In a quiet village nestled in the hills of Himachal Pradesh, my mother’s tales have been woven into our family’s history. She was a mere 5 years old when the incidents transpired, leading some to question the credibility of a young child’s perceptions. Nevertheless, these stories remain vivid in her memory, passed down through generations.
The chronicle commences shortly after my mother’s beloved grandfather had passed away, casting a pall of grief over their ancestral home. In the heart of the night, my mother awoke to an ethereal presence. There, at the foot of her bed, stood her grandfather, his hand extended towards her. “Come with me, Judy,” he beckoned softly. Overwhelmed with a mixture of terror and bewilderment, she let out a scream that shattered the silence. The sound roused the household, and concerned voices inquired about the disturbance. My mother’s account does not omit the fact that she confided in her mother, who shared a haunting tale of her own experiences in that very house.
On another moonlit night, my grandmother awoke to find herself in the company of a spectral presence. In the dim glow, she discerned the figure of a young boy wandering aimlessly within the confines of her room. The boy’s demeanor conveyed a sense of lost innocence, a spirit adrift in an unfamiliar realm. This poignant vision left an indelible mark on my grandmother’s memory, forever etching itself into the tapestry of family lore.
These brief yet compelling tales serve as a testament to the inexplicable mysteries that interweave our lives. Rooted in the essence of generations past, they evoke a sense of wonder and reverence for the unseen world that lingers at the periphery of our understanding.