The Burning Smell

Summer holidays are one of the best for students life. Well, not nowadays because now children have their cell phones which spoil all the fun but before it was quite different. A full long one month to relax, visit your relatives, read some storybooks or even be a couch potato (for some).

It's a story about a girl who happened to visit her aunt's house and there she witnessed something which she will never forget in her lifetime. 

Jharna lived in Kolkata. She was 15 years old and a very beautiful girl for her age. She had long beautiful hair and fair skin. She was getting ready to visit her favourite aunt who loved her more than anyone because her aunt didn't have any children of her own. Her aunt lived alone in Chandannagar because she lost her husband at a very young age who was in the Indian Army. It was the 90's and the city was not that populated. Her aunt lived in a huge bungalow with many helpers who helped her aunt with every household chores.

Jharna's father took the first train on a Sunday morning and dropped her off at her aunt's house. She waved goodbye happily to her father and started unpacking her luggage. It was already afternoon and her aunt had cooked her favourite meal (chicken curry and rice). A part of Bengali's favourite daytime meal. 

Jharna was a very simple and obedient girl and it was more of the reason for her to be liked by everyone she met. While enjoying the lunch her aunt strictly warned her not to wander the streets here and there. Particularly a bungalow which was just opposite to her aunt's bungalow. Jharna was forbidden to even take a look at that bungalow. Jharna nodded in a yes and saw her aunt's happy face as if she was perfect in every way. Later, in the evening after taking a nap, Jharna went up to the terrace to take a breath of fresh evening air. It was almost sunset and her aunt called her to come inside. It is said that young girls should not keep their hair open after it's dark. Many cultures still follow this tradition. 

A few days passed and Jharna was feeling bored so one day she thought that after lunch she would take a walk in the neighbourhood by herself. She also took her aunt's permission. Her aunt agreed by reminding her of her promises. Jharna nodded gleefully. After finishing her lunch she was strolling sideways of the street when she caught the sight of the old bungalow which looked haunted. Something eerie she felt. A chill ran down her spine. Somehow she reminded herself of the promise she made to her aunt and headed back to her aunt's bungalow. The rest of the day passed by and soon it was dinner time. After completing her dinner she felt tired and went straight to her room. Her aunt came to check up on her and enquired whether she was fine or not. She assured with her beautiful smile to her aunt that she was absolutely fine but was feeling sleepy. Her aunt gladly left her alone and suggested she go to sleep. That night Jharna dreamed of a woman who was burning in fire. She woke up screaming at the top of her voice. Her aunt came running to her room. Then her aunt holding her tightly in her arms to calm her down asked her what happened? With a trembling voice, Jharna answered her aunt about her dream and explained what she saw. Her aunt's expression was speechless. Her aunt stroking her hair softly told her that it was just a nightmare and not to worry. The rest of the night her aunt slept with her so that Jharna would not have to worry.

The next day Jharna woke up feeling somewhat weak. Her aunt made her a healthy breakfast to make her feel better. Then she heard one of the helpers talking with the others about the old creepy haunted bungalow. Jharna couldn't help herself and went to ask what was going on. Her aunt shouted upon the house helpers and asked them to shut up. Jharna insisted to her aunt that she was desperate to know about the haunted bungalow. She kept requesting until finally, her aunt opened up. Her aunt said that it wasn't a story but an incident that took place a few years back. 

The old haunted bungalow belonged to the zamindars(a very rich and well known) family. They were three brothers but only the eldest brother lived here with his beautiful wife. The other two brothers lived abroad with their own families. The eldest brother named Mahendra Raichowdhury was very fond of his wife even though they didn't have any children. His wife named Lilavati Raichowdhury was everything to him. Even his wife loved him devotionally. It was a pair made in heaven. Everything was just fine when one day the eldest brother fell sick and soon passed away. His wife Lilavati was devastated because now she had no one. She was all alone. Though there were many servants she lived her life like a queen. She even had her personal groomer named Shila. Shila was very devotional to her mistress. Shila took care of everything on behalf of Lilavati. Lilavati loved Shila like her own sister. But after Lilavati's husband Mahendra passed away she abandoned herself. Lilavati stopped taking care of herself and used to always talk on her own as if referring to her husband. Shila used to console her but Lilavati was going mad slowly. Then one night the whole neighbourhood saw fire coming out from the zamindars bungalow and everybody rushed to see what was happening. Lilavati burned herself down in her bedroom. The whole neighbourhood witnessed such a gruesome incident. Shila who was her personal groomer cried her eyes out. All the servants in the zamindars bungalow felt sorry for them. Then the two brothers who came after hearing the incident decided to close their ancestral house and later would sell it because they would not live here. Now, the bungalow was closed forever. Shila who loved her mistress so much often would come and sit down in the gate of the bungalow and stare at the rooms. Soon, Shila went mad and started behaving in a strange manner just like her mistress did. Shila often used to say to the neighbours that she could smell her mistresses burning flesh. Everyone in the neighbours thought she was mad and did not pay heed to her. But then again one night the neighbours saw fire in the same bungalow and rushed to see. Everyone was in shock because Shila broke into the bungalow and burned herself the same way as her mistress did. All the neighbours were now afraid of that bungalow. Whoever goes near that bungalow often smells the burning of flesh. Two more deaths happened the same way. It was a local boy who lost his life just for winning a bet with his friends and a realtor who wanted to help sell off the bungalow. 

Jharna's aunt took a deep breath as if she was exhausted by narrating the story. Her aunt lovingly said to Jharna to stay away from the bungalow for her own good. It was almost lunchtime and Jharna was very hungry. Her aunt had cooked her favourite fish curry and payas(sweet rice) for her. Jharna gobbled the tasty dishes and then went out for her usual walk. Before leaving her aunt had again warned her but for some reason, she couldn't shake off the feeling to investigate. She was walking and wondering on her own when she realized that she was standing near the bungalow. To her amazement, she smelled something burning. Suddenly one of the helpers from her aunt's called her and she started walking away. She returned to her aunt's bungalow and went straight to her room. Her room's balcony faced that haunted bungalow and now she was in a trance. She kept looking at the bungalow. She could even hear someone whispering something. Her aunt's voice made her return to reality. Her aunt noticed and understood what had happened as the helper who saw her said everything. That night her aunt slept with her making sure nothing wrong would happen to Jharna. Jharna woke up at midnight but so did her aunt and put Jharna back to sleep. 

The next morning a pir-baba(exorcist) came and tied a talisman to Jharna. Her aunt had arranged everything in advance. They believe in religious beliefs. Her aunt realized that it was no safer for Jharna to stay here so she had already called Jharna's father to come and take her back.

To this day Jharna can still smell the burning of flesh. She dreams of that woman burning. Sometimes she sees herself burning. Every night a rotten smell surrounds her and fades away.