As the night fall came to an end, I felt quite shattered after the long journey and the excitement I had earlier! I surrendered to the overwhelming drowsiness and I called it a day!
As I lay on the big chunky Victorian bed; that probably once belonged to some British aristocrats, which I presumed Ojal has inherited upon the victorious Independence in 1947!!!
Humidity is penetrating my body rapidly so I decided to put the fan on. A piercing squeak emerged as I switched it on; God knows when they last used it!
I switched the light off and hopped on the bed, as the fan started to roll I felt something falling and clinging to the bed sheet. A moment later I felt that object was moving, I immediately jumped up and put the light on, it was a scorpion, not only one but three!!!
I couldn’t believe my eyes! “This is a joke; There must be a riddle behind this” I opened the door slightly to detect any movement , I heard a soft whispering coming from the hallway, it sounded like Ojal's voice talking to someone who had such a husky and irritating voice!
My instinct told me there must be a plot behind this. Soon the whispering had faded and I decided to go further in exploring this mysterious house!
As I walked through the vintage kitchen; A huge print of a War scene occupied the main wall, on the other side there was another picture of exotic fruits scattered on a small plate! Nothing seemed too suspicious, not until I had a glance at a wooden partition that separated the rest of the kitchen!
Trying to pull it aside I noticed there was a staircase, which seemed to be an eternal cave to hell. A red and velvet colour curtain covered the entrance, the light was on, I took off my slippers and descended slowly, it was about 50 steps or so; made from stone, “It must have been a cave definitely” I told myself.
As I reached the end, a soft rather weird sawing sound emerged in the background! “Could it be a carpentry workshop?” Curiosity killed me and gave me the urge to storm into the room, however I had to be patient and not spoil the moment!
As I peeped through the rotten wooden door I saw the man who perhaps was the same one upstairs, he was sawing something, however the vision wasn't clear as his back was facing the door!
I kept gazing through to see what was happening or trying to discover what was he doing?! There were many cupboards inside, a long table which he was working on, tools lied here and there! Suddenly he turned round to fetch something! My body froze as I witnessed the image of a dead corpse lying on the table!!!
For a moment or so I had this paralysing sensation which made me unable to move! Millions of thoughts pounded my head saying" Am I going to end up here!!" "Are they murdering tourists to get their organs?!!!"
My heart was beating rapidly with fear, "I just want to get out of here" I said.
As I turned round trying to make my way up, I was hampered by the unpredictable presence of Ojal behind!!!
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Tuesday, 23 March 2010
Saturday, 6 March 2010
Lost in India Part 1
A gripping yet unfathomable sensation tugged at my heart as I awaited my first visit to India. I've heard so many tales combining fascination & horror and for the first time I did not want to expect anything out of this which somehow sounded paradoxical.
Back to my university days I had a fellow class mate from India who insisted on visiting the entrancing land that once captured the heart of the British Empire!
As young as twenty one, I spent most of my time at the British Library in London studying India’s scarcest manuscripts and browsing ancient books and transcripts dating back to the Indus Valley civilisations. I was rapt in a mania that blew me away immensely!
As I arrived in Bombay I was shown the way to a tiny hotel in a nearby village in which the drought had left it not viable, such a shame really as there are so many lovely trees that have passed their last breath and are about to depart this world very shortly. Cows were wandering everywhere without hesitation! There is no need for a driving licence(please excuse the pun) After all they were sacred!
My first jolt was as I apprehensively approached the village witnessing weeping children and dying corpses lying here and there that I could still hear their gurgling hiss!
My tears came in spurts and as I croaked, I felt a strange sickness well-up my stomach. “Don’t look sir; just keep walking” the local guide murmured...
Finally we got to the hotel which I could hardly call a slum!
I was received by this aged plump lady wearing an unusual colourful Sari,“ I like your Sari” I remarked; "Thank you sir, I made it from collected coffins cloths” She replied!
My face blushed and a similar feeling has pounded within me once more; “very nice indeed" Was my answer.
