In The Dark of Night

Romen has come to Birbhum for the first time. He has secured a teaching job at Jamalpur Primary School. After many attempts, he has finally got a job. While this brings him joy, there is also a bit of sadness. He has to live alone in Birbhum, away from his family. The only time he can go home is during school holidays. Upon reaching Jamalpur, Romen started looking for a place to stay. Despite searching extensively, he couldn't find a suitable place. Romen became deeply concerned. In such a large area, there was no house available for rent! Where will he stay now?

After much searching, he finally found a house. It was an old zamindar mansion. Besides an elderly gentleman, no one else lived there. This gentleman managed everything. Romen approached him and asked, Is there a room available for rent here? The gentleman observed Romen from head to toe and asked, Who are you, son?

— I am Romen Chakraborty. I've come here after getting a teaching job at Jamalpur Primary School.

— Oh, and where are you coming from?

— Kolkata.

— Oh, I see. Come inside. I live alone in this house.

— Oh, why doesn't anyone else live in such a big house?

The gentleman stopped in his tracks as he walked. Glancing sideways at Romen, he said, I am an employee of the zamindar Jogendra Narayan Chowdhury. His son and grandchildren all live abroad. After the zamindar passed away, I took care of everything. Saying this, he led Romen to a room.

— This is your room. Take a look. Alright, you settle in, and I'll get some refreshments for you. With that, the gentleman left.

Romen looked around the entire room. It was quite large, with expensive wall paintings. His eyes fixed on one painting. It was probably of the zamindar Jogendra Narayan Chowdhury. A tall and broad man. But as Romen approached the painting, his heart suddenly started racing.

What is that? Why is there a red bloodstain on the zamindar's neck? And not just a stain, blood is dripping from it, as if someone has just slit a living man's throat. Romen's head started spinning. He couldn't stand any longer and sat on the bed. At that moment, the gentleman said, What's the matter? You haven't changed your clothes yet? I brought some refreshments for you. Come on, change your clothes, wash your hands and face, and have these.

The gentleman's call brought Romen back to his senses.

— Wh-who is this wall painting of? Romen pointed to the painting. The gentleman replied, He is the zamindar Jogendra Narayan Chowdhury. He passed away about eighty years ago.

— How d-did he d-die? Romen asked in a trembling voice.

Hearing this, a look of displeasure appeared on the gentleman's face. You don't need to know that right now. Wash your hands and face and eat this. I'll be going now.

— L-listen, why is there blood on the zamindar Jogendra Narayan's neck in the wall painting? The gentleman seemed to get angry hearing this. In an irritated tone, he said, What nonsense are you talking about? Why would there be blood? Where? Show me where you see the blood! But when Romen looked at the painting again, what he saw made his hair stand on end. Astonishingly, there was not a single trace of blood on the wall painting! — I-I just saw blood here. Blood was dripping from the zamindar's neck. But how did it suddenly disappear?

— It seems the excessive heat is making you unwell. You've been out in the sun all day. Eat this and get some rest, I'll be going now.

— W-where are you going? Romen asked in a frightened voice.

— Oh dear, won't you have something to eat tonight? I need to make arrangements for that. The gentleman smiled a little and left.

Romen thought the gentleman was probably right. He had been searching for a rented house all over the place, and his body was extremely tired. Maybe that's why he was seeing such strange things. Anyway, let me have something to eat now. My stomach feels like a battlefield of mice. Romen smiled a little and went to freshen up. After freshening up, he ate the refreshments and lay down on the bed. No, I shouldn't stay in bed any longer. It's already late afternoon; let me explore the house a bit. I have to join the school tomorrow. Saying this, Romen got up from the bed and went to have a good look at the house.

The house was quite old, at least a hundred and fifty years old. The lime plaster on the walls had come off, revealing rows of long and wide bricks. Romen carefully explored the ground floor and then went upstairs. It seems no one has been here for a long time. It's full of cobwebs, they are sticking to my face, and there is a damp smell. Ugh, it's disgusting.

Romen didn't stay on the first floor for long and went up to the roof. The roof was enormous, like a football field. Romen felt quite pleased now. He had never imagined he would get to stay in a zamindar's house. The area was quite secluded, surrounded by trees and jungle. There were houses, but they were far away. Even if I die here, no one will notice. Saying this, Romen smiled a little.

Suddenly, Romen saw the gentleman lighting a stove to cook. What's this? Why is he cooking so early? Let me go down and ask. Romen went downstairs and asked the gentleman, Why are you cooking so early?

— Yes, actually, there's no electricity in this house, so I cook a bit early.

— What! No electricity here? Oh my god, how will I stay here in this heat

— No, no, there won't be any problem. The breeze from the trees here will cool your mind and soul. Saying this, the gentleman smiled a little again. What could Romen do? He couldn't find any other house. Anyway, he at least got a room here.

Evening turned into dusk. Romen lit a candle in the room and was doing some writing. At 8 PM, the gentleman came to Romen's room. Here, your dinner.

— So early!

— Yes, actually, I am old now, so I don't stay up late. I eat early and go to bed. Alright, you eat at your convenience. I'll be going now. Saying this, the gentleman left. Romen was accustomed to electricity from a young age, and there were very few power outages in Kolkata. So, he had never had to work by candlelight. Today, working by candlelight, his eyes were straining. So, Romen didn't stay up late. He ate at around 9 PM. After eating, he paced a little and then went to bed at around 10 PM. Suddenly, he woke up at around midnight. The unbearable heat made him sweat profusely. The leaves outside seemed to be on strike.

Romen couldn't stay in bed any longer. He took the torch he had brought and went up to the roof. The breeze on the roof is quite pleasant. So why is it so stuffy and hot in the room downstairs? Romen was enjoying the serene beauty of the night. After a while, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. His whole body tingled. Romen felt as if someone was moving around him. But there was no one else here except him! Then who could be moving around? Romen could clearly hear the sound of footsteps. The sound seemed to be gradually approaching him. Romen shone the torch around — There's no one here. But I clearly heard footsteps. As soon as he turned off the torch, the footsteps started again. An unknown thrill made Romen's whole body tremble. In fear, he dropped the torch from his hand. Where did the torch fall? Just as Romen was about to search for it, the footsteps came right up to him. In fear, Romen started running desperately. Coming downstairs, he saw the gentleman standing with his back turned, wrapped in a sheet. Romen was astonished —

How is he standing here wrapped in a sheet in this heat? And what is he doing here so late at night? He said he doesn't stay up late, eats early, and goes to bed. Then why is he standing here like this at this hour? Romen gathered the courage to ask, W-what are you doing here so late? Just then, what Romen saw made his blood run cold. While the gentleman was standing with his back turned, his head twisted around to face Romen. And along with that, his skeletal body emerged.

Immediately, laughter echoed from all directions. Romen couldn't stand any longer. His vision was blurring, and his head was spinning. The laughter from all around was piercing his eardrums.

Romen fainted and fell to the ground....