I was 15 years old, when this incident happened.
Thinking about this incident still creeps me out.
(Into the story)
It was my summer vacation!
I was free from all my exams and assignments! I was so happy.
I requested my parents, to take me on a vacation!
We decided that going to our Grandpa's house would be great.
We were all set and got ready!
I was so excited cause after 6 years, I'll meet my Grandpa!
And the village, where my grandpa lives, is so beautiful!
We finally reached there, and the village was so beautiful.
We were chilling with grandpa, and all of a sudden, a girl comes with a bucket like thing in her hand.
She kept it right infront of my legs, causing me to freak out a little.
My grandpa smiled and said “Don't worry, she won't kill you.
She'll wash and massage your feet, it'll make you feel better and relaxed!"
I sighed out of relief.
Indian culture never fails to take my breath away.
The girl started massaging me legs and dammnnn! I was so relaxed!
It was evening, we ate our dinner.
Yeah, I know it sounds weird.
Even I have never had dinner in evening. We don't do that in America lol, but in Indian villages, they do eat dinner by sunset.
After having dinner, we went up to the roof, laying on our backs and looking at the sky.
I was with my brother, my cousin sisters and grandpa.
We all were talking and gossiping and fell asleep.
The village's air was so pure.
All of a sudden, I woke up to a sound of many people crying.
That sound was terrifying and it freaked me out.
I woke up everyone around me, and they were all scared, too.
Grandpa woke up, and said “Hmm, looks like the child isn't okay."
Out of curiosity, I asked “What child?"
But grandpa didn't listen since he was meditating.
The crying sound stopped.
We were relaxed for a second.
But then, suddenly, we heard women screaming like hell and men crying and screaming in terror.
I saw tears in my grandpa's eyes, he said “She's gone. She's gone!"
We were so scared.
The screams were getting louder and louder.
The cries were 10 times loud now.
Grandpa rushed downstairs, we were too scared to be alone up there, so we followed him.
Grandpa stopped at a place, we ran towards him, and before we ask him anything, we saw something, that sent shivers down our spines, we were so scared.
We saw the villagers standing there and crying and screaming like hell.
My grandpa joined them.
We were shaking, we couldn't speak.
Every cell of our body, was frozen.
But then my brother goes and asks a villager “What is going on here?!?" The Villager looked at my brother, and whispered something in his ears.
My brother stood there, frozen, looking towards a pool.
Someone dragged us from behind, and I passed out.
When I woke up, I saw that bucket girl massaging my head, making me relaxed and feel safe.
She didn't know English, so she didn't talk to me.
I asked her, “What happened? Why did I pass out? Why was everyone crying?"
She didn't reply, she gave me a smile and kept massaging my head.
I turned around to see my grandpa,
He was sitting on the floor and chanting maala.
I asked him the same.
He replied - “Maya died last night. She had a disease. She was innocent"
He had tears in his eyes.
I asked “Who was Maya? I've never heard of her before."
Grandpa looked at me, wiping his tears, and said “The girl, who massaged your legs when you came here. She was Maya. Everyone here adored her for her kind nature. She was so caring. I can't believe she's gone."
I freezed. I could still feel those warm and soft hands massaging my head and a smile, giving me positive feelings.
I couldn't speak.
Somehow, I managed to look up, I saw her.
She was smiling and when she noticed that I was looking at her, she kissed my forehead.
My feet were so cold.
My tongue dried up.
I passed out, again.
I woke up to beautiful sounds of Aarti.
I managed to go up to my grandpa and told him everything.
He wasn't surprised.
He said “You don't have to be scared of her, she's a good soul. She won't harm you."
Then continued chanting the holy Mahamantra.
It's been a long time since this incident happened.
I never felt her presence around me after that.
The crying sounds of the villagers are still registered in my head and gives me nightmare.
Take care everyone, thanks for reading this.
