Unlike most men his age, Said was not very healthy or active. He was only twenty three, and he had been suffering from tuberculosis for two years now. That was what made him move into this seaside village. The fresh air and clean environment, recommended his doctor, might help him improve his condition. But like most men his age, Said could not stand being confined to the bedroom and staying in bed all day long. It soon became his habit to sneak out by the window every night, after locking the bedroom door and switching off the lights, to go for a late evening walk. He did not care for crowds. All he sought was the peaceful solitude of the beach, where the cool sea breeze whistled in the area and the waves kept a steady rhythm on the shore and light from a row of kelongs added glitter to the black sea. He would stroll along the water's edge or simply sit down under a big banyan tree, in the darkness, all by himself. He would head back to his room only when he could not stand the chill anymore. One night, Said fell asleep as he sat under the banyan tree, which was not unusual. What happened next, however, was out of the ordinary.
Said was awakened all of a sudden by loud sobbing. Someone was crying, very close by, under the banyan tree. At first he could not even remember where he was until the breeze and the crashing of the waves reminded him he was still at the beach. It was only then that the sobbing actually attracted his attention. It went on for several moments until a voice, a woman's voice, spoke, 'Go away! Go away! Leave me this very minute!' Said was completely flummoxed. What's all this about? he wondered. The voice came again, and this time, things were a little clearer. 'I can take care of myself. You don't have to send me home, Hussain. Just leave me alone.' Said still could not decide what to do or say. For a while, the woman was quiet too. The she started sobbing again. Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Said got up. A figure in white stirred behind the tree, obviously startled by his movement. 'I'm sorry. Don't be afraid. I was asleep and, well, you roused me,' Said explained. He noticed the woman was alone. 'Is there a problem? Can I be of any help?'
The woman did bot reply. During the following moments of silence, Said decided he probably had no business probing any further, whatever it was that had just transpired. He looked at his watch. 'Goodness, it's half past one. I didn't realize how late it is. Pardon me, Miss, but don't you think... I mean, considering the time...?' He was nervous, trying hard not to offend her. 'You're right. It is rather late, isn't it? Then she rose to leave. The woman seemed to have recovered from her initial shock. Due to the darkness, her face was only vaguely visible to him, but the voice was gentle and pleasant to the ear. Said said nothing. Then she asked, 'Would you mind escorting me home? You're alone, too, I see.' 'Shall we take a taxi or...?' 'No, thank you. I'd rather walk. My place isn't far from here,' replied the woman. And so, together, they left the banyan tree.
At the end of a rather long, quiet walk, they came up to a tall gateway. Beyond, Said could make out the silhouette of a double storey mansion surrounded by clumps of tall bamboo and what seemed to be a splendid garden. Looks like someone well to do, he thought. The woman halted at the gate and turned around. 'Thank you, once again.' 'Oh, it's my pleasure. And, good night,' Said replied before they parted company. When he turned to look behind him some distance away, the woman was still standing in front of the gate. That meeting and the mysterious woman occupied Said's mind ever since. He could not stop thinking about the incident, losing sleep for several nights thereafter as a result. And every evening, he would make sure he was under the banyan tree, waiting, hoping to meet her again. He wanted so much to talk to her. He wanted to know her, and perhaps find out what had really happened under the tree that night they met. Who was 'Hussain' and why had she mentioned him when he had seen no one with her? Said waited and waited, night after night, but the woman did not turn up. And all the time, his yearning to meet her grew stronger and stronger.
Finally, he decided he had to do something about it. He must find her himself if he was ever to see her and talk to her again. Out he went one day, looking for the mansion with the tall gateway, and ha parted company. He located the place with some difficulty, and had an unpleasant surprise. It did not trouble him when he noticed, on reaching the place, that the tall gateway did not seem as grand as he thought it looked before. But the shock turned him speechless when he saw what was beyond. Instead of a mansion, there was only desolation. instead of clumps of bamboo in a splendid garden, he saw nothing but a sea of lalang, the tall coarse grass common in this country. he certainly could not have made a mistake about the place since the tall gateway still stood as a landmark there. But where's that big house? Where's that woman? What has happened to them? Presently, along came a postman on a bicycle. Said approached him and posed the questions now swirling in his mind.
