Paranormal Short Story – Neil
Photo credit: demondimum from morguefile.com
Many of you must have heard about the beautiful place of Dow Hill in kurseong, India.
I am Tara and through out, you will find me narrating the story of this place. Being an Indian,I always wanted to visit India and admire its scenic beauty. Many people in Paris believe that India is not a wonderful place to visit. Visiting this place is just a wastage of money. However, I did not believe it and without paying any attention to these words, I finally had everything ready, my heart filled with happiness, I waited restlessly for the days to pass by, though there were only three days left for the journey.
At last, the day arrived for which I had been waiting for 30 years. I boarded the flight and after a eight-hour long journey, landed in Kolkata,India. The next day again, boarding a flight from Kolkata, I reached Siliguri, a small town situated near the hills. My parents had spent their childhood here and so, I had the ardent desire within myself to visit this place. Though a small town, its beauty is beyond words.
When the first sunshine of the day falls on the earth,the mountains shine brightly as if the mountains had diamonds on them in the name of snow. Whenever the breeze blew, I had a feeling of relaxation within myself. The nature in France is not so soothing. For the first time, I had visited my motherland. What a feeling it was!!
Staying there for a few days, I left the place to reach Dow Hill in Kurseong, which is equally beautiful,perhaps more beautiful. According to me, it is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. But as it is known to you, there are dark secrets behind every beauty. Though the place is famous for its beauty,it has earned fame for yet another reason-“Scary stories about a headless boy roaming the forests of Dow Hill and whoever sees the boy is sure to die”.
I had the ardent desire to visit the place. I had already booked an inn. I made myself fresh and as the first ray of darkness had already landed on the earth, I decided to visit the place the next day. While I was roaming the streets near the inn, I found my childhood friend, Neha Khanna. We also used to be neighbours. She told me that she has married a bengali guy and was now settled there in that beautiful place. She always loved the hills like I do.
We started talking about our old times, new times and how close is India to her…her love for the country glittered in her eyes. Talking like this, I asked her about the rumour which the place was famous for. Suddenly her bright face turned pale, her eyes looked down with fear. She warned me saying that the place was dangerous and whoever visits the place either dies or turns crazy.
However,I was determined and wanted to visit the forest at any cost. After gossiping for a long time, we waved our hand to each other and gradually walking through the street , she disappeared into the fog which had separated out the people in that area from the rest of the world. Meeting a good friend after so many years gave a warm feeling inside. I had my dinner and retired for the night.
The next morning as soon as warm sunshine entered my room, I had everything ready. I had my breakfast and catching a bus, I reached the place. It was not at all a scary place. Instead its scenic beauty was something to admire. There was a big white school near the forest which was actually the renowed Victoria Boys’ High School known for its quality education. Walking through the road in the middle of the forest, I came across many locals who warned me to go inside the forest but I ignored them.
After sometime I came across a boy who was nearly eighteen. On telling him what I was there for, he said,”I am Neil Bhaskar. Don’t worry.I will guide you”.
I found him different from other people. Walking through the woods, I had goosebumps though there was nothing scary out there..As we went deeper and deeper into the forests, I had started feeling suffocated. I sat down under a tree and drank water till I was satisfied and it was only then when I realized that Neil had disappeared. I called him out loudly but in vain. I stood up and realizing that I had lost both Neil and the way out of the forest, began walking through the woods in search of some hope.
It had been three long hours. Suddenly through the woods I could see a road. I ran towards it. On reaching the road, I did not see anyone. I started walking through it. Completely tired I collapsed on the road and suddenly I could see someone coming towards me. I had never been so happy as I was then seeing that person. With whatever energy I had in my body, I stood up. As the person came more closer to me, I realized who the person was.
As he neared me ,I moved back.With all my energy, I started to run away from him. I was running and running and running…I don’t remember anything after that. On opening my eyes,I found myself in a hut surrounded by many people. They were the locals. Before I could say anything they asked me if I had seen a young boy. On nodding my head, they told me the story of the boy.
One of the persons in the crowd started, ‘He was a young boy who always loved to help other people. He couldn’t see anyone in pain. He was a very decent boy. 2 years ago, the road through the woods was a bit risky as that area was troubled by dacoits. One evening the boy went out saying he was going out to play with his friends and will be back soon. He did not return that day. His parents went house to house searching for their son. On asking his friends, they answered that they did not meet him that day. His parents wondered where could he have gone. They were worried as there was the fear of dacoits too.
After a few hours, the sun dawned. The village went in search of him. The awful moment of the day was when his headless body was found. His chain was missing. The boy’s mother turned crazy and the father was totally depressed on the death of their young son.Since that day, though dacoits don’t roam the forests now, the forests are roamed by the headless spirit of the boy in search for justice. I wonder why nothing has not happened to you.You are totally fine….I dont remember his name. His name was mmmmm…’.
‘Neil Bhaskar, isn’t it?’
Everyone stared at me.’How do you know?Did he tell you himself?’.
I nodded. I don’t know what had happened to me but did not feel scared of him anymore after knowing his story. Instead I felt sorry for him. However, after a while, they accompanied me to the bus stop and soon the bus came which would take me back to the inn. I was waving my hand to the locals and I strongly felt that the people who were affected by the appearance of Neil must have been responsible for his death in some way. Waving my hand suddenly I saw a boy standing far apart from the villagers behind a tree. He was too waving his hand to me. I couldn’t clearly see his face but I had a good feeling within myself doing this. Perhaps he was Neil…perhaps…
END
