THE CURSE OF MANTHRIK

Once there was a village called Korvangi which was said to be a singular little village settled between rolling hills and greenery. Here, people live in harmony, their hearts overflow with joy and contentment.

In Korvangi, the community is tight-knit, with neighbors always ready to lend a helping hand. Whether it’s tending to the crops in the communal garden or organizing a festive village fair, everyone pitches in with enthusiasm.

Once, Korvangi enjoyed a fine reputation across neighboring villages for its generosity and kindness toward both locals and visitors alike. However, times changed, inspiring a shift in attitudes among some villagers. Sadly, what was once a beacon of hospitality now seems to have become a graveyard for the hopes of those within its borders.

Numerous reports began to circulate, claiming that a curse had befallen the village of Korvangi. It was said that villagers were meeting untimely deaths, and a dark belief emerged that anyone who left the village to seek refuge elsewhere would only bring disaster upon their new community, carrying the curse with them until their eventual demise.

For years, folks whispered about the village, hushing their voices when its name came up. Neighboring villages steered clear, fear etched in their eyes. A curse, they said, hung heavy over the place, a shadow no one dared to confront. But what puzzled outsiders most was this: despite the curse, life thrived within the village.

{MEANWHILE IN THE PRESENT TIME}

The village head of Rudra Kota was mighty curious about the curse that supposedly hung over the neighboring village. He wanted to know more about the village, to confirm whether it was really cursed or just a rumor. So, he decided to gather some information and investigate the matter for himself.

The head of the nearest village decided to dispatch his most trusted scout, a wiry young man named Damodar, to investigate the unsettling quiet that had befallen their neighboring village, Korvangi. Damodar was known for his sharp wit and keen eye, qualities that made him the ideal candidate for such a mysterious task.

Damodar Born and raised in the heart of the village, Damodar had always been known for his exceptional wit and quick thinking.

From a young age, he displayed a remarkable ability to solve problems that left others scratching their heads. Whether it was devising innovative farming techniques to increase crop yield or mediating disputes between fellow villagers, Damodar’s astuteness was unmatched.

The village leader chose him to solve a hidden mystery in their village for a special reason.

Damodar started on his brave journey to unravel the mystery covering the village. With determination, he carefully bundled together some freshly made rotis, wrapping them snugly in a cloth. This provision would sustain him through the trials that lay ahead.

On the other hand, he gripped a stick, a simple but essential tool for both navigation and protection. With each step, he was keenly aware of the dangers lurking in the dense forest.

With a farewell to his familiar surroundings, Damodar started his journey to the unknown wilderness. The path ahead was fraught with uncertainty, yet fueled by his resolve, he pressed on, ready to confront whatever challenges awaited him.

Damodar reached the outskirts of the village, his footsteps echoing against the empty expanse around him. Not a whisper stirred the air, and the absence of any signs of life unsettled him.

As Damodar neared the village, every step seemed harder. He felt a strange mix of excitement and fear in the silent air. Even though it was quiet, he felt sure people lived there. So, feeling curious and a bit scared, he kept going. He wanted to find out what was going on in the empty village.

As he approached, a sudden gust of wind swept across the barren landscape, carrying with it a cloud of dust. Damodar closely looked at the gritty particles, raising a hand to shield his eyes. But despite his efforts, some of the dirt managed to find its way into his eye, stinging and causing discomfort.

With a distorted expression, Damodar blinked rapidly, trying to clear his vision. The unexpected trespass served as a warning, a foreboding sign of the unknown dangers that lay ahead.

Yet, unflinching, he brushed off the discomfort and continued his journey toward the silent village, his determination relentless against the ominous whispers of the wind.

As Damodar stepped into the village, a shiver ran down his spine. The air seemed heavy with an unspoken warning as if the very atmosphere whispered caution. Unease settled in his gut like a heavy stone, urging him to turn back.

It was as though he had wandered into a place where even the bravest souls dared not enter. Something about the village sent a chill through his bones, a sense of foreboding that made him hesitate with each step.

Despite everything, he entered the village and found it to be like a ghost town. There was no sign of life whatsoever. Not a single person or creature could be seen wandering around. He was puzzled because what he had heard about the village was completely different from what he was seeing.

Damodar who had just arrived in the village walked up to each house, knocking on doors one after another for some shelter as it was getting dark and want to sleep.

But each time, there was no answer, and it seemed like nobody was home. Feeling surprised and a bit worried, He considered leaving the place.

As Damodar prepared to leave, he noticed footsteps approaching from the opposite direction. He turned his attention towards the sound, discerning the person’s presence through the rustle of their attire and the tapping of a stick against the ground. From these cues, Damodar inferred that the individual was likely elderly.

