DOOR KNOCKING GHOST
DOOR KNOCKING GHOST
Gopan rose up from bed very late
as it was a holiday. After his morning
ablutions, he came to the portico and sat in an armchair. He yearned for a cup of tea. He looked back into the room. Gopu was still in his bed. Usually, it is Gopu who makes tea. He is an expert in the matter and considers
it as his own right. Today he is
sleeping as if he has forgotten his tea making. Perhaps he may be enjoying a
pleasant dream, “let him enjoy his dream in full; he needn’t be awakened “
Gopan decided.
Gopan and Gopu was staying in a small rented house and they were working in the same office. Gopan was the secretary of the local panchayat and Gopu was the peon in the same office, Gopan is about 40 years of age, 6 feet height, lean and strong body. He has an agreeable complexion with a thick growth of curly hair. He was a gentleman with decent behavior to all. He had been transferred to this office as the secretary of the panchayat. Till then he was working as head clerk in a panchayat office in his native place. The first man who received him in the new office was Gopu, a peon of the office. Gopu was 50 years old, yet a bachelor. Six months passed by since Gopan joined duty in the new office. Since then their relationship was more than that of an officer and a peon; perhaps that of close friends or brothers or a guardian.
Tea’,
Hearing the sound Gopan turned back and enquired with a smile. “How was the dream pleasant, thrilling, or
horrible?’ Gopu replied, ‘A married man
cannot understand the thrill of a sweet dream’. “It is too late for breakfast,
let me go and bring it soon’ Gopu ran
out in haste.
They
usually took breakfast and lunch from the neighboring hotel, Morning and
evening tea and the light food for the night was prepared by themselves. Being a holiday, they started washing
clothes. After sometimes they heard the
sound of a bicycle bell followed by a call, “sir, post’. With intense anguish, Gopan came to get the
letter. It was only a week before he got
his wife’s letter. Usually, she sends
letters only once in a month. So, he
guessed some serious matter for another letter within a month. So, he guessed some serious matter for
another letter within a short period. He
went into the house opened the letter and read it in haste. Suddenly his face became pale and he sat in
the armchair as if completely exhausted.
Gopu
came in search of Gopan, Seeing Gopans depressed state he inquired, “Why, what
happened sir?’ Gopan replied that his wife Ammini and their children were going
to her father’s house which was far away. The school had been closed for the
summer holidays. She cannot live in the house
without me. “What is there to be worried
about this? You can bring them here and live in this house comfortably; I will
not be a problem. I can stay in the
office for the time being said Gopu.
Gopan whispered “Problem! Because of you!”; Education of my children,
our pretty small house, the flower garden in front, Jimmy our pet dog, Nandini
our cow which will deliver within a week, The fruit-bearing trees around the
compound wall’- he stopped abruptly.
Tears rolled down his cheeks. ‘Sir you have told nothing to me till now
about your family. Please tell me. Requested Gopu. Yes, I shall tell you everything-please give
me a cup of tea. Gopu came back with tea
and gave it to Gopan; Gopan requested him to sit down.
We were
living in a small house in 50 cents of land.
It was located 20 km away from Trivandrum city towards the south. The site was by the side of the railway
line. The railway authorities gave
notice of eviction for the development of the railway station. One of my relatives told me that I could buy
a three-acre fertile plot in the suburbs of the city at a cheap rate. Though the commuting facilities at the plot
are not good, it is worthwhile to buy the plot. I disagreed with the proposal
due to the bad commuting facilities and of the distance of the plot from the
city. But my wife, who comes from a rich agricultural family persuaded me to go
and see the plot.
The
plot was a remote village, 35 km away from the city. To reach the plot there
was only a beaten track of 2 km from the main road. The three-acre plot is
divided into two, by this beaten track.
Half of the area is on the eastern side of the path. It is a small rocky mount filled with big
trees like banyan, angili, tamarind, jack, etc under them there was a thick
growth of bushes with different types of thorny and flower plants. Because of this thick foliage canopy only
during the mid-noon, the sunlight reaches the ground. It was a place of abode for all kinds of
insects, birds, and animals.
There
is also a drawback for the site. The
dead bodies due to smallpox, cholera, malaria, etc are thrown into the crevices
between the big rocks. Similarly, the
dead bodies of animals are thrown here.
This forms the source of food for the animals here.
The western side of the path is a gradual sloppy area that ends in a beautiful
paddy field. There are a few big trees
scattered here and there. Coconut and
arracanut trees are also found there.
There is no thick growth of bushes.
So the sunlight falls directly on the ground throughout the day. There is a brook with a perennial supply of
water running from east to west touching the southern end of the land. The whole place was just like nature’s
air-conditioned spot. On the whole, the
merits of the weighed more than its demerits.
Once
more I visited the place with Ammini and our children Ammu and Appu. Everybody liked the site. On seeing the site, they ignored the
difficult path. Ammu and Appu were
thrilled to play in the clear shallow water of the brook. They ran here and
there imitating the warbling of the birds and the shrill noises of a
squirrel. “In short, you bought the
land, didn’t you,” said Gopu. Yes, with the money we got for our 50 cents of
land and our small house’, replied Gopan.