She insisted that I should pay upfront before I even saw the room;
“These are the rules here, sir” She claimed.
“No problem; how much do I owe you?"
Ojal(her name) replied “one hundred rupees please"
I instantly calculated them into English pounds, there were less than seventy five pence!
Shortly afterwards, I was shown to my room by a boy who seemed to be her grandson!
As the door opened ajar, my eyes seemed to bulge! To my surprise there was a ceiling fan too, I gave the boy a few rupees and shut the door behind.
The dust topped the place from top to bottom; no wonder it was so cheap! I told myself.
As I put my bag on the chair I glanced at a tiny mouse bouncing across the room! I immediately freaked out and screamed!
The boy was promptly back at the door, “Is there a problem, sir?”
"Yes, there is a mouse here!"
“No worry sir, mouse friendly! Said the boy with a sneering grin
"Are you scared? He asked"
“No; I’m not but I don’t like mice. Do you have another room?"
The boy looked rather pleased with himself, as he somewhat innocently said,"No sir we have only this room!"
I took a deep breath and as I exhaled I felt the room’s grimy sordid air deep inside
I cursed the moment that I came to this place and wondered whether to stay that night or leave!
Back to my university days I had a fellow class mate from India who insisted on visiting the entrancing land that once captured the heart of the British Empire!
As young as twenty one, I spent most of my time at the British Library in London studying India’s scarcest manuscripts and browsing ancient books and transcripts dating back to the Indus Valley civilisations. I was rapt in a mania that blew me away immensely!
As I arrived in Bombay I was shown the way to a tiny hotel in a nearby village in which the drought had left it not viable, such a shame really as there are so many lovely trees that have passed their last breath and are about to depart this world very shortly. Cows were wandering everywhere without hesitation! There is no need for a driving licence(please excuse the pun) After all they were sacred!
My first jolt was as I apprehensively approached the village witnessing weeping children and dying corpses lying here and there that I could still hear their gurgling hiss!
My tears came in spurts and as I croaked, I felt a strange sickness well-up my stomach. “Don’t look sir; just keep walking” the local guide murmured...
Finally we got to the hotel which I could hardly call a slum!
I was received by this aged plump lady wearing an unusual colourful Sari,“ I like your Sari” I remarked; "Thank you sir, I made it from collected coffins cloths” She replied!
My face blushed and a similar feeling has pounded within me once more; “very nice indeed" Was my answer.
She insisted that I should pay upfront before I even saw the room;
“These are the rules here, sir” She claimed.
“No problem; how much do I owe you?"
Ojal(her name) replied “one hundred rupees please"
I instantly calculated them into English pounds, there were less than seventy five pence!
Shortly afterwards, I was shown to my room by a boy who seemed to be her grandson!
As the door opened ajar, my eyes seemed to bulge! To my surprise there was a ceiling fan too, I gave the boy a few rupees and shut the door behind.
The dust topped the place from top to bottom; no wonder it was so cheap! I told myself.
As I put my bag on the chair I glanced at a tiny mouse bouncing across the room! I immediately freaked out and screamed!
The boy was promptly back at the door, “Is there a problem, sir?”
"Yes, there is a mouse here!"
“No worry sir, mouse friendly! Said the boy with a sneering grin
"Are you scared? He asked"
“No; I’m not but I don’t like mice. Do you have another room?"
The boy looked rather pleased with himself, as he somewhat innocently said,"No sir we have only this room!"
I took a deep breath and as I exhaled I felt the room’s grimy sordid air deep inside
I cursed the moment that I came to this place and wondered whether to stay that night or leave!
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Escapade in Amazonia / Edited
I could vividly see in mind the horrid reminiscences as the clock counted down my remaining minutes before boarding. My stooping posture relaxed as I sipped my coffee and watched through the double glaze skylight foyer as aeroplanes passed by...
At last I was able to say farewell to the hours of darkness that haunted me throughout my Amazonian journey, and somehow removed the colossal burden that left me emotionally broken!
