The Ghost of the Old Fort

In a small village in Rajasthan, there stood an ancient fort named Kuldhara. The villagers believed the fort was haunted. They said that the ghost of a young woman named Laxmi roamed the ruins at night.

Laxmi lived in Kuldhara many years ago. She was known for her beauty and kindness. One day, a powerful and wicked landlord saw her and wanted to marry her. But Laxmi's heart belonged to someone else, a young man from the neighboring village. The landlord threatened to harm her family if she refused his proposal. Fearing for their safety, Laxmi and her family decided to leave the village. 

One moonlit night, they gathered their belongings and left Kuldhara, cursing the village to never be inhabited again. As they left, Laxmi disappeared. Some say she ran away, others believe she met a tragic end. Since then, people claimed to see Laxmi's ghost wandering the fort, her face sad and her eyes searching.

Many years later, a curious traveler named Ravi heard the story of Kuldhara and decided to visit the fort. He arrived at dusk, just as the villagers warned him not to stay after dark. Ignoring their warnings, Ravi set up camp inside the fort, determined to prove the ghost stories were just myths.

As night fell, a chill filled the air. Ravi lit a fire and sat down, feeling the eerie silence around him. Suddenly, he heard soft footsteps. Turning around, he saw a faint figure of a woman in a white saree, her hair flowing in the wind. It was Laxmi. She moved slowly towards him, her eyes filled with sorrow.

Ravi was terrified but couldn't move. Laxmi stopped a few feet away and whispered, "Help me find peace." Her voice echoed through the ruins. Gathering his courage, Ravi asked, "How can I help you?"

Laxmi pointed towards the old well in the fort's courtyard. Ravi walked over and looked inside. There, at the bottom, he saw an old anklet glinting in the moonlight. He retrieved it and handed it to Laxmi's ghost.

As soon as Laxmi touched the anklet, her form started to fade. "Thank you," she whispered, her face finally showing a hint of peace. With that, she disappeared, leaving Ravi alone in the silent fort.

The next morning, Ravi left Kuldhara, sharing his experience with the villagers. They believed Laxmi's spirit was finally at rest. The story of the old fort spread far and wide, but the villagers of Kuldhara still remembered the kindness of the traveler who helped their beloved Laxmi find peace.

From that day on, the eerie silence of Kuldhara became a peaceful one, and Laxmi's ghost was never seen again.