Games of shadows
Mom went to office. Pradip looked around. In little eyes he saw empty house. His grandmother died few days ago. She was use to be his companion after school. He used to play with her. Now he was alone in house. He knew that babysitter was there. But he was missing his grandmother so much. He knew that new babysitter didn't care for him. She was not even attached with him. His Mom was not even happy about this arrangement. She told him again and again that she loved him but she needed to go to office and he agreed. Truthfully he didn't want his Mom in home at all. His Mom was not that much sweet when she stayed in home. She kept insisting on studying more and more. He was just small kid. His father many times tried to convince her that she didn't need to discipline him so much he was just small kid. But his Mom never understood. He didn't want his Mom to stay in house. He just wanted his grandmother back. He knew one thing that it was not possible dead one couldn't come back from death. He was watching around when suddenly his babysitter appeared. She smiled and told him " I am Rucha. What is your name?" " Pradip!!" He said in low voice. Rucha smiled. Rucha " Are you scared of me?" In heart he was but he was not ready to accept it so he planned to deny it. He said " No..no." she smiled. "Great. Let's play some games. What game do you like?" " I like to play with shadows." She started to laugh loudly. He didn't like it. He was so upset. He didn't like when someone joked on his habit. Then Rucha took his hand in her hand and said " I will teach you one game. You can talk with shadows and they will answer you." He laughed. Then Rucha looked at him with serious expression. He sensed that she was serious. He decided that he didn't want to try it. He said " No thanks. I don't want to talk with shadows. I just want to create animal out of them." Rucha nodded. But still she suggested once again. " Are you sure? They can talk." He answered once again. " No thanks. I don't want to play with shadows. I will do homework." He returned to homework. Rucha kept looking at her shadow. He was convinced that this babysitter was mad. He decided to keep doing homework for that entire day. He wanted to stay away from her. He remained in room for that entire day. When his Mom came back he told everything to her, she started laughing. But his Dad interfered. Dad " I feel we must send him to your Mom's house." But he objected. " No Dad I have many friends here." " But if you feel that babysitter is mad. We need to change her and it needed time." Pradip felt so upset. He didn't want to left his house. He decided that this Rucha was not that bad. He would handle it. Then suddenly his Mom said " I can stay in home." He just hated that idea. He smiled and said " I was just joking. I know shadows can't talk. We were just playing." His Mom didn't seem convinced. Mom " May be I needed to quit job?!!" He didn't want her to be staying in home. He didn't like his Mom that much. He knew that it would be considered strange if he told this to people, everyone believed that Mom was supposed to be person whose love supposed to light his soul. But he didn't feel that way about his Mom. She kept taunting him and scaring him. She started it from morning. When she woke up, she started immediately from behind " Come on brush your teeth properly otherwise they will catch cavity did you remember that dentist who pulled my teeth?!!" Then she would pause in hope that he would remember and he started to remember that horrible day when he saw Mom's tooth taken out. He remembered it very well. He was so scared. But that didn't have anything to do with him. He was quiet disciplined regarding brushing teeth etc. He never needed dentist. He thought. But his guess was not true. Soon he found out that he could even get cavities. He loved sweets. But he was careful about brushing teeth. But his Mom kept showing off as if he never brushed his teeth. She kept telling world that she needed to instruct world about it. He didn't want his Mom to stay at home. " Don't worry. I will not talk with shadows." His parents seemed little worried but they nodded. It was so upsetting to them. He knew. But next day his babysitter was changed. This lady was nice. She seemed so much like his grandmother. He began to feel so happy once again. He even started calling her " Grandma " with affection. Everything was perfect for long time. He didn't felt any stress. As days went ahead this Grandma retired and he began to go in college so he no longer needed any babysitter. He took number of this Grandma. He felt that everything would remain perfect. He started to calling this Grandma every day. At beginning it looked so perfect but then slowly things started to change. One day a lady told him " Your babysitter is sleeping." He was so shocked. He never called her babysitter. She was always Grandma to him. He felt that this lady didn't know him. He decided to continue talking about her as Grandma. " Actually I want to talk to Grandma.." " She is not feeling well so she is sleeping now." " My God!! Can I come and visit her?" That lady sounded totally shocked and upset. " You must not!! She is sick not permitted to chat." That lady was literally insulting him. He decided to disconnect call. After that he tried for few days to call Granma but that lady kept taking phone. Finally he told his parents about it. His Dad patted on his shoulder and said " Finally she is not your Grandma so you don't have any right on her." Mom " Yes. Just forget her otherwise that lady might do Police complaint and you will land in jail." He was so upset. " But why? I am just calling my babysitter?" " Yes but that lady might take it in wrong way. She might be young. She could be her daughter-in-law who might think you are finding excuse to come in touch with her." " I never heard bigger nonsense." " I know but world is just like that. Stop calling her." He nodded. He was so upset but he knew that he didn't have any right on her so he stopped calling and tried to forget about her.