His assumption proved correct as the figure drew nearer. Wrinkles etched deeply upon the man’s face, suggesting a lifetime of stories and experiences. His clothing bore signs of wear, hinting at a humble existence. With each step, the old man’s voice carried the weight of wisdom accumulated over years gone by.

THE OLD MAN: Who might you be, and what brings you here at this late hour of the night?

DAMODAR: My name is Damodar I come from a neighboring village and want a place to stay for this night

THE OLD MAN: Oh, so you seek shelter, but in this hour of need, there are no rooms available in this village

Damodar: Oh, what should I do? I have nowhere to go. I will sleep under the tree for this night.

The old man saw how Damodar was struggling and asked him to come along. Damodar followed the old man until they reached a small hut. The old man told Damodar to wash up and then come inside the house.

Damodar rinsed his hands and feet before stepping into the house. The old man graciously offered him a glass of water and asked if he wanted anything to eat. However, Damodar politely declined, mentioning that he had brought his food and was good with it.

“It’s getting late,” said the old man as he prepared to sleep. Damodar observed as the old man sprinkled salt by the entrance and back doors, chanting some spells before lying down to rest.

Damodar was curious about it and wanted to ask him about this but he thought he should wait till morning for the answers, he finished his food and went to sleep.

Morning came Damodar woke up and saw the old man had already prepared breakfast for him while he was sleeping. Damodar went and rinsed his face and hands and came to eat breakfast.

THE OLD MAN: so Damodar what’s your business here what’s bringing you here in our village?

Damodar: I arrived in this village with hopes of finding employment, drawn by the rumors that it welcomes individuals from all walks of life.

THE OLD MAN: Once bustling with activity, this village now struggles to survive, its residents locked in a daily battle for survival.

Just as Damodar was about to ask about the village, there came a knock on the front door. The old man shuffled over and opened it. Standing there was a young kid, maybe around 12 to 20 years old, yelling at the old man.

Damodar asked the old man who the person was. The old man replied that he was his grandson named Venkat. Damodar greeted Venkat warmly.

When Venkat saw someone he didn’t know in the house, he turned to his grandpa and said, “Why did you let a stranger sleep here? It’s not safe. They could be a thief or even a murderer.” Venkat reminded his grandpa to be careful, especially at night.

Venkat turned towards Damodar, a quizzical expression on his face. “And you are...?” he inquired, his tone laced with curiosity.

Damodar: Namaste (greetings, hello) my name is Damodar I come from a neighbouring village.

Venkat: Namaste my name is Venkat it was nice to meet you.

Damodar: Pleasure to meet you too.

Venkat: So, what brings you here in our village? Is there anything specific you’re looking to explore or maybe something we can help with?

{Damodar thought it would be wise to stay quiet for a while and figure out what was going on.}

Damodar: I came to this village to find work so I could help my family, who are going through hard times because we don’t have much money.

Venkat: It’s unfortunate to hear that, but currently, there are no works available in our village.

(Damodar noticed the grandson and the old man and thought of creating a little scene to persuade them to hire him as a worker.)

Damodar: How can I face my family? How do I tell them that I can’t make enough money for us to live on? We might go hungry and even starve if things don’t change.

The Old Man: You don’t worry Damodar my grandson will find you work in this village if you cannot find any work come and work under me.

Damodar: Thank you for saying that, I will work hard to prove my worth.

Venkat: (scratching his head) ok I will help you find a job but the payment will be less is that ok for you?

Damodar: Any amount is good enough for me. I’ll work as hard as I can to earn whatever I can.

Venkat said let’s go and both of them went outside the house and they started walking towards the banyan tree which was located in the center of the village where all the meetings were held.

The tree was really big. About 50 people could easily sit under it. Nearby, there was a well that nobody ever seemed to get water from. There were rocks all around, making it painful to walk without something to protect your legs.

Venkat told Damodar to wait by the banyan tree while he went to see if there was any work available for Damodar.

Meanwhile, Damodar watched the village from the banyan tree. The village was big, and the villagers seemed a bit different. They didn’t show much emotion on their faces. Their faces looked like they were always tired from working hard all the time.

Venkat told Damodar that there wasn’t any work available at the moment, but assured him that he could work with him for as long as he wanted whenever there was work.

Damodar: It’s fine with me as long as I get payment.

Venkat: Oh, as for payment you will get a little less compared to me as I am experienced in this.

After saying that, both of them went home and went to bed for the night.

Many days passed Venkat and Damodar became best friends as they were working and sleeping together in the same house.

Meanwhile, Damodar would venture outside alone to check on the village’s situation. He’d send messages to the village leader because he hadn’t figured out the issue yet. And so far, he hadn’t encountered any trouble in the village.

Then came the day when Damodar was about to see something he couldn’t even imagine. As night approached, there was a sudden announcement in the village.

