Standing against a pillar, in darkness, Huda recollects the story that has been shared till this moment. He, who was not taking this story telling seriously in the beginning has now started feeling connected to all the emotions that the story has managed to develop inside him. He is serious! He is nervous! He is intruiged! He is afraid! He is haunted by memories! He is trying to connect the dots. This is not the first time he is feeling these emotions altogether.

The vivacious Huda, has another side too which he keeps buried, no one amongst his friends can imagine.

He took it as his misconception. He took it as his hallucination. But deep down he knew whatever he witnessed was true!

Huda quivers even today when he remembers what he went through.

●●●●●

Walking to and fro Lolita Ma'am remembers reading stories on ghosts. She always had a fascination for Paranormal activities. The stories she read were surely very interesting. Her book shelf is mostly filled with books on ghosts and Paranormal activities ranging from stories written specifically for children to stories written for adults - serious and dark ghost stories!

There is one particular book though in her shelf that she dreads to touch and read. It is still hard to believe that she hasn't thrown it away or given it to someone. No! She cannot give it to someone else. What if it is a cursed one?! She surely cannot risk someone else's life.

But then nothing has happened to her till date! How can it be a cursed one? She has an answer to her this query too - the fact that she is a devotee of Ma Kali, has protected her till date. Is it just her belief or reality, she doesn't want to know. All she knows is, the book ain't going anywhere out of her custody.

●●●●●

Ali still remembers how it felt to be possessed by a spirit. The one week of  the fourth month of the year, the experience was terrible. Only he knows what he went through and only his family members know what they went through. What all did they not try - tabeez, calling the Maulana to their place to ward off the evil spirit and what not, but nothing worked. What worked finally was the root cause of the entire problem!

Ali quivers remembering that incident.

●●●●●

Everyone in the academy knows that Dr. Shalini is a divorcee. Her sweet and friendly nature has always succeeded in winning the hearts of all in the academy right from the very first day which secretly includes Major Nair and Major Bhargava too. Major Bhargava, when asked by Brigadier Chandok to leave the academy, was leaving, he had no positive feelings for anyone other that his best friend Major Nair, and Dr. Shalini!

But no one knows the reason of her divorce!

No one has ever dared to ask her too, solely because everyone cares for her. No one wants to hurt her by any means by asking her about her past.

Dr. Shalini too never tried to initiate a conversation on this topic by herself. But today she knows, the time has arrived. She must share the story. Because today she is sure everyone will understand and won't take it as her imagination; or some fake story; or make fun of her!

●●●●●

'Coward'! This tag has been given to Yudi since the moment his friends - whether outside the academy or in the academy have got to know him better and realised that he quivers even on merely been talked by raising their voices. He tries hard to have a grip on himself, especially because he has faced humiliation because of his this nature because as per rules a man must not be a coward; a man cannot reveal that he too gets afraid. If he does that then he will be tagged as a WOman thenceforth!

But no one ever tried to ask him the reason for his getting startled merely upon being touched on his shoulder if he is unaware of someone's arrival. Everyone takes it as part of his nature since birth. He silently accepted all the jokes that were cracked on him; all the teasings that he had heard till date regarding his cowardness.

He never thought that someday he would share it with his friends and reveal everything. That someday is today!

●●●●●

Quivering, Pooja takes her mobile in her hand. Opening her received calls list she scrolls down to a call she received an year ago. She might clear other's call details from the list sometimes but she never dares to delete this particular number. She stares at the number in horror. She still remembers that night it was 31st of October. Few people celebrate this day as Halloween Day!

Pooja used to find this day funny and unreal! Why do they celebrate the dead ones - dead people, vampires and other stuffs like that? She had no valid answer to her question. She wasn't a believer of ghosts. She has always been a happy and cheerful person away from all these unreal and out of world stuffs. She loves staying in her lala land which itself is an unreal world; but despite being a fan of unreal stuff - imagining herself with her ShahRukh; she hates the unreal stuff - ghosts and spirits! Or rather used to hate!

Last year on 31st October at night around 9 pm at her home, having nothing to do, she scanned through the channels of her television. There was nothing that had her interest. She suddenly paused at a channel where they were telecasting a movie based on Halloween. And as it was based on Halloween it had to be a horror movie!

Almost an hour passed by, she got thoroughly engrossed in the movie when her mobile rang. Keeping her eyes glued to the television screen she received the call.

Pooja shuts her eyes immediately. Showing herself a red signal!

Opening her eyes she reminds herself that this is 2023!

She hasn't yet shared this incident with her parents. She has always craved to do so. But she was afraid of what she would face thereafter. She didn't want to put her family through this weird feeling. But now she has a family here too in the form of her friends and teachers. She will share it with them!

●●●●●

During the days when Suriji was a student doing Cooking course under Hotel Management course, Suriji had faced such paranormal activity in his hostel which was popular for being haunted by ghosts, specifically the mess of their hostel.

He never knew that staying awake at night would invite an encounter with a ghost! He still is confused about whether it was his staying awake that invited the paranormal moment in his life or was it the paranormal moment that he was destined to encounter with, that prohibited him from falling asleep!

The well managed Suriji, was failing at every step to manage everything in the mess that fateful night.

Suriji rubs his hand together, trying to clear his mind. He needs to control the overflow his emotions regarding that incident before he decides to share it with others.

He has decided anyways!

●●●●●

Late night walks have always been Naina's favourite. It helps her to contemplate everything that has happened in her life till date.

One such night it was too. A fateful one!

The reason why she had lost her interest in love. According to her ironically love was only about pain, until she met Rajveer who taught her the real essence of love and romance!

Not all love stories reach their beautiful end - growing old together. Some end tragically!

When fate played cruel game with her and snatched her Rajveer Sir from her, she once again started considering love - venomous. This time the hatred was much more than earlier. But events in her life took a beautiful turn once again when destiny gifted her back her Rajveer Sir!

That night while she was enjoying her walk, she didn't have any idea about what she was about to witness - a young man in around his 20s - around 25 or more, someone she was familiar to jumped from the top most floor - fifth floor of a building right in front of her eyes! Naina got frozen at her spot and a loud shrieking shout escaped her mouth in horror!!

