Shadow

Yuki woke up around midnight. She felt someone walking on the roof. Not the walking of an ordinary person, but walking by dragging his feet.

She called out in a frightened voice, "Hey, hey."

Anis did not wake up. It was raining outside. There was a slight breeze. In the wind, the leaves of the jam tree made a strange sound.

Yuki called out again, "Hey, get up. Hey."

"What happened?"

"It's like someone is walking on the roof."

"What are you talking about! Who would walk on the roof? Go to sleep."

"Please, sit up. I'm very scared."

Anis sat up. It started raining heavily at this time. The rain was pouring down. The window curtains began fluttering in the wind. Yuki suddenly saw a skinny man standing on the window ledge, bare-chested. The man's two arms were impossibly long.

Yuki whispered, "Who's there?"

"Who is where?"

"That window."

"What nonsense you're making! It's the coconut tree's shade."

"Please, turn on the light for a bit."

"Yuki, you should sleep."

As Anis was about to go to sleep, he heard several knocks on the ceiling. It's like someone is jumping on the roof.

Yuki was startled and asked, "What's that noise?"

"Monkeys. There are monkeys in this place. I saw them jumping on the roof yesterday."

"I'm really scared. Get up and turn on the light. I am begging you."

Anis turns on the light. The clock struck 1:30. There was no more sound on the roof. Still, Yuki's fear did not subside. She started shaking.

Anis said in an annoyed voice, 'Why are you doing this?'

"I don't know why I feel this way. I had a very bad dream."

"What dream?' 'I saw that I was..."

Yuki suddenly stopped in the middle of the conversation. Yuki heard something. It was as if someone was laughing. Laughing loudly.

Yuki said in a trembling voice, "Can you hear the sound of laughter? It was as if someone was laughing."

"Who's laughing! The sound of a monkey. Or maybe someone has woken up on the second floor."

Anis noticed that Yuki was sweating profusely. Her eyes and face were bloodless. He took out a pack of cigarettes from under the pillow.

As he lit the match, he asked, "What were you dreaming about?"

"I'll tell you during the day."

"Are you still afraid?"

"Yes."

"What are you afraid of? Of thieves and robbers, or of ghosts?"

"I don't understand."

"Okay, keep the light on. I'll sleep with the light on today. Now tell me, what did you dream about?"

"I'll tell you during the day."

"Oh, don't say it! If you say it, the fear will go away."

Yuki held Anis's left hand tightly.

She paused and said, "I saw that I was lying in a room. A short man came in. Then I saw that he was trying to pull my dress and take it off."

Anis laughed out loud.

Yuki said, "Why are you laughing?"

"Don't laugh? Is this a scary dream?"

"You didn't hear everything."

"I don't have to hear all that. I know what happens next. What you saw in the dream is a sexual fantasy. Young people often have dreams like this."

"But, I don't see."

"You see too. You just don't remember."

"I rarely dream. What I dream always comes true. I told you many times."

Anis remained silent. Yuki often said this. She said it for the first time on the wedding night. Anis laughed at that, too.

Yuki said in surprise, "You didn't believe me, did you?"

"No."

"I swear by you, trust me," Yuki spoke as if a lot depended on Anis's trust.

Anis finally said with a smile, "Okay, I trust you."

Yuki whispered, "I also knew that I would marry you."

"Did you dream this too?"

"Hmm. I saw a man standing naked. He had a big cut near his stomach. When I saw the man, I thought I would marry him. I asked him, 'How did you get the cut?' You said, 'I fell off my bicycle and got hurt.'"

Anis couldn't say anything for a long time that night. There was a cut on his stomach; it was true, this girl wasn't supposed to know that. But it wasn't from falling off a bicycle. It was from slipping and falling off a Java Plum tree. It was a coincidence, needless to say. Sometimes two or three things like this get correct. Still, there was a slight uneasiness somewhere.

The rain is getting heavier outside. It's probably going to be a storm. There's a rattling sound in the window. A pane of glass gets broken. Water is coming through the broken window; it's freezing cold.

"Yuki, let's go to sleep."

"Done with the cigarettes?"

"Yes."

As soon as they got into bed, there was a loud sound of lightning. The lights went out immediately. Not only this area, but the whole city went dark.

Anis said, "Are you scared, Ranu?"

"Yes."

"Well, tell a funny story. It reduces fear. Tell a story."

"You say."

Anis took a long time to tell the story of a priest, three Jews, and three girls. At one point in the story, the audience had to ask - what did the priest say then? The answer is the punch line, but Yuki didn't ask anything. Wasn't she listening?

Anis called, "Hey, Yuki, hey!"

Yuki didn't speak. A gust of wind blew open a window sash.

As Anis stood up to close it, Yuki hugged him and said in a trembling voice, 'Don't go. Please, don't go!'

"What a surprise, why?"

"Something is standing beyond the window."

"How do you know?"

"Please, please."

Yuki started crying.

She said, sobbing, "Can't you smell it?"

"What smell? What does it smell like?"

"It smells like camphor."

Is this a mistake in the mind? A subtle smell seemed to be permeating the room. Another glass shattered with a clang.

Yuki said, "That thing is laughing. Can't you hear it?"

