Vampire
This story is a work of fiction, loosely based on real incidents. Any resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental only.
“Do you believe in Vampires?”
Sivadasan shot this question at me. I stared at him suspiciously.
He looked weird; his face seemed dull, more like an insomniac.
“Do you mean yakshi? Are you still dreaming in your sleep?” I mocked him.
Sivadasan is my friend and batch-mate. He was neither serious in academics nor interested in sports, arts or any literary activities. None of us ever took Sivadasan seriously.
Sivadasan, Johnykutty, and Skaria lived in a triple room on the first floor of men’s hostel, with room facing the public road. The other side of the room faced the corridor between two wings of the hostel. In the rectangular room, there was only one door to enter, and that was from the corridor but had two windows facing the road.
Character-1: Sivadasan
Sivadasan was a third-year student, moderately tall, with well-trimmed hair, and fair complexion. He always kept a well-shaven face except for a long, thick mustache. Most of the times, he sits on a reclining plastic chair in the room with a happy-go-lucky attitude. His main hobby was lying down on the chair and oiling his mustache with his right hand holding a mirror on his left. He liked showing off his curled and pointed, handle-bar mustache.
Contrary to his tough appearance, he was afraid of darkness. He slept near the wall away from the window. He usually went to bed late and slept inside a mosquito net all the time as he feared mosquito-borne diseases. Toilets and bathrooms were on the extreme corners of the building. After 10 pm, his condition got even worse as he feared to go out even to use the toilet, which has once prompted his neighbors below to file a complaint against him for the unwelcome shower of urine through their window.
He now relieves himself by urinating in bottles and disposing them off in the morning. This was a top secret until once another hostel inmate found a bottle under Sivadasan’s bed and mistook it as liquor. He even took a sip of it and threw up in moments. He shouted at Sivadasan for not disposing the previous day’s urine and spread the news in the whole campus making Sivadasan popular.
Character-2: Johnykutty
Johnykutty was another third year student and roommate of Sivadasan. Johny was a six-footer, very handsome, and had nice curly hair. He was conscious of his health and beauty. He regularly worked out at the campus gym, followed a high-protein diet, used different cosmetics like face creams and body creams, for maintaining his appearance and fragrance. His only worry was his low facial hair growth. His friends used to advise him against overuse of face creams for that may be the reason of low hair growth. But he was never shaken by such advices. He still meticulously shaved his ‘beard’, for which when teased by his friends, he responded: ‘Shaving is not an easy task for me, I have to search and find out every hair follicle and remove it’.
Character-3: Skaria
Skaria was another student from the same year. A tall and bulky 100 kg guy with minimal interest in academics or co-curriculars but fond of watching movies. He was early to bed and late to rise but slept late when he went for second show movies. Skaria slept near the window and kept it open to let fresh air in. His eating habits were erratic. He eats any food, no matter south or north Indian, veg or non-veg, healthy or junk. The most interesting thing was that he never officially joined any hostel mess but ate from there regularly, perhaps more meals than anyone else there. Everyone wondered how he managed to eat from the mess like this.
Skaria knew all the mess boys and their nature. Once he entered one of the hostel messes when it was about to close. Rajagopalan, the senior mess boy, was noting down in the register, the number of diners. He usually noted down the number immediately when somebody entered the mess hall. He knew personally almost every student diner and their register number. Even though Skaria was not a registered diner to the mess, Rajagopalan knew Skaria’s register number.
As Skaria entered, Rajagopalan said, “Skaria, you did not register to this mess this month, correct?”
Skaria casually answered, “I came as substitute to my friend”.
Many a times when students go outside the institute on emergency for a short while they will not be able to request for mess reduction. The information for mess reduction must be given at least two days in advance or else will not be allowed. In such cases, a substitute may use the facility, which is allowed, to reduce wastage or especially when the food is special. For Skaria, every food was special.
Rajagopalan asked, “His number?”
Skaria said with confidence, “82138”.
Rajagopalan mumbled, “82138”, after referring daily account book, “Oh, Mohanan; he came and had his food”.
Skaria said another number, but Rajagopalan replied that he also ate. Skaria tried his luck once again with another number but Rajagopalan responded the same way.