Hustle-bustle of people filled the air in no time. People started crowding the spot. She had idea about his on going affair with a girl staying in the same building. She had always silently adored the pair and wanted to see them married. What happened suddenly that forced him to take this step at such a young age? This incident had disturbed her mental peace.

Just a few days passed after this incident that many at the locality started complaining of some paranormal activities taking place in the locality. None doubted this man's spirit lurking there until the night when a child around thirteen years old claimed that he had seen the same man walking to and fro outside the girl's house.

What happened then, still feels like a nightmare to Naina! She looks heavenwards and tries to calm herself down.

●●●●●

Alekh is well familiar with the number of prisons in and around his locality. But this one was completely new to him when he first entered here. And not only new but - eerie too! Every step that he was taking towards the cell, every nerve ending was shouting at him why he must not be there! The overall vibe of that place was negative. Of course no prison gives positive vibes to anyone but this one is peculiarly negative! A regular visitor of prison can differentiate between the positive and negative vibes of a prison very well. The silence prevailing in the prison was eerie. Not only the vibes of this place were weird but the reason of his being there was equally weird!

Alekh remembers the reason of his being there and quivers!

●●●●●

Every faculty member including Brigadier Chandok takes leave occasionally to go and meet their respective families. But never has Rajveer taken leave with a reason to meet his relatives. It's true that all know he doesn't have any relative other than Lala Gehlot, whom of course he won't meet now after his true self got revealed in front of Rajveer but everyone is well aware of the fact that Rajveer owns a house in Delhi and has a few friends too who reside around his house. But despite all that Rajveer never visits his house.

One fine day when Dr. Shalini found him gloomy, proposed him to take her to his house, she thought this trip would change his mood. It did change his mood when he heard the proposal but in a way that Dr. Shalini hadn't anticipated! Rajveer immediately turns to look at her, his expression stating his state of horror and immediately he said,

"Nahi!"

The short and negative reply along with his state of horror came as a surprise for Dr. Shalini. She knit her brows in astonishment.

Dr. Shalini did try to ask him the reason but he made it sure that he doesn't spill anything in front of her even by mistake. Not that he doesn't trust her but because he doesn't want to drag her into all this! Dr. Shalini finally gave up on her futile tries to get the fact out of him.

Maybe tonight is the night when finally Dr. Shalini's queries will be met by Rajveer.

●●●●●

Sitting at her seat Kashish brings out her diary and begins writing,

Aaj phir wohi sapna. Pata nahi kyun main ye baat maan nahi pa rahi ke Sujal ki uss car accident mein maut ho gayi hai. Ye kaam uss Swayam Shergil ka hai mujhe ye bhi pata hai. Har baar tarot ussi ki taraf ishara karte hain. Magar main samjh nahi paati kaise subko yakeen dilaon!

Kitna ajeeb hai ye sub. Sub mere iss gyan ko mera hunar samjhte hain; magar koi nahi jaanta ke ye hunar hi abhi meri zindagi ka subse bura such bana hua hai. Mere galey ki haddi banni hui hai! Sub kuch jaante hue bhi main kisi ko yakeen nahi dila sakti ke Swayam Shergil ne hi mere Sujal ko mujhse duur kiya hai. Kanoon saboot mangta hai. Kya saboot doon unhe - mere tarot cards? Mere visions jo mujhe aate hain?

Frustrated, Kashish picks up her deck of cards. Closing her eyes she visions Sujal and Swayam Shergil and prayers the divine to guide her. Opening her eyes she shuffles the cards and spreads the on the table. She pauses for a moment, taking a deep breath she repeats her query in her mind - Kya Swayam Shergil hi mujhe mere Sujal se duur karne ka gunehgar hai?

She draws three cards out from the deck. The following appear -

ACE OF WANDS

THE DEVIL

TEN OF SWORDS

She burns in anger and hatred as the outcome is a YES!

Not all 'Yes' are favourable ones! This one is of that category.

●●●●●

All of them return and settle back in their respective place. Each one of Ramesh's listeners is slightly changed person in comparison to what they were before they exited the room.

The moment each one of them reaches the threshold of the room they could feel the change in the atmosphere. They start feeling heavier than what they were feeling outside the room.

No, there is not any presence of any unknown entity in the room, it is rather the realisation of each one of them about what they are all over again getting into. The collective feeling of awareness of the journey they are to resume is vibrating heavy vibes in the room. Those who are not a fan of horror stories can term this vibe as - negativity and those who have interest in paranormal activities; are curious to know about the other world for them it is just - transition from one world to another! And the heaviness is just a part of it, acceptable!

Looking at them Ramesh smiles and asks,

"Aa gaye aap sub? Mujhe to laga tha aadhe log wapas aayenge hi nahi!"

"Ayenge nahi? Oye matlab kya hai tera?",

asks Suriji, holding his waist from either sides, feeling offended.

All others stare at Ramesh too, knitting their brows respectively.

"Arey Suriji mera matlab mujhe laga shayad aap subko kahani achi na lagi ho! Waise bhi subko inn kahaniyon mein diljaspi nahi hoti. Kuch shok-shok mein sunna to shuru kar dete hain phir....",

looking towards Suriji, he adds further,

"...bore ho jaate hain.",

he smirks.

All of them understand it effortlessly that the original words are not 'bore ho jaate hain' rather 'darr jaate hain'!

Taking a deep breath, Rajveer, with a fake sweet smile on his face says,

"Arey nahi Ramesh, tum itne ache kahanikaar ho ke tumhare kahani ko jisne ek baar sunna shuru kar diya wo puri kahani bina sune reh hi nahi sakta. Balki puri sunnkar bhi baar baar tumhare paas ayega koi nayi kahani sunne."

"Tareef ke liye shukriya Sirji.",

Ramesh gestures an 'aadaab'.

Smiling, Rajveer says,

"Chalein to phir sunne agey ki kahani?",

asks Rajveer, smiling.

"Tashreef rakhiye.",

smiles Ramesh and gestures him to take his seat.

