Grandmother

By Prabal Das

Album in my hand, memory in my heart, and tears from the eye are a good blend if you stand alone.At this age, it is very arduous to go for a walk in the evening so it came to be my daily routine to hike the memory sitting on the patio. Today I felt to bring out the oldest photo album,there I found every sight of my childhood, my father, mother and everyone. But unaware my eyes were stuck in one picture, my grandmother, smiling face reclining on the rustiest chair. An unexpected panic and shivering in my body and all the old days started to appear in front of my eyes. I hated seeing the pictures. I called my grandson Arka and gave him an account to take me for a saunter.He was stunned to know this.He took me to the park. After a min, he asked me why I left seeing the album and came here. Initially, I was in a predicament, should I share this? However, I thought to share with him an untold dark tale of our family which I promised to keep with me till I die. He was in 12th standard so I can speak as I recalled I was also in 12th standard suddenly I got a call. My grandmother called us because she is not feeling well. She wants to come and stay with us. I always used to glimpse the quandary and sudden fear on my mom's face. I was eager that after a long time she was coming to us. We were nine members in the family and one other member meant more enjoyment. We only talked over the phone but never met. I was excited to greet her and with my pocket money, I bought a teacup for her.

On one Sunday my father took her to our home. I used to feel bad as my mom always tried to make some difference and tried to maintain distance from her. But we were enjoying all the moments with her. She was preparing some tasty new food but my mom was trying to keep her away from the kitchen. Once I asked mom why she is doing so, and why she always tries to bring some difference between grandmother and us. She just smiled and tried to avert the matter. But the consequence which has not been told to you is the most crucial thing to know in life. Everything was going well but one day what happen I saw one small bag it was grandmother's tiny bag that she always keeps with her. She always keeps this with her and never allows anyone to touch it. But when I touched it I feel that there was something sand in it. I keep it there only and inquired my mom if there was some soil in one tiny bag. Mom slapped me and told me to keep myself away from my grandmother. I was afraid, my mom never did this before. I was unable to understand what to do. I decided to find everything around the matter in the relationship. In our area, there are only two families who have been here for years but I don't know why they used to avoid us for some reason. One is ours and no one would tell me about them. But I realize if I have to know the matter I have to do some tricks. I know every family member of that family, the youngest boy of their family Amlaan is from our age. So I decided to meet him and ask about everything that happened when they stop talking with us but there are many stories about our family relationships. I tried to contact him but I failed. Later I remembered he had a sister and she is in our class, Arpita. I know she knows most of the unrevealed things about our families. I called her and asked her to meet. We decided to meet near one field. I revealed everything to her because a relationship can't start based on lies. I requested her to tell me everything and anything if she knows anything about our family. What I heard from her surprised me. Someone from our family knew black magic. And the eldest son of that family loved my aunt but the one who knows black magic didn't like the matter and killed two people with her power. So after that incident both the family separated from each other with no contact in between. One another similarity was found in both cases they got some sand under the pillow. When I heard the sand I was confused as I too saw the sand in one tiny bag of my grandmother. I returned home and told my mom the story I heard. She with tears in her eyes told me to stay out of the matter. But I want to know more about the story so I called Amlaan and requested him to meet. There I said I came to know all the story from his sister so if he doesn't tell me the whole story then I would reveal to his family that he is revealing the story to all other people. He knows me so he takes it seriously. I asked him to tell me everything about the matter. He said the same as what I heard from Arpita but he added something new. The soil they got near the dead body is taken to one great astrologer and from there they got the information someone did black magic with sand. And only one lady the grandmother was there against this marriage. I was familiar with the fact that the Annual Obsequial Rites we do and that family do are on similar dates. My family never used to reveal the character who died and the face. So returning home I asked my father when that man or woman died. He first asked why but then revealed the day. I didn't know I had an aunt. But I was sure that there Are some secrets behind all this and I should know about this.