A messenger walked through the streets, beating a(Dholakh) drum and warning everyone not to go outside. He urged them to tie themselves up with ropes for their safety.

Curious, Damodar turned to Venkat and asked what was going on and why the messenger was instructing them to tie themselves up with ropes for safety.

Venkat simply replied that it wasn’t Damodar place to question and that they should just do as the message said because it’s for everyone’s benefit.

Damodar thought this was his chance to learn something about this village and if he missed this chance he might have to wait for a few more days or weeks to get a situation like this again, so Damodar decided to make an effort on it.

Damodar asks the old man about it and the old man asks if he wants to know the reason behind it, Damodar nods and says he wants to know the real truth about it.

The old man tells Damodar to follow him quietly and not get caught by his grandson. They go outside the house at midnight. Damodar asks if it’s okay to walk at night because the messenger warned against it.

THE OLD MAN: Do you want to know the truth or not?

DAMODAR: Yes I want to know the truth.

THE OLD MAN: Then come with me quietly and don’t ask any questions till we return home alright?

Damodar: OK alright I will do as you say.

They both walk through the village for a bit and Damodar wonders, “What are we searching for?” The old man replies, “Just wait for the sounds to start.” Damodar gets puzzled and is about to ask what he means by that.

Just as Damodar was about to ask, loud noises echoed from the distance, like a bunch of animals all yelling at once. Without wasting any time, the old man said, “Let’s hurry and head over there.”

They both headed towards the house and spotted it. The old man suggested, “Let’s go to that side of the house and peek through the window to see what’s happening inside.” They each took a window and watched intently like they were watching a movie.

While they watched, they spotted a mother and her two daughters crawling on the floor, scared stiff by something they shouldn’t have seen. Damodar glanced to where the mother was looking and saw it too.

A man who was around 40 years old and was 6 feet tall with a belly stomach and was wearing normal clothes. His features, his face was covered with blood with scratches all around his body,

and his hair was falling his eyes were pure red as the blood was coming from his eyes and his teeth were like wild animal teeth. he was covered with blood and scars all around his body.

By judging the blood and the scars of that man Damodar knows that they were caused by that man himself only. That man hurt himself to the point that the blood came all over from his face and hands but Damodar couldn’t understand how the entire body of that man got blood and had a scar that deep.

Damodar was all set to take action in that scene because he wasn’t just going to stand there and wait to see what would happen next. He was about to go there when the old man stopped him and said, “Hold on there, young fella.”

THE OLD MAN: wait for it Damodar and see what will happen next.

DAMODAR: I won’t just stand here and do nothing when I know their family is in danger.

{The elderly man drew Damodar closer and asked him to take a look at his leg}

THE OLD MAN: see a chain holds that man in his leg and he is not a threat to his family.

DAMODAR: still he can hurt his family there is no risk-taking about this situation.

THE OLD MAN: He will not hurt anyone only he hurt himself do you why?

DAMODAR: I don’t know.

THE OLD MAN: That man wants to go outside but his family members are not allowing him to go outside as he may die from that.

DAMODAR: why does he want to go outside so badly that he hurt himself to that point?

THE OLD MAN: Do you want to see what will happen when he loses his chain and comes outside?

Both The Old Man and Damodar waited there to see what will happen next

After a tough fight, the man managed to break free and began walking towards the door. Damodar stood by, following the old man’s assurance that no harm would come to anyone. However, Damodar stayed prepared to act if things took a bad turn.

Damodar was surprised when the man’s wife grabbed his leg and pleaded with him not to leave. Their children were crying too, begging their father not to go outside and to stay with them.

The man didn’t listen. He kept walking as if someone far away in the deep forest was calling him. He seemed unconscious like someone else was making him move.

The man walks up to the door and smashes it into pieces, just like snapping a stick in his hand.

Damodar was shocked to see that a man could do that much damage to a door in that condition. The man came outside the house and started laughing loudly, Damodar and the Old Man came side of the house.

The old man warned Damodar not to try anything brave because he couldn’t prevent the situation from happening. Confused, Damodar promised he wouldn’t do anything. He knew it was best not to act without knowing all the facts, as it could cause trouble for him.

The man kept on laughing loudly while the old man spoke to Damodar. Suddenly, the man stopped laughing and froze for a moment, glancing around cautiously.

Then, he began to quietly chant some mysterious spells(MANTRAS), his voice barely audible, making sure no one else could hear him.

The man’s wife came outside to stop him but it was too late. With a heart heavy with regret, the man gazed back at his family, his eyes filled with sorrow. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, his voice choked with emotion, “I love you all, but I couldn’t keep you safe.”

As he was about to say another word a strong wind came as it was a signal for him to go the man turned around in the direction of the deep forest and started running.

Despite the warning, Damodar went to stop the man from going there and the old man also didn’t stop him as the old man wanted Damodar to know what was happening there.

