Come To Me – A Ghost Story
May 9, 2007
The orange color blended uniformly with the pale blue, and the whites made their presence felt in smaller specks.
“I love the evening sky,” I thought, reminding myself of the years that I had spent in this small, two bedroom apartment for the last thirty years.
******
Every evening, after school I used to sit on the window sill of the third floor flat and admired the tranquility and the chirping of the seasonal birds. This routine was interrupted one day with the drilling sounds echoing from the adjoining plot.
“Look Mom, they are pulling down the old house,” I said, excited.
“I am sure they are going to build a sky-rise there,” replied my mother, watching TV.
The machines worked their way to bulldoze the rundown bungalow.The unkempt courtyard was the playground of varieties of insects and birds that played hide and seek around the dense growth of wild plants, weeds and shrubs. The crew had split up in-groups of three to explore the area. Suddenly, I heard cries of help from one side of the property adjoining the compound wall. It seemed like someone had an accident and the others had rushed to help him. Immediately the crew started clearing the creepers from that section and I understood the reason for panic – there was a well.
“This is so exciting”, I thought. “I feel like James Stewart in Hitchcock’s movie- The Rear Window, secretly watching everything.”
“Time for homework, it’s almost seven o’clock,” said Mom.
My life was simple and straightforward with focused goals. They included getting good grades, winning debate competitions and making my parents feel proud. I decided to start with my math assignment as I had a test coming soon.
“Niiinaaa aa Niinaa a.”
“I’m coming,” I replied and went to the kitchen.
“You needed something, Mom?”
“I didn’t call you. Don’t make excuses to delay your homework.” She grinned.
I went back to my room, confused. I was certain that I had heard my name being called.The next day, the workers had dug up the entire plot to lay the foundation for the new building. The twilight sky changed its colors like everyday, but today it felt different. The barren excavated land and the isolated well that was wrapped under the growing dark sky created an eerie feeling. I dismissed these thoughts and went to my room to start on my homework.
“Niiinaaaaaa Niinaa aaaaaa.”
“Yes, I’m coming,” I answered, promptly, running to the master bedroom where my mother was reading.
“What? Why did you call?”
“I didn’t.”
This was getting peculiar day by day. I was sure someone was calling me. It was a woman’s voice, just like my mother’s, even the tone which she used to pronounce my name was identical.The following evening, I was talking on the phone with my friend, when I heard my name being called again.
“Lily, hold on, Mom’s calling.”
I checked every room and found no one. Random, fearful thoughts clouded my mind, but I soon relaxed when I remembered that it was the day for buying groceries.
“Then whom did I hear?”
My fright-filled eyes darted from one corner of the room to the other searching for answers. I wanted to share it with Lily to seek comfort and reassurance but I decided against it. No one would believe me and I would be teased at school.This happened every evening at the same time. I would hear the voice calling me and without a second thought I would respond, “I am coming.”
My mother grew concerned and wondered why she did not hear anything. She instructed me that from now on, no matter what happened I should not to respond to anyone’s voice. If I felt that I was called, then I had to get up, go to her room and speak with her.The following evening it happened right on time. I stopped myself and then tip-toed to see what my mother was doing. She was chatting over the phone.I waited anxiously for the voice to call again the next day and without fail it did. I sat tight-lipped.After a week of not responding to the voice, the calling stopped.
******
A neighbor living on the first floor came to visit my mother. They were talking over tea when she heard the construction crew working and looked out the window.
“Oh, so there is a well,” said the neighbor.
“This is a surprise.”
“The crew uncovered it while clearing up. Nina knows all the details… she’s been watching this every evening,” said Mom.
“Did you know that the lady of the house had jumped into this well and died?”
“Really, when did it happen?”
“I don’t really know which year. I have been living here for the past twenty years and this bungalow was here before that. So I guess this bungalow could be fifty or sixty years old, maybe more.
“I thought it to be a rumor when we moved in. We never experienced anything unnatural over the years. Actually I totally forgot about it but seeing the well jogged my memory.”
My mother and I exchanged thoughtful glances. We decided to remain silent and not discuss the events that occurred in the flat. I decided henceforth I would avoid the fascination of sitting at the window seat at the twilight hour and stop watching over the plot.
Many years passed after this disturbing incident. A sky-rise was built on the area of the bungalow and the section of the courtyard where the well stood is now a children’s play area with swings, see- saws and a jungle gym. I often wonder, looking at the building whose voice had I heard calling out everyday, was it that woman who had jumped in the well? What would have happened if I had continued to answer to that voice? Why was I chosen?I don’t have any of the answers, but I hope and pray that whoever was behind the voice has found peace.
©Nayna, 2007. All Rights Reserved.
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i like ghost stories n thespook of it