It was a sweltering evening in Chennai. Wiping the trickling beads of sweat I waited patiently with my cart for business to kickstart. The fried miniature puris, fillings and myriad chutneys were enticing and yet none stopped by.
This was my first day on this street. With no luck I waited until late evening and decided to head home. Suddenly an elderly gentleman walked towards my stall. He seemed like a foreigner.
“Give me 1 plate,” he said, in a shaky voice. Due to the dim street lights I could not see his face clearly but noticed his uncanny smile. Soon after, a silver haired woman with the most grotesque face came walking by and sat on a stool. Within seconds she burst out crying.
“ What happened, My Lady?” he asked.
Her talk seemed gibberish but I understood one word–‘lorry’.
He consoled her and they talked for a while enjoying each other’s company. When I asked him to pay, he didn’t pay heed. Instead he held her hand and asked her if she would come to meet him everyday. She blushed.
Was it love at first sight–at this age? I chuckled at the thought.
As I was about to ask him for the payment again, a group of youngsters flashing their torches came walking. One among them shouted, “Welcome to De Monte Colony– the most haunted place in Chennai”. A chill ran down my spine. I turned around to only see the two fade into thin air.
***
Author’s Note:
De monte Colony is the most haunted place in Chennai. Read its history here;
This story has been written for a prompt by ArtoonsInn
