The Ghost on the Mountain Peak

It is a multinational company located in Bangalore, India. Recently, it recruited about thirty candidates from various engineering colleges across the country through campus interviews. Shourya Vallabh (SV) is one of them. He and three other individuals were assigned to the Raja Mukunda (RM) project group. The group included two girls.

*

The company planned to take all employees to a nearby hill station for a get-together one weekend this summer. The hill station was about one hundred kilometres from the city. They booked a forty-seater bus. They started at 6 a.m. on Saturday and arrived by 8:30 a.m. SV was responsible for the arrangements. He reserved rooms according to their needs at the resort. SV ordered breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the entire group for two days at the resort.

*

The place is known for its fresh, pollution-free air. A few houses were available for rent to accommodate residents, and several shops sold groceries.

There was an old temple dedicated to Durga Mata, where regular puja was performed twice daily, in the morning and evening. Visitors who come here first pray to Durga Mata and then go to enjoy the forest and hills. 

Before breakfast, all the group members had a darshan of Durga Mata. RM was not a believer and did not join. They took prasadam and went to the tent for breakfast.

*

SV arranged a tent with thirty chairs in the forest for the group to enjoy their games. The resort staff provided breakfast in the tent. It was a dense forest filled with old trees and many birds. At the tent, they could hear the birds' twittering sounds and the breeze rustling through the leaves. They enjoyed the calm and cool atmosphere of nature under the shade of the trees despite the hot sun outside. No one else was around except this group. Everyone thanked SV for the arrangements.

*

SV and the manager told everyone they could form into groups of three to four and move around. SV warned them not to go into the forest alone, as they had no idea about the wild animals there. Some of the young people formed into four groups to trek up the hill.

The first two groups did not venture to the top of the hill and returned in between, while the other two groups returned after half an hour of trekking. It was a narrow, scarcely travelled path. It was rough, and one had to be careful while walking, as there was a risk of slipping into the valley. They had no walking sticks for support. The hill had trees on either side of the path. One side was the hill, and the other was a valley of trees. Small water channels crossed their path from the mountain down to the valley, eventually joining into a stream at the base. 

The rest were in the tent playing games. By the time everyone returned, the lunch was ready at the tent. RM, SV, and two girls were enjoying a chat. RM was three years older than the others. He joined this company three years ago after leaving his previous reputable company. He never revealed why he left his earlier company. SV arranged a Tambola game after lunch for everyone to enjoy. Some sold the tickets, and some others announced the Tambola numbers and checked the prize winners.

*

As the Tambola game was underway, SV suggested to RM and the two girls that they go up to the mountain's peak and enjoy the forest. RM was reluctant, but SV and the girls forced him to join, since they had not gone earlier in the morning. They told everyone they were going on a trek along the mountain trail. RM kept them entertained throughout the trek with his chatting. SV did not understand why RM did not seem to enjoy the trek in the mountain forest and among the birds. SV and the girls started to enjoy the trek. When SV looked at RM, he appeared different to SV-- inactive, and his face was pale. RM moved along the trek as if he were familiar with the route. The way he was walking raised doubts in SV.

When they had covered about two-thirds of their trek, they noticed another girl of their age walking behind them. Unlike the two girls in the group, who wore a kurta and pyjamas, she was dressed in a black saree and blouse, adorned with a large red bindi on her broad forehead and a glass bead chain. She was of average height, and her half-cut hair fell on her ears. Her face was round, with a large mouth, prominent cheeks, and wide eyes. Her palms were large. She was observing the group members. SV noticed her after some time and felt she was unusual, so he told the girls to talk to her and learn about her. When they asked, she said, "She and her boyfriend started, but he returned midway. After seeing your group, I thought I could join you up to the peak. I hope you have no objection." She said her name was Jyesta Sri (JS). One of the girls remarked that the word Jyesta signals a bad omen in Hindu mythology. JS remained silent.

RM lost his mood as he looked at JS. He sensed trouble and told the group members that it was enough and that they would return to the tent. SV and the two girls insisted on going up to the peak, as it was a few minutes away. JS also supported. They hurried to the peak, reaching it within five minutes.

*

There was little space on the peak except for a few. There were large old trees. The breeze was gentle, and the view of the entire mountain range and valley was breathtaking. SV and the two girls thought it was the peak of their enjoyment in life, being on the summit with all the trees, the breeze, the mountains, the valley, and the sky.

Beside the peak was a deep valley with a base invisible to the naked eye. If one falls from here, it would be humanly impossible to trace them.

JS told them that several people had fallen from there and lost their lives. Hearing these words, RM became terrified and started trembling. He questioned her about its reliability.

She said, "I read it in the newspapers. Three years ago, a girl came with her boyfriend and died here". JS looked at RM.

