If I loved you

A forgotten tale

When they left, Non came out of the tent and asked about the whole situation.

'Why do you want to know?' He asked curiously when I inquired about the village cemetery. I didn't want to raise any suspicion so was afraid of asking just anyone. Non was there at that moment so I asked him without giving away anything. So far he has helped me with many things after all.

'Just curious.' I shrugged casually.

'There is no cemetery in here.' He gave an odd answer.

Huh! Then why did New say that!

'There is a cremation ground near the old watchtower far away from this village. Everybody uses that when a situation arises and after cremation they scattered the ashes in the sea.'

Yes. This is the custom of a normal Thai village, nothing improper. Then what was that! Did I get it all wrong?

'Uh! There is this one place......' Non exclaimed.

'What? Where?' I eagerly asked.

'It's not a cemetery......just one grave....'

'One?'

'Yeah. Four....no five....no four years ago there was a big car accident here, a girl died in that accident, her grave is there. Are you talking about that place?'

'Oh.'

A girl died in a car accident.....four or five years ago....was she...That girl? New's fiancée?

'P Tay?' Non called me a few times when I didn't say anything.

'P Tay?'

'Yeah....'

'But how did you know about that place? Have you been there?' He asked curiously.

'Huh? No. No...I just heard someone talking about a cemetery here....so I asked you... that's all.'

'Oh. Don't go there okay? That place......is spooky. No one dare to go there.'

'If this village practice cremation then why that girl is buried there?' I asked the most pressing question.

'I don't know for sure but some says because it was an accident...some says because the body was too mutilated to display...but I think those are not the case. I think....'

'What?' I was listening with rapt attention.

'I think her parents are still too attached to her that's why they are not ready to let her go. They built a tomb to keep her close.'

'What are you saying? That might not be the case.' I shook my head in disbelief. It's the Jutamas family we are talking about. They can't be that sentimental.

'You don't know these people P. They are superstitious to the extreme. And that girl.....hah! She was the apple of their eyes.'

'Did you know her?'

'We are from the same village P, ofcourse I knew her.'

'What was she like?'

'Umm....she was average looking and very clingy type. There was a boy who came from the city, she used to stick with him all the time.'

'That boy.....did that boy like her too?'

'Can't tell. That boy was very .....um.... quiet type.'

'Mn.' I suppressed my emotions and probed again.

'That accident.....How did that car accident happen?'

'That boy was very rich. One day his uncle came to meet him here. He brought a car with him which was parked near the main road where we got off from the van, remember?'