THE STONE ANGEL IN THE DARK GRAVEYARD

THE STONE ANGEL IN THE DARK GRAVEYARD
                         BY SANJAY YADAV

Once upon a time, there was a city where one family lived in a small house. In the house lived a man named Deepak, his wife Anjali, and their two children, Preeti and Raju.
Usually, Deepak worked at a small tea shop near his house. Every day, he worked from morning until midnight. His wife Anjali also did some small household work, while their children studied at a nearby city school.

One night, Deepak returned home after finishing his work at the tea shop. He looked completely tired. Anjali noticed his face and said,
“Swami, what happened?”

Deepak replied, “Nothing, dear. I am just very tired because of work.”

Anjali smiled softly and said, “Swami, take some rest. I will prepare dinner for you.”

Deepak nodded. “Okay. I am going to the washroom to wash my hands.”

After washing his hands, Deepak came out and sat at the dining table. Anjali served dinner for him. Deepak quietly finished his meal and went directly to his bedroom to sleep.
The next morning, Deepak woke up early. He completed his daily routine and spent some time with his children. Anjali prepared breakfast for everyone and placed it on the table. Deepak, Anjali, Preeti, and Raju sat together and had breakfast happily.
After breakfast, Deepak got ready to leave for his tea shop.

Anjali said, “Deepak, my swami, please go slowly and take care.”

Deepak smiled. “Don’t worry. I will take care.”

Then Deepak left for his tea shop carrying his lunch with him.
At 7:30 AM, he reached the shop and started his work. During the afternoon, when Deepak sat down to eat lunch, suddenly a policeman arrived at his shop.

The policeman asked, “What is your name?”

Deepak replied politely, “My name is Deepak.”

The policeman asked again, “How many years have you worked at this shop?”

“Since two years, sir. But what happened?”

 Deepak asked nervously.
The policeman sighed and said, “Nothing serious. I came to inform you that all the shops in this area will soon be closed because some construction work is going on here. You must close your shop.”

Deepak became shocked.
“But sir,” he said sadly, “if I close my shop, what will I do? I have worked very hard to build this shop.”

The policeman replied softly, “I understand your feelings, but this is not in my hands. Please cooperate with the authority rules.”

Deepak lowered his head and quietly replied, “Okay, sir."

After the policeman left, Deepak sat silently inside the shop. He did not understand what he should do next.
That evening, at around 5:30 PM, Deepak returned home early. Anjali opened the door and looked surprised.

“Swami, you came home very early today,” she said.

Deepak forced a smile. “Yes. I am not feeling well.”

Anjali replied, “Okay. I will prepare dinner for you.”

Deepak shook his head slowly. “No need. I am not hungry. I just want to sleep.”

Anjali became worried.
“Swami, are you alright?”

“Yes,” Deepak replied softly. “I just want to rest alone.”

Deepak went to his room. Anjali did not understand what had happened to him. Later, she fed the children dinner and completed her kitchen work before going to his room.
When she entered, she saw Deepak sitting silently on the bed with a sad face.
Anjali sat beside him and asked gently, “Swami, what happened? Why are you looking so sad?”

Deepak finally spoke.
“Today a policeman came to my tea shop. He said all the shops in our area will close in twenty days. I don’t know what I will do now.”
Anjali listened quietly.
Then she said softly, “I think we should follow the authority rules.”

Deepak nodded slowly.
Anjali continued, “Don’t worry, swami. You will find another job.”

Deepak looked at her thankfully. “Yes… I am thinking the same.”

“Now stop worrying,” Anjali said. “Sleep peacefully.”

“Good night,” Deepak replied.
“Good night, swami.”

The next morning, Deepak sat quietly at the breakfast table while the children prepared for school. After breakfast, the children left for school.
Anjali sat beside Deepak and asked, “Swami, what are you thinking?”

Deepak replied slowly, “I know one friend who used to work at a graveyard during night time. Maybe there is a job available there.”
Anjali looked worried. “A graveyard job?”
“Yes,” Deepak replied. “But right now I have no other option.”

Anjali nodded silently.
Later, Deepak went to meet his friend.
His friend welcomed him warmly. “How are you, Deepak?”

“I am fine, my dear friend,” Deepak replied.
His friend asked, “What happened?”

Deepak explained everything about losing his tea shop and then asked about the graveyard job.
The friend smiled and said, “Don’t worry. I already spoke to the boss about you. There is one job available.”

Deepak became happy immediately.
“Thank you, my friend.”

“Come,” his friend said. “Let’s go meet the boss.”

Both of them went to the graveyard office during the evening around 5 PM.
The boss looked at them and said, “Yes, come in. Please sit.”
Deepak’s friend introduced him and explained his situation.
The boss nodded.
“There is one job left,” he said. “You can join tomorrow. But remember, you must work from morning until midnight and stay inside the graveyard during night duty.”

Deepak quickly replied, “Yes, sir. I will do the job.”

The boss smiled. “Then you can join tomorrow.”

Deepak felt extremely happy.
That night, he returned home and shared the good news with Anjali.

“Today I am very happy,” Deepak said excitedly.
Anjali smiled. “Tell me the reason.”

Deepak explained everything about the graveyard job.
Anjali looked relieved. “That is very good news, swami.”

“Yes,” Deepak replied happily. “Now our family can survive.”

The next morning, Deepak officially joined the graveyard job.
The place looked strange and frightening. His work included cleaning the graveyard, recording the names of visitors, and checking the area during the night.
As midnight arrived, Deepak suddenly heard mysterious sounds outside.
Slowly, he walked out holding a lantern.
In the darkness, he saw a few men trying to steal a dead body from a grave.
Deepak bravely ran toward them and started fighting. The thieves became frightened and escaped into the darkness.
Deepak placed the dead body back into the grave respectfully.
Then, for the first time, he noticed something unusual nearby.
A large stone angel statue stood silently beside one of the graves.
Under the moonlight, the angel’s face looked strangely alive.
Deepak stared at it carefully.
For a moment…
He felt the statue smiling at him.
That night passed quietly, but Deepak could not forget the stone angel.
A few nights later, during another midnight shift, Deepak again heard strange sounds coming from the graveyard.
He slowly walked outside carrying his lantern.

Cold wind blew through the trees.
Suddenly, Deepak stopped walking.
The stone angel statue was no longer facing downward like before.
Now its face was turned directly toward him.
Deepak’s body froze with fear.
“How is this possible?” he whispered.
Then he heard strange whispering voices around him.

“Leave this place…”

Deepak looked around nervously, but nobody was there.
He noticed fresh footprints in the mud leading toward the old graves.
Slowly, he followed them.
When he reached the final grave, he became horrified.
The same body thieves were lying dead on the ground with deep cuts across their bodies.
Deepak stepped backward in fear.
Suddenly lightning flashed across the sky.
For one terrifying second, Deepak saw the stone angel standing behind the dead bodies.
Its giant stone wings were covered with blood.

The lantern fell from Deepak’s hand.
Then slowly…
The stone angel opened its eyes.
A cold voice echoed through the graveyard.
“I protect the souls of this graveyard…”

Deepak could not move.
Fear covered his entire body.
Then slowly, the stone angel returned to its original place beside the grave as if nothing had happened.
The next morning, the police arrived and found the dead thieves near the graves.
Nobody understood how they died.
But Deepak knew the truth.
From that night onward, he never looked directly into the eyes of the stone angel again.
Because every midnight…
He could hear the sound of heavy stone wings moving through the darkness of the graveyard.