Do or Don't - A Short Story

“Naani, Today I will go inside that Khandahar (Old House)” said Mehir.
“Which Khandahar?” asked Naani.
Mehir replied, “The one that lies behind our school. I have heard many stories about it from my friends. I will check whether they are right or not”
“Buddu(Fool)!! Don’t ever try to enter that Khandahar. Bhoots (Ghosts) reside there. They will kill you and make delicious food out of your parts.” Informed worried Naani, Mehir’s Maternal Grandmother.

These sentences were enough to frighten Mehir and he vowed never to go to that Khandahar. Naani felt worried about Mehir’s adventurous nature. She was looking after Mehir as his parents lived in a village and he was sent to his maternal family, living in the city, for studies. But every day Mehir would do something that would frighten Naani about his safety. Even today she knew that there was no ghost in the Khandhar but felt it safe to frighten him as the old khandhar might be filled with snakes and insects. She thought it safe to keep him away.

Mehir would always pass through the Khandahar while on his way to school…looking closely at it. He would see the mosses all around it. Trees had grown over its walls. The open space infront of it was full of grasses and many small plants. The house was in complete mess. “Why do the bhoots like to live in such a dirty place?” wondered Mehir.

He could not keep his eyes away from the Khandahar whenever he passed through it. He would try to imagine its interior. He would concentrate hard to hear voices from inside. He was attracted towards the mysterious Khandahar but the fear of bhoots would not allow him inside. It was always “DO or DON’T”. He would choose later. It became a daily routine.

The interest in Khandahar kept on increasing day by day. Not a day passed without some new stories being heard about it. Time washed away the fears that were instilled in him by Naani and one fine day Mehir decide that it was enough now, he would go inside the Khandhar today.
He asked his friends that he needed to collect some copies form teacher’s room and would not join them when the school closed. He left alone after some time. The road was empty. He walked fast as he wanted to go inside the Khandahar before somebody could sense his plan. When he reached the Khandahar, a wave of shrill passed through his veins. He controlled his fear and zoomed inside it. By the time he got back to his senses, he was inside it. It was dark. He recaptured his composer and started walking in the darkness. He heard different noises. He kept on moving slowly and suddenly saw red light coming out of one of the rooms. Loud noises were coming from inside. He wanted to run away. He could remember all the words of advice from his Naani. He was sweating. His hands were shaking. He could not walk an inch.

“It will be safe if I look inside the room by hiding myself” thought Mehir. He moved ahead slowly. The noises got louder. He hides himself behind the doors and when he was assured that nobody could see him, he peeps inside the room. The noises were getting irresistible. Finally, when he managed to get a clear view, he was stunned by what he saw. “Ohhh...my God!! Naani was right.” A large flame was burning at the centre of the room. Big monsters were sitted around it and small children were being fried in the fire. Fear gripped his soul. He decided to run away.

Thuddd….Mehir felt something on his shoulder. He looked up…It was a monster looking at him happily. He asked,”who are you?” Mehir fainted.

When he got onto his senses, he was lying on a dirty floor. His hands and legs were tied. A monster was sharpening his kataar(Sickle) in front of him. He sensed his end. He was fully soaked in water due to excessive sweating. He applied all his strength but could not free himself. He started crying. He wanted to run. Mehir promised...”God… Help me! I would never come back here again.” The monster was coming nearer…his eyes were red…Mehir saw his death floating there. As Monster raised his kattar, Mehir closed his eyes.

Dhammm……..Mehir opened his eyes and saw fan running over the roof. He touched his body. He was alive. He was sweating viciously. “Ohhh..it was a bad dream” assured Mehir. He recollected himself and had water from the fridge. He felt better. He moved out of bedroom to balcony. The cool breeze calmed him down. He felt relaxed.

Standing in the balcony of his flat, Mehir’s memory went into the afternoon in college last Friday. Memories of that Afternoon in college filled his senses …the lunch followed by those routine chats with friends and then, on his way back … fight with Mehek… when all those smaller frustrations, those bits n pieces of anger which somehow had got stagnated inside found a way to erupt … taking such a strong force which threw the instant caution of the mind and the deepest love of the heart in to the wind

“Who was wrong?” he thought. Quite possibly no one.

Many a time one’s expectation outweighs other’s act and hence it gets complicated. He was aware that he might be talking to Mehek for the last time. He knew that Mehek would not meet him again, pained by his behavior. He had expected Mehek to go wild at him but she was as cool as ever. She heard him silently and moved away slowly.

But everything we do, does come back at us… just the form in which they come remain a mystery – and here it came, with all its cruel claws at him – the effects of those bits n pieces of stupidity trying to take away all that genuine feel and all that abundant care weighing on his heart, away from him. It was the same Mehir who fought with Mehek well aware of the outcome and then suddenly in midnight he was feeling bad, that too after a week.

“Why is it so?” he wondered. Maybe that dream had a message for him.

He never met Mehek after that incident. He had anticipated the outcome of the fight but then again he did it. It was again “DO or DON’T”. This time he had chosen the former. Naani had warned him never to go to that Khandahar but he went and found himself in danger. He could now decrypt the dream. He fought with Mehek well aware of the outcome and again he is in mesh today. He felt choked. An urge to call Mehek and say “Sorry” came but….he knew that she would never receive the call.” It’s all over” whispered Mehir. He looked into the sky. It was a beautiful moon in a cool night. A lonely night. He could remember Mehek going away. Will she look back again? That might never happen. Mehir closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His eyes were moist. He wished it was also a dream.