Lately, I have been seeing a strange creature in the vicinity of our village. I am only eight years old and my parents forbade me to go out after dark. I have been briefed in detail by my mother and elder siblings to stay away from strangers and other beings. We live in Thar Desert and are faced with many challenges on daily basis. The heat affects us the most and the water is scarce. We are a big joint family. We initially lived near a city and had every facility of life but we were forced to move into this god forsaken place for reasons not known to me. My grandparents, two uncles, three aunts and their families also live with us. Due to burning heat of the sun, we remain indoors and usually sleep during the whole day. Male elders of the family go out in the afternoon and come back late at night. They bring us food to eat and toys to play. Our whole family loves sweets very much and every now and then my father brings us a packet full of all kinds of mithai, and we finish it in one go.

The place where we shifted was not very nice. It had few scraggy trees and some old mud huts with broken walls. There were many graves in the near vicinity as well. The place initially looked scary to me but then I got used to it. My grandfather told me that it is some old abandoned village. I asked him, “Why don’t we repair this place?” He had a very logical reply that, “If we make it better then we will be forced out from this place as well.”

I spend my whole day sleeping and despite restrictions I loiter around after sunset. My favourite play area is the graveyard. My mother along with other adult females of the family, usually go out in search of water after the male elders leave. The children are left behind under the supervision of grandparents who keep dozing off most of the time. So, I was telling you about the stranger I saw a few days ago. He appeared to be just like me. I forgot to tell you that I am also responsible to take care of my little sister who is only two years old. My other siblings and cousins do not like to play in the graveyard. They have their own favourite spot behind the dunes. I like the graveyard because I can easily find stones there. That afternoon, I was building a castle with sand and grave stones when I heard noise of crushing leaves. I looked towards the direction of the sound and there he was peeking from behind the bushes. I only saw his creepy eyes. The moment he realised that I have seen him, he fled the place. I came back and tried to wake my grandparents up. I wanted to tell them what I saw but they were fast asleep. I did not go back to the graveyard and proceeded to the dunes instead. Soon I forgot about the strange creature I had seen in the graveyard.

Next day, after my mother left with others to fetch water, all the children went to the dunes. My brother asked me to come along. I told him that I was not well. He did not bother asking me again. After he was gone, I picked up my little sister and went to my grandparents’ room. They were lying on the bed but were awake. I could see their eyes wide open. They both were staring in the air. I hesitated for a moment but then sat near my grandfather and asked, “Dada, is it all right if I play with another being?” My grandfather turned his head towards me, “What other being are you talking about?” I am still young but I can interpret emotions. I felt tremors in my grandfather’s voice. I saw fear in his eyes just like the fear I had seen in that creature’s eyes. I did not reply to him and left the room.

After a lot of thinking, I decided to go to the graveyard. That was, in fact the only place where I could do my favourite activity. I picked up my little sister and reached the graveyard. I started collecting stones to make a big castle. I was walking carefully so as not to fall in the open graves. Then I heard my sister crying. I hurriedly reached back to the place where I had left my sister. There I saw him again. He was standing near my sister and watching her with amusement. He had not heard me coming. I reached at his back and put my hand on his shoulder. He turned his head and started screaming. He then started running frantically. I could not understand his reaction. I wanted to make him my friend and my play partner but somehow he got scared of us. Probably, his mother must have also told him to stay away from strangers and other beings. Time passed and I got busy in my play again. Suddenly, I heard the sound of crushing leaves. I picked up my head and looked around. I hoped that he may be back but instead I saw my dada standing at some distance. He must have heard screams of the strange creature and had come to investigate. I did not know that he had followed me from the outset and had seen the whole episode.

After midnight, my father came back with others. He had brought a lot of mithai which we all ate with delight. Then I saw dada coming into our room. I had seldom seen him here. He called my father and said something in his ear. Father then talked to my mother and elder brother and went outside with the grandfather. My mother and elder brother immediately started packing our stuff. I asked my brother, “Are we moving again?” He pushed me back and said, “It is only because of you.” Mother did not say anything. She looked very busy so I came out of the house. Many of our relatives were sitting in an open area with their luggage placed on one side. It was a full moon night and I could see their worried faces. Then I saw my father standing alone looking at the moon. I went up to him and asked, “Baba, are we leaving because of that creature I met in the graveyard?” My father put his hand on my head and said, “It is not your fault. That being looks very innocent but it is very dangerous.” I was still quite confused. He kept talking, “You saw one. Soon there will be others. They destroy everything wherever they go. They are merciless and cruel.” He then kept quiet and started looking at the moon again. I pulled his finger a couple of times and asked, “Baba, who was that being?” My father picked me up, kissed me on my cheek and said, “My son, he was a human being.”