The year 1991 had just wrapped up its Bangalore summer. Schools had opened up along with skies giving the everyone the much-needed respite from the heat of summer and its school vacations.
The smell of fresh books and new stationary, shiny new shoes and crisp uniforms was something that eleven year old Anitha loved about going back to school. She was in middle school and felt grown up. But looking at the sizes of her books this year a part of her wished that her book sizes did not have to grow up along with her!!
This year though the monsoon winds had also bought a strange little whisper along with them. Along with the rustle of leaves, the city whispered – ‘Nale Baa’ which in local language Kannada meant ‘Come Tomorrow’.
This finally reached Anitha too. She wondered what was supposed to ‘come tomorrow’? But like all whispers, this one too had no rhyme or reason!
As she went out to play in the evening, she spotted her college going neighbours who usually had the inside story about such tall tales!!
After a deeply descriptive & ‘trying hard’ to be scary conversation, Anita understood the actual story was simple : There was ghost that loved knocking on doors. You open the door thinking it’s a friend or a neighbour and the ghost took over.
Although the interesting twist was, if you wrote Nale Baa* on your door, the ghost would read it and go away. Even if it came back the next day, it would again read the same message and go away. And this loop would keep the ghost busy and away from troubling people.
Anitha thought, this is a strange Kannada loving and polite ghost!!
After the skepticism wore off, Anitha decided to fact check with Amma (mother). She always had her versions to such unusual stories, so Anitha marched into the kitchen and asked – “Amma, what is this ‘Come Tomorrow’ ghost thing? Please tell me, please Amma”.
Amma looked up quietly and went back to getting things ready for dinner
Anitha continued “Can the ghost read? Why can’t it read English? And why is the ghost so obedient about following instructions written on the doors? If it possesses us will it help us with Kannada homework or better do our homework? I wish it was a math loving ghost!!”
Amma looked up again with a smile and replied said – “Nale Baa” (meaning come tomorrow for your answers)
Anitha was disappointed and stood there sulking. Amma this time gave a sterner look and said – “Do you know, most of us mothers think that ghost is seemingly more obedient in listening to instructions than our children!!”
Anitha got the hint and walked back into her room and got busy with her studies.
After dinner, as they sat down in the verandah (portico) enjoying the breeze with hints of fragrance from the night jasmine, Amma, finally said – “I haven’t met the ‘Nale Baa’* ghost. So, I can’t answer questions about its language skills.”
She saw Anitha’s annoyance and continued – “I am not sure if it is really a ghost, but it surely looks like a smart local petty thief came up with this brilliant idea.”
Anitha looked up puzzled and after a minute the light bulb went on and she shouted out – “Whoever doesn’t write Nale Baa* on their doors is probably out of town. So, the thieves now have a clue to which houses can be easily robbed!!”
She quickly followed up this answer by running to grab a chalk and wrote Nale Baa* on the main door. She looked at Amma and said “Ghosts or thieves I want them to know, that we are home and we know all about their tricks.”
Amma smiled and replied – “Now let’s make sure, we lock our doors well and go to be bed. Enough with the stories.”
The next day at school, the whispers had gotten louder and the ghost had gotten scarier. And no one was interested in Anitha’s reasonings behind the gossip. The last class for the day was Math and the teacher had finally wrapped up with lots of homework.
Soon, enough the school bell rang and everyone started to excitedly head out for the gates. Anitha did not like the rush and usually paused for the crowd to thin out and that is when she saw her friend Girish had forgotten his math homework book on his desk. The teacher would not like this, thought Anitha and tried to spot Girish in the sea of children. She finally spotted him at the gate and hurried towards him.
Girish seemed to be an unusual hurry today and was rushing. Anitha followed him and tried to call out to him. He seemed to have gone deaf. Finally, Anitha’s legs picked pace and voice picked up volume and she went off loudly “Girish!! Girish”!! Stop!! Girish”
Instantly, Girish increased his speed too and without looking back shouted loudly “NALE BAA* & sprinted away!!
Anitha stood there dumbfounded for a minute. And, then told herself “I am sure the math teacher will be able to get rid of this ghost tomorrow in her class”
As, Anitha started to walk towards her house she was amused about how maybe Amma was right about the ghost’s motives. Now, she was equally amused at Girish’s motives because she surely knew he would have the biggest story tomorrow in the math class!!
*Nale Baa means Come Tomorrow in my native tongue Kannada. Kannada is the native & official language of the state of Karnataka, India.
Another tall tale inspired by true events. If you would like to read up more, here is a wiki page link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naale_Ba
Yes, as a kid, we endlessly spoke about this ghost and even wrote ‘Nale Baa’ on our wall. Did you also have such strange whispers when you were growing up? Let me know in the comments!!
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