Short Horror Stories

SWAYAM SOCIETY

The hoots of the owls, the howling of the dogs, the screeching of cats and the loud cries of a woman at night weren't that usual in Swayam society. Such disturbances were making nights mysterious, frightening and strange day by day. The blackish sky and the moon always appear to tell, that something bad is to happen. Even the bright and pale scarred moon seemed appalling in the haze. These bizarre events scared some, annoyed some and made some people sleepless. They didn't take it that easy. The noblest people who resided there complained about it to the secretary. But he didn't do anything, make a single call to the municipal office about the stray menace.

The Swayam society was home to many, people who made residence, years and years ago here, never experienced such things before but in the past twelve weeks, they are experiencing peculiar events only at night. The mornings are a breath of relief. Some people did not care about the mysteries of the night, and to some who thought that something was wrong outside, the night was the devil's abode.

It was now getting late and Arun went out to play in the dark. He knew that his mother would make bhurji of him, but his curiousness about playing in the dark with friends made him sneak out. His mother, from the kitchen, yelled at Arun to not go out and play at this time. As she looked through the window, it appeared to rain tonight.

The darksome sky was very mysterious, hostile and strange. Strange would be the word to make the right description of the night. The tall shadows of the branches fell across the empty road. The sound of the crickets made it even chilly and cold. The balconies were being closed and curtained. Everyone got in their homes by eight-forty. No one wanted to be outside late as they all hated the aura surrounding them. But this wasn't felt by the scientist, Taranga Swami, one of the residents, an uncanny astronomer who spent night and day watching the planets and stars through his telescope. He wasn't feeling odd about anything instead, he was excited.

In the opposite building Arvind, a youngster who resided with his superstitious mother was annoyed as she was done with the last circle, casting off the evil eye. She continued to scold him for being out all day and being late on top of it. As she put the aarti thali on the balcony, she closed the curtains swiftly. Washing her hands, she made it clear to not go out on the balcony. Arvind couldn't be more annoyed as she turned the lights off and told him to sleep and study in the morning for the upcoming tests. As his mother re-entered with incense sticks this time, he moaned annoyedly. She glared at him in reply and went on to put it under his bed, chanting the mantras. Arvind got up with a grimace but his mom commanded him to sleep. He could only lay back and close his eyes.

Nandita came out of the bathroom rubbing her hair with a towel, and started to put on earrings and lip gloss. She had no idea that she was being watched by a guy through binoculars, who was opposite her building. He gulped with fear and observed as she headed forward and sat on the balcony. She started to put nail paint on her nails.

Arun was being shouted at by his mother for being careless and sneaky. He constantly said aloud that he was scared, bursting into tears. His mother could only think of another drama to miss school tomorrow. She annoyedly took him to the bed and put him to sleep. he was quieter now and demanded his mother a story. She said that she was tired but continued to think of a story as he started to become stubborn. She said that there lived a handsome prince far, far away and he wanted a bride one day, so he went in search of one. suddenly, in his way, a long grey-haired witch appeared. As Arun bawled, she stopped. She consoled him and started to tell him another story. He fell asleep after.

Mr Gupta, a man in his sixties was laid on the bed, drenched in sweat, panicking, breathing heavily as he was nyctophobic. He was imagining a fat old witch in the middle of the chowrasta, chanting in front of fire, smoke, and blood and offering animal heads to Satan; laughing louder and crying aloud simultaneously. His heartbeat grew faster as his imagination overcrowded his mind. As a mysterious whining sound appeared, he swiftly got up, sweating more and breathing heavily. He reached the living room and turned on the bhakti channel. As he slowly increased the volume, he gradually became calmer.

Nandita was fast asleep in the chair on her balcony. As she woke up with a heavy head, she went into her room uneasily and poured water into the glass. She opened the drawer beside her bed and took out the medicine. She put the crocin in her throat and started drinking. She choked as she heard a loud horrible cry. She gulped and closed the balcony door and shut the curtain quickly. She sat on her bed and started putting on earphones. After a long while, she was now feeling better. Suddenly, she got up threw the earphones aside and stood in front of the mirror. She grinned and went to her cupboard, humming and dancing. She took out a bathrobe and then went into the bathroom.