Smiling, Rajveer occupies his seat.

Naina who was standing next to him turned to leave for her seat when Rajveer manages to skip Naina's heartbeat by holding her hand suddenly to stop her from sitting away from him. Naina immediately turns to look towards Rajveer, widening her eyes, her heart beating at a high pace inside her chest. Getting closer to her Rajveer whispers into her ear, teasing her,

"Daro mat koi bhoot nahi hai main hoon!"

Naina smiles and blushes profusely hearing him.

Rajveer smiles wide witnessing her smiling.

"Aao mere paas baitho.",

says Rajveer.

Naina looks towards him with her twinkling eyes, twinkling out of love for Rajveer and nods her head in affirmative.

"Mujhe darr laga to mujhe sambhal lena.",

teases Rajveer after she settles down next to him, looking towards her through the corner of his eyes.

Naina widens her eyes hearing that, looking towards him and beats him lightly on his right shoulder. Rajveer laughs silently, Naina follows.

●●●●●

"To, aap subko apni konsi-konsi kahani yaad aayi?",

asks Ramesh, smiling infectiously, challenging them, arching his right brow.

All of his listeners quiver hearing his question, as if caught red handed. They stare Ramesh dumbstruck, in horror!

They look towards each other to check if someone has an answer in affirmative to Ramesh's query.

Turning to look towards Ramesh, knitting his brows, Alekh asks,

"Boley to?"

Ramesh turns to look towards Alekh and says,

"Boley to ye Alekh bhaiya ke ye waqt jo aap subko maine diya, isey aap subne yunhi to jaane nahi diya hoga!",

he smiles, challengingly.

The rates of heartbeats of his listeners increase respectively hearing his words and the confidence in his voice.

Alekh knits his brows tighter.

"Koi to bhooli-bisri baat yaad ayi hogi aap subko apni-apni? Kuch aisa jis baare mein aapne aaj tak apne aapse bhi shayad guftagu nahi ki hogi? Koi aisa manzar jo aaj bhi aapko lagey ke wo bus aapki ankhon ka chhalawa (dhokha) tha?",

smiles Ramesh, challengingly, instigating him to dive deep into that feeling and spit it all off.

Alekh's rate of heartbeat increases further.

Witnessing it Ramesh says,

"Aapke dhadkano ki barhi hui raftar ne mujhe ingit kar diya hai ke kuch raaz aapke dil mein bhi chhipe hain.",

smirks Ramesh.

Alekh stares him dumbstruck.

All others too get alert, no not for Alekh but for their own secrets. Can he read them too?

"Apne mann ko tatola to nishchit roop se hi hoga aap subne?",

he says, confidently.

"Purani beeti yaadon ke bhanwar mein apne aapko funsa hua to paya hi hoga aap subne!",

smirks Ramesh.

"Nahi humare saath aisa kuch bhi nahi hua.",

says Pooja, hesitantly.

Turning to look towards Pooja, Ramesh says,

"Pooja ji, aap subka meri kahani ko gaur se sunna aur aagey ki kahani sunne wapas aane ki wajah sirf ye nahi hai ke aap subko ye kahani bha gayi hai; balki iski wajah ye bhi hai ke aap subne bhi kabhi na kabhi kisi aise manzar ko zaroor dekha aur mehsoos kiya hai. Khudko juda hua mehsoos kar rahe hain aap iss kahani se.",

confidence reflects again by his words.

Body warms up of each of his listeners, respectively. They all look away in different directions. Ramesh notices everything.

"Chaliye koi baat nahi.",

smiles Ramesh.

●●●●●

Unlocking the cupboard placed in her shop, Kashish pulls the doors open and scans the cupboard with her eyes initially before digging deep and practically searching for something in desperation.

Soon enough she brings out a book with black cover on which is embedded in white - the words in bold letters - 'TANTRA, MANTRA AUR YANTRA'.

Holding the big fat book in her hands, feeling the heaviness of the book in her hands, Kashish reads its title and slowly looks in front of her in infinity, thinking.

"Swayam Shergil bus ek baar mili hoon tumse, aur milte hi tumse nakaratmak (negative) oorja (vibes) ka aabhas hua hai.",

says Kashish, knitting her brows.

"Main to ye bhi nahi janti ke tum kahan rehte ho; kya karte ho. Kuch nahi jaanti. Jaanti hoon to bus itna ke Sujal aur tum kabhi bhi ek saath nahi ho sakte. Do (2) vipreet shaksiyat ho tum dono. Tum dono ki ankhon mein bhi ek dusre ke liye nafrat dekhi thi maine uss din party mein.",

Kashish remembers and utters the words with anger and hatred towards Swayam.

"Aur main jaanti hoon ke mere... mere Sujal ko tumne mujhse cheena hai.",

she emphasizes on 'tumne'. Kashish's eyes well up with tears.

"Warna baar-baar tumhara mere sapno mein aana alag-alag situations mein. Ye itefaq nahi ho sakta. Mere saath kabhi kuch bhi itefaq se nahi hota!",

says Kashish, knitting her brows tight.

Kashish keeps staring at the infinity for sometime.

"Agar main janti ke tum kahan rehte ho; kya karte ho, to main abhi tum tak pohnch kar tumse poochti tumhare aur Sujal ke beech kaisa rishta tha! Kya koi kadwahat thi? Koi purani dushmani?",

Kashish sighs in frustration and helplessness.

"Aur samjhne ki koshish karti ke agar tumne mere Sujal ko mujhse cheena hai to akhir kyun kiya tumne aisa?",

utters Kashish in anger.

"Magar koi baat nahi. Bhaley hi main tum tak nahi pohnch sakti. Magar tumhe apne paas kheench zaroor sakti hoon! Mujh tak pohnchne ke liye tumhe majboor zaroor kar sakti hoon.",

says a determined Kashish, calming down a little.

Suddenly looking away in frustration she says,

"Magar ye itna aasan nahi hoga. Waqt lag sakta hai mujhe. Dusro ke liye kisi tak pohnchna aur apne khudke kisi faide ke liye kisi tak pohnchne mein fark hai."

