There have been a lot of debates on and off about encounters with Ghost or Lost Souls.. I wouldn’t believe in Ghosts.. till it happened to me.. “The Ghost and the Darkness”
Tushar and Tanuja were all set to tie the Sacred Knot… Finally the due date was decided for 12-12-2006 and the Venue too.. GOA… The wedding was to be a special one.. It was the marriage of Cambridge.. the 2 laadlas of Cambridge were getting married.
The plan was to drive down to Goa and we were to decide on the vehicle for the purpose.. Ritesh walks in and says.. “Dudes guess what, Dad has got a new Scorpio and we need to rip it to Goa”, but the Car was stationed at Ritesh’s hometown…. Chickmangalore..!!!! The plan was decided, Ritesh was to go to his home a day in advance, get the number plate and all sorted…Rakesh, Galgale and Me were to take a bus to Chickmangalore and drive to Goa from there.
The Route : Chickmangalore > Shimoga > Honnavar > Karwar > Panjim.
The drive had been wonderful as we zipped through some farmlands across to Jog Falls and the curvy roads of Honnavar, a break here and there we were at Karwar. A long drive with lots of fun and some wonderful scenery to cover. Within hours we covered the road till Panjim and checked in to Guest House.
The morning was free as the ceremony at Tush’s place was to start in evening with the Sangeet Session. Meantime, Deepak and Amzee (Tush’s friends) had also joined the gang.. and it was time for fun. Goa for Boys, Beach, Beer and Baaga..!!! A great morning with Kings beer and we were rolling.
Ritesh and Deepak had to go to Airport to pick few guests which kept Rakesh, Me, Amzee and Galgale vehicleless. The evening was to have a Sangeet at “The Hathi Mahal” at South Goa. We hired a couple of vehicles back at the hotel and were off for a 3o Kms ride to Hathi Mahal.
Full with Drinks and Dance. Tushar started the evening with a Welcome Speech, some live music… stage was set for a great evening.. We boys had decided a very special gift for Tush.. A rally of Tushar getting thrown in the swimming pool umpteen number of times.. Partners in Crime : Ramesh, Deepak, Ritesh and Galgale..
The evening continued and the guests gone.. it was the time for boys to enjoy the night.. at the table sit we all. A round table with Chivas Regal in between.
The Bet: Bottoms Up the CR
The Amount: 5k on the table
Challenger: Deepak
Even before something was said.. Gulpppp goes down the bottle by Deepak. The bet was over before even it started.
Clocks were ticking and it was around 2 AM in the morning, we had a 30 KM ride back to hotel.. all slaushed.. Ritesh and Deepak were off in Scorpio.
Pitch Dark night 4 of us riding on a Activa and a HH Passion, Rakesh and Galyaa on Passion, Amzee and me on Activa. Slowly we covered the way until we reached a dead end with a overbridge to face.!!! We were guessing where to go.. and Amzee speaks “Bhagwan kisi na kisi ko tho bhejega yaar rasta dikhane ko”.
Seconds after he finished, we saw a elderly lady walking under the bridge towards us…!!! we move the vehicle further and see a 40-50 year old woman swaying from left to right.. walking towards us.. As a hero I say to her funnily in Marathi “Kay Moushi Jaasthi Jaala ka”( What anut.. looks like u had little too much liquor)
The moment I said that.. she stood rock solid and I could see her red eyes turning completely white .. white as milk.
Amma: “Kya re bahut baat kar raa”
I could hear Galgale from behind.. “nikal yahan se”. I was dumbstuck and back into my senses.. the very next words which came out from my mouth was “Amma maaf karo…Panjim Jaana hain Rastha Bhool Gaye”
Amma: Tereko Ghamand Jyaada hain.. Itna Ghammand Achha nahin
Me: Galti ho gayi amma, Rasta bata do
Amma: Right leke, uppar wale bridge se seeda nikal lo.. panjim pahunch jaaoge.
Somehow, the instincts said don’t beleive her and we took a U Turn and were back on the way we came. We saw a milk van unloading milk for the day. Stopped took a sigh ! and asked for the route again. The milk vendor guided the same route which the lady had told. Slowly, we took the way back and were hoping not to find the lady again there.
We came at to the junction and see the lady standing right under the bridge..!!! without any noise we just ripped our vehicles from there..
Amzee driving, I could see aunty watching us and gave a sheepishly smile… and all of sudden all the electric wires across the area splash. the whole area were sparkling with the wires getting entangled and the area goes black in pitch darkness.. all I could hear next was Amzee Shouting.. HARI OM..!!!! and I could still see the lady with a smile..!!!!
Somehow we managed to get back to hotel in the night and went to bed with all lights on… We all were shivering…and no one wanted to sleep next to the window..
Next day was fresh one.. No nightmares, No Aunty…. The marriage went well and we were back driving on highway to Bangalore. We carried with us the memories of beautiful wedding and of “The Ghost and the Darkness”.
We still are not sure if it was a ghost or an angel who had come to help us on the lonely night where we were drunk and slaushed. Till today I hear the last lines by Amzeee “Hari Om”
Ramesh Ayyagari 