1 1. Ladies' Road

Welcome to the first chapter of Tales from the Tomb; True Stories Collection. I hope you have read the warning notice before diving into this chapter.

For those who didn't, the gist of it is to respect the dead no matter your religion or beliefs. Some of you might shrug it off, but don't blame me when you see a shadow by your bed looming over you when you are trying to sleep.

Oh yes, before I forget. Some of 'them' might be looking over your shoulder right this instant to see what you are reading too. Even if your head is on your pillow or maybe you are now sitting on a toilet bowl, it doesn't matter. They are spirts, walls or bed frames or toilet bowls don't faze them.

After all, life is boring when you are just a soul. Entertainment is needed in the spiritual world.

Oh yeah, did I mention before that toilets are their favorite place to stay? Honestly, when I was a kid, I used to hate going to the bathrooms because of this. Even at my home, before an altar (place of worship; a table with deity statues and incense) was placed, this white lady haunted most of my childhood.

One thing that I hated was the fact that she loved scaring me when I was doing my business, but another way to look at it is that at least I do not have a problem of constipation during her stay at my home.

A little background about yours truly; I feel things. My husband sees them.

Now before your brain shuts down and reverses back into the title page, let me explain.

I lost the ability to see our dear friends from the other side after I "became a lady". You know, when the "Red Sea" decided to roll over my ovaries? On that very day, I stopped seeing them.

Don't ask me why. I don't know the answer as well. I ain't fucking Harry Potter alright. There is no magic in this ability. I was born with it and I lost it as most children do.

However, I retained my ability to feel them, a power which till this date I'm not sure to be thankful or to scream "fucking hell" whenever I get that familiar sensation. Especially during 'code black'. I will get to the codes later on in my chapters.

On the other hand, my husband retained his ability to see our dear friends even at this age. Combine the two of us on any journey, and its one hell of a road trip. No pun intended, but that is another story for another day.

This book will contain 365 short stories internationally collected during our trips and whatever not.

Due to the nature of language used, this story and many of this book's chapters will be in 'Singlish'. Singapore is a massive potluck of cultures, so never be surprised at a Singaporean who speaks English, Mandarin (Chinese Language), Hindi (Indian Language), and Melayu (Malay Language). Cook these four languages in a pot made from human parts, and you get "Singlish".

Yes, I will try my best to 'tone it down' for my Eastern and Western friends. For those of you in the little red dot 'Singapore', shame on you if you don't understand.

An old man retells this first story at a Prata (Indian Flatbread) shop while I was having lunch a few years back. Here on, he shall be named Uncle A. This story originated from India, and all names are western used for easier reading.

Uncle A spoke mainly in broken English and Hindi, which my friends so kindly translated for me. Thankfully I was smart enough to record his stories, so I'm patting myself on the back for this.

Uncle A is very generous with his stories, which I have noted down and will document in the future chapters.

Now enough of chitchat, and let's get down to business, or at least I will attempt to keep this professional; after all, I'm telling you this story as if we are having a conversation. I didn't quit my day job to get back into another office. So let's keep this casual aye.

Well, it all started when I sat down at the Prata shop on a sunny afternoon as I do every alternate Sunday. It's in my diary, so it's definitely a Sunny day alright?

Besides, it's Singapore. We only have sunny days where the sun tries to roast you alive and rainy days where you don't feel like going to work at all.

There is a friendly elderly uncle who likes to hold conversations with me while I eat since I go there so often. So one day, I decided to approach him for a story when he was serving me.

Uncle A: Oh hi, ah girl (basically little girl). Come here makan (eat in Melayu; Malay language) again ah? Stories? Uncle got a lot. What you want to hear? Ghost stories? HAVE! Our side (India) got a lot. You want true story ah? Have I tell you, at my age confirm got a lot.

*Uncle laughs*

Uncle A: You reach my age ah. You already sitting in the coffin. You joining them soon so they always appear around one to get to know you. You continue makan and listen.

There was this boy back in my home town last time called Ken*. He is 22 and studying at a university. He has a habit of traveling back to his countryside village every semester break since he started schooling in the city back when he was a kid.

Every year, he will buy a train ticket and take the train back to the countryside without any change. The traveling duration was long, and the train was filthy and squeezy back then. It wasn't unusual for travelers to be awake and on alert as there were many pickpockets.

The tiredness and tension were unbearable for many, but yet it was the only way to travel a long distance cause it's the cheapest way. The journey itself could kill if one is too old cause the energy spent on the train is enough to take ten years of lifespan off anyone, you know?

This year Ken finally had enough money to take his driving license and rent a car. Wah (wow), he was so happy. He decided to drive home instead. Confirm better than sitting that smelly train, I tell you. Plus right, last time people very poor but India's car super cheap one. You buy one cheap cheap car drive back to the village, everyone very proud like you become president already.

Ken drive back to the village safely, and his grandparents were so happy. They both go around telling the village that their boy is now a man; can drive car come home don't have to take train.

Seeing how happy his grandparents are he suddenly thought to himself...

*Uncle A pauses and tells me to wait as his throat is getting dry. He went to buy coffee and came back to continue*

Uncle A: Where was I? Oh ya.

Actually Ken got a younger sister called Lucy. She is also studying but the school is only at the next town. The train journey not as far around half-hour only, by car should be around an hour or two. But still like I said, the train ride really damn jialat (saps strength). He tells grandpa to say that they should go and fetch her since they now have a car.

Suddenly, grandpa gave a grave look and gave him a stern warning: If you want to fetch Lucy, you need to promise me that we must be back home before sundown.

Looking at the clock, Ken saw that it was barely noon. Since his sister will get off school at 2 pm, they have more than enough time to return home and agreed to this arrangement.

