The Turn Of The Night

Chapter 7

The time on the mobile was 2 a.m. The graveyard was shrouded in a cloud of darkness while the occasional howl of wolves and dogs chilled the blood.

'I don't think we will see a ghost anymore, duh! ' sighed Darsh.'Told you… ' replied Aarush in exasperation. The two boys had searched the whole graveyard even coming upon some nineteenth century graves. But there was no trace of any ghosts...yet..

'Well I guess then everything that's been written is a hocus-pocus and your loss of normal mental state coincided with me finding that diary'. Darsh said as he rummaged through his bag sitting on one of the graves on the far side of the graveyard. 'Hmm very funny… Yeah it can't get any worse..at least it was a worthy adventure let's have the party. 'Aarush replied as he took out his coke cans.

'Cheers! ' both boys shouted as the coke bubbled out of the bottle. 'Caffeine always does it… doesn't it ' Aarush said dreamily. 'Does what? ' asked Aarush. 'Cools your nerves' replied Darsh as he gobbled up the drink in a single gulp.

Aarush's phone screeched just as he was about to finish the last piece of cake. 'Hey bud it's 3:30 a.m ...we fooled around for like an hour and a half. I think the ghost business is over.. Let's go home. ' he said standing up. 'Yeah right let's go.. From the moment I wake up tomorrow I am gonna slap that person who tells me ghosts are real. ' Darsh fumed while Aarush grinned.

Just when they were about to pass the most recent graves, a wave of fog encircled them. Aarush's legs felt like noodles and his hair stood up like cones. He felt the same the previous week. But was the reason the same?

Icy coldness numbed the boys. Darsh started chattering his teeth and both of them put their hands in their trouser pockets, hugging their backpacks tightly.

Seconds trickled and mere moments felt as if hours passed by and the boys stood transfixed in their place. The more they tried to move the more nauseous they felt. A wolf howled as the fog sure enough took the form of a young girl, her figure translucence. The coldness which had been hugging them like a serpent does the moment before it strikes, disappeared as swiftly as it arrived when the young girl draped with a dress of mist turned around to face them….

Sweat trickled profusely down Darsh's forehead. The girl moved her lips and broken words started forming. Though at first inaudible, but as the moments passed, the words she said could be heard as clearly as a person can hear droplets of water on a silent afternoon. 'I won't hurt you…… Aarush….I have come to take you to the realm of spirits...your destiny lies there….

I am Canisa. When I was alive, I was tortured to death by men of your land. My father was from England and your ancestors used to call me by firangi ka beti (daughter of a white). When we Britishers freed your country, all the village people killed my father. They kept me in a small room for years. I was not allowed to sit with them nor eat with them. Slowly, my life force ceased to an end as the light of a candle blows out. I was dead. I could no longer endure the pain of seeing my parents being slain in front of my eyes. But…...I don't hold any grudge…maybe it is because of this that I am able to visit this place so often. This is where my parents' bodies have been laid…..The time is strife…..And our realms are threatened to a calamity…. There's a link which unites the two realms and if broken, the spirits can travel to this world causing mayhem. Those that have been tortured, betrayed, let down,abused, beyond words...waits in the dark shadows to come in this world and seek revenge…..their phlegm, is still strong and can suck the life out of people…. This link is getting snapped...as it happened many years ago. A young boy that time had crossed the worlds and saved both the realms from imminent destruction...Now that responsibility lies upon you…..' the spirit said in a nasal tone looking directly at Aarush's eyes.

The boys stood as if standing on the brink of an experience that could make or break the world. 'But why me ??' asked Aarush, finding his tongue back. 'That dear boy is not for us to ascertain… it is your destiny...one which you must fulfill…..make haste for the sun peeks through the murk of Night' Canisa whispered.

Aarush stood contemplating whether he was imagining things. If this was real then one misstep and he had to bear the blame for destruction. He turned his eyes to look at Darsh. His eyes shone brightly with confidence...and his face seemed as if sculpted in stone. 'We can tell a tale to our grandchildren...lets do it.' he said.

Seeing his friend, Aarush said 'Yes, we will go….if that's what the stars have aligned for us' without a moment's hesitation. Canisa, whispered 'Then take my hands and form a circle.' as she extended her misty arms just as the first rays of sun hit the surface. Aarush and Darsh formed a circle holding while Canisa's icy fingers crept up their hands…..

The alarm as usual rang at 7 O'clock. Grandpa Max always gets up at 6 a.m in the morning irrespective of his age. The alarm clock rang but Aarush didn't close it nor did he get out of his room. 'See what that boy is upto… he got studies!!' barked Max. 'Maybe he didn't have a good night and slept a bit before….let him sleep.' said Gran soothingly. Grandpa Max, not satisfied, himself went to bring Aarush out of the room…..

'He is not in the room……' Grandpa Max said as he closed the door of the room with a sigh.