"Main dusro ke liye bhale hi aasani se kisi tak pohnch jaati hoon magar jab baat apne kisi kaam ki aati hai to mujhe khud apni shaktiyon par hi shanka (doubt) hone lagti hai.",

says a frustrated Kashish.

"Mere uss kaam ko khatam karne ki utsukta meri taakaton par haawi hone lagti hai. Shayad isiliye mujhe waqt lag jaata hai results paane mein.",

says Kashish.

Kashish focuses in the process of attracting Swayam Shergil towards herself.

(Kashish's background score of

Ekadantaya viddhamahe,
Vakratundaya dhimahi,
Tannodanti prachodayat॥

begins)

Opening the book she turns over the pages of the book searching for a particular page where she knows she would find the mantras required to chant to connect to Swayam Shergil's soul.

Yes, it is not only when a soul exits a body forever, i.e. when a person dies, that one can contact a soul but rather a soul can be contacted anytime and in any form whether in or outside the body doesn't matter. Some connect through telepathy and some in this way!

It takes around half an hour to complete the entire ritual. After which Kashish finally sighs in relief and closes the book.

"Ab bus intezaar hai to tumhare mere paas aane ka Mr. Swayam Shergil!",

says Kashish, glaring at infinity.

(Ending sargam of 'ek danta...' begins

Ma ga ma ga re ga sa,
ma ga ma ga pa dha pa.
Ma ga ma ga re ga sa,
ma ga ma ga pa dha pa.
Ma ga ma ga re ga sa,
ma ga ma ga pa dha pa... dha pa...
dha pa...)

●●●●●

"Jaise hi team members ne usse iss haal mein dekha wo apni apni gadi se utarkar turant unki taraf daud kar aayein uska naam pukarte hue.",

says Ramesh.

'Ashish Sir! Ashish Sir aap theek hain na?'

"Paseene se lathpath Ashish ko maano saans mein saans aayi apne group ke logon ko dekh kar.",

says Ramesh.

*Flashback*

"Ashish Sir aap theek hain?",

asks Siya, reaching Ashish, panicking about his well being.

"Kya hua Ashish Sir? Aap itne ghabraye hue kyun hain?",

asks Saurabh, reaching too.

"Li jiye Sir paani pijiye.",

Mansi offers him her water bottle, staring him in shock.

Ashish without immediately accepts the bottle and quickly drinks water in a single go to quench his thirst. Bringing down the bottle he breathes heavily, his chest expands and contracts in quick succession.

"Kya hua Sir? Aap aise paseena-paseena...??",

Mridul trails off.

"Script...",

Ashish gulps his saliva before he continues,

"Script mein itna dooba hua tha ke darr gaya.",

he makes accuses.

"Arey Sir khud kahani likhi aur khud hi darr gaye usse parhkar? Phir to ye movie pakka hit hone waali hai I bet!",

laughs Mridul in excitement.

Ashish stares Mridul doubting his words after whatever he felt moments ago.

Clearing his mind he asks all,

"Acha ye batao tum logo ko itna waqt kyun laga yahan aane mein?"

"Inn Siya madam ki wajah se.",

Saurabh points towards Siya, looking towards her.

Siya beats him lightly with the camera hanging around her neck.

"Kyun? Matlab?",

asks Ashish, knitting his brows, smiling a little, looking towards Siya.

"Har thodi-thodi der baad humein rok rahi thi apne camere mein alag alag view ko capture karne ke liye.",

complains Saurabh in a friendly way and rolls his eyes.

"Haan to? Kitne ache ache views the.",

replies Siya.

Smiling, Siya shows the pictures to Mansi.

Mansi who had been standing quietly and observing Ashish, asks him,

"Sir... aap theek hain na pakka?"

Ashish shoots a look towards Mansi.

"Hmmm!!",

he nods his head and lowers his eyes.

Mansi nods her head, still not completely convinced.

●●●●

"To ye hai wo location! Yaar ye such mein kitna darawana lag raha hai.",

says Saurabh, looking up towards the house.

All others including Ashish and all crew members - the artists who are going to perform the side roles are also standing with him looking towards the house.

"Haan yaar.",

agrees Siya.

"Hai na?",

says Ashish, his eyes twinkling with excitement.

"Chalo aao ander chalkar dekhte hain.",

says Ashish.

Ashish enters first and switches on the light. All others follow him inside, witnessing the interior with their eyes wide opened, respectively. The interior looks just like any other abandoned house.

"Aisa lag raha hai maano saalon se yahan koi insaan kya kisi parinde ne bhi apna pankh fadfadaya nahi hoga.",

says Mridul, observing the interior.

And the moment he ends up saying so a bird came flying from the opposite direction with a loud noise and flew to other side out of the door.

The girls shout in fear and give it way. All of them turn to look towards in shock.

"Relax! Relax!",

they try to calm the girls, themselves too recovering from the state of horror simultaneously.

Getting further inside they all look around the house.

Ashish guides them,

"Ye.... main soch raha hoon movie mein Siya ka kamra hoga."

They all enter the room and checkout the room. The curtains, bed, sofas inside the room all ingrained with dust particles.

Siya rubs her index finger on the handle of the sofa and wrinkles her nose seeing the dirt.

"Don't worry saaf safai to ho jayegi yahan ki.",

assures Ashish, looking towards Siya.

Siya nods her head.

Mridul suddenly turns his face towards the door of the room upon getting a feel of someone passing by the room, running. He knits his brows and wonders for a brief moment before overlooking it, taking it as his misconception.

After the briefing, Ashish asks his men to clean the rooms and walks with the four of them outside the room.

"Chaliye bahar chalte hain.",

suggests Mansi.

"Kyun darr lag raha hai kya Mansi?",

teases Siya.

"Arey darr kaisa? Waise bhi sub saath hi to hain.",

smiles Siya.

"That's the spirit!",

says Ashish.

Siya smiles.

"Sub saath hi hain. Ye baat mat bhoolna.",

Ashish reminds them all.

All of them, including the crew members nod their heads respectively whilst doing their assigned works.

●●●●●

The electrician of the crew - Sambhav, was asked by Ashish to fix a particular fused light of a room.

