Wrapping her arms around Alekh's upper arm, resting her head on his shoulder, Neelu asks Alekh,

"Alekh, tujhse ek baat kahun?"

"Chal tu ne akhir kar socha to sahi ke tu mujhse kuch bolna chahti hai. Warna pichle ek ghante se apun dono chup hi baithe hain.",

says Alekh.

"Mere hostel mein koi hai!",

says Neelu, slowly, thinking deep, maintaining her posture.

"Acha hai na. Sala akeli rehti to bhoot bangla lagta tujhe wo hostel.",

says Alekh, hiding his laughter.

Neelu realizes that he wouldn't understand anything.

Leaving him, clearing her mind, she says,

"Chal chor ye baat. Teri life mein kya chal raha hai?"

Alekh stares Neelu, serious,

"Bilkul teri mafik hai meri zindagi bhi."

That skips Neelu's heartbeat. Terror spreads on her face.

She quickly holds his upper arm again, resting her palms on it and asks out of horror,

"Kyun kya hua?"

"Mere kamre mein bhi koi hai.",

says Alekh, ever so slowly, staring Neelu in horror.

"Ko... kon hai?",

asks Neelu, shocked.

"Tu ne... tu ne kisi ko bataya?",

she asks further.

In a hushed voice, reaching closer to Neelu, widening his eyes, he says,

"Yudi! Ali! Huda!"

"Huhuhahaha!!",

he increases his voice, to startle Neelu.

As soon as Neelu's mind registers Alekh's words, she scolds him, raising her voice,

"Aleeekhhhh!!!"

Alekh bursts into a fit of laughter. Neelu laughs too.

While Alekh continues laughing, Neelu turns serious and thinks,

'Tu bhale hi mazak kar raha hai Alekh magar main.... Nahi!!!'

She sighs.

She then looks back towards Alekh and thinks,

'Magar main apne room ke mystery ka pata laga kar rahungi. So MR. WEIRDO The Mystery Begins! Tum kon ho ye main jan kar rahungi!'

👻👻👻👻👻

His cigarette gets lightened up by his mate who is already enjoying his own cigarette.

He looks towards his fingers which are holding the cigarette in between them, as he blows the smoke out of his mouth. Resting his elbows on the slab that is connected to the erect wall of the terrace, he gives his fingers a look of disgust yet challenging them, staring them without blinking his eyes.

His mate notices that his eyes are on his fingers. Looking towards him, he asks,

"Kyun aap purane zakhmo ko khuredte ho unhe dekh kar?",

"Iqballll!!!",

he breathes, still staring at his fingers.

"Ye haath... meri chaati (chest).... mujhe ye baat yaad dilati hai ke mujhe mere kiye ki saza mil gayi hai!",

says Dhruv, spitting his anger through his words, but keeping his tone all calm.

Iqbal blows his cigarette and shakes his head a little, tossing the idea of Dhruv's.

Dhruv notices it and slowly lowers his hand, whilst staring Iqbal and asks, knitting his brows,

"Kya hua?"

Iqbal turns to give Dhruv his attention.

"Apko lagta hai itne mein humari saza puri ho gayi hai?",

asks Iqbal, challenging him.

He rolls his eyes saying so and smokes.

"Pichle saat saal se yahan qaid hun. Kya ye saza kam hai?",

asks Dhruv, raising his voice, glaring Iqbal.

"Saat saal se qaid?",

asks Iqbal, turning to look towards Dhruv, raising his own voice, challenging him.

Dhruv keeps glaring Iqbal. Fuming with anger from inside.

"Arey saat saal se aap kahan qaid hain? Saat saal se to main qaid hun apke jail mein. Apke saath idhar udhar bhatakne ke alawa aur rakha hi kya hai ab mere paas?",

asks Dhruv, raising his own voice over Iqbal's.

They both look away to opposite sides, trying to control their anger and frustration.

"Aur rahi baat apki saza ki, aap kya kar rahe the uss ladki ke saath?",

asks Iqbal, accusing Dhruv, knitting his brows.

As soon as Iqbal says that the moment flashes in front of Dhruv's eyes -

*Flashback*

"Bina... bina mere ijjazat ke aap mere paas kaise ayein?",

asks Naina, teasingly, breathing heavily.

She doesn't get any reply.

"Apse ek baat puchun?",

she asks.

Her hair gets cornered now towards the side of her neck where she has been played with, focusing on the alternate side. She takes the silence to be his permission of carrying on with whatever she wants to ask.

"Aap hansna mat!",

warns Naina, then smiles, blushes.

"Kya ye... aisa hi feel hota hai? Matlab... matlab mujhe kuch mehsus kyun nahi ho raha? Apka mere kareeb rehna.... na jane kyun, aap ajnabi se lag rahe hain.",

confesses Naina honestly.

*Flashback Ends*

"Wo jo maine zinda rehte kabhi nahi kiya!",

says Dhruv, smiling devilishly.

"To isliye kar rahe hain aap ye sub? Mujhe to laga tha wo jo aatma humare saath bhatakti hai uske kehne par kar rahe hain aap ye sub.",

says Iqbal and blows his cigarette.

Dhruv smirks.

"Sali uski kya pareshani hai inn dono meeya-biwi ke saath, ye to wohi jane.",

says Dhruv and blows out the smoke.

Iqbal looks towards the smoke, smirking he says,

"Kon kehta hai hum aatmayein aag se darte hain?"

Dhruv continues with his smoking.

"Aap to aag se khelte ho!",

says Iqbal looking towards Dhruv.

"Aur mujhe...",

Iqbal looks towards his cigarette, then continues,

"Aur mujhe bhi sikha diya aag ke saath khelna!"

Smoking, Dhruv says,

"Abhi to tera bohot kuch seekhna baki hai mere dost."

He smirks.

