13 Tales of Horror from the East

By SQA

Our Earth is a living world. In this world exist many worlds, some of which may not be living...Sometimes the thin lines between “what we know” and “what we fear to find out” are crossed with dire consequences.

13 Tales of Horror From the East is one such collection of the lives of real people whose paths were crossed, when fear was the only emotion felt, when death was the only way out, when love proved it can conquer the unknown. Some like Chaman Bi and Pasha didn’t survive to tell their side of it, may their souls rest in peace.

Every story is unique from the other and bound to change your perception of the world you live in, just as it changed the lives of the people who encountered them. Every story is still a mystery that will leave you doubting your existence. Read through these pages at your own risk, as an icy cold wave will rush through your spine and you will start seeing shadows in the dark!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Jan 5, 2018
• ISBN: 9781483473062

Book preview

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Chapter 1

The Pigeon Thief

It was the time when life was simple. There were no mobile phones on the palms of our hands, no laptops to take our work with us wherever we went and no internet to connect us instantly to the world. Technology had not yet invaded our lives and homes, making us helpless parasites at its vicious mercy. Yes, life was easy. Life was simple.

It was the post-independence era. India was just getting used to being free again, adjusting to its new found life, standing again on its own plains, hills and valleys. Zakir Ali was a joyful and energetic teenager. He loved his life. He loved his pet pigeons.

In those days, many people kept pigeons as pets. Lots and lots of pigeons. Hundreds, to be exact. The terraces of most houses were filled with many cages for the little feathered creatures. The owners fed them, took care of them and raised them like their own children. And I must say, it was a sight to behold when all of the pigeons were set free with the rising and setting sun. All of the birds would fly away together, in unison, wings fluttering side by side. The sight of white, gray and black birds, spreading their wings as they soar across the golden sky, was mesmerizing.

But the strange thing was, they always came back to their owner. Not one pigeon wanted to leave. Bizarre? But it was the love they shared with their owner. They would all fly together in a circle and would always come back home in the same large group that had left. No one was ever left behind. No one was ever lost.

The white washed houses were big and spacious, where joint families lived together, through good and bad. These huge mansions had open courtyards in the center, surrounded by rooms giving complete privacy and freedom to the women folk, while the men were busy outside. Zakir Ali belonged to one such family of nobles.

His father was the landlord, respected and feared by the town. They were four brothers, all living together in a magnificent abode, where the ladies sat and chatted while grinding the spices manually on grind stones, huge mortars and pestles (yes, the time when there were no mixers, grinders or electricity). The young boys enjoyed flying kites, and attending to pigeons. As the night covered the sky like cool blankets, fires were lit while candles in lanterns and chandeliers glowed, flickering away the darkness.

Zakir Ali, the eldest of seven siblings was the pride of his parents. A boy of muscular build, active and full of energy, his black locks brushed his face as he always ran around the house. His laughter and shouts echoed when he teased his sisters and cousins pulling their braids, splashing water on their dry spices, being beaten by the women in colorful skirts and stoles. His pigeons were, of course, his passion, his adoration, his love. He had about 150 pigeons in his pigeon coup. He took care of every single one. He made sure their cages were clean and that they were well fed. He loved his pigeons, and they loved him likewise.

One fine day, like any other fine day, as he opened the gate and walked in towards his coup, he noticed something strange; blood and feathers scattered on the ground. Puzzled, shocked and furious, he rushed to the edge of the roof calling his servants down below to come immediately. They came running, but no one was able to explain what might have happened. Tears flowed as Zakir’s eyes tried to contain the tempest in his heart. However, this was not the strangest thing. The stranger thing was that no one knew that this was only the beginning. A string of peculiar and mysterious events were set into motion, about to change the lives of those around them, bringing their deepest and darkest fears to the forefront.

Every morning when Zakir Ali came upstairs to the terrace and opened the latch of the gate, he witnessed blood splashed on the floor. It was almost a week now. It was obvious, he knew for sure that someone was coming and killing his pigeons, taking away their bodies. What could he do to save his beloveds? Maybe, it’s a jealous neighbor? He had the latch changed with a big lock so no one could just open the gate and walk into the coup.

But alas! In the morning, he was shocked to see the same sight, feathers everywhere and blood splattered on the ground. This could mean just one thing, it’s not a person. It had to be an animal, an animal that could jump really high walls. But, what animal? From where?

