Part 2
“This place is haunted.Yaha kisi chudail ka saaya hai.” Kartar told the reason.
Neil started laughing out loud, “Kya aap bhi Kartar ji? Ye bhoot prêt chudail sab bakwaas hota hai.”Neil said and again tried to enter the haveli.
Kartar stopped him once more, “Aap shehar ke log ho in sab baton mein vishwas nahi rakhte lekin hum gaonwalo ko ispar pura yakeen hai. Isse judi ek kahani hai agar aap vaada kare ki aap yaha nahi jayenge to main aapko sunaunga.”
Though Neil was interested to go in but he always loved these stories by villagers so he couldn’t say no. Both of them returned to the village again and in the way Kartar started telling him the story.
“Aaj se kareeb 150 saal pehle jab hamara desh angrezo ka ghulaam tha tab yaha aur aas pass ke ilaako par control karne ke liye angrezo ne is jagah apni chhavni banai thi. Ye haveli bhi unki banwai hui hai. Yaha par company ka bada afsar rehta tha. Kehte hain dikhne mein bada sundar sajila naujawan tha. Koi ladki ek bar dekh le to apna dil nikal kar rakh de. Use ye baat achhi tarah pata bhi thi aur wo iska fayda bhi uthata tha. Ek din uski nazar gaon ki ek ladki par padi aur usne puri koshish ki us ladki ko phasane ki. Ladki bhi uske jaal mein phas hi gayi thi. Jab gaon walo ko is baat ka pata chala to unhone ladki ke maa baap ko is bare mein bataya. Ladki ke maa baap aur gaon walo ne ladki ko bahut samjhaya ki ye gore kisi ke sage nahi hote par ladki nahi maani aur uske sath is haveli mein rehne chali aayi.” Kartar took a pause to look at Neil.
Neil was listening with interest, “Then what happened?”
“Ab aap hi bataiye, agar koi ladki aise bina shadi kiye kisi gair mard...wo bhi angrez ke sath samaj aur apne maa baap ki lok laaz izzat ki parwaah kiye bina aise rehne chali ayegi to kya hoga?” Kartar looked at Neil as if it was a simple guess.
Neil could see the typical patriarchal old school thinking of Kartar but he couldn’t blame him. After all he was uneducated and never stepped out of his village. So he pretended to guess then give up. “Kartar you tell me what happened to that girl?”
Kartar took a deep breath and shook his head dejectedly on silliness of this shehri babu. “Arre hona kya tha. Us angrez ne us ladki ka fayda uthaya aur jab uska mann bhar gaya to use haveli se nikal diya. Ladki sadma bardasht nahi kar payi aur usne haveli ke hi kuye mein doob kar apni jaan de di. Kyunki us ladki ne is tarah samaj ki parvah na karte hue bina shadi ke ek gair mard ke sath....” Kartar hesitated a little to say the actual word. “Ab kyunki us ladki ne paap kiya tha to sazaa to milni thi. To wo marne ke baad chudail ban gayi aur kehte hain uski aatma aaj bhi isi haveli mein bhatakti hai.” Kartar completed the story.
Neil stayed quiet for sometime but when Kartar looked at him, he started laughing again. “Kartar, I must say, you are good story teller. But still I dont believe in ghosts.”
“First let me tell you what happened afterwards. The ghost of that girl or that chudail came back from dead and first killed that british officer to take revenge and she cursed the villagers and this haveli too. At first villagers also didn’t believe in this story but from time to time we have seen the incidents which gave us proof of her presence.” Kartar shared.
“What kind of proof?”Neil inquired.
“Dangerous accident happening around this haveli. It has taken many lives. The latest one was few months ago. Two kids didn’t listen to their parents and came in this haveli due to the bet with their friends. The next day both of them found dead in the same well of the haveli in which that chudail died in her human form. Villagers have also claimed that they have seen a shadow of a girl roaming in the haveli and they have even heard her singing. So, its better you stay away from this place.” Kartar advised.
Till then they had reached the village. Neil had dinner with the villagers and returned back to his hotel at night. He couldn’t sleep. The story of that girl, the image of that haveli kept coming into his mind again and again. There was certain pull he felt when he was in front of that haveli. He wanted to explore it. The artist in him calling out to him to go and experience it, who knows he could find his lost inspiration. He didn’t believe in ghost story prevalent among the villagers. He was not scared of some imaginary ghost. He laughed again when he remembered Kartar’s terrified expressions. But villagers will not let him go if he tell them. So he will go all by himself. He wont stop at village and meet anyone. He will directly go to the haveli early morning. Neil resolved in his heart and finally sleep engulfed him in its arms.