"Apko nahi lagta unn... unn subko bahar nikalne ki zimmedari humari hai?",

asks Iqbal, knitting his brows, looking towards Dhruv.

Dhruv looks towards Iqbal knitting his brows too.

👻👻👻👻👻

As Rajveer turns to make sure Naina is still with him, he gets shocked to find no one there. In horror he turns towards Mr. Bhatia and Nikhil and asks,

"Yahan... yahan Na...",

he remembers he cannot disclose their true identity and asks exasperated,

"Meri... meri biwi thi... kahan gayi?"

Mr. Bhatia and Nikhil realize that she isn't there indeed.

They stare behind him in horror unable to understand where has she gone.

"Dammit!",

cursing, Rajveer runs in search of Naina.

He tries opening the door of each room, all found locked. He keeps walking ahead, walking quickly like a maniac searching for his beloved.

"Naina....!!!",

calls out Rajveer, not caring to consider that they weren't meant to use their first names.

To hell with their first names! At the moment he just wants to get back his Naina.

"Nainaaa....!!!",

shouts Rajveer, again.

"Dekhiye... Dekhiye aap aise chilla nahi sakte. Baki sub baki sub jag jayenge.",

says Nikhil, paniced, walking behind Rajveer, trying to matching his speed but failing.

Rajveer finds a rod on his way. Picking it up he hits one of the pillars out of rage and frustration saying,

"Jagne de jisko jagna hai!"

He keeps walking forth agitated. Looking here and there in search for not only Naina but any other entity which might come across.

Hitting one wall with the rod, Rajveer blurts,

"Mujhe to shaq nahi ab pura yakeen hai ke yahan koi jagne ke liye hai hi nahi. Sub marey hue hain yahan."

"THIS....",

he tries to control his anger, then turning towards Mr. Bhatia and Nikhil shouts,

"THIS PLACE IS HAUNTED!"

"Aur tum logo ne humein iss museebat mein fansaya hai. Iss motel ki mystery main subke samne khol kar rahunga.",

shouting so, Rajveer shouts loud,

"Nainaaaaa......!!!!"

Mr. Bhatia and Nikhil look towards each other terrified.

"Rajveerrrr.....!!!",

comes the shout of Naina from a distant point.

Rajveer's heart skips a beat.

"Naina!!!",

breathes Rajveer, his heart beating at tremendous pace.

He tries to locate the place from where the sound reached him.

Mr. Bhatia and Nikhil too try locating the place.

"Naina... Naina kahan ho tum??",

shouts Rajveer, searching her here and there.

As he walks further ahead, something crosses by him, bringing him to an abrupt halt. It happened in a brief moment. It came as a wind, blew from in front of him covering a long distance in micro seconds.

"Rajveer Sir!",

calls Naina from behind. Her voice so clear, Rajveer couldn't mistake it for anything else. Naina surely is standing behind him.

What a relief! Finally he would be able to lay eyes on her and get assured that she is safe. There are going to leave this motel right away then.

Rajveer turns immediately with that determination but in horror calling her,

"Naina tum...!"

His breath gets caught on his throat as he finds no one there. Hearing her clear voice but not discovering her on turning, sends chills down his spine. How hard might he try, he couldn't convince himself that he had imagined it due to his desperation of getting a hold on Naina.

The strong smell of rotten flesh fills Rajveer's nostrils.

Mr. Bhatia and Nikhil who are following Rajveer, get shocked as he turns all of a sudden, wondering what made him to turn?

Rajveer covers his nose immediately. Mr. Bhatia and Nikhil do the same.

Covering his nose, Rajveer walks more into the passage and turns to the left where it turns all the more dark.

"Na... nahi... nahi wahan apko nahi jana chahiye. Wahan... wahan khatra hai!!",

warns Mr. Bhatia and Nikhil, covering their nostrils with handkerchieves.

"Khatra ye pura motel hi hai tumhara. Aur subse bada khatra tum dono ho. So just shut up aur main jo kar raha hun mujhe karne do.",

warns Rajveer, indicating his index finger towards them.

They go quiet out of fear of his anger. Rajveer turns and starts walking again, they follow.

"This is getting on my nerves now. Mujhe ye khatam karna hai abhi ke abhi. Agar tum logo ko arrest na karwaya aur iss motel ko band na karwaya to mera naam bhi Ra....",

he trails off, walking forward in anger.

"You just wait and watch.",

says Rajveer.

He suddenly finds himself at the end of the corridor. That skips Rajveer's heartbeat as he faces the wall.

"Ab kahan jana hai? Right? ya Left?",

asks Rajveer, turning his face to first right then left.

But he doesn't get any answer. Frustrated, Rajveer turns and asks,

"Batao na ab..."

He almost stops breathing as he finds himself all alone at the end of the long stretched narrow lane. He could feel the numbing of his nerves out of terror. What should he focus now first - his terror or Naina, he finds himself in a dilemma!

Loud shrieking cry of a man screeches through the walls of the narrow lane numbing his ear. He covers his ears with his hands, closing his eyes as it sets on him a heart wrenching effect. He takes it to be the cry of the same spirit that is in his Naina. As the cry dies, he turns again to walk forth that he gets shocked to find someone standing in front of him, his back turned against Rajveer; his left shoulder resting against the wall.

Dhruv who is a shape shifter too, shifts his shape.

A person standing in the middle of this long stretched eerie lane is surely not a normal happening! But what is normal here anyways?

"Kaun? Kaun ho tum?",

he asks, staring the entity skeptically. His voice echos in the enclosed area. The gradual dying of his voice as the echo reaches its end, feels like his own self leaving his side.

He in this weird place is all alone. Where this lane would lead to, he has no idea. What shock awaits him, he is clueless. Is there even Naina, even that is a mystery at the moment!

Rajveer quickly brings out his mobile and switches on the flashlight as the little ray of light that was guiding him uptil here too dies as he walks forth.