Carrying the ladder to reach the light and a bag filled with tools to help him repair the light, Sambhav enters the room. He switches on the light just to make sure that it indeed isn't working. And as expected, it isn't. Still the room isn't completely dark there is a dim light - blue in colour which he switches on and it serves his purpose and helps him to an extent to repair the light.

Setting the ladder under the fused light; carrying his bag by putting the strap of the bag on his right shoulder, Sambhav climbs the ladder. Reaching the light, he brings out the screwdriver and removes the screws of the light to check the wires inside. In the process of doing all this he by mistake drops the bag on the floor. But he doesn't give much heed to it. He keeps his focus intact on repairing the light.

He hears softly opening and closing of the door of the room he was in. He doesn't know what gave him the idea that it is Mridul who has entered the room. Without caring to look towards the new entrant of the room, busy Sambhav asks him, assuming it to be Mridul,

"Mridul ji zara mere bag se chhota wala screwdriver nikal denge? Isse theek se ho nahi raha."

He gets busy in checking the wiring of the light.

As expected he receives the help.

Accepting the screwdriver, without turning, his eyes fixated on the wire, he smiles shyly and says,

"Achchi baat hai aap aa gayein warna iss jagah kisi bhi kamre mein akele rehne mein kitna darr lagta hai.",

he laughs shyly.

The moment he removes his hand after accepting the screwdriver, the back of his hand brushes the hand that helped him with the screwdriver.

"Arey kya hua bhaiya aapka haath itna thanda kyun hai? Jaise freezer se abhi abhi nikala ho!",

laughs Sambhav.

He continues with the fixing.

The ladder he is on, trembles a little, he quickly with his left hand holds the ladder to save himself from a fall and the right hand he extends to hold Mridul. But he gets shocked when his hand instead of feeling Mridul, falls free. His mind fails to register the possibility of an extended hand but without a shoulder - a body to be exact!

And the refraining of accepting this possibility by his brain, makes him to quiver in fear! In no time his brain activates the signal that this is not possible! Hand and body go hand in hand! And finally he gets reminded by his brain that this place is haunted! And before he could understand how must he react to the ongoing fiasco, the ladder he was on trembles hard. Sambhav's eyes open wide as he tries to balance his body. His every nerve ending stands erect and he starts sweating profusely - no not because of the temperature of the room, hell the temperature of the room doesn't even get space to cross his mind to make him aware of itself, it is fear, fear of death came later though, after the fear of the presence of an unknown entity together with him in the same room and what cherry on cake is he is here with a motive - to kill him!

He shouts in fear but the unknown entity seems to be in no mood to show him mercy. Sambhav somehow manages to look behind him towards the unknown entity and the shock he was going through increases manifolds upon discovering no body but only a hand suspended in the air that seems to be agitated and is after his life!

His brain almost stops working. But despite everything his reflexes somehow manage to make him aware that they want to know more about the suspended hand. Therefore Sambhav focuses on the hand that is scratched innumerable times. The flesh seems to be old and rotten. Old not by age but because of the sufferings that who so ever's hand this is has gone through.

Sambhav continues shouting in horror.

Hearing his shout all other members come running towards the room.

Upon reaching there they find the door locked. They beat the door non-stop shouting his name,

"Sambhavvvv!!! Sambhavvvv!!!",

shouts Ashish in horror.

"Darwaza kholo Sambhav!!",

shouts Mridul.

"Kya hua Sambhav?",

asks Saurabh, shouting.

Mansi covers her mouth with both of her hands, widening her eyes. She turns to look around in fear to check for any spirit that might be lurking around.

Siya holds Mansi's hand tight, fearing about what must have happened to Sambhav.

"Sambhav please darwaza kholo!",

Mansi pleads, crying.

The door suddenly flings open with a loud thud. The women shout in fear. The men too were in a state of fear, unable to decide what to do, freezed at their spot, respectively.

They discover Sambhav lying on the floor, writhing, not in pain but in shock! His eyes rolled up. His right forearm resting against his chest, forming a right angle. He is laughing at times and turning serious within a blink of eyes and sometimes crying staring at infinity as if he could see someone who is invisible to others and he is dreading the sight.

All of them stare him in utter shock. Each one's rate of heartbeat should have been calmer upon finally being able to see Sambhav but hell the state they find him in rather sets their already accelerated heartbeat to beat a notch higher - if it is possible!

●●●●

Putting Sambhav in the bed, they wait for him to wake up. But he doesn't wake up. Meanwhile Saurabh fixes the light and it starts working.

"Ek kaam karte hain. Isse aaram karne dete hain. Hum sub yahin rehte hain. Tum log yahin apne apne dialogues yaad karlo. Isse dekhna bhi ho jaayega tum logo ka script yaad karna bhi ho jayega. What say?",

says Ashish.

Everyone agrees immediately.

All of them settle down there in the same room. Mansi and Saurabh go through their dialogues respectively, walking to and fro, walking opposite to each other while Siya and Mridul have occupied two chairs in front of Sambhav, facing him, keeping an eye on him and reading their scripts simultaneously.

Mansi's phone starts beeping and she realises that the battery of her mobile got discharged.

"Arey phone ki battery khatam ho gayi. Abhi aati hoon charger lekar.",

Mansi was about to leave for her room to get the charger when Siya asks,

"Arey abhi kuch ghante pehle hi to tu ne charge kiya tha mobile. Itni jaldi charge khatam bhi ho gaya?"

Mansi looks towards Siya and says,

"Haan yaar main bhi yahi soch rahi thi. Itni jaldi drain kaise ho gyi battery pata nahi. Khair aati hoon charger lekar."

She leaves for the other room.

Bringing out the charger from her bag Mansi was about to leave for the room where all are settled when she hears the noise of slowly running water of a tap, coming from the attached washroom of the room she was in. She stops abruptly hearing it.

Turning, she wonders,

"Pani ka nal kisne khula chorh dia."

She was about to walk towards the washroom when the noise suddenly comes to an end. She stops abruptly. She finds it strange that it has stopped.

