cham-cham.. cham-cham....

Gautam kept an eye to his right, looking for the signboards with no luck. So did Preeti, examining the right side of the road. The continuous hours of driving have drained Gautam's physical and mental energy. He had the urge to light the cigarette but erased the thought, knowing that Preeti hated the smell. He could have brought the driver if he had not taken a surprising leave.

Five minutes passed, and Gautam gave up.

"The road seems to be never-ending, Preeti," Gautam said, breaking the silence. "Let's go back to a nearby town and halt there tonight. We drove for almost eight hours. Your body must be exhausted. We will resume our journey_"

"I found a signboard, Gautam Ji," Preeti screamed, snubbing Gautam's words into thin air. Her face lit up as bright as the mid-Sunday. At the same time, the car screeched to a complete halt at a Y junction as Gautam hit the break.

"Look there." Preeti pointed the torchlight at the sign that read 'Vikramgad-7km.' "The man was right. There is a road that leads to Vikramgad."

Gautam glanced at the signboard and the dirt-laden road. He lived in Vikramgad for some time, knew the town's nook and cranny, and wondered when this road had been shaped. Time changes, he thought.

"Alright. Let's go then." A smile crept over his exhausted face, witnessing his wife in happiness. Since morning, he had been dying to see her smile. He wondered how Preeti managed to sit in the car straight from the morning despite her pregnancy. She didnot even feel uncomfortable. Quite a strong wife, he thought.

As the ambassador slowly pulled into the rough terrain, the signboard 'Road not in service', buried deep inside the dirt, sprawled to life, closing the visitors for tonight.

Gautam cautiously drove on the road so that the bumps would not bring discomfort to Preeti. Within seconds, the atmosphere turned chilly, prompting them to roll the windows. The road looked abandoned, as if no human had stepped into it for quite a long time. Trees swayed to the wind, creating a rustling sound. Barn Owls hooted. A crow perched on the top of a tamarind branch cawed, gawking at them. Preeti felt like she had stepped into a haunted world. Out of the blue, a melodious tinkle, 'cham-cham,' rang in Gautam and Preeti's ears from a distance.

Preeti's heart leapt into her throat while Gautam's hand resting over the gear tightened. An anklet at this time? He knew something was wrong with this place. But chose to keep silent not to scare Preeti.

"G_autam... Did you...also hear the Paayal[1] sound?" Preeti glanced at Gautam in a state of anxiety. No woman roams around this haunted road alone wearing anklets at this hour.

"No." Gautam calmly said. "It's just your hallucination. Stop reading those Bhoot[2] stories. There is no B_"

His words suspended back into his throat as the tinkle resumed again. This time, it was sure and loud. 'cham-cham, cham-cham, cham-cham...

"I_I am not hallucinating, and I know you have heard it too!" Preeti turned left to see any signs of the women in Paayal. She then glanced in the side mirror. Her eyes widened in fright. A figure, no..it had no Body except for the legs. Thick golden anklets wrapped around its legs, and they freaking moved. "G_autam.." Preeti squeezed her husband's hand, holding him for her dear life. "Behind us...look behind."

Gautam was left stunned. Although he already saw the figure from the side mirror, he maintained calm. Freaking out will not help the situation. Holding his wife's hand, he said. "Preeti, I know the situation is making you insane. But I want you to be strong. Strong for our baby. Whatever it is, we will fight together. Listen to what I say. Understood?"

Preeti nodded.

"I am going to speed up the car. Close your eyes and ears." Gautam said. "Chant your favourite Mantra. Don't open until I say yes."

He had no idea what this was all about, but one thing he realised. He has to get out of this place as soon as possible. As Gautam sped the car, the anklets tinkled along with the car's speed, banging on the door continuously. Preeti shivered with every thud but didnot stop her chants.

While distracted by this ghost, Gautam lost control and hit something heavy. He wrapped a protective hand around Preeti immediately as the car bounced and abruptly stopped at a certain point. The tinkling sound of Paayal also stopped.

"Preeti! Preeti! Are you alright?" Gautam asked, looking for any injuries on her body.

"I felt a little discomfort in my stomach, but I am okay." Preeti skimmed the side mirror again. She didnot find a trace of the ghost, but we never know when they attack.

"Don't worry. We are safe now. Let's get out of this place!" Gautam ignited the car, but it refused to move. Damn it! He cursed under his breath. "Let me check."

"Please, no!" After all these incidents, Preeti refused to leave her husband's side. "I will come along with you."

"No." He declared sternly. "You are not coming with me. It's cold outside. I will be done in a minute." Taking a torchlight, he stepped outside.

Preeti waited in the car, recalling the events that had happened since morning. Nothing happened in their favour, and now they are in the middle of a road haunted by a ghost. Preeti wished she should have listened to Gautam's words and returned home.

She felt something was not right. The bonnet was open, but there was no noise. Minutes passed, and her heart started pounding. "Gautam," She called.

There was no response.

"Gautam, are you there? Speak something." She grabbed the torchlight from the back seat and stepped out. Dread filled her gut as she didnot find her husband. "G_autam. where are you." She glanced in all directions, but all she saw was emptiness. "Gautam, please come back. This is not the time to play games."

"Preeti!"

A voice whispered from a distance, as melody as a symphony.

Cold breeze skimmed her neck, raising every strand of her hair. She followed the voice and spotted a man standing in front of a tamarind tree. Preeti was facing his back, but how could she not remember the shirt he was wearing?

.....

[1] Paayal: Anklet's worn by women.

[2] Bhoot: Ghost.

Ever heard an anklet sound in the middle of the night? I heard it once, and boy! I had a nightmare for three days. Ghost stories are the most discussed in schools. My almost lunch break would go into discussing these gossip stories 😂

Comment down your thoughts on this chapter. Scary! not scary!