When I was just 11 years old, a spine-chilling incident occurred that I will never forget. It was the summer of 2005 in bustling Mumbai, the industrial capital of India. My 7th-grade final exams had just ended, and the air was filled with the promise of carefree summer days. My father, an employee of the Indian Railway Association, decided that we would spend the vacation in New Delhi with our relatives. Little did I know that this seemingly simple trip would lead to an experience that still sends shivers down my spine.
A Journey Alone: Setting the Scene
As luck would have it, my father had urgent work to attend to and couldn’t accompany me immediately. Instead, he arranged for me to travel alone on the train to Delhi. Being just 11 years old, I was apprehensive about the long two-day journey. My father was hesitant too, but when he learned that the train driver was his friend, he decided it would be safe for me to travel with him. And so, I set off, excited yet nervous.
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The Thrill of the Driver’s Compartment
Traveling in the driver’s compartment was a unique experience. The roar of the engine, the sweeping landscapes, and the driver’s friendly chatter made the journey unforgettable. By noon, the train was far from Mumbai, speeding through vast stretches of countryside. However, as the sun dipped lower, a strange and eerie chapter of my journey began.
The Signal Stop: A Quiet Slum and Deafening Silence
Around 2 PM, the train came to a halt at a red signal. The place was unremarkable at first glance—a slum with small huts dotting the area. But what struck me was the silence. Not a soul stirred in the slum. It was an unnatural quiet, the kind that makes your skin crawl without explanation.
I was sitting at the window, enjoying the view, when suddenly, an old woman appeared from the shadows of the slum. She was frail, leaning heavily on a stick for support, and her hunched figure moved slowly toward our compartment.
A Strange Encounter: The Begging Woman
The old woman stopped at my window, her bony hand reaching out to tug at my sleeve. She whispered in a feeble voice, “Babu, thoda sa khana de do” (Sir, please give me some food). I felt a pang of sympathy but had nothing to give her. Turning to the driver, I asked if he had any food for her.
What happened next shocked me. The driver, who had been kind and talkative until then, suddenly grew agitated. He shouted at me to move away from the window and barked harsh words at the old woman. “Mere paas kuch bhi nahi hai tujhe dene ke liye. Yaha se chali ja!” (I have nothing to give you. Go away!) His tone was sharp, and his words seemed to carry an edge of fear.
The Chilling Revelation: A Ghostly Tale
Once the train started moving again, I couldn’t hold back my curiosity. “Why did you shout at me earlier?” I asked. He hesitated, his face pale, before answering. “Look outside the window,” he said, “and notice how high it is from the ground.”
I did as he asked, realizing with a sinking feeling that the window was at least 11 feet above the ground. How could a short, elderly woman reach that height? My heart pounded as the driver continued, his voice low and serious.
“That was no ordinary woman,” he said. “She was the spirit of an old beggar who used to live in this slum. She died two years ago in a tragic accident while crossing these tracks. A speeding train hit her, and she didn’t survive. Since then, her spirit appears whenever a train stops here, begging for food.”
A Hungry Spirit: The Driver’s Warning
The driver explained that the old woman’s ghost was not malicious but hungry. If someone gave her food, she would follow them, not out of harm but desperation. He had learned this from other drivers who had similar encounters. “She’s not evil,” he said, “but it’s better not to interact with her. Once she follows you, she never leaves.”
The rest of the journey was filled with unease. The thought of that ghostly figure still lingering at the signal haunted me. I didn’t sit near the window again for the entire trip, my eyes darting nervously every time the train slowed down.
Even after reaching Delhi and spending a wonderful summer with my relatives, the memory of the haunted signal spot stayed with me. I often wondered about the old woman—was she still there, waiting at the signal, pleading for food? The thought sent a chill down my spine.
Years later, as an adult, I revisited the story with my father. He had heard similar tales from other railway employees, confirming that the haunting was a well-known legend among drivers. It wasn’t just my imagination—it was a piece of the supernatural woven into the everyday lives of those who worked on the railway.
The Unseen Realities of Life
The story of the haunted signal spot is a reminder of the mysteries that lurk in the most mundane corners of our world. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, there’s something deeply unsettling about the idea of a spirit, trapped in an eternal plea for kindness. It makes you wonder—how many other such stories are out there, hidden in the tracks we pass every day?
Would you dare to sit by the window next time your train stops at an unknown place?