“The gaze of the man still haunts me”

This happened to me recently. Memories of that episode still covers me with chills and shivers when I think of it.

It was the night of Holi, I was at a friend’s for a party. I ended up staying in late, and it got nearly 8.30 P.M. when I finally walked out. As I walked, I found the roads and streets were mostly deserted except for a few buses and private vehicles rushing ahead. I started walking towards the bridge auto-stand, only to find it empty. No sign of any auto around. I got worried because it was getting late, and mom would get mad at me for staying out so late on a holiday night.

I started walking ahead, when I noticed a man standing a few feet away, smoking . I thought nothing of it. As I went closer, he turned around and looked at me. There was something in his eye that disconcerted me. When I was beside him, he leaned in and took a “closer look.” I was a trifle weird-ed out, but kept walking anyway. I’d just gone a few steps when I realized he was following me. I ignored it and increased my speed. At a point he stopped a few steps behind me. I was getting creeped out for some reason. I hurried to a corner of the street where I saw three-four people waiting for the bus. I decided to take a bus and get the hell out of there, instead of waiting for an auto. A little later, a bus turned up. As I went near it, the man appeared beside me, as if magically. As I waited for some of the people to get out of the crowded bus, I noticed him staring at me. It was a fixed, cold, stare. I can’t describe it…it almost seemed he was putting me under a X-ray.

I got up the bus, and prayed for it to drive away soon. People were still coming in, but the man stood right there, his gaze fixated on me. I was feeling chills by this time. Finally, the bus took off. Then, something happened which made my heart skip a beat. After the people had all finished climbing aboard and there was absolutely NO SPACE left on the bus, the moment it started moving, that man, took catch of a handle and CALMLY latched onto the bus. I was startled. I was certain that he had boarded it for me. I could tell from the way he STILL kept gazing at me with that cold, conspiratorial look. The bus stopped at two places on the way, that man got off at both stops, and climbed back in when it started moving. It seemed…not right.

I was perspiring by this time. I prayed silently that the stop where I’d be getting off not be deserted. Please…I fervently started asking some of the people on bus if they’d be getting off at my Stop. Then my stop came, and I was SUPER-RELIEVED to see it was still lighted with few people around. I got down, and, without glancing behind, walked straight to the Rickshaw stand. I almost jumped on a rickshaw, mentioned my Housing Society, and asked the puller to drive away FAST. Through the corner of my eye, I could see the man standing a few feet away, still staring at me and muttering something. I knew he couldn’t follow me anymore.

I was still shivering and my teeth borderline chattering, by the time I reached home. The gaze of the man still haunts me. Ouch. From that day on, I’ve vowed to steer clear of staying out late on Public Holidays.

– Ananya

Location: Kolkata, India

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