Aarav didn't sleep that night.
Not even for a second.
Every time he closed his eyes, the same image returned—
That eye.
Unblinking.
Waiting.
Watching.
His breathing felt uneven as he sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the wall.
Room 218.
Just on the other side.
So close…
Yet so terrifying.
The silence in his room wasn't normal anymore.
It felt… aware.
He rubbed his face tiredly and stood up.
"I need to know everything," he whispered.
Morning came, but it didn't bring relief.
The sunlight entering his room felt weak… almost useless against the heaviness inside him.
Aarav stood in front of the mirror.
His face looked pale.
Eyes sunken.
But there was something new in them—
Determination.
"No more running," he said quietly.
He walked straight to the office.
Mr. Saxena was there, flipping through some old registers.
"Sir," Aarav said, his voice firm this time, "mujhe sab sach chahiye."
Saxena didn't look up immediately.
But when he did—
He froze.
Aarav's expression told him everything.
"Tum andar gaye the…" he said slowly.
Aarav stayed silent.
Saxena sighed.
A deep, tired sigh.
"Ab chupane ka koi fayda nahi hai," he muttered.
He closed the register.
The sound echoed in the quiet room.
"Naina…" he began.
The name itself felt heavy.
"Wo bahut alag thi," Saxena said. "Baaki students se bilkul different."
Aarav listened carefully.
"Wo akeli rehti thi… par kabhi lonely nahi lagti thi," he continued. "Uska piano hi uska world tha."
"Raat me jab sab so jaate the… tab uska music pura corridor me ghoomta tha."
Aarav could almost hear it again.
That melody.
That voice.
"Log use pasand karte the… par wo zyada close nahi hoti thi kisi se," Saxena said.
"Phir kya hua…?" Aarav asked softly.
Saxena's face darkened.
"Phir usne galat cheez dekh li."
Aarav's heartbeat increased.
"Kya?"
Saxena leaned forward slightly.
"Mishra ji ke illegal kaam."
Aarav's jaw tightened.
"Raat ke time… kuch log aate the," Saxena continued. "Hostel ke andar hi deals hoti thi… paisa, samaan… sab illegal."
Aarav's fists clenched.
"Naina ne sab dekh liya."
Silence.
"Usne decide kiya ki wo sab expose karegi," Saxena said.
Aarav nodded.
"She wanted to do the right thing…"
Saxena gave a bitter smile.
"Har koi sach bolne ki himmat nahi karta… aur jo karta hai…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
Aarav's voice dropped.
"Uske saath kya hua?"
Saxena didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
He looked toward the corridor.
Toward Room 218.
And then—
He spoke.
"Usse uske hi room me band kar diya gaya."
Aarav's breath hitched.
"No…"
Saxena closed his eyes for a moment.
"Wo raat…" he whispered.
🌑 Flashback Begins
The corridor was dim.
The lights flickering weakly.
Naina stood near her door.
Her hands trembling.
But her voice—
Strong.
"Main sab bata dungi," she said.
Mishra ji stood in front of her.
Calm.
Too calm.
"Tumhe samajh nahi aa raha tum kya kar rahi ho," he said quietly.
Naina shook her head.
"Main chup nahi rahungi."
For a second—
Everything went still.
Then—
Mishra ji pushed her inside.
"HEY! KYA KAR RAHE HAIN AAP?!" Naina screamed.
DHAM!
The door slammed shut.
Click.
The lock turned.
"OPEN THE DOOR!" Naina shouted, banging hard.
"PLEASE! KOI HAI?! HELP!"
Her voice echoed through the corridor.
But no one came.
Inside the room—
Time slowed.
Her screams turned into sobs.
Her sobs turned into silence.
And then—
She sat at the piano.
Her fingers trembled.
But she started playing.
And she began to sing.
Not for music.
Not for practice.
For help.
"Please… koi hai… mujhe bahar nikalo…"
Her voice cracked again and again.
Hours passed.
Her throat went dry.
Her fingers grew weak.
But she kept playing.
Because she believed—
Someone would hear her.
But no one did.
Days blurred into nights.
Her voice faded.
Her body weakened.
The room grew colder.
Darker.
Her last song—
Was barely a whisper.
"Please…"
Her fingers pressed one final note—
Ting…
And then—
Silence.
🌑 Flashback Ends
Aarav stood frozen.
His chest felt heavy.
"She… died like that…" he whispered.
Saxena nodded slowly.
"Akeli. Bina kisi ki help ke."
Silence filled the room.
Aarav's eyes drifted toward the corridor.
A faint piano note echoed.
Both of them froze.
A soft whisper followed—
"Help…"
Aarav's heart stopped.
"She's still there…" he whispered.
Saxena's voice was low.
"Haan… par ab wo pehle jaisi nahi hai."
Aarav turned toward him.
"Matlab?"
Saxena looked directly into his eyes.
"Wo sirf help nahi maang rahi…"
A pause.
"Wo kisi ko chhodti bhi nahi."
Aarav's breath caught.
His mind flashed back—
That eye.
That presence.
"Don't leave me…"
Aarav clenched his fists.
If she's trapped… I have to free her.
"I'll help her," he said.
Saxena stepped back.
"Pagal ho gaye ho tum?!"
Aarav shook his head.
"Wo help ke liye mar gayi…"
His voice hardened.
"Main use aise nahi chhod sakta."
Outside—
Near Room 218—
The red glow flickered.
Stronger than before.
As if it heard him.
As if it was waiting.