Rajagopalan knew that no student has informed Skaria to substitute him in the mess and Skaria also knew Rajagopalan was playing tricks. Skaria knew that a few students will be absent in the mess no matter what.
“I came in place of the student who did not come for food today”. Skaria added.
Rajagopalan saw right through him and understood that somehow, he would manage to take food from the same mess.
He replied, “All the regular diners came and had food. We are about to close the mess”.
Skaria was more cunning and would go to any extent to eat free food. He argued, “It seems all the students and mess boys had food and hence whatever food is remaining is going to be wasted. Food is precious and if you waste food, God will punish you. Hence, Mr. Rajagopalan, please give me some food”.
There was no other way out for Rajagopalan and other mess boys but to serve food to Skaria and wait until he finished eating. Skaria had this typical nature and a knack to get people serve him anything, but mostly…food.
Yakshi enters the room
I stayed in the room on the side opposite to their room, across the corridor. It was a Saturday, around 8.00 in the morning and I was coming back from the mess after breakfast. While passing their room, I saw Sivadasan on his chair, with fingers on mustache, but no mirror on left hand. I entered the room just for a chit-chat with Sivadasan.
I noticed that Johnykutty is not in the room and Skaria was still sleeping.
I asked Sivadasan, “Does Skaria wake up only when the mess is about to close?”
Sivadasan continued twirling his mustache, immersed in his own thoughts, with no attention to my question. Immediately, Sivadasan asked with a slightly scary face and shivering voice, “Do you believe in Vampires?”
I stared at him, confused.
He continued, “I meant yakshi only”. Have you had any experience with yakshi”?
His question alarmed me. I have never had any experience with yakshi. Why was Sivadasan asking about yakshi this early Saturday morning? Has he gone crazy?
I broke the silence, “Why Sivadasan, why did you ask about yakshi? Those are all supernatural beings. I don’t believe in them”.
Sivadasan yowled, “I am not joking. I had a frightening experience last night”.
I became anxious to listen to his story. I understood that the concern and eagerness on my face encouraged him to narrate last night’s incident.
Sivadasan always slept away from Skaria’s bed as his window was always open. Johnykutty slept opposite to Skaria, not very near to the wall, as he wanted a fan sometime. Summer season started, and mosquitoes were everywhere in the hostel. To sleep peacefully, one needed to resort to closing every door, windows and ventilators, running fan in full speed or by using mosquito repellent spray or cream. Another way was to bury oneself inside a mosquito net like how Sivadasan did. Sivadasan continued twirling his mustache, immersed in his own thoughts, with no attention to my question. Johnykutty used to sleep under the fan when the mosquito attack was severe.
“Last night, my mother had called me. She said that she was not feeling well, but she did not allow me to travel home as exams were approaching. Around 11.30 pm”, Sivadasan continued the narration of the incident, “I felt a bit disturbed, but I went to bed. I put the mosquito net on and tried to sleep. As I was about to fall asleep, I started sensing a strong smell. It made me uncomfortable and I opened my eyes. I got up, sat on my bed inside the net and looked around. I rolled my eyes over to the open window side. I did not see anything. Both Johny and Skaria were sleeping. As they were sleeping, I did not want to disturb them. Nevertheless, I called them by their names in a gentle voice. Both did not respond”.
“What smell was that?” I asked curiously.
“I could not sleep after that. For a long time, the smell was inside, I am sure”. It was something like the smell of Alstonia flower (Malayalam: ഏഴിലംപാല, Ezhilampaala). So far, I have not told this story to anyone. Johny and Skariya would rather make fun of me, than believe me.”
“Where is Johnykutty?” I asked.
“Today is Saturday, he would have gone home”, Sivadasan replied.
“I have known from the repeated references of yakshi and her association with paala in Sathyan’s blockbuster movie ‘Yakshi’. Alstonia is the devil’s tree. As the yakshi lives on these trees, their body gets the smell of its flowers. Its smell, especially strong and long-lasting is an indication of existence of yakshi as per Hindu belief. Yesterday was a Friday. In my childhood I had heard about the popular belief that the yakshi prefers to appear on Friday and Tuesday nights. It sucks blood out of handsome youngsters, eats their flesh, leaving behind only hair, nails and bones”.