SV and the two girls gazed at the beautiful valley. RM kept himself apart from them, while JS observed him. Suddenly, the weather on the peak changed, and a windstorm began. RM was horror-stricken. SV told everyone to sit beside a tree. When SV and the two girls sat near a tree, the windstorm grew even stronger. JS, who was standing beside RM until that moment, transformed into a gigantic ghost with wings and soared high into the air.

RM was terrified to see a black, dark-haired head covered with loose hair bounce toward him. The carbon dioxide exhalation through her nostrils was visible. Her mouth was large, with teeth prominently projecting on either side. Her hands were wide, and her fingers were long with sharp nails.

The ghost grabbed RM by the neck and pressed with her broad palms, long fingers, and sharp nails. RM was hanging in the air with his hands and legs suspended, and the ghost threw him flat onto the ground.

The ghost jumped on RM and delivered heavy blows to his chest. His mind went blank. As the ghost fell on him, terror struck him, his heartbeat raced rapidly, and then the ghost lifted and threw him into the valley.

He ran down the valley screaming. His mind went blank, and he had no idea what was happening to him. He fell, hitting several rocks and trees, and lost his breath.

After confirming his death, the ghost freed herself from her ferocious state and laughed heartily, then vanished into thin air. The windstorm subsided.

*

SV and the two girls became unconscious after seeing the gigantic ghost.   

At the tent, people were worried about the SV group because they had not returned on time. A group of ten members, accompanied by a local person with torches and lanterns, ascended to the peak. They were astonished to find SV and the two girls thrown under the trees, unconscious. They lifted them onto their shoulders, brought them back to the tent, and called a doctor. After administering first aid, the three regained consciousness. The doctor warned the group not to ask them questions, as they were in a disturbed mental state. When asked what had happened, none of the three could explain. They only remembered seeing a gigantic ghost in the wind and being afraid; then they went unconscious, only to wake up in the tent. They did not know what had happened to RM.

The manager called the police and reported the incident. The police asked about the girl JS. The local person told the police that a ghost was moving around at night, and no one dared to visit the mountains. The police were initially hopeless but said they would try.

The police also mentioned an incident of death three years ago, and they have not been able to locate the girl as of today.

*

There was no way to the valley base. It was surrounded by steep mountains on either side. The stream path was narrow and filled with rocks, and no boat could navigate it. Humans couldn't go down the valley. They tried by sending two mountain trekkers down the valley with ropes tied at the peak and around their waists. They went to a certain extent and said it was impossible. The police abandoned the search and declared RM dead. With this sad incident, the manager packed everything, closed the program and returned to the city.

*

In the previous company, RM and Divya Sri (DS) were colleagues and were in love. RM and DS came to the forest three years ago for a get-together party. DS came with her parents and introduced them to RM. His eyes widened, turned red with anger, and his right hand started to tremble. He could not control his mental anger; his blood pressure rose, and the hair on his head and body stood on end.

One of his friends asked him, "What is the matter. Why are you disturbed?"

RM did not answer. He went to the back of the tent, released his bladder, washed his face with cold water, combed his hair, and returned. He looked normal, but his anger simmered inside him.

RM took DS to the trek and the peak to enjoy the mountain, forest and the sky at that height. They sat at the peak, and DS was enjoying resting on his thigh. All of a sudden, he lifted her into his arms and threw DS into the valley. DS was shocked at this development. She fell into the valley crying. He laughed in a high pitch, raising his hands in happiness. He cooled down, and with the release of his jealousy and anger, he came to his senses. He went to the tent, weeping.

*

RM was brought up in an orphanage home since birth. His mother left him in a dustbin immediately after his birth, and the police placed the infant in an orphanage home. He was named RM by the orphanage warden. They educated him to get a job in an MNC. Despite the better education and social status, RM was feeling parentless. He becomes jealous and angry of people who move with their parents. Hence, he took DS to the mountain peak.

*

 Fortunately for him, there was heavy rain on the mountain. He told DS's parents and everyone that DS had slipped into the valley because of the rain. He could not help her. They informed the police, who conducted an intense search the next day but found no trace of DS's body. They declared her dead.

*

DS became a ghost and waited for an opportunity to seek revenge on RM. She loved him deeply, and he killed her. She saw RM approaching the mountain peak and transformed into JS. RM doubted JS but believed that SV and others would save him if she did anything to him.

SV and the two girls could not remember what had happened to them, so they prayed to Mata Durga Devi at the temple to save them from the ghost. When people asked about their mountain trekking experience, they had no answers. They could only recall themselves at the base of the tree at the peak.

They took a cab home. Their parents were happy that they returned safely. They prayed to God to save their children from the monster.

*