It's been two-three days and I was thinking what can I do and how can I stop all this because after my aunt's death my grandmother left the place but after so many years she reappeared means she has no plan with her. I made a plan to meet that astrologer and I was confused about where I should start. I reached there and I said the meeting is personal and he should not reveal it in front of anyone. Then I describe the whole story to the astrologer and asked him to help. He asked me two things first from where the lady came and second to bring some sand if possible. I returned home and asked my mom where my grandmother came from. Mayong lies on the bank of the River Brahmaputra. But I was unable to find that tiny bag so couldn't find the sand. The astrologer gave me some thread and told me to put it in my room. If anything unusual in our house he will get a signal in his body and he would let me know about the matter. Everything was going very well but one night I got a letter written in some code language. I was unable to understand who send this and what this letter is revealing but this much I understood that someone is in danger of life. I stopped there. But I thought about what would happen in one night. Everyone slept. In the morning I was hearing a crying sound around. I woke up and saw my elder paternal uncle is no more. I was stuck, unable to stand on my feet. When I came here to see the dead body I saw grandmother is not there. When I searched her I found she is searching for something in the room and got some sand from the chair where her uncle used to sit. I understood everything. I came out of the room and decided to meet an astrologer. I reach out to that astrologer and said someone sends me the letter and try to say something in code language that someone is in danger but I was unable to understand. When I woke I saw an elder paternal uncle is no more. He said he send me the letter. Yesterday night he felt that there is going to happen something bad in our home and so he sends this letter. But I asked him what to do now he gave me more threads and told me to tie it on our hands and nothing would happen. So I was sure that I am safe. But after a few days, I got the news that the astrologer is sick. I reached there and asked about his health. He said the attack on us and his powerful thread with some mantras made him unhealthy. The reverse attack on his magic affects his body. I returned and decided to go on a vacation and want to reach Mayong the land of black magic. There we would go to visit the famous kamakhya Temple, Guwahati. And like every time grandmother was stopping us and wanted to stay here. Suddenly we got a piece of news that an astrologer died due to some internal injury but internal injury is only possible in case of an accident. I was confused but sure it happened all due to a reverse attack of power. I have the plan to reach Mayong and contact all other powerful magicians who can take out from this. I said my father to bring the tickets but a similar issue was happening with us. The one who tried to bring the tickets is meeting with some accidents. My father with broken hands and my uncle with broken legs. So I decided to go and bring the tickets and not tell anyone about this. If no one has the news then there will be no one to stop. I brought it. Still, there was one lady who was stopping us to go there. But when you have the tickets then it's nearly impossible to stop. So I was happy and excited to reach there from where I can lead my life, and lead my family to one safe zone. So I remembered one Saturday we started our journey. We never imagined what we are going to face.

The train started and it's been half an hour since I slept but suddenly I don't know what happens everything had changed and everything got blurred in front of me. When I opened my eyes I found myself in bed with one broken hand surrounded by nurses and doctors. I understood the train met with an accident and I'm in the hospital. I asked about my parents. The hospital community informed me that they left the World. I was unable to believe this but the dead body pushed me to believe the fact. I was unable to understand how this happened. After a day I received one of our bags which was with mom. I was looking at the bag and can't believe my eyes. When I opened the bag I saw some sand in a small packet deep inside the bag. It takes almost a second to understand the whole story. At that moment I had two choices first I can return home and I am sure no one will survive after that and second I can reach my destination and find something which can stop the death game. I took a step forward and decided to reach Mayong. I have an exam after a few months and I have to solve everything very quickly. I have some money in my pocket and took something from the government. They were giving some amount who were in the train. I took some money and reach Mayong. I was happy at least I can save the rest of my family. But everything was unfamiliar with some unwanted things in its surroundings. I asked everyone to help me and said everything about my problem but no one was ready to help me. Later one old man said to reach kamakhya Temple. There I would find one man who is sitting on one animal's skin, he can help me with this case. I reached there and found that man. I asked for help describing the whole matter. He gave me one long thread and asked me to tie it on every corner and on coming Tuesday have to bring grandmother out of the house. He would do something from there and she can never enter the house or can never use her power on us. I returned home, and everyone was sad. We were left with six in the family. What we did first was I said everything to my aunties and brother and sister, and they understood me. But the problem is that my uncle. But we too handled him. So on Tuesday time, I said to my aunt to take the grandmother out of a house near the river and after that, I tied the house. I took all her boxes and bags out of the house and thrown outside. I saw after some time the sand from the bags bursting. I understood everything would be fine from here and everything would be sorted. I smiled because I know with every burst her power is diminishing. But suddenly I saw that old grandmother is coming towards our house I was afraid he comes back. Suddenly I saw all sand burst out and when she was trying to enter the house she was unable to do that. She loudly cursed us and said if she can come back she would never leave us alive. She left. I don't know why she wants to kill us but we smiled. But where is aunt? I ran towards the river, I saw blood coming out from her head. I understood she is no more. We left four family members. I thank God for everything. we are still alive. We everyone smiled at each other but tears in our eyes that we won the war against some magical powers. On that day I decided to visit kamakhya Temple once and thanked that man for every help he did to save our family. I too decided to leave the place to live and lead a life. I too thanked the astrologer who helped us for some time. Uncle came back. Everyone was happy.

