After Part 2...
A cold current surged up Mayan's spine with intense speed. This face was all too familiar to him. It was Nadim's face, who was standing right behind him with the fish bag in his hand. A hoarse, lifeless, but terribly cold laughing sound echoed. At the same time, the mango tree groaned in immense agony.
The vanished wind rushed back again. The branches swayed violently. With extreme difficulty, Mayan turned his head. Nadim was gone. He must have fled, leaving him behind. He was now utterly alone in this uninhabited reign of terror.
Mayan tried to move. He couldn't. Someone had forcefully pinned him to the ground. That hoarse laughter was heard again. The sound receded into the distance, then suddenly vanished. Mayan closed his eyes and tried to scream. But only a faint gurgling sound came from his throat. His nerves were loosening. He had never felt such terrible fear in his life.
Mayan realized that if he stayed like this for a little longer, he would lose consciousness. Or he might even die. Gathering all his strength, he somehow dragged himself onto the bank. As his eyes fell, he felt as if the lifeless body was moving. He started to run. Surprisingly, despite all this, Mayan did not forget to take his net with him.
When Mayan reached his room, it was midnight. He threw the net under the bed and slammed the door shut. His entire body was drenched in sweat, trembling. The lantern was still lit. He almost crawled onto the bed and sat up.
The trembling in his body doubled. He took the quilt from his feet and covered himself from head to toe, lying flat. The terrifying event that had just happened had already robbed Mayan of almost all his courage. Moreover, after expending all his energy to run such a distance, he was terribly distressed and exhausted. Fear lost to his exhaustion. A little later, he plunged into a deep, unconscious sleep.
"Mayan? Hey Mayan?"
Someone was pushing the door. Mayan heard it in his sleep. As he stirred, he felt an uncomfortable sensation in his chest. It hurt a little too. Mayan's sleep broke. He sat up. He saw 'Tom Sawyer' lying on the bed. The book had been pressed against his chest.
Bright rays of light seeping through various cracks in the room announced that a bright day was smiling outside. The door rattled again. Mayan got up and opened the door, then froze. Nadim stood at the door with a sad face. The events of the night once again threw Mayan's mind into disarray.
Nadim said, "Do you know what time it is? Does anyone sleep so late? Mother was sweeping the courtyard. She said, 'There's no studying, he just burns kerosene all night reading storybooks. Does school being off mean studies are also off?'"
"Why are you standing there like a statue? Move aside," Nadim said, almost pushing Mayan into the room. "I know you're upset. Last night, Mother cooked khichuri. I finished three plates in one sitting. Then my body felt so heavy that I fell asleep after rolling twice on the bed. Slept the whole night, you know? Woke up at eight in the morning." Nadim suddenly stopped and lowered his voice, "You'll see, I'll be there on time tonight. I swear to God. Is the net and everything ready? Why are you quiet, you bastard?"
Mayan said in a weak voice, "Your voice is fine now?"
"What's wrong with my voice again? I get it, you're still half-asleep. I'm leaving. Be ready tonight. If I don't sit down to study now, Dad will beat me with his shoes." Nadim left.
Mayan still stood like a statue. Inside him, a tumultuous storm of belief and disbelief raged. So, everything that happened last night was a dream after all? Mayan quickly looked at his feet. No, there was no mud or anything stuck there.
Another thing suddenly occurred to him. Last night, he tossed the storybook onto the table because he didn't feel like reading. How did it get back on the bed? That meant he had fallen asleep while reading the book. Mayan smiled. It was as if a stone pressing on his chest had been removed.
He sighed and sat down on the bed. Then, as if an afterthought, he leaned down and pulled the cast net from under the bed. As he pulled it out, he froze like ice. The net was wet and muddy.
The End.
If you are interested, read the other two parts. Hit below..
With💙
©chrysanthemum