Written by Bhannu AroraIn the winter of 2007, during my banking days in Shimla, I was determined to explore the town's history as the former summer capital of the British. It was December, and the possibility of snowfall hung in the air. My lodging was in a quiet paying guest accommodation, and evenings often felt dull. So, one chilly evening, I decided to take a drive around.
Behind Saint Bede's College lay a dense forest, and with a sense of adventure, I ventured into the unknown. Driving fearlessly into the dark, I eventually found a small clearing. I parked my car and sat down, relishing the tranquil quietness and the cloudy night sky. It was around 9 pm when I felt something falling gently from above—snow.
The magic of the snowfall had me captivated, and I lost track of time. Without my awareness , it was now 11 pm, and the thought of sleeping late on a Sunday didn't bother me. However, as time passed, an odd sensation crept over me—a feeling that I wasn't alone. I glanced around and, to my horror, spotted a figure illuminated by a ghostly white light, staring at me. Panic coursed through me as I realized the figure resembled a middle-aged British officer in a colonial-era uniform, gradually advancing towards me.
Fear gripped me, and I sprinted back to my car. In the darkness, I could swear I heard a voice with a distinct British accent asking me why I had come here. I didn't dare look back, driving away as fast as I could, my heart pounding with terror. That night, the unknown figure haunted my thoughts, and sleep eluded me.
The following afternoon, curiosity got the better of me, and I returned to that very spot. The landscape had transformed overnight, covered in a pristine blanket of snow. I located the exact stone where I had sat the previous night, and to my astonishment, I discovered that I had chosen a spot in an old British cemetery unknowingly.
The stone I had perched on turned out to be a grave marker for Colonel Parker, who had departed in 1853. Chills ran down my spine as I realized I had unwittingly shared a moment with this long-departed British colonel. I inquired with the locals, who confirmed stories of such encounters in the past, recounting how few dared to visit that mysterious place.
To this day, the memory of that spine-chilling encounter in the Shimla woods sends shivers down my spine.
Soul Curry invites you to share your real-life soul-stirring experiences. If you have any such story to share, do send it to us at soulcurry@timesinternet.in and we will publish it for you.Read also:
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