The Amazon forest was my thrilling yet new adventure with a couple of friends accompanied by a local tour guide, two hours of being on a little craft that certainly had witnessed the first world war gave me a frightening fear that we were to capsize at any moment. It was far more fascinating to watch all those gigantic trees and exotic birds that no mankind has ever seen rather than worrying about this nonsense!
It made my heart flutter with joy and content however soon after our journey turned out to be a terrifying encounter when the local guide lost his way! "I’m new" he murmured; I remained tranquil yet showed no fret unlike my friends who were gnashing their teeth; as they’ve had read before how a journey to the Amazons could be the end of your life!
A few minutes later we found ourselves edging an ear-splitting waterfall in which the water force was so great that there was only one way to go... Ahead!
I thought that was my end not until I woke up amid an eerie tribe that I only have ever seen in movies. Was it the only Amazonian aboriginal tribe left? I wondered!
People were mumbling in unfamiliar language, another individual seemed to be leading some kind of ritual, one long stick in his right hand and incense in his left gazing at me thoroughly from peculiar eyes that emanated satanic hatred...
Was it likely I was being sacrificed to their God or perhaps be burnt and then eaten? Those ghastly noises they kept chanting had amplified my dread further and I had reason to believe my perception of what was to follow!
I still hadn’t noticed that I was nude as my mind was baffled with what it seemed so paradoxical... I was going to die, I screamed vulnerably, but alas no one knew what I was saying?!
I guess I wasn’t on the death list yet as the earth started to tremble planting horror in their souls, it was an earthquake that made them run restlessly not knowing where to go or what to do, "the Goddess is angry" I shouted!
I quickly got up and hurried to where my instinct led me, the rubble had stopped yet there was no sight of anyone tracking me behind, I don’t know for how long had I walked until I accidently fell into an expedition nearby; Thanks to them for helping me back for I owe them my life. I undoubtedly would have been a dead corpse by now!
At last I was able to say farewell to the hours of darkness that haunted me throughout my Amazonian journey, and somehow removed the colossal burden that left me emotionally broken!
The Amazon forest was my thrilling yet new adventure with a couple of friends accompanied by a local tour guide, two hours of being on a little craft that certainly had witnessed the first world war gave me a frightening fear that we were to capsize at any moment. It was far more fascinating to watch all those gigantic trees and exotic birds that no mankind has ever seen rather than worrying about this nonsense!
It made my heart flutter with joy and content however soon after our journey turned out to be a terrifying encounter when the local guide lost his way! "I’m new" he murmured; I remained tranquil yet showed no fret unlike my friends who were gnashing their teeth; as they’ve had read before how a journey to the Amazons could be the end of your life!
A few minutes later we found ourselves edging an ear-splitting waterfall in which the water force was so great that there was only one way to go... Ahead!
I thought that was my end not until I woke up amid an eerie tribe that I only have ever seen in movies. Was it the only Amazonian aboriginal tribe left? I wondered!
People were mumbling in unfamiliar language, another individual seemed to be leading some kind of ritual, one long stick in his right hand and incense in his left gazing at me thoroughly from peculiar eyes that emanated satanic hatred...
Was it likely I was being sacrificed to their God or perhaps be burnt and then eaten? Those ghastly noises they kept chanting had amplified my dread further and I had reason to believe my perception of what was to follow!
I still hadn’t noticed that I was nude as my mind was baffled with what it seemed so paradoxical... I was going to die, I screamed vulnerably, but alas no one knew what I was saying?!
I guess I wasn’t on the death list yet as the earth started to tremble planting horror in their souls, it was an earthquake that made them run restlessly not knowing where to go or what to do, "the Goddess is angry" I shouted!
I quickly got up and hurried to where my instinct led me, the rubble had stopped yet there was no sight of anyone tracking me behind, I don’t know for how long had I walked until I accidently fell into an expedition nearby; Thanks to them for helping me back for I owe them my life. I undoubtedly would have been a dead corpse by now!
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