Damodar saw the man ahead and hurried towards him. He reached the man’s back and attempted to halt him. With Damodar’s strong grip, he thought he had succeeded,

but he was mistaken. The man effortlessly tossed Damodar to the other side, like he was tossing a sack of rice.

Damodar couldn’t stop him as he watched the man running towards the sharp plant without caring about his body. He was tearing apart, the spikes all around him, some even damaging his eyes. But he didn’t stop.

The man crosses the sharp plant and there is a sloop with lots of rocks the man runs in that direction Damodar watches the man start to run as he starts running downward he falls hardly and starts to roll down hitting every possible rock and hit his head in a sharp large rock and his head was broken for sure.

There was no movement for a minute, Damodar was sure that the man was dead as he had no chance of surviving after breaking every inch of his body mainly his head and neck.

To his surprise, the man stood up and held his head as it was all twisted and broken and about to fall. and again looked around and started to run into the deep forest.

Damodar has no words to say about this as he was too shocked to see that a man whose arms and legs are broken and bones are visible and on top of that his neck is broken how can a man run in that condition?

Damodar decided to return to the old man and ask him some questions because he believed the old man was the only one who could provide the answers he sought.

When Damodar returned to the house, he saw his wife and children crying. The old man was there standing in the distance. Damodar told them to go inside and lock the doors.

It was about 2 o’clock in the night when this happened. Damodar approached the old man and asked him what was going on. The old man replied, “Let’s go home, and I’ll explain everything to you.”

They both returned to the house and entered a room away from the old man’s grandchild so they could talk privately. The old man then asked Damodar, “Now you understand what’s happening in this village, don’t you?”

Damodar was so shocked to see everything happening at once that he remained silent for a few minutes. Then, he asked the old man to explain everything he knew about what was going on in the village.

He felt it was the right time to learn the truth. The old man began to tell the story because he believed it was the best way to explain what had been happening in the village for a long time.

{FEW YEARS BACK WHERE THESE ALL HAPPENED}

A few years ago, everything was different in the village. It was once seen as a role model for other villages because of its unity and a strong sense of family among its people. Everyone lived together harmoniously, supporting and caring for one another like a big family.

Once a year, when the full moon lit up the night sky, the villagers came together to host a grand festival in honor of the god they worshipped.

It was a time of immense joy and celebration. The entire village buzzed with excitement as people prepared for the festivities. Colorful decorations adorned the streets, and the air was filled with the aroma of delicious food being cooked.

Everyone eagerly awaited the special day to express their gratitude and devotion to their deity.

The night has come when all the joy is upside down and leaves only a scare in the villagers’ hearts. The festival had begun and the responsibility for the preparation of the food was given to the head cook of the village.

The village head cook was dark in complex and had long hair with a fit body Revered for his warmth and generosity, the villagers loved him. However, his habit of speaking impulsively often landed him in hot water.

As night fell, the entire village gathered for a lavish feast, eagerly anticipated by all. Leading the preparations was the esteemed head cook, tasked with ensuring every detail was perfect.

The night came preparation was going on all were enjoying the festival they were having a great time out there.

On the other side, a man approached near the entrance of the village and entered the village and started to beg for some food as he was not aware that no one would be at their houses as they all gathered in the festival on the main ground.

After knocking on many doors and finding no one, the man got frustrated. He started walking around, hoping to find some food. While he was searching, he heard loud noises coming from the lower part of the village. So, he headed in that direction.

Meanwhile, the head cook was bustling in the kitchen, trying to decide what food to make. The villagers were excited to taste his cooking. The kitchen was hot, and everyone was busy with various tasks. The head cook was too focused to entertain any questions.

Just as things seemed to be going smoothly, a man appeared in front of the kitchen, shouting for food. His voice was so loud that even the head cook heard him. The cook instructed one of the helpers to go outside and see what was happening.

The kitchen helper stepped outside and laid eyes on the man. The man’s entire body was drenched in a layer of white powder, making him look ghostly.

He gripped a stick with a skull in one hand, while the other clung to a bag. His hair was long, messy, and oily, dangling in untidy clumps evidence of neglect. His face was a fright to behold, with eyes that seemed to pierce through the soul, and a beard that cascaded down his chest.

Strange symbols and written spells adorned his chest, hinting at dark and sinister practices. It was clear to the helper that this man was deeply immersed in the world of dark magic.

The kitchen helper realized that the man was a “Manthrik,” someone who does dark magic. He knew he had to be careful around him because the Manthrik might curse him if he acted wrongly.

In many villages, people are scared of “Manthriks” because they believe these individuals can curse others if they disrespect them or interrupt their rituals. Villagers think it’s best not to interfere with Manthriks, as they fear for their lives.

