Brother dear

Janet's visit to Colonel Sharma's house takes a dark turn when she discovers a haunting secret.

Janet had gladly agreed to come along with them on the five-hour ride from her home in Shillong, when promised a beautiful garden beside Colonel Sharma’s house. She left the car quietly and tried to run to take a peek because it was already past 8.00 pm. As she dashed away, she was lifted off the ground.

The colonel had grabbed her by the neck of her tunic just in time to save her from falling into the depths of the dark lake, a few yards away from the house’s rear. The lamp posts at each end shone like little yellow moons on the surface. Two wooden boats floated on the far side. “I’m NOT a fan of mischief!” The colonel’s growl meant that they had to report indoors immediately. Yes, even Janet’s little dog: Star.

Mother made a simple dinner because she was tired from the journey. Little Janet was only seven and not used to sleeping alone, as decreed by the colonel, who thought it was important to discipline a child. She understood that Mother would marry Colonel soon. Perhaps she even admired his ways since she barely smiled or spoke anymore. Karan’s boarding school was only a couple hours away from Colonel’s bungalow. He was in Std. VIII and studying was so important that he could barely ever visit them.

“Curnil Saab and Mem had to leave early to pack and move some things from your old house,” said Mohan. That was Janet’s introduction to the prickly old caretaker of the bungalow when she woke up the next morning. He had driven Star away with a stick. Janet found the poor dog sitting at the edge of the lake, which looked like a black-green mirror on a clear morning. The water looked like glass waiting to break open. A ghastly fog always lined its banks, looking like the frozen breath of something that lived within.

Star started barking and she looked towards the gate. A boy stood outside it. “Brother!” Janet jumped into his arms. “This house was easier to find than I’d imagined!” Karan smiled.

“Saab had mentioned nothing about you. I was hoping to leave before lunch. I have nobody but a mother who seems to be sick more often than she is hungry. But now…,” Mohan sighed.

“You can go, I will be a good girl. My brother will look after me,” Janet suggested.