Won’t make sense,
They only live to tell a tale.
For a long time, since my early years, I’ve always said to myself that I’m cursed to have some extremely unusual dreams and experiences that are unfathomable. Growing up in a house that was built in a cemetery just adds more spice to the experience. Until this date, I still frown upon the multiple encounters I’ve had. My very recent trip to Bangalore just unleashed the locked doors and breathed fresh air into this whole saga. I don’t want my snippet to be insipid, instead, I want it to have all the elements and flavors that’ll make for a good read.
It was just another usual night, after a long day of meeting, greeting, eating and all the catching up that happens when you’re on vacation. It was in the wee hours of the morning, somewhere between 2am and 3am, when I woke to the sound of anklets (an ornament worn around the ankle, which has a unique tinkling sound when you walk).
Being a light sleeper, it’s no surprise that I can be easily disturbed by the slightest sound of noise. I checked the time and said to myself it was nothing and probably went back to sleep. Not like I was going to, but it doesn’t hurt to be positive now. But then I heard it again and this time around curiosity got the best of me and I sat up all bright and focused. I timed the sound of anklets and could tell there was a pause of 5 seconds before I heard movement (sound to be more precise). Well, it should come as no surprise that, in India, tying flowers or anklets to animals is normal. For a moment, I did assume it was a stray dog that was giving me the thrill and chills.
Deep down it felt like something was definitely out there. Slow-moving steps - jhall, jhall, jhall. Not too fast, not too slow, like there was no rush to get anywhere. It lasted for a good fifteen minutes. Yes, I timed all of it, so to speak.
There was a character that did the rounds when I was a child, one that would beat history itself since it has outlived time. It was called ‘Mohini’ a female personification of something eerie, dark and evil. But legend has it that it would prey on men only, LOL. For now, let’s bask in the fact that men had something to fear, which under normal circumstances is rare. Rumors were rife that it always adorned anklets.
I did visualize ‘Mohini’ during this whole ordeal that morning. My heart raced to throw open the door and catch a glimpse of this culprit, whether human or not. But my mind said it’s best to let things as is and let them pass. It even occurred to me that in the still darkness and time, what if the ‘unknown’ went out just to take a casual stroll? Finally, glad that people decided to call it a night. Maybe it needed the space and time to let loose, clearly not wary of the fact that people like me were drawn and fascinated.
It could have been a crazy human dawdling around too still I’ll let my imagination wander and assume the worst. It gives a nice twist for the most part and is something to talk and ponder about.
Nevertheless, I feel that we must honor and accept that maybe there are other beings, species, forms that live among us. Whether they are angelic or demonic, take a pick and go with it.
For a long time, since my early years, I’ve always said to myself that I’m cursed to have some extremely unusual dreams and experiences that are unfathomable. Growing up in a house that was built in a cemetery just adds more spice to the experience. Until this date, I still frown upon the multiple encounters I’ve had. My very recent trip to Bangalore just unleashed the locked doors and breathed fresh air into this whole saga. I don’t want my snippet to be insipid, instead, I want it to have all the elements and flavors that’ll make for a good read.
It was just another usual night, after a long day of meeting, greeting, eating and all the catching up that happens when you’re on vacation. It was in the wee hours of the morning, somewhere between 2am and 3am, when I woke to the sound of anklets (an ornament worn around the ankle, which has a unique tinkling sound when you walk).
Being a light sleeper, it’s no surprise that I can be easily disturbed by the slightest sound of noise. I checked the time and said to myself it was nothing and probably went back to sleep. Not like I was going to, but it doesn’t hurt to be positive now. But then I heard it again and this time around curiosity got the best of me and I sat up all bright and focused. I timed the sound of anklets and could tell there was a pause of 5 seconds before I heard movement (sound to be more precise). Well, it should come as no surprise that, in India, tying flowers or anklets to animals is normal. For a moment, I did assume it was a stray dog that was giving me the thrill and chills.
Deep down it felt like something was definitely out there. Slow-moving steps - jhall, jhall, jhall. Not too fast, not too slow, like there was no rush to get anywhere. It lasted for a good fifteen minutes. Yes, I timed all of it, so to speak.
There was a character that did the rounds when I was a child, one that would beat history itself since it has outlived time. It was called ‘Mohini’ a female personification of something eerie, dark and evil. But legend has it that it would prey on men only, LOL. For now, let’s bask in the fact that men had something to fear, which under normal circumstances is rare. Rumors were rife that it always adorned anklets.
I did visualize ‘Mohini’ during this whole ordeal that morning. My heart raced to throw open the door and catch a glimpse of this culprit, whether human or not. But my mind said it’s best to let things as is and let them pass. It even occurred to me that in the still darkness and time, what if the ‘unknown’ went out just to take a casual stroll? Finally, glad that people decided to call it a night. Maybe it needed the space and time to let loose, clearly not wary of the fact that people like me were drawn and fascinated.
It could have been a crazy human dawdling around too still I’ll let my imagination wander and assume the worst. It gives a nice twist for the most part and is something to talk and ponder about.
Nevertheless, I feel that we must honor and accept that maybe there are other beings, species, forms that live among us. Whether they are angelic or demonic, take a pick and go with it.
Your post made me to recall a couple of instances where I have experienced similar events during the night. The first is, periodically, while in bed reading I hear a faint "tick" coming from somewhere near the ceiling and outside wall of our bedroom. At first I thought it was the new building settling, but the tick sounds at regular intervals for a few minutes then stops. I've also thought is was water dripping in the kitchen sink, but it wasn't. I've surmised it is rain or melt water running off the roof, but it happens in cold or warm, wet or dry weather. I've ruled out the term "Death Watches" as an explanation (as in Edgar Alen Poe's - “The Tell-Tale Heart”). It is a medieval superstition that the sounds are a presage to the death of someone in the house where they are heard. I don't know the cause of the sound, but I've learned to acknowledge it and then keep on reading. The second happening is related to our deceased cat Maxie. Maxie's ashes are in a small house-shaped box on a high shelf in our bedroom closet. She passed away nearly 20 years ago, but every so often I am awaken by something that feels like a weight softly landing on our bed. When she was alive I was Maxie's favorite human. She followed me like a dog, sat in the window in the evenings waiting for me to come home and ran to meet me at the door. She would hop onto our bed and sleep at my feet, at my side or even above my head on my pillow. She was very demanding for attention. She would climb onto my chest as I was reading in bed and push her head under the book so I would pet her. So when I am awakend by that feeling I have concluded it is Maxie coming to say hello.
ReplyDeleteWow wow...it was like I m reading a thriller novel. I am having goosebumps, lke happening around me too.
ReplyDelete