Rajveer decides to check around the wall to make sure that no danger at least on the walls awaits him. As he walks forth, his steps now turned slow, checking the walls, he discovers a large painting of a woman. Her hair left untied. Her face expression stern on Rajveer.

Rajveer wonders who could it be? And why would someone put her frame here in this dark secluded area? He walks further but the thought doesn't leave his mind. He focuses on the further part of that side of the wall too and now discovers a chandelier earring stuck in between two bricks. He tires to pull it out but to no avail.

He suddenly hears the sound of movement of something on the rocks. He gets alert. He of course knows that this narrow lane has scattered pebbles and broken pieces of wall on it. He hears someone slapping the pebbles slowly. As his all senses wake afresh, his heart inside his chest starts thumping out of terror. His senses tell him that there is something around his feet. He slowly takes the flash light towards his feet to fall back in horror on discovering a lady standing on her knees and palms, as if crawling. Her hair left loose in front of her face, all messed up, her teeth flashing as she smiles. Her eyes hooked on Rajveer, as if he is something tempting to her. She is none other than the one whom he lovingly calls Cadet Naina Ah Singh!

"Huuuhh..... huuuhhhh....",

she breathes loudly, glaring Rajveer.

"Nai...na...!!!",

Rajveer exclaims in horror.

Naina walks to Rajveer on her four legs and before Rajveer could understand her motive, standing up, she gives a tight slap across his face. Rajveer stares Naina widening his eyes out of horror. Naina breaths heavily glaring Rajveer.

His mobile falls on the floor. He quickly brings out the lighter from his pocket and ignites it. As soon as he does that and focuses on Naina, he notices how her breathing has changed. Rajveer knits his brows, wondering what has brought the sudden shift in Naina? He looks towards his lighter and wonders is it because of this? He looks back towards her and notices how she is staring at the lighter in horror. The one who uptil now was trying to terrify him and his Naina, is finally getting terrified seeing something - the lighter - the fire to be exact! Rajveer tries his luck and takes the lighter closer to her, careful not wanting to hurt her as that would lead to hurting his Naina. He notices how she snarls at him. This he gets assured that she is fearful of fire. He realizes that this would turn into his favour if used aptly.

👻👻👻👻👻

"Maaf kijiyega Brigadier Sahab, uss din kaam aa gaya tha isliye apke saath yahan ana na ho paya.",

laughs Mr. Sinha apologetically.

"Arey koi baat nahi Sinha Sahab, I can understand.",

laughs Brigadier Chandok in understanding.

"Ye rahi wo zameen jis par aap apna wo nek kaam, bachon ke liye school shuru karna chahte hain.",

smiles Brigadier Chandok, indicating towards the plot with his hand.

Mr. Sinha, laughs a little, looking towards the plot but soon his laughter dies as he drowns into his pool of thoughts.

"Ahmm.. kya hua Sinha Sahab koi pareshani?",

asks Brigadier Chandok, concerned.

"Nahi! Nahi! Koi... koi pareshani nahi. Pareshani kaisi?",

asks Mr. Sinha, smiling a little.

Brigadier Chandok's phone rings at that very moment and he excuses himself.

Mr. Sinha staring towards the plot walks a little ahead, counting his steps. He stops on his thirteenth step and looks around, terror building inside him. He realizes that he needs to stay calm if he wants to do what he is here for. But before that he needs to send Brigadier Chandok from here. He cannot let him know his real motive of buying this land. He wouldn't understand. He would find him talking ridiculous.

And isn't it right of the one taking it as ridiculous who hasn't faced what Mr. Sinha has faced? Who would believe in stuffs like these without feeling it for real? Standing there for sometime, Mr. Sinha brings out a picture of a lady from his pocket. Staring the photo with rage in his eyes, he talks to the photo and says,

"Jitni nafrat main tumhe tumhare zinda rehte karta tha... usse kayi gunah nafrat main tumhe tumhare marne ke baad karta hun."

The woman in the photo, smiling at Mr. Sinha, increases Mr. Sinha's anger all the more.

Bringing out his lighter from his trousers' pocket, staring the picture throughout with anger, Mr. Sinha burns it and keeps staring it, holding it in his hand, until the whole picture turns into ashes.

"Jab maine tumhe tumhare zinda rehte apni zindagi ke faisle karne ki ijjazat nahi diya, to ab tumhare iss duniya se chale jane ke baad kaise ye ijjazat de dun tumhe?",

asks Mr. Sinha.

"Ahhhgg..... ahhhgggg.......!!!",

breathes the same woman whose picture Mr. Sinha burnt just now, standing behind him, her eyes filled with rage.

"Peeche murh Gaurav! Peeche murhhhh...",

shouts the woman in her horrific voice.

The voice swivels all around the air, making it to echo and hence making the horror reflected by her voice, more acute.

Gaurav gets a mini heart attack on hearing such a horrific sound, all of a sudden. Something he hasn't heard ever before. As he turns out of fear, he in front of himself discovers the lady wearing a dress of combination red and yellow. Gaurav recollects the dress from the same night when she got laid on her death bed. Her face turned blue out of lack of oxygen. Her dress withered, gives him the idea of her lurking in the forests - after all when it is about ghosts, spirits it is all terrifying and lonely. As terrifying and lonely as it is in the woods. Deep... deep down in the darkness of the woods lie these creatures whom we very dearly call ghosts, spirits!

He shouldn't have bought this land, he knew it since forever. But he couldn't let Brigadier Chandok become her victim.

👻👻👻👻👻

Brigadier Chandok, who has walked to a far away point whilst talking to someone over phone, returns back to the spot whilst checking something on his mobile and apologizes,

"Sorry Sinha Sahab main wo...",

but he suddenly realizes that Mr. Sinha isn't there.