He was also aware of these myths. But we have almost reached the end of the twentieth century and who is going to believe such stories?
I consoled him, “Siva, there may be an Alstonia tree nearby. A gentle breeze might have brought the smell of its flowers inside the room. For your information, the yakshi is believed to live on palmyra trees, although she bears the scent of Alstonia flower”.
To further my consolation and to break his stereotypes on yakshi, I added, “I think you have read that Kalliyankattuneeli (another famous yakshi) attacks young gents who cross Kalliyankatu (a forest where it lives) on days other than Tuesday and Friday. In another story of yakshi told by Kalanilayam, yakshi was a transformed young girl, who attacked people everyday for blood”. I continued ranting to convince him that a yakshi couldn’t possibly exist and that it never entered his room.
That is when I started thinking about yakshipala tree. I was sure that this was not the season of flowering. It flowers usually just before winter season or at the beginning of winter.
By this time, after hearing our conversation, Skaria woke up. He immediately enquired, “Why are you talking about yakshi when it is time to eat breakfast?”
I replied, “Sivan suspects that last night, a yakshi may have entered this room. Apparently, there was a smell of yakshi”.
“I did not get any smell”, Skaria continued, “if yakshi comes, do not worry Siva, it will first kill me as I am sleeping near the open window”. Skaria took it very lightly.
I replied jokingly, “Yakshi does not need an open window or door, it can enter through any hole or gap”.
I noticed fear flashing on Sivan’s face. He said in a disappointing voice. “If yakshi comes, I know it will eat me first not Skaria. Today, only we two are here, and it will attack only handsome men”.
Skaria got irritated and went out in search of some free food. I said bye to Sivadasan and entered my room.
After about half an hour, Sivadasan came rushing to my room and continued, “I just went around after our talk and found such an Alstonia tree near our compound wall. But it has no flowers. Anyway, its smell was there yesterday. I don’t know where the yakshi lives and how it entered the room.” Sivadasan appeared stressed out.
He slowly went back to his room. I started feeling slightly uncomfortable. I met Sivadasan in the mess hall during tea-time late afternoon. He told me that he was planning to go check around for any palm trees in the campus. He appeared a little less frightened this time though, or perhaps it was because it was not dark yet.
Soon, as the night began to set in, the mosquitoes gently started their attacks and I decided to go to my room. I was standing at the ground floor lobby when I saw Sivadasan entering the hostel looking dull. I could guess that he found a palm tree also.
Sivadasan directly came up to me and said, “There are two trees that look exactly like palmyra palm near the canteen. It carries fresh bunch of flowers and fruits. Will yakshi be living on that palm tree?”
I was unable to say anything. He looked petrified and I understood that his mind is disturbed. Is this the beginning of a psychiatric disorder?
I tried my best to pacify him. If I believe his words, people would laugh at me. But, if I disbelieve him, he will feel totally helpless. I tried to give him courage. I told him that nothing will happen today and to call me if he gets any sign of yakshi entering the room. “We will search for it together and find out the truth.”
Sivadasan went back to his room. That night went on peacefully as Sivadasan did not call me. I assumed that there was no indication of yakshi that night. I also guessed that he might be waiting for the next potential day for yakshi to come, which is Tuesday.
Sunday night I met Johnykutty in the dining hall. I guessed that either he did not meet Sivadasan or Sivadasan did not tell him the story. I approached Johnykutty and briefed him the story. As expected, he didn’t believe a word of it. He told me that he went for an evening movie on Friday and came back only by 10 pm. After a shower, he went to bed late. He neither smelt anything odd nor did he hear Sivan’s call for help. He commented that it might have been one of his nightmares.
That night also nothing strange happened. Two days passed by without any problems. On Wednesday morning at about 6 o’clock, Sivadasan came running and said, “Last night also, the same thing happened. I tried to call Johny and Skaria. But my voice did not come out due to fear. I thought of calling you also. But I was unable to do anything”.
I found that he was extremely worried. It was confusing for me too. We went to his room together. Johnykutty was absent as he was in the bathroom. Skaria was sleeping. I was unable to smell anything strange there.
