Chapter one. That night.

May 5, 1979.

In a dilapidated small town where any activity ceases just before darkness descends, news of an upcoming storm decimates any further chances of gathering at corners, squares and roads.

Meteorologists say it’s a cyclonic wave happening due to western disturbance in early monsoon cycle. Whatever be the reason, this hamlet is going to get drenched in heavy shower after a long blistering, hellish spell of hot summer days.

Pale Light of flickering halogen street lamps and a hazy ambiance created a different view across Sandhurst colony road. Not a person lingered on road.

A way leading to Diamond Lake was covered with fronds and bushes. This was a shortcut which leaded to officers’ colony. Nobody knew why it was called Diamond Lake for it neither had shape nor any history of diamond extracted, founded, discovered in any recorded history or preserved folklore.

Just right, there was an alley which curved into another colony, very near to collieries, also popularly known as bhetnar colony (veteran’s colony), ended on a small English Bungalow “Manumit House” which resided many government officers right from 1920's to late 80's. Official name of Veteran’s colony was S.M. Worliker’s colony, named after an officer and overseer in near collieries who was sent on behalf of Government of India,just after coal blocks across nation were centralized. Worliker worked for the well-being of mine laborers and advocated their best interest. It was he, who helped migrant laborers settle down in a ghetto near Diamond Lake, just behind veteran’s colony. Migrants who wanted to seek help about anything and everything came to Babu Sahib for their day-to-day problems. No surprise, they started calling it Bhetnar colony (Veteran’s colony) where one gets possible and applicable solutions of one’s problems.

But more than migrant’s slum or British bungalow and colonies; this town was famous for railways and gypsies. Earlier, these gypsies used to stay on the very place where present Bhetnar colony is. As coalmines got discovered, these people got displaced from their habitat. After all, everybody knew, Gypsies don’t have a permanent place to reside and that’s a perfect excuse for British authorities, in those times to demolish their homes. Folklore says these people used to carry diamonds and precious metals which sustained them to live opulent lives during one time but when English People demolished their settlements, they threw away their belongings in the Lake. Nobody has bothered to check or substantiate claims made by older generations till this date.

Nowadays Gypsies have their settlement on the far corner of city. Just at the place where earlier railway lines used to be, near to the end where a small tributary juts out from the famous Diamond Lake.

Drizzling started. A ripple in lake water has disturbed small fishes near shallow area. Croaking and Creaking noises are being suppressed by the whoosh noise of moistened wind.

A thunderous noise. Did lightning strike somewhere? But the sound came from “Manumit house”. People were perplexed but nobody was eager to go out in rain and check out what happened. Two more thunderous noises! Doesn't sound like lightning but a gunshot. Seems like bandits are breaking into someone’s place?

Drizzle slowly turned into torrential rain. The same rain which was stopping people earlier could not stop them now. Curiosity is a better drive than courage. A group of people laced with traditional set of arms and umbrellas gathered around Rendezvous. The lawn was strewn with weeds and mud. A flash of lightning highlighted areas of lawn and facade of Bungalow. Crowd entered the room. There was a turret of thick blood mixed in muddled water splattered all across veranda. A bald man was lying dead on an archaic wooden chair.His eyes were wide open as he saw something sinister and unbelievable. More trail of blood was coming from adjacent room. A swarthy woman with an ashen face, half-conscious, spilled spurious blood and froth. Certainly not a pleasant view for any squeamish person but this wasn't new for people residing in this place from years.The only difference in this scenario was a peculiar,acerbic smell.

A group of elderly men moved into backyard to search further. There was a child hiding in shrubs somehow unscathed.Awkward, fearful and in trance; a toddler who seemed too shocked to speak anything.The more they tried to extend helping hand, the more that boy cringed.

A group of boys spurted to nearest Railway police hospital for more help.

Incessant lightning, thunder and crashing rain turned the dusty road, which lead to Bungalow, into a necklace of puddles reflecting the turbulent sky, reminiscent of horror ordeals carried out in that stormy night.