He looks up from the mobile to make sure that he is not wrong and realizes that indeed he is right. His eyes then fall on the only dry, withered tree standing erect there at a corner and he shouts in horror on discovering the lady hanging on one of the branches of the withered tree. Her to and fro movement tells Brigadier Chandok that she must have hung herself just now.

"Mr... Mr.... Sinha...",

shouts Brigadier Chandok in search for him, staring at the lady in horror throughout.

Turning, he runs away.

Sweating, Brigadier Chandok tries to search Mr. Sinha whilst running away from the tree and hence escaping from the horrific sight.

He gets collided with Mr. Sinha, which gives Brigadier Chandok a mini heartattack and he turns immediately to know who it is. His throat turned dry out of terror.

On turning, he discovers Mr. Sinha standing in front of him, smiling at him. His hand holding a white handkerchief which is placed on his rear neck, almost like wiping his sweat.

"Mr.... Mr.... Sinha... wo.. wo... dekhiye wahan.",

says Brigadier Chandok, his eyes wide open out of shock and terror, staring Mr. Sinha, not having courage to turn to face the horrific sight again, with his index finger of his left hand he points towards the sight that has built the terror in him.

"Kya?",

asks Mr. Sinha, looking towards the place Brigadier Chandok is pointing towards.

The cold breeze blows without affecting Brigadier Chandok.

"Wo perh par dekhiye koi hai...",

says Brigadier Chandok in hoarse whisper.

"Nahi to koi bhi to nahi hai.",

says Mr. Sinha, smiling, looking towards the tree.

Brigadier Chandok knits his brows on hearing that, confused. He turns to assure himself about the same.

As he stares the tree in horror which stands lifeless in front of him, hanging with itself no lifeless body, Brigadier Chandok gets shocked and it becomes hard for him to accept that he had been hallucinating. No! He surely wasn't hallucinating! Then where is....

Before he could continue with his thought his already thumping heartbeat, skips a beat as he hears a sound that succeeds in giving goosebumps to Brigadier Chandok.

"Ahhgggg..... Ahhhhhhgggghhhh.....!!! Huuuuuhhh..... yyyeeehhhh....!!!"

Brigadier Chandok's head spins hearing those horrific sounds and it becomes difficult for him to turn to face the reality. Sweat beads start getting collected on both the ends of his forehead. The right side's sweat bead rolls down his cheek. He, slightly trembling, with all his courage turns to face the reality! What meets his eyes on turning makes him to fall behind, unbalanced.

Mr. Sinha pulls his hair such that his head gets tilted to the left. He pulls it hard, tilting his head more than it was necessary. His force and pressure to such an extent that the head gets dislocated, coming out in his hand and he throws it away on the floor before the rest of his body falls on the floor with a loud thud!

This has to be the most horrific situation that Brigadier Chandok has witnessed in his entire life!!!

What should he say? How should he react? - he fails to understand and hence stays numb out of terror, at his position on the ground.

He in his state of terror staring the body of Mr. Sinha and then turning to look towards the head of his that rolled down at a corner, eyeballs of which are rolled up such that his eyes seem to be completely white - making the terrifying senario in front of Brigadier Chandok's eyes all the more horrific, again turns slowly, shivering, looking towards the tree which he finds standing aloof with no terrorizing sight. But this fact in itself seems to be terrifying!!

The sound of anklets drag Brigadier Chandok's attention next and he has to force himself to pump his lungs contracting and releasing them in order to breathe as his breath turns shallow out of fear and terror. He turns to know who it is but to his utter surprise he finds no one in his sight! Brigadier Chandok's hearing sense gets alert all the more, trying to locate the sound properly but he gets assured that indeed it is coming from his left side. Now the sound is fading he notices. As if whoever it is, just passed by his side and is now leaving the place. But who is it? Why is Brigadier Chandok not being able to see her? The thought terrorizes Brigadier Chandok all the more and he stares towards Mr. Sinha who is now divided into two parts - head and... no not tail, but the rest of his body!!!

👻👻👻👻👻

Naina glares the fire, as if trying to fight with it. She performs a stunt and hence pushes Rajveer such that the lighter he was holding falls down on the floor and rolls away from his reach. As much as it is a shock for Rajveer, her performing a stunt that his Naina is unfamiliar with, he is also shocked to realize that this was a stunt in which he knows Dr. Mishra was perfect at!

What? Dr. Mishra? Where does she come into picture in this whole scenario? He is thinking rediculos, he knows! But hell he cannot drag his mind from this resemblance, hell knows why!

Rajveer stares Naina in horror! It feels as if Captain Rajveer Singh Shekhawat has suddenly forgotten all of his own teachings. Everything that he had been taught by his teachers. Naina smiling devilishly walks further towards Rajveer on her four legs.

"Rajveer....!!",

says Naina in her weird voice.

Rajveer's heart pumps at a tremendous speed as it becomes difficult for him to digest the fact that when he is staring at the exterior of his Naina, although he is completely aware that in front of him isn't his Naina, but the voice is not the melodious voice of that of Naina. This voice reminds nothing about Naina! This voice betrays her personality!

Naina laughs throwing her head back,

"Ha! ha! ha! Ha! ha! ha! Ha! ha! ha!"

"Nainaaa.....",

Rajveer calls his Naina with all his love and affection for her, knitting his brows out of the feeling of sorry for his Naina's current state.

As soon as he calls her, Naina, who was laughing until now, throwing her head behind, suddenly starts crying! That shocks Rajveer, the sudden change in her emotion.

"Aahhh.....!!!",

she cries.

"Aaaaahhhhhh!!!!",

she cries harder and slowly looks towards Rajveer.

Rajveer who was staring her in horror gets all sweaty on discovering Naina's eyes turned all white!!! She is crying!!! She is crying hard but her pupil has turned all white or say they aren't present at all!

"WHAT THE HELL!!!",

curses Rajveer, staring Naina out of shock!

