Yo ✨ this story is coming to an end 😄 thank you for your support ❤️

If anyone understands Bengali then I'm telling you the upper video 👆 isn't a prank. It's official WB news channel believe me 🙃

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Third Person's POV

Ghosts are an important part of the folklore and integral to the socio-cultural fabric of the geographical and ethno-linguistic region of Bengal which presently consists of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal.

Fairy tales, both old and new, often use the concept of ghosts. References to ghosts are often found in modern-day Bengali literature, cinema, radio & television media.

There are also many alleged haunted sites in the region. The common word for ghosts in Bengali is bhoot or bhut (Bengali: ভূত). This word has an alternative meaning: 'past' in Bengali.

Also, the word Pret (derived from Sanskrit 'Preta') is used in Bengali to mean ghost.

In Bengal, ghosts are believed to be the unsatisfied spirits of human beings who cannot find peace after death or the souls of people who died in unnatural or abnormal circumstances like murders, suicides or accidents. Non-human animals can also turn into ghosts after their death.

Ghosts, other similar supernatural entities, as well as tales of paranormal powers (such as clairvoyance, psychic phenomenon etc.) are plots for many short stories and novels in modern-day Bengali literature. Some classic literature and folk-lore are also based on such plot.

The number of Bengali films of this genre are small in number compared to the western world.

Some radio and TV programs also feature stories of people's paranormal experiences.

Common people of both Bangladesh and West Bengal love the supernatural thrills, and the personal stories of people's paranormal experiences are hot topics for gossip, rumours and hangout discussions among friends and family...

Surova's POV

A mention of the most haunted places in Kolkata brings alive its fascinating past as well.

A city that was much loved by the Mughals, French, British and Dutch, almost every lane has a tale to tell, some with a twist of horror.

If you have some ghost-chasing on your mind, there is the supposed ghost of Warren Hastings who comes riding a horse to Hastings House and the spirit of Lady Metcalfe that you might find sashaying down the corridors of the National Library of India.

A more creepy experience, going by the legends, awaits you at Putulbari (the House of Dolls), the South Park Cemetery, Writer's Building and more.

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I was thinking about something else to distract myself from being sad about leaving tomorrow. Yes you heard right we're leaving tomorrow.

I just can't believe I was so excited about leaving this cursed place and now I just don't wanna go because I feel attracted to this place after meeting Kanai... Who is he really?

Yesterday after returning back here I gladly finished today's morning paperworks for buying some more time in morning.

I've to tell Kanai that's I'm leaving this place. So today is the last day I'll be with him.

He's so cheerful I just felt like he's my long lost brother cause I've no siblings at all. *Sigh* I guess it's over today...

Secretly I put that mysterious book beside my table and start pretending like I'm working but Little did anyone knows I've already finished those tasks yesterday night.

"Oh my *giggle* all I have to just wait till lunch time and find a chance to sneak out from here", I muttered.

Then I picked up the book and wondered if I should take it with me or leave it here. Then I found a torn page from that book... Someone wrote this...

It was written-

~•~

It was quite. Go to the Sealdah. Buy a ticket. Then go out to the north or east - whenever the mind wants.

After crossing the Bheramara and looking down at Saraarpul, it would seem that the waves of Padma are coming to swallow.

Or go to Goalanda. The smell of fried Hilsa (Hilsa is a kind of fish) can be heard calling back to the steamer ghat.

Today draw boundaries on the water. We are not ordered to cross the border.

The day has changed.

Today there are no more tents of Gora Paltan in the shade of shawl trees. Human bones do not shine on either side of the canal.

New townships are now being established on Lorry Road. In an independent country, people are now forming new parties, Taking new oaths, dreaming of new happiness.

Even today, when winter winds blow, I still remember Dafa. I am trembling in the mud house wearing kantha.

Through the windowless doors and windows, I see the Garo hills standing far away with Jotsna on them. I'm on the floor and on the floor. There is no sleep in the eyes of both of them in the cold.

