My eyes popped open at 1 in the middle of the night as I embarked on my journey to Jammu. The purpose of my travel was to conduct an audit at the school affiliated with my job, and Jammu happened to be one of its branches. I had the pleasure of traveling on the train called 'Jammu Tavi' that started its journey from Bandra and was heading towards Jammu. After waking up, I refreshed myself by performing wudhu, offered tahajjud prayer, and filled my hungry tummy with a delicious bowl of noodles. The atmosphere inside the train compartment was pleasantly quiet and calm, with everyone peacefully asleep under the cool, refreshing AC.
I hopped out of bed and made my way over to the door when, out of nowhere, the train suddenly came to a stop at some random station. Wanting to stretch my legs and enjoy a nice cup of tea, I decided to get off and grab a few biscuits for the rest of the journey. Just as I was savoring the warm beverage, I caught the familiar sound of the train's horn signaling its readiness to continue. I wasted no time and eagerly headed towards it, swiftly making my way into my cozy compartment. With a gentle acceleration, the train gradually picked up speed, smoothly venturing into the enchanting depths of the forest.
It was a long journey, but finally, at 4 in the evening, I arrived in Jammu. Excited to reach my designated location near a city in Mirpur, I stepped out of the station and began my search for transportation. After traveling for over 8 hours on a bus, it was now close to midnight. As the bus came to a stop, I grabbed all my belongings and headed towards the hotel. However, to my surprise, I received a call from the school officials informing me that all the hotels were fully booked, and I would have to spend the night in the school building. With the guidance of Google maps, I navigated my way to the school building, dragging my luggage along. The city seemed quite deserted, with only a few stray dogs in sight. Luckily, I spotted a small tea stall tucked away in a corner of the pavement.
There was this lovely old man sitting comfortably at the tea stall who brightened up as soon as he caught sight of me entering. To shield himself from the cold November night, he had snugly wrapped himself up in an old sweater, a cozy muffler around his neck, and even sported a pair of gloves. After exchanging warm greetings, I kindly placed my order for a steaming cup of tea and a delightful side of toast. Curiously, he offered if I would like to try some hot Maggi, to which I politely requested two packets of it. Settling down on the nearby old cot, we engaged in a delightful conversation about my journey, with him mistaking me as a tourist.
The old man was deeply worried when I conveyed my decision to spend the night in the school building, which was just a short 5-minute walk from the tea stall. He anxiously cautioned me to book a hotel room instead of risking sleeping alone in the school building. 'Beta, bachpan se yahaan rehta hoon, woh school building ke peeche jo pahaad hai na, use humlog jinn ki wadi bolte hain. Galti se bhi wahan mat ruk jaana, woh bhi raat mein,' he tried to convince me in a terrifying manner, which meant 'don't spend your night in the old school building because the mountains behind it are known as the valley of Jinns.' 'Kya karoon chacha, majboori hai aur mai ye jinn bhoot mein nahi maanta,' I replied in a brave tone, attempting to suppress my own worries as I quickly finished my Maggi with a fork. This meant 'I can't help uncle, I have no other option as the hotels are fully booked, and I don't believe in these jinns and ghosts.'
I took a sip of the delicious warm tea and started heading towards the school building. I noticed that the school was safely enclosed by a sturdy fence, giving it a secure feeling. The view of the majestic dark mountains in the background added a touch of beauty to the surroundings. Moreover, I couldn't help but admire the well-lit road leading to the school, thanks to the soft glow of the dim street lights which helped me to cross the roads.
I finally stepped onto the school premises, and to my delight, there was a charming garden within its compound. The garden boasted benches and swings, inviting me to relax and unwind. The school itself resembled a cozy bungalow, with an impressive five floors. As I explored the premises, I couldn't help but notice the absence of any other individuals. A wave of terror washed over me as I realized I was alone on the entire premises. Determined to calm my nerves, I recited my evening dhikr before making my way into the bungalow. As I cautiously opened the creaking wooden door, I was greeted by a welcoming atmosphere. The room featured a luxurious carpet made of silky wool, giving it a warm and inviting ambiance. Soft lights illuminated the space, accompanied by a heater providing comforting warmth. With the lights switched on, I set my luggage aside, ready to prepare for a well-deserved rest. Exhaustion from my long journey weighed heavily on me, making me yearn for a good night's sleep.
I desperately wanted to video call my wife, feeling incredibly worried and longing for her and our daughter. Mustering my courage, I initiated the call, anxiously waiting for her to answer as the bell rang. Finally, she picked up, and upon seeing my face, her joy was palpable. We conversed for approximately ten minutes, and I saw my two-month-old daughter peacefully sleeping. I said goodbye to my wife as my eyes were tired due to the lack of sleep while traveling. Before ending the video call my wife said to me, 'tum to bole akele jaare ho, wo dekho tumhara dost peeche sofe par baitha hai, accha huwa kisi ko saath le gye tum. accha khayal rakkho apna, aur jaldi aajana please.' and she hunged the call. which meant 'you didn't inform you took your friend along with you, see he's sitting behind you on the sofa, good you took him along, take care of yourself and please return as soon as possible I am waiting for you.'
A wave of terror surged through every inch of my body, rendering me completely paralyzed in my seat. Utterly incapable of even the slightest movement or glance towards the sofa, I trembled uncontrollably with fear as the haunting words of the elderly man reverberated in my ears.
I heard the sound of someone walking behind me, as if the person was coming closer to me. Suddenly, I heard a voice which said, 'We too have a family like yours. You can sleep here comfortably; we won't harm you at all.' I slowly stood up, turned around, and to my astonishment, the room was still empty. I moved towards the main door and decided to go to the old man and sleep inside his stall on the cot. I moved out of the bungalow and made my way to the stall. I stood in terror as I couldn't find any stall there; the old man was also nowhere to be found. I was terribly freaked out with these things happening to me. I rechecked, and I was very sure that the stall was located in the same place, but now it has just disappeared with the old man.
I recited Ayat al Kursi and made my way back to the bungalow. I went inside with all my courage, entered my room, and went to sleep. I woke up to the azan of Fajr, offered my salah, and was just about to sleep when I heard some voices coming from the next room, as if there were some children playing. I stood up to check who was there. I slowly opened the door and saw exactly what I had thought. There were almost 15 to 20 small children playing. They were the children of Jinns as they were not looking and behaving like humans.
I slowly closed the door and went to sleep. 'Sochta hu ek do ko batli mai band krlu aur fir gulami karau salo se,' I murmured. Then I thought it would be a bad idea and went to sleep.