One day when Pradip was going in college, he noticed Rucha. It was so strange. He was trying so hard to forget his one babysitter and another appeared before him. He didn't like Rucha at all. He decided to ignore her. But after seeing her he began to remember about his Grandma. He was so sure that her daughter-in-law was not taking proper care of her. She must be feeling so lonely. She must missing him. He was her favourite. She told this to him many times. She had done babysitting for many times. But she claimed no one was attached so much to her. He didn't understood at that time. It could turn out to be mistake. He was so tense now. He wanted to take care of her but he couldn't. In legal way she was not related to him. He was so upset. He wanted to just stop worrying but he knew that it was not going to happen. He was going to get tense about her. He didn't understand how could he stop worrying about his babysitter. Then he got an idea. He might start thinking about girls. He began to imagine things like his marriage with most famous girl of college. He had given rose to her on last rose day. Of course she had many roses but one thing was important she smiled. She even smelt those roses. He kept watching her entire day. But he didn't understand what was her feeling about him. He kept watching her. She was love of his life and he could do anything for her. But he knew that she never showed any interest in chatting with him. But still he hoped. He tried to think about her but nothing seemed to work. He kept thinking about his Grandma. He knew that he was so upset. He didn't want to keep remembering her. He knew that he didn't needed to keep her in mind. She was no longer his babysitter and he was no longer little boy. But still she was so special. He used to chat with her every day. He never able to talk with his Mom like that. He wanted to talk with her again. Then he suddenly remembered Rucha. Rucha told him that he could talk to shadows. He started laughing. He began to think that he might needed to just try something else. He took deep breath and started thinking about other things. He suddenly remembered about those shadows which were hunting them. He looked around. He sensed that he was surrounded by shadows. His own shadow looked so weak in them. As if it wanted his support to grow strong. He turned towards it. He looked around. People were walking around him. He couldn't talk with shadow now. He needed to think about some other idea. Then he suddenly located far away corner of his college playground. No one was sitting there. It still had old bench while remaining benches playground were changed. He wanted to sit on it. He felt as if that bench was calling him. He knew that it was possible but still he decided to entertain that thought. For some time he kept thinking. Then he began to move towards it. He sat there. He noticed that no one was there. He sat alone and looked towards his shadow. He knew that shadow was not going to talk but still he kept watching. Then he remembered people playing chess from sides. He decided to give it a try. He began to talk with his shadow. He was answering from both sides. But he felt that it was fun. He loved that game. He began to get so involved in that game that he totally forgot time. He didn't sense his classes started until college security man didn't came near him. Security " What happened?Why don't you go in class to study." He felt so shocked. He didn't sense that bell rang. He ran in classroom. It was his lucky day. That lecture luckily belonged to professor who believed in forgiving so he was forgiven after few angry looks. He sat for lecture. He enjoyed it since he was so happy. He managed to talk with shadow and no one noticed. He loved this game. He knew that this was not madness just game. It was like his childhood games. He liked them too. That day he felt so relaxed. He managed to learn everything so fast. He decided that he loved this game. It was helping him with studies too. He never heard about such game. He didn't understand what was wrong and what was right but he knew one thing. He loved this game and he was planning to play it every day. But he needed to do it alone. He knew that it was not easy but he had his plans. He knew that on some places people didn't come that much. He felt that he could do this to thrill himself for sometime. He needed to it. He knew that his many friends did many things for thrill which were totally wrong. Some were even health damaging. He was just talking to shadows for fun. He knew very well in his mind that they were not alive. He needed to use them just to thrill himself. He knew that they were fake. After that thought he could able to concentrate on his studies very well. He began to feel