He had no one on the three shores. Dafa doesn't know where his house was, who his parents were. As a child he was a cattle thief.

His scars all over his body. Dafa changed and came to Lalit's house. It was Lalit who grabbed him from the road.

The cowherd was given to Dafa.Dalit wife called Dafa mother. Dafa became like Lalit's son.

Dafa was known to everyone as Habagoba. He learned to read Dafa. Going to the campaign with the flag of the association, distributing handbills in the market, Duffa is called for all the work.

He wants to go to town once. He had never seen a train. 'Is there too much light in the city?' I came back to Calcutta.

After that, how many years of quarrels have not been shared. Suddenly one day I heard that Dafa had been shot in the chest and died. Fought very hard.

But could not with a gun. Dafa did not want to die, he wanted to live with his head held high like a human being.

I read papers and sometimes wake up at night to the sound of airplanes. What if there is a war? Kolkata, the city of walls, will be destroyed by the bomb.

All the people of this city will become dust in the dust. I wake up and say to Kolkata: Let's bring that beautiful day of dreams forward.

'Is there too much light in the city?' - still ringing in my ears.

Just what? Just that (The bottom of the hill) Pahartali? The whole of Bangladesh was like that that day. One of them was 'Amar Bangla' (My Bengal) with what I saw and heard in Bangladesh.

01.07.1961

ՏՄՅɧԹՏɧ ʍՄƙɧԾρԹԺɧՎԹՎ

~*~

Ahhh... I can't see the name clearly...

Poor man... I mean the one had been shot in the fight. I feel bad for him. But the date...

It's after Independence that's I'm sure... But isn't Bengal divided at 1905 already? Who knows...

I decided to take the book with me.
Though half of it's page torn apart and scattered but still I could say I found something ancient thing from Baharampur aka Murshidabad XD.

"~*Ding dong*~", the clock hit 1 PM. "Yes lunch time!", I half shouted like the school girl I was back then. "Surova? You okay?", A senior of me shared me a concerned look .

"Off- Surova big mistake", I mentally scolded myself. "Ho ho don't worry Nile (spells - Nil- means 'blue') I guess she's just recalling back her school days isn't it Su?", Cornell always comes in the right moment.

"Heh sorry actually I really missed my school memories with my friends enjoying our lunchtime together.

Now everybody grow up and we're divided", I spoke sadly. It's the reality after all.

"Hey Cornell? Guys, can I go out alone today? No, actually we'll leave tomorrow, so I wanna spend a little more time with this mysterious place", I tried to sound normal hoping they'll believe me and let me go.

"Ho ho ho whyn't sure! After all you did incredible job today finishing all of the task just in one morning. I'm impressed so you deserve it", Cornell laughed out after hearing me. "Oh yes! Plan worked perfectly!", I muttered.

"But return back to the HQ before lunch time over ok?", He asked. "Yes promise! Bye GRAMPS! Bye Nile!", I waved at the two before leaving the room. I happily jumped around.

After returning back to my quarter I put that book in my leather satchel bag then put the tiffin box filled with breads, jam and jelly. Guess what? I skipped today's breakfast and saved them for later.

Yeah I only spend the whole morning eating coffee hehe that's why I'm feeling so energetic.

The daily meals of all our staff are cooked daily by the canteen chef. But today I forbid him to cook for me because I know I will not stay here today, what will I eat? There is no benefit in just wasting food.

I followed the same path and again those two horrible message appeared on the wall.

Off so disturbing letters! Is this some types of pranks people love to play scaring others or what?

Grumbling angrily, I stepped on the same path I had taken yesterday. But then I didn't find that exact same village filled with greenary.

Instead of the trees blessed with mother nature they seemed cursed by her rage.

"What just happened here? Or I again lost my way?", I checked my phone. Time still working as the digits of the digital clock running smoothly.