After that every photo everything related to her. Arka smiled and asked me if everything was sorted years back then why I'm stunned and afraid seeing the picture. I smiled and said if we burnt everything then how this picture remains here almost every evening I see all these pictures so how can I miss this picture for years. I smiled and said she is back.

GRANDMOTHER PART 2

In this old body, there was no power left to fight with some superpowers. Yes, I had the experience to fight with one who had some destructive magical power but with time I lost my vision and all other physical strength. I still remember the voice of that old lady cursing us, "If I can enter your house then you will be finished". To forget everything we changed our house and we shifted to a city. With time we lost the memory of destruction. I called my younger brother Tarun and said him everything. He was behaving something strange and unlike every day he left the place without taking the fruits. My son Raj has a very big business of fruits and many brunches in many cities. I felt that he had some health issues. So after dinner, I called his home and asked for everything. When I asked about him, his wife informed me that he has not returned and also said for a week he is disturbed. I asked her to come on the next day. On the very next day, she came to meet me. She was saying that a week before their son had a fever and no medicine was improving his health. Then after a week, he called a man who was looking like a saint. The man came and find some sand under the bed. That man said someone is back and she wants to destroy everything. Then Tarun had a long chat with that man and then the man left. I can read her face, she was confused about what was happening to her. Suddenly she got a call from Tarun and asked her to return. Before returning she showed me some sand which she kept with her before throwing them. I was familiar with the story of sand a long year back in my childhood. I called Tarun and asked him What was going on but he denied to reply. I understood he have some insecurities. So I decided to stop the matter and focus on all the small changes happening. I took some steps regarding the matter, everyone should clear their place before sitting and going to bed. Every member of the house should return before eight at night. In our family, we had two aunties and an uncle, and myself who survived a long year ago, and a new generation my son raj his wife, and my grandson Arka. My wife left me when Raj was 6 years old. And at the age of 77, I lost the courage to face another storm. I lost both my parents when I was only 18 but now I don't want to lose anyone from the next generation.

Many years ago at some point after losing my parents I decided to reach Mayong to find a solution. And I know at this point I have to take some steps to stop everything. Suddenly a phone call and I came back from the imaginary world. Call from Tarun, someone is crying from that side. His wife suddenly was trying to kill himself and want to set fire to a house. So she called an afire service. They took him to the mental hospital. I reach his home and with me, my grandson Arka was there. He was the only one who know the whole story. He drive the car and took me there. After reaching there I came to know he was at his study table making some reports but suddenly he came out of the room and started doing all this. I sent Arka to that room and he found the same what I was expecting. He found a small packet and in it some sand. I understood everything, and the game of death started. I was afraid but I decided to start from the place where everything started, our old village home, in Mayanpur. I told my son I want to visit our village and stay someday. Arka also wanted to go with me but I don't want to take him with me. But later my son decided to send the whole family with me, I tried to stop them but everyone wants to visit the place. I warned Arka anything can happen but I can't stop him. I got a call from Tarun, he wants to meet me. I reach his home. What he said just amazed me. At daily intervals, he can see that old destructive woman. He can feel the lady, her presence. I don't want to believe but what he said just force me to believe him. On that day when he was mentally ill, was feeling that she was doing something. Later when he wants to come out of the room, suddenly someone forces him to stay there and so he sat on the chair, and after that, he doesn't know what happen. After some time when he was feeling good, he found himself in front of that lady. I understood among us only he can feel her. So if he warns her about her presence then we can win against her.