"Apke liye humesha Naina hi sub kuch hai na Captain?",

asks Naina, in voice that doesn't belong to her or rather is a mixture of hers and someone else's voice.

He gets goosebumps as he gets addressed as Captain instead of Rajveer this time.

'Captain!'

Oh! How can he forget!!

And within moments flashes of Dr. Mishra come floating in front of his eyes.

He starts sweating profusely.

"Doctor..... Dr. Mishraaaa...!!!",

he murmurs in utter shock.

He must be hallucinating! This... this cannot be happening. This cannot.... Oh man!

His heart, is it even working? He has no idea about it!

👻👻👻👻👻

The one of whose presence Rajveer had almost forgotten, walks across him. And Rajveer gets to see the mirror image of himself yet again! But his mirror image oozes venom and everything negative! Rajveer, bearing a smirk on his face, staring Naina with all fake love and affection walks towards her.

Reaching her, he pulls her hair hard, showing his dominating love for her. Naina instead of crying in pain laughs in painful pleasure. Rajveer stare Rajveer and Naina with disgust. Staring each other hungrily, Rajveer forces his mouth on hers opening it with his pressure, biting her upper lip then lower, inflicting pain into her. Naina laughs whilst enjoying the ferocious kiss of her dear Rajveer!

The intimacy of Rajveer and Naina goes on for few moments before Naina shifts herself into Dr. Mishra!!!

Initially Rajveer in a state of shock goes numb, doesn't understand how to react to that but soon he gets out of his state of shock and remembers how Dr. Mishra got afraid of fire quickly he searches for the lighter and finds it at an end. Running towards it Rajveer succeeds in grabbing it.

Turning to look towards Dr. Mishra, he ignites the lighter.

As soon as Dr. Mishra's eyes fall on the lighter Dr. Mishra's whole demeanor changes. Rajveer doesn't fail to notice the terrified expression of hers. Rajveer knits his brows in confusion. Within moments Rajveer could see an impression of the outline of a lady getting out of Naina's body and as if evaporating in the thin air. Rajveer stares at it knitting his brows. The fact that she has left so easily becomes unacceptable for Rajveer. But this apparently what has happened exactly.

Rajveer looks all around himself just to get assured of Dr. Mishra's departure before running to hold Naina before she hits the ground.

"Naina!",

he shouts in concern as he holds her, his brows knit together.

Naina slowly gets conscious and addresses Rajveer, still in state of daze,

"Si..r...!"

"Haan Naina.",

saying so Rajveer hugs Naina, tensed and concerned.

👻👻👻👻👻

Mr. Bhatia and Nikhil come running to Rajveer.

"Si...r.... Sir... kahan chale gaye the aap?",

they ask in unison in concern.

Rajveer looks towards them, too tired to reply.

Naina gets away from Rajveer as Mr. Bhatia and Nikhil reach them.

Getting up Naina shouts at them,

"Kyun chupaya tum logo ne humse such? Kyunnnnn...???"

Rajveer glares them and holds Naina by her shoulder.

"Hum... humse galti ho gayi. Humein... humein maaf kar dijiye.",

they apologize folding their hands in front of Rajveer and Naina.

Rajveer looks towards them and asks them in a serious voice, each word uttered slowly,

"Aisa kya hua tha yahan?"

Naina stares them knitting her brows, waiting for them to reply.

"Hum batate hain, sub batate hain apko.",

says Mr. Bhatia, terrified.

👻👻👻👻👻

Sitting in the same room which was allotted to Rajveer and Naina, Mr. Bhatia dictates the back story to Rajveer and Naina.

"Hum apko ye kamra nahi dena chahte the.",

Mr. Bhatia tells them honestly.

"Magar iss jagah humare iss motel ko chor kar apko koi motel nahi milega."

Rajveer and Naina realize that he is right they didn't really find any motel other than this.

Turning to look towards Mr. Bhatia, Rajveer and Naina wait for him to continue.

"Haan... haan ye such hai ke paison ka bhi laalach tha humein magar such kahun to paison se zyada main ye dekhna chahta tha ke kya aaj bhi... aaj bhi ye aatmayein humare iss motel mein hai ke nahi. Ya... ya inki dushmani sirf humse hi hai ya baki subse bhi.",

says Mr. Bhatia sadly.

"Kya? Ye dekhne ke liye do (2) masoom logo ke zindagi ke saath khelne ka haq kisne diya tum logo ko?",

shouts Rajveer at them, boiling with anger.

"Agar humein kuch ho jata to kya apne aap ko kabhi maaf kar patey tum?",

shouts Naina, unable to control her anger.

Rajveer and Naina glare them.

"Apne swaarth ke liye humne apka istemaal kiya. Iss baat ke liye hum behad sharminda hain.",

apologizes both Mr. Bhatia and Nikhil.

"Tumne kaha tha tum ijjazat mangna bhool gaye the! Kaisi ijjazat?",

asks Rajveer, eager to know.

"Bhaley hi ye aj ek motel hai par ek waqt tha jab ye ek dharamshala hua karta tha bohot saal pehle.",

Mr. Bhatia starts dictating the story.

"Tab itne kamre nahi hote the bus ek hi kamra tha wohin sub sharnarthi akar theherte the. Ab to ye jagah sunsaan ho gyi hai magar unn dino yahan se kareeb chaar kilometre durr ek bada mandir hua karta tha. Kaafi durr durr se log uss mandir ko dekhne aya karte the."

"Ye log bhi aye the yahan kafi taadad mein.",

Naina resumes with the story, as if she knows it all already.

Shivers run down Rajveer's spine as he hears Naina taking over the story resuming it from where Mr. Bhatia has left.

"Naina...",

Rajveer couldn't help himself from addressing her as if fearing that sitting next to him is not his Naina.

Naina turns to look towards Rajveer, herself as shocked as Rajveer is.

