The poor employees started offering their defenses. The apparition whispered in the Seth’s ear, "This boy seems like a thief to me... that’s why he is panicking." He was pointing toward a young employee whose job involved outdoor tasks, including fetching groceries and supplies.
"Hey... did you take it?" the Seth glared at the boy.
The color drained from the boy’s face. Stammering, he replied, "No, no sir... I swear... I didn't steal anything."
"Tell the truth... otherwise, I’ll call the police right now."
The boy burst into tears. "By God! I haven't stolen anything."
"He won't agree like this..." The Seth took out his mobile phone and called a friend of his in the police force.
A police mobile arrived, and the officers dragged the boy away, beating him all the while.
"Yes, now that's how it's done," the apparition said with satisfaction. "This will serve as a lesson to the rest of them."
However, that very evening, the lady of the house found her mobile phone in their only son’s room.
"Jamal had taken it with him... and then forgot about it," she explained.
"Well, thank God... it's found," Seth Kamal began to scratch his head. "So I had this innocent boy arrested for nothing."
Standing nearby, the apparition immediately chimed in, "So what... what's the use of regretting it... what's done is done. You are a wealthy, important man... important people don't feel remorse for the small folk."
"What you say is absolutely right," Seth Kamal agreed.
Seth Kamal was obeying the apparition blindly, losing all ability to distinguish between right and wrong. Undoubtedly, following the apparition's advice had brought him significant financial gain. Only the Seth could see the apparition—no one else. But the Seth hadn't cared about that either.
This time, however, Seth Kamal’s only son, Jamal, fell severely ill. At first, they didn't pay much attention to it, but when his illness dragged on, deep anxiety gripped the Seth and his wife. Soon, Jamal began experiencing excruciating back pain, which worsened day by day. The intensity of the agony caused the boy to writhe like a slaughtered bird.
The Seth was nearly driven mad. Initially, he consulted specialists from across the city, but none of them could comprehend the affliction. Countless medical tests were conducted. They exhausted every avenue within human capability, yet with every seizure, the disease progressed and the patient faded.
When someone suggested treatment abroad, he took him overseas, but there was no relief to be found there either. The illness simply couldn't be diagnosed. It was an unfathomable, mysterious ailment that had completely drained the life out of Jamal. They returned home, resorting to spiritual healing, amulets, and prayers, but Jamal’s suffering could not be alleviated.
After many days, Seth Kamal finally visited his company office, sitting at his desk in distress, holding his head in his hands. Suddenly, the apparition materialized. Upon seeing him, the Seth blurted out desperately, "Hey brother... tell me something... do something... make my Jamal well... he is my only child... tell me a cure!"
"There is a cure..." The apparition raised an eyebrow and looked at the Seth. "But..."
"But... but... what? It will cost money? I'll pay it... no matter how much it costs," the Seth said anxiously.
"His cure won't come through money," the apparition paced as he spoke, then stopped and looked directly at the Seth. "His cure lies in prayers."
"Prayers?" The Seth stared blankly at him.
"Yes... and the cause of his illness is curses."
"This... what are you saying?"
"I am speaking the truth," the apparition sat down.
"The people you fired... the ones you mistreated... whose hearts you broke... those people left your office cursing you. After polytheism, the greatest sin is breaking someone's heart... it is like tearing down the Kaaba. Having committed a sin so immense, how can you ever expect to live in peace, Seth!"
"But I did all of that at your behest... you were the one who told me to do this and that..." Seth Kamal snapped, his voice laced with grief and rage. He felt an urge to lunge forward and tear this hideous creature's throat out with his bare teeth.
"I know," the apparition smiled maliciously. "That is my job. Do you know... who I am?"
The Seth glared at him with murderous eyes.
"I am evil... malice. I abide with every human being, but those who do not heed my words, who do not fall for my temptations... I leave them alone until they are surrounded by tragedies. Well, my work here is done... I am leaving... to tempt someone else."
Saying this, the apparition moved toward the window.
"He... listen to me... hey..." The Seth lunged after him, but he had already vanished.
The Seth rushed to peer out the window. That was when he witnessed a startling sight.
Outside, stretching far down the street, were throngs of people—cart vendors, rickshaw drivers, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. Walking alongside every single person was a dark apparition. However, there were a few individuals visible who were accompanied by a white apparition. The white apparitions were surrounded by a halo of light; they were surely apparitions of goodness. They were a sign that good people still remained in the world, those who pay no heed to the whispers of evil.