Zakir grew very disturbed and restless. He was burning with fury. He loved every single pigeon of his, as they were like his babies. After all, they were his little family. He nurtured them and watched them grow. They were his pride when people were entranced by the flock taking their majestic flight and returning back to their proud owner like a huge fluffy storm.

This was the era with no video games, motor bikes or television. Boys like Zakir were busy with leisure activities, like using their hands to build things or gardening and of course, taking care of their pets. They didn’t spend their times in front of screens. Rather, they climbed rocky hills and swam in fresh rivers. The richer you were, the more pigeons you could keep. Zakir had no limits.

His father got him new birds in the hope of comforting his son. But, the pigeon thief still kept stealing one every night in cold blood.

Zakir used to spend a large portion of his day with his birds. Before the incidents started, he was happy and joyful, talking to his birds, stroking their feathers, petting them, watching them do the tricks he taught them. But now, with every passing day, he became silent; his eyes were no longer bright with a sparkle, instead they were dark and lost, searching for the pigeon thief.

He wished it would jump from one of the walls during the daytime, but that just never happened. He tried to imagine what animal might be the vicious killer. A wolf? A tiger? No, of course not, they live in jungles, not in cities. But it must be a very smart animal and quite fearless.

Zakir’s condition worsened with every passing day, making him so quiet that he even stopped conversing with his friends and family. His mind was always worried about the coup. He lost his appetite, he couldn’t eat or sleep. His heart and mind were obsessed with finding a solution to this atrocity.

The solution came to him spontaneously one bright morning, when the house was getting ready for a picnic. The whole family was going to visit the Seven Tombs, the Qutb Shahi tombs. Zakir was ready and sitting by his mother in her room. She tried to comfort him and make him smile as she arranged her box of mouth fresheners. Her big box had everything, cardamoms, cloves and fennel seeds.

As his father walked in seeing his son, still gloomy, hit him on the shoulder and said very reassuringly, Zakir, come on boy, cheer up! I will get you more pigeons when we come back from the Tombs. Cheer up lad!

His mother hugged him again. It was then, that Zakir saw a bright light as his father pulled out his hand gun from his wooden closet. He cleaned it very lovingly as he checked if it was loaded. He always kept it with him for safety when he went out with the whole family. Zakir was alert now and suddenly felt his heart beat fast with jubilation, zeal and hope of finally ridding his sorrow forever.

The whole day he played with his cousins and sisters. His mind was at ease for those few moments. He knew his grief and heart ache would end soon. His pigeons would be safe again.

The next day, Zakir woke up quite early. He was ready and by his mother’s side. When his father left the house, he went to his room very silently, making sure no one was looking. He took the gun from the closet. The gun was cold and heavy, it made his hands shiver, but he was sure he could manage it. He made sure no one saw it while returning back to his room. He kept it hidden under his mattress and slept with a sense of calm. He needed some good sleep as he had to stay awake that night …

He woke up in the evening and greeted his father when he had come back home. They had dinner together, as usual, and everyone was in a joyful mood. However, Zakir’s mind was preoccupied. Lost in empty space, he was thinking long and hard, sometimes engulfed in fear. What if? What if it’s a huge monster and not an animal? What if he couldn’t kill it and he only wounded it? It would turn to retaliate and attack him! He choked as his fear blocked his throat, but it was a risk he was willing to take. No I have to do it! I will not have some creature kill my loved ones, he thought to himself adamantly.

At night, when everyone in the house retired to their rooms, Zakir sneaked out of his room with his father’s gun. He silently crept upstairs and sat among his pigeons. He waited and waited. His heart was beating erratically as his eyes were frantically looking from left to right.

The night grew darker and darker. The stars were shining brightly in the sky and the night was very still. There was no wind or a single cloud in the sky. Zakir sat numb, with the gun clutched tightly in his hands. He didn’t feel tired or afraid, he was overcome by a madness to kill or be killed! Suddenly, the calm silence broke as he heard dogs barking and whining in the streets in a distance.

His grandmother used to tell him that animals can see what people cannot. They are usually the first to cry when someone dies because while people are busy praying for the dying, the animals can see the Angel of Death come and pull the soul out of the body. They witness the horror, the pain of the hideous image touching the unaware victim and slowly making every part of the body cold and lifeless by taking its soul. They see and pity the agony on the face of the poor spirit as it is separated from its physical body. How it struggles, and begs not to be taken, but when your time is fixed with the Angel of Death, nothing can change it. Hence, when dogs whine with fear in the streets, you should understand there’s a spirit nearby.