Yakshi under custody
Sivadasan became more and more nervous after the second incident, and that too on a Tuesday night. Now the yakshi has followed the said pattern — first on Friday, then on Tuesday. As the door and one window were closed and latched, no one could enter through the door. Entering through the open window was also struggle-some as the room is in the first floor. I had a doubt whether somebody was trying to prank Sivadasan by diffusing a scent through the ventilator. But no one was crazy enough to do such a stupid prank in this hostel.
“Siva, can you avoid using mosquito net for a few days?”. I suggested Sivan.
Immediately Sivan replied, “Why? It is difficult for me to sleep with mosquitoes around. Over and above, net is a guard for me. Otherwise on this Friday, yakshi will locate me on the first sight itself”.
I tried to educate him. “You won’t get any disease with a few mosquito bites. And even if you are inside the net, yakshi can find you.” I continued, “If the mosquito net is used, you may not get the smell of yakshi easily and it will be difficult to search for it quickly.”
Sivan looked hopeful after listening to this. I understood that he was slowly realizing the gravity of the matter and agreed to do the same. I went back to my room to sleep.
That night, I heard someone shout from Sivadasan’s room. I quickly got up.Time was nearing 12.30 am. I bolted to his room with my roommate. Sivan’s room was lit. Sivan immediately opened the door when I knocked. Sivadasan’s face had mixed expressions: receding fear, confusion, embarrassment and a gentle smile. Skaria was not in the room, he has not returned from second show. Johny was sitting on the bed wearing shorts, looking confused. And most interestingly, there was a strong smell of Alstonia flower in the room.
Sivadasan started in full spirit. “Johnykutty went to bed by 10.00 pm. I was reading and waiting for Skaria, who went for a movie. After closing the door, I went to the bed. I did not use the net. After some time, I heard some dogs barking outside. Immediately I got the smell of the Alstonia flower. It was slowly reaching for me, as it became more and more intense. I opened my eyes and lifted my face and looked to the window side”.
He took a pause. He was so energetic to narrate the remaining part also.
“It was still darkness in the room. Slowly the premises became a bit clearer. I saw somebody sitting on Johnykutty’s bed. I thought yakshi was approaching Johnykutty. My reflex worked this time. Shouting on top of my voice, I stood up and switched on the light. I saw only Johnykutty sitting on his bed, massaging gently on his arms and legs. He too paused for a moment, thinking why I was shouting in the middle of the night. I went closer to him and looked at what he was massaging with. He was applying a mosquito repellent cream as he could not sleep under the attack. And the cream smelt exactly like the Alstonia flower”.
Johnykutty told us that he got such a cream from his cousin who came home from gulf just a week ago. He used to apply the cream only when there was severe mosquito attack. He did not know how Alstonia smelled like, and for him, intense smell of cream was quite normal.
I helped Sivadasan to rewind the incidents. On Friday, there was severe mosquito attack. And Johny thought the cream would be useful. And he went on to apply the cream. Sivadasan, on the other hand, was unable to sleep peacefully, thinking about his mother, and was just rolling on the bed. The smell diffused across the room and through the net only after Johnykutty laid down to sleep. When Sivadasan got up and looked, he did not see anything except Johny and Skaria sleeping well. Thereafter everything else evolved in his mind.
On Saturday, Johny had gone home. On Sunday, Johnykutty might have been tired travelling and slept early without applying the cream. On Monday, he may not have faced a severe mosquito attack. On Tuesday night, however, he applied the cream again.
Johnykutty sat there perplexed. He still didn’t know what the smell of an Alstonia flower meant to Sivadasan. He continued applying cream on to his face and neck to avoid any major attacks.
And suddenly, Skaria walked into the room after second show and exclaimed, “Such a waste of a movie! Wasted my precious time. I feel hungry now, is the mess open? You got anything to eat?” We stood there numb. Skaria sniffed around and said, “Wow such a nice flowery smell inside the room. Did you bring flowers here?” Sivadasan could not speak a word.
Skaria continued, “You want to know a secret? I have not shared this secret with anyone else: Smell of flowers induces more hunger in me. I feel like eating a biryani now. Where can I get a biryani from now?”
I burst into laughter, while Sivadasan, a recovering ‘shock victim’ stood there speechless.
“The human mind is like that monkey, incessantly active by its own nature…. How hard it is to control such a mind!” — Swami Vivekanand
