Guest Post: Ominous!

by ⋅ 63 Comments
Today, I have the pleasure of hosting K. Parthasarathi of random thoughts on my blog. A grandfather with a razor-sharp mind and a wonderfully warm and encouraging person, Partha Sir churns out lovely stories. I always marvel at his amazing ability to write stories belonging to all genres. Do head to his blog and check out his huge repertoire. Now on to this story

Ominous

I have no belief in superstitions. There are people who return home when they see a cat crossing their path or if someone asks them where they are bound for. I am not deterred by such things and proceed with my work as if nothing had happened. Someone’s sneeze is due to an allergic trigger and has nothing to do with the outcome of the work I am about to begin. I start my work in Rahu kalam unperturbed, and I have never been the worse for that. Yet when the black dog howled continuously for two nights, I was concerned about the old woman chronically ill in the adjacent apartment in our huge complex. I have heard my mother telling me in my young days that dogs had the power to see the messenger of Yama hovering around the house a couple of days before actually snatching the life. But I brushed it aside.
That evening after dusk, as I was sitting in the park like place on one of the benches watching the several tall buildings with lights from most windows and balconies, I did not notice initially the man who came to sit in the bench beside me. When I finally saw him, he was dressed in black robes with a mustache that was disproportionately big and bushy for his face. It was not a pleasant face, something weird there that I could not exactly place. Nevertheless, I smiled at him and raised my eyebrows to inquire who he was.
He responded instead with a cryptic remark “two.”
I could not follow and asked him to explain. He grinned that seemed more like a scowl and said, “You will know” before he left and faded in the darkness. On the second day exactly the old woman passed away. I could not but recall the terse comment from the black figure.
About a fortnight later when I saw in the same venue one late evening the black guy, a shudder passed through my spine. This time he smiled at me first. I managed a grin but avoided asking him anything. He asked, “Could you follow what I meant as two last time?”
When I nodded my head, he showed to my great shock one finger. When I looked askance at him, he said, “one.”
There was no one known to me who was sick. News spread fast in the complex. I should have known. I smiled and said, ’This time your guess may be off the mark” with a derisive giggle. He left immediately without a word.
When I returned from office the next day evening, I saw a crowd gathered around swimming pool. I rushed there with trepidation only to find that a young boy of seven had drowned by jumping in the deeper side when no one was around. Fear grew in me, as I thought of the messenger of death. I avoided going to the park side completely.
A couple of months later I was held up in the office. It was 8pm when I left. As I took the motorbike from the rather empty parking lot, I found the dark man standing there. I had a mind to turn back and get into the office. He called me and said, “Are you scared of me?”
“Why should I be scared of you? You are not Yama deciding when to take one’s life. It was sheer coincidence in the last two cases.What is it this time?” I asked.
“Don’t challenge me. There will be one before midnight,” he said sharply and left.
I cursed this purveyor of bad news and started my motorbike. The dark figure was very much in my mind, and I was shaken by the news.
It was 11pm.There was an ambulance outside my complex with some policemen. The complex was abuzz with crowd around my flat commiserating with my family members. Who could it be this time, I wondered? I saw my wife and two kids crying inconsolably. Who else I wondered. I saw in disbelief my crumpled motorbike in one corner at the entrance.
PS: Image courtesy:FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Posted in: Blogging

63 Thoughts on “Guest Post: Ominous!”

  1. L KRUPAA on May 17, 2012 at 2:37 pm said:

    That was a wonderful post from KP, have always enjoyed his stories and articles, love the way he depicts the characters.

    Just got to read your posts, I find the topics u write interesting

    Reply↓
  2. L KRUPAA on May 17, 2012 at 2:37 pm said:

    That was a wonderful post from KP, have always enjoyed his stories and articles, love the way he depicts the characters.

    Just got to read your posts, I find the topics u write interesting

    Reply↓
  3. L KRUPAA on May 17, 2012 at 2:37 pm said:

    That was a wonderful post from KP, have always enjoyed his stories and articles, love the way he depicts the characters.

    Just got to read your posts, I find the topics u write interesting

    Reply↓
  4. L KRUPAA on May 17, 2012 at 2:37 pm said:

    That was a wonderful post from KP, have always enjoyed his stories and articles, love the way he depicts the characters.