"Koi hai ander?",

asks Mansi, just in case someone from their group is there.

Silence greets her!

Mansi decides to let it go.

Sighing, she turns to leave when she again hears the running water.

She turns immediately and stares the closed bathroom door, knitting her brows. She decides to cross check who is occupying the bathroom.

She begins to take slow steps towards the bathroom.

The tap now begins opening and closing in a slow rhythm initially, followed by an increase in the rhythm as if teasing her.

Whatever she had read about this place in her research begins to pop up in her mind. Her research when begins to prove itself right succeeds in building up the horror in her.

"K....kon hai ander?",

she asks, beginning to sweat gradually.

Silence!

Water from the bathroom begins to reach the room. Mansi slowly stares her reflection into the water and gets forced to step on the collected water. While she was stepping on the water she hears someone mirroring her steps. She stops immediately in fear. The steps stop too! She takes another step to test her doubt. Everything repeats! Terror increases manifolds inside her chest.

The side lamp of the room falls suddenly with a loud thud resulting in Mansi's loud shrieking shout. Thankfully it wasn't attached to the electric board! She feels the presence of spirit around herself.

She again hears someone opening the tap but the running water stops as if the tank has run out of water. Mansi holds her breath and begins to walk to get out of the room when she feels someone following her. She stops and slowly, crying in fear, turns to look towards the unknown entity. She by now has started feeling suffocation as if no matter what she might do she won't be able to escape - neither this room nor this unknown entity! The fact that she might die and no one outside would even care to check on her until long, makes her to cry and plead the unknown entity entwining her fingers.

Turning to look towards the unknown entity she entwines her fingers and pleads, crying,

"Please mujhe jaane do. Main tumhe tang karne nahi aayi hoon."

She pulls the handle of the door to open it, crying. It doesn't open. She beats the door to seek help, but to no avail.

Suddenly the door gets unlocked!

But to her horror the door ain't the main door of the room but the bathroom door!

She rotates her eyeballs to the right with a desire to get glimpse of the unknown entity but immediately the light fuses that results in her loud shout and cry! She cries in helplessness and desperation!

As if all this wasn't enough to wound her heart, scare her, the man who was visible, even if not properly, but to an extent, passes by her right side turning her almost freezed to her spot!

She cries! Cries hard once the entity leaves the room.

This whole incident succeeds in traumatizing her.

Getting out of the room she reaches others - defeated and tired. All of them get tensed seeing her in that form. All ask about her health in their state of shock.

She quickly wipes off her tears with her hands and looking towards the script says with determination,

"Let's do this. Chalo shooting shuru karte hain."

All of them get tensed seeing her. They try to convince her to take rest but she disagrees. She makes it her agenda to work in order to get rid of the haunting memories of whatever had happened. Unable to convince her, the director submits to her demand of working, but not before asking her to sit and providing her with water and some biscuits to eat.

Ashish delays the shoot without directly telling the crew about it, solely because he knew Mansi would not agree if he asks her directly again to take break and rest.

●●●●●

Finally the shooting begins.

Soon approaches the climax scene which features Siya and Mansi. Siya who is very quick at learning dialogues doesn't understand why she is getting stuck at a particular line, completely forgetting her dialogues thereafter.

Mansi helps her with her dialogues. Siya receites her dialogues perfectly in front of Mansi but when the camera gets rolled she turns blank again after a line.

This now begins to get on Ashish's nerves! He already has shown lot of patience but enough is enough! He wants to get done with the last scene. But it is just getting delayed!

Siya takes a deep breath and gives it another try.

The part from where she fails to deliver her dialogues, she is expected to keep her back turned towards Mansi and deliver her dialogues and then turn towards Mansi and smile at her and the scene is expected to end with a hug between the two.

Mansi delivers her dialogues and waits for Siya to deliver hers.

Thankfully Siya delivers her dialogues perfectly.

After that Mansi delivers the following dialogue,

"Kis tarah se marna pasand karegi tu - chhat (terrace) se dhakka kha kar; ya dum ghut kar?",

and turns to look towards Siya, reaching her in a speed of light, Mansi clenches Siya's throat, glaring her.

She pulls her up suspending her in the air; it is almost impossible for a sleek body that Mansi possesses to lift a body who is heavier than Mansi - Siya, so easily. Her face had no lines of force that might have been applied to lift Siya.

All others including cameramen stare them in shock initially.

Soon they realise they must do something in order to bring this to an end. They start shouting at Mansi,

"Mansi!!! Mansi chorho Siya ko!!"

After a brief moment she does leave Siya, only to grab her by her neck again but this time with her right arm. She strangles Siya putting her neck between her upper arm and lower arm and whispers into her ear, in a voice that doesn't belong to Mansi, but to some man, whom Mansi is unfamiliar with,

"Tujhe teri Maa ki badi chinta rehti hai na? Aa teri saari chintayein aaj durr kar deta hoon. Film mein kaam karna hai tujhe? Heroine banegi?",

Siya asks in a voice that belongs to a man who has captivated her body. Entered her body without her permission.

Mridul hits Siya on her head with a wooden ashtray and Siya falls down unconscious on the floor.

All others stare each other in horror!

Ashish looks towards the cameramen and gestures them a cut with his index and middle finger, smiling infectiously at the cameramen.

●●●●●

After a week

Ashish plays the cassette containing the entire movie. After some moments the cable starts disturbing turning on and off. Frustrated, Ashish checks the cable wire, trying to fix it. One end of the wire is in his hand and the rest of the wire is lying on the floor. But the picture still begins to get displayed on the screen, taking Ashish by surprise. But it is not the movie but someone without a proper visible face who appears on the screen and addresses him - 'Ashish'. It vanishes soon enough and then reappears. This vanishing and reappearing continues for a brief moment during which the following lines are uttered - 'Tu ne aisa kyun kiya?' 'Kyun li unn nirdoshon ki jaan?' 'Janne ki koshish bhi nahi ki ke kya hua unke saath?'

Ashish begins to sweat profusely witnessing this weirdness. How can someone talk to him over a television - an idiot box?

