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SANGEETHA KAMATH

The street was flanked on both sides by rows of houses and the lawns were decorated with scarecrows, jack-o'-lanterns and stacks of gourds. 

Giggling children scurried past me in ghoulish costumes and scary masks. 

I took confident strides towards a house on my left. In my Dracula getup, I was unrecognizable. 

The family inside was holding a party and from the squeals, it seemed like some games were well underway. 

The rooms were dimly lit. Tables were set for apple bobbing in the next room. 

'She' was in a Halloween costume too but it was easy to spot her—a 'witch' playing host.  

I tapped her on the shoulder and asked her to lead me to the washroom. Taking me to be one of her guests, we passed the apple bobbing table. 

Her screams were muffled with other playful shrieks and gory noises amidst the Halloween effects as I dunked her head in the tub of water and held her there until her wild thrashing stopped. 

Wasn't this exactly how she had brutally killed my child in a fit of envy because she did well in school, much better than her own son? 

On this hallowed day, I've avenged Jade.

©️ Sangeetha Kamath 

Pic Courtesy: Image by Oberholster Venita from Pixabay


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