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The Post Mortem
#WritcoStoryChallenge
The footsteps following me sounded closer. I ran through the empty corridors of the hospital, my heart pounding with terror.
I turned a corner and stopped short. I had reached a dead end. My brain kept generating empty signals and I stood numb. Despite strong refusals from my heart, I turned back. My dreaded eyes ran straight through the gloomy stretch of the corridor. There was absolutely no one. It seemed like it was one of those hallucinations that often we see in horror films. I too felt as if I am a part of a horror film. But the reality was far more terrifying.
I was being followed. By whom? Well, that's a mystery. To know the reality I need to take you 2 months back.
My name is Dr Roshan Sharma. I am a forensic expert and have been working here, in this hospital for 3 years now. Unlike other normal doctors, I have never treated a living body. I had to deal with dead people. Scary right?
Well, I never felt so untill one day. It was a Sunday. A happy Sunday. Sundays were often beautiful for me. Away from the mundane hustle and bustle of those panicked relatives of the dead people, I found some time to live completely by myself and with my beloved life partner Roshni. Roshni is the love of my life, my destination and the best companion I could ever have.
That evening had a basket of roses to offer us. Light breeze brushed over the young shrubs and also whispered in our ears. We were busy gossiping about the highs and lows of our lives, dreams that were fulfilled, dreams that were yet to be achieved. Suddenly, our attention was drawn by the calling bell. Our door bell was ringing. I frowned and with utter irritation decided to ignore the bell. I never wanted to miss an inch of time that I spend with my love. But Roshni seemed pragmatic and she asked me to attend the call first. Someone might have something important or urgent. I dragged myself to the door to open it.
As I opened the door, I saw a man, possibly in his early sixties awaiting my attention. Despite me standing right in front of him, he seemed to be lost somewhere else, probably in some whims. He continued to press the button of the bell.
I broke the silence by speaking out. Excuse me!!! Who are you? What do you need sir? Now, he gazed at me. Calm eyes and a modest gesture marked his personality. He spoke with a tranquil voice. Good evening Sir. I don't have much time. I will speak something important. Please listen to me carefully. Tomorrow morning, a dead body will be brought to your hospital. You will have to perform the necropsy.
Alright!!! But that is what I do everyday. Are you here to remind me of my job?
No sir!!! I haven't completed yet. I have a request. A sincere one indeed. You must stick to only TRUTH!!! Whatever might the situation be. Write whatever is the truth in your report.
Now, this made me furious. Listen Mr. Whoever you are. I have always stood with truth and I dont see a reason to deviate this time. Please don't bother me anymore.
I shut the door on his face and moved inside in disgust. My romantic mood drooped like a yellow leaf. Roshni, poor girl kept asking me about the person who knocked at our door but I was too pissed off to give her a simple reply. That night, I felt insomniac and pondered over the words spoken by that stranger. This was the first time in my entire career that something like this happened. Why will someone plead for my being truthful. What has that person to do with the dead body that was supposed to arrive the next morning? Many other questions jumped up and down my mind.
The next morning was filled with an unknown anxiety that pestered me all throughout. I drove into the doctor's parking and without wasting a minute walked straight into the hospital block.
While I was on the way to my cabin, Miss Puja, the senior nurse who assists me in my work called me from behind.
Sir, a body has come and it needs your approval before we can admit it.
Sure Puja, give me a couple of minutes.
I walked with an extreme anxiousness heading to the lobby zone where the body was kept. I went up to the stretcher to remove the white sheet that coverd the corpse. Whoaaa!!!!!
I cried out. Sir, are you ok? enquired Puja. Yessss!!! I muttered. My throat dried up in terror. Please bring me glass of water, I gasped. This body was of that strange man who appeared on my door the previous evening.
How is it possible? How the hell is it possible? How can he know that he will die? Or did he die before? I was perplexed and terrified all at one go.
Somehow, I awakened the doctor who was sleeping in me and ordered Puja to make the operation theatre ready for the post mortem. I signed with shaky hands and admitted the body.
The very next moment, I was a forensic expert, who found him inside the OT with his skilful team performing the autopsy.
It took me 3 long hours to complete the entire process and now it was time for me to prepare the report of the case. I walked into my cabin to find that 3 men were already occupying the seats inside. Who are you all? How did you come inside in my absence? Who granted you permission?
Hahahaha!!!! one of them laughed out. He smirked at me and spoke in a bounderish way, Hey you doctor, hear me out. I hope you are done with the post mortem. Now you will write down whatever we say to complete the report. I suppose you will never want to invite unnecessary troubles.
Just Shut up!!! Get out of my cabin. Don't force me to call the cops. O dear!!! you must hear this voice then.
They handed me over a cellphone. Roshni was crying in terror. Roshan, Roshan I am scared. Who these men are? They have guns. They have locked me in my own house.
