The Ghost

The Ghost (based on real experience) I still remember the day as fresh as today. I was waiting on the railway platform to board a train to Howrah, from Seoragachi Station in a remote place somewhere in Bengal. Full of mist and cool winter breeze engulfing me from all sides in this deserted Rly Station , very few passengers around at 6PM evening. An old baldy man in his white apparels holding a black umbrella in his left hand and a black leather bag in his right hand wearing a black sandal, stood by my side & asked if I am waiting to catch the train to Howrah! I nodded in yes while he asked “if I am not from this place.” I nodded in yes I am not from here but from a faraway place.. I came here to visit my ancestral place after 20 years, he chatted a few minutes when I saw the train entering.. from the corner of the platform. I got readied and the engine was just now in front of me.. The old man suddenly jumped on the track and the engine ran over him. I am shocked.. People rushed here and pulled the man out when the train stopped fully.. A headless corpse still the body shivering.. I didn’t take the train but accompanied the Railway police as an eye-witness. It was indeed a very sad & horrible moment for me while writing the FIR. 2 hrs later, the next local train to Howrah.. empty railway station in this winter time. Chilled breeze penetrating thru my clothes and bones.. Dim light at station; Mind is puzzled and confused.. however in extremely alert state. Boarded the local train; I am alone in the poorly lighted empty Compartment, sat on the window side and thinking what a sad day it was. Heavy head & shivering in chilly wind; the train started while I was looking outside into the moonless dark night beyond window and my mind is not working anymore. A man came and sat beside me.. He asked me “if I am not from this place.” The voice was known & heard a few hours before I looked at him and fainted; it was the same old man “ in his white apparels holding a black umbrella in his left hand and a black leather bag in his right hand wearing a black sandal” smiling at me.. I am back in my sense in the mid of a crowd at Howrah Station. Rushed to a public phone- booth to call Seoragachi Station- master , he confirmed again the old man died on the spot. By Auro 13th Aug 2011 (Gurgaon)