Next day at 6 o’ clock morning he was standing at the gate of haveli. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Cool breeze touched is face. He smiled and opened his arms as if to welcome the cool breeze. He opened his eyes when he heard the sound of huge iron gate making screeching sound. He saw the gate of the haveli was open now as if welcoming him in.
“Must have opened because of wind.” He concluded. He saw the haveli and again felt that pull towards it. Unable to wait anymore he stepped inside. He started admiring the beauty of the mansion. The garden which was now full of dried leaves and twigs.At the corner there was that infamous well which took life of two innocent kids and that chudail. Neil laughed as he remembered the chudail once again.
He entered the main building. The chudail story was still occupying his thoughts. He was admiring the haveli, the old architect, now damaged paintings and murals.
“Villagers have also claimed that they have seen a shadow of a girl roaming in the haveli and they have even heard her singing.” Neil remembered Kartar’s words.
He laughed some more. “A singing chudail...really?” he blurted. And as if on a cue his ears caught the melodious voice of a girl. Neil was startled at first but out of curiosity he concentrated and tried to follow the voice. It was a melodious tune. Though he didn’t know much about music but he could tell that the singer has put her heart into it. As he continued to follow it became louder and clearer.
Mai Adhuri Si Ek Udasi Hu
Mai Khwab Hu Ya Khwab Ki Pyasi Hu
Mai Adhuri Si Ek Udasi Hu
Mai Khwab Hu Ya Khwab Ki Pyasi Hu
Bhure Bhure Badalo Ke Piche Se Aye Kabhi
Chheete Udaye Kabhi Pani Ka Gola Hai
Aankho Me Ghola Hai Koi Mera Koi
Mai Adhuri Si Ek Udasi Hu
Neil was mesmerised by the tune as if it was calling him. He become restless to find the owner of that voice. But it seems whoever she was, she was playing tricks with him as one minute he was hearing the voice from left side but the very next minute it was coming from right side.
Khushbu Si Nikalti Hai Tan Se Jaise Koi Guzre Badan Se
Khushbu Si Nikalti Hai Tan Se Jaise Koi Guzre Badan Se
Sanso Se Utrega Shayad Kabhi Kabhi Vo
Bhure Bhure Badalo Ke Piche Se Aaye Kabhi
Cheete Udaye Kabhi Aankho Ka Sapna Hai
Bole To Apna Hai Koi Mera Koi
Mai Adhuri Si Ek Udasi Hu
His heart started racing fast. He finally located that voice was coming from the backyard. He was standing in front of the door that connected the rest of haveli to backyard.
Aasama Ka Kona Ek Utha Ke Chumta Hai Neend Se Jaga Ke
Aasama Ka Kona Ek Utha Ke Chumta Hai Neend Se Jaga Ke
Chand Se Utrega Shayad Kabhi Kabhi Vo
Bhure Bhure Badalo Ke Piche Se Aye Kabhi
Cheete Udaye Kabhi Garje To Auro Ka, Barse To Apna Hai
Koi Mera Koi
Mai Adhuri Si Ek Udasi Hu
Mai Khwab Hu Ya Khwab Ki Pyasi Hu
Bhure Bhure Badalo Ke Piche Se Aye Kabhi
Cheete Udaye Kabhi Pani Ka Gola Hai
Aankho Me Ghola Hai Koi Mera Koi
For once he was scared of opening the door. Who knows Kartar would turn out right afterall. Who knows who is behind this door? He brushed off the thought as quickly as it came.
“Neil...tu bhi kya kya sochta hai...chudail...really? Idiot. But there is sure some girl out there. Open the door and find out.” He said to himself and pushed the door open when he couldn’t resist anymore.
He saw there was really a girl, singing...lost in her own world. She was dancing....turning round and round. Her face was covered with her long hair...she had really long hair. Neil couldn’t see her face. He waited there patiently for her to stop and notice him.
The girl finally stopped singing and and looked directly at Neil with a piercing gaze as if she knew he was standing there, watching her. Slowly her hair started falling from her face and Neil forgot to breath. He had seen beautiful girls before but this one...she looked ethereal. She was perfect blend of innocence and sultry. Neil kept looking at her and the girl kept staring him in the eyes as if trying to read him.
“Who are you?” Neil asked after sometime.
The girl laughed loudly then suddenly stopped. She was angry....very angry. With burning eyes and evil smile she saw him and spoke, “Main....chudail hoon.”
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to be continued...
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