Short Story: The House of None (Part Two)

Part Two: Disturbance 

It was 1.30 a.m. by the time Professor Roy reached the small town. He parked the car on the rear side of someone’s bungalow. He had one of his friends living here. He had already informed him of his arrival. Professor stood in front of an unknown house and scanned the entire surrounding. Unsurprisingly, it was a very quiet place. There were few shops nearby which were closed. His friend had told him to wait near the bus stop by 8.30 but, he was too late.

“Roy, my friend”, A loud and clear voice came from the back of Professor. He turned back and saw his friend standing right behind him.

“Hello, Niraj. Glad you came here otherwise it would have been difficult for me to locate your house.” 

“Yeah! Here the houses are quite identical. Let me help you with your rucksack.” Niraj insisted to help.

“No, everything is tickety-boo. I wish to see the house right away.”

“I don’t think this is the suitable time to go around that house. Perhaps, we should go there tomorrow. There is a…” Niraj was telling something but, Professor interrupted him, and said:

“Unsuitable businesses take place at this time. We’ve to keep a watch on that house”

“But what if something happens to us?”

“What can happen to us, Niraj?” Asked Professor Roy.

“Anything. Most probably something bad.”

“Let’s find out”, Professor said.

TIME: 2.30 AM

There was darkness around David’s house. No street lights were on. The lane was wholly empty, people living in the same lane were sleeping with fear in their mind. Standing in a silent street, in front of the so-called haunted house, Professor Roy felt no different. The darkness around the house hardly had any impact on him.

“Is there any other entrance to this house?” Professor inquired and looked towards Niraj expecting his answer.

 “No… But there might be one on the backside. Not so sure.”

 “Wait here. I’ll be back.”

 “Be careful,” Niraj said.

 From one of the sides, Professor Roy walked towards the back side with a torchlight in his hand. The torchlight was not in its prime condition. The light was extremely dim. Professor reached the rear side of the house, which was filled with discarded things. Professor noticed most of the items were old. Mostly from the house, thought the Professor.

Due to lack of brightness, Professor found it harder to view other small articles so, he decided to return back. As he turned around, he saw something written on a wall towards his right side. He flashed the light on the wall to get a clear view and read in his mind:

She and him

It was written in a very dirty handwriting. It might have been written by a small kid. Professor ignored it and departed. A few minutes later, someone else also came there. But, shockingly, couldn’t see what Professor Roy saw. The backside had nothing. No scarp was there. Only Professor could see it. Only him. But why so?

NEXT DAY

Professor Roy woke up with a jerk. He didn’t sleep well last night. He came back to his friend’s house by 3 a.m. Without having his tummy fully filled, he was unable to sleep until 4. Now, he woke up @ 8 but still, wasn’t feeling better. He already was sneezing due to cold but, he felt no weakness. He had a simple breakfast of Aloo Paratha and marched out of the house in a hope to discover the truth behind the mass-murder. His plan for today was not very complex, he was going to ask questions to people staying nearby that house.

Professor Roy’s first destination was the house opposite to David’s house. He assumed the people closest to the house might be able to answer his questions more accurately. Before knocking the front door, Professor gandered at David’s house. He observed something which left him puzzled. The door of the house was open.

 Yesterday night, it was closed.

Professor waited for a few more seconds and knocked the door. A woman (presumably a housewife) opened the door. “Yes, how may I help you?” she asked him. 

“I am from the Police department. I need to seek some answers regarding David’s case.” Professor lied. He was not from the Police department.

“Why are you asking me?” The lady questioned.

“Because you stay quite near to his house. There are rumors of paranormal activities inside that house. I want to know everything you’ve experienced until now.”

“Come inside.” She invited him in and pointed towards a wooden chair. He sat down observing her house and asked:

“Do you stay alone here?”

“Half of the year my husband stays away from home. He works as a cook in the Indian Army.” She said and looked at Professor Roy with pride. She offered a glass of water to Professor Roy. He refused her offer and told her to settle down.

 “What’s your husband’s name?”

 “Prabjot Singh,” She said.

 “Oh! You’re Punjabi. One of the reasons behind your beauty.” Professor complimented and her reaction was no different than any other woman on this planet. She blushed a little.

 “You’re Mrs?” Professor asked her name.

