T he thundering rain ravaged the stormy night. Strong winds engulfed the darkness and threatened to encroach the ghastly silence. Maddy sat in his living room watching a crunch football match. It was 30 minutes past midnight. The engrossing match captured his attention belittling the destruction emancipating outdoors.
As he was about to take a water break, the lights went out. Storm billowed through the windows crashing a glass vase. The windows shook with maddening intensity. Calendar and posters flew from the wall, sailing with the forceful wind. A wall hanging of his family hit the floor creating a ruckus. Mayhem ensued in the obscured night. Maddy jolted from his reverie with the sudden interruption. As he grappled with his mobile to turn on the torch, he noticed a movement. What he saw next literally shook the ground beneath him.
A dark silhouette carrying a faint light appeared to cross the bedroom heading towards the bathroom. He only saw it for a few seconds and then it disappeared. It seemed to be of the same stature as his 4-year-old son, Meto. He sat bolt upright in sheer horror. A sudden eerie silence spread inside the house as well as outside. Suddenly the rain grinded to a shuddering halt.
The lights came back on. Maddy inspected the damages. The vase, posters and wall hangings had made a mess of the floor. He looked in the direction of the bathroom. Sheepishly, Maddy brushed the incident aside thinking it as an illusion. He drank water and got back to watching the match. He would tidy the floor after the match. The rain and wind returned with gusto. He slotted himself on the couch and lowered the television volume for fear of awaking his wife and son who were sleeping in the bedroom.
Quarter of an hour later, the lights went out again. The thunderstorm dwarfed, rains stopped abruptly and silence followed. At the corner of his eye, he caught a movement. Maddy saw the same figure glide across the hallway, with the faint light, only this time the figure moved more purposefully and slowly. He could barely make out the profile. The figure headed towards the bathroom and disappeared. He heard the dogs barking ferociously.
Silence ensued vociferously. Beads of sweat ran down his spine, as he froze on the couch. He could not move even a muscle. Maddy sat there for an eternity with terror spreading through his veins and arteries. A chocked Maddy found breathing a herculean task. In the darkness, he looked out in the direction of the bathroom. Immediately he felt a cold hand on his neck. Maddy was immobile. The hand tightened around his neck. Just as he was about to shout, the lights came back. He quickly looked back and found no one. He checked his neck, it was fine.
Maddy, shocked with the experience, but feeling more confident under the lights, decided to check the bathroom. With intense eyes and elevated heartbeat, Maddy headed towards the bathroom. It was bolted from outside. He trembled, ever so slightly. Half expecting to find someone or something, he switched on the bathroom light and pushed the door open. Nothing! Nada! Except for the draining tap water. With a huge sigh of relief, he closed the tap, bolted the door and switched off the light. He was pissed for missing parts of the match and rebuked himself for the unintended break.
10 minutes later, he heard a noise. He immediately stuck his neck out. Someone was opening the bedroom door. Maddy paused, clutching the remote in his hand, ready to fling at the source. His heart raced. He glowered when he saw Meto open the bedroom. The 4-year-old slowly walked towards him with big set eyes and whispered “Daddy, take me to the bathroom. I need to pee.” Maddy felt relief wash over him. His mind was playing games, he bemused.
He took his kid to the bathroom and made him stand near the commode. Maddy watched with suspicion if there was anything out of the ordinary in his kids’ movements. Nope! He was feeling angry at himself for letting his mind wander. How could he suspect his innocent son? It is all in his head, he chided himself. It did not escape his notice, that the rain had stopped, again. The kid finished his business and headed off to the bedroom while muttering a quiet Thank You. Silently Maddy closed the bedroom door and resumed watching the match. He was feeling out of rhythm with the multiple breaks.
10 minutes later, he heard the bedroom door open. Meto walked out towards him. His eyes seemed hollow, almost distant to Maddy. His walk far more purposeful and slower. With a hoarse voice, he said, “Daddy, take me to the bathroom. I need to pee”. The kid’s face was devoid of any emotions. He took the kids’ hand and led him to the bathroom. The hand felt cold, ice-like. Maddy felt as if the hands were startingly familiar. He took the kid near the commode and stood behind him. He was perplexed. The silence deafening in his ears. The rain showered aggressively and lighting struck with thunderous applause.
Precisely, at that moment, Maddy saw his kid pirouette his head ever so slightly. The eyes were blood red. There was a wry smile from the corner of kids’ mouth. In the distant, the church bells rang. A gust of wind entered the bathroom window and threw down the toiletries. Frostiness rumbled through Maddy. The hairs on his body stood in unison. The human in him wanted to bolt out of the door and creep into the bed. But the father in him held his ground. This was his son. If he was in any kind of trouble, it was his duty as a father to bail him out. With heavy voice, he blurted out, “Son, are you finished?” No response. Maddy was appalled and worried sick. Is his son alright? He could not comprehend what was going on throughout the night.
The kid finished his business and flushed the toilet. He had never flushed the toilet on his before. Without looking up at daddy, he walked straight into the bedroom. Maddy, quickly switched off the bathroom light and bolted the door. Before long, he checked on his kid, only to find him deep asleep as if he had never woken up. His body was feverish.
Maddy was thoroughly disturbed. Negative thoughts crept his mind. He shook his head and moved out of the bedroom. Feeling mentally exhausted, he switched off the TV and went to bed. Sleep would not come easily. He could not figure out the strange events occurring through the night. The shadowy figure appearing twice and then his son visiting the bathroom twice, second time around with suspicious behavior. Maddy’s mind ran in circles, tying knot within and tripping over himself. He started feeling feverish, but resisted getting up again and slid deeper into the quilt. At some point of time, Maddy floated into abyss.
At dawn, Maddy woke with a headache. Last nights’ events were fresh in his mind. He tossed around the bed for a while. His kid was slept blissfully. Maddy ruefully looked and admonished himself for suspecting his kid. He heard his wife working in the kitchen. He would talk to her.
Maddy walked to her and started to say something. Meena said before he could open his mouth. “Good morning dear. Meto felt cold last night. He woke me up to take him to the bathroom. Not once or twice, but three times. He was muttering in strange languages.”
Hearing that Maddy was aghast. He dropped the glass of water from his hand. His mouth gaped with astonishment. If the kid had woken his mother up, was it possible he woke up Maddy too? If there is a bathroom within the bedroom, why come all the way to living room to him? The provoking thoughts shackled him.
He went into the bedroom. Meto was in the bathroom. Maddy stood behind him. The kid turned his head, every so slightly. Maddy thought he saw a glint in his eyes. There was a hint of wry smile. Sweat broke through Maddy’s back and slid past his spine. He was transformed back to last night’s events. The kid flushed the toilet and prudishly walked out into the kitchen to hug his mother. Maddy followed him only to see the cynical smile still on his face.
