The Haunting Box

It was a rainy evening, and Karthi, a high school student who was slim and loved video games, was deeply into an online shooting game with his friends. The sound of gunfire echoed in his small living room as he battled virtual enemies. Suddenly, a gentle hand touched his shoulder, making him shiver. He turned around to find his aunt, dressed in a wet red saree, standing behind him.

"Aunt?" Karthi said with surprise.

"My computer's acting up. Could you help me fix it?" his aunt asked, sounding urgent. She lived just two houses away from him, so it was easy for Karthi to lend a hand.

Following her home, Karthi tried to fix the computer, but he couldn't because he thought the OS crashed. He also wondered where his uncle was. "Where's Uncle?" he asked out of curiosity.

"He's on his way back from the office," she replied, leading him inside. The dark clouds outside hinted at a big storm as they entered her dimly lit home.

With the room lit only by the soft glow of the computer screen, Karthi tried to figure out the technical issue. His aunt stood behind him, which made him feel both safe and uneasy in the dim light.

"You know, we took care of your grandmother in her final days," she began, sounding a bit accusing. "But your family never bothered to buy her medicine, even though they got an equal share of her property."

Karthi paused, his fingers stopped typing over the keyboard as he thought about his family's concern for his grandmother. Before he could respond, his aunt told him something surprising.

"There's a box at your house, addressed to your grandmother. Your parents never mentioned it to us," she said, looking curious and maybe a bit suspicious.

Bewildered, Karthi asked, "What should I do?"

"You should give it to us, considering how we cared for your grandmother," his aunt said firmly.

Back home, Karthi found his mother in the kitchen and asked about the mysterious box. She said it arrived earlier that day and directed him to the cluttered storeroom upstairs. As lightning flashed outside, Karthi climbed the stairs nervously, thinking about what his aunt had told him.

Approaching the big box, Karthi felt scared. With shaky hands, he carefully opened it, finding papers and, to his horror, long strands of grayish-white hair. Suddenly, the box shook, and a ghostly old woman emerged, scaring Karthi. He screamed and ran downstairs, hiding behind the refrigerator until everything was quiet again.

Peeking out cautiously, he saw the ghost's face just inches away before waking up from his nightmare, drenched in sweat.

Descending the stairs, Karthi looked at his grandmother's photo, feeling scared by the resemblance between her and the ghost in his dream. The next day, on his way to school, he saw an old beggar woman who looked just like the ghost.

Approaching the delivery truck, Karthi felt nervous. The two delivery boys looked at him curiously.

"Is this your house?" one of them asked.

Karthi hesitated before answering, "Yes, why?"

The delivery boy exchanged a look with his friend before saying, "We have a box for your grandmother. We're just delivering it."

Karthi felt a chill, realizing what they meant. His grandmother had passed away years ago, but here was a package for her. Feeling unsure, he accepted the box, his mind full of questions. With a final smile, the delivery boys left, leaving Karthi to wonder about the mysteries inside the package.

The lesson is to spend time with elders, listen to what they say, and respect their wisdom. They have a lot to teach us, and their experiences can help us grow. By showing them kindness and paying attention, we can learn valuable lessons. So, take the time to be with them and cherish their guidance. It's a way to honor and appreciate their knowledge.