The Golden Pocket Watch

Prologue

It was a stormy night. The clouds roared loudly as the people slept. Even the bats and owls had gone to sleep. They knew very well that it wasn’t a lucky night for them. But still, there was someone creeping on the roads, between the alleys, not even taking a wink of sleep.
He wasn’t much tall; neither did he have a good built; he limped when he walked and his face was covered with a hood, although his hands gave away his identity – they were thin and weak, reflecting his old character.
He had a knife in his left hand and a golden pocket watch in his right hand. He watched his steps slowly, and soon enough, he entered the graveyard. He didn’t realize at all that someone was following him, with greater nimbleness and curiosity.
The small figure peeped and saw everything that he did…and from that day, he became an insomniac. And that is where this story begins…

The house was decorated with balloons and flowers. Nick climbed down the stairs, wearing a big smile. It was very rare to see Nick smile. It had been years since he had stopped smiling. The presence of a happy Nick lifted the atmosphere.

Nick quietly stood in front of his birthday cake, taking the blessings and gifts of others. The hall was bustling with guests and servants. Just then, Mr. James Bollan, Nick’s father, stood up and clapped his hands. “And now,” said he, “It is time to cut the cake.”

Saying this, he held out a knife. “Cut the cake, dear,” said his mother, Mrs. Jessie Bollan. Everyone turned towards Nick and cheered. But no one saw the fear hid in his eyes. “NO!” screamed he and ran back to his bedroom, tearing the crowd. “Nick! Wait!” cried his parents.

But all in vain… it was impossible to stop him. He locked his door and struggled for breath. “Nick, oh please, come out,” cried everyone. But Nick sat on his bed, still. He didn’t care what the others thought about him…he only cared about himself, his life.

Suddenly there was a complete silence. Nick was startled to hear a soothing voice, after all that chaos outside the door. “Nick, open the door. It’s me, Nara, your sister. You don’t need to cut anything. Please, do let me come in,” pleaded the voice.

Nick opened the door cautiously and let his sister enter. As soon as she entered, he shut his door. He gazed at his 21 year old sister, observing her hazelnut eyes and dark long hair. Her cheeks were glowing pink and her fair face and thin physique, as usual, gripped him.

“Saskatchewan,” said he, “I’m glad that you came. You know I was so afraid…I -” “It’s enough Nick,” said Nara. She looked at her dark toned brother, studying his brown eyes and brown hair, and a nervous smile.

She quietly sat down on his bed beside him and resumed, “Nick, it’s enough…for how many days will you be a cry baby? For how long will you be afraid of that silly nightmare?” “It was not a silly NIGHTMARE!” yelled Nick. His eyes were now flooding with tears.

Nara sighed. “Listen Nick,” said she, “Do you have any proof that what you saw was true?” For the first time Nick felt his mouth go dry in front of his sister. “Sorry for saying this but…this world, this era is of proofs. Nothing is considered to be true or existent unless there is no solid proof. And you know that very well.”

He did. He kept mum till she talked. “And as I too belong to this world,” said she, calmly, “I can NEVER believe your story without any proof. If you want me to believe you, then give me the proof… the evidence.” Saying this, she got up and went away, just like a gust of wind.

Nick stared at her retreating figure, his heart throbbing with pain. This can’t be his sister… his Saskatchewan. OK, if she wants proof, then I’ll get it. But what could be the possible proof? He lay down on his bed, his eyes shut. Soon, he started seeing something… a hooded figure, with a knife and a pocket watch, walking towards a grave.

“COME ON, NICK! TRY TO REMEMBER… PLEASE,” he muttered in his slumber. And then, he saw it… he saw everything back again.

Nick was peeping from his window, in the darkness. He was only five then, and his grandpa had died that night. He was cremated in the nearby graveyard. That night, Nick saw the hooded figure. Thinking that the hooded guy was his grandpa (or his soul), Nick followed him.

The man went near the grave of his son and removed his hood. Nick suddenly caught the glimpse of his face. “NO, THIS ISN’T GRANDPA,” muttered he, and was about to go, when his curiosity was aroused. He quietly watched the man.

