MIDNIGHT RIDER PART4

''Its not good to be here at this time of the night.Lets go''

''But uncle..''

''Lets move.''moaned the aging guide in a quivering voice laced with anxiety and fear.He seemed to be fighting a serious impulse to dash in the other direction  as fast as his legs would support him.But apparently his erratic reactions kindled everyone's curiosity who began to dig him for further information.

''Ok....Ok.''he said wiping his forehead.

''I'll tell you everything.But please move from here.''he nearly grovelled.Since the poor man looked like he was going to have a massive heart attack,so everyone agreed.

            As soon as the group entered the Hotel premise,they dragged the poor man to the garden,sitting around him in a circle.

''Now tell us what was that?''Saima queried to general approbation.

''That was the Hathway's bridge.''began the guide reluctantly.

''During the time of colonial rule,there lived an officer named Sir Edmund Hathway.He loved this place and spent his free time here in the lap of nature.He lived on that side of the stream in a huge mansion.It was considered one of the most royal building of its time.Money was spent like water on it.

                                                                                                            But akin to those 'white skin' Hathway too treated natives like muck on his shoes.He was a sadist,torturing people without any reason in the most gruelling condition imaginable was an inseparable part of his tedious routine.In fact its said  that he made the fiery pits of Hades look very welcoming and hospitable.Hundreds succumbed to his tyranny,which gradualy filled people with fury.Then one day,in a fit of rage on some petty issue he brutaly whipped a boy,who later died due to his injuries.The people had had enough.The next morning his bloodied corpse was found on the bridge,on the very same spot where he had whipped that innocent boy.Though rumours were afloat that o group of natives had killed him,nothing was ever found.The enquiry was closed concluding that he was attacked by some wild animal.Since Hathway loved this place,he was laid to rest in the backyard of his house.His family left for England to never to return back.That was the end of his tyranny and everything related to him.His house is in ruins now.''

The guide concluded staring around impressively at his keen listeners.As soon as he made to get up ,Rachna dropped the bomb .

''Can we go there tomorrow?I wanna see his mansion.I have never been to a place like that ever.please?''

BOOM.That was louder that Hiroshima and Nagasaki put together.

''NO!''yelled the frightened guide looking scared out of hell.

''Don't ever go near that dratted bridge even with a 10ft. long bamboo stick,not if you want to die a very painful death.''

His ominous outburst was greeted by a startled silence as every face once again got glued to his pale.panic-stricken one.