A young British officer was wandering in the desert region of Rajasthan.
Suddenly, he saw a gigantic Haveli (palace) in the middle of nowhere.
He was amazed by the mammoth size of the Haveli having large gate and alluring outer carvings.
He couldn’t resist the temptation to look inside the Haveli.
He walked towards the Haveli while admiring its beautiful structure.
As soon as he reached inside, he was further stun by the glimmering crystal chandelier; delicately carved interior of the Haveli.
On the right side of the Haveli, he saw an old man continuously staring at him with gloomy eyes.
He went towards the old man and said ‘it is a beautiful palace, is it all right if I bring my family to show this palace?’
The old man with a deep voice and pale face replied ‘If you ever come back’.
He was taken aback by the bitter reply.
He decided it’s time to go and started strolling towards the gate.
As soon as he put his first step out of the house, he was repelled back by a sudden force.
He couldn’t understand “what was happening?”
He tried again and again, unsuccessfully. Each time, he tried to move his body out of the gate, a sudden force pushes him back.
He took a few steps back and started running towards the gate in order to jump out but all in vain.
Frantically, he rushed back to the old man and yelled “what’s happening, why I can’t leave this place”.
The old man replied “This palace has been cursed by a princess who tried to elope from this palace, but couldn’t and in the end she gave up her life with a curse that whoever enters this palace can’t leave. The person neither ages, nor feels hungry or thirsty. He remains stuck here forever.”
“O’No”. The British soldier started weeping and pleaded him “There must be a way out. Help me. Help me”.
The Old man replied “there is a way – on every full moon light, Haveli changes its location and its gates are opened and you can run out of the house. Before the sunrise, you have to convince someone to take your place in the palace only then you can escape this malediction but there is only one condition”
“What?” replied agitated British soldier.
“You cannot lie to the person. You need to tell the truth about the Haveli and its curse.”
Finally, the moonlight came and he ran towards the nearby village screaming “help me help me help me”.
He tried to convince every person that he encountered, but no one agreed.
Till this date on every full moonlight, villagers in Rajasthan hear men yelling “help me help me help me”.
P.S: This is a famous Rajasthan folk tale narrated by my friend – Sambhav.
prAts!
Its scary..I hope it’s just one of those tales ..people say to scare kids..not more than that. .
one helluva story !!!