The BLACKOUT

The BLACKOUT

A sharp loud noise came from the kitchen. Since it was raining heavily, the power was cut in most part of the locality. Due to which there was a blackout outside. The windows were banging due to strong wind. The combination of heavy rain, strong winds and the blackout had reduced visibility in the locality. Neetu’s family were out to attend a wedding function, she was all alone at home and thankfully there was electricity at her place.

Sometime back, sitting idle at home she had been watching a few real-life thrilling videos on her laptop. One of it stated… “Beware! anybody who watches this video will invite a cursed soul”. Reading that line Neetu was filled with excitement, as she wanted some entertainment. Without wasting a minute, she clicked that video and watched intensely till the end and laughed because she found it very scripted and unrealistic. On the contrary, the preview of the video had a reverse story. Neighbours of such people had encountered weird incidences. Neetu laughed at it!

Right after watching the video, the electricity went off.  “Oh! What a coincidence. So, am I here to get some thrill, huh,” she told herself. She went downstairs to the kitchen to get a few candles. After a while, she came back to her room and continued to watch, more of such videos which were in her laptop.

A screeching noise drew Neetu’s attention.

All that she had seen in the video ran through her mind. The strong thunder and lightning were enhancing the ambience. The wind was gushing at its peak. She went downstairs to check what had happened in the kitchen. Walking down the stairs, at one spur of the moment, everything had become quiet. No wind, no thunder or lightning.

Under that bleak candlelight, she said “What was that noise? I thought it is coming from the kitchen!” She pushed the door with her hand, the strong wind gushed through the window, and blew off the candlelight.

“Oh, the window was open. Now again I have to lit the candle.” She came near to the window and felt someone was standing outside. She shouted “Who… who is it?”. There was no reply. She peeped out of the window but visibility was less. After closing the window, she lit the candle and was about to go upstairs again that screeching sound came on, this time Neetu was slightly apprehensive from within.

“Who is there? Where is this noise coming from?” She noticed it was from the storeroom. After opening the storeroom, a huge black shadow appeared on the wall.

“Who’s that?” She shouted. Neetu went closer to the flock of broken furniture’s. This time that noise tickled her spine.

“Meow … meow!” A black kitten was inside a dusty porcelain pot, struggling to come out of it. She took her in her arms. “Oh … so cute. How did you got stuck in that? Were you waiting for me to rescue you, huh? Poor girl, come I’ll take you upstairs”.

She shut the door, kept the kitten on her shoulders facing behind along with the candle and climbed up the stairs. With every step, she felt someone was standing behind her. She looked back with a weird feeling but found nothing.

The eyes of the kitten were wide open. Neetu felt her feet suddenly turned heavy.

“Oh, baby… you look frightened. I guess I am tired too, I need some rest.” She came back to her room, and kept the candle on her desk. She placed the kitten on her bed, who quickly struggled to hide behind the pillow.

“Now, what’s wrong with you?” Neetu shouted, and once again opened the laptop. Suddenly behind her, a small shadow started increasing in size. Completely unaware of it, she shouted, “Meow… meow, Yeah, what is it now?”

The shadow appearing on the wall looked huge in the light of the candle.

Neetu was nervous. She turned back and SCREAMED…..!

Sweta Gupta