    Just got to read your posts, I find the topics u write interesting

    Reply↓
  5. L KRUPAA on May 17, 2012 at 2:37 pm said:

    That was a wonderful post from KP, have always enjoyed his stories and articles, love the way he depicts the characters.

    Just got to read your posts, I find the topics u write interesting

    Reply↓
  6. L KRUPAA on May 17, 2012 at 2:37 pm said:

    That was a wonderful post from KP, have always enjoyed his stories and articles, love the way he depicts the characters.

    Just got to read your posts, I find the topics u write interesting

    Reply↓
  7. L KRUPAA on May 17, 2012 at 2:37 pm said:

    That was a wonderful post from KP, have always enjoyed his stories and articles, love the way he depicts the characters.

    Just got to read your posts, I find the topics u write interesting

    Reply↓
  8. L KRUPAA on May 17, 2012 at 2:37 pm said:

    That was a wonderful post from KP, have always enjoyed his stories and articles, love the way he depicts the characters.

    Just got to read your posts, I find the topics u write interesting

    Reply↓
  9. Uma on May 17, 2012 at 2:44 pm said:

    Gosh! I had goosebumps while reading the last line..although I kind of had an idea about the end, the narrative held me captive.

    Thanks Rachna for introducing me to another great blogger.

    Sir, I’ll visit your blog for more wonderful stories.

    Reply↓
  10. A on May 17, 2012 at 3:45 pm said:

    My goodness, goosebumps here too.

    Reply↓
  11. Jack on May 17, 2012 at 4:16 pm said:

    K P / Rachna,

    Very well told. I could barely guess the twist in the end. However my own experience is that some events do caste shadow in advance.

    Take care

    Reply↓
  12. Shilpa Garg on May 17, 2012 at 5:11 pm said:

    OMG!! Shocking end!!
    But a wonderfully woven story!

    Reply↓
  13. Shanthi on May 17, 2012 at 5:52 pm said:

    A good story it was a thriller too

    Reply↓
  15. rama on May 18, 2012 at 1:01 am said:

    I have been a follower of KP, and had always liked his stories.
    This is such a thrilling story.

    Reply↓
  16. Found In Folsom on May 18, 2012 at 2:32 am said:

    Thank you Rachna for introducing another great blogger.

    Reply↓
  17. chitra on May 18, 2012 at 4:52 am said:

    Good one KP.
    thanks Rachana-for the good gesture

    Reply↓
  18. Bhagyashree on May 18, 2012 at 5:14 am said:

    Aha…what an end. Brilliantly woven, Partha Sir

    Reply↓
  19. Sandhya on May 18, 2012 at 6:05 am said:

    Scary story, very well narrated, Partha Sir!

    Reply↓
  20. Sandhya on May 18, 2012 at 6:05 am said:

    Nice to know you, Rachna!

    Reply↓
  21. Destiny's child... on May 18, 2012 at 6:52 am said:

    KP has a real talent for stories. I often wonder how he writes so many so often! And this one, I would say is one of his best. Loved the post! 🙂

    Reply↓
  22. KParthasarathi on May 18, 2012 at 9:23 am said:

    Thank you Rama,,Chitra,Bhagyashree,Sandhya and Destiny’s child for the nice words.Your steady encouragement is the inspiration for me
    to try my hand in story writing
    Found in Folsom ,you are a new reader thanks to Rachna.Thanks for the comment on many stories

    Reply↓
  23. ಅಶ್ವಿನಿ/ Ashwini on May 18, 2012 at 9:59 am said:

    I’ve been a regular reader of Random Thoughts from the time I hit the site for the first time. KParthasarathi has been an inspiration for me to attempt short stories. His writing is simple and the narration style is splendid. This story carries with it emotions and thrills that one looks for in a good read. Nice one Partha Sir.

    Reply↓
  24. ಅಶ್ವಿನಿ/ Ashwini on May 18, 2012 at 9:59 am said:

    I’ve been a regular reader of Random Thoughts from the time I hit the site for the first time. KParthasarathi has been an inspiration for me to attempt short stories. His writing is simple and the narration style is splendid. This story carries with it emotions and thrills that one looks for in a good read. Nice one Partha Sir.