He removed a strange, smelly powder and blew it over the grave. Then, cutting his right thumb, he drew strange designs with the blood. He chanted something under his breath, and pierced the knife on the grave.

Nick was scared as he saw the sky turn pink, then purple and finally pitch black over the grave. Suddenly, a hand came out and clutched the knife. Soon, the son broke the coffin and emerged. The old man laughed merrily, tears flowing down his cheeks.

What he didn’t know was that he had stirred up all the dead people in the process, and all the zombies had started circling him around. Nick’s grandpa was amongst them. Before the man realized what was going on, his zombie son stabbed him in his heart. Shortly enough, even he turned into a reddish green -eyed zombie.

Nick gave a gasp. The zombies turned towards him. His grandpa snatched the knife and started running towards him. Nick ran for his life, while the zombie followed him. Suddenly his ankle twisted, and he fell down, stumbling. The zombie was above him. He swiftly moved his knife and –

It had stopped raining. The suns’ rays shone over Nick’s wet forehead. The zombie retreated, while he lay on the road, his eyes red and teary; his body perspiring and wet; his leg and head throbbing with pain; his heart beating fast. Then he shut his eyes.

Nick woke up with a start. He realized that he was dreaming. “The proof, I need it… the knife,” he mumbled and got up from the bed. He scrambled out of the window and managed to get out.

He ran and searched the whole graveyard, and every road that led to it, but all in vain. There was no knife, no evidence. He walked back to his home, his sister’s words echoing in his head.

This world, this era is of proofs. Nothing is considered to be true or existent unless there is no solid proof. He closed his eyes. I can NEVER believe your story without any proof. If you want me to believe you, then give me the proof… the evidence. His heart was bleeding; his eyes were watery with tears.

“Sorry Saskatchewan,” said he to himself. He quietly entered his house. His parents and the guests gasped. “Oh Nick, where had you been?” asked everyone, almost together. He ignored them and started climbing the stairs. Suddenly a glistening object caught his sight.

He descended and got hold of it. “A box… I wonder what’s in this,” thought he and opened the box. Suddenly, Nick smiled. This time, it was a much larger one. He quietly, and rather clumsily, removed the glistening object.

Everyone gasped in horror. Nara shuddered as Nick neared her. “See… I told you all, but no one believed me. Now, behold the proof, the evidence… the blood-spattered golden pocket watch of that man,” said he. “Nick,” said Nara slowly, “I’m sorry… I never knew-”

“Sorry… ‘Sorry’ won’t work now, Nara,” said Nick, this time in a louder voice. Nara stared at him. “Nick never calls me Nara… is this really my little brother?” thought she.

Meanwhile, Nick kept on speaking. “I have been telling you all the truth for years… but no one believed me, not even my own sister! Now, what will you say about it, huh? FOR SEVEN YEARS… SEVEN YEARS… I TOLD YOU ALL THE TRUTH!” screamed he on the top of his voice.

“Nick, stop it!” cried Nara, “We admit our mistake, we are sorry… now what else do you want?” Suddenly Nick became still. “Nara is right… what else do I want? My wish is fulfilled… then why am I so angry? What ever is happening to me?” thought he.

He swiftly scanned the crowd. His heartbeat came to a standstill. “This can’t be true… it can never be true!” yelled he. “Yes, it is true, my boy,” came a voice from behind. He turned to find his zombie grandpa standing behind him, with a knife in his hand.

“Now,” said he, “It’s time for our unfinished business.” He swiftly stabbed Nick, right in his heart. “NO!!!” screamed he.

Epilogue

Nick opened his eyes slowly. He found himself in a dimly lit room. “Where am I?” muttered he. Suddenly he felt someone clutching his weak hands. “He is alive… HE IS ALIVE! Doctor, mom, dad, come quickly! Nick is alive!” cried Nara in delight.

Nick sat up on his bed with Nara’s aid. Meanwhile, the doctor, the nurse and his parents came inside his ward. “Boy, this is amazing!” cried the doctor. He checked Nick’s pulse. “Wonderful,” he murmured.

Everyone stared at Nick, making him uncomfortable. The blue- eyed, white- haired doctor, Dr. Heinz Valiancy, ruffled Nick’s head very tenderly and said, “Alright, your body is normal… now let’s check if your brain is normal or not.”