A tent
was erected immediately as our temporary house and preparations were started
for the construction of our house. ‘”
then-“ Gopan stopped. ‘Then-?” Gopu eagerly enquired.
At noon
a middle-aged man came. He introduced
himself as Kuttan Nair who lived nearby.
He wanted to tell something to me.
I invited him to the shed and he started. Kuttan Nair pointed at a tamarind tree among
the rocks. In a low voice, he told me
that a few years back a pregnant girl called Meenu committed suicide by hanging
on the low branch of the tree. Since
then her ghost used to wander in this area.
Many ladies and girls were strangled and killed by the ghost. I asked him how he happened to see these
incidents. He said that he used to come
to that place for gazing at his cows and buffaloes. Even during the daytime, he had seen the
ghost taking rest in the crevices of the rocks.
Though many persons had come here to buy the plot they left the place on
hearing the incidents. He requested me
to leave the place for the sake of my wife and children. Then he went away silently. I looked back Ammini was standing behind the
curtain, “you heard everything’ I asked, she nodded her head. “Have your belief in devils and ghosts” I
enquired. In the answer was a direct
question to me, whether I believed in ghosts and devils. I asserted I had no beliefs. I told her this is mere exploitation of the
poor illiterates by the so-called wise people. She enquired for me whether I
had any proof to give that there is no such superhuman power and it is the
creation of the exploiters. I told her I
had an interesting experience while I was a student. Because of her interest, I narrated the
interesting incident.
When I was studying in 4th standard, I had to walk for18 km on one way to reach school. The school was located near the west fort. In the evening I had to walk back 18 km to reach home. Usually, I reach home by 6:30 pm and that day there was drizzling in the evening. When I reached a place named Oabamcodu the rain was strong. I waited on the verandah of a shop for some time. The rain continued but it became weak. I wrapped in books with my shirt and my dhoti. It was pitch dark. I walked slowly along the edge of the road. At a place named Koliacodu there was a turning and slop. There were two or three huts at the edge of the road. People will not be out at that place after 08 PM since it was the place of Ghost who wandering at night to slap people. In one of the huts, there was a mini tea shop owned by my friend Mr Najim from where I used to take coffee. When I reached near the teashop the rain had stopped with a strong wind In the pitch dark, I moved forward slowly, but suddenly something knocked me down strongly and I heard a roar ‘oh….ullaaa…Maadan..Maadan’. (Maadan and yakshi etc is the name of Ghost said to be prevailing in south Kerala) I heard the sound of something falling and crashing. Suddenly there was lightning. In the lightning, I saw a pool of yellow mixed white liquid flowing down coming towards me. I was stunned. I became half unconscious. When I regained my senses, I ran home. Throughout the night I was hearing the roaring sound of Ulla and Maadan echoing in my mind. In the morning I felt an intense fever and so I remained at home. The next morning as usual I started for school though in fear. I searched for Mr Najim who is a friend of mine staying at the tea shop. On seeing me the mother of Mr Najim burst out into tears telling me that there was no coffee for the day. She said that when her son was coming from the market along with trays of Eggs at night, he has been slapped by Maadan and he is now in bed due to illness. She briefed that the day before yesterday it was the night on the way when her son reached the turning spot, immediately the devil Madan struck him hard. She could not continue because of her intense grief.
With a
startle, I understood who the Maadan was! I returned home. I sold my pet lamb. I reached the Ummas hut and enquired of Najim
(Ummas son). He was lying in a corner of
the one-room hut. With his face pressed on the pillow. I sat near him and
touched his back, he looked up with frightened eyes and again lay in the same
position. In a low voice, I reminded him
of his visit to my house for purchasing eggs.
Then I explained to him the interesting incidents of his role as a veterinary
doctor for the safe delivery of my goat.
Now Najim closely looked at me and told him that I was the Madan who
struck him. I explained to him
everything in detail. Suddenly he hugged me strong with his strong hands and
gently patted my back. I was happy. Hearing a weeping sound, I looked and saw
umma standing there. She exclaimed that
it was Allah who saved them from the hands of cruel exploiters who wanted to
conduct ‘mantravatham or to take Najim to stay in the yard of the mosque for
the cure.’ I pressed some money into the hands of Najim and requested him to go
to the market the next day to purchase eggs and to start his business. Reluctantly he accepted the offer. I told them that I would visit them the next
evening and have a cup of coffee with them. When I started home, I heard their
voice telling they will be waiting for me in the evening to have a sumptuous
meal together.
‘Oh,
that is how the devil-like Maadan, Chathan, etc come into existence.’ Ammini whispered. “Yes, are you afraid to stay here? Gopan
asked Ammini”. ‘As long as this Maadan
is with me I have no fear to live anywhere even in the cemetery, she
laughed’. She said that we could make
the place a paradise.
