay.Aloke was glowing today.The fleet of cars started moving now.People were cheering ,gigling and shouting.Some relatives were whistling. I saw the basket ball ground pass by.I will miss sikkim I thought to myself. The cars were speeding now.It was just 2 hours journey from sikkim to kalimpong. After an hour the cars stopped for a tea break.We all had tea,toasts and marmalade.Aloke's sisters were clicking pictures.I was wearing the white and golden georgette saree with a heavy golden necklace. and a golden heel shoe.All the ladies were admiring my beauty.Aloke started calling out everyone after sometime.He asked us to hurry and proceed with the journey. We reached the bride's house at around 1 o clock.We were welcome by the bride's family. We were taken to a beautiful hall decorated with yellow and orange flowers.The bride was sitting in her wedding attire.We all were introduced to her one by one.The bride looked very happy and excited.Aloke introduced us to her.I took out the gift we had bought for her and gave it to her.It was a beautiful office kind of smart gold jewellery set.The bride got loads of gifts from the groom's side.After half an hour of serving of refreshments the bride and groom exchanged their rings.We all were clapping and cheering.

The wedding was supposed to take place after two days from engagement. After the lunch I asked aloke about going back to sikkim. Aloke to my utter surprise told me,no going back bhabi we all will be staying in kalimpong for the next two days as all arrangements have been made by the bride's family.I was feeling very uncomfortable by now.I did not want to stay in kalimpong after that harrowing experience but I had no choice. After an hour or so the bride's father alloted hotels, homestays and resorts for us.We waved goodbye to aloke and moved towards the places we were booked in.It was already dark by the the time we reached our resort. Our room was on second floor.It was a beautiful hill view suite.We were very happy. The bride's family had really made good arrangements. After a hot bath I laid down for a moment. I asked my husband about the plans for the next 3 days.He said two days of ceremonies at the bride's place and then the final day of wedding. I said that after 3 days we can go back to Kolkata. My husband then told me that the rituals included taking the bride back to the groom's house and then a final reception party.I was not willing to stay that long as I wanted to go home and hug my baby.We had a big argument on this and I asked him to book my tickets after the wedding. I told him that he an stay till the reception is over.My impatience was growing now .We had just soup that night and dozed off.I woke up early in the morning the next day.I was roaming in the lobby and then I decided to come down the stairs and see the whole place.The whole resort was looking colorful with beautiful flowers.It was very misty and foggy.Just then a house keeping guy went by.I asked him bhaiya ,what's the name of this resort? He smiled and said," Sid's Retreat"! I got the shock of my life!I asked him whether it's the same resort which was on school road and he replied in affirmative. I had many questions going on my mind when my husband called me up to the room.Come and

have your Chai,he shouted.I went up quietly had my Chai and asked him,are we in the same resort we came 5 years ago? You knew it,isn't it? He was looking at the floors now but baby he quickly said,it's all renovated. The whole structure was changed.All the rooms were broken and restructured. I was feeling as I had been deceived by the evil.I fumbled in anger o..k ...OK I will speak to aloke today.We will shift to some other hotel.I don't require a suite,I will manage in a small room.Its only about 3 days.I was going on blabbering Shut up! said my husband loudly to control my panic attack. Please don't worry at all its just a matter of 3 days.I can't burden up aloke regarding our stay.As it is the arrangements are from the bride's side.Always remember the devil always wants you to fight. My mood was totally off by now.After freshening up we had our breakfast. Today was mehendi function at the bride's place. I chose a lemon yellow chudidaar kameez ,wore a light gold jewellery and sprayed my favorite perfume. I tied my hair up in a ponytail. At around 10 o clock a car came to pick us up to the bride's house.It was around an half hour drive from the resort to their house.We reached the venue.The house was hustling and bustling with laughters,music and people.The bride was putting mehendi on her hands.She looked very happy.She was wearing a dark green coloured chiffon saree with golden jewellery. She was looking very pretty.She called out my name and asked me to sit with her.Some of the ladies took my hands and started putting mehendi on it.I said only left hand please. I love to put mehendi but I don't like the gooey feeling plus my dress was light coloured and I wanted to avoid the stain.On top I was very impatient to let it dry properly. My eyes were searching for aloke now.Aloke was being introduced to the bride's family,family friends and acquaintances. I slowly went towards him.Aloke enquired,bhabi all o.k.You look very pale today.Any problem? Oh! nothing she is just tired partying, my husband said out of the blue.

