A December night
Fourteen years old me
I was returning after seeing off
A cousin of my cousin
In a bus on his way back to city
Bus station was on the southern part of the town
I was to walk back home on the northern side
Through a very big temple
It was around nine in the night
And the temple was practically deserted
I should have selected a path en route
There would have some people because of festivity
But I opted a short cut so that I could reach home early
It was a long stone paved corridor
Stone walled both sides about fifteen feet apart
As I stepped in there I got frightened as I saw none
The entire five hundred feet long path way
I used to hear stories of unnatural events happenings there
I tried my best to keep away from such thoughts
I was recalling the wonderful time I had with my cousin
Who took me to places and made me edibles
Which I have not eaten before
This time we also saw a just then released film
As I was moving cautiously
I was telling myself I should not be afraid
Suddenly I heard a loud laughter
Some voices speaking something
Which were in breaks
This corridor was well known for experimenting echo
Where we shout and get our voice is heard again and again
I was looking for someone at the other end
But no one was there
Laughter and undecipherable dialogues continued
I did not stop in an attempt not to accept my fear
I was walking with my heart beating heavily
Luckily the corridor was sufficiently illuminated
I made it a point to cross hurriedly
The path between two luminous points
So that I was in well lighted portions of the corridor most of the time
The sounds I heard were continuing
Thank God, I was at the end
But, with none to be seen
Having gained some courage
I started looking for the origin of the sound
I located it
It was a stone covered enclosure for a diety
At the end of the corridor
Where two gentlemen was talking
And having fun
I peeped in
What are you looking for?
One of them asked
I answered
I came across a ghost
I left the scene
Without answering their questions like
Where did you see?
How did that look like?
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem