Nishi’s Whisper: The Haunting Voice That Lured from the Shadows of Madhupur

 

The Illusion of the Night Hag

Madhupur, a small village in Chandpur. A narrow river flows beside the village, and on its bank lies the cremation ground. Even during the day, an eerie feeling lingers there, and at night, no one dares to go near it. But what the villagers fear most is the 'Nishi' (Night Hag). They say the Nishi calls out in the familiar voice of loved ones at night, and whoever answers that call is consumed by it.

Abir, a young man from the village, studies in the city. He had returned to the village for a two-month holiday. He didn't believe in these superstitions, thinking them to be mere delusions of the mind. Tonight, he stayed out late chatting with his friends. It was almost eleven o'clock. The village roads were deserted. Abir was passing by the cremation ground.

Suddenly, a sweet call reached Abir's ears. "Abir... O Abir...!"

Abir froze. It was his mother's voice! His mother wasn't supposed to be out at this hour. But the voice was so clear and familiar that Abir couldn't possibly mistake it. He looked back.

There was no one. Only dense darkness and the rustling of bamboo groves. Abir's blood ran cold. So, this was the Nishi's call! Everyone in the village says you shouldn't look back when the Nishi calls the first time. But his heart wouldn't listen. It was his mother's voice!

"Abir... where did you go, son? I'm not feeling well, come here for a moment." A second call!

Abir's heart pounded. The Nishi doesn't call more than once! So who was this? Was his mother really ill? Abir trembled with fear and indecision. Should he leave his mother in danger?

His logic told him it was the Nishi's deception. But his heart wanted to respond to his mother's call. He closed his eyes and tried to calm himself. He remembered his grandmother's words, who used to say, "If the Nishi calls a second time, it becomes weak. But it can still deceive."

Abir steeled himself. He didn't look back again. He quickly walked towards his house. The sorrowful call still echoed in his ears, but he ignored it. He knew that if he responded even once, everything would be lost.

By the time he reached his yard, panting, he was almost on the verge of collapsing. His mother came out of the house.

"What is it, Abir? Why are you so late? I've been waiting for you all this time."

Abir was startled by his mother's normal voice. His mother had been inside the house! So who had made that call? Abir felt as if he had experienced a terrible dream.

Abir said nothing, just hugged his mother. The next morning, he told the village elders about his experience. They all unanimously said, "You are very fortunate, Abir. You encountered a powerful Nishi. It knew you were vulnerable to your mother, so it tried to trap you by mimicking her voice. You showed courage, and that's why you survived."

That day, Abir understood that there are many mysteries in the world that cannot be explained by sight or logic. Some forces remain unseen, but their influence can be felt. The Illusion of the Night Hag remained an eternal fear in the hearts of Madhu

pur villagers.