The Living Ghost

Bahadur Khan was a wealthy landowner, known in his village for his large estates and the fertile lands he irrigated through a small canal. After his marriage, his responsibilities increased, so he hired a farmhand to help manage his crops. When harvest time arrived, both Bahadur Khan and his farmhand would sleep in the fields to guard the crops from thieves.

One year, the rains were unusually heavy, turning even Bahadur Khan’s normally dry fields into lush, green pastures. He considered this a blessing from his marriage and began to feel particularly fortunate. When the crops were ready for harvest, Bahadur Khan and his farmhand stayed overnight in the open fields to protect them. His wife, thoughtful as always, brought him bread in the early evening.

Shortly afterward, a friend came to invite Bahadur Khan to attend a wedding in a nearby village. He instructed the farmhand, “Stay here and guard the fields. Do not tell anyone I have gone, or a thief may find out.” Bahadur Khan had only one hundred rupees with him and set off with his friend, leaving the farmhand behind.

As night fell, the farmhand lit a small fire to keep warm. A spark, carried by the strong wind, landed in the dry fields and ignited a blaze. The fire spread quickly, engulfing the crops. The poor farmhand tried to put out the flames but was tragically burned to death.

The next morning, Bahadur Khan’s wife brought breakfast to the fields, only to find them reduced to ashes. Seeing the lifeless body of the farmhand, she assumed that her husband had also perished in the fire. Distraught, she began wailing loudly. When villagers gathered to inquire, she explained that her husband had died alongside the farmhand. Mistaking the farmhand’s corpse for Bahadur Khan’s, the villagers performed the burial rites and laid him to rest.

Several days later, Bahadur Khan returned from the wedding, arriving late at night. Everyone in the house was asleep. When his wife saw him, she screamed, believing she was seeing her husband’s ghost. Her cries brought neighbors rushing in. They asked what had happened, and she explained that the “ghost of her husband” had appeared.

Shocked and frightened that he was being called dead, Bahadur Khan ran away and hid in the graveyard. He decided to spend the night there, intending to return home at dawn when people could see him in daylight and recognize he was alive.

Exhausted and starving, Bahadur Khan left the graveyard at daybreak and headed back toward the village. Along the way, he saw a passerby and quietly asked for food, saying, “Brother, I am hungry. Can you give me something to eat?” The man, startled to see Bahadur Khan, screamed in terror and collapsed.

Frightened, Bahadur Khan ran back to the graveyard and hid again. Meanwhile, villagers came to bury another corpse and, after completing the rites, began distributing charity dates. One said, “Count how many people are present, then distribute accordingly.” Another added, “There must be at least a hundred people.” Bahadur Khan, unable to resist, shouted, “Give me my share first!” Hearing his voice, the villagers panicked and fled, abandoning their tools and dates.

That night, Bahadur Khan saw a man in black at a grave. The man recited something, and the grave split open, revealing the dead person inside. Realizing this was a magician, Bahadur Khan decided he wanted to learn magic. He chased the magician and insisted, “I will not let you go until you teach me.” The magician warned him to step aside but eventually performed a spell that caused the dead man to follow Bahadur Khan everywhere. Even when Bahadur Khan tried to push the corpse away in a melon field, it clung to him. Exhausted, he tied the corpse to a cot, but it still followed him, rattling along.

The field’s caretaker, seeing this, ran screaming to the village, warning everyone in terror. Villagers washing clothes at the river panicked and fled when they saw Bahadur Khan approaching, thinking he was the living ghost.

Finally, Bahadur Khan decided he needed to confront the source of his misfortune. Under the cover of night, he went to his friend’s village, recounted the entire incident, and sought his help. The friend accompanied him back home and explained the truth to his family: the person who had burned in the fire was the farmhand, not Bahadur Khan. Overjoyed to see him alive, Bahadur Khan’s family gave thanks to God.

Bahadur Khan realized the gravity of his mistake. He swore never to leave home without informing anyone again, understanding that his impulsiveness had nearly caused disaster. From that day onward, he vowed to act with caution and responsibility.