that these shadows could help him a lot. It was just beginning of his thrill. Next day he sensed that shadows were with him every day and everywhere. He could talk with them as per his need. He began to feel so pleased. He needed to do something to please himself. He began to feel this game was so wonderful. It was so wonderful. He kept thinking about different things he needed to tell his friends in shadows. It was so nice. Now he was alone in his house. His parents were in office so he could do whatever he desired so he kept talking with those shadows. He didn't sense that he was acting strange. It seemed so normal in that loneliness. He needed to find way of relaxing. But he never thought that this might had worst effect on his life. He might needed to seem strange to world and he never thought that those shadows might started to talk back with him. He was sure that he would keep talking and they would keep quiet. It was so perfect. No one was going to notice. It was just game. It was perfect for his soul. He needed to just keep playing it for limited times. He wanted to get over his troubles then he needed those artificial friends to console soul. He needed to gather strength inside soul. He needed to move ahead with hope and those shadows were giving it.
On that day Ramabai who was Pradip's maid came to do cooking. She was new maid. Last maid Kashibai shifted to village. She was happy to get this job. But Kashibai told her one thing that managed to upset her. Kashibai said that this job was perfect except son in this house. She told her that he was strange. He kept talking to himself. Now that scared Ramabai. Ramabai asked " What is his age?" " He is in college. He would start job soon." " What at this age he keep talking to walls?!!" " Yes..yes but he is fine otherwise. He is not mad. He will not harm you or.." "How could you guarantee that? He could harm me or he could keep bad intentions towards me." Kashibai started laughing. Kashibai " He is like kid. He is not that evil. You must try." Ramabai was confused. But she decided to give it try. So she came in house that day. She was so scared. She rang bell. Pradip opened door. She told her name and purpose. Pradip smiled decently. He told her how did she supposed to do his work. Then he went in his room. She didn't need to watch him. But he seemed like normal person. She didn't sense any madness in him. She began to feel Kashibai was creating drama of small things. Ramabai started working in that house for few days. She felt that all was fine. She began to think that she got good job. There was no one to complaint about her work. Even her salary was great. But then one day she suddenly heard laughing. She was so shocked. She noticed room was locked. She began to hear. She never tried to hear conversation from anyone's room like that. But today she began to get suspicious. She began to sense that someone might be in room. If Pradip was bringing someone in house with him, she didn't want to work in such house. But then she knew that he didn't have any authority over him. It was not her mistake. She needed to know. She had to be careful. But she was confused. If her employer had affairs did she had right to object? After all he was not harassing her. It was none of her business. But in her heart she didn't like it. She didn't want employer who was having such character. But she couldn't reject job for character of employer. But she needed to confirm first. Then she sensed that she was hearing just voice of one man. It seemed as if no one was answering from other side. She was so nervous. She didn't understand what did she supposed to do about this. She was so scared. She decided that she might just give notice and left this job. But it was not that easy. She knew that it would create many problems for her. She needed to find new job. Then she suddenly remembered one excuse. She could say she forgot to dust that room which was not truth but she knew that Pradip never paid much attention to her. So she started knocking door. He opened. She observed that room was totally empty. She was so disturbed. She couldn't believe that this boy was talking to himself. He was looking at her with anger. " What happened? What did you want?" " Actually I forgot to clean under table. Your Mom might get upset." He looked at her with confusion. He didn't understand what did he supposed to do. He wanted to keep talking to that shadow. But he knew that he couldn't. He decided to do other trick. He could go in other room and then that shadow would surely follow him. He knew that it would help him. He smiled and said " I will go out." Ramabai nodded. He went out. He thought that he had privacy now. But Ramabai was planning different thing. She was planning to