"Oof I swear God after saying farewell to Kanai I'll surely excuse myself from this terrible place!", I exclaimed.

"Kanai! Hey? You here?", Reaching at the same banyan tree where I met him yesterday I shouted calling his name. I hoped he could hear me somehow.

Gladly that banyan tree was still in stable condition so I sat down beneath the cool shade of it to hide from the burning sunlight.

"No response. I'm bored", after waiting for him for like a good 15 min I opened my bag and started eating as I was hungry.

"Di? Is that you?", A voice called me when I was about the grab the last piece of the bread.

"Oh Kanai guess I kept my promise", I smiled at him though he didn't seem so happy about it.

"Um yes", he replied in Bengali. "Sit down", I told him. "What are you eating?", He asked pointing at my tiffin box.

"Oh this? Actually I didn't eat breakfast so I'm eating them in lunch", I sweat dropped as he shrugged.

"You like breads?", I asked. "Nah I'm better with fresh fruits. I don't like those", he deadpanned making me feel weird.

"Um ok", I hurriedly chewed up the leftover food and closed the tiffin box putting it in my bag.

"So the fact is I'm leaving tomorrow this place forever and I don't know if I'll ever get a chance to return back so I'm coming here to say you farewell", I smiled sadly. "I know", he replied.

"How do you know?", I asked. "I mean all come and go. Everyone has to come and go to different places right? That's just common for all", he commented. "Ya", I nodded.

"Di! So as I said yesterday will you hear me playing flute?", He asked eagerly. "Sure I'll", I replied.

Then he played an wonderful melody sadly I forgot to record it in my phone but I'd no regret cause I was happy to listen by my own ears. He stopped after he was done. "Wonderful", I clapped.

"Kanai you know you always reminds me of lord Krishna", I commented. "Thank you. Well it's because of my name I guess", he said.

"Ya actually I always wish to meet him one day if I can!", I exclaimed. "Why to be Devi Raadha to marry him like all the other girls?", He taunted. I just blinked.

"Pfft- hahaha very funny", I laughed as he seemed confused. "Then what?", He quirked an eyebrow.

"Oof- I mean when I was young I always wanted to learn how to play flute and after hearing him play I always daydreaming about if he taught me how to play just it all", I shrugged. "Oh you're different then", he said.

"So what happened actually here?", I asked finally as his eyes darkened suddenly.

"Di! Leave this place as soon as possible... When the time strick 2 o' clock this place starts changing it's view. It's haunted", he said those words making me startled.

"What? Then why aren't you left this place already? It's cursed. Look I've a book and I saw something about this place-", I I took out the book and showed it to him.

"Nothing new. It's about this place and it's history", he didn't show any interest.

"Okay?", I was confused then shouted, "So what about those people I saw yesterday? What about you? Don't tell me I'm seeing a dream? This doesn't makes any sense". He just sighed.

"The people you saw yesterday was just some illusions that's why you couldn't contact with them. The village you saw also an illusion. Actually it's past pictures were playing right back then. They can't hear you or see you but you can", he replied.

"... It's the play of time always be played right here after noon 12. But right at 2 o' clock all of the things come back to their own places. It's for fooling others so they won't show any interest for this abandoned place", he looked at me.

"Look you can see me but others can't. They're just pictures of past memories playing through for some time", he bit his lip.

"But why this place seems burnt? What exactly happened?", I asked. "Years ago ... Independence did not come then but I heard everyone said that we would all be separated. So everyone was busy if someone got a little reassurance from their relatives".

"My parents, my sister and I lived in my house. We don't have any relatives so we couldn't leave as there was no place to go. Some people accompanied us for the same situation. Our grief was somehow passing the day..."...

"I'm so sorry to hear that. I read in books about that time. But didn't the land owners help you at that time?", I asked.

"No. They are just drunk on their business. They never thought of us ", Kanai grit his teeth in anger.

