The following story/stories have been either submitted by one of my readers or found on other websites.

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Story 1

In the 1970’s, I was living in North Carolina. My twin sister was in college in Hawaii.

About 3:00 AM on a Friday night, my phone rang.

“Who died?” I answered the phone — my standard 3:00 AM greeting.

I heard sobs.

“No one,” I heard my twin gasp out between sobs.

“So, what’s up? Why calling at 3:00 AM?”

She managed to quit sobbing long enough to tell me that if she did not pay her college tuition within 10 days, she would be kicked out of college. “I asked every one else before I called you, but I’m desperate,” she continued. (Should I add we already had a long history of being disputatious siblings?)

Okay, okay. I’ll think about it, I thought. After all, if she gets kicked out of school, who’s most likely to end up…well, supporting her through the following decades?

Monday morning, I left for work early enough to stop by my bank. I took the $500 out of savings, bought a cashier’s check, and mailed it right off. I hoped it would get there before the 10 days was up.

The following Friday night, sound asleep, 3:00 AM the phone rings.

“Who died?” I demanded.

I heard sobs, and a quiet “No one”.

“Well, what is it this time?”

I listened, amazed and dumbfounded, as my twin repeated her tale of woe.

“But I already mailed a cashier’s check for the tuition; I mailed it Monday, after you called last Friday — and can I say, at 3 AM?”

To this day, my twin swears she never called that first Friday.

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Story 2

2nd year of college. 2012.

I had promised to take two of my friends to Coorg with me during semester holidays. So I did. Unfortunately for them, rains had started, and we all snuggled in my grandma's bedroom playing truth and dare all day long instead of going on treks and long rides. Even my cousins were there, so we had a good head count.

See, when it rains in Coorg, shit gets serious. Since it's a deep dark village, the electricity vanishes in a jiffy, the phone signal is long gone even before you enter the village, and obviously, the Sun direct DTH can go and kiss it's boss's butt. Total blackout. But you know what, it feels great. Away from the hassles of city life, the mental clutter, and most of all, an opportunity to breath in fresh air.

Night time after dinner. Around 9.30 pm.

Everyone in the family was busy chit chatting and catching up with life stories. Meanwhile, my friend had to take a leak. So here's how it is. When it's deadly dark, super silent, and the only thing you can see outside is a bunch of fireflies in the cold spine chilling weather of coorg, you wouldn't wanna walk to the loo alone. And in villages, it's kept far far away, unlike the cities where you poop just 5 meters away from your bed.

So I accompanied my friend. I stood there turning my back towards him, as he whistled away to glory while taking the pressure off his bladder. When he was done, we just walked back there enjoying the breeze, commenting about the moon, and planning where to sleep. This is when he tapped me on my shoulder and pointed at something near the haystack.

A fairly white glimpse of light floating away from the farm towards the haystack right in front of our eyes. Not a humanly figure, but just a random shape in the dark. More like someone wearing a cloak and flying around headless. He didn't move. Nor did I. We just kept staring at it as it vanished into the wet hay leaving behind two young souls screaming underneath their feeble heartbeat.

We didn't talk to each other and silently went inside the house. My friend swiftly moved into the bed room, grabbed a blanket and sat near my other friend. I was still wondering about what had happened, because we were neither drunk nor was it an illusion. Since there's no possibility for light when there's no moon and the whole village is sleeping, the whole incident was just baffling.

Mom sensed something wasn't right. I narrated the incident. Finally I concluded.

Me - Mom, I think it was something supernatural. I don't believe in ghosts, but what we saw proved otherwise.

Mom - Nah. Nothing like that. You guys must've been dreaming. Or maybe your torch did something.

Friend enters.

Friend - No aunty. I had turned off the torch. I don't know what it was but it was clear.

Grandma enters. Brings in some lassi for us.

Grandma - What happened ?

Mom - Nothing. Kids saw something moving near the haystack it seems. Any idea ?

Grandma - Oh, that huh ? I've seen it sometimes. His grandpa probably. Not sure, but it doesn't do much. Just moves around.

Mom - *_*

Me - *_*

Dad - *_*

Friend - Why the fuck did I come to Coorg.

Uncle, aunt and cousins - No reaction. God knows how many times they've seen.

Friend looks at me.

Me - Let's go inside and play truth and dare da.

We didn't talk to each other about it that night. Neither did I take a leak when I had to after that.

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How's the title SHORTIES? SHORT + STORIES

Stay tuned for the next chapters.

This book contains only real-life events, not made up stories.

Thank you very much for reading.

If you want your stories to be published here, private message me and get a chance to have your story in this book.

Next chapter: Thriller Thursday