keep watch on him. He turned towards wall and started to talking to shadow. Ramabai watched that shadow with full attention. She suddenly sensed that shadows were moving as per his instructions. She began to feel that he was doing some sort of black magic. She shivered with fear. She didn't expect it from him. She tried hard to control her tears but soon she sensed that it was impossible for her. She couldn't. Before she could control herself scream escaped from her lips. That shadow was alive. She didn't have any doubt in her mind. His shadow was responding to him. Then she sensed that soon her shadow joined his shadow too. She began to sense that her shadow was behaving against her will. She began to run out of that house. Pradip was so shocked. He didn't understand what was wrong. He was just talking to his shadow as game. Nothing was wrong in it. It was just his timepass. He knew that it was just joke. Ramabai ran out of that house. She was so scared and so upset. She didn't understand what she supposed. She knew that this boy was some black magician. She was shivering when suddenly a woman from neighborhood came out. She was elderly and looked kind. She asked her " Are you alright my kid?" Ramabai started crying. Then she told all step by step. That elderly woman heard all with shock. " Are you sure that there were not girls and he didn't fool you for confusing you?" Ramabai was sure. Ramabai " No..no I went in room." " Did you saw under bed?" Now Ramabai was confused now. She didn't. She had to say " No." " So there was not ghost. There must be girl who was hidden somewhere and he did all you to scare so that this girl will escape. He managed it all." Ramabai was so angry. " I will quit job but I will tell his Mom all before quitting job." " I will tell secretary of society too." Pradip didn't sense what was going on. He was still looking at shadow. He didn't want to talk any more. He returned to his work. He needed to do all daily duties too. But he was so confused. He didn't sense anything scary in room but he kept watching but his maid was surely scared. He was so upset. He began to think that this maid would spread rumours about him. He decided that it was better to warn his Mom. He called her and began to tell her all. His Mom sounded shocked. Mom " But who was in room?" " No one Mom. Trust me!!" " Then she must be mad." " I am so scared." " Don't worry I will handle." He smiled happily. He knew that his Mom would handle everything. He smiled happily with hope. He knew that Mom would never let anyone do any harm to him.
Ramabai immediately called Pradip's Mom. But his Mom was already prepared so she turned everything on her. Ramabai was shocked when Pradip's Mom started to claim that she was doing all to get money out of them. Ramabai said " No. I am not happy in your salary. I am poor but not thief and you don't sense that difference so I don't think you are wise. I am not working for you." Ramabai disconnected call. She hoped that neighbour would complaint. But in case of neighbour situations turned totally against her too. Her husband and kids stood against her suggestion of complaining. She tried to convince but her husband said " It's their privacy. Now in this age people live like that. We can't object. Of course if it was rape or try to rape then I will stood with you." She understood this very well. She said angrily " Even in case of rape I feel you might want to ignore it and go in different way." Her daughter " Mom I have my future. I need to find husband. I don't want my future to be damaged." Neighbour was so shocked but after this she knew that she didn't able to take risk. She kept quiet and Pradip managed to escape. He was so happy. New maid came. She was not interested in Pradip's life. He was so happy but then one day he was studying. He suddenly heard a voice. He turned no one was in room. Then he turned back to his work . He thought that he had imagined voice. Once again he heard voice it was clear now. He had to turn. It was his shadow. It was talking back. Shadow " This is wrong. You had taken away her job without cause." He was so shocked. He didn't understand how could shadow talk. But shadow was responding. He knew that it was not possible. He began to run out. He was so scared. He wanted to find someone who would help her. He kept searching. Then neighbour came of house. She stopped him and asked " What happened?" He began to tell her about shadows. She kept watching him in strange way. " Do you truly believe shadow have soul hidden inside?" " No..no I don't. But still those shadows are truly started talking." He told everything to neighbour. He was shivering with fear but his neighbour was laughing. He sensed one thing that no one would believe him. He