How many times I have felt the chill running down my spine recounting this incidence, I am unaware of the count.
A haggard day loathed both Mangesh and Sunil. Mangesh owns a small firm in Chembur, which makes neon signs. Sunil assists him. It was a heavy monsoon day at Mumbai with water gulping down almost the entire city. Business was brisk and demanded utmost effort and attention of the two enthusiastic youths. They had been toiling since the daybreak of the July morning and their last installation of a signboard was due at a pharmaceutical company at Mahad, Raigad, about hundred and twenty kilometers from New Bombay. If it rains in Mumbai then one may say it ‘pours’ at Raigad. The duo had a heated argument in the early afternoon as whether they should risk the trip for Mahad or not, due for later in the evening. It was murky, gloomy, wet, desolate and somewhat melancholic contrasting viciously a normally buzzing Bombay Business day. Mangesh, being the boss forced in, that they were making the trip for their last assignment of the day, as he argued ‘we shall deliver the Board in the evening and stay at my aunt’s, (who lived near Mahad) fix the board tomorrow at early morning before the ‘Sahab’ (of the company) shows up. Sunil reluctantly gave in his consent.
Geared up with wind-cheaters the boyhood chums left in Mangesh’s Bajaj Pulsar bike and Sunil being the pillion rider grabbed the Board with both of his hands. They had just crossed Panvel and entered Palaspe Phata, a crossing in the outskirts of Panvel.
Palspe Phata- a marvel for road engineers, is awkward indeed!! This particular intersection witnesses innumerable road accidents every year. Many locals strongly believe that some supernatural force prompts the passing motorists to commit life-risking blunders… the claim ‘might’ be true.
Expert drivers falter at Palspe.
Mangesh was at a steady speed of 60 kmph while the raindrops were hitting his helmet fiercely. Sunil without a helmet was ducking from the rain under the glow signboard as he felt thousands of tiny needles pricking his forehead whenever he tried to look up at the distance. It was dusk when they were at the aforementioned crossing.
Through his dripping helmet what Mangesh saw ahead of the bridge left him spellbound. He was an avid film lover but the ‘thing’ ahead of him was no film…. it was for definite hardcore reality.
He visualized a young woman draped in a white-widow saree, wailing for help in the middle of the bridge. She held a candle in her left hand and was indicating at the overflowing river below the bridge they were on. Inspite of the intense torrential rain of that evening and the fierce gusty wind, the candle in the lady’s hands was glowing radiantly. She was looking at Mangesh straight in the eyes and he could feel, the CHILL.
With his wits intact Mangesh accelerated and didn’t dare to look back. He was running at a speed of a near 100 kmph. a highly dangerous maneuver at a wet, slippery dimly lit ascending road. Mangesh straightaway reached his aunt’s house and sunk on the floor after the ordeal. Strangely Mangesh noticed that Sunil was uncannily quite and acting bizarre. Sunil never even asked why they were at his aunt’s place instead of being at the company first. Mangesh quipped, “ Yaar Sunil, if I tell you something would you believe me?” Sunil was impassive, Mangesh noticed he was unusually pale and looked white. “Sunil, I saw a lady on that Palaspe Bridge with a candle. She was crying looking at me. I think it was a ghost. She scared the wits out of me!!”
Sunil looked up at Mangesh for the first time they were inside the house and waged “ you ONLY saw a lady? When you didn’t pay heed to her sniveling request to stop and look down at the river and instead increased the speed to flee, she was all this time right beside us running bare foot and grunting curses for us. She was running on her foot parallel with our bike with the candle burning”.
I was inspired to pen down this incident by Dr.V.S.Gopal from Sulekha .He urged, that we all must share our views on the existence of the super-natural…. ..
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Hi Bodhi,
Pl see my write up abt this blog at this site:
http://v-s-gopal.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/06/have-you-had-ghostly-experiences.htm
cheers
vs gopal
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Hello Sir,
I am an admirer of your blogs, paintings and espesially the cartoons you draw.. ..I must take the oppurtunity to admit that this blog was inspired, and dedicated to you.
Thanx,
Bodhi
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Hi Bodhi,
By chance I came to this blog. And I find that you have referred to my name at the end! Perhaps you had sent me a note and I missed it. I shall include this story in the main compilation and then let u know.
vs gopal
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I leave the 'view' part to all dear sulekhites !!!!!! LOL well THANKS for your comment.
Cheers
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you have recounted the spine chilling incident very well...I mean sa eerie as possible....but your views?
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