Bloody sick heads!!! Morons!!! how dare you reach my house?
Cool down doc!!! anger is not good for health. Too much anxiety will kill you even before we kill you. Just one hint, and your beloved wife will be sent out of our planet. The next bullet will carry your name. Dr Roshan Sharma, he read my badge. I was feeling helpless. These morons had
abducted my wife. My brain and heart began to fight vigorously. Brain said, life is more important than loyalty and honesty. Heart said, the man who came yesterday pleaded me to stick to the truth. How can I do injustice to a deceased person? But unfortunately I chose to follow my brain.
Unwillingly, I agreed to prepare the report according to their will.
As soon as those thugs left, I sighed in relief.
That evening, I was a bit late. I walked out of my cabin at around 8. I walked through the lobby to reach the elevator. I entered the elevator and pressed -2 to reach the basement car parking. Suddenly, I felt I was not alone in the lift. Someone was moving with me. I turned back. It was the same man whose body had been autopsied by me a few hours back. He was the same man who came to my house the previous evening. I was terrified. My voice choked inside my vocal chords. I heard him whisper, You betrayed me doctor. You did not stick to the Truth. I will make your life miserable. You will suffocate each minute from now on.
My heart pounded at the speed of light. I felt benumbed. Dread has filled each vein and artery of my body.
As soon as I reached the basement, I ran and jumped into my car. I rushed through the streets to reach my home.
It has been two months now. Not a blink of peace has been granted to me in these two months. I have already underwent shock therapy for a couple of times. They think, I am crazy. They feel I have lost my senses. Today I was here to submit my resignation. I am leaving my job. Leaving my profession. I will also leave the city forever. I decided to move to a new city with my love, Roshni. We will start a new life again.
But may be he will not let that happen.
He is there behind me. I can smell his presence in the lonesome corridor. He will kill me. I will die a pathetic death. I have already dreamt about it several times. But today the dream will come true.
All those people, who are reading my story right now, please beware. His soul can reach anywhere anytime.
Before I die, I want to convey a serious message to all the readers.
Mr Pankaj Pandey had not died a natural death. He was murdered. He was poisoned and strangled to death. I could not write the truth in the report but now since I have told the truth, I am free from the shackles of guilt that stinged me all throughout these longest two months. If I survive today and can have another new sun illuminating my life, I will write again. Somewhere in some other part of the world and in some other profession for sure. Till then, wish you all a good luck.
The footsteps following me sounded closer. I ran through the empty corridors of the hospital, my heart pounding with terror.
I turned a corner and stopped short. I had reached a dead end. My brain kept generating empty signals and I stood numb. Despite strong refusals from my heart, I turned back. My dreaded eyes ran straight through the gloomy stretch of the corridor. There was absolutely no one. It seemed like it was one of those hallucinations that often we see in horror films. I too felt as if I am a part of a horror film. But the reality was far more terrifying.
I was being followed. By whom? Well, that's a mystery. To know the reality I need to take you 2 months back.
My name is Dr Roshan Sharma. I am a forensic expert and have been working here, in this hospital for 3 years now. Unlike other normal doctors, I have never treated a living body. I had to deal with dead people. Scary right?
Well, I never felt so untill one day. It was a Sunday. A happy Sunday. Sundays were often beautiful for me. Away from the mundane hustle and bustle of those panicked relatives of the dead people, I found some time to live completely by myself and with my beloved life partner Roshni. Roshni is the love of my life, my destination and the best companion I could ever have.
That evening had a basket of roses to offer us. Light breeze brushed over the young shrubs and also whispered in our ears. We were busy gossiping about the highs and lows of our lives, dreams that were fulfilled, dreams that were yet to be achieved. Suddenly, our attention was drawn by the calling bell. Our door bell was ringing. I frowned and with utter irritation decided to ignore the bell. I never wanted to miss an inch of time that I spend with my love. But Roshni seemed pragmatic and she asked me to attend the call first. Someone might have something important or urgent. I dragged myself to the door to open it.
As I opened the door, I saw a man, possibly in his early sixties awaiting my attention. Despite me standing right in front of him, he seemed to be lost somewhere else, probably in some whims. He continued to press the button of the bell.
I broke the silence by speaking out. Excuse me!!! Who are you? What do you need sir? Now, he gazed at me. Calm eyes and a modest gesture marked his personality. He spoke with a tranquil voice. Good evening Sir. I don't have much time. I will speak something important. Please listen to me carefully. Tomorrow morning, a dead body will be brought to your hospital. You will have to perform the necropsy.
Alright!!! But that is what I do everyday. Are you here to remind me of my job?
No sir!!! I haven't completed yet. I have a request. A sincere one indeed. You must stick to only TRUTH!!! Whatever might the situation be. Write whatever is the truth in your report.