"Mujhe nahi pata ke mujhe ye sub kaise pata hai. Bus.... bus pata hai!",

says Naina, looking towards Rajveer in confusion, knitting her brows.

"Should I be worried about it?",

she asks Rajveer and gulps her saliva nervously.

Rajveer, himself in a state of shock fails to understand what to say to Naina. All he does is patting lovingly on his hand that is holding his upper arm.

Leaving Rajveer, Naina gets up and continues with the story. All others look towards her in a state of shock.

"Ek raat ye log iss kamre mein hansi mazak kar rahe the. Tabhi unn mein se kisi ne cigarette jalayi. Cigarette ki chingari leak ho rahe petrol par giri jiske barey mein inn logo ko ehsaas nahi hua. Aur jab hua tab kafi der ho gayi thi. Petrol tezi se kamre mein failta gaya aur utni hi tezi se usne aag pakdi aur purey kamre ko raakh mein badalne ka silsila barhta gaya.",

says Naina, her chest expanding and contracting at a quick pace.

Rajveer too gets tensed on hearing that.

Mr. Bhatia and Nikhil nod their head in slow motion, feeling very bad and sad about the fateful incident that took place.

"Kuch log ka aag aur cigarette ke dhuein se dum ghutne laga to wo isliye room se bahar nahi nikal paye to baki sub ek entrance se ek saath nikalne ke chakkar mein ek dusre se bhid gaye.",

adds Naina, staring at a distant point.

The way her expressions were changing according to her words, Rajveer couldn't help himself from feeling that Naina could see whatever fateful incident took place, quite vividly.

Rajveer shuts his eyes feeling bad for the people. But more than that he feels concerned for Naina.

"Koi nahi bacha. Ek bhi nahi!",

says Mr. Bhatia.

"Tab ye dharamshala mere tayaji chalaya karte thein. Iss hadse ke baad yahan logo ne ana band kar diya. Akhir aatey bhi kahan sub kuch tehes-nehes jo ho gaya tha unn aag ki lapto mein."

"Iss hadse ke kuch mahine baad tayaji guzar gaye. Magar unki maut bhi koi saadharan maut nahi thi.",

Mr. Bhatia tells them.

"Matlab? Kya hua tha unhe?",

asks Naina, as her curiosity instead of dying, increases.

Rajveer too gets curious to know further and waits for him to continue.

"Aisa kehte hain ke koi buri aatma unke peeche thi.",

declares Mr. Bhatia.

Shivers run down Rajveer's and Naina's spine respectively. They look towards each other then back towards Mr. Bhatia.

"Iss baat ke barey mein Tauji ne mere Pitaji ko bataya tha. Wo kehte the ke inhi logo mein se koi unke peeche hain jo yahan jal kar marey hain."

That reminds Rajveer of the smell he got from the cupboard and immediately he understands the reason.

"Pitaji ne inn baaton par bharosa nahi kiya. Aur tauji ki tervi hote hi wo wapas yahan aa gaye isse chalane."

"Ek roz Pitaji ghar aye to maine dekha ke wo kaise ukhde-ukhde rehne lagey the. Thoda sa bhi kuch kehne par wo chirh jate the.",

recollects Mr. Bhatia.

"Tayiji ke unse puchne par Tauji ne ek roz unhe bataya ke unhe yahan ajeeb-ajeeb ehsaasein hoti thi. Bataya ke kaise dheere dheere yahan koi bhi nahi aata tha. Lagbhag sarey mahine ye jagah khali hi rehti thi. Itni khali ke yahan ka sannata unhe khane ko daudta tha."

"To unhone ye jagah band kyun nahi kar diya?",

asks Rajveer.

"Kya jane sahab kyun band nahi kiya. Tayiji ko maine kayi baar unhe kehte hue bhi sunna tha ke wo ye jagah band kar dein. Par shayad unhe darr tha ke yahan se jane ke baad agar unhe kahin kaam nahi mila to? Humein palenge kaise wo?",

says Mr. Bhatia, shaking his head out of regret.

"Waise to main inn sub baaton ke barey mein zyada janta nahi. Mujhe to yakeen bhi nahi tha inn baaton par pehle.",

says Rajveer to Mr. Bhatia and Nikhil.

Naina looks towards him worriedly.

"Par ab....",

Rajveer trails off and looks around to notice anything that could be eerie.

No, he is not afraid of anything but has accepted the fact.

"Yakeen mujhe bhi nahi tha Sir.",

Nikhil's words drag the attention of the three of his listeners.

"Par Jijaji ke saath yahan jabse kaam karne laga, tab yakeen hone laga.",

confesses Nikhil.

Mr. Bhatia looks towards him sympathetically.

"Maine... maine ek baat Jija... Jijaji ko kabhi nahi batayi.",

stammers Nikhil as he speaks.

That intrigues his listeners.

Mr. Bhatia gets affected the most obviously.

They all stare him in utter shock, holding their breath.

Nikhil comes closer to them. Naina gets closer to Rajveer in fear, staring Nikhil throughout.

In hoarse whisper, Nikhil tells them, his eyes wide open,

"Koi humesha.... inke.... inke peeche peeche chalta hai!"

Not only does Mr. Bhatia's chest starts expanding and contracting at a tremendous speed but Rajveer and Naina too could hear their respective heartbeats loud and clearly. Every nerve ending stands erect of all the fours as if this is going to be the last moment of their life. As if the world will collapse in a matter of few seconds burying them deep into the ground.

"Ye... ye tu kya keh raha hai...??",

asks Mr. Bhatia, stammering out of terror.

Instead of moving away from his current spot he actually goes stiff out of fear. Tremor begins crawling throughout his skin starting from the initial point of his upper arms. All his mind could command him is to rotate his eye balls to his right to check who is standing there behind him, through his peripheral vision.