 “Pooja Singh”

 “Mrs. Singh, this 1992 case has been reopened and I am pointed to investigate this case, again. I did not receive any detailed file related to this case but, one of our seniors revealed that – there was a very unusual incident here. 28 people were found dead in David’s house. Am I right?” 

 “You’re absolutely right, sir! That’s what I have heard. All the people living here were found dead in that one house. They were all poisoned. Something of that kind happened. Perhaps, the house was cursed by someone.” She said.

 “Is the house cursed? By whom? Why do you say so?” Professor fired some questions at her.

 “The house has evil existence. I have heard people shouting out during night time. The door of the house closes automatically. I once, fearlessly, tried to enter the house and what I saw was something you would never believe. The house is closed for 10 years but, it is very clean from inside, unlike its outside appearance. Cursed was the wrong word I guess. It never harms anyone. It just disturbs you.” Mrs. Singh said and made a horrible expression.

 “Thank you, Mrs. Pooja Singh, for providing me some information.” He said and got up to leave.

 “Do you know why this house never harms anyone?” Mrs. Singh said. Professor turned around and saw there was altogether a different look on Pooja’s face. He shook his head.

 “The house is disturbed.”

 “For what reasons?”

 “I don’t know,” She said and slammed the door on his face. Professor called Niraj from a telephone booth and gave him a very simple task yet, it was very important. He also made one more call. He talked for a minute and disconnected it.

 If I am correct about this one, then probably the case is solved, thought the professor.

 Do you think it is the right solution? Professor questioned himself.

  I don’t know but, it makes sense.   

Professor Roy knocked the door twice but, there was no response for one entire minute. It was the house next to David’s house. He again knocked. After waiting for another minute, he thought no one lived there but, before he could go away someone opened the door. He saw an elderly man peeping from the door.

“Namaskar, uncle”, Professor Roy said loudly. He worked with old people all time and he was aware of the fact that, with age, listening ability declines.

 “HA! Namaste. What do you want?” the old man asked.

 “I want to talk to you about 1992 case.”

  “Come inside and talk.”

Once they were inside, Professor Roy again gave his false introduction and asked: “What do you think about this house? Do you believe in rumors?”

“This house is devilish. During night time, we hear weird noises. Sometimes someone sings, someone makes bleating sound to tease us, someone runs, shouts, etc. My wife is bedridden. One night, I went to take a glass of water for her. When I returned, she told me, she saw a man climbing the house through this window. She got so frightened that she didn’t sleep for next few days.” The old man coughed after completing his statement.

 “Do you stay only with your wife?”

  “No! My son and daughter-in-law go out to work. They’ll return by night.” He said.

  “Did anyone cause any harm to you, ever?” Professor asked.

 The old man got up, silently and went towards the door without answering Professor Roy. He opened the door and said: “I have to give medicines to my wife. You may leave now.”

Professor felt insulted but, couldn’t argue with an old man. While Professor was moving out, he tried asking one more question: “Did everyone died that night?”

“Yes! Everyone died.” The old man said and closed the door behind Professor’s back.

  Why did he behave rudely with me? Professor thought.

EVENING: AFTER 6 PM

It was time to enter David’s house. The house which had a life of its own, which never got old, and the one who never harmed anyone. The door of the house was open. He just had to enter the house but, there was a problem. The door of the house got closed on its own at night. Professor was in a great dilemma. He could go back to Shimla peacefully but, he also had another choice, he could enter the house at his own risk. The decision was to be made by the Professor. He stood outside the house and closed his eyes.

What are you thinking, Roy? – A question popped into his mind.

I am thinking whether I should go inside that house or not? If the door gets closed, I am trapped. – He answered. Why do you think the door will get closed? – Another question came to his mind.

People here say so – He said.

That’s your only mistake. – His heart said.

In a world of endless possibilities, stood a man who had nothing to lose, no goal to work on, and no desire to win. Professor Roy had faced this situation back then when he was a 22-year-old boy. The only difference between then and now was – what people said. Back then, he didn’t listen to people and followed his own heart. Now, he had a bunch of scary stories about the house he stood in front of. He had to make a choice.

He kept his hand on his heart and thought for a minute. An image of 28 dead people appeared in front of him. That is when he realized, he had no other option but to enter David’s house.

The House of None.