Arvind opened his eyes as the dreadful chants continued after a loud screeching noise. He got up from his bed and went to look. As he entered the balcony, he saw a black cat and he squealed. It jumped on him, screeching that he cried aloud. His mother came rushing and shouted in fear that the cat disappeared. His mother cried about it being a bad omen and ordered him to go take a bath immediately. Arvind tried to calm his mother but she yelled at him for his recklessness and to listen and follow what his mother tells him to do.

As Arvind's father consoled her, she became calmer and even calmer after speaking to the pandit on her phone. As Arvind came after his bath, she made him chant the Mrityunjay mantra until she felt satisfied. With his sleepy eyes, he made a face at her.

Arun opened his eyes wide and got up, scooting across the bed. As he looked at the open windows of his room, his curiosity made him wonder for a while. As he peeped out, a scary old lady appeared suddenly. He screamed and fell on his back but as he saw again, it was the shadows of the branches. He quickly turned as the door opened, it was his mother.

In the middle of the road, an old, creepy, light-eyed, fat witch closed her eyes and continued to clatter her teeth, whispering satanic chants. The trees were whirling in the wind and she cut her hair and threw it laughing with her eyes wide open.

Arun didn't stop weeping in front of his mother. She asked him several times but he said nothing. And suddenly, he screamed, "Chudail! Chudail!" She consoled him but he didn't listen. Then he went to hide under the bed. She took him into her arms and caressed his head: told him to not worry and took him to the living. She turned on the Television and sat on the couch with him; he went on clinging her tightly and glanced everywhere. he looked at the TV and as he saw her sleep, he tapped on her face. She woke up and he told her to watch the Looney Tunes with him. She was annoyed but she didn't show it. His serious frown at the Television was fixed until a fat old woman appeared on the screen, bouncing and laughing violently. He screamed unstoppably though his mother continued to convince him that it was all his imagination.

Nandita's mother shouted at her for taking a bath at midnight. Tucking herself inside the sheets, she bluntly reverted that it was because she wanted to. Her mother grunted with anger but left her to sleep. Nandita opened her eyes with sheer joy as she approached the mirror again. Suddenly, her smile turned upside down and she squinted her eyes sharply. The second next, she burst out in laughter; admiring her beauty in all expressions, she lay on the bed. Her eyes moved away from herself to the book she grabbed, it was a haunted novel. It gave her chills.

There on the terrace of the right wing, stood a guy named Aki who tried to see what was happening outside. Abruptly, a man appeared behind him and told him to go to his room. He got scared and as he could get a glance of him in the light, it was none other than the watchman. He gasped and asked the watchman about the mysterious things happening outside. The watchman simply took him by his hand but he was reluctant to go. They waited after the watchman rang Aki's doorbell but Aki couldn't keep it shut. He irritated the guard until his mother opened the door with slippers in her hands. Aki stammered as he didn't want to drag his over-dramatic mom's attention right now. His mother took him beating with her slippers inside. The watchman left the floor smirking.

The morning sun came up with the warmth of goodness. It was too early for anyone to be up but women had woken up as they'd have chores to be done. A few people on the jogging track felt very refreshed and peaceful and it was a little strange. Kids looked out from their balconies and invited one another to play. This was a different day because everything now seemed to be normal to the residents of the Swayam society.

A five-and-a-half-year-old girl stood inches away from the banyan tree which was in the middle of the road. Her big weary eyes were cast on the dead witch who looked as pale as if she was frozen to death. Her eyes were wide open and her legs squatted. Slowly, her eyes moved as the kid rubbed off the hair from her eyes. Suddenly, the idea of sneaking out to play worried her. And as she looked up, the pale dead witch stood tall and moved towards her swiftly. The little girl squealed, "Ma...!"

The End