The head chef was busy cooking when he called out to his helper, but there was no answer. He called again, but still, there was silence. Concerned, he went outside to see what the helper was doing. As he stepped out, he saw a mysterious man.

THE HEAD COOK: what are doing here instead of helping me, do you know how much work is left to do?

HELPER: I was about to come head cook but this man kept demanding food and I was trying to explain the situation to him.

{The head chef looked at the mysterious man and asked the helper, “Who is this man?“}

HELPER: explained, “This man is called ‘MANTRIK.’ He’s known for his dark magic powers and curses the people if they disturb him in any way.

THE HEAD COOK: I don’t believe in this kind of thing, He told MANTRIK to leave or wait like everyone else in the village.

(While the Head Cook and the Helper were talking, MANTRIK overheard their conversation)

MANTRIK: “Who dares to insult me? I asked for food, and you’re not giving me what I want. How arrogant can you be?” MANTRIK exclaimed angrily.

The Head Cook, who had been listening, grew furious. He spoke sternly to MANTRIK, “I’m busy doing all the work myself, and now you’re causing trouble. Leave at once!”

MANTRIK: furious at the insult, reached into his bag, grabbed some powder, and threw it at the Head Cook. Reciting a spell, he declared that he had cursed the Head Cook.

THE HEAD COOK: “Oh no! I’m so scared! You’ve cursed me! What am I supposed to do now? Am I going to die?”

(The Head Cook said this, mocking MANTRIK and not believing in the curse.)

MANTRIK: “You will die a brutal death tomorrow night, and there’s no spell in this world that can undo this curse,”

MANTRIK, his voice filled with ominous certainty.

The helper got scared, but the head cook spoke up to MANTRIK, saying, “If you’re done with your cursing practice, I’ll go back inside and get on with my work.”

MANTRIK glared into the eyes of the head cook and uttered, “You will regret this.” Then, he turned and walked away in the direction of the forest, disappearing into the dense forest.

The helper, who witnessed everything, hurried to report the incident to the village head.

The village head and a few men arrived at the scene to find only the head cook present. The head cook informed them that MANTRIK had gone into the deep forest.

The Village head sent some men to search for MANTRIK but it was no use as the man had vanished into thin air there was no trace of him in any way.

The village head cautioned the head cook to be careful and take precautions. However, the head cook brushed off the concern, stating that such people were all fake and only tried to scare others to make money.

The village head remarked, “It would be a relief if MANTRIK was just a fake person. But you shouldn’t take him lightly, Head Cook. And our village priest, the ‘PUJARI,’ isn’t here right now. It would be wise to seek his advice on this matter.”

The head cook reassured everyone not to worry and headed back into the kitchen to complete the preparations for the festival as time was running out.

The food was ready, and first, it would be served to the goddess along with a sacrifice of a goat’s head. After that, some prayers, or ‘puja,’ would be recited, and then the food would be served to the villagers.

The celebration went smoothly without any trouble. The villagers were brimming with happiness, laughing, dancing, and enjoying themselves until well past midnight.

The air was filled with the sounds of laughter and joy as they celebrated together. As the night grew late, they bid farewell to each other and made their way back to their homes, content after a night filled with festivities.

The next day, as usual, all the villagers were busy with their work, with no time to discuss the previous night’s celebration. As night fell, the village head and some elders went to the head cook’s house, concerned about what might happen to him.

They arrived at the head cook’s house and asked him to come outside. He stepped out and inquired about the reason. The village head explained that they were concerned about him and what might happen to him tonight, so they came to check on him.

The head cook brought out some chairs and invited them to sit. Once they were all seated, he reassured them not to worry about him, pointing out that he was completely fine and nothing had happened to him so far.

They were all relieved to see that the head cook was unharmed. They decided to sit there for a while longer to make sure he was safe. To change the subject, they began discussing the festival they had celebrated the day before.

PERSON 1: “The celebration was fantastic! I had a lot of fun, and the food was outstanding,”

PERSON 2: “I agree, The head cook did an excellent job preparing such delicious food for our village. We should thank him for that.”

Other village persons where also agreed that the food was prepared well

THE HEAD COOK: “Thank you all for your kind words. I’ve simply done my job for the village, nothing more,”

As the night progressed, all the villagers engaged in discussions about the village and the problems they were facing. They brainstormed ideas on how to solve them, and the atmosphere was filled with cooperation and camaraderie.

However, despite the pleasant conversation, the time had come for them to part ways and return to their homes.

It was past midnight, and the sky was clear with a strong wind blowing. Strange noises echoed through the air as animals cried out unusually as if warning about something impending.

They seemed to be watching each other cautiously, sensing an impending danger.

One villager pointed and said, “Hey, look over there at the head cook. Something’s up with him.” Everyone turned to see what was going on with the head cook.