Zakir felt a chill as the sound of the dogs whining grew nearer and nearer. Zakir felt in his gut that the one he was waiting for was finally arriving. Suddenly, he saw it … A dark figure outlined against the starry night. It looked like a cat, but quite bigger than ordinary cats. A tiger? No, tigers can’t come here. Besides, it was smaller than a tiger.

The dark figure stood on the wall of the terrace. Its eyes seemed to be scanning the premises for anyone, or any danger. That was when Zakir saw its eyes. They were big, yellow and hungry. The giant cat leaped to the terrace floor. Its claws were long, sharp and dug into the floor. Again, Zakir felt the lump in his throat which made him choke. He had expected an animal. But this was no ordinary animal, it was a real monster!

Zakir tried to be brave. He had to be brave. He held his breath and watched as the feline watched the birds. What was he doing? Why didn’t he attack? Zakir waited and waited, but it just sat there watching. Zakir grew impatient with every passing moment. He wanted the animal to come closer, just a little closer, so he wouldn’t miss his shot.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the animal rose to its feet. Now Zakir understood what this monster was doing. He was choosing which bird to take. He made his selection, and now he was ready …

Zakir’s hands trembled. His whole body was sweating, his heart galloping like a race horse. Was he afraid? Yes, anyone would be, having such a close encounter with a beast. Zakir wanted his father. He wished his father was there with him. He would have easily slayed this strange beast. Zakir suddenly froze with fear.

The animal stepped closer and closer, one small step at a time. He seemed calm, relaxed and not at all vicious. But as it stepped into the moonlight from the shadows, Zakir saw its face. Oh no! It was dangerous. It was hungry. It had the look of a phantom with no mercy. This look that only knows one thing; to kill its prey. Its yellow eyes gleamed like coals of fire, the eyes of a cold-blooded killer. Its fangs were sharp and pointed. Zakir noticed its teeth as it licked its mouth with its tongue, it was relishing the thought of its meal.

Zakir realized he got much more than what he bargained for. He was too scared to even move a muscle. He just prayed in his heart that the beast doesn’t see him. Where had it come from and why did it want his pigeons?

It walked slowly towards the coup, and to Zakir’s amazement, the huge lock clicked and the cage unlocked by itself. He put his paw inside and casually grabbed the bird he chose. The other birds all slept as if in a trance. Not one bird made a noise or moved. No wonder no one ever noticed the disappearance. The birds never reacted. It caught the bird in its mouth and moved back looking at the cages filled with sleeping birds.

As Zakir saw his beloved bird lay lifeless in the jaws of the beast, blood oozing to the ground, feathers falling, struggling with its final breaths, his heart thumped loud and strong, ready to explode. His fury ignited with full force. He forgot his fear and was overcome with his desire to kill, to kill the one who wronged him. In that moment of emotional high, when he didn’t think about life and death, with the beast staring at the cage where he was hiding, he shot once.

He fell back as the bullet pierced the air. He looked ahead and saw the beast lying lifeless on the ground. He got him! Lights were lit and startled people started waking up and hurrying around at the noise of the gunshot. Zakir came out of his hiding and looked at the beast still lifeless on the floor. Zakir heard his father and servants come running up the stairwell. He turned around looking at them with a blank expression.

Zakir! What happened? Why do you have my gun? Did you fire it? His father snatched the gun from him. Zakir held his father tightly, relieved to see him. Father I killed the animal that was eating my pigeons. Look …

As Zakir turned around to show his father his kill, he was shocked. There was nothing there! The beast had vanished out of sight. They looked everywhere, but found nothing. I did shoot it, and it did die father! It was lying right here, very still, Zakir explained as he pointed to the spot.

His father tried to comfort him, Maybe it hadn’t died. Maybe it ran away, his father reasoned.

No, it was dead! I saw it! Zakir protested.

Enough Zakir! You shouldn’t have taken my gun without my permission. You know how dangerous it is, Zakir’s father scolded him angrily.

Everyone went back to their rooms and slept. Zakir’s father slept with the gun under his pillow. He couldn’t really sleep as thoughts were running wild in his mind. Did my son really kill a huge cat? If he did shoot him, why was there no blood? How could a wounded animal just run away so fast? Slowly, very slowly, he drifted into slumber …

He awakened in a strange place. It looked like a large hall, very bright and white. Every wall, ceiling and floor were pure white, as ivory. There was