The Village

True Stories | Feb 13, 2015 | 4 min read
36 Votes, average: 4 out of 5
It was my first job posting. It was in the outskirts of Indore(a district in India). I rented a single room house. It was almost a village where I stayed and I had to take a bus at 7 am everyday to reach my office by 9. There was one highway, either sides of which were occupied by large farming fields sparingly dotted with a home or two. Crossing the field was small a community of 100 people or so, living together as in a small colony. I happened to live there. Most of the houses resembled huts, few were cemented but poorly constructed, I lived in one of the latter types.
Modernization there was still a far fetched dream, facilities were minimum.

Waking up at 5:30, ready by 6:30, I used to walk the next 20 minutes to reach the bus stop. By the time I got back home, it used to be almost 9 pm.
Everyday while I used to walk back to my home amid the vast field, there was one small hut, at the door of which stood a woman. A dim lantern would lit up their place. It was almost 50 yards away into the fields from the path I used to walk over. She used to stare at me everyday while I returned.
For the first couple of days I didn't took it into notice. But she wouldn't stop staring days after days. She must have been in her middle 30's and I was 21 so it was uncomfortable for me.

On the fifteenth day, while I was returning I found her standing in my way. I was shocked! As that was the only walking path, I had no option but to get past her. Keeping my head down and hastening my pace I walked passed her when suddenly I heard her say- zara rukiye... (stop please). I halted. The conversation was in Hindi but I am writing it in English.
she: Can you please give this to my father?
she handed me a small plastic bag
me: But I don't know your father.
she: what! you stay at the house behind the banyan tree, the one with a broken window, right?
me: ya, I do.... But how do you know?
she: How could I not know.He told me, my father. Please take this pickle and serve it to him tonight with the dinner. He told me he didn't like yesterday's food you made and wanted some.
me: Are you serious...(I said with a smirk) I hope you know I live alone and didn't invite your father at yesterday's dinner, whosoever he is.
she: oh really! Then how I know that you ate 3 chapatis, with lentils and a cup of hot beetroot soup?

I was completely blank, because I ate the exact same thing.
me: I don't know who told you this but I am in a hurry and have to go now.
(saying this I moved away as fast as I could without taking the pickle)

"Oh, you arrived finally, why so late tonight? " came an elderly voice of a man as soon as I reached my house. The door was not locked and a man in his 70's scantily clad threw this question at me, standing at the entrance door.
WHO ARE YOU!! I shouted as loud as I could. HOW DID YOU DARE ENTERING MY HOUSE WITHOUT MY CONSENT!
My alarming tone made him a bit nervous but he calmly approached me and asked " Are you okay son? Anything troubling you? lets get inside and talk.
Without saying a word I called a few people from nearby and told them about the strange man in my house.
Hearing this one of the person smilingly said- are you high tonight sir? You're living with mr. chaubey for a couple of weeks and today you fail to recognize him!
Laughingly they departed thinking that I am drunk, but I was not.
Confused I went inside the house waiting for that old man to enter as I had no option but to allow him in and ask what's going on.
I waited 5 mins but he didn't enter. I checked outside, he was gone. I looked around the house but couldn't find him.
I again went to one of the two men whom I summoned a few minutes back. I knocked at his door. He opened.
me: Have you seen mr. chaubey. He was there a minute ago but now he is gone.
He: who? who is mr. chaubey?
me: what? you told me 5 mins ago that he is the one I live with.
He: I don't know what you are talking about. Its the first time I am seeing you today. Are you okay sir?
Confused I was, couldn't understand a single thing going around. Am I hallucinating? I questioned myself. No that can't be! I have never been into such problems in my life. How can it be a hallucination. I returned back to my room. Too tired, perplexed, I slept straightaway without eating anything.
Next morning, I woke up and after getting ready I asked a nearby person- Do you know that lady who lives yonder in that hut amid the field?
He: no sir, I don't..
me: are you sure?
He: sir, I am living here for over 10 years and have never seen anyone in that hut you are talking about. Its just abandoned. But why do you ask?

Without saying another single word, I packed all my stuff, informed the owner of the house that I am shifting. Paid him a one month rent and departed.

I stayed there almost two weeks and my mind got tricked by so many things. After that incident, I consulted a few psychiatrist because I was sure that I was loosing my mind. But the reports were normal.

Two years have gone by...,I still am not able to figure out what happened there actually...

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