I'm trying to talk to aloke I said.My husband shushed me.Please don't be selfish he said.Aloke is busy,can't you see? It's his big day goddammit. Tears rolled down my cheeks.I went outside the hall with a heavy heart.I wanted to shout out and cry.I could not imagine life playing a silly joke on me again.Was history repeating?One of aloke's cousin saw me and took me inside.I grabbed a glass of juice and started sipping on it.I faked a smile and sat in one corner. I just thought to myself, wish I could just disappear.I was busy in my thoughts just then aloke came with a plateful of lunch.Bhabi this is for you.I thanked him and was about to speak to him and I suddenly saw my husband's eyes fixed on me.I kept shut.I ate my lunch and waved everyone goodbye.A car was waiting outside the bride's house to take us back to the resort.Aloke came running to me,bhabi if you don't mind can my friend stay with me? You look tired so you go and take rest in your room. I went back to the resort. I straight away went to my room and changed into pajamas and a comfortable t-shirt.I wasn't sleepy so I went to the balcony and sat down on a chair.It was around 3.30 p.m and the view was just breathtaking. I dozed off sitting on the balcony chair and suddenly a gush of wind whispered loudly into my ear.I woke up bit scared.I came inside the room and closed the balcony door tightly.I called the room service to send me a cup of coffee and some cookies.I had the coffee and cookies and started to dress up for the function.I chose a Dhakai muslin saree in neon green and orange colour.The saree was embedded with pearls.It was beautiful saree from my wedding collection. At around 6 o clock I was informed from the reception of the resort that a car had come to pick me up.I went and sat in the car.It was dark outside and just a few street lights were on.I went inside and saw arrangements going on for a musical show.My husband and aloke came forward to take me inside. People had started to gather for the show.It was kind of a Sangeet party.The bride's mehendi had come out very well.It was so dark.She was looking pretty in a baby pink lehenga. We all danced, had snacks and then had dinner.The function was over by 9 o clock.

We waved everyone goodbye and returned to the resort.The staircase of the resort was wooden and the floors were also wooden.We both changed into our night dress and were about to sleep,just then we heard a loud thud from the kitchen area of our suite.My husband went to check and he saw the coffee pot into pieces.He picked up each broken piece and threw them in a dustbin.He came back to sleep and again heard some noises.He went back again to check and saw all the cupboards open.He closed each one of them carefully. This time he heard the furnitures move in the living room.He went and checked the living room but everything was in its place.I was getting scared by now.Why is this happening to us I thought? We have done nothing wrong to anyone.We both prayed to our gods and slept.We woke up early the next morning. My husband asked me to come out in the garden and walk for a while.Mornings are so fresh in mountains. I saw a lady work in the garden and I asked about the previous gardener couple working in the resort.She smiled and said that they had left.My husband called me from upstairs getting bit irritated. Hey! Come up and have your Chai.It was very clear that he didn't want me to mingle with the workers in the resort. I went up and told him that the Chai could wait. He didn't seem to bother and asked me to have the Chai.I gulped down the Chai.My head suddenly started to ache and slowly all my body was in tremendous pain.My husband touched my head and it was burning. I was running fever.He asked me to take rest that day.He gave me a fever reducing medicine.He ordered me some breakfast. I asked him to go to aloke's bride house as they were having a registered marriage in the afternoon. My husband was getting worried for me and wanted to stay back.I assured him that I will be fine.He dressed up in a very low mood and went out.I somehow managed to eat the breakfast and tried to sleep.I heard a knock on our door. I went and opened the door.It was the young lady worker I met I the morning. She had come to change the bedsheets and clean our room.I told her to come back the next day as I wanted to take some rest.She asked me whether I was ok.I told her that I'm just running a little temperature. She got concerned and asked if I needed something. I replied in negative. She offered me a massage to relieve my pain.I said ok.She went out from I dozed the room and brought back a wooden bowl filled with hot mustard oil.She started massaging my legs,hands and my back.She kept on telling stories about the surrounding places. She used to speak broken hindi.I took an instant liking for her kindness.She was very sweet and kind.A warm human being.She had 4 small brothers,an old father and a mother.She had many sheeps, goats,hens and mountain dogs as her pets.They were very poor.The only earning member in her family was her.Her name was mohini.She was complete chatterbox. I dozed off listening to her stories.After an hour or so she woke me up.I gave her a 500 rs note.She didn't want to take it at first but