There was a knock on the door and then, the power went out. The inverter followed suit, plunging the house into complete darkness. It was 2:30 a.m., and a sense of dread washed over me. I prepared myself, half expecting a ghostly visitor to appear. The only sound breaking the eerie silence outside were the howling cries of stray dogs.

My heart raced with each step as I approached the door. The sound of the doorknock pierced the silence, becoming louder and more insistent. Gesturing courage, I opened it despite my trembling.

Then, just as the door creaked open, I saw something that took my breath away. My mom stood there, her face partially obscured by the shadowy gloom. "Oh my god," she said, her voice tinged with exasperation, "it’s so dark here. Look at those street dogs, barking so loudly. Why didn’t you open the door sooner? The delayed train made me really late, dear."
Relief washed over me as I realized the source of my fear was nothing more than a late-night arrival.
© Shilpa Priya Dash