The head cook, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly jumped up and began laughing loudly. But then, he started scratching himself all over like he was on fire.

The head cook kept laughing and dancing around, but the villagers realized something was seriously wrong. People nearby grabbed his hand and held onto his back tightly to stop him from escaping.

The villagers thought maybe a spirit possessed the head cook, so they hurried into his house and grabbed some salt and dry chili. They threw them at him, hoping it would help, but it didn’t work.

They even tried saying some special chants, but nothing changed. Then they realized that it was the curse that the MANTRIK had given to him.

As the village chief and the other villagers gathered to discuss what to do in this tough situation, they realized their priest was also not in the village. In their moment of need, they considered seeking out the ‘MANTRIK’, but they knew it might take too long. First, they had to deal with the head cook.

The head cook started laughing hysterically, his eyes bloodshot and bruises covering his body from an unseen attack. He muttered something under his breath in a hushed tone, as if trying to keep it secret from the others.

A fierce wind swept through the village, stirring up the dust as the full moon cast its bright light upon the scene. Without warning, the head cook’s demeanor shifted drastically.

With an unexpected surge of strength, he hurled nearly four people into the air as effortlessly as tossing bags of rice. Panic gripped the villagers as they stumbled backward, unsure of what had possessed the once seemingly ordinary cook.

With a wild look in his eyes, the head cook bolted away into the darkness.

Some brave villagers, driven by curiosity and concern, decided to follow the head cook as he dashed into the forest.

They watched in astonishment as he passed through thickets of sharp spike plants, his skin and eyes being torn and scratched, yet he seemed oblivious to the pain. His focus was singular, driven by an unseen force calling out to him from within the depths of the woods.

Despite the obstacles and the discomfort, he pressed on, his determination overriding any physical discomfort he might have felt.

The villagers followed the head cook and saw him hurt himself sliding down a rock. His hand and legs were broken, and he was spitting blood, but he didn’t stop.

He went deep into the forest. The villagers couldn’t follow because it was dark and dangerous with wild animals. They decided to search for him in the morning.

The next morning, as the sun began to rise, some villagers heard noises near the village entrance.

The village head and a few men went to investigate. To their surprise, they found a body lying face down on the ground. It was clear something serious had happened, and they needed to figure out what.

As one of the villagers turned the body over to see who it was, shock spread through the group. It was the head cook, missing since the previous night. The scene was gruesome.

It was evident that some wild animal had attacked him viciously. His small intestine protruded from his stomach, and his eyes were missing. The bones of his legs and hand were visible, and his face was smashed. It was a sight that filled the villagers with horror and sadness.

(PRESENT TIME- THE OLD MAN SAID THE HEAD COOK WAS THE FIRST VICTIM OF THE CURSE AND CONTINUED THE STORY)

The village leader couldn’t stand the fact that one of his villagers had died due to a small mistake. He was extremely angry and ordered the men of the village to find the ‘MANTRIK’ and bring him to the village. They were determined to deliver justice for their beloved head cook.

The villagers searched everywhere for MANTRIK, but they couldn’t find any clue about his whereabouts. In a village meeting, they discussed how and when they could catch him. While they were talking,

one villager interrupted and said he knew where MANTRIK was. He had received information from a neighboring village.

The village head inquired about MANTRIK’s location, and the villager replied that he was near the river bank, performing some sort of ritual.

The village head commanded his men to grab their weapons and instructed them to follow him to the river bank. With weapons in hand, they embarked on their journey as midnight approached.

Meanwhile, at the entrance of the village, the village priest, known as the ‘PUJARI,’ arrived and was puzzled to see only a few people around.

He decided to visit the village head’s house but found it empty. Concerned, he summoned the village head’s servant and asked him what was going on. The servant then recounted the entire story, explaining what had happened and what was about to occur.

After hearing the servant’s explanation, the village priest urged him to accompany him to where the village head and the villagers were heading. He emphasized the need to halt them before they committed any regrettable actions that could have consequences in the future.

In the meantime, the villagers arrived at the riverbank and stumbled upon a sight they never expected. Before them lay a star-shaped drawing, made with white powder.

At each point of the star, there lay a skull, and in the center rested the lifeless body of a black cat, surrounded by pools of blood. The mantrik they sought was also covered in blood, especially around his chest.

One of the villagers asked the mantrik to stop his ritual and answer their questions, but he didn’t listen. The villagers kept asking, but he just kept on praying. Finally, one villager knocked down a skull from its place, grabbing the mantrik’s attention.

The mantrik said, “You can ask me anything, and I’ll answer, but don’t disturb my rituals.”

VILLAGE HEAD: why do you curse the head cook of their village and why does he have to die in such a terrible way?

MANTRIK: “I cursed him because he insulted me and treated me like I wasn’t worth anything to him.”