We are ready to start our journey, My son Raj his family, and Tarun, his family. I planned to take out the tickets on different blocks so that some invisible magic can't stop us. I still remember when my parents were on the same blocks and only those blocks face those accidents. So we were on different blocks. Three blocks, myself, Tarun, and Arka on different blocks. Tarun suddenly called me that his wife vomiting blood. I ordered him to search the sand if we can find the sand and remove it from her then everything will be fine. The same happened he found the sand and threw it. After some time everything got normal. On next morning Arka called and said that Raj is not opening his eyes. Again I ordered to find and throw the sand as soon as possible. Tarun wants to reach that block but I warned him not to be together. She can do anything if we get together in the same block. Arka found the packet of sand and after that Raj was feeling good. We reached Mayanpur. We reached our home. All the memories of mom and tears from my eyes are continuously Making me soft. But I prepared myself for this upcoming battle. I was sure this house is bounded by some magical power. No one can harm us. On the next morning, Arka went west. I had the last news from my grandmother that she stays somewhere in the south of the village. Tarun also wants to go with us but I want out of three one should stay with the family. Because only we three know the whole story and can handle the matter. And if Arka faces any problem Tarun can help us.

We took one car and started our journey south. We speak to everyone present there and reached every house. Suddenly Raj laughed and showed me an old house. I smiled but suddenly the door of that house impressed me. The house in one corner looks like some ghostly house. The unopened door for a decade has a bag on it. It takes a second to recognize the bag my grandmother used to keep with her. I asked villagers who used to live here. They replied they don't know the story but their parents restricted them to go to that room. I asked if there was anyone old man or woman from whom we can know the story. Then they showed us a home and when we reached there we found an unmaintained home with some dirt here and there. An old man was coming out of the room. I introduced myself and asked about that house. He said initially the house belong to the astrologer but suddenly he died and he used to hear that both astrologer and his son died due to some magical spell. I forgot the way of that astrologer's house but I understood he is speaking about the same. He continued that after some time a woman came to live in that house. But after some days she too died. But people used to see her more often after she died. So villagers bring one man and tied that house. But it's been two months since someone came, opened the lock, and took a bag from here. Raj heard and asked me if she came back due to someone who opened the door. I don't have any answers. I was tired, I can't walk for a long time. So we came back. On the next day, I booked a paranormal team and after checking for three days they said there is no problem with that house. I introduced them as the son of my friends who came to visit me. I was confused now. There can be two things from here. First, there can be the existence of a grandmother otherwise someone who unlocked the room and took her bag is doing this. Only an unsatisfied relative or neighbor can damage you and can bring you to hell from heaven. So I decided to carry all the pictures of some mutual friends to that old man. But he can't recognize the picture. I was not understanding what to do now.