Now, this made me furious. Listen Mr. Whoever you are. I have always stood with truth and I dont see a reason to deviate this time. Please don't bother me anymore.
I shut the door on his face and moved inside in disgust. My romantic mood drooped like a yellow leaf. Roshni, poor girl kept asking me about the person who knocked at our door but I was too pissed off to give her a simple reply. That night, I felt insomniac and pondered over the words spoken by that stranger. This was the first time in my entire career that something like this happened. Why will someone plead for my being truthful. What has that person to do with the dead body that was supposed to arrive the next morning? Many other questions jumped up and down my mind.
The next morning was filled with an unknown anxiety that pestered me all throughout. I drove into the doctor's parking and without wasting a minute walked straight into the hospital block.
While I was on the way to my cabin, Miss Puja, the senior nurse who assists me in my work called me from behind.
Sir, a body has come and it needs your approval before we can admit it.
Sure Puja, give me a couple of minutes.
I walked with an extreme anxiousness heading to the lobby zone where the body was kept. I went up to the stretcher to remove the white sheet that coverd the corpse. Whoaaa!!!!!
I cried out. Sir, are you ok? enquired Puja. Yessss!!! I muttered. My throat dried up in terror. Please bring me glass of water, I gasped. This body was of that strange man who appeared on my door the previous evening.
How is it possible? How the hell is it possible? How can he know that he will die? Or did he die before? I was perplexed and terrified all at one go.
Somehow, I awakened the doctor who was sleeping in me and ordered Puja to make the operation theatre ready for the post mortem. I signed with shaky hands and admitted the body.
The very next moment, I was a forensic expert, who found him inside the OT with his skilful team performing the autopsy.
It took me 3 long hours to complete the entire process and now it was time for me to prepare the report of the case. I walked into my cabin to find that 3 men were already occupying the seats inside. Who are you all? How did you come inside in my absence? Who granted you permission?
Hahahaha!!!! one of them laughed out. He smirked at me and spoke in a bounderish way, Hey you doctor, hear me out. I hope you are done with the post mortem. Now you will write down whatever we say to complete the report. I suppose you will never want to invite unnecessary troubles.
Just Shut up!!! Get out of my cabin. Don't force me to call the cops. O dear!!! you must hear this voice then.
They handed me over a cellphone. Roshni was crying in terror. Roshan, Roshan I am scared. Who these men are? They have guns. They have locked me in my own house.
Bloody sick heads!!! Morons!!! how dare you reach my house?
Cool down doc!!! anger is not good for health. Too much anxiety will kill you even before we kill you. Just one hint, and your beloved wife will be sent out of our planet. The next bullet will carry your name. Dr Roshan Sharma, he read my badge. I was feeling helpless. These morons had
abducted my wife. My brain and heart began to fight vigorously. Brain said, life is more important than loyalty and honesty. Heart said, the man who came yesterday pleaded me to stick to the truth. How can I do injustice to a deceased person? But unfortunately I chose to follow my brain.
Unwillingly, I agreed to prepare the report according to their will.
As soon as those thugs left, I sighed in relief.
That evening, I was a bit late. I walked out of my cabin at around 8. I walked through the lobby to reach the elevator. I entered the elevator and pressed -2 to reach the basement car parking. Suddenly, I felt I was not alone in the lift. Someone was moving with me. I turned back. It was the same man whose body had been autopsied by me a few hours back. He was the same man who came to my house the previous evening. I was terrified. My voice choked inside my vocal chords. I heard him whisper, You betrayed me doctor. You did not stick to the Truth. I will make your life miserable. You will suffocate each minute from now on.
My heart pounded at the speed of light. I felt benumbed. Dread has filled each vein and artery of my body.
As soon as I reached the basement, I ran and jumped into my car. I rushed through the streets to reach my home.
It has been two months now. Not a blink of peace has been granted to me in these two months. I have already underwent shock therapy for a couple of times. They think, I am crazy. They feel I have lost my senses. Today I was here to submit my resignation. I am leaving my job. Leaving my profession. I will also leave the city forever. I decided to move to a new city with my love, Roshni. We will start a new life again.
But may be he will not let that happen.
He is there behind me. I can smell his presence in the lonesome corridor. He will kill me. I will die a pathetic death. I have already dreamt about it several times. But today the dream will come true.
All those people, who are reading my story right now, please beware. His soul can reach anywhere anytime.
Before I die, I want to convey a serious message to all the readers.
Mr Pankaj Pandey had not died a natural death. He was murdered. He was poisoned and strangled to death. I could not write the truth in the report but now since I have told the truth, I am free from the shackles of guilt that stinged me all throughout these longest two months. If I survive today and can have another new sun illuminating my life, I will write again. Somewhere in some other part of the world and in some other profession for sure. Till then, wish you all a good luck.