Anis couldn't hear anything except the sound of the rain.

"You just sit down a bit. I'm lighting the lamp."

"No, you sit there holding me."

Anis said uneasily, "Don't look at that window again!"

Anis noticed that Yuki was trembling and her body was getting hot.

To give Yuki courage, he said, "Would it be beneficial to recite some supplication? I know the ██████ █████. Shall I recite the ██████ █████?"

Yuki didn't answer. Her eyes were getting bigger. Was she foaming at the mouth? She was breathing heavily.

"Hey, Yuki, hey."

There was no response. Anis lit the lamp. There was a rattling sound coming from the kitchen. Rats, no doubt about it. But for some reason, it didn't feel well.

Anis came to the balcony and called, "Saheb, oh Saheb."

Saheb must have been awake. He immediately went out.

"What's the matter?"

"My wife has fallen ill."

"What happened?"

"I don't understand."

"Do you need to be taken to the hospital?"

"I don't understand."

"You go inside, I'll come. I'll be coming as soon as possible."

Anis returned inside. A mistake in his mind, undoubtedly a mistake in his mind. Anis felt as if someone had stepped behind the door as soon as he entered the room. A thin, tall man.

Anis called out, "Yuki."

Yuki immediately responded, "What?"

The electricity came on immediately. Within a few moments, Sahib arrived.

He said in a worried voice, "How is the situation now?"

Yuki asked in surprise, "What is the situation? What happened?"

Mr. Sahib looked surprised.

Anis said, "You were feeling unwell, that's why I called him. How are you feeling now?"

"Good."

Yuki sat up.

Looking at Sahib, she said softly, "I am fine now."

Mr. Sahib still sat for about ten minutes.

Anis said, "Did you hear the noise on the roof?"

"I hear that every day. The monkey's troubles."

"I was thinking the same thing."

"They are very annoying. They take food from the house during the day and at noon."

"Is that so?"

'Yes. You're new here! Give it a few days, and you'll feel it. I told the landlord to give me the grill. So,
I can set it up on the roof. He won't give it to me. When you meet him, you'll tell him too. If we all told him together. Maybe he will change his mind."

'Yes, I will. Would you like tea or a cup?"

"Oh no no! What are you saying, tea at 2:30! Looks like everything is fine, so I will take my leave now. Call me if you see any problems."

Sahib got up and left.

Yuki said in a low voice, "Why did you call the gentleman at this time of night and day? What was he thinking!"

"What you started! I called Mr. Sahib out of fear."

"What did I do?"

"You've done a lot of things. Tell me how you are now."

"Good."

"How good?"

"Pretty good."

"Aren't you afraid anymore?"

"No."

Yuki got down from the bed. She was quite simple and natural. There was no sign of fear in her eyes or face. She tied her apron around her waist and arranged to drain the water from the house.

"Whatever you're going to do, do it in the morning. Now put these away."

"Oh, look at this mess!"

"Do it in the morning. Come here now, please."

Yuki came forward with a smile on her face.

"Are you not afraid anymore?"

"No."

"Who did you say was standing by the window?"

"There's no one there now. It doesn't matter if there are."

Anis lit the second cigarette.

He said in a light voice, "Can I make you a cup of tea?"

"Tea, this late at night!"

"I can't sleep now, let's have a cup."

Yuki went to make tea. In a moment, the sound of water boiling was heard. It was raining heavily outside. Ranu was alone in the kitchen. Who would have thought that this was the same girl who had been restless with fear just a moment ago! There was a clattering sound on the roof again. Is monkey come in the rain? Anis got up and peeked into the kitchen.

He said softly, "Is there a loud clattering sound on the roof?"

Yuki did not answer.

Anis said, 'We will change this house.'

"You won't find a house like this for cheap."

"Let's see if I can find it."

"Did I add enough sugar to your tea?"

"It's perfect. Do you not need one?"

"No, I won't be able to sleep after drinking tea."

Yuki yawned.

Anis said, "Now tell me about your dream."

"Which dream?"

"That dreamer! A short man."

"When did I have this dream again? What are you talking about!"

Anis didn't say anything else. After finishing his tea, he went to sleep. It was cold and freezing. Yuki was lying like a little girl with her legs folded. She was holding Anis with one arm. She was breathing heavily. She must have fallen asleep.

The shadow of a coconut tree fell on the window. The shadow looked like a person. The leaves of the tree were moving in the wind. It seemed like the person was waving his hands. There was a sweet smell in the room. Sweet, but unfamiliar.

Anis pulled Yuki closer. Ranu's face lit up. How enchanting she looked! Anis took a deep breath.

They had only been married for six months. Anis had not yet gotten used to it. Every night, Yuki's face seemed unfamiliar to him. The face of a beautiful girl, who could never be fully recognized.

Anis called out, "Yuki, Yuki."

There was no response. Yuki was deeply asleep. Anis could not sleep. He decided to take Yuki to a good psychiatrist. Kamalendubabu in the office often spoke of a gentleman, a very talented man. Missir Sir. Maybe it will be worth it seeing with Missir Sir once.

Yuki laughed out loud in her sleep. Anis doesn't like hearing the laughter of unnatural people; it makes him shiver.