The journey

Preeti was my colleague from office. Both of us had joined the team at the same time. We had been together during the training and onboarding. Having similar family background and cultural background Preeti and I became close friends very soon. One particular day when we had less workload because of the holiday at the client's end, we ended up discussing some of our experiences. While I shared my embarrassing episodes (which were a lot), she shared a chilling story with me. Her experience was nothing but what the nightmares are made of. I felt an obligation to present Preeti's experience. Here goes Preeti's story.

Preeti was a Mumbai girl through and through. She was born and raised in Mumbai. From her father's side a lot of her relatives stayed in one of the remote villeges in Maharashtra. Though Preeti would really visit her relatives in the village, she was bound to visit them whenever there would be a wedding or a milestone celebration. Few years ago Preeti had to go back to her village to attend her cousin's wedding. Preeti was completely unaware what was going to be on her plate once she goes to her native place.

The day was decided by Preeti's family when they were going to the village from Mumbai. Preeti had taken time of from the office to attend the wedding at the native place. Her family embarked the journey from Mumbai to their village which was going to take around 10 to 12 hours by train and then by road. Preeti was excited to meet her relatives as well as it was going to be a happy reunion with the family. What Preeti did not know that the visit was going to be a memorable one for the reason that she had not even imagine.

Preeti's family had started their journey early in the morning. Yet they reached the village somewhere after the sunset. The streets in her village were dimly lit by orange bulbs. Navigating through the poorly lit dirtroads her family reached their ancestral bungalow. That ancestral home definitely was carrying the aura of the wedding home. It was decorated with lights and flowers. Rangoli is drawn everywhere were radiating and inviting positive energy. The home that generally was quiet was filled with guests.

Though Preeti was delighted to see the preparations and her relatives, the fatigue of the travel was not leaving her side. Preeti met her cousin was to be wed next day. She met her elderly relatives and ask one of her aunts if she could use a quick shut eye. Her relatives told her to get rest because no wedding functions were going to take place that evening.

Preeti went to her room and placed her luggage there. The fatigue from the long journey was not able to keep her awake for a long time. As soon as she laid down on the bed almost instantly she fell asleep. She was care free and unaware of the horror that was going to take place in next few hours.

Surprisingly the nightmare would begin when she would be awake.