He could feel the gradual blocking of his ears as his heartbeat turns so loud inside him that he could literally feel it in his ear as if his heartbeat is trying to escape through his ears and hence pounding on his eardrums. His hands soon start sweating and he tries to fan them by opening and closing his hands but to no avail. It feels as if the more he is trying to calm himself down, the more is he getting pulled towards the horror!

Naina pulls Rajveer out of fear and says,

"Bus... mujhe... mujhe ab kuch nahi sunna aur. Aap... aap chaliye yahan se. Hum... hum bus ab yahan ek pal nahi rahenge."

Rajveer looks towards Naina and tries to calm her down.

"Relax Naina. Kuch nahi hoga. Mujhe... mujhe puri kahani sunni hai.",

says a determined Rajveer looking towards Naina.

"Aap kaisi baat kar rahe hain? Hum yahan ab ek pal bhi nahi rukenge chaliye aap.",

Naina gets at the verge of crying out of fear.

"Hum rukenge bhi aur puri kahani sunenge bhi.",

says Rajveer, clearly, pointing an index finger towards Naina.

Mr. Bhatia and Nikhil feel touched by Rajveer's gesture. Tears well up in their eyes.

"Nahi Sir.... aap jaiye yahan se. Hum apni wajah se apki jaan khatre mein aur nahi dalna chahte.",

says Mr. Bhatia, through his choked throat.

The fact that someone walks always behind him about whose presence Mr. Bhatia was completely unaware about doesn't leave him for a single moment since he heard of it. He every now and then glance behind him to know who it is who has been following him.

"Ni...khil... ko... n... kon hai mere peeche?",

asks Mr. Bhatia, somehow managing to speak with his dry throat. He gulps his saliva every now and then to moisten it but it dries as quickly as it gets moisten, such is the height of his fear.

"Koi... admi... chehra... chehra kuch kuch jala hua...",

Nikhil manages to describe to Mr. Bhatia.

Rajveer and Naina slowly, cautiously walking further towards Mr. Bhatia to peep and know if they could see anyone behind Mr. Bhatia. Their step slow, it feels as if it is taking almost eternity to cover such a negligible distance between Mr. Bhatia and themselves.

And as Rajveer peeps behind Mr. Bhatia everything happens altogether getting him confused as to what should he react first too and hence his mind swivels -

The spirit of Dhruv comes running towards Rajveer in almost the speed of that of light. Rajveer's pupils of eyes widen as a reflex action of Dhruv's reaching him in no time. Within fraction of seconds Rajveer bends his body backwards to save himself from the attack!

The slapping of Dhruv's feet too loudly on the floor and reaching Rajveer taking him as his prey, makes Naina to shout out loud.

"Aaa..... Rajveer.....!!"

It becomes difficult for her heart to pump oxygen but she manages somehow.

Having failed to cast an attack on Rajveer, demon Dhruv with his ghostly power shakes a few interiors of the motel. The flower vase kept at a corner smashes on the ground loud enough to terrorize all the terrified people all the more including Rajveer.

Rajveer hugs Naina whilst keeping an eye on the demon. Soon enough everything turns quiet.

"Sir aap ye khidki dekh rahe hain?",

Mr. Bhatia points towards one window of the room which Rajveer and Naina had occupied. Rajveer and Naina turn to look towards the window and finds it covered with curtain. Rajveer walks to move the curtain to a side in order to reveal the window. But as soon as he touches the curtain he could feel his skin burning and immediately he takes away his hand.

"Ahh!",

he shouts.

Mr. Bhatia and Nikhil move forth towards Rajveer and exclaims in horror,

"Sambhal kar Sir!"

Rajveer had decided to pull off the curtain so quickly that Mr. Bhatia and Nikhil couldn't even warn him.

"Sirrr!",

shouts Naina out of concern.

Jerking his hand vigorously in order to ease his pain Rajveer stares towards the curtain with knitted brows. Naina rubs her hand on his upper arm to make sure that he is fine and also to sooth his pain.

"Ye... ye itni garm kyun hai?",

asks Rajveer, looking towards the curtain, knitting his brows.

Naina too turns to look towards it doubts clouding her mind.

Without saying another word Nikhil pushes the curtain away remembering that it would be burning hot. Having done that Nikhil rubs his hands together to ease the burning sensation. What gets revealed is a window completely black as if burnt freshly. Nothing could be seen through the window.

Naina and Rajveer crease their brows in horror and confusion.

Mr. Bhatia reveals in front of them,

"Iss purey kamre ke saath saath ye khidki bhi uss aag mein jal gayi thi. Iss purey kamre ko repair karaya gaya ye khidki bhi nayi lagayi gayi. Aisa sunna tha ke iss khidki ko lagate waqt ek mazdoor ko dil ka daura parha aur wo yahin se neeche gir gaya."

Naina and Rajveer widen their pairs of eyes hearing that.

"Kamaal ki baat ye hai ke doctors ye pata nahi laga paye ke uske marne ka karan uska girna tha ya dil ka daura parhna tha. Fir bhi reports mein heart attack hi reason likha gaya hai.",

says Mr. Bhatia.

"Par iss kamre se zameen ki doori zyada nahi hai. Fir bhi postmortem report mein sir ke kayi hisso mein gehre chont ke nishan paye jane ke daawe kiye gaye hain."

Mr. Bhatia's listener get shocked hearing that.

"Ek painter akhirkar iss khidki ko paint karne mein safal ho hi gaya."

Mr. Bhatia's listeners sigh in relief that finally the something turned positive. But of course the feeling didn't last for a long period as they know the truth of this day is this burnt window panel. That means something surely has happened more!

"Agle din jab main subah utha meri utsukta barh gayi iss khidki ko dekhne ki. Par jo maine dekha usne mujhe chauka diya. Ye khidki bilkul issi halat mein mili jaise ye abhi humein dikh rahi hai!!"

Shiver runs down the spine of Rajveer, Naina and Nikhil alike!

