Intro

Defeating the demons (1906)

Raja Ravi Varma. Source: Wikipedia .

Welcome to Indian Horror Stories!

Let me set the scene for our three terrifying tales of horror.

The Summoning

A while back there was a young man named Mehul, who was an exchange student living in New York and going to school there. His family was living back in Kailashahar, a small town in India, and they eagerly were awaiting his return. During the fall semester of his senior year he received a telephone call and it was his best friend Sanjay who was calling to let him know that his family had been found dead and mutilated inside their home of Kailashahar. As Sanjay was explaining all of this to Mehul he sank to the ground in his dorm room and broke down crying.

After finally being able to compose himself Mehul asked Sanjay, “How did they die? Does anyone know what happened?”

Sanjay responded, “No one can figure out what happened to your family. Now I was the first one to discover them and let me tell you I saw three Tantric symbols painted in blood on the walls of the living room. Also, your mom is missing, Mehul!”

Mehul found out that Sanjay had been able to snap some pictures of the wall. Before the police showed up, he had Sanjay send them to him. A few minutes later Mehul received the pictures and what he saw shocked him to his core. The first symbol (बकासुर) painted in blood was of the Bakasura, an ancient demon known for devouring those who did not provide crops for him to feast on. The second symbol was of Vetala (वेताल), who is a type of spirit that inhabits the bodies of the dead. The third and final symbol is that of Hidimba (a tall demon with razor sharp teeth painted in blood), the demon king. When Mehul was looking at these symbols he felt a certain pull towards them. He couldn’t say for sure, but it seemed like something was summoning him home.

Mehul told Sanjay, “Hold on tight, I am coming home, and we are going to figure out what happened to my family!”

The Journey Home

Mehul decided to grab the first flight out of New York to get back to Kailashahar. As he was packing up his clothes a neatly wrapped present fell out of his suit pocket that he had never worn. As Mehul picked it up he saw that there was a note attached to it.

It read, “To our dearest Mehul, if something were to ever happen to us open and read.”

Mehul hastily opened the present and inside was a wooden box with another card and it read

“Mehul, for the longest of times our family have been defenders of the light. We oversee keeping demons at bay here in India. We never wanted this life for you which is why we sent you away. If you are reading this now it means that they have taken us from you, and you must take up the mantle now. Inside this box are glasses that will allow you to see the demons even when mortal humans may not be able to see them. There is also a sort of guidebook to let you know all about the demons and how to defeat them. Finally, there is a chakra knife that was crafted by our great ancestors that will send the demons back to the darkness. Good luck, son.

Love, Mom and Dad.”

Mehul opened the box and grabbed the so-called guidebook out of it and stuffed it in his jacket pocket. He then proceeded to pack up the rest of his stuff and headed out. Once he made it to the airport and was seated on his flight he decided that he would begin to read the book, even though he did not fully understand what was going on.

He thought to himself as the plane left, “I will avenge my family!”

To be continued in Bakasura..