Those who don't come back

A team of five people—Tapan (team leader), Rudra (videographer), Sharmila (zoologist), Nabila (folk culture researcher) and Rana (guide)—went to the deepest part of the Sundarbans for research. The objective: to find the relationship between folklore and biodiversity.

They entered the area with a trawler from the local Mallikbari Ghat. There were no problems for the first two days, only the fear of snakes and tigers was on their minds. But on the morning of the third day, the guide Rana said,

“We have to leave before afternoon today. The place falls within the boundaries of the forest.”

Tapan smiled and said, “The fear of ghosts is for people like you. We have come with science.”

Rana didn’t say anything else.

🕯️ Evening begins to fall

By afternoon, there was a thick fog in the forest. Suddenly, the GPS signal went off. Having lost their way, they saw an abandoned hut, covered with bamboo and thatch. They decided to spend the night there for shelter.

Nabila said, “I had read this room before. According to local belief, Ban Bibi once came here to subdue the spirit of a sinner... but since then this place has been cursed.”

“All right, no more ghost stories,” said Rudra. He turned on the camera, saying, “Waiting for the ghost... Action!”

But that night, action really happened.

🌘 Night terrors

Nabila suddenly woke up at around 2 am. There was the sound of someone walking outside. The sound of feet trampling on dry leaves.

“Clap clap... clap...”

She looked out the window, and saw a woman’s shadow in the fog—tall, with a white cloth on her head. Slowly approaching.

Nabila screamed. The others got up. Rudra lit a torch and went outside. No one was there. But she never came back.

🌫️ Morning

6 am. There were no birds, the wind had stopped. Rudra is sitting by the door—silence. A strange peace on his face.

He doesn't respond when called.

Tapan goes forward and puts his hand on his neck. Rudra turns his face and looks—but... he doesn't have a face.

Eyes, nose, lips—nothing. Just a blank white face on the skin, as if someone had erased all the marks.

📿 Folktales and Curses

Nabila said, “As seen in the folktales, Ban Bibi judges. She punishes those who have sin in their hearts. Rudra mocked her last night.”

Tapan's mouth went dry.

“Is that true?”

Sharmila said, “Can't we go back then?”

Rana said, “Even if we can go back now, someone will take some. If we step into Ban Bibi's place... no one comes back, just like before.”

🔚 Going back

They quickly set off towards the ghat. It was not possible to take Rudra. When they returned, they simply said, “It was an accident.”

But after the incident, Nabila stopped writing. At night, she would look in the mirror. Sometimes she would say, “I saw something... now she’s calling me.”

🌑 The end.