The construction of the house continued. After a few months, we began our life in the
new house. With the help of the panchayat, the footpath was widened, so that a
vehicle can ply easily. We made a small
flower garden at the corner of the yard. Fruit trees like mango, supports,
guava, lime were planted around the compound wall. A small stable, a kennel, and a nest for hen
were arranged inside the wall in the yard. We have a pet dog called Jimmy who
is just like a member of our house.
Though he belonged to the ‘alsatian’ breed, he is not in the habit of
barking. But he wouldn't spare anyone
who happened to trespass. He is let free
only very late at night. Thus, with the
help of Ammini and children, we created a paradise on earth.
Years passed by, just like a thunderbolt this promotion
came. I decided to reject the offer but
Ammini was very firm that I should accept the promotion. She told me that I
could get a transfer to the native place within a few months. At last, I was forced to agree. I arranged Paru Amma, the neighbor to stay in
our house for the time being. There was
no problem until now. In the last
letter, she wrote that the delivery of our cow is nearing and the fruits in the
mango tree are ripe. So, she requested
me to go home as early as possible. But
I told her in the reply it is very difficult to get leave for me is the end of
the financial year. “Then” Gopu enquired “This is the reply”; Gopan gave the
letter to Gopu. Gopu read the letter as follows :-
“Dear
Chettan,
Paru Amma has left us yesterday. She said that she wouldn’t come back.
Recently at about 8 pm, there is continuous knocking at the front door. There
is no reply to questions. When light is put on there is the sound of somebody
running away. When the light is off after some time the knocking is repeated.
Paru Amma says this is the ghost of Meenu. Kuttan Nair
also says the same. Children are in fear. We could not sleep for the past few
days. So, we are going to the father's house immediately. Father is bedridden
due to rheumatic complaints. I will place their key on the west window lintel.
Yours Lovingly,
Ammini”
“Ghost, Mudlump” Gopu murmured. ‘This is done by some traitors.
“You have said about one Kuttan Nair” said Gopu.
He got
the key and opened the door. There was
nothing peculiar inside the house everything is as usual, but the absence of
Ammini and the children created loneliness.
They went out of the house and examined the surroundings; they could see
nothing in particular. After bath and
food, they waited for their job. They
took an ax, an iron bar, a long thread (rope) and some chili powder were to be
used in case of an attack from the thief.
The rope was to tie his hands and handover him to the police. They
waited for a throbbing heart. Jimmy was
set free before they closed the front door.
They heard a low knocking sound at the door. The sound gradually gained strength. Gopan startled. He thought that his belief in the
non-existence of ghosts was false; if it is not a robber Gopu asked loud sound,
‘Who are you?’. There was no answer but
the knocking was continued. There was
dim light due to the full moon night.
They walked forward with unsteady legs.
Gopu put on the switch immediately and the knocking sound stopped. They heard the sound of someone running away.
Gathering courage, they took the torch and the iron bar and slowly opened the door. They looked around. There was nobody except the dog. Looking towards the mango tree standing near the compound wall, they searched around the house. There was no creature there except Jimmy walking behind them. They were surprised. The belief in ghosts was gathering strength in their minds. Gopu thought that it was not easy for a man to climb up the high compound wall and escape in a short period. They stood there upset for some time, then Gopu together with Gopan entered the house and they closed the door, and put out the lights. They waited in silence. After half an hour the knocking sound began and they were confused. Gathering his courage Gopu took a stool and placed it cautiously at the bottom of the window near the door. He climbed the stool silently and looked out through the ventilator of the window. He could see nothing. “Is the ghost invisible to others?” He thought. By this time Gopan reached near Gopu. Still, the knocking was continuing Gopu put-forth his head a little and looked at the steps in front of the door. He stood there motionless. Jimmy was standing in front of the door looking at a bat squeezing the mango fruit. In rhythm to the movement of the bat's mouth, Jimmy was waving his strong tail which was striking at the wooden door. He stood there for minutes enjoying the sight. Then he told Gopan that he had seen the real ghost knocking at the door. Again, he climbed down and told Gopan to switch on the light. The light rays fell directly on the mango tree and the bat flew up. Jimmy ran with strong steps to catch the bat but he could not proceed beyond the compound wall. He did not disclose the fact to Gopan. They waited about an hour after switching off the light. After some time, they heard the same sound. Gopu told Gopan to do what he had done to see the ghost. Gopan saw the real ghost. Immediately he opened the door and hugged his Jimmy calling ‘Yekshi’.
Both of them laughed and laughed
and their tension disappeared. The next
day they bought Ammini and his children to his house. “Our doubt was not correct, was it”. ‘We shouldn’t doubt anybody without getting
real evidence’, said Gopu. ‘Dear father
you deed to go to the office only after the mango season’ said Ammu, lets us
cut away out Jimmi’s tail: commented Appu.
Everybody laughed aloud at this comment.
MORAL
Open your eyes and
see, open your ears and hear, use your wisdom to analyzeand find out the real
truth.
RATHIN T PRASAD,MA JMC, MA HIS, DCA,DIM,SET ,Email –rathintprasad@gmail.com
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