Chapter 6 - Lullaby of dead

I always waited for my winter and summer vacations impatiently, since I would either accompany my parents to the village or Rudra Uncle.

He was a guest lecturer in the City College for Psychology and often would visit us.

One Sunday morning, I accompanied my mother to her clinic,who was a gynecologist. Though that day was scheduled to be closed, still she had to reach the clinic for a serious complication of a pregnant mother, she had been treating. After referring the patient to the nearest hospital for the operation, she contacted the doctors and wanted to go there herself, but it was a problem, she could not leave me alone, since my father had to leave for a medical seminar to attend.

When suddenly like a miracle Uncle Rudra appeared.

He was in the city to get some books and he had to attend the college for lecture the next day.

My mother was relieved, she left me to Uncle Rudra to attend her patient.

We returned home, and Malini Aunty served us with great snacks and tea for Rudra uncle and Bournvita for me.

Malini Aunty was our house help.

Now that I could have Rudra Uncle for the entire day, I could not stop to feel elated about listening to more stories.

Upon insisting, Rudra uncle started telling us a story.

Six months after succumbing to childbirth complications, Sita's child had no one to take care of like a mother.The father was a drunkard and returned home late and the grandmother worked as household help to earn their living.The child was either left in care of the neighbour or kept in a cradle of the house the grandmother worked for.

This was painful, but there could be of no help.

Sita's death was majorly due to no treatment, they had no money, whatever the grand mother earned, Sita's father would snatch everything from them.Sita had tried protesting several times,but in vain.The normal quarrels and fights were as if part and parcel of the household.Hence even after her death it seemed that Sita's spirit still lingered within the mud walls of her hut.Her drunkard husband was not to be trusted, the old grandmother already had so much work at hand, how would she take care of the little one?

As seen by the neighbours a few times, while the child would cry in hunger,there would be some unnatural things happening to calm the child and within minutes the child would smile and seemed that he was playing with some one.

Every night, the hummeing of a lullaby, in a spectral voice echoed through the darkness, calming the infant son who slept peacefully in his cradle. 

Everytime the child is in distress or a problem occurs in and around the environment, there would be an invisible power that would protect him.

Despite her passing, Sita's love remained a tangible presence, guarding her child from harm.

The story solidifies the fact that spirits stay back in this world after death in desperation.