The Ghost Story

Shantanu got quite late returning from the coaching center. The neighborhood dogs had started barking loudly in one corner of the street. Among them was a small black dog that Shantanu liked very much. Whenever he had time, Shantanu would pet the dog’s head and sometimes give it biscuits. The dog knew him very well. Every night when Shantanu returned from the coaching center, the dog would wait, hoping to get a biscuit or a pat on the head.

But today, the black dog was not among the group. An unnecessary worry started to grow in Shantanu’s mind—had the dog fallen ill or gotten hurt in a fight with the other dogs?

Just then, the dog came running from somewhere and jumped at Shantanu's feet. It licked his shoe with its tongue. Shantanu took out some biscuits from his bag and began throwing them one by one near the dog’s mouth. The other dogs came running, eager to eat the biscuits. Shantanu lightly scolded them and told them to go away.

Shantanu had a special affection for this black dog, and the dog understood this well.

At that moment, Shantanu noticed a vague female figure standing a little distance away. He couldn’t see the face clearly. Shantanu was now in Class Six, and had become much braver than before. He was the captain of his neighborhood cricket club, so there was no question of being scared. Who in this neighborhood would dare to try to scare him?

Even though he listened to his grandmother's fairy tales every evening, he didn’t actually believe in such things. Thinking this, he took out his mobile phone from his bag. But when he shone the light from his phone, he saw that no one was there.

Did he see it wrong? By then, the black dog at his feet had started whimpering in fear. The other dogs had already disappeared from the street.

Suddenly, he remembered something that made his entire body shiver with fear. He had heard from the elders at home yesterday that Bubai’s mother from the neighboring locality had died, and that she was now roaming around as a ghost, scaring the neighborhood children.

But Shantanu didn’t want to believe this.

He had gone to Bubai’s house many times, and Bubai’s mother was very fond of him. Whenever he visited, she would give him sweets or chocolates. They would all play cricket in front of Bubai’s house. Many times, Shantanu had accidentally broken their window glass while hitting the ball, but Bubai’s mother never scolded him. So why would she want to scare him now? Do people become bad after they become ghosts?

But he had heard from his grandmother that there are many good ghosts in fairy tales. Surely, Bubai’s mother must be a good ghost. And why should she be a ghost at all? He had heard that many jinns are helpful, like the genie of Aladdin’s magic lamp. That genie did so much to help Aladdin. Shantanu thought to himself, maybe he could ask Bubai’s mother for some help too. Surely, she wouldn’t refuse him. He would ask her to scare their math teacher a little. The math teacher always gives such difficult problems. Just the other day, he had given them such a hard father-son math problem that while solving it, Shantanu had made the son older than the father. The math teacher had then pulled him out of the class by his ear. The younger students had seen this, and Shantanu felt humiliated.

Thinking this, he started moving forward, but the dog didn’t follow. Shantanu became very angry at the dog.

How could his favorite dog be so cowardly? Never mind, let the dog stay behind; he would go alone.

Slowly, he moved toward the bush where the female figure had been standing.

In a low voice, he said, Where did you go, auntie? I’m not afraid of you. Please come out once. Bubai is very sad that you have become a ghost.

But where? There was no sign of any female figure anywhere. After calling out several times with no response, Shantanu felt disappointed and started walking back home.

As soon as Shantanu left, the invisible female figure reappeared near the bush. It seemed like a faint sound of crying came from beside the bush, as if the ghostly figure was pleading through her tears, Please, talk to me for a moment before you go.

The next morning, when Shantanu woke up, he found that something had caused a great commotion in the neighborhood. Rubbing his eyes, he came outside and saw that the neighborhood people were carrying Nagen Maity’s grandson, Baltu, to the doctor.

Shantanu wondered to himself, what happened to Baltu? He had come to the coaching center last night. Though Sir had let him off a bit later because he had some math left to do, so he left after me. Could it be that Baltu got scared after seeing Bubai’s mother? That must be it. Baltu is such a scaredy-cat. I don’t understand why people are so afraid of ghosts.

A little later, he saw that some people from the neighborhood were carrying Baltu to a car—probably to take him to the doctor or the hospital.

Shantanu asked his mother, What happened to Baltu, Mom?

Shantanu’s mother gave him a stern look and said, See, I told you not to stay out late at night. Those who roam around at night and act mischievously, Bubai’s mother takes them away.

Shantanu didn’t have the courage to tell his mother that Bubai’s mother hadn’t taken him away.

In a trembling voice, Shantanu said, No one took Baltu away, Mom. He just got sick.

Shantanu’s mother scolded him and said, Don’t talk back. Just listen to what I’m saying.

Shantanu couldn’t make sense of what his mother was saying.

The neighborhood people were saying that they should call an exorcist or invite a priest to perform a ritual for peace.

The next evening, Shantanu saw a strange-looking man arrive in their neighborhood. He was dressed in a black dhoti and kurta, with a massive mop of hair on his head. Just seeing him would scare not just ghosts but even humans. The entire village started following this creepy man in excitement. However, Shantanu didn’t go.

Shantanu overheard the elders saying that the man would perform a grand ritual that night to drive away Bubai’s mother. So, children were strictly forbidden from going out that night.

Shantanu had really hoped to scare his math teacher with Bubai’s mother, but now that plan was ruined.