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Condemnation
       

I stepped inside calmly. I had but nothing to be afraid of. At least that was what I thought. My friends had talked me into a challenge to spend one whole day at the so-called haunted mansion. Now I was an educated man. I did know that psychic phenomenon existed but what the heck� I was a great fan of Scooby Doo. I knew that mostly such things were simple hoax.

And with this belief I stepped inside the building. How wrong I was! Now that I think of my so-called courage, I wonder what a fool I was. My life was going calm. Why did I take such a risk and condemn my life for eternity. I lost my life and calmness forever and plunged a deep darkness.

My step inside the building was followed by a creaking sound of the doors about to be shut. I thought of running out but then let the bang of the doors closing fill my ears like music. I was actually feeling excited! I wondered what I would go through if there actually were something there. Like you never know. There is always a chance. I had enough booty on me to spend the whole day eating, reading, listening to music or even take a sleeping pill and spend the whole day sleeping.

However, I decided to sit down and wait for something to happen. I don�t know but a strange feeling was overcoming me. It was not fear. It was a kind of excitement. It was as if I was actually waiting for something to happen. I just sat down in the corner and took out my portable stereo and put in a cassette. I turned on the music but as the song picked up the beat a sudden wind appeared all of a sudden. I was not at all sure about what was going on. There were no windows about. I wasn�t superstitious but decided that it had something to do with the song. So I turned it down.

�Don�t!�

I was actually startled. A female voice had just uttered a word.

�I love that song!�

Totally pale, I suddenly cried, �Who are you? Come out! Tell me who you are��

But all I got was silence in return. Was it that I just had a notion? But how could it be. It was so real. I decided on turning the thing back on. Now that I think of that act, I really appreciate the person who declared that curiosity killed the cat.  Had I believed him, I would have been better off.

Slowly I turned the tape back on. The wind again started. And suddenly I noted that the trees outside the windows were almost forming a dancing pattern. Whatever this thing was, it liked this song. But damn it I was getting into some mood. I had to get this ghost out of here. After all I was a Scooby fan.

So I thought of having a bit of conversation with it. Funny that I use the word it. Actually it was another mistake, but it was such a beautiful and sweet �Don�t� that I couldn�t resist it. I had to get into talking with her. 

Like the idea of a girl, I mean some girl playing a prank on me, was like too cool to be true. Yet I was a teenager and I could never let such a chance miss by. Maybe it was some girl playing a prank on me.

Anyway, I decided to definitely get into talking with her.

�You love this song, don�t you?�

Absolutely no reply. No change in the dancing trees. No change in the wind. No change at all.

�I know you are out there. Please� you can trust me. I can really help you.�

I was going to add that I am a great Scooby fan, but what the heck, it would definitely not get me anywhere. After all, even if she were a stray ghost, there would definitely be some problem that had been pinching her, and not letting her rest in peace. At least that is what the storytellers said.

�You can really trust me� I am not like the others. If I were I would have run away like them. I know you are there. Please!�

The softness of my voice was changing to desperation. Like I was almost getting hysterical. And what the heck, I had to pass the whole day. It would be rather better to have an adventure than sitting there eating cakes and pastries (not to mention chocolates!).

�Like my name is Sami. I come from Lahore. I am studying there. What�s your name?�

The results were not different from the ones I had been through. Girls! They make fun of me all the time. Never leave me alone� do they? It was then that I thought about leaving her and doing a bit of exploring. After all it was a huge place and definitely deserved some looking. And the prospects of finding some clues were also there.

So I started a look about. All the rooms had their doors open, and all of them were totally empty. So it wasn�t much use looking around. Just when I was about to return that the song ended. A gust of wind hit my face. I heard a door bang on the upper floor followed by a blood-chilling shriek. My feet automatically led me up the stairs. Damn it they were scary! I only did realize that when I got up and remembered that I had to come back too!

And I saw the room with the shut door right in front. Though I tried but my feet wouldn�t lead me towards it. From inside was coming a soft sound. Almost as if somebody was crying with her face stuffed in a pillow. This was definitely exciting, but now the fear factor was definitely coming into play. I knew there was something on. But after all, my friends had dared me. They would definitely have set such a thing up. As for the winds, they are a natural phenomenon.

Such reassurances finally got my feet moving. It was then that my eyes fell upon a picture on the wall. Below the layers of dirt was the picture of a � I must say � a very beautiful girl. I was actually overwhelmed by her beauty. Her face depicted a beautiful smile and a strange calmness, added by a touch of innocence. A perfect example of a cute girl. Her dress up showed that the picture and she herself were not more than 10 years old. After all, she was a Nazia Hassan fan.

A great feeling of passion took over me. If this was the girl that was the ghost I would definitely be lucky to have her befriend me. Man, I was silly!

�That�s you, isn�t it?�

Of course no luck! I took out my handkerchief and wiped the picture clear of all dirt. It only improved upon her features.