"Ko..kon ho tum? Tu..mhe.... tu...mhe... ye sub kaise pata?",

asks Ashish, quivering in fear, unable to understand how does this person who is appearing in the television knows about his secret, a secret that he hasn't revealed to anyone.

The television now shows his interview to a news channel where he was grieving over the loss of his young artists and claiming that everything that they had filmed turned out true! And it was fated!

Ashish stares the television, numb!

"Kitni aasani se tu ne unke camere ki recording ko apne faide ke liye istemaal kiya!",

the unknown person in the television blames Ashish.

Ashish remembers using the shots the friends had shot during their journey to the location also few of their past recordings which were saved in the memory of the camera, just a little bit editing here and there and the desired result was in front of him.

Ashish begins sweating profusely in fear. His heart begins thumping at a tremendous speed. The television turns off suddenly. Ashish begins to take backward steps. The tubelight bursts loudly! It results in a loud shout by Ashish.

He gets pushed by someone from the front, invisible to him. He falls on the ground on his back with a thud. Despite the acute pain the fall inflicts into him, he stays numb to the pain, thanks to the high amount of fear he is facing at the moment.

He begins to push himself backwards to get away from the invisible person, not in a state to even stand. But to his horror he gets pulled by his hair that results in his shouting out loud. His ears begin emitting heat at a great degree. He gets dragged round and round in his room! Ashish shouts, cries and pleads for mercy!

And mercy is shown to him!

Everything goes quiet! Absolutely quiet!

Ashish who had closed his eyes by now, pleading desperately, sweating profusely, couldn't believe it has happened. He slowly opens his eyes and finds the room pitch dark and feels the absence of the entity.

It takes a moment or two for him to register the fact that who so ever it was has set him free and left. But as soon as he believes in it, his every nerve ending stands erect all over again upon hearing a low pitched cry from behind. The voice was like an echo, as if someone is crying facing the wall. His highly sensitive ears, highly sensitive because of his current state of fear, burn further out of fear. He trembles but couldn't help himself from turning to look around to witness who so ever is crying.

In front of his eyes he finds a lady whose back is turned towards him.

"K...kon... kon... ho tum?",

he asks terrified.

"Maine ek-ek karke unn subko maar dala!",

she confesses.

It doesn't take him much time to recognize the voice - Mansi's voice.

She turns to look towards Ashish,

"Aur ab..."

Ashish somehow manages to get up to run away but trips and falls again.

"...tujhe bhi maar dalungi!",

saying so, her eyes burning with rage, she with her new powers pulls the cable wire and wraps it around Ashish's neck. Ashish shouts in terror and pleads again and again but Mansi shows no mercy. She soon gets joined by the spirits of her friends. All of them hover over him. Taking slow steps towards Ashish. Ashish could feel that he is unable to breath anymore, such is the height of his fear. Siya through her supernatural powers wraps the cable wire around Ashish's neck. Mansi strangles him to death!

Ashish's loud cry soon turns into whimper as his energy and life begin to drain, leave his body slowly, and the death approaches him!

He lies dead on the floor. Blood oozes out of his right nostril.

Sambhav, the only one who got rescued was not in a normal mental state to tell what all had happened. He has been sent to mental asylum and is under constant observation of doctors.

Despite not in a normal mental state his sketches and a few words that he uttered that included - 'maar diya', 'buri jagah thi', 'main kabhi nahi jaunga wahan', 'shor hai wahan', 'koi dikhta nahi. Magar
.....',

he gestures the inspector to get closer to him so that he can whisper into his ear. The sub-inspector obliges him,

'Magar wahan koi hai. Chhupa hua hai. Hide and Seek khel raha hai!'

The inspector looks at him in horror.

'Aap wahan akele mat jana.',

Sambhav whispers to him in horror, then looks here and there to make sure that no one is there - the unknown entity!

'Wahan koi hai. Kaala saaya!!'

The inspector looks towards Sambhav in shock. Timid Sambhav stares him back and nods his head in affirmative.

The inspector falls in dilemma whether to believe Sambhav or not but then he is the only victim left.

Having no other option but to believe the victim, the inspector orders his juniors to arrange a meeting with the members of Paranormal Society.

Soon enough the team of Paranormal Society visit the location and after a proper examination mark it as a ❌RED ZONE!❌

"Sahab iss cassette ka kya karun?",

asks the assistant sub-inspector.

The sub-inspector looks towards the cassette that the assistant sub-inspector is holding in his hands.

"Tumne dekhi movie? Puri hai?",

asks the sub-inspector.

The assistant sub-inspector blushes and says,

"Sahab mujhe... mujhe horror picturon se zara darr lagta hai."

The sub-inspector laughs. The assistant sub-inspector joins in.

"Magar Sir maine akhir tak movie ko scroll kar kar dekha hai. To... puri movie hai. Achi bani hai Sir aap dekhna hit jayegi.",

the assistant sub-inspector smiles.

"Chalo theek hai. Banane ko bol do iski copies. Aur chala do theater mein. Kya pata iss film ko theater mein chalte hue dekh inn subki aatma ko bhi shanti mil jaye. Inki aakhri ichcha to yahi ho sakti hai mere khyal se ke inki picture hit ho jaye.",

smiles the sub-inspector with no ill feelings towards the deceased ones.

The said was done the movie reaches the screens. People begin to crowd up their nearby theaters to watch the movie. The movie on its first screening itself succeeds in keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.

At the first theatre where it gets played within a few moments since its initiation, many begin getting goosebumps not only because of the story of the movie but something else too which they fail to put into words! Many complain to who-so-ever (friends or family) who accompanied them, about feeling suffocation. Some complained about someone's sudden patting on their shoulders. Already in a zone of horror - thanks to the intruiging story of the movie and picturisation, this sudden patting makes them to scream. When it happens once, people take it as their misconception. But when they realise that others are feeling it too - it turns into a horror! The man who is responsible for handling the projector dies of heart attack after complaining that someone is pulling his shirt from the corner to drag his attention every now and then. Upon turning he witnesses someone but whom, the other man standing with him has no idea!

