The Mysterious Sound
Updated: Sep 14
I could feel the Sun’s rays for a while before I heard my mother shouting, “Wake up, Naina!”
After shouting for a while, she barged into my room to turn off the fan, forcing me to get out of my bed. Struggling to open my eyes, I looked at her, and she was already dressed.
Noticing me waking up, she asked, “Listen, I can’t pack your lunch today. Can you eat in your college canteen?”
Closing my eyes, I replied, “Yes, maa. I can eat in my college canteen. Can you turn on the fan, please?”
Pulling off my blanket, my mother asked, “You know where I’m going, right?”
Triggered, I shouted, “To the office, Mom!”
Following my answer, she spanked me. When I shouted in pain, she reminded me, “I’m going to Ishitha’s wedding along with our neighbours.”
Observing that I wasn’t getting up, she instructed, “Do not forget to lock the doors when you’re leaving for college, and it might get late by the time I return.”
Sitting on my bed, I pleaded, “Why do you give me so many instructions and treat me like this every morning?”
Surprisingly, my mother didn’t say a word, unlike most days when she would argue about my failing to start my day early. A moment later, she picked up her handbag and left, bidding me goodbye. As the door closed, I turned on the fan and fell asleep.
Waking up an hour later, I got ready, and by the time I reached the bus stop, I found out that my college bus had already left. Cursing myself, I booked a cab to reach my college, as I couldn’t be late; we were to start a new lab assignment, and the instructor wouldn’t allow me in if I was late.
In six minutes, a cab arrived, and I felt more comfortable on this journey than on my usual bus ride. We didn’t even need to take the long route as the buses do to get students. Everything was pleasant until the car stopped in the middle of the highway. The cab driver got out to check if he could try his luck in getting it fixed. In a few moments, he informed, “I’m sorry, madam! This car should be repaired. I could call another cab if you could wait for a couple of minutes.”
Disappointed about the way things were turning out today, I agreed. Not wanting to sit in the car, missing the cold winds and cloudy sky, I waited outside leaning on it. While I was surfing on my phone, I heard a scooter stop near me. When I turned to look at the driver, I found my uncle, his wife, and their son. Looking at me, he smiled before asking, “Need a ride, Naina?”
Approaching them, I replied, “Just waiting for another cab. Missed my bus. Are you guys going to the marriage?”
As my aunt nodded, I touched their two-year-old Anil’s cheeks. Looking at him, I mentioned, “You guys look lovely.”
Meanwhile, Anil started pulling my hairband, which kept my hair from falling into my face. As my aunt tried to stop him, he didn’t and seemed to want it. I pulled out my metallic band and gave it to him, and he started swinging it.
While my aunt mentioned, “Don’t give it to him. He will keep it!”
For me, it doesn’t matter since Anil seemed to love it. As he played, another cab arrived while my uncle questioned, “You’re skipping the marriage to attend college? You have indeed lost your senses.”
I couldn’t help but smile. As he started his bike to leave, I bid Anil goodbye and thanked the first cab driver before settling down in the new cab. As my journey progressed, I noticed the new cab driver hit the brakes as I continued surfing on my phone. Curious to see what had happened, I witnessed the most terrible scene, which shook me to my core.
A lorry hit my uncle’s bike, and all three of them were on the road, bleeding. The cab driver called 108, followed by calling the police, while I was in shock, looking into their eyes open. I couldn’t utter a word until the ambulance arrived and the two policemen ordered the medical team to collect the three dead bodies.
One of the two officers approached the cab driver to question him about what had happened. Meanwhile, the other officer demanded I call my mother. After he finished talking to my mother about the accident, he asked to meet us there.
I informed the police officer, “The couple who were killed… are my uncle and aunt.”
Surprised, the police officer asked for their names, and as I waited for my mother, I couldn’t help but recall that they had all been with me just a moment ago. After completing the formalities, my mother dropped me off at home before returning to file a complaint against the truck driver, whom they had captured a few kilometres later.
A drunk man snatched the lives of the man who raised me after my father died, along with his entire family. My uncle was so high-spirited and kind that I wouldn’t be who I am without his constant encouragement. The more I thought about what had happened, I couldn’t help but agree when they said that the Gods are cruel. If they aren’t, why did they snatch away the men I loved?
Revisiting the dead through my thoughts every second, I couldn’t focus on anything I was trying to do. Hoping to clear my mind, I took a walk in the streets. On my way back, I ate snacks. Without intending to do anything else, I lay in bed, trying to sleep, but for the first time I heard the sound of two metals clashing. I looked around to see if anyone was there. Resting back on my bed, I closed my eyes. Just before I fell asleep, I heard the sound again. This time, it is not just once but a couple of times.
Following the sound, I slowly walked to the kitchen, hoping to find out who was making it. As I walked towards the kitchen, the volume kept increasing. The louder it became, the more slowly I walked. When I reached the kitchen, I no longer heard the sound, but my heart sank as I stared at it. I couldn’t believe it or offer an explanation for how my metallic hairband had just been lying on the floor.
That’s the only metallic hairband I owned, and I couldn’t believe how it got here after I gave it to Anil. As long as I didn’t see it, I could listen to the sound. In the years to come, the sound grew fainter, but it never stopped, no matter what I did with the hairband.
Credits
This story was written by Nikhila Kotni, edited by R. K. Chamarla & Tarun Chintam and photographed by Nikhil Narayanasa.
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Eerie & very well-written 👏