The Haunted Heist

Maria’s eyes were heavy from exhaustion and the continuous filling up of tears. Just a week ago her husband had died and now she was standing in front of his ancestral villa in India. 

At the age of 60, Maria was a retired and ambition-less widow in a foreign nation. Her psychiatrist friend back in America had told her that a change would help in her healing process. So, she had hoped on a plane to India to repair her husband’s villa. 

A butler ran up to greet her. The servants brought in her bags. Settling in her freshly made room, Maria shut her eyes and tried to remove his blood stained image from her face. 

She instead got up to prepare a to-do list for the upcoming days. With all the repairs and legal stuff, Maria would be able to bring this place up on the market for sale in about a month. 

She wondered why her husband, Mukesh, who had been a successful businessman never did this before. Maybe he had sentimental values attached to it. 

But Maria won’t let emotions ride over her. She needed a new purpose in her life and this was the best deal.

In the morning, the Butler took her on a tour of the mansion. He had a gruff white beard and a nice tan due to the Indian sun. He seemed to be the same age as Maria but years of manual work made him more active than Maria. By the time they reached the lounge Maria was tired out and plopped on the old couch. As the butler ran to fetch her a drink, Maria looked at the family portrait.

Between two rich looking parents, stood two boys. Mukesh was clearly the older one; there was no mistaking his dimples. 

She wondered who the other boy was? Mukesh had always talked little about his family. His mother passed away when he was 10 and his father died due to a heart attack while he was studying in America. He had never mentioned his brother. 

When the Butler came back, Maria asked him, “Who is that small boy?” The butler's eyes grew sad as he said, “He is your husband’s little brother. Their father cut him off inheritance because he disliked the choices of his life. Mukesh Saheb also cut off the contacts with him when his father did.”

Maria was stunned, she always thought her husband to be loving and caring towards everyone. It looked as if he owned his own secrets. 

As they continued the tour, Maria noticed that the Butler was quite aware of the family history. When she questioned the source of his knowledge the butler spoke in a flustered tone, “Well Madam, my father used to be the butler when the entire family lived here. I used to visit this place as a little boy and the little sahebs used to play with me.” Maria was happy to find an old worker as now she would be able to go about the repairs quickly. 

That night, Maria slept contentedly as they had already begun working on the kitchen. 

But soon her usual nightmares began. It started with the dinner, the drive, the quarrel, the shift, the lights, the screech, the overturning of the car, the wheezing pain in her chest but this time it felt different. 

It felt as if something was being pressed in her face. But it couldn’t be the airbag as it had never opened for her or her husband that night. 

Maria opened her eyes and found total darkness even though she had kept the bedside lamp on before sleeping. That's when she realized that the pillow was over her. Someone was choking her. 

She tried to scream and kick. She brought her hands to throw away the things kept on the side table to attract help. Her efforts paid off. She felt the pressure being released from her. She flung the pillow aside and sat up. 

That’s when her eyes fell on him. Even though the lamp didn’t reveal his features still there was no denying who he was. Her mind was still dizzy from the anaerobic respiration and blackness started to take over her as she heard footsteps approaching. She whispered “Mukesh” before fainting. 

Drinking hot tea the next morning, Maria was totally jumpy. She couldn’t believe she had an attack of sleep paralysis for the first time in her life. Even though this explanation seemed absurd to her, it was a lot better than being choked by her dead husband. Still the incident had shaken her completely.

She realized it had been three days since she poured her heart out to her psychiatrist friend.When the butler came with her medicine, he politely asked, “Last night you had a nightmare involving the master, didn’t you?” His question broke her control and Maria found herself pouring out her story to the poor man.

She said, “The night your master died I was with him. We were going back home after eating in the restaurant. On the way we started to argue over some petty issue. Mukesh sealed his lips like he did in each argument. Whereas I continued to rant. Then I said something really harsh and Mukesh turned his head to look at me. He shifted into the fast lane and the next thing I knew we were hit by a truck. Our car overturned.I saw him bleed to death as I sat inches away from him.He was trying to tell me something but all I did was wail in pain.” Maria paused and declared, “I murdered my husband.” 

An eerie silence fell over the place. The butler broke it by speaking reassuring words that many people had said during Mukesh’s last rites that it was all an accident and certainly not her fault. Maria too wanted to believe it but the survivors' guilt lay heavy on her.

The night’s incident was forgotten as she overviewed the kitchen furnishing.The plumber even visited. So, that evening she took the much awaited hot shower. 

As she began to relax in bed; last night’s events replayed in her mind. She tried to tell her mind that it was all stress but it was really hard to fall asleep. After tossing and turning for a long time. She finally gave up at midnight. She decided to go to the kitchen and rig up a snack for herself. 

Preparing a petty sandwich she entered the foyer and saw that the ornate mirror in the hallway had a message printed in what looked like blood. ‘I am back’. Maria’s hair on the back of neck stood up and heart started to beat quickly. She approached the mirror slowly and that's when she saw him. 

Mukesh stood behind her. 

His face half covered with shadows with blood running all over his body and torn shirt. He took staggering steps towards her. Maria screamed and threw the plate at him. Then she turned around and started to climb the stairs. Mukesh followed her quickly. He was grunted as he took each step. 

The terrifying sound sent tremors down Maria's spine. She turned left in the hallway and he followed. Suddenly , she saw moonlight streaming in the house. Maria could have slapped herself for her stupidity. 

Of all the places, she had to run into the end of the broken hallway on the first floor. Mukesh now had her cornered. Maria was crying in fear and grief as she fell down on her knees. 

She started to plead, “ Please don’t harm me. I have always loved you. Please forgive me.” Mukesh’s spirit grunted, “I love you too darling, that's why I have come to take you with me.” 

As he began to cover the distance between them something struck Maria’s mind. “Darling?” Mukesh had always called her Maria. They both sucked at keeping cute couple nicknames. 

Death doesn’t change a person’s nature. But a phony won’t know it. As the imposter approached Maria, she took position. She held him in a tight grip and was able to fling him over the edge and he fell on the bushes below. 

She shouted, “Not bad for an ex- agent, huh?” 

When the police rubbed off the makeup from his face, it turned out to be the - Butler. Maria was less surprised but more hurt by his betrayal. It turned out that the ‘Butler’ was Mukesh’s younger brother. He was a pathetic gambler that's why he was disowned. 

When he got to know he had a chance to get the villa back he decided to get done with the widow and label it as an accident. 

The court declared several years prison for him due to mental and physical assault. He was even asked to pay Maria a compensation but Maria refused to accept it. Because in a way he gave her an excellent purpose in life.

October was ending on a chilly note in India as Maria stood wearing a black gown. She looked back at the ancestral villa. It looked even worse than before. And that’s what made it an ideal place for her haunted tours.