CURSED ROAD part-2

The footprints were not human. They had three long toes pointing forward and one backward, and they were still warm. The mud was steaming in the cold night.

I wanted to run, but my legs would not move. The whisper that called my name came again. This time it was not from behind. It was right next to my ear.

"Ganga... you came back."

It was a woman's voice, but broken, like she was crying and laughing at the same time.

I turned my torch on. It flickered. In that flickering light, I saw her. She was standing at the 30th mile stone, wearing a red saree that was not wet even though it was raining. Her feet... her feet were turned backwards.

My uncle's words hit me - "On Shivaratri, the temple opens for them, not for us."

She pointed deep into the forest, towards the ruined Shiva temple.

"They are waiting for you inside," she said. "The priest is waiting."

Behind her, in the darkness, hundreds of those same non-human footprints started appearing, all walking towards the temple. And from the temple, a bell started ringing. A temple bell that had not rung for 100 years.

The road was closed for 364 days to keep us safe. On the 365th day, it opens to let them out.

And I was standing exactly in the middle of it.