THE MIDNIGHT STORY

"Tell me a story, mom", my sister said to mom.

"Okay. What kind of story should I tell", mom replied.

"Horror", I said.

"No mom. Tell any type of story but not horror", this was my sister's reaction to my words. But I insisted my mom to tell a horror story. At last mom agreed to say a horror story. The time was almost 11 at night. One moment we all were silent. We could hear the barking of dogs, crickets chirping and even the slightest 'tik-tik' sound of the clock. I looked out the window, moon could be seen brightly and little bigger than usual in the perfect dark black background provided by the starless sky. Then she started to say the story.

"Once there lived a cute and a beautiful girl in Bruckwoods. Her name was Katie. There was no one who hated her. One boy was madly in love with her. They were studying in the same class. His name was Smith. Once Smith tried to tell her how he felt about her. But it's a fact that a flower will have butterflies around it. Two days before her birthday, in the class during lunch break only they were in the class. Smith approached Katie and said

"When I look at you it's like looking at an Emerald. When you smile I feel high and low at the same time. When I look into your eyes I see a whole new universe in it. Your voice is as lovely as a rose and as sweet as a laddu. Katie, will you be there at my marriage to put a ring on my hand and receive one on yours. You may think this as just a fantasy or just a madness of a boy studying in twelfth. But truly and sincerely I love you, Katie."

Smith's face couldn't become more red. His eyes were filled with tears ready to burst out whatever the reply was. He was shivering with fear and he was also curious.

She raised her hands and rested them on his shoulders and said,

"You just said the exact same thing which I was just coming to say. I love you Smith."

Smith's face blushed and one drop of tear touched the floor. Joy took the place of fear. He ran outside, happy, jumping, dancing. He slid his way downstairs. He kissed his friends. He just behaved like a man who have won the whole world. He told them everything. On reaching home he told his parents about Katie. They were not upset with Smith and supported him. After they completed school Smith and his parents went to Katie's house. Smith's father was surprised to see his old friend. His father and her father were classmates. They fixed his and her marriage."

Mom put a gap there to check whether we were listening or not. Then she continued.

"3 years after they completed college, on August their marriage was fixed. They both had good jobs, built one house for themselves. It was the day of the grand marriage of Smith and Katie. It was a great function. Lot of people were there to see the grand function. After the function everyone was heading towards their new house. Smith and Katie got into their new grey 'Rolls Royce Ghost'. Their driver was Nick. One of the best friends of both Smith and Katie. They were the first to leave to the house. But others reached there before them and they never saw their car at home. They searched all the roads to their home. No sign of the car or them. No accidents, nothing. It was almost like they three and the car vanished into thin air."

Suddenly mom stopped and looked at the clock. The time was 12:07. Then she said, "that's it, now let's get some sleep."

I looked my mom and said, "I asked for a horror story mom."

My sister curiously asked my mom whether it was a real story or not.

"It's real my dear." Then she showed their photos. A handsome looking guy and a beautiful girl and their driver looked like an actor. As I slide down to the floor from the bed, the electricity went out. I took the lamp from the nearby desk.

"Tuck, tuck, tuck!", someone was knocking at our door. We all moved towards the stairs. Suddenly a lightning stroke and started raining. We all got scared. My sister told not to go. My mom agreed with her. I continued walking towards the stairs. My sister asked me to hold her hand. I slowly started to walk down. One more lightning stroke and after that no sound could be heard. Suddenly a lizard started to cry. My sister screamed and ran towards mom who was following me. We reached downstairs. I could hear leg movements in front of the door. I reached near the door. I turned back and saw my mom and sister standing a few steps away from me, scared. I raised my hand to reach the door lock. My hands were shaking like an earthquake. Slowly I unlocked the door and opened it. I saw two human figures standing right in front of me. A small relief came to my mind. I looked outside. There was a car parked just outside our front gate. Suddenly it's headlamp lighted up and the car started but no one inside. Then one lightning stroke. Nick! Sitting on the bonnet of the grey Rolls Royce ghost. He smiled at me. I raised the lamp to see the two figures standing right in front of me. The lamp slipped out from my hands. My mom and sister screamed loudly. The lamp hit the floor and broke. The light was gone. One more lightning stroke. Then, what I remember is waking up in a hospital room. My right hand was broken. Suddenly I noticed I had a bite mark on my neck.

"Nooooooooooo", I screamed.