The next morning I got a call from Amlaan. I was happy, he invited the whole family for dinner. We enjoyed the day and at last did our dinner. The day ends with all the old stories. Yes due to some problem we were unable to communicate but later everything became all right. He has a grandson named Raja. But something was very confusing, Raja stayed in his room all day. He never came out of his room in front of us. It was confusing still we enjoyed it and were happy. After dinner, we were on the way home. Suddenly Raj came to me and told me he found something in his bag with some sand, I asked him to throw it immediately. I told Tarun about that and when he checked he too found a small packet in his bag. It takes almost fifteen minutes to walk from their house to ours. I was thinking who can do that within fifteen minutes? Then I asked everyone to stop and check their bag and pockets. They too found some packets and I ordered them to throw them without opening them. Arka came to me and suggest to keep these bags outside the house. I also thought it would be best for us to do it. But then I thought if we do so and Amlaan sees this or gets the information that the gifts they gave us, we kept outside the house then it would be very uneasy for him and his family to accept this. So I decided to keep it in our car and keep the car outside the house. Everyone was confused about why we are doing so later when we reached home everyone asked me many questions but I told them to go to sleep. I was confused. What happened within 15 minutes was that everything changed. Thinking about all this don't know when I slept. I woke up in the morning hearing some screaming sounds. Suddenly I heard a sound of fire and fire. I can't wake up and walk immediately. But then I went out and saw that the clothes had caught fire which was on the car. I understood there must be some effect of magical sand. But as per the paranormal groups, there is nothing ghostly or don't have some continuous paranormal things happening in the surroundings. So the fact was partially sure that the man who took the packets from that house is doing so. As the bag is given by them then there is a possibility of presenting any one member of them in this big game but the story of sand is only known to Amlaan. Then is he doing all this? A full of confusion and problems surround is bringing hell on Earth. If one of them is doing so then how the old picture of grandmother came into my album? Now I decided to visit Mayong the land of black magic to disclose everything. There I meet one of the oldest saints who helps people to left behind their negativity. Tarun was with me. I asked Arka to stay home to look after everything and inform me if he feels something unusual. I disclosed everything in front of the saint. He said he need to do something to understand which invisible power is doing this. He ordered me to meet him near Kamakhya Temple after two days. When we came to meet him he was in front of the fire. He called me and showed me one picture through the fire. He is no other than our driver he is doing this. But I asked he has not come with us to the village. But the saint rudely said he lives very nearer to our house. Very nearer who knows the whole story is only Amlaan. I was confused Only he know the whole story about the powerful sand but I was confused about how everything related to our driver and if everything he did for money then Why he came here to stay? I was seeing everything is going out of control. I asked the saint what to do now. He gave me some burnt wood and advised me to collect all the remaining sand and put it on this wood near that old house astrologer and my grandmother used to stay in.

We came back but the challenge was in front of us to find the man who unlock the door and used the sand. I send Tarun and Arka on a mission to go after the Amlaan family and nearby people to find the drivers and the man who wants to destroy us. I was sure Amlaan is doing something because in this area only he know the whole story. We were here for a week but it's nearly three weeks and Raj with his wife with Tarun's wife returned and at last, we were only three left. Raj doesn't want to keep his son here as he has his class 12 exam. He doesn't want to return but I send him. Now we were two. I want to try at least once for the last time to find the man. with that old tired body, I can't do everything. When Arka reached there he called me and said the driver called them and that he would not continue the work. I asked Tarun to visit Amlaan's home suddenly and find the grandson of Amlaan because he was the only one whose face was unrecognized by us. I also advise him to click some photos if he finds them to be hung on the wall. He told me there was no photo hanging on the wall he noticed the last time he visited. But I was sure there will be photos if he visits now. The same thing happened he found the photos where Amlaan was standing with our driver. Amlaan said the boy is Raja, his grandson. He is in college, actually dropped a year, and visited the city for some course after the 12th. I understood everything. On that day it was a planned visit so Raja removed his all photos but with the u planned visit, he can't do it. Initially, I thought to tell everything to Amlaan but I was not sure whether I was behind everything Amlan is there or not. But later I thought to tell him everything about this. So once I called him and asked him to visit my house. I told him everything but he was not believing me. Yes, Amlaan used to tell everyone the story of our family, and sometime Raja was furious to know that due to someone he lost one of his members but after that he was okay. I have shown him some pictures with our driver and also mentioned some incidents like getting the picture of his grandmother and everything made him believe that it is his grandson doing everything. I said he is the only one who packed our bag and we found some packets of sand. I asked him to relax and search his home is there any sand or not. After that, he returned to this home and when Raja was not at home, Amlaan called me and I reached there. I asked Tarun to stand on the roadside so that he can give us the information about Raja's return. We found many small packets of sand inside one locker in his room. Amlaan has all the keys to the house. So we take it out and took it in front of the house where both astrologer and grandmother used to stay from where he brought all these packets left after the death of a grandmother. I kept all the packets on the brunt wood given by that saint. We burnt all the packets.

With the ashes, one soul may regain purity. May Raja can forgive us the way Amlaan did by knowing the truth. The evil who killed her son, how can she leave the man who was taking her daughter from her? May her soul get peace after death. I tried to make Raja understand our condition and left for the city with a smile on my face that I don't have to lose anyone and I would carry the story till my death.

By Prabal Das