"... Suddenly one day the land owners of the village came to our house in groups to collect the tax levied on our house. Markets were closed, no buying and selling so it was hard to survive at that time. Even though my father gave them the last crop of our field, they kept increasing their demand. At last we'd nothing left to give so they...", Kanai started sobbing.

"Easy little guy! Calm down if you don't wanna tell I won't force you to-", I tried to change the topic but he continued.

"They forcibly kidnapped my older sister ... then when she was found she was in a bloody and torn condition", he finished the sentence while trembling in fear recalling back those horrible memories.

"Why they did that? I don't know what actually happened to her? But later some of our people burnt down that dead body in the jungle. From that day my mother never talked to anyone she lost her ability to speak. And we counted our days... But it was also not long those cruel people weren't so done yet. They burnt down our whole village in the dark of night. We never got a chance to survive...", He finished and looked at me.

"Grr those BASTERDS! AHHH!", I hit my fist in the banyan tree hard. Kanai startled by my sudden action. "WhoA! Di! You okay?", He asked.

"No I'm not", I sighed and sat down again. The fact that boiling my blood in hatred about what happened to his elder sister.

It's horrible! Poor Kanai! This little guy don't even know how much horrible things could exist.

Where is humanity? Is it even exist? Or ever excited in past or ages ago? Is it?

"Sorry for scaring you. But tell me if that happened at that time according to that year if I calculate my own birth year then-", realisation hit me after calculating, "WAIT! YOU'RE 100+ YEARS OLDER THAN ME?!!", I screamed in disbelief as Kanai smiled a mysterious smile. "I guess you're right", he tilted his head innocently.

"Then I'm talking to a ghost. Wow the best moment in my life", I smiled nervously.

"No actually I'm just an unsatisfied soul that just sits there hoping to be released", he muttered. "So how can I help you?", I asked as Kanai looked at me in disbelief.

"Di? You're not afraid of me? Why are you still here after hearing everything?", He seemed angry at me.

I just signed, "Look the only thing I've always wanted to do something good. And if I can do something for you it'll be my great pleasure to be a part of your happiness. You're wandering like this for who knows how long. So I wanna set you free. Tell me what can I do to help you?" He looked down.

"As long I know in this case people use black magic and it always makes a great sacrifice. I don't want you to sacrifice anything for me. I'm none but just a stranger for you", he stayed silent after some time.

Though I'm coming from town and stay as a modern girl but you don't believe black magic still exists. Yes you heard me right... It's still exists!

"Guess what? One day I accompanied my parents in a temple where I live in Hooghly and you won't believe people still use dark magic on people. It's true but that time I was 10 and don't know what it is so I'd accidentally entered into one of the room of that so called priest and spoiled their spiritual activities..."...

"... Then they locked me up for 2 days while my parents went crazy for my disappearance. It exists but the way people use it 2 ways. One they fake use it to show their empowerment and other way they fulfill the cruel needs in exchange for a hefty price", I didn't know why I was telling those to Kanai it doesn't make any sense to him but still it feels nice to let it out.

"The fact is still people don't change themselves. They still want to be controlled by their own monsters inside that's why they suffer from their own misdeeds", he let out.

"So what now? Will I have to do something like that? I can do anything for you tell me", I raised an eyebrow as Kanai looked down at the ground.

"Will you do anything for me? Please don't take decision hurriedly. Think carefully".

"What do you mean?", I asked but I wished I never asked the question cause the next thing I heard from Kanai stopped my heartbeat.

... "Di! Can you sacrifice yourself for me?"...

... "What?!"...

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So done ✅ writing this one. Only one left to go and complete the book 🙂

Hope you've enjoyed :)

Hope you like 👍 if you enjoyed please leave a comment 💬 on this chapter and vote ⭐ please 😋

[Word Count: 3239] ✍️

I'll be back with the last chapter of this story. So stay tuned 🖤💙