Trip Down Memory Lane- Part 2

The Scary Video Night

Fast forward a few years to yet another army life anecdote. It was in those years when we had newly become fond of horror movies (pretending to be really brave).

Army life means a lot of parties and children are never welcome there! So the whole group of children (who were young enough not to be left alone at home and not old enough to venture out alone) in our station used to be put into a “TV room” and supplied with food and soft drinks and the works.

When we grew tired of watching the Tom and Jerry video cassettes, all the kids (we were around 10 of us) stated requesting the “Batman Bhaiya” (refer previous post for definition! :) ) to get some horror movie cassettes (yes it was long ago enough that we did not have the DVD players and used to watch movies on VCRs). One of those parties he obliged us by getting a movie called “Video Dead” (I am not sure if anyone other than the 10 kids in that room ever saw that gory movie!).

As brave as we pretended to be, none of us ate well that evening (the spoons were just not making it to the mouth. They just froze mid way and the mouth froze open!). It was funny setting that, we were to watch a movie in which the ghost(S) (not one but many many of them) come out of a video cassette in a place which is situated in the mountains and kill everyone around. Any guesses on where we were posted in this time?? Manali!!! :D (famous Indian Hill station).

Somehow we managed to put a brave face at the end of the party and bid good night to all the uncles and aunties and reached home with Ma Dad. But who could sleep at night? Definitely not me and my sister (not sure about the other kids at their houses, but I am sure if some of them ever read this they would remember!).
We were whispering and discussing a plot on how to go to Ma Dad’s room and sleep with them, since no ghosts can harm you when you are with your parents (did you not think that in your childhood?). Ultimately we hatched a plot that my sister would feign a stomachache and I would take her to Dad. Dad would give her some medicine and since she would be in so much pain, he would ask us to sleep in their room (brilliant plan right? Not really….read on!).

My sister was good at faking stomachache so she walked into my parents room, woke up Dad and I followed right behind with my blanket in hand, sure that we would be sleeping there now. It’s funny how we think we can fool our parents :D
Very calmly he asked me to get a medicine for my sister and told her to lie down (yes…..in their room…One more night when we would be safe from the Video ghosts!!!!!! Yippee!!)
I quickly ran and got him the medicine which he gave to my sister and I started climbing into the bed. And that’s when I realized he had caught what I was up to :( “Tini go back to bed in your room and sleep fast. It’s late and you have to get up for school!” ….WHAT????

You've got to be joking Dad!!

Are you really sending me to that graveyard??

...Do you just care about Richa??

(I was screaming all that in my head…but I could not utter anything…I was scared, out of my wits!)

Half my mind told me to tell him that I was scared to sleep there alone, but the other half told me that if I spoke, he would catch the bluff of my sister too, and send us both back to our room (then I would not be alone would I!). I am surprised at how much you can think as kids!!

Anyways, I listened to the second half as the sacrificing elder sister (clap clap!!!) and trudged back to my room.

That must have been the longest night ever, but guess what…..I woke up alive!!!