02

I stood in front of the haveli, still trying to make sense of what I just saw or heard. This couldn't be my imagination. Something was definitely wrong.

"Who's there?" I said, my voice a little louder than usual.

No reply. Just silence. The sound I'd heard earlier slowed down, like someone was quietly trying to hide.

"Coward bhootni," I muttered, starting to walk again.

["Coward ghost."]

But then I heard the sound of bangles, this time not from far away, but somewhere close.

I wasn't someone who got scared so easily. Especially not by a sound like that.
My mother wears bangles and anklets too. I hear these sounds every day.

But still, I couldn't help it. My hands tightened around the bags as I dragged them toward the haveli.

Just as I started dragging them, one of the bags got stuck.
A shiver ran down my spine.

I told myself it was nothing to be scared of...but deep inside, I wasn't so sure.
And right then, as if things couldn't get worse, the streetlight above me started flickering. 

I turned around to see what the bag had gotten stuck on...it was just a stone. I sighed in relief, but that feeling didn't last.

A soft, sweet humming filled the air. The voice sounded too sweet, like honey dripping and too calm for such a quiet place.

"O Kon hai oye?" I shouted.

["Hey, who's there?"]

Still no response.

And then, the sound of anklets joined in, perfectly in sync with the melody. 

That was it for me. 

I slung one bag over my shoulder, grabbed the other by its handle, and ran straight into the haveli.

I dropped the bags in the verandah, my mind still spinning from the sound of that humming and those anklets. Without wasting a second, I hurried into the room where everyone was sitting.

"Veer ji, Sat Sri Akaal! "
Seerat jumped in front of me out of nowhere.
And I'd be lying if I said my soul didn't  almost leave my body right then and there.

"O teriiii-" I gasped, clutching my chest. For a second, I legit thought the bhootni had followed me inside.

["Oh damn-"]

"Ki hoya?" she asked, looking confused.

["What happened?"]

"N-nothing," I said, sighing as I placed my hand on her head with a quick smile.

She just shook her head and smiled softly.

I sat on the sofa between Maa and Maanveer, but my mind kept replaying everything that had happened outside. 

I'll admit it, I was a little scared.

"Veer ji, chai or coffee?" Seerat asked. 

["Brother, tea or coffee?"]

"Jhanjhar, " I muttered, still lost in the sound of those anklets.

["Anklets"]

Maanveer never missing a chance.

"Veere, aap mujra bhi karne lag gaye? Bataya nahi kabhi," he said, smirking like the menace he is.

["Bro, you've started doing mujra now? Never told us!"]

I looked at him, narrowing my eyes, as i grabbed him by his neck.
"You speak too much," I said flatly.

He looked up at me, still smiling, completely unbothered despite the chokehold.

"Aap goonge thodi ho. Speak as much as you want," he shot back, grin intact.

["It's not like you're mute. Speak as much as you want."]

I stared at him for a second, then rolled my eyes and let go off him. I was too tired to deal with this brat today.

"I'm going to sleep. Too tired," I said, standing up and heading towards my room.

"Good night Veer ji," Seerat said softly with a smile on her face.

"Good night Veer ji," Maanveer echoed in a high-pitched voice, mocking Seerat while making a weird face.

I chuckled, looking at both of them. "Good night, everyone!"

As i entered the room, i freshened up. After changing into comfortable clothes, i climbed the bed.

As soon as I lay down, my mind began replaying everything that had happened outside.

The humming. Too melodic to ignore.
The anklets. Too everyday to feel unusual.
The silence. Too strange to be normal.

I tried to brush it all off, forcing myself to relax as I laid my head on the pillow and closed my eyes. 

☆☆☆☆☆

The next morning, I got ready in my room, dressed in a crisp white kurta-pyjama and tied a neatly layered black pagg. 

The fabric clung just right, sleeves folded once at the forearms.

I lifted my moustache slightly, a proud smile on my face.
"Sher puttar darde ni aa," I said to myself, feeling like the main character.

["A brave man never gets scared."]

After getting ready, I stepped out of my room and made my way to where my parents and Tau ji were sitting. Bending down, I touched their feet to take their blessings. 

Maanveer and Seerat were still fast asleep.

A little while later, I headed up to the terrace with a cup of tea in one hand and the newspaper tucked under my arm. 

From up there, I glanced around at the village , it looked so busy in the morning. The distant sound of a tractor hummed like background music.

The terrace of the house in front was so close to ours, it amazed me how no one had ever thought of jumping across for a robbery.

Maybe both families were just too sanskari  for crimes like these.

After taking in the view of the village, I settled onto the charpoy, placing the tea on the small stool beside me. As I opened the newspaper, a cool morning breeze touched my face gently while I started reading.

I was completely absorbed in reading an article when I heard that sound. Again.

The same clinking of bangles, the soft jingle of anklets...and that familiar humming.

It came from the terrace of the house in front. My hands paused mid-page as I slowly folded the newspaper shut.

"Din mein bhi bhootni darati hai?" I muttered under my breath, frowning as I stood and stepped closer to the edge of our terrace.

["Does the ghost scare you even during the day?"]

I couldn't see much as their terrace was covered with hanging clothes. Whatever or whoever was making that sound stayed hidden behind them.

I gripped the iron railing, leaning in ever so slightly to hear better. For a second, I nearly lost my balance, almost becoming a bhoot myself. 

Just then, a hand appeared from behind the hanging clothes. It pushed one of the sheets aside. All I could see was the hand, with purple bangles and henna applied on them.

That hand clearly belonged to a woman.

She pulled down a towel from the wire.

That's when I almost saw her face.

But she noticed me before I could.
In a quick motion, she pulled her phulkari dupatta over her face, leaving only her eyes uncovered.

And those eyes...for a second, I forgot where I was.

Light green. Clear, bright, and almost unreal. 

Even from the next terrace, I could see them.
I'd never seen eyes like that before. "ehni sohni".

I didn't move. Just stood there, silently stunned,  like I was looking at one of God's favourite artworks.

She looked back for  a moment, then quickly dropped her gaze and walked away, leaving half the clothes still hanging. 

As she walked away, the soft clink of her anklets and bangles followed her.

At least now I knew it wasn't some creepy ghost behind those sounds.

Whatever it was... it wasn't a ghost. And it definitely wasn't forgettable.

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