For several moments, all the man could offer him in response was a quizzical look. Then he explained, 'Actually no building has stood here for many, many years. There used to be a house, yes, but that was long ago. It was owned by a merchant. But he moved out, and it was abandoned and eventually torn down. And the owner was never seen again. 'The story was that he moved out after a tiff with his daughter. Anyway, our postmaster here is the best person to ask if you want to find out what really happened. Why don't you look him up? He's at the post office now,' the postman suggested. 'You said the woman mentioned the name Hussain?' asked the postmaster when Said met him. He spoke carefully and nodded repeatedly. 'Right. Do you happen to know them?' 'Its all very curious, this story of yours,' remarked the postmaster. 'You know, that woman sounds just like Jamilah, Hassan's only daughter. But... she disappeared long ago. You see, it all began when Jamilah started going out with this fellow Hussain, who happened to be one of her father;s workers. Hassan disapproved of their relationship, but they carried on seeing each other secretly. When Hassan found out, he sacked Hussain and forbade Jamilah to see him again.
'That turned out to be the mistake of his life. Hassan didn't realize what a headstrong girl his daughter was. Jamilah was not to be intimidated. One fine morning, she left home and never came back. All she left was a letter saying she was running away, that she could not stand living there any longer. 'Hassan went after the girl's sweetheart, found him at home and questioned him about her whereabouts. But Hussain insisted he had had nothing to do with Jamilah anymore. He confessed that they had earlier vowed to elope but then he had backed out later. He was not prepared to be responsible for the consequences. Hussain said he had met Jamilah at their usual place the night before they were supposed to run away together. He had then told her of his change of heart and advised her to return to her family. Jamilah broke down and cried, and told him to leave her alone. He did so, and never saw her again. He didn't know she had not returned until Hassan told him so.
'Well, Jamilah had been missing ever since. She has never been traced. Heartbroken, Hassan soon abandoned the mansion. No one knows where he is now. 'These events happened more than fifteen years ago. The woman you described sounds like Jamilah, particularly since you said she mentioned Hussain. And the banyan tree... That's where the two of them used to meet. But... it just doesn't make sense! Like I said, that girl disappeared so many years ago! 'And that mansion where you said you sent her home. It can't be! They pulled it down soon after Hassan abandoned it! 'Unless...' The growing horror was evident on the postmaster's face. 'My God! Could it be? A ghost...?'
Two months passed, and Said's condition was deteriorating steadily. He was now all skin and bones. And yet, every night, he fought his infirmity to wait faithfully under the banyan tree for the mysterious woman. At last, one night, she came. She greeted Said with a delighted smile, as if they were seeing each other on a tryst. Said's heart was in his mouth. He could feel the blood rushing through his body. It was a totally new sensation to be near her. It was neither fright nor shock. 'It's been a long time,' he remarked, 'but that's alright. I'm just happy to be seeing you again. Won't you have a seat with me? I've brought a blanket along for us to sit on.' 'Thank you,' she said, and she smiled. Said could not help noticing the dimples on her cheeks. 'Please accept my thanks, once again, for your kindness that night we first met,' she spoke as she sat down beside him. 'Oh, don't mention it,' Said replied. 'I tried to see you, you know, but... you weren't home.' 'I know,' she replied, her tone completely unchanged. 'I can't stay here long.' She changed subject abruptly. 'I thought you'd never come again. I've been waiting a long time.'
'I know. And I know how painful it is to wait. I used to suffer just like you, having to wait endlessly.' She turned to face him. 'I didn't catch your name. Mine's Jamilah.' 'Very pleased to know you. I'm Said,' he replied. 'I'm a thousand time more pleased to know you.' She smiled again, the dimples adding to her allure. 'What do you do during the day?' she asked. 'Nothing, actually,' Said replied. 'Well, it's a long story, if you wish to know.' 'Please go on.' Under the twinkling stars in the sky and in the breeze whispering through the trees, the pair of turtledoves were soon absorbed in blissful conversation. Then she stood up and said, 'I'm afraid I have to go now.' 'When can we meet again?' asked Said. She fell silent for a moment. 'I'm not sure,' she replied. 'How about tomorrow night?' pressed Said. 'I don't think that's possible,' she replied. Said's face changed instantly. 'What's wrong?' she asked gently. 'Have I disappointed you?' Said just nodded. 'I'll be here next week,' she said, reassuringly. 'Thank you. I'll be waiting,' said Said, and his face brightened up. As he got up to roll the blanket, he offered to send her home. 'I'm sorry, but that won't be necessary. Just stay here please, and don't follow me,' said the woman. 'Alright, if you say so.' She left and soon disappeared in the darkness.