So he called Lucy using the village phone and made arrangements to fetch her at around two plus. Of cause she super happy la. No need to squeeze train with all the smelly people and can rest in the car. The most important thing is that she can now go to town and do her stuff.

So when grandpa and Ken fetched her, she was elated. Chirpy as a bird she told Ken that she wanted to bring grandpa into town to have lunch.

Grandpa wanted to declined, but Lucy was so insistent that he finally caved and off they went into town.

It was close to three when they arrived into town and after lunch when grandpa was ready to go home, Lucy said she have some errands to run for school.

So what can the men do? Nothing lor. After all its for school. But then ah, after the errands for school like dropping off mail and buying more books are done you know what she do? Something that all females do and confirm take very long time one.

*Uncle A stares at me with squinting eyes*

Uncle A: This is the problem with you females.

SHOPPING! Yes! She wanted to shop! Time ticked by as she picked saris (traditional Indian female wear) after saris. Ordinary families would have beaten her up but cause her grandparents dote on her since her parents died she got what she wanted.

So she shop but never drop if you get what I mean. Grandpa kept dropping hints like grandma is waiting, he need to water the crops, he need go home help grandma make dinner and whatever not but Lucy didn't get the hint.

Finally, Granda had enough and set his foot down, dragging both of his grandchildren to the car and ordered Ken to drive back now.

Thou Lucy couldn't understand what the rush is, she just followed and threw her spoils of war onto the back seat of their car. She surrounded herself with bags of clothes and books on either side and just relaxed like a lump of goo.

The trip back home from town was alright. Nothing wrong happened so far. Ken and grandpa enjoyed themselves by chatting about what they saw in town and the food they ate.

Lucy sat in the center seat, legs sprawled open, preventing her bags from falling onto the ground with her mouth agape, saliva dripping off one corner of her lips as she took a nap, exhausted from conquering the town stores.

But as they neared their village, the atmosphere changed. Grandpa had a stern face on while Ken stopped talking naturally. But on the other hand Lucy slept like a pig, the silence occasionally broken by her snoring.

There is only one road towards their village from the town they were at. The road was rocky but cars are still able to move just a lot more slowly.

Empty houses littered both sides of the road, broken windows staring down at them like soulless eyes added to the heavy atmosphere.

The sun cast an orange-yellow glaze over their car and although typically sunsets are beautiful and relaxing in nature, but grandpa cannot relax at all.

As they slowly drove down the road, grandpa kept looking over his shoulder as if something was chasing their car. Sweat trickled off his face even though the weather was cooling.

Looking at grandpa's nervous state, Ken of course question why the hell is grandpa worried. But grandpa didn't answer him only ask him to drive faster.

Sighing, Ken just did as he was told. With the setting sun glaring into his eyes, he try to drive a bit faster to get home, after all he did promise grandpa that they will be home before sunset.

After the hundredth time that grandpa looked over his shoulder, Ken took a glance into the rearview mirror and widened his eyes.

There was a beautiful lady in traditional sari chasing after their car. Thou he couldn't see her face correctly, he could sense that she needed help. She was waving her hands while running after their car.

You know how guys are when it comes to pretty ladies, especially a pretty lady in need. So naturally Ken got ready to slow down his car and roll down the windows to ask the lady if she was okay.

But as his foot released the accelerator, grandpa screamed into his ear: "DON'T STOP!".

His loud voice shocking Ken and waking Lucy up.

Giving Ken's leg a huge slap on the thigh, grandpa urged again: "FASTER DRIVE."

No explanation no nothing. Just short simple commands.

Ken tried to reason with grandpa that the lady needed help, but before grandpa could scold him, Lucy let out a huge scream.

There was another lady in front of their car waving her arms in the air, trying to gain their attention and stop the vehicle. But because their attention weren't on the road, they were about to hit her.

Ken wanted to pull on the emergency handbrake, but grandpa leaned over and pushed his leg on the accelerator.

"DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE. DON'T YOU FUCKING STOP."

Ken was shocked by grandpa's vulgarities, but with the weight on his leg, he could not have any reaction other than getting ready for the impact of hitting the lady in front of them.

Lucy continued screaming, and then there was silence.

Grandpa sat back into his seat, wiping the sweat off his face with one sleeve, he said gently: "Just drive home. It's okay now. Go home talk."

Ken just nodded and continued driving while Lucy was still frozen in time with a dumb look on her face.

"Grandpa, what was..." before Ken could finish his question, grandpa silenced him with a look and motioned with his chin for Ken to continue driving.

Once they reached their village, grandpa made Ken stop at the 'holy tree' and plucked some leaves to take home. He grabbed a pail and filled it with water and motioned for his grandchildren to stand before him.

Using the leaves from the holy tree, he sprayed water on his grandchildren before cleansing himself.

At the dinner table, Ken finally had enough courage to ask grandpa once again what happened.

Before explaining, he questioned if the two children saw anything.

Still shocked by the earlier events, Lucy shivered, "I saw us hitting the woman, but she just passed through the car. Then when she passed through me, I saw her lying on the ground. But she was naked. There was a group of men around her. They killed her grandpa. They chopped her up and threw her body around the road. They even dug out her eyes so she cannot find them for revenge. Grandpa, they are horrible!".

Ken hugged his sister and tried to calm her down as grandpa finally explained why he wants to be home before sunset.

That houses of that road were abandoned ever since the Japanese invaded India. During the invasion, many females were raped and killed in those houses. Even after the attack, many gang members will still bring females there to **** and kill.

After sunset, anybody who drives pass the road will be visited by the females who died there. They will attempt to stop you and will suck you dry as a group. But it only happens to males.

If a female were to walk that road at night, she would see fiery lights on either side as if there were still people living there, giving her a sense of safety.

So the elders of the village have named that road: The Ladies Road.

*Names have been westernized