What do you think?
Rate this book
Baak: A Desi Horror Story
A thief and his lover are on the run. To hide their loot, they will have to cross a river. But this is no ordinary river. Its dark unforgiving waters are rife with the rumours of a local legend. The legend of a ghoul who knows no mercy. Will the couple be successful in their getaway? Or will their destiny lead them to an encounter with the deadly shambler of the deep? From the devious mind of India's most prolific horror writer, Neil D'Silva, comes this bone-chilling horror short story inspired by an Assamese local legend.
25 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 10, 2021
2 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Neil D'Silva
32 books174 followersWith 12 books to his credit, Neil D’Silva is a known name in the Indian literary world. His unique stories have struck a chord with a wide range of readers, eliciting praise from various quarters. He is published with leading publishers such as Penguin Random House, Rupa Publications, and Hachette among others, and has won screen adaptation deals on four of his books.
He has been named as one of the Top 7 Indian horror writers to be read by UK’s DESIblitz magazine. Considered as one of the forerunners of contemporary Indian horror literature, he has been covered by several leading publications and is invited to speak at prominent litfests around the country.
He was a winner at the Delhi Literature Festival Short Story Competition of 2015. His book Maya’s New Husband won the title of Entertainer of the Year at the Literary Awards 2015 that was co-hosted by Authors’ Ink Publications and Inside Stories.
He has been named as one of the Top 7 Indian horror writers to be read by UK’s DESIblitz magazine. Considered as one of the forerunners of contemporary Indian horror literature, he has been covered by several leading publications and is invited to speak at prominent litfests around the country.
He was a winner at the Delhi Literature Festival Short Story Competition of 2015. His book Maya’s New Husband won the title of Entertainer of the Year at the Literary Awards 2015 that was co-hosted by Authors’ Ink Publications and Inside Stories.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 30, 2023
The legend of Baak
One of the most famous supernatural entities that almost everyone in Assam, young or old, knows about is baak. Fishing has been the second most common livelihood for working class people in Assam apart from agriculture. With the mighty river Brahmaputra flowing through the state, along with several of the subsidiaries, it is no wonder that people spend much of their time around water. People even have personal lakes on their properties. Thus, water monsters are the much discussed topic of scary legends here. The author has done a great work of bringing the terror of the Baak to life. As an Assamese, I have heard countless accounts of encounters with the creature. The most terrifying aspect of it is the way it can imitate the voices of your loved ones, much like a mimic. It also possesses much of the chararistics of the much dreaded skinwalkers. In fact, the baak is mich advanced in its mimicing skills to the point that you wouldn't be able to distinguish between it a normal human, unless you know to look for signs. In the much disputed legends of the monster, one thing we all agree on is the way to defeat/tame a baak. Steal its pouch, that hangs from its waist in its monster form. If you suspect someone of being a baak, search for a place where it hides things or guards it. You will definitely find it there.
And as with all things, precaution is better than cure. So whenever you find yourself near a water body at night in Assam, never stray your eyes from your path, no matter what you see or hear. Even if you hear a loved one call to you.
One of the most famous supernatural entities that almost everyone in Assam, young or old, knows about is baak. Fishing has been the second most common livelihood for working class people in Assam apart from agriculture. With the mighty river Brahmaputra flowing through the state, along with several of the subsidiaries, it is no wonder that people spend much of their time around water. People even have personal lakes on their properties. Thus, water monsters are the much discussed topic of scary legends here. The author has done a great work of bringing the terror of the Baak to life. As an Assamese, I have heard countless accounts of encounters with the creature. The most terrifying aspect of it is the way it can imitate the voices of your loved ones, much like a mimic. It also possesses much of the chararistics of the much dreaded skinwalkers. In fact, the baak is mich advanced in its mimicing skills to the point that you wouldn't be able to distinguish between it a normal human, unless you know to look for signs. In the much disputed legends of the monster, one thing we all agree on is the way to defeat/tame a baak. Steal its pouch, that hangs from its waist in its monster form. If you suspect someone of being a baak, search for a place where it hides things or guards it. You will definitely find it there.
And as with all things, precaution is better than cure. So whenever you find yourself near a water body at night in Assam, never stray your eyes from your path, no matter what you see or hear. Even if you hear a loved one call to you.
Displaying 1 of 1 review