Do you know what's on the other side? Do you believe there is something beyond what's known? I had always been curious to find out the answers.
A few years ago three of my friends started a website which not only facilitated lone travelers with comfortable expedition and housing but also provided company. One could easily pick a destination and check the boxes for number of travel buddies they wanted to hire. Based on the client's demand, one, two or all three of my friend would accompany the person and spend a friendly getaway.
It all came to a halt when they came across a strange request from a lady named Ana. "Just Ana?" I asked. "Just Ana" they replied. The short statured, middle aged, bobcut haired woman wanted to spend a night in Iramway hills which was known to be a portal between the living and non-living, a window separating the two worlds. Either she had placed a bet on with her peers or was mettlesome enough to risk her own life for cheap thrills. The request initially invited a few qualms but she was adamant with her thirst for discovery. So, all four of them set out on a remarkable journey.
Ana was unfamiliar with the route and constantly questioned about all the striking places on the way. She could have never surmised the existence of such enthralling spots. Upon reaching the desired location, she stated that it was one of the weirdest yet magical journeys she ever had, and that it felt like digressing from reality to enter a new realm altogether. "It feels like home", she breathed in the aura around Iramway hills and smiled at her companions who looked visibly confused. "Aren't you terrified of this place?" One of them asked to which she simply shook her head. "What if you come across something beyond the ordinary?" Added another one. Ana was undaunted and whispered "you wish!"
The sun had already set and they put out two tents, one for the lady and another for the three friends. The place was terrifyingly beautiful. An eerie sense of fulfillment comforted their tired bodies.
It was around midnight when Ana came out from her tent to get some fresh air. Lore had it, most supernatural encounters happened in those hours. She looked at the open tent of the boys who appeared to be sleeping soundly at first but she noticed something strange suddenly. None of them seemed to be breathing - their bodies were as still as rock. There was absolutely no movement to claim they were alive. She kept on staring at them until one of them woke up and asked what happened. He was still not breathing. At that moment, he didn't resemble a human. There was something so uncanny about his corpse like features that she almost fainted.
"Then?" I asked. All three of them burst out laughing. It was their last journey with a living person and they called it quits shortly. The website is still active somewhere, albeit their claim of having it shut down. If you ask me, I really don't know if they're still touring some lucky humans into their beautiful world but one thing for sure, it did open up some possibilities for mortals like us to explore beyond what is known. I'm only a medium.
How do I communicate with them? Well, it's going to be a little surprising for most of you that they live among us. They walk, talk and look like us humans. The only way to spot a non-human is by observing them while they sleep. Look at the person sleeping next to you. Are they breathing?
- Nirmali Medhi
Image courtesy - Google