Dark Night

I got up from my bed slowly so that the clanky noise of the metal cot did not wake my grandfather. I tiptoed as quietly as I could and opened the wooden door that led to the backyard well. I did not have time to stop and admire the water drops on the pail glistening so brightly in the moonlight.

As I passed the alley that led to Shringar street, I had to cover my nose to block the strong stench from the dumpyard. As usual, a few cows loitered around there. The neighborhood store- owner closed the shutters on his store with a loud slam. I was glad that he did not spot me going out at this unGodly hour. The cool- drink shop within a few yards which was so busy during the day, looked deserted. During the day , I would have stopped for the bottle of cola that had a marble on the top instead of the cap.

In the next turn stood the dilapitated temple. There were many rumors going on among the village folks that one should never enter the temple alone, and that too never at night. Someone who defied the rule never returned. I have dared to go with a few friends in the daytime. There was nothing haunting about the place except for a few bats that flew noisily upon hearing our footsteps. Still, it sent a chill up my spine that I would have to cross this temple alone to get where I was heading.

I relaxed a bit, now that I had crossed the temple and was within reach of the Dheep lake. I always wondered about this name. Is it because someone spelt it wrong instead of Deep or is it because townfolks had the custom of litting mud lamps down the lake during summer.

The wind howled in my ears and blew my hair all over my face. It made me very uncomfortable when my hair was messed up because it tickled my face and I coudn't do anything about it . Both my hands were occupied with the umbrella from flying away.

I hastened my steps a little as I reached the Jasmine garden, so called because of the abundance of so many varieties of jasmine flowers. This is the spot that all of us- My cousins and I loved to spend our summer evenings. We would stroll around the manicured hedges and the topiaries. We would walk admiring the fountains on the way to the river. My favorite fountain was a nymph holding a water pot brimming with water. The paint on her sari pleats had paled due to the constant association with water falling from her pot. Occasionally we would walk into the library that was part of the garden and spend sometime reading the childrens' magazines. No one was there at that hour except a stray dog that let a weak yelp in the hope that I would give a morsel.

I was now out of the south gate of the park mentally thanking the security that had forgotten to lock the gate. It had started to rain though I had not felt the rain drops under the groves of the park. The air was icy cool as if announcing the end of summer.

I turned into the Gyan school playground. It was pitch dark due to the surounding trees and partly due to the clouds. It appeared that the children who were swinging there had got up and left in a hurry. I knew otherwise that the swings were moving due to the blowing strong winds.

Right there, in the middle of the playground, on top of a see-saw I spot Das shivering uncontollably as he did not have a sweater on. Even though I am glad to find him, I scold him for leaving the home at this unearthly hour. He did not resist as I drape my sweater over him and hurry home before grandfather finds out that we have been missing. Das's explanation can wait until tomorrow.

 

Dear Devika

I can't express well how elated I felt reading your lovely comments. Being my first attempt at story-writing, I was a little apprehensive to post under short stories section.

About Das.. I wanted to leave a suspense so readers can assume him to be whomever they prefer...