The Mysterious Night

I opened my eyes and sat up on the bed. My palms and forehead were sweaty, my heart was racing, and I was terrified. It was dark around me. I reached to my phone. I picked it up and turn it on. It was 3.20 a.m. I told myself, “must be a nightmare!” I took a sip of water from the jug placed on the bedside table. I kept it back and recited Hanuman Chalisa to strengthen me and laid down to sleep. 

As I closed my eyes, I was thinking of the dream I had. Was it a nightmare or some visitation? The visitation is considered to be an event in which another non-human or spirit seems to appear to contact. My dream was vivid, and I was very disturbed. In my dream, I saw someone patting me on my shoulder to open my eyes as I was asleep and as I opened my eyes, I saw a spirit curiously staring at me, and then it requested me to leave my body so it can possess it. It reminded me how unfair this world has been to me, so was asking to give in. I was horrified and woke up.

It was a strange night; I thought to myself as I was walking down the stairs at 6.30 a.m. Every morning I go to the Bapuji park at the end of the lane to do some exercises and jogging. I was sleepy due to disturbed night, but I couldn’t miss out on my exercise hour. As I was walking down the lane, I saw a few people were gathered and discussing near the building next to mine. It was an unusual sight. When I returned, I saw still a few middles to old aged people talking and their expressions on the face were very peculiar to read. I couldn’t stop myself and strolled towards them and asked them what happened? 

One man from the group said, "Gaurav Bhai, you don’t know what happened? This incident took place at your adjacent building and you are unaware." “Incident! What incident?”, I exclaimed. "Tapan Babu was murdered last night around 3 a.m." I was shocked and my mind got completely shut as I heard that. 

Tapan babu and I were close. I used to call him Kaka. Kaka in Bengali is used to refer to uncle. He was staying in his 2 BHK apartment. Kaki (Aunty) passed away six months back and his son Raju Da and his wife work in Guwahati. They visit him once or twice a year, mostly during Durga pooja. Kaka wanted them to work in the town but they felt that they will not get enough space and bondages will hold them back so they moved to Guwahati. They upset Kaka and Kaki with their decision, but then with time, they adjusted with the truth. After all, parents want to see their children happy.

After Kaki passed away, Kaka was broken and therefore, sometimes I used to pay him a visit and give him some company. We used to have tea and snacks together and have small conversations on politics and investment ideas. In the morning, Kaka used to go for a walk and I used to wave at him as I jog. He was a simple, grounded and a very enthusiastic person. He was old but was young at his heart. His murder was a surprise to all the people who knew him. I couldn’t sleep in the night for three consecutive days. His memories were haunting me.

The policemen started their investigation. They were instigating all the people with whom Kaka might have come across for the past few days. They spoke to the milkman, grocery deliveryman, his friends, us his neighbours but couldn’t extract any clue. There were no cut marks seen on his body. They reported no theft. Postmortem report stated that he died due to suffocation and probably his death was the result of smothering him with a pillow.

All loved Kaka so how could someone kill him out of their personal grudge was a mystery. There was not any witness as this incident occurred late at night. A few days later police informed Raju da that he may carry on with his job. He will be informed if they rule out anything important. Raju da and Piyali di came to me the next day and informed me that they are grief-stricken but they have to go back to their work since they have come down in a short period notice. I consoled them, provided them with some comforting words, and then they left.

After my office hours, in the evening I used to miss Kaka. I was staying alone. My wife divorced me after two years of our marriage. She never liked me and found me boring, annoying and not compatible. I was emotionally hurt after it ended. My parents were staying with my elder brother in the village. I seldom go and visit them since a few years. I embraced solitude. I am an introvert and don’t have friends. I tried to interact with the people in my workspace, but somehow they made me feel unwelcome. So my life comprised of just myself. Meeting Kaka, therefore, was a good time for me.

Fifteen days passed by, neither the murderer nor the suspect was caught, but investigations were on. People in my neighbourhood were worried and so was I. Few of us started thinking of leaving the place but were strictly warned by police not to leave the place until the murderer is caught.

A few days later, I was home. I was making myself a tea and put the radio on. It was around 7 pm and my phone ringed. It was Raju da on the other end. I received the phone, turning my radio off. "Hello, Raju da!" But on the other side, I didn't hear any pleasant greeting. He was yelling from the top of his voice, cursing me and abusing me. I was startled and confused. I was not able to process anything. What was happening and why was he talking to me like that? He was not letting me speak too. At the same time, my doorbell rings and I walked towards my door. I opened it and saw a bunch of four policemen on my door. Their visit was not a surprise since I knew they were interrogating and trying their best to extract information from the people who knew Kaka, but Raju da‘s behaviour was perplexing to me. One of the policeman stepped forward and took handcuffs out and told me “You are under arrest”.

They dragged me out of my house and put me in the van. I was screaming but was paid no heed. The forensic report showed that fingerprints on the pillow and doorknob matched with that of mine. They took me to the police station and locked me up in jail. Every time they were referring to me as a murderer. I was startled and nervous and wanted to shout but slowly my voice was losing all its power. I asked them why am I being accused? One of them prompted he is pretending to be an innocent brat. Let him take the taste of our lathi and he will remember why is he locked up, Bastard. I was crying and shouting that I was shocked by his death, why would I kill him? But everyone was pretending as I don’t exist. After some time, Raju da came and I ran towards him, He knows me, he will understand me. If I was a killer, why would I stay in the locality? I would have run away. There was some misunderstanding or some conspiracy in which I am been dragged too. But instead of listening to me, he was abusing and cursing me. 

I had no one to support me. They informed my parents about the incident, and they were already on their way to meet me. The feeling of embarrassment was killing me from inside. Later that night I was badly beaten by the policemen. They tortured me and every time they hit; they were asking me, why did I kill him? What would I answer when I had none. He was the only one I used to talk to here.

After being trolled continuous for two days, when police didn't get any confession from my part, they called few people in a white coat to meet me. I remember them sitting opposite to me and they guided me to hypnosis. My body was full of bruises and it hurt me. They were talking to me and slowly I could feel my pain disappearing and my eyes closing. I don’t know what happened after that. When I opened my eyes, I found myself in an ambulance. My elder brother was sitting next to me. I couldn’t speak anything but watching everybody and outside the window in curiosity and sometimes depressingly. When I got down, my brother and the other staff held me and helped me to walk towards the Mental Hospital. I had no clue what was happening but when seated in the room I heard the doctor telling his students that this is a classic example of Homicidal Sleepwalking which is also known as Homicidal Somnambulism or sleepwalking murder. Such a patient engage in highly complex behaviour and can kill someone or themselves during an act of sleepwalking. I continued to look at them confusingly.