when I told her to take chocolates for her little brother's she smiled.She asked me to close the door properly. I popped up another painkiller and tried to sleep.I was half asleep when I heard footsteps and the wooden floorboards creaking.It couldn't be my husband as the main door was closed from inside.Who's there?I asked in a hushed tone.The creaking stopped. I could feel someone breathing heavily beside my bedroom door.I was getting scared but at the same time I was feeling very weak to confront my stranger guest.I heard the bedroom door opening with a creaking sound.As soon as the door opened the temperature of the room dropped by few centigrades.I was feeling as if I'm in a refrigerator. The cold was just unbearable. I clutched my blanket tightly and covered my head with it.I was feeling the urge to pee but I was too scared to remove the blanket.I heard the breathing get closer to the blanket as if some animal was trying to sniff me out.I started muttering some holy chants and slowly the sniffing and breathing sounds faded away.I saw the wall clock.It was almost lunch time.I ordered some bread rolls and soup for lunch.The room service guy delivered the food within 25 minutes. I was not getting any taste of the soup still I had it.The hot soup was making me comfortable. It was a working like a soulsoufood.Now I brought my blanket to the living room and started watching a hindi flick on the t.v.I had to pop a fever reducing tablet once again.I started munching on my favorite nutty chocolates.I was also wondering when my husband will be back.I was feeling very vulnerable. I dozed off again. After sometime I got up and dragged myself to the loo for a pee.I drank some warm water and went to the living room to watch the rest of the flick.I dozed off once again. I clearly remember to shut off the TV before I slept off.I heard a big knock on the main door.It was my husband. How are you feeling baby?he enquired. I'm feeling a bit weak and feverish I replied. He asked me not to worry as he had excused himself from the night party at the bride's place.I also felt a great relief after hearing that.Someone really loved me and cared for me I thought. I was feeling very happy inside.My husband made a cup of strong coffee for me and said,baby please get well soon! Tomorrow is the wedding. The d day in aloke's life and then we will push back to Kolkata I promise. This cold weather is not suiting you.Nothing like it babe! you worry too much I said.I will be fine by tomorrow. Hope so! said my husband. As soon as he finished his words a big wall clock fell and shattered into pieces.The sound was loud enough to startle us.Don't worry said my husband, the screw must be loose.He called a house keeping staff who came and scraped off the glasses. Careful! said my husband to the guy and gave him a heavy tip.We ordered for some chicken pakoras. I was feeling suffocating inside the room so we went to the balcony and decided to have our coffee and chicken pakoras.After a while our pakoras came.We were having a gala time chatting away and enjoying hot pakoras and coffee.I started laughing loudly on a joke cracked by husband. We both started laughing. We had put on our room's light as it was already dark inside the room.Our balcony light started flickering and started making funny noises.I turned back and saw our bedroom lights flickering too.What's going on?I said.I was feeling as if someone is trying to interrupt our conversation. All of a sudden all the bedroom lights bursted.It was totally dark but the living room and kitchen lights were ok.The balcony light was flickering and my husband took me by my hands and we ran towards the living room.We heard the balcony light burst.My husband called the house keeping guy to again clean up the shattered bulbs.The guy quietly cleaned and went away. This time he didn't accept the tip.He said that he will go to the local market to get bulbs and fix them by tonight. All the staffs of the resort were really well behaved.My husband asked him if we could go out with him to the market as he is a local.He smiled and invited us to go with him.I got ready and we waited for him outside the resort.He came out and we went on a local tempo to the market. I bought some local makeup stuffs and some custom earrings from roadside shops. I was feeling much better now.He took us to his friend's local food shop and treated us with hot chicken momos and rice beer.Rice beer is served in a big bamboo mug and its said that it makes the body hot in the cold weather. It gives you a high if you drink too much.While we were having a great time a lama was watching me from outside. A lama is basically a buddhist monk and they are really respected. The housekeeping guy ofcourse had a name.His name was raju.Raju also caught the monk staring at me.He went out and asked something to the monk.The monk also replied.After sometime Raju came in.I asked him about the monk.He just laughed it off saying nothing. My husband was also watching the whole episode and he coaxed Raju to tell the truth.Raju said sahib you people are educated and supposedly do not believe in superstitions but in mountains people are quite backward. The monk was saying that he can see a black shadow on memsahib's back.