GH, Chennai
Phalguna just like any other day, started his day in a hurry to reach the hospital on time with Bhargav and Ismail on the way to the clinic and spent their time chitchatting about politics and sports while continuing their journey to the hospital in their bus.
Ismail suddenly started asking, “Bhargav said that you were afraid of him in the initial days of living in his neighborhood, what’s the matter?” Phalguna looked at Bhargav with a satirical smile and continued saying, “It was maybe 3 years ago, I came looking for a rented house in his locality, so my sister and I were inside an auto asking for an address and asked a Tempo guy who was in the opposite way to us, he said the address and driving the vehicle, whereas this guy is sitting behind the tempo, among the things, on a table, maybe. I just looked and didn’t speak or say anything to him. Later we met Ms. Bharati, who is the owner of the house. when my sister and I went inside the house, we just spoke about the rent and things we brought etc., When she went to get some water for Tanmayi, I saw a picture of him hanging there with a garland. When I asked who he is, she said it’s his son Bharadvaj. Initially, I felt like nothing. After we relocated, Tanmayi was at home. I went to the neighborhood to get some vegetables. Later….” Someone called Phalguna and started to talk on a mobile. Bhargav continued saying, “I was on my way to the hostel to complete my post basics, and I wasn’t at home for almost 2 weeks. Then I got some leave and came home on the evening of that day Sir mentioned. Mom said cleaning brother’s photo, “The new tenant is a doctor, if you have queries or anything, just ask him, he looks to be a good person”. Because of that, I said, “would you allow him if he isn’t good as a tenant? “. She said he had a sister, then I just felt like,” After a long time I am going to smell a perfume, All my life until now filled with Santhol talc and now for is Eva” and said, “As you are persuading me that he is a good man, let me meet him”. She said, “OK, but I didn’t say anything about your brother to him; don’t say anything sad now, as it’s just been 10 weeks. I said, “OK”.
With a face applied with a face pack, I went upstairs and, looking if anyone is present inside, listening to a girl singing with wrong lyrics but in a good voice. I felt awkward meeting new people those days, so I was waiting outside, watching at the moon.
Then I heard a scream saying,” GHOST!!!!”
When I looked at him, “He was in his Night pants and Tee with a moon tattoo on his neck, screaming with anxiety.
I was trying to pacify him saying, “Dude, You misunderstood, I am not what you think, I am the owner’s son, nice to meet you” he didn’t get his specs then, he tried to push my hand in thin air, but he missed it, then again screamed saying,” You are for not human for sure, I didn’t sense you” then his sister came out of the house speaking,” what’s happening?”.
I was like,” Why are you out of your wits”. He started yelling,” Tannu! RUN!!” I’m like, “Tannu! Wait” She’s like,” Bhargav! Stop pranking him”. Phalguna went,” Are you out of your mind, he is a Ghost, his Photo was hanging in the house”
She said, “It was his brother who died in an accident. It’s not him”.Then I went near him and pinched him saying,” I am human buddy! I am not going to die soon, so don’t worry” he pacified himself and spoke for a good 2 minutes and went back. On the way, all I heared was Tanmayi laughing at his brother”. After speaking to him, I closed the door, went near the bed, I embarrassed myself in front of my sister and the owner’s kid. The next thing I hear was my sister laughing and saying,” How can you be this naive, bro? He is my friend in my intermediate; you just made fun of yourself in front of him now”. I replied, “Does it mean, he is the guy whom you turned down?” She said yes. I am like now kind of embarrassed myself in front of her friend, that too to whom she turned him down. I always felt awkward around him initially, so I never had a conversation longer than 2 minutes. Last year, they started dating, “When? How? Where?” Cause, I never knew or saw they spend time together and I am behaving like it’s a great job to maintain it as a secret…”
Ismail asked,” Who said it first?”