THE MYSTERY OF THE DARK LAKE
village in North Bengal. There is an ancient lake in that village, known to everyone as the "Andhakar Dighi" (Dark Lake). The villagers firmly believe that stepping near the lake after sunset is an open invitation to danger. Ayan, however, never believed in ghosts or the supernatural. While visiting his grandfather's house during the holidays, he heard the spooky tales surrounding the lake. His grandfather warned him repeatedly, "Ayan, don't you dare go near that old banyan tree by the lake in the dead of night." Ayan smiled to himself, convinced that these were nothing more than rural superstitions. The Night of the New Moon It was a Mahalaya (New Moon) night. At midnight, Ayan suddenly felt thirsty. As he got up to drink water and glanced out the window, he was stunned. He saw a flickering bluish light emanating from the direction of the lake. Unable to suppress his curiosity, Ayan grabbed a flashlight and quietly slipped out of the house. As he reached the banks of the lake, the air grew heavy. The constant chirping of the crickets suddenly went silent. Ayan saw an old woman in a white saree sitting on the steps of the lake, combing her hair. But strangely, she cast no shadow. A Bone-Chilling Moment
Gathering his courage, Ayan called out, "Grandmother, what are you doing here so late at night?" The old woman slowly turned her head. What Ayan saw in the beam of his flashlight made his blood run cold. The woman had no eyes, no nose—only shriveled, pitch-black skin. She let out a piercing, cackling laugh and said, "Child, will you help me a little? My mirror has fallen under the water." As she spoke, her hand grew unnaturally long, reaching out toward Ayan's throat. Ayan tried to scream, but no sound came out. His feet felt as though they were bolted to the ground.
The Escape Just at that moment, the morning Azaan from the village mosque and the sound of the conch shell from the temple echoed together. In an instant, the old woman vanished like a cloud of smoke into the dark waters of the lake. Ayan collapsed there, losing consciousness.
The next morning, the villagers rescued him. Since that day, Ayan has never dismissed ghost stories as mere superstition. To this day, the people of Chandipur say that on New Moon nights, that strange, eerie laughter can still be heard near the lake.