The people in the hall begin to hurl up around the exit, unable to cope up with the level of horror. The darkness in the hall magnifies the level of horror to a great extent.

All of them freeze on their respective spots when they witness an outline of a person in front of their eyes. Just the ouline in white colour almost like white fog forming a shape of a person. Some begin to fall unconscious. Some who have fallen and are in partially conscious state, foam comes out of their mouth, rolling down their cheeks which signifies their suffering from Brain Hemorrhage. It is believed that even during that suffering they witness the unknown entity in front of their eyes, torturing them.

Few who manage to reach the exit, finds the door looked. They beat the door asking the caretakers of the multiplex to open the door.

The guard comes running hearing the loud commotion. He fishes for the bunch of keys to unlock the door. But surprisingly for the first time the guard gets puzzled and confused about the correct key that would unlock the door. Is it out of nervousness and anxiety or someone or something is messing up with his brain, it is unknown and maybe shall remain unknown forever!

"Tu jo koi bhi hai, get losttttt!!!",

shouts one of the victims at the unknown entity, crying in frustration and helplessness.

Alas! She shouldn't have said that!!

Everyone turns numb upon witnessing the aftereffect of her saying so. She gets pulled up in the air by her hair. She swings her legs desperately in order to help herself and push herself down.

Her lone shout is much much higher in pitch and vibration than the collective shout of the other victims who are witnessing this in horror, sweating profusely. Even the people who are unfamiliar to the woman cry for mercy on her!

Parents cover the eyes of their respective children with their hands not wanting this moment to leave its mark on the mind of the innocents, while they themselves shout, cry and plead!

Real horror movie begins in front of the audience - NOW! The lady gets swung by the unknown entity like a pendulum. She cries and shouts for mercy and help! Her audience cry and shout with her, helpless!

Everyone, including the unknown entity and the woman he is holding stand still. The hearts of all the spectators are in their mouths. Tears roll down non-stop from the woman's eyes. Sweat drips non-stop! She feels the numbness in her head and ear due to her staying in suspended position for long.

To their horror she suddenly starts laughing as if turned completely insane! At one end tears keeping rolling down her cheeks and at the other she laughs like a maniac. She gets in a state where she has no control over her emotions!

One of the male spectators begin to pull his hair, crying, gradually sitting on the floor, slapping his forhead once, twice, thrice.... gradually losing the count, as he turns insane after witnessing whatever is happening in front of his eyes.

Everything turns quiet only when the heart of each one present there stops pumping blood into different parts of the body.

The same inspector along with his team reaches the cinema hall after the news spread wide. The scene in front of their eyes was something they had only watched as the closing scene of a tragic horror movie where everyone dies in the end in an unimaginable scenario!

Few bodies are lying upside down on the seats! Few occuping the carpet in front of the screen! These scenarios are far better than the scenario where many are suspended in the air - dead, with their eyes rolled up in some cases and in some their eyes are absolutely white - milky white, as if someone has stolen their eyeballs!

After few hours all the bodies are brought out of the hall.

The inspector, rubbing his moist eyes walk out of the theater. Sub-inspector reaches him and informs him,

"Sir aapke kehne par humne turant aadesh jaari kar diya tha ke ye movie kisi bhi cinema hall mein na chalai jaye."

The inspector nods his head, heartbroken and speechless. Together they turn to look towards the hall and discover the hoarding clinging to the bottom left nail.

The inspector shares his feelings about the incident with the sub-inspector saying,

"Aise manzar nistabdh kar dete hain!",

holding his waist from either sides.

"Chalo chalte hain.",

saying so the inspector turns to leave when the sub-inspector asks,

"Sir, isse ek baat to zaahir ho gayi..."

The inspector turns to look towards the sub-inspector and asks,

"Konsi baat?"

"Bhoot! Pret! Aatma! Shaktiyan, jo bhi kahiye, wo hote hain.",

says the sub-inspector.

Then looking towards the team of Paranormal society he continues,

"Aur inka kaam bhi humse kam jokhim bhara nahi hai. Humein agar aaj koi kuch kar de, kam se kam humare ghar wale insaaf to maang sakte hain kanoon se, ke falane ne hume maara apna gussa nikalne ke liye, akhir kitne gangsters se to paala parhta rehta hai humara, to usse saza di jaye. Magar aaj agar inhe apne kaam ke chalte bhagwan na kare kuch ho gaya, to inke gharwale kisse insaaf mangenge? Kiski aatma ko pakdne ko kahenge kanoon ko? Aur chalo agar pata bhi ho kiski aatma ne ye sub kiya, magar phir kya? Pakdenge kaise unhe?",

both of them turn gloomy realising the depth of the situation.

They stare the team with respect in their eyes for them!

*Flashback ends*

Few of Ramesh's listeners stare him numb! And few stare at the infinity, thinking deep about everything they heard.

"To ye thi kahani!",

smiles Ramesh.

None respond to him! Their state of numbness doesn't allow them to respond! Ramesh gives them time to return to the current world; to the present.

"Unn sub ki aatmaon ka kya hua?",

Alekh becomes the first one to break the ice, enquiring about Mansi and her friends.

All others too get intruiged to know.

Taking a deep breath Ramesh says,

"Kya pata Sahab! Kuch kehte hain ke wo bhi ussi ghar mein hain. Ussi khandhar ko apne rehne ka thikana bana liya hai. Kuch kehte hain ki - ek Ashish ke marne ke baad aur dusra jab unki zindagi ki kahani ka film ke zariya pradaeshan hona band ho gaya unhe shanti mil gayi."

All of them nod their heads respectively, accepting it.

"Suna to waise ye bhi hai ke Sambhav unki aatmaon ko dekh paata hai; unse baat karta hai. Kuch kehte hain ke dimagi santulan khone ki wajah se wo manghadant kahaniya bana raha hai. Magar mera vishwas hai ke wo zaroor unhe dekh paata hai. Aur unhi se baat karta hai!",

says Ramesh, opening his eyes wide, never blinking them.

Shivers run down the spine of each of his listeners. They quiver! They cannot help from looking around themselves to make sure that there is no one lurking around them.

Looking towards them Ramesh smiles.