Story by Moutushi Ghoshdeysarkar
It has been a while but I still remember the day I almost met my doom. Tuesday it was and I had fewer classes so I wrapped up early and planned to visit the old fort. It was just round the corner after the university campus in a somewhat deserted location and though I had been there for a month the various formalities of a new appointment had kept me from visiting it.
I am a professor of archaeology and history is my passion, needless to impress upon the fact that I would be drawn to such a monument, that too at hand.
It was about 2pm when I started for the short trek – it would take me about 20 mnts to reach the gates of the old fort which was in ruins, was my estimate. Fortunately Neelima, my student was passing by in her car and offered to give me a lift. I asked her to stop at Mohanbhai’s shop to buy some refreshments and he warned me to get back before sundown – you know the usual warnings attached to the ruins pertaining to ghosts – the one thing other than god that I didn’t believe in. Neelima was subtle about the warning more out of respect but she too reiterated that I should be back to the campus before sundown, anyway there isn’t much to see around here she added.
There I was mesmerized by the beauty of the ruin – once stood a grandeur palace on this ground, I thought, which was now littered with broken glass bottles and cigarette butts. The fort was situated on a hillock as is common in order to defend it well by having a clear view of the surroundings. I could see parts of the city from various angles and was taking in the views as I advanced towards a broken wall with some inscriptions on it. I wanted to study it but suddenly I felt lose ground beneath my feet and before I could realise I fell. It was a short fall though – sort of a ditch it seemed, I stood up and was going to try to come up holding on to a branch but my eyes fell on an opening. The opening was quite broad and about 6ft tall, an inch taller than me.
I traversed quite a distance but the tunnel still went on. After another 5 mnts or so it split into two, I was undecided but took the one on the right. It went on and on and I went along until I felt very tired and seeing no end wanted to retrace my steps back. I sat for a while refreshed myself and was about to get up when I caught sight of a scarf – the light was dim in the tunnel but I still remember the scarf was turquoise blue – it seemed to flutter in space at a distance. I almost ran towards it, if there was air there must be an opening, I thought. But every time I neared the scarf it seemed to be a little further away. I kept following until I could see it no more. Fatigue was making my legs heavy and finally I could no longer stand. I stretched out my legs sitting against the wall and refreshed myself. My watch showed 4.25pm. Soon it’ll be dark, I thought, and I had come a long way from that ditch I fell into.
Just as I tried to hurry up to get going – I felt someone’s breath. ‘No one can catch us here, we will be safe here, stay with me.’ A very melodious voice pleaded. I sat myself down again and felt such peace that I had never felt before. I have always been a hyperactive guy since my early childhood, but there I wanted to rest forever. I closed my eyes and melted away in ecstasy. As if out of a trance, I heard loud footsteps and a cacophony – I could make out the word ‘Sir’. I think I responded with a faint ‘hello’. The rest has now taken the form of a recital as am doing now. Had it not been for Neelima’s concern and google’s tracking capability I would have been lying in that tunnel in eternal bliss. Neelima forced me to change my job and city, I owe her my life, she chose to be my wife even after I tried to go back to that mysterious melody a number of times, and I still feel the urge to.