Nick stared at him, a little scared. “Don’t worry; it’s just a ‘Question- Answer’ session. If you give the correct answers to my questions, you will be discharged immediately,” said he. “I hope so,” was all Nick could say.

The doctor’s first question startled him. “You see that fair skinned blonde man with golden eyes, don’t you? Who is that man, tell me… with full details, of course,” asked he.

“Why, he’s my dad, Mr. James Bollan. And that woman standing next to him, with dark skin tone, and beautiful blue eyes and black hair, is my mother, Mrs. Jessica Bollan. My mother is an Indian and my dad is a European,” replied Nick.

“And this girl standing near me is my sister, Nara. I always call her Saskatchewan, because she is like Saskatchewan. My mom christened her Nara, and my dad christened me Nick. We live in a huge palatial bungalow, near the Downtown Plaza. You’ll find it easily; it is the only bungalow in our street which is white in color,” continued Nick.

Then he went on and on, giving the descriptions of his friends, his school, his teachers, his neighbors, his home and his pet dog Messiah, who had died just one day before grandpa’s death.

The doctor stared at Nick. “Boy, it is amazing! I’ve never seen anyone retaining their memory after going in coma for seven years,” he blurted out. “What?” cried Nick, his eyes wide with wonder.

“Yes Nick,” said Nara, “You were just five when grandpa died. After grandpa’s death, we found you lying on the road next day. We rushed you to the hospital. The staff declared you dead.”

“But this doctor didn’t give up. He knew you were alive, and that something serious had happened to you. With much effort, he explained the other doctors that you were alive. He wasted his own money in bringing you back to life,” said his dad.

“We are really grateful to you, doctor,” said his mom, weeping, “I had never hoped that my son would be alright.” Nick gaped awestruck at the doctor. “Well, I never knew I brought you all so much trouble,” said Nick slowly, “Thank you, doctor.”

The doctor grinned and said, “I would like to have a word with you, young man… alone.” Everyone went out of his ward. The doctor touched Nick’s forehead and said, “It wasn’t me who saved your life. It was your love for grandpa and the decision of that golden pocket watch.”

“What!” Nick gasped. He didn’t know what to say. “I know what you are thinking. But I know this whole tale… that old man trying to save his son and blah bah blah! The reason is because I saw it myself after my grandpa died,” said the doctor. And then he broke into a merry laugh.

“I thought it was just a dream, but no, it wasn’t. That golden pocket watch exists… it’s a rare sight… and anyone who sees or possesses it, dies. But if that watch itself considers you to be special, or if it is confused or dissatisfied with its own decision, it puts you into a trance like this,” continued he.

“I was lucky to be spared because it considered me to be special. But you,” he said, “you were the only one who understood the pain of the old man, who died trying to bring his son back to life. Also, your grandpa wanted to kill you, but as you were running, you never misjudged him. You still loved him. That is what made it difficult for that watch to decide whether to kill you or not,” said he.

“For seven years, it has been in your pocket, thinking. And now, it has made the decision- to let you live. Because you,” he smiled as he said, “are special, just like me. I’m a doctor who treats both humans as well as ghosts. But you are a person who understands both.”

Nick suddenly turned around to find all those zombies sitting behind him, ruffling his hair. “Now onwards, you will be the living prince of the dead. And you shall keep this whole thing a secret. Or else, your sister would want a proof of it!” said the doctor.

Nick laughed merrily. “I feel hungry and tired. Can I go home now?” asked Nick. “Of course you can, young man… oops! I mean prince of the dead,” he replied. Both of them had a merry laugh and Nick went out of the ward.

As he walked away with his family, Nick turned around. The zombies were standing at the door, watching him retreat. Just then, Nick saw his grandpa biding him farewell.

He waved them goodbye and slid his hand inside his pocket. He realized that the pocket watch was still there. He swiftly removed it and threw it far away in the sky. “Bye, golden pocket watch!” murmured he.

No one knows where the pocket watch fell. But one thing is sure- the golden pocket watch is still lying somewhere, waiting for its next prey to come.

Till then, watch out!