In Harivarda, atop a snow capped mountain lies a small hut. A hut famous for the stories revolving around it.
The children of nearby villages refers to it as the Ghost Maidens Hut while the elders call it the givers home.
It’s me, I’m the giver. I who was once referred to as the Northern Princess is the Ghost Maiden. I’m everything and nothing.
Why do I say so, you may wonder…Here’s why…
….A Century Ago….
I still remember that day so clearly, the bright flashing colours, the incessant laughter and chattering.
The exaggerated head turns as I walked the roads of Mithalipur, a large kingdom on the borders of the Sone Ki Chidiya (The Golden Bird- refers to the pre colonial period in India)
My gaze wanders as I look around the sweetmeat sellers and the lone Hawker trying hard to sell his childish wares.
I smile, ‘This is why I Lov-‘. My thoughts get interrupted as I walk right into a poor passer-by. Helping him up I ask, “Dada? Are you okay??”
The old man slightly nods his head and rushes after thanking me profusely for helping him….I blink stunned at the weird antics of the old man.
“Weirdo..” My sister Chinmay whispers. I hurriedly shut her up reminding her of our stature and regality.
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The Next day, I wake up to a bright sunny morning. Yawning sleepily I stretch my limbs and startle as a robotic voice says, ”Good Morning Mistress!”
I look around petrified and ask apprehensively, “Who’s That?!”….An eerie laugh sounds in my ear and I hear someone say, ”I’m you silly” as I fall unconscious
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After that day I have always been able to warp time and jump to different time zones. Despite my initial hesitation I kept my lips sealed and told no soul about these new powers.
This went on for 5 years, the constant lying and hiding things. Until, I found myself in a desolate area one day.
A hot humid desert. The sun was blazing and there was no person in sight. I kept walking hoping for someone, anyone to come.
Alas, the lord answered my prayers. Someone came….a someone who never left even my shadow alone after our first meet.
Killian Jared, a dark haired tanned man helped me out that day. Upon returning back home….I found him everywhere.
Near the ladies bathing lakes, the new time zones, the Royal courts…He. Was. Everywhere. But, the most curious thing about this person was that regardless of where I saw him….No other person saw him
Only Me.
I was young back then….it made me feel special. Our closed proximity’s and the silent care touched my heart. I fell for him….I fell so hard, that I’m still falling till today, a hundred years later.
Our moments together felt like magic, or as some would say, Perfection.
Alas, I had forgotten something….. that when things seem to good to be true they usually are too good to be true.
Years passed and I gave myself to him. I gave him my innocence and since then I have lived here, in a small hut in Harivarda.
For You see, the dark haired Killian Jared was no ordinary man. He was the devil in disguise .Our night together had sealed our souls forever and he punished me cruelly for loving him by giving me his immortal life.
Thus, if you see an old wizened woman being referred to as the Ghost Maiden, you may run….but you won’t be able to hide as I will always be there to leech of your life.
