"Did you meet Dharmendra Saheb? Is your job done?", Jitendra asked me on the phone
"Hey, it's done. It's like what I expected. I got this client. Thank you for putting a word for me to Dharmendra Saheb. I will win his heart by doing good business with him, by giving a good quality product and will make your word to him come true!", I said.
It was now eight o'clock at night. The work was supposed to be completed at six o'clock, but for some reason it was delayed.
I had come to Jitendra's city i.e. Alakpur.
Last time when I came here twice, I had stayed with Jitendra and went to my village in the next morning. But today he had gone to another village so I was going to have dinner in a hotel and get in my second hand car and return to my village at night.
This was just the beginning of my business and Jitendra's help was invaluable in getting this client from Alakpur.
If this client appreciated the product, more acquaintances would benefit me as a client.
Jitendra suggested me the name of a hotel near the station for dinner and also suggested a precaution, "Kishor, I want to tell you one thing! While driving through the night, after crossing the Setugaon stop, you start climbing the ghat in a short time. Just be careful when you take the first turn on the ghat road! There is a little more dense forest surrounding it and ..."
"Careful in what sense? Are you warning me for any accident? Don't worry. I will be careful while driving!", I assured him.
"Oh no, I know you drive carefully, but I'm telling you to be careful in a different matter, believe it or not, but I have to tell you and warn you!"
"Oh Jitendra, tell me, what exactly is the matter?"
"On your first turn in the ghat, a woman in a green saree comes on the road from the side forest and stands in front of her car. Especially on Amavas night. Not everyone but some people have experienced this. You just have to do one thing, don't stop the car. If you stop, you will be finished! And remember. Today is Amavas."
I started laughing because I didn't believe such things in reality though I had seen and read such stories in movies and books and TV serials. Its okay for an entertainment purpose but we shouldn't get scared of such things in real world. No way!
But for his satisfaction I assured him to take utmost care.
"Okay man! Bye! Happy journey and best luck!"
Jitendra put down the phone and I turned the car on the road to the hotel. The hotel was good. I ordered Malai kofta and tandoori roti. The dish was really delicious.
I paid the bill and started the car, fastened the seat belt. It was half past nine.
Staying in an expensive lodge or hotel would not have been possible in this city, and I was scheduled to meet another government client at ten o'clock tomorrow morning.
He was dealing with politicians. I had to follow the time given by him tomorrow. I was to reach the village by five in the morning.
And mother was also alone in the home.
It was half past ten when I got out of the city. Now the usual city traffic was less and the highway traffic started. Heavy trucks were speeding along the roads. Few cars and tempos also were seen!
The stop told by Jitendra arrived at 11:15 pm and suddenly i remembered the mention of green sari woman!
I started laughing in my mind but somewhere in a corner of my mind I saw a wave of fear sitting!
I halted at that stop. Took a little tea at a tea stall. I was probably his last customer. He was about to close the shop.
Except few huts nearby, the whole area and road was deserted, desolate.
I paid him the money and he closed the stall and went away. I just sat there on the bench for a while.
I sat there for a some time looking at the oncoming vehicles. I was a little tired from the constant driving, but due to the tea, fatigue was gone.
And then I saw a truck coming on the road. In the driver's cabin there were multicolored lights glittering and in the light of it I could see the driver who wasn't making any movement as if he is sleeping while driving. He had hold the steering wheel but his hands were not turning the wheel and I hoped his eyes were open.
"Okay, better I follow this truck", I thought, went inside my car and started driving. I speeded and started following the truck. At least this truck will give a company to my car!
In a very short period of time, the turn about which Jitendra told me was about to come in the next ascent of the ghat.
In mind I laughed by imagining that the green saree woman will first capture the truck driver and not me. At least after seeing that woman, the truck driver will wake up from sleep, probably!
I kept on driving and switched on my favorite songs.
Anyways, in future also I might have to travel during night alone due to business purpose. If I started fearing to such stories then it would be difficult for me to travel at all.
"So relax man!", I assured myself.
I went so near to the truck that I could now read " Keep Safe Distance" written at the back of the truck.
Out of curiosity, I looked at the cabin and what I saw....?
The driver suddenly moved his head out of the cabin, turned his face at me with no expressions on his face but the eyes were unusually bigger. He stared at me without blinking eyelids.
And still the truck was moving ahead...
"Oh no! why he is staring at me like that? I cant handle it. While he is looking at me, how his truck is still running properly? What is this happening?"
As I was thinking this, his neck suddenly started hanging down from the cabin along with his face.
And that hanging face was still staring at me. The head was getting rammed again and again on the outside part of the truck with every movement of the truck.
Blood started flowing from that head.
I couldn't bear this for longer time but still somehow couldn't move my eyes away from it.
Still I moved my eyes slightly to the right side car window from where I noticed a triangular hill which was definitely looking like a slayed head of some monster. Was it real or my imagination?
The turn about which Jitendra had warned me had already arrived and when I saw in the front again, I saw the truck was falling deep down into the valley.
Still in that frightened situation, I said to myself, "Instead of watching such strange disgusting face and incident, it would have been better if I had encountered the green saree woman!"
"Oh Mister. Is it me who you are waiting for? The green saree woman? I am right there in your car", Voice came from back seat of my car.
Hearing this, instantly my face started sweating and a shiver ran down my spine.
"A beautiful woman like me is sitting in your car for a long time and you are interested in the truck driver? So wrong!"
I saw in the mirror...
Yes, she was there...
Sitting...
On back seat...
In green saree...
But I could not dare to look back. But looking in the mirror I could see her beauty. Yes, she was very beautiful.
Divine beauty.
Round face.
Big expressive eyes.
Eyelids like butterflies.
Beautiful straight and delicate nose.
Lips like rose petals.
Firm, full and rounded breasts.
Delicate waist.
"Who .. who are you? How did you come in this car?", I asked her looking into the mirror and driving.