The last time the postmaster saw Said was the day before the young man was taken to hospital. He was losing the battle against his illness. The late nights he kept outdoors certainly did not help. 'You have no idea how happy I am. Death for me is going to be sweeter than life,' Said remarked. 'Don't say that,' said the postmaster, 'I'm sure you'll make it.' 'Yes, I certainly will,' Said replied with a weak smile. The following day, Said was discovered missing from his room. On a hunch, the postmaster and some concerned friends went to the beach. There, spread on the ground under the banyan tree, was a blanket damp with the night's dew. Said's body was found floating in the sea some distance from shore. He had gone into the water fully clothed.
Said was awakened all of a sudden by loud sobbing. Someone was crying, very close by, under the banyan tree. At first he could not even remember where he was until the breeze and the crashing of the waves reminded him he was still at the beach. It was only then that the sobbing actually attracted his attention. It went on for several moments until a voice, a woman's voice, spoke, 'Go away! Go away! Leave me this very minute!' Said was completely flummoxed. What's all this about? he wondered. The voice came again, and this time, things were a little clearer. 'I can take care of myself. You don't have to send me home, Hussain. Just leave me alone.' Said still could not decide what to do or say. For a while, the woman was quiet too. The she started sobbing again. Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Said got up. A figure in white stirred behind the tree, obviously startled by his movement. 'I'm sorry. Don't be afraid. I was asleep and, well, you roused me,' Said explained. He noticed the woman was alone. 'Is there a problem? Can I be of any help?'
The woman did bot reply. During the following moments of silence, Said decided he probably had no business probing any further, whatever it was that had just transpired. He looked at his watch. 'Goodness, it's half past one. I didn't realize how late it is. Pardon me, Miss, but don't you think... I mean, considering the time...?' He was nervous, trying hard not to offend her. 'You're right. It is rather late, isn't it? Then she rose to leave. The woman seemed to have recovered from her initial shock. Due to the darkness, her face was only vaguely visible to him, but the voice was gentle and pleasant to the ear. Said said nothing. Then she asked, 'Would you mind escorting me home? You're alone, too, I see.' 'Shall we take a taxi or...?' 'No, thank you. I'd rather walk. My place isn't far from here,' replied the woman. And so, together, they left the banyan tree.
At the end of a rather long, quiet walk, they came up to a tall gateway. Beyond, Said could make out the silhouette of a double storey mansion surrounded by clumps of tall bamboo and what seemed to be a splendid garden. Looks like someone well to do, he thought. The woman halted at the gate and turned around. 'Thank you, once again.' 'Oh, it's my pleasure. And, good night,' Said replied before they parted company. When he turned to look behind him some distance away, the woman was still standing in front of the gate. That meeting and the mysterious woman occupied Said's mind ever since. He could not stop thinking about the incident, losing sleep for several nights thereafter as a result. And every evening, he would make sure he was under the banyan tree, waiting, hoping to meet her again. He wanted so much to talk to her. He wanted to know her, and perhaps find out what had really happened under the tree that night they met. Who was 'Hussain' and why had she mentioned him when he had seen no one with her? Said waited and waited, night after night, but the woman did not turn up. And all the time, his yearning to meet her grew stronger and stronger.
Finally, he decided he had to do something about it. He must find her himself if he was ever to see her and talk to her again. Out he went one day, looking for the mansion with the tall gateway, and ha parted company. He located the place with some difficulty, and had an unpleasant surprise. It did not trouble him when he noticed, on reaching the place, that the tall gateway did not seem as grand as he thought it looked before. But the shock turned him speechless when he saw what was beyond. Instead of a mansion, there was only desolation. instead of clumps of bamboo in a splendid garden, he saw nothing but a sea of lalang, the tall coarse grass common in this country. he certainly could not have made a mistake about the place since the tall gateway still stood as a landmark there. But where's that big house? Where's that woman? What has happened to them? Presently, along came a postman on a bicycle. Said approached him and posed the questions now swirling in his mind.
For several moments, all the man could offer him in response was a quizzical look. Then he explained, 'Actually no building has stood here for many, many years. There used to be a house, yes, but that was long ago. It was owned by a merchant. But he moved out, and it was abandoned and eventually torn down. And the owner was never seen again. 'The story was that he moved out after a tiff with his daughter. Anyway, our postmaster here is the best person to ask if you want to find out what really happened. Why don't you look him up? He's at the post office now,' the postman suggested. 'You said the woman mentioned the name Hussain?' asked the postmaster when Said met him. He spoke carefully and nodded repeatedly. 'Right. Do you happen to know them?' 'Its all very curious, this story of yours,' remarked the postmaster. 'You know, that woman sounds just like Jamilah, Hassan's only daughter. But... she disappeared long ago. You see, it all began when Jamilah started going out with this fellow Hussain, who happened to be one of her father;s workers. Hassan disapproved of their relationship, but they carried on seeing each other secretly. When Hassan found out, he sacked Hussain and forbade Jamilah to see him again.
