Chapter 1: The Room That Shouldn't Be Opened
Muzaffarpur was never known for anything unusual. It was just another busy city where life moved on without mysteries or strange stories—at least, that's what Ayush believed.
"Bro, this place looks cheap enough," Rohan said, pointing at an old three-story building with a flickering signboard that read Shiv Residency.
Ayush looked up. The building seemed… off. The paint was peeling, windows were half-broken, and the entrance looked darker than it should be, even in daylight.
"You sure about this?" Ayush asked.
"Come on, we're not here for luxury. Just two nights and we're done," Rohan replied casually.
They walked inside.
---
The reception area smelled of damp wood and something old—like the place hadn't been properly cleaned in years. Behind the desk sat an elderly man, his eyes tired yet strangely observant.
"Room?" he asked in a slow, dry voice.
"Yeah, one room for two nights," Ayush said.
The old man stared at them for a moment longer than necessary. Then he reached for a key hanging on a rusty board behind him.
"Room 306."
Rohan froze for a second and glanced at Ayush.
"Bro… isn't that the room people talk about?" he whispered.
Ayush smirked. "Don't start with ghost stories. Let's just take it."
The old man slid the key across the table.
"For your own good… don't stay up too late," he muttered.
Ayush laughed lightly, but something about the way he said it felt… serious.
---
The corridor on the third floor was unusually silent. Their footsteps echoed more than they should.
Room 306 was at the very end.
Ayush inserted the key and opened the door.
Click…
The door creaked open slowly.
A cold gust of air brushed past them.
"Okay… that's weird," Rohan said, rubbing his arms.
Inside, the room looked normal at first glance—a bed, a table, a cupboard, and a large mirror on the wall. But something felt wrong. The air was heavier. The silence was deeper.
"Maybe just old building vibes," Ayush said, trying to sound confident.
They placed their bags down.
---
Hours passed.
It was now midnight.
Rohan was already asleep, snoring lightly. But Ayush couldn't sleep. He kept staring at the ceiling, feeling like someone was watching him.
Suddenly—
Whisper…
Ayush sat up instantly.
"Did you hear that?" he said.
No response.
He looked at Rohan. Still asleep.
Then again—
"Leave…"
This time, the whisper was clearer.
Ayush stood up slowly. His heart was racing.
"Hello?" he called out.
Silence.
He walked toward the bathroom.
The door was slightly open.
As he pushed it—
Tap… tap… tap…
The water tap was running.
Ayush frowned. "Did we leave it open?"
He turned it off.
The moment he did—
The lights flickered.
He froze.
Slowly… he turned his head toward the mirror.
Something was written on it.
Not clearly… but as if someone had written with fingers on fogged glass.
"DON'T STAY"
Ayush's breath stopped.
"Rohan! Wake up!" he shouted.
Rohan jolted awake. "What happened?!"
"Look at the mirror!"
Rohan turned—and his face went pale.
"Who wrote that?"
"I don't know!"
---
Panic filled the room.
"Let's leave. Right now," Rohan said.
They rushed to the door.
Ayush grabbed the handle and pulled—
It didn't open.
"Wait… what?" he pulled harder.
Still stuck.
"Open it!" Rohan shouted.
"I'm trying!"
They both tried together.
Nothing.
The door was locked… from outside.
---
The lights began flickering again.
On… off… on… off…
Then suddenly—
Complete darkness.
Rohan grabbed Ayush's arm. "Bro… this is not normal…"
Ayush swallowed hard. "Stay calm…"
A faint glow appeared.
From the mirror.
They slowly turned.
A figure was visible.
A girl.
Standing behind them… but reflected in the mirror.
Her face was pale. Her eyes… hollow.
Her lips moved—
"Help me…"
Rohan screamed, "WHAT IS THAT?!"
The girl began moving… but not in the room.
Inside the mirror.
Slowly… she raised her hand… and pressed it against the glass.
Then—
Her hand came through.
Like the mirror was water.
Ayush stumbled back. "This can't be real… this can't be real…"
The girl stepped out.
Her long hair covered half her face. Her clothes were old… torn… stained.
"Please…" she whispered. "Set me free…"
---
Rohan was shaking uncontrollably. "What does she want?!"
Ayush gathered courage. "Who… are you?"
The girl looked at him.
"My name… is Nandini…"
Her voice echoed unnaturally.
"They locked me here… I never left…"
Ayush felt a chill run down his spine.
"Who locked you?"
Her eyes darkened.
"The owner's son… he loved me… I refused…"
The room temperature dropped suddenly.
"He trapped me here… and left me to die…"
Silence.
Heavy.
Painful.
---
"So what do you want from us?" Ayush asked carefully.
Nandini slowly pointed toward the bed.
"Under it…"
Ayush hesitated… then slowly bent down.
There was a wooden box.
Old. Covered in dust.
He pulled it out.
"Open it," she said.
His hands trembled as he opened the box.
Inside were old letters… and a broken chain.
"These are mine…" she whispered. "My last memories…"
"What do we do with them?" Rohan asked.
"Burn them…"
"Burn?" Ayush repeated.
"Only then… I can leave…"
---
Rohan quickly searched his bag.
"I have a lighter…"
Ayush looked at him. "Are you sure?"
"What choice do we have?!"
They placed the letters and chain on the floor.
Rohan lit the lighter.
For a moment… nothing happened.
Then—
The flame caught.
The papers began burning.
Suddenly—
A violent wind filled the room.
The windows slammed open.
The lights flickered wildly.
Nandini screamed—not in pain… but something else.
Relief.
"Finally…" she whispered.
Her form began fading.
"Thank you…"
And then—
She was gone.
---
Silence returned.
The door—
Click
Unlocked.
Ayush and Rohan didn't wait.
They ran.
Down the stairs.
Straight to reception.
The old man looked at them.
"You saw her… didn't you?"
Ayush threw the key on the desk. "You knew!"
He sighed. "No one ever listens…"
"Why didn't you stop us?!"
"I tried…"
---
The next morning, they left the hotel.
Neither of them spoke about it again.
But the story didn't end there.
Because a week later—
When the room was cleaned…
The mirror had something written on it again.
Not "Don't stay."
Not "Help me."
This time—
"I AM NOT ALONE."
---
End of Chapter 1…