"Paint ki khushboo ki jagah jalne ki boo firse ane lagi abki baar pehle se zyada. Mano ke kisi ko humara ye karna pasand nahi aya aur humein iski saza di ja rahi ho!"

"Kabhi kabhi kuch upar ke ek kamre se zor zor se darwaza khatkhatane ki awaz ati hai.",

Nikhil tells Rajveer and Naina.

Rajveer and Naina remember having heard the noise and quickly say in unison,

"Haan! suna tha."

"Ye kamre banne ke baad shayad kuch aatmayein uss kamre mein chali gayin theen. Wahan jo bhi rehta unhe kisi ke unke aas-paas hone ka aabhas hota tha.",

Nikhil tells them.

"Kayi log ek raat bhi yahan nahi rukte the. Raat ko hi apna saaman bandh kar darr ke marey yahan se nikal jate the.",

Mr. Bhatia tells them.

"Waqt ke saath saath wo to band ho gaya tha humein tab bhi yahi laga tha ke shayad unn atmaon ko shanti mil gayi hai.",

Mr. Bhatia lowers his eyes and shakes his head.

"Magar nahi. Pichle kuch dino se wo awaazein ani firse shuru ho gayin.",

says Mr. Bhatia.

"Aur... aur Mai...n..e... wo darwaza kal khula dekha.",

Nikhil tells Mr. Bhatia, taking him by surprise.

"Kya??? Magar ye kisne kiya?",

asks Mr. Bhatia, shocked.

Nikhil has no answer for that question.

"Shayad ussi ne jo nahi chahta ke iss jagah se wo kabhi bhi jaye!",

tells Rajveer, knitting his brows.

"Kon chahega aisa?",

asks Naina, confused

"Koi aisa jo shayad uss room ke ander kabhi band hi na hua ho!",

says Rajveer.

All get shocked as they realize the possibility of it.

Wave of air enters the room and from nowhere dirt particles encircle them.

It is only when they somehow manage to look through the dirt, rubbing their eyes, opening them somehow and managing to keep them open somehow that they realize that it is not the dirt but black residue of the burnt window that is getting peeled off and flying in the air to reach them just to cause them trouble!

"Sir... Sir aap jaiye yahan se",

says Mr. Bhatia whilst rubbing his eyes vigorously. Keeping his voice raised in order to make himself audible as the dust particles block the passage of air to pass his voice to Rajveer and Naina.

"Haan Sir aap aap jaiye yahan se.",

suggests Nikhil too, itching his eyes, trying to save himself as much as possible from the attack of the invisible!

Rajveer and Naina fall in dilemma as to what should be done now.

"Nahi.... hum tum logo ko aise akela chor kar nahi jayenge. Tum bhi chalo humare saath.",

says a determined soldier in Rajveer.

Naina nods her head, agreeing with Rajveer.

"Nahi Sir... ye humein yahan se jane nahi denge. Inki jagah par humne apni jagah banayi iss baat ki saza humein ye de kar rahenge.",

shouts Mr. Bhatia, rubbing his eyes every now and then.

"Aap... aap magar Nikhil ko apne saath le jaiye. Hum saath mein to kabhi bahar nahi nikal payenge.",

says Mr. Bhatia.

"Ja Nikhil tu ja...",

he pushes Nikhil lightly, asking him to go along with Rajveer and Naina.

Nikhil shakes his head into negative in quick succession and says,

"Nahi... Nahi Jijaji. Main... main apko... main apko... apko chor kar kahin nahi jane wala."

"Pagal mat bann Nikhil tu ja yahan se.",

shouts Mr. Bhatia.

Rajveer and Naina look towards them in horror unable to understand how to solve this situation.

"Bilkul nahi. Aap dono jaiye... jaiye aap dono.",

says Nikhil adamant to stay with Mr. Bhatia.

"Chaliye... Chaliye yahan se...",

says Naina, pulling Rajveer by his upper arm, desperate to leave the place as soon as possible.

They run out of the motel carrying their belonging quickly.

But Rajveer couldn't by any means bring himself to convince leaving this place without Mr. Bhatia and Nikhil.

Getting out of the motel, as they run further towards Rajveer's jeep they hear the shout of Mr. Bhatia and Nikhil. Rajveer and Naina turn to look towards the motel in horror.

Rajveer asks Naina to stay there and he runs back into the motel. Naina tries hard to stop Rajveer, shouting his name,

"Rajveer Sir... Sir...!",

sweating, crying, wiping her sweat again and again out of fear.

But nothing could stop Rajveer from getting back into the motel.

As Rajveer enters back into the motel his steps slow down as he finds the place back into normal just like it was when they entered for the first time with it's eerie vibes still intact. He looks around and it feels whatever had happened moments ago was a dream and now he has woken up. He looks towards the reception area in search of Mr. Bhatia and Nikhil. But instead of finding them he discovers a lady in blue saree, hair neatly tied up into a bun giving him a vibe that she works here and a man in black coat and a pair of trousers who is busy typing something on his computer. The backs of both the lady and the man turned towards Rajveer.

Rajveer with his eyes wide open, not wanting to miss anything, look towards them skeptically and with hesitation intact in his voice asks them,

"E...x...cuse... me..."

The lady chooses to turn first and flashing a smile towards Rajveer asks him,

"Yes Sir, how may I help you?"

And Rajveer's voice chokes and his eyes widens all the more as his eyes rest on the lady in front of him - Naina! his Naina! He doesn't understand how must he react to this.

When he doesn't reply for some moment, the man next to the woman chooses to turn and asks,

"What's the matter?"

Rajveer fails to understand how must he react to a question asked by himself to him!

But if these are whom he is encountering at the moment, so who were they whom they had talked to earlier? Unable to believe his eyes Rajveer runs away without caring to solve this mystery.

Can this be the end of this chapter of their life? Or the mystery has just begun to unravel itself?