Anjum N. Choudhury brings us a horrific tale, especially for any parent who has the standard fear: am I making the right choices? This is a tale of a demon, of a life lived in fear that morphed into another form of fear, and one with little fear and respect at all. It shows the need for a balance and a need for control, that you cannot let yourself be ruled by fear, but you also cannot be fearless. It is a haunting tale that left me with so many thoughts that I spent ages just thinking about it!
“I’m his rokkhokh,” I mumbled, so quiet, I couldn’t even hear myself. “I won’t put fear in him. I won’t.”
A little fear is good, dear. The demon on the wall seemed to be pulling closer despite my feet staying planted in one place. A little fear brings respect for order, and a little respect molds the man.
Memories flashed—of waking in a cold sweat in the dark, of trembling for accidentally speaking out of turn, of Anis glaring at me from across a crowded room, of Zayne on the brink of another tantrum. The unfairness of it all lit a fire in my lungs.
“Fear invites more fear. My son will not be weak.”
No, dear. That he will be. That and something much worse.
Demon is Just Protector Spelled Wrong by Anjum N. Choudhury, featured in Tangle & Fen: A Dark Fiction Anthology (p. 201). Crone Girls Press.
Q (Crone Girls Press): What inspired your story in this anthology? Tell us the “story behind the story.”
A (Anjum N. Choudhury): I was inspired by the parents I saw around me. Some enjoyed parenthood, and some didn’t and that reflected in their children’s behavior. I’ve observed that a lot of people become parents not because they want to, but because they were pressured into it, and I wanted to interrogate that, why that is and what the repercussions of that could be.
Q: Why do you write horror? What about the genre appeals to you as an author?
A: I think horror is a great way of giving society’s ills and your deepest, darkest fears a tangible form. I love the visual aspect of horror, the visceral reactions it can elicit and the opportunities it offers to dig deep into people’s psyches.
Q: There are a number of different flavors of horror. Where does your story fit, and what drew you to this particular category?
A: My story is a psychological slice-of-life piece with a pinch of the fantastical. I love these kind of stories because of the ordinariness of the set ups. Because it’s almost like these horrors could find you or me too.
Q: The world has been through some turbulent times in the past few years. How have current events changed (or not!) your approach to the genre as a writer?
A: I definitely steer clear of stuff that remixes current affairs. The daily news cycle is horrific enough, thank you very much! I tend to gravitate more towards fantastical and gothic horror. Even better if there’s a romance thrown in.
Q: What’s next in your writing journey?
A: My gothic fantasy novella, ‘The Divining Thread‘ was published by Harper Collins India in late 2022, which I’m really, really excited about!
About The Author
Anjum N. Choudhury is a Bangladeshi author of fantasy fiction. She became a policy researcher after earning a B.A. in Economics and Mathematics from Mount Holyoke College. Currently based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, she is getting her M.Sc. in Global Public Policy with a special focus on Climate Policy from SOAS University of London.
For news about her latest releases, visit her website or follow her on Twitter or Instagram.
Be sure to check out their story in Tangle & Fen: A Dark Fiction Anthology
Crone Girls Press 