didn't dare to look at any shadow. He went in room. But he was so careful. He didn't look at every shadow. He kept doing his job on each step. But he couldn't do all if he kept away from shadow. He started to work but then he suddenly sensed that he was surrounded by shadows. He began to find places where he didn't see shadows. He began to feel so scared. He started to see different shadows. He was having so much fear in him. He began to sense that he needed to sit just in one chair and kept watching in one direction. He did it until his parents didn't come. But when his parents came, he started telling them all. He knew that all those shadows were around him. They were listening to him. He was so scared. They were talking so much that he began to feel that he couldn't even say one line clearly. His parents were laughing at first but when he started to talk in different way, their smiles vanished. They began so scared. He started to feel confused. He didn't understand even his own words. He was so upset. Soon his parents began to feel scared too. He started to sense one thing. He was not normal. He couldn't talk due to those shadows. He suddenly remembered Rucha. He began to think that he needed to find Rucha. He was so happy at that idea. " Mom..Dad I need to find that babysitter Rucha. She knew about these talking shadows. She used to tell all to me." His parents tried to convince those things were games. He started to feel need of meeting Rucha. His parents tried to convince him entire time but he knew that he just needed to do it. He nodded to convince them. But in his heart he had decided that he needed to go ahead with his plan. He needed to just pretend before parents. He knew that Rucha many times took road of his college. He decided that he would wait. He ignored shadows from morning. He tried his best to ignore those shadows. But they kept getting worst. He waited and waited. But he didn't find any solution. Then he finally found Rucha. He took hold of her hand. He knew that babysitter always used to treat him like her brother. But today she was shocked. Rucha didn't recognise him. She sensed that unknown boy was harassing her. She shivered with fear. She sensed that there was not much crowd on road that day. She read many news about rape. She shivered with fear. She began to scream on top of her lung. She kept feeling scared. She was so upset. She didn't understand how could she escape from this boy. He was speaking something but it was not even making sense. She was holding her tightly and her hand started to pain. She kept screaming. Finally someone came. Then people started gathering around her. Rucha soon started to demand for Police. Soon Police came. Pradip just kept stammering and shivering. Shadows were around him. He began to shiver. He started to scream and began to ask for protection from them. Police started to talk with each other. " This boy is mad." " Yes we must call his relatives." He kept hearing. He wanted to say he was fine. But he just kept his eyes closed to avoid shadows.
Pradip's Mom was shocked when she received call from Cops. She called his Dad and they reached to Police station immediately. They saw Rucha. Then his Mom explained all to Rucha. Rucha was shocked. Rucha " Sorry but I don't recognise him and he was holding me without cause." " Because he wanted to escape from shadows." Mom told all to Rucha. " This was just game. I never thought that it would have such impact on his mind." Police " I don't feel it's about your story. This boy need psychiatrist. He is not mentally sound." Then Police suggested Psychiatrist. They took Pradip to him. Psychiatrist talked with Pradip. Psychiatrist " This is not about shadows at all. This is about Pradip's grandmother's death. He was suffering from pain due to it. But he was not treated so those pains came out in strange way it increased specially when his babysitter who replaced his grandmother was not permitted to chat with him. Then he wanted to hide this game of shadows so he even managed to turn things against Ramabai which lead to worst impact on mind. It started guilt in his mind which forced those shadows to talk." His parents heard all this. Pradip was in worst state so they decided to keep him in hospital for physical check up too. Mom " Do you feel this could have avoided if I stayed at home with him." Psychiatrist laughed and said " It could have avoided only if his grandmother had never died or you have taken him to psychiatrist after trauma." His parents felt so sad. Dad " We don't sense at that time." " Don't worry. We will manage now and everything will be fine." They nodded. They felt one thing that finally Pradip was in safe hands and he would be cured soon.
The End
No comments:
Post a Comment