'That turned out to be the mistake of his life. Hassan didn't realize what a headstrong girl his daughter was. Jamilah was not to be intimidated. One fine morning, she left home and never came back. All she left was a letter saying she was running away, that she could not stand living there any longer. 'Hassan went after the girl's sweetheart, found him at home and questioned him about her whereabouts. But Hussain insisted he had had nothing to do with Jamilah anymore. He confessed that they had earlier vowed to elope but then he had backed out later. He was not prepared to be responsible for the consequences. Hussain said he had met Jamilah at their usual place the night before they were supposed to run away together. He had then told her of his change of heart and advised her to return to her family. Jamilah broke down and cried, and told him to leave her alone. He did so, and never saw her again. He didn't know she had not returned until Hassan told him so.
'Well, Jamilah had been missing ever since. She has never been traced. Heartbroken, Hassan soon abandoned the mansion. No one knows where he is now. 'These events happened more than fifteen years ago. The woman you described sounds like Jamilah, particularly since you said she mentioned Hussain. And the banyan tree... That's where the two of them used to meet. But... it just doesn't make sense! Like I said, that girl disappeared so many years ago! 'And that mansion where you said you sent her home. It can't be! They pulled it down soon after Hassan abandoned it! 'Unless...' The growing horror was evident on the postmaster's face. 'My God! Could it be? A ghost...?'
Two months passed, and Said's condition was deteriorating steadily. He was now all skin and bones. And yet, every night, he fought his infirmity to wait faithfully under the banyan tree for the mysterious woman. At last, one night, she came. She greeted Said with a delighted smile, as if they were seeing each other on a tryst. Said's heart was in his mouth. He could feel the blood rushing through his body. It was a totally new sensation to be near her. It was neither fright nor shock. 'It's been a long time,' he remarked, 'but that's alright. I'm just happy to be seeing you again. Won't you have a seat with me? I've brought a blanket along for us to sit on.' 'Thank you,' she said, and she smiled. Said could not help noticing the dimples on her cheeks. 'Please accept my thanks, once again, for your kindness that night we first met,' she spoke as she sat down beside him. 'Oh, don't mention it,' Said replied. 'I tried to see you, you know, but... you weren't home.' 'I know,' she replied, her tone completely unchanged. 'I can't stay here long.' She changed subject abruptly. 'I thought you'd never come again. I've been waiting a long time.'
'I know. And I know how painful it is to wait. I used to suffer just like you, having to wait endlessly.' She turned to face him. 'I didn't catch your name. Mine's Jamilah.' 'Very pleased to know you. I'm Said,' he replied. 'I'm a thousand time more pleased to know you.' She smiled again, the dimples adding to her allure. 'What do you do during the day?' she asked. 'Nothing, actually,' Said replied. 'Well, it's a long story, if you wish to know.' 'Please go on.' Under the twinkling stars in the sky and in the breeze whispering through the trees, the pair of turtledoves were soon absorbed in blissful conversation. Then she stood up and said, 'I'm afraid I have to go now.' 'When can we meet again?' asked Said. She fell silent for a moment. 'I'm not sure,' she replied. 'How about tomorrow night?' pressed Said. 'I don't think that's possible,' she replied. Said's face changed instantly. 'What's wrong?' she asked gently. 'Have I disappointed you?' Said just nodded. 'I'll be here next week,' she said, reassuringly. 'Thank you. I'll be waiting,' said Said, and his face brightened up. As he got up to roll the blanket, he offered to send her home. 'I'm sorry, but that won't be necessary. Just stay here please, and don't follow me,' said the woman. 'Alright, if you say so.' She left and soon disappeared in the darkness.
The last time the postmaster saw Said was the day before the young man was taken to hospital. He was losing the battle against his illness. The late nights he kept outdoors certainly did not help. 'You have no idea how happy I am. Death for me is going to be sweeter than life,' Said remarked. 'Don't say that,' said the postmaster, 'I'm sure you'll make it.' 'Yes, I certainly will,' Said replied with a weak smile. The following day, Said was discovered missing from his room. On a hunch, the postmaster and some concerned friends went to the beach. There, spread on the ground under the banyan tree, was a blanket damp with the night's dew. Said's body was found floating in the sea some distance from shore. He had gone into the water fully clothed.
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