�You are so beautiful. Please, you can trust me!�

That was it. This was the limit. Not of my bearings, but for the cutesy little girl I was trying to talk to. Thus time the wind got hard and almost pushed me downstairs. But I was not to loose. I walked on. I had to get into the magic room somehow. But my feet got frozen again.

�Like I said� you can trust me. I am not like the others. Please. You are so innocent and beautiful. Why don�t you let me help you?�

And maybe she had had her limits. The wind got stronger. I was almost pushed downstairs.

�I am not going to leave you. Not until you talk to me.�

Poor lass. Maybe she was afraid of me. But why would she be afraid of a skinny lad like me. But suddenly I got a response.

�They all say this. They all say that they are different. But none of them is different. They are all the same!�

It was followed by a soft crying sound.

�Look. I am not like the others. You like Nazia Hassan. I love her. Why don�t we go downstairs and listen to another track.�

Was I afraid? I don�t know. I had to get her into talking somehow. Maybe I had an effect. The wind just got calm. I made the slow progress downstairs.

�Yikes!�

My portable stereo was making its way upstairs. I ran back up. Finally I admit that I was getting seriously scared. And in my fear I ran straight into the room with its door shut. And there she was. A beautiful maiden asleep on the bed. All clad in white, she was very beautiful. She was the same girl whose picture I saw there. I couldn�t help but wake her. My hand went forward and touched her. That was maybe the last mistake I would ever commit all my life. Not that she woke up scaring me. She woke up, as if a human wakes from a deep sleep.

�Hello Sami.�

�How� how do you know my name?�

�Didn�t you just tell me?�

�Oh yes� and your good name ma�am?�

�Isabelle.�

�Nice name� what does it mean?�

�It simply means beautiful.�

�How true��

Actually I couldn�t believe that I was actually a part of this conversation. Was she really talking with me? Was she a ghost or was she alive? What actually was she? How about asking her�

�Umm� like�  are you a ghost?�

I was expecting a wind again but no such signs�

�Yes. I committed suicide, about ten years ago.�

�What could make such a beautiful maiden commit suicide?�

�It was you!�

The word that came to my mouth was �Duh� but somehow I controlled it.

�But I don�t even know you. And you don�t know me� I think.�

�True! But he was so much like you� he was��

�Who?�

�His name was also Sami.�

�And what did he do?�

The wind was instantly back� but suddenly calmed down. I spotted a tear running down her cheek.

�We loved each other. At least that was what I thought. He made promises vague. He made a fool out of me. He was such a � and I foolishly gave away my life for him.�

�Jeesh!�

�And now he stands right before me� I can take all my revenge!�

Now came the scary part�

�Look you must be mistaken��

�Eyes never lie. You got the same eyes he had. You are he! Fate has brought you back to me. You are at my mercy!!!�

And then she laughed. The same soft voice was now totally blood chilling. I on the other hand was in a strange odyssey. I was actually started to feel some beep-beep in my heart. After all she was so beautiful. And her eyes� like all the oceans put together. Her face, white like the moon, yet a beautiful blush on her cheeks added color to life. And the innocence! Had I the words to explain it, I would gladly have filled pages with it. Was she casting a spell on me? Was she turning me into HER Sami? I couldn�t say. After all, I was at her disposal.

�Look you are really nice� you are very lovely� but I am sorry� I never caused you any harm. I promise.�

�Tell me. Don�t you feel it in your heart? Don�t you think you are falling in love? Don�t you feel my power?�

I definitely did. Was she going to induce her love upon me? What was she doing to me? For the first time in my life I seriously felt love. I realized that I couldn�t do without her. But what was she. A ghost? A witch? After all she was casting a spell upon me!

�Please I do love you. But please� please� be mine� I love you��

I couldn�t believe what I had uttered myself.

�You are mine��

And again the blood chilling laughter�

�� I knew you were going to come under my spell. You�ll stay here all your life now� or else!!!�

Suddenly I was coming back.  I realized that I had no way but to run. I ran downstairs but the main door clasped right in front of me. And she came right in front of me.

�Don�t run� you love me� you do!�

�Please let me go� I do love you� but please understand� the thing you want is totally impossible.�

�You love me� and you don�t love me� You are infuriating me Sami!�

�Oh yes it is possible. I won�t let you go��

�Please I beg you� I have got a life out there!�

Man, she was making me beg. Girls! Always make me beg!

And then there was the shrill shriek again.

�Go� but my condemnation will be upon you! You will never fall in love all your life� except me. Each time you begin liking a girl you�ll feel the crush but you�ll never get into love all your life� Each time a new face will interrupt!!!�

And then she laughed. She laughed like hell. The condemnation she laid upon me was too petty a price to pay for survival. At least that was what I though then.

As the doors opened, I ran back. True that my friends made fun of me. But I never disclosed this incident to anybody. And not until I reach a mature age and struggle to fall in love I realize I was condemned. Strange but each time I am falling in love some loophole always brings me out. It was a strange condemnation she placed upon me� but at least I am not Mr. and Mrs. Ghost.

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