VILLAGE HEAD: “He was trying to tell you that there was no food in the kitchen because of the festival, but you didn’t listen.”

MANTRIK: (He arrogantly) I insisted that if I ask for food, they should provide it by any means necessary, and they shouldn’t refuse. I wanted to show what would happen if anyone made me angry.”

VILLAGE HEAD: So you cursed him because of this reason and you have no retreat or fear about what have you done to him.

MANTRIK: “I’m not scared of anyone. Everyone should be scared of me because I’m the most powerful.”

The village head became furious at the statement made by the Mantrik. He decided to put an end to the ritual right then and there. He ordered some of his men to approach the ritual area.

As they came closer, they started breaking everything in sight. Skulls were smashed, the white star was erased, and the dead cat was thrown into the river.

After witnessing the destruction, the Mantrik became furious. He reproaches the villagers, “What have you done, fools? I was just three days away from completing my ritual.

If I had finished it, I would have gained immortal life from my goddess. But now, because of your foolish actions, everything is ruined.”

After uttering those words, the Mantrik declared his intention to curse the villagers, vowing that they would all perish in the village. Hearing this, the villagers became enraged.

They descended upon the Mantrik, beating him mercilessly as anger surged through them.

After the villagers finished beating him, the Mantrik raised his gaze to the sky. It was a full moon, and the time had struck midnight.

With a solemn voice, he proclaimed, “Your village is now cursed. Every full moon, you will all meet your demise, just like your head cook. There is no escape.” With these words, he scattered some white powder into the air.

The villagers, gripped by fear, pondered their options. Someone in the crowd suggested killing the Mantrik to break the power of the curse. Agreed and fueled by fear, they didn’t realize the enormity of the mistake they were about to make.

Agreeing to the plan, the villagers swiftly ended the life of the Mantrik on the spot. As they discussed their next steps, the priest arrived at the scene. Witnessing the aftermath, he realized he had failed to avert the danger he had feared in his mind.

PUJARI: (looking at the villagers) Who has told you to kill this person?

VILLAGE HEAD: PUJARI ji the Mantrik has cursed the village and told us we all gonna die so we took a decision and killed the Mantrik to break his curse on our village.

PUJARI:(disappointment on his face) You’ve made a grave mistake! Do you understand the consequences of killing the Mantrik? You’ve committed a serious offense by taking his life.

The villagers were stunned by what had happened and demanded answers, but time was not on their side. The morning was approaching fast, and they had only a few hours left. The priest pleaded, “Take me to the Mantrik’s body.”

The priest examined the Mantrik’s body and spotted a mark on his right hand. He was astonished to find it and exclaimed, “Did this Mantrik curse all of you with his last breath?” The villagers nodded in agreement, confirming their fear.

The priest, filled with dread, urged them to bury the Mantrik where he lay and to throw all his ritual items into the river. He also instructed them to burn one item each from the villagers, the items they used to kill the Mantrik.

After completing all the tasks instructed by the Pujari, the villagers asked what they should do next.

The Pujari advised them to cleanse themselves and warned them not to look at the moon or turn back as they headed straight home without stopping anywhere.

He instructed them to sprinkle salt around their houses and place onions under their pillows while they slept.

The villagers did exactly as they were told to do by the priest the went directly to their home and slept without any complaints.

Morning arrived abruptly with the unexpected sound of a messenger’s drum echoing through the village. He was shouting for everyone to gather at the meeting place immediately.

It was declared an emergency meeting, and all villagers were urged to attend. The urgency in his voice hinted at the importance of discussing the incident from the previous night and making crucial decisions.

All the villagers hurried to finish their work and gathered for the meeting by evening. Curious and concerned, they asked what the matter was. They had followed the Pujari’s advice, believing it would keep them safe, but they were unaware of the full story.

It was time for the Pujari to reveal the truth, as it was best for everyone to know what had happened.

The ‘PUJARI’ asked, “Do you know whom you killed last night?” One of the villagers replied, “We killed some ‘MANTRIK’ who was causing trouble for us.”

The priest solemnly stated, “He’s not just any ordinary ‘Mantrik’ who dabbles in dark magic for a living. He’s one of the most powerful sorcerers in our region. No one dares to challenge his authority.

The places he’s visited have turned into graveyards. His reputation for wielding powers that could bring disaster to our entire village precedes him. That’s why nobody dares to cross him and agrees to whatever he demands.”

One of the villagers asked, “How do you know that this ‘MANTRIK’ is special?” The ‘PUJARI’ replied, “As I was examining his body, I saw a tattoo on his right hand. It had a snake and a skull on it. This tattoo is only given to ‘MANTRIKs’ who possess all the knowledge and have a strong grasp on dark magic.”

The ‘PUJARI’ explained that if an ordinary ‘MANTRIK’ dies, their curse can usually be lifted by performing certain spells from the books. However, in this case, the curse of this type of ‘MANTRIK’ cannot be undone.

