Unwanted Guest

My father worked for the East Indian Railway in Allahabad, India, for many years. While he was working away from home one time, he stayed in a room in a railway workers’ hostel, and told us about a very strange experience.

The room was Number 13 and not only was this room considered unlucky but it was also believed to be haunted. No-one else wanted to sleep in the room so the night my father arrived, it was available. He was tired and just wanted a good night’s rest so took the room. Before long, he’d settled in and fallen asleep.

The next night, as he was reading by candle light the flame suddenly went out and he found himself on the floor having been tipped out of the bed. He thought his friends were playing a joke. The following night, he was ready for the jokers, but after the candle went out he felt a stinging blow to his face. The marks were still evident the next morning.

On the third night, a voice told him not to return. My father replied, “I do you no harm, if you wish me to help you I will gladly carry out your wishes, just tell me what you want.”

He was told, “Dig up the fireplace where you will find some remains. Carefully take them to the mosque and find a cleric and ask him to bless them. Then, arrange for a proper Muslim funeral and bury him in a proper grave site”.

My father found the remains, and had the burial carried out as instructed. After that, no ghosts ever haunted Number 13 again.

BY MERVYN BASSETT

AS HE WAS READING BY CANDLE LIGHT THE FLAME SUDDENLY WENT OUT AND HE FOUND HIMSELF ON THE FLOOR