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Lost with Ghosts

As the bus covered the miles from the town to the village the sun slowly set over the horizon.  The green fields with the small rivulet reflecting the orange colour of the sun.  Very quiet except for the shrill chirping of the birds as they flew to their resting place for the night.  It became increasingly dark and the roads did not have street lights. From between the coconut leaves and the plantain leaves the lights in the houses was barely visible.  This is half a century ago.  The bus reached Giri’s village.  The conductor rang the bell as the door closed with a bang and the bus accelerated into the darkness and was soon engulfed by it.  Giri found himself in the dark.  The few shops around the bus stop had closed down and the road was deserted.  Not a human being or animal was visible. He stood in the darkness and took a 360-degree turn trying to adjust to the environment.  After adjusting to the darkness, he could barely make out t...
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The Tunnel Incident

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  The train suddenly entered the tunnel and momentarily it was pitch dark.  Some of the coach night lights, the deep blue ones were on, but the sudden shift from bright sunlight into darkness blinded everyone. 2.      Inside an AC compartment, we do not feel the change as many of the lights are on due to the tinted glass windows.  There we are insulated against changes.  This time I was in the sleeper compartment and could feel the difference in many ways.  The book I was reading, my hands holding the book and all the passengers just disappeared.  The temperature changed and there was a dank smell also accompanied by diesel exhaust at times.  There was screaming and shouting mainly from children glued to the windows.  Well, the elders also became children momentarily and joined in the commotion under the cover of darkness.  Everyone should get a chance to become a child, occasionally at least. 3.   ...
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She looks familiar

  The train was maintaining good speed and was on a curve.  The inner rail is slightly lower than the outer rail in a curve to counter the centrifugal force generated as the train negotiates the turn at high speed.  As he walked up the coach passage, he felt the tilt and the countering C force.  While delicately balancing and walking his body moved with the force and although he held to the berth, he had to support himself by leaning to the opposite pillar or edge of the berth to steady himself.  His sight fell on the girl sitting on the side seat looking out of the window.  He felt that he had seen her earlier, there was a familiar ring.  A nice face he thought as he walked ahead giving way to the canteen coffee vendor.  2.      The face came back.  The brightness of the open window highlighted her features and colour.  He could not, however, recollect where he had seen her.  Although it was very brief, he ...
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Night Stop

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  ­­­­­          The train screeched to a halt.   When Giri looked out of his tinted glass window he could see nothing.   It was dark outside and the reflection of his face and the other sleeping passengers could be only seen.   He was restless and walked down the semi-dark passage of the compartment and reached the swing door which he opened taking care not to make a sound.   Passengers were asleep.   With the same caution, he unlatched the door and opened it.   The AC air in the compartment was cool no doubt but the freshness of the open air was unmistakable and Giri took a long deep breath.   His lungs filled with the slightly warmer fragrant air now gushing in from the open.   It was dark outside except for the light thrown out from the train window especially from the non-AC ones.   However, since at night, the lighting was subdued, mostly the blue night light.   It gave an eerie feel to ...
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