v As I was returning home after visiting a relative in an out of the
way kampong one afternoon a few years ago, it began to rain heavily. My way lay
along the edge of a rubber state, which had been deserted, being too old to be
managed profitably. Presumably it had to be burnt down and replanted. There was
a two -storey bungalow in the estate. As I approached the building I found that
it had been deserted too.
v As I was returning home after visiting a relative in an out of the
way kampong one afternoon a few years ago, it began to rain heavily. My way lay
along the edge of a rubber state, which had been deserted, being too old to be
managed profitably. Presumably it had to be burnt down and replanted. There was
a two -storey bungalow in the estate. As I approached the building I found that
it had been deserted too.
v Pushing my bicycle into the porch I rested it against a wall and
entered the deserted house. One of the rooms upstairs still had all its doors
and windows intact its floor too, was cleaner than that of any other room in
the house. Here I took off my clothes and squeezed as much water out of them as
I could. Putting them on again, I sat down, waiting for the rain to stop or
abate sufficiently to enable me to resume my journey.
v I waited there till well after sunset, but the rain still
continued. Ultimately I lost all hope of returning home that night. As I sat
there brooding over my hopeless position. I fell asleep. I did not know how
long I had slept but when I woke, the rain had stopped, though the sky was
still overcast with clouds. There was a strong wind, which occasionally blew
with such fury that it crashed against the doors and windows of the house with
a terrific noise.
v I lay awake on the floor, when I heard men's voices in the
distance. I became quite alarmed when I remembered that the surrounding jungle
was a frequent haunt of gangsters and criminal wanted by the police. Some such
'bad character might be heading for that house for taking shelter there for the
night. Alternatively, they might be policemen in search of some wanted
criminals. What would they take me to be on finding me there The third
possibility was that they were some travelers who, like me, had been delayed by
rain The only fear from that source was that they might take away my bicycle.
Luckily for me nobody approached the house.
v Presently, I heard the roar of a tiger besides this there were the
howls of many other wild animals. Every moment I expected one or another of
these animals to push open the door of my room. Later that night, the wild
animals stopped howling. Now the only noise I heard was that made by the strong
wind opening and shutting the doors and windows in all parts of the house. This
reminded me of ghosts, for I had heard that ghosts usually haunt large deserted
buildings. I had to stay awake in that dark room with its doors and windows
securely bolted praying that the morning might find me safe and sound.
v My happiness knew no bounds when the night was over, and I was
able to resume my journey home.
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