rainy day

it was Saturday summer evening and it was pouring buckets. i was stuck at the bus stop waiting for the bus to come and i didn't knew what was taking the bus so long to come. other people standing besides me also seemed irritated while waiting. had the rain stopped, i would have walked home. but it was not possible.

after a while bus arrived. it was an empty bus. i took it and sat at the front. nobody else from the stop took that bus. i guess nobody wanted to go to that route. i was happy that the whole bus belonged to me.

the driver started driving. it was getting dark and i wanted to reach home as soon as possible. the bus stopped at another spot and an aged woman got in. she sat next tome. i wondered that why were there so less people to take a bus.

after few seconds the woman asked me that where was i heading to to which i replied gently and asked her the same to which she replied that the last stop is her destination.

for a moment there was silence. then she asked me what did i do. i told her that i am a student. she smiled and said that i should make it fast to the home as it's not safe for a girl of my age to stay out at this hour and that too all alone.

i nodded an started looking out of the window though it was dark and i couldn't see anything but still i found it as a way of avoiding that woman.

after a while the woman asked me that do i believe in ghosts or not? and this surprised me. i answered in a yes but was still wondering that why was she asking such a question.

she told me that she has seen ghosts for real. my curiosity increased and i started listening to her with keen interest.

she further narrated- "i was just married then, i was very beautiful and shy. i didn't knew anything and was naive. my husband was a nice man and took care of me. i all started when i visited his village to meet his distant family members and paying tribute to the ancestors.

i was young then and so was free spirited and enthusiastic about everything. i went to roam around in the village and saw an old house on my way. looking at it i felt that it was empty from quite some time. there was no one around and i thus went into the house.

the house was completely a mess. i think someone left from here in a great hurry. the house was spooky and i felt uncomfortable inside so i headed back and that is when i saw her for the first time."

-"whom?", i interrupted

-" the lady in the black. (she continued) i thought that she must be living here so i chased her. she stopped suddenly and i was scared. she turned and she looked horrible. she was a ghost. i screamed loudly and ran away.

i told this to my husband and everyone else in the house. the advised me to not to go that place at it was haunted by the spirit of that lady.

after it she often appeared in my dreams and i was scared. i started knowing more about ghosts after that. i studied about them. there is one thing about ghosts, they make you feel that they belong to this world and they indulge you in their conversation. they only show their real face when you get a hint that they are not what they pretend to be and you express your fear towards them.

your fear gives them strength."

she ended her story. i sat quietly and smiled towards her. i was thinking about what she told me and just then i happened to look in the mirror of the bus in front of me. it was in mid of where me and that old woman was sitting. so accordingly one half of me was visible in that mirror and the other half would be of that old woman.

i grew pale as i saw only one reflection in the mirror and that was me. no reflection of that old lady. i by now knew that what was going on and i was about to scream but just then i remembered what she had told me, 'your fear gives them strength.'

i was still raining outside. my destination was 2 stops away. i decided to sit quietly and wait for my stop. all this while she didn't spoke anything and neither did I.
finally my stop arrived. i wanted to get out as soon a possible.i stood up and got off the seat and that was when she spoke.

she said-" i guess you are a good student. you take your lessons seriously." and she smiled.

i grew pale once again and hurriedly got off the bus. i started walking towards home as fast as i could. my heart was throbbing. i thought that she told me that my fear will give these entities strength and i had control over my fear and that is why i was saved.

well yes, it was a lesson learnt. overcome your fear. get hold of your fear and emotions and you can get out of any situation. though at that time i was scared, but now i stared feeling somewhat relieved
that no matter who or what she was, she taught me a valuable lesson.

i was still raining, but i was almost home now.