My eyes flew open to inkblack darkness. The hallway light was out. There was power outage and the March wind was roaring like a lion outside my window. I had stories of "when there is a ghost/spirit in your room at night, you can hear the breathing near you." Well, I didn't hear anything only felt this heavy presence. The next morning, I could not shake off my nightmares. It was one of those nightmares that has a way of creeping into your subconscious. I skipped breakfast and went off to work.Work lightened my parania until my evening class at the University. 9:00 pm my last class was over. I walked to the metro, exhausted...I had skipped lunch too. My boots echoed a rhythmic tempo against the hollow metro. Then I felt it, the heavy presence walking close to me... touching, almost. I looked back and didn't see anyone. I boarded the train and was relieved that there were a few straggling riders there. I closed my eyes to catch some sleep. Next, I heard "Ladies and gentlement, this is your last stop!" jumped up alarmed, I had missed my stop! Damn, strange things were happening to me since the house. I raced out to catch the returning train and got on. As I got off, the Silver Spring metro, the digital clock showed 10:15 pm.Oh shoot! my mother would be worried! I started walking past the deserted bus lot. There it was again the something, again, felt goosebumps all over. I looked back...nothing! So, I quickened my steps and as I rounded a building corner, I collided into something/someone. "Hey watch it!... Got a quarter... it's kinda late for you innit?!" It was the residential Silver Spring homeless! "Not tonight...sorry!" I barely looked at him and started running. I remembered Denzil Washington's movie "FALLEN" which made it worse because I was convinced, something like that was happening to me. I was being stalked by an evil spirit. When I reached my apt, my mother looked at me alarmed as I narrated what happened. "Mamoo, ke ho ke le pacchayayi rakheko cha malai, hijo dekhi." My mother said, "Sitara, tyo ghar ma pidit atma thiyo... timi le na pathyaoola bhanera na bhaneko maile." She agonized for the first time since the house visit. "Thik cha ma diyo balera... puja garchoo... whatever it is will go away!" That, I skipped dinner too. I had the same nightmare mixed with the movie "FALLEN." ********************to be continued***************************** (lunch tyam over!) Final part tonight!