If he were alive, there might have been a chance to prevent it, but since he is dead, the curse has become much more powerful. This is because the effect of the curse is now combined with the spirit of the ‘MANTRIK,’ doubling its strength in our village.

The frightened villagers looked at each other’s faces, wondering what they could do to stop this curse from affecting their village. They asked each other when this curse might happen and brainstormed ideas to prevent it.

The Pujari said the curse had begun that very night. He said that one by one, people in our village would die on full moon nights, and some might even pass away at midnight. He advised everyone not to go outside after midnight, even in emergencies.

He also mentioned that the curse wouldn’t affect the elderly who was close to passing away or the children who hadn’t learned to speak yet and it affected only the villager’s families and not the outsiders. He urged all villagers to follow some rules to stop the curse from taking more lives.

He told us all not to go outside after midnight, even if there was an emergency. We should tie either our hands or legs with rope or chain while sleeping, so we can’t run out unwittingly. Sprinkling salt around the house and on the roof was advised, along with hanging a garland made of lemons and chili peppers in front of each house.

Additionally, he said we should place some herbs under our beds while sleeping, which he would provide. These steps were meant to keep us safe from the curse.

All the villagers agreed to follow the priest’s advice, hoping it would prevent any deaths in their village. They asked the priest if doing as he said would ensure their safety.

The priest replied, “We can’t be certain. Curses can affect us in many ways, and even I don’t know everything. I’ve only shared what I’ve read in books. If deaths still occur despite our efforts, then there’s nothing anyone on Earth can do to save us from the curse.”

{PRESENT TIME}

The old man explained that the curse was the main reason for the troubles in their village, and despite taking precautions, deaths still occurred in various ways.

Many villagers had lost their lives to the curse without even knowing what they had done wrong. It was all because of the actions of their ancestors, causing a chain of unfortunate events.

Damodar asks whether the village priest had attempted to lift the curse to protect the villagers from harm.

The old man explained that the priest had done everything he could to stop the curse from affecting the village. Unfortunately, in the process of trying to solve it, he submitted to the curse himself and passed away.

Damodar asked if there was no solution to the curse plaguing their village, implying that all the villagers would eventually surrender to it.

The old man replied, “Maybe or maybe not. It’s your choice whether you want to try to save the village or just inform your village head about it.” Hearing this, Damodar was taken aback and asked how the old man knew that he had reported to the village head, seeking answers.

Damodar was about to question the old man about his mysterious knowledge when suddenly, the old man vanished into thin air. Shocked, Damodar rushed outside to look for him, but he couldn’t find any trace.

When he returned to the hall, he found Venkat and exclaimed that his grandpa had disappeared.

Venkat calmly responded, “Oh, he already left. He knew it would happen soon.” Then he turned to Damodar and asked, “So, my grandpa told you everything about the village, right?” Damodar nodded and replied, “Yes, he did. He also spoke about the curse.”

“So, my time has come to bid you farewell as well, for I will join my grandpa,” Venkat said solemnly. Damodar, confused and shocked, asked where Venkat was going.

Venkat replied, “To be with my grandpa. But before you go, please, uncurse this village. It has suffered too much.” I believe that you can solve this problem With those words, Venkat vanished into thin air, just like his grandpa.

After witnessing the strange disappearance, Damodar felt his mind on the verge of collapse.

He needed some fresh air to collect himself, so he stepped outside to clear his head. After spending some time alone, he gathered his courage and approached the other villagers to inquire about the old man and the boy named Venkat who lived there.

The villagers were taken aback when they heard the stranger mention the house. They explained that the house had been empty for many years and its owner, Venkat, had died a few years ago due to the curse,

just as Damodar had mentioned. They found it surprising that Damodar was staying there and wondered why he had chosen that place.

As Damodar recalled his encounters with the two individuals over the past week, he began to make mental notes. He realized that he had never seen the old man or Venkat speaking with anyone, and they didn’t seem afraid to go outside.

Additionally, they wore the same clothes every day. Damodar slapped his forehead, thinking, “I should have noticed something was off. How did I miss these points?”

With a sense of urgency weighing heavily on his mind, Damodar decided to report the matter to the village head immediately.

He carefully penned down all the details he could remember about his encounters with the old man and Venkat, ensuring to include every suspicious aspect he had observed.

As he wrote, he couldn’t shake off the feeling that the contents of this letter could determine the future of the village.

Damodar seems determined to help the villagers by reporting the matter to the village head. Whether he will stay to assist further or return to his village remains uncertain. As for whether the curse will be lifted, only time will tell.

“As for whether the curse is lifted from the village or not, and whether Damodar helps in any way to break the curse, those details will be revealed in the next part of the story.”