Author: Reena Saxena

My neighbor is up all night

In the morning he’s never in sight

At one, he unlocks his door

Walks loud, thumping the floor

If I am asleep this sound awakens

What’s he up to? my mind beckons

I try to go out and peep

I hear him singing slow and deep

I guess he comes straight from the bar

He walks doesn’t have a car

I can hear him pushing chairs

As though he is in some despair

Next day the owner, came by to see

To clean up that flat and lend for free

There was a rumour, the house is haunted

‘No one is ready to move in’ he vented

I froze still in fear and fright

What’s the sound I hear all night?

Who comes in to stay in here?

‘Oh no! it must be a ghost’ I fear!

That night I stayed up till one

अब वस्ल-ए-यार की सूरत भी नहीं
इज़हार-ए-प्यार की सूरत भी नहीं

क्यों पूछता है यह ज़माना हाल मेरा
जब मेरी बीमार सी सूरत भी नहीं

तकता हूँ चेहरा उसका उम्मीद के साथ
अब उसके इकरार की सूरत भी नहीं

उतार दी है कश्ती इस तूफां में मैंने
किस्मत में पतवार की सूरत भी नहीं

क्या ढूंढ़ता है इस आईने में “अमित”
अब तेरी पहले सी सूरत भी नहीं

In response to: Reena’s Exploration Challenge # 155

“Mumma….mumma”

“Yes, my dear”

“My friend just told me that there are blood sucking vampires out there, who take a stroll down the lane during the daytime too.”

“No dear. She must be joking”

“No mumma. She saw them cutting necks, screaming some mumbo-jumbo and when the hot blood starts flowing down the neck, she saw them splatter it everywhere before taking turns to suck it.”

“Oh dear! Your friend has a good imagination”

“Mumma…I am scared. What if they decide to take me“

“My dear..I promise you, I would never allow someone to take you”

I pacified my petrified little one, singing her favourite lorry. As she dozed off slowly, I stood up with determination.

With the last sweep of my eyes over her small sleeping form, I went out of my small dwelling.

“Hurry up..will you? Catch hold of that hen now, before she could…

Confined to home due to the lockdown, Samir had ample time at hand. Staying alone, Netflix had become his best friend.

That night he watched a horror movie. Though a brave heart, this particular movie left him terrified. Cursing himself for watching it, he went to bed. The scenes from the film kept haunting him before he finally dozed off.

He saw a hooded faceless lady walk through the wall and give him a rose. There was something so sinister about her smile. Sweating profusely, he woke up with a start. Relieved that it was just his hallucination and a bad dream, he turned to go back to sleep.

And then, he saw it…

Paralysed with fear, he could hear his heart hammer against his chest. He tried to scream but his voice choked within. A spine tingling sensation began to creep up as he began gasping for breath.

that spine-tingling you’re feeling
that intense fear, shock and/or disgust
it feels real, doesn’t it
it digs into you deep
so you’re breathing heavy
and shallower
and oh so much quieter
straining your ears harder
you believe
death is imminent

it’s in your head, love
there are no bogeymen
no one is whispering
creeping around in cool mists
getting all up in your face
hissing in your ears
chilling you to the bone
it’s your nerves fabricating this
and a hell of an imagination
i’m laughing at you….

wait. did you see that? what was that? did you hear that?

OMG!! HELP ME!! I WAS WRONG.

SO WRONG!!!

PSYCHE! Just kidding… 😉