Chapter 2: A Women in the Midst of Nowhere
It was a chilly winter night. I used to work as a driver, driving jeeps and taking people to their designated place. One day, I had to drive the fellow hitchhiker to another district which was far away from where I lived. I had to travel about an average of 4km away from where I used to live. Also, the road that was to be taken for reaching the destination of the passenger was surrounded by jungles during my time the place wasn't as developed as today's time and there were mostly villages which had less to no electricity services and the roads would be empty by the time of 8 due to the winter nights.
After a long drive through the rough roads, I dropped off the passenger at his destination and headed back my way. Since it had been almost 9-9:30, it was hard to remember. I was hungry after a long trip. I was trying to get home as soon as possible. The road was silent, eerie and dark. The only thing illuminating the dark road was the headlights of my jeep. I was sleepy, tired and hungry. I was speeding on the empty road when suddenly I saw a woman wearing a white dress in the middle of the road with a candle. I sped past the woman when I realized she was standing on the edge of the road. I slowly backed up my jeep getting closer to the woman. As I reached where the woman was standing, I leaned out of the window, "Miss, where are u headed to this late?" I asked. She didn't respond at first. When I looked closer at the woman, I figured out her eyes were dug deep in and had big dark circles. "She must have been widowed due to a tragic event. What a bad fortune." I thought to myself. "Hey miss, tell me where you are going I'll drop you off on my way." She slowly lifted her hand and pointed at the direction I was going. " I'm heading the same way, come on in, I'll drop you off." I said awkwardly. She nodded her head and sat on the back seat.
The silence was eerie. She was sitting on the backseat staring at the empty road. I looked at the rear mirror to check on her. She was mesmerizing in a unique way even though she had dark circles under her eyes. " Right! " she exclaimed suddenly. I was woken up by that and took a right turn. The road further extended to the inner parts of the jungle instead of leading us out of it. " Miss, are you sure this is the right way?" I asked. "Just follow the road. At the end there is a village with an inn. You can rest there, she said." I couldn't say no to her. I followed as she said. The silence again was creating a tense and eerie environment. The road was too offroad and the headlight cut through a small portion of darkness of the road. Suddenly, there was a huge bump, a rock I suppose in the middle of the road. I heard the sound of something dropping. I checked down to see if something had really dropped. The woman was still staring at the empty road. When I looked down, I was frozen with fear and shock. She wasn't an ordinary woman. Her feet were bent backwards. She was a 'Kichkandi'. My life was flashing before me "So this is how it's gonna end." I thought to myself. I got up and started driving ahead without asking or saying anything. My stomach was churning with fear but I didn't dare to show it. I was looking at the woman from the rear mirror, I was afraid something might happen to me if I continued driving but I was also afraid that it wouldn't turn out good for me if I stopped driving and told her I couldn't continue. I was so scared and afraid. Suddenly, something dropped behind me. I didn't dare to turn around and had a really bad gut feeling. I slowly stopped driving, and looked in the rear mirror. The woman was not there anymore. I was relieved but still a bit scared. But it was all over. I sighed a sigh of relief. I parked my jeep on the side of the road. I was exhausted and it was getting to me. I suddenly blacked out due to hunger and exhaustion.
I hear a tap on my side window. I woke up startled to see a stranger tapping on my window. He asked me what I was doing in the middle of the road. I explained to him what I had experienced the night before. "Another victim." he said, nodding his head. " What do you mean by another victim?" I asked him. "Give me a ride to the village I live in. I will explain all of the things on the way." He said.
On the way, he explained that a terrible accident had happened to a family of that village and the son of that family had passed away right after a month or so after his wedding so they thought the girl he was married to was a bad omen so they discriminated her and eventually she passed away too and nobody stood up for her. So, she has become a restless spirit and haunts the road of the village leading strangers to roads to nowhere. He also stated that I was lucky I was left right near to the well where the villagers get water from. I was also very relieved to be in good shape and will get to see my family again. After I reached the village, I ate some food and drank some water before leaving for my home and right after that incident I stopped doing the hitchhiking job.
"But it's just a story you made up to scare me right, hajur buba?" Ram asked. "It's upon you to decide it babu." I replied.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Infinitz
Infinitz *Kichkandi: An urban legend said to be originated in Nepal, said to be a restless spirit of unjustfully dead people
*hajur buba: Nepali term for grandfather.
*babu: Nepali term for boy/ son/ kid.