The Stillness of the Night

The Stillness of the Night

The small village was enveloped in thick fog, as if it were concealing itself from the outside world. In the darkness of the night, when the moonlight could not penetrate the misty shroud, the villagers secured their doors and windows. They understood that the stillness of the night was not merely quiet—it hid something mysterious, something malevolent.

Shanta, a young woman, had recently come to the village from the city. Following her grandfather’s passing, she returned to care for his old home. The house was situated at the village's edge, beneath the shadow of an ancient banyan tree. The villagers had cautioned her, “Do not remain in that house at night, Shanta. Restless spirits wander there.” However, Shanta dismissed such warnings. To her, they were simply the superstitions of the village.

The initial days went by without any disturbances. The house, although aged, was robust. Shanta occupied her days sorting through her grandfather’s belongings and spent her nights engrossed in books. Yet, on the fourth night, a shift occurred.

It was close to midnight. Shanta was in her bedroom, perusing an old diary she had discovered among her grandfather’s effects. The diary was written by her great-grandfather. Its pages contained peculiar writings—stories of an unknown dread, of a “shadow” that haunted the house at night. Shanta frowned as she read. Abruptly, a creaking noise emanated from the wooden floor. She was startled.

“Who is there?” Shanta called out. No answer came. The sound ceased. She speculated that perhaps a door had shifted in the breeze. Yet, a sense of unease settled in her mind. She closed the diary and retired to bed, but sleep eluded her.

In the depths of the night, in a state of half-sleep, she heard a whisper. It appeared to beckon her name. “Shanta... Shanta...” The voice was deep, yet unclear. She sat up abruptly. The room was dark, with only a sliver of moonlight seeping through the fog outside the window. She rose from her bed and moved toward the window. Outside, beneath the banyan tree's shadow, something appeared to stir.

“Am I i