    Reply↓
  25. ಅಶ್ವಿನಿ/ Ashwini on May 18, 2012 at 9:59 am said:

    I’ve been a regular reader of Random Thoughts from the time I hit the site for the first time. KParthasarathi has been an inspiration for me to attempt short stories. His writing is simple and the narration style is splendid. This story carries with it emotions and thrills that one looks for in a good read. Nice one Partha Sir.

    Reply↓
  26. ಅಶ್ವಿನಿ/ Ashwini on May 18, 2012 at 9:59 am said:

    I’ve been a regular reader of Random Thoughts from the time I hit the site for the first time. KParthasarathi has been an inspiration for me to attempt short stories. His writing is simple and the narration style is splendid. This story carries with it emotions and thrills that one looks for in a good read. Nice one Partha Sir.

    Reply↓
  27. ಅಶ್ವಿನಿ/ Ashwini on May 18, 2012 at 9:59 am said:

    I’ve been a regular reader of Random Thoughts from the time I hit the site for the first time. KParthasarathi has been an inspiration for me to attempt short stories. His writing is simple and the narration style is splendid. This story carries with it emotions and thrills that one looks for in a good read. Nice one Partha Sir.

    Reply↓
  28. ಅಶ್ವಿನಿ/ Ashwini on May 18, 2012 at 9:59 am said:

    I’ve been a regular reader of Random Thoughts from the time I hit the site for the first time. KParthasarathi has been an inspiration for me to attempt short stories. His writing is simple and the narration style is splendid. This story carries with it emotions and thrills that one looks for in a good read. Nice one Partha Sir.

    Reply↓
  29. ಅಶ್ವಿನಿ/ Ashwini on May 18, 2012 at 9:59 am said:

    I’ve been a regular reader of Random Thoughts from the time I hit the site for the first time. KParthasarathi has been an inspiration for me to attempt short stories. His writing is simple and the narration style is splendid. This story carries with it emotions and thrills that one looks for in a good read. Nice one Partha Sir.

    Reply↓
  30. ಅಶ್ವಿನಿ/ Ashwini on May 18, 2012 at 9:59 am said:

    I’ve been a regular reader of Random Thoughts from the time I hit the site for the first time. KParthasarathi has been an inspiration for me to attempt short stories. His writing is simple and the narration style is splendid. This story carries with it emotions and thrills that one looks for in a good read. Nice one Partha Sir.

    Reply↓
  31. BK Chowla, on May 18, 2012 at 12:02 pm said:

    KP has a new follower in me

    Reply↓
  32. Deepa on May 18, 2012 at 2:10 pm said:

    Brilliant KP. I have always loved the way you have a twist in your stories. Keeps me coming back for more!

    Reply↓
  33. KParthasarathi on May 19, 2012 at 2:41 am said:

    Ashwini,Chowla and Deepa,
    A big thanks for the nice words

    Reply↓
  34. Vazz on May 19, 2012 at 4:04 am said:

    Partha sir, you have convinced me to take the howling of dogs on dark nights more seriously now.
    A chilling story.
    Vasanta.R.

    Reply↓
  35. Nisha on May 19, 2012 at 8:32 am said:

    interesting nd wow i drooled n ur story…

    Reply↓
  36. zephyr on May 19, 2012 at 9:53 am said:

    That was a tale brilliantly told. Some superstitions come true because we subconsciously believe in them or at least appear to come true. I will look out for the guy in black coat with an outsized mustache 🙂

    Reply↓
  37. Aditya on May 19, 2012 at 3:26 pm said:

    I had to re-read the story to calm my nerves. Enough said! 🙂

    @Rachna-Thanks for introducing a wonderful writer.

    Reply↓
  38. R.Ramakrishnan on May 19, 2012 at 5:48 pm said:

    This is one spine chilling terror filled horror story. Congrats KP for this gripping & riveting story !

    Reply↓
  39. Bikramjit on May 20, 2012 at 4:41 pm said:

    Another gem of a story ..

    I have been reading his stories for a long time and each one is a gem so beautifully told and with a twist and all ..

    Thanks for sharing with us ..

    Bikram’s

    Reply↓
  40. Emmy on May 21, 2012 at 5:08 am said:

    wow.. what a twist.. loved it!

    Reply↓
  41. Rahul Bhatia on May 21, 2012 at 8:13 am said:

    Quite a story it was, KP:)

    Reply↓

Do not leave without commenting. I love a good conversation :).

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