Curiosity Killed The Cat

Once upon a time, there lived a boy named Ronit near Bhangarh, Rajasthan. There were many haunted stories about Bhangarh and nobody dared to stay after sunset. Many people said that ghosts lived in the forests of Bhangarh. Rumor had it that many kids died when they were born because Bhangarh was cursed. Ronit didn't believe in such rumors. But ultimately he would.

Ronit was of average appearance, having pitch black hair and blue eyes. He was 5 foot 7 and he loved to read ghost stories. His entire room was decorated with demonic objects, demonic bed sheets and many demonic & satanic books. He often wished that he was a powerful demon & could get rid of his bullies who made his life a living hell.

One regular day at school, Ronit’s bullies was running after him, calling him a freak of nature who loved demons so much. The bullies cornered him on the borders of Bhangarh Woods. Ronit was so scared that he ran inside the dark scary woods. But the bullies were too scared to go after him and left, leaving Ronit to his fate.

The forest had an uncanny feeling. It was damp, cold and dark. Ronit wasn't scared of the woods. On the contrary, he was excited as had heard many haunted stories about these woods. It was said that a young boy walked headless after sunset. Soon enough Ronit got lost. Ronit walked aimlessly for what seemed like hours but there was no way out.

Suddenly a cold gust of wind blew up into his face, dark black clouds appeared and there was lightning. It started to rain and the color of the sky turned from blue into deep blood red. For the first time that day, Ronit felt a pang of fear and started to run away from the rain.

Out of nowhere, a mansion appeared in front of him. Without a second thought, Ronit went inside. The mansion seemed to be abandoned. There was broken furniture everywhere. His eyes then fell on a black desk. Ronit walked cautiously up to the desk and saw a fat leather covered book.

Ronit was about to pick up the book when a tall dark figure in a black cloak appeared behind the desk. He had black long hair which almost concealed his evil red eyes. He was 6 feet tall and had deathly pale white skin. He grabbed the book and said that was the 'Book of Death'. Ronit became curious. He grabbed the book and made a run for it. But before he could get far, the figure appeared out of nowhere floating on a throne in the red sky and removed his head off. Ronit could not believe what he was witnessing. And wind started to blow as the head flew around Ronit and screamed in a creepy high pitch that the book was cursed and who ever read it suffered the fate of painful death.

Ronit was scared and started running till he was out of the woods. He didn't slow down and ran all the way home. He lay on his bed with the sheets wrapped around him. He heard a THUD and noticed the book on the floor. His mind wandered and he wanted to find out how interesting that book actually was. Curiosity got the better of him and he started reading the book. And he read and read till the clock struck twelve. Ronit finished reading the book and fell into a deep sleep.

When Ronit finally woke up, he did not know where he was. He looked around the room and saw food scattered on the floor, strange marks left on a tall mirror in the center of the room, some gibberish script scribbled on the walls. He tried to get up but he was chained down. Finally Ronit realized that this was the setting that he had read in the book. Was he going to die just like it was described in the book? His nightmare became true when a lady dressed in a white saree appeared in the room. She gave him a potion to drink and said that everything would be alright and all this was just happening in his head. He drank the potion.  Soon after, there was smoke in the entire room and he fell into a trance. When Ronit opened his eyes after an eternity, the lady had disappeared and the cloaked figure was standing over him. He kept on repeating 'I warned you kid, I warned you' as Ronit felt pain all over his body and blood seeped out of him.

He should have known that the book brought evil. He should have got better of his curiosity. He should have known that you always die in Bhangarh after sunset.

Here is the translation of the signboard:

The Government of India

 The Archeological Survey of India, Bhangarh

Important warning:

 1. Entering the borders of Bhangarh before sunrise and after sunset is strictly prohibited.

 2. Shepherds and woodcutters who enter Bhangarh area will face legal action.

 3. The Kewda or Pandanus trees found in Bhangarh area belong to the Archaelogy Survey of India. Is it forbidden to subject this tree to any kind of harm.

 Note: Anyone flouting of the rules mentioned above will face legal action.

 By order

 Supervisor, Archaelogical Survey Board