Aisha tezi se apne room ki taraf bhaagi. Uska heart itna fast beat kar raha tha ki usse lag raha tha jaise poora corridor uski heartbeat sun sakta hai.
Room Number 12 ka door open karke woh jaldi se andar aa gayi aur door band kar diya.
Kuch seconds tak woh bas door ke paas khadi rahi, saans normal karne ki koshish karti hui.
"Shayad maine galat suna…" usne khud se kaha.
Lekin usse clearly yaad tha — usne whisper suna tha.
"Help me…"
Aisha bed par baith gayi. Usne clock dekhi.
12:37 AM
Room mein sab kuch normal lag raha tha. Uske parents deep sleep mein the.
Aisha thoda relax hone lagi.
"Maybe kisi guest ne door open kiya hoga," usne socha.
Lekin ek baat uske mind se nahi ja rahi thi.
Receptionist ne clearly kaha tha ki Room 13 use nahi hota.
Toh phir door open kaise tha?
Aisha ne decide kiya ki woh ab is baare mein zyada nahi sochegi.
Woh bed par lete hue eyes close karne lagi.
Lekin jaise hi usne aankhen band ki…
Usse phir se ek awaaz sunai di.
Is baar awaaz room ke andar se aayi thi.
Tap… tap… tap…
Jaise koi window par halki knock kar raha ho.
Aisha ki aankhen turant khul gayi.
Usne slowly window ki taraf dekha.
Curtains thode hil rahe the.
Bahar strong hawa chal rahi thi aur tree branches window se takra rahi thi.
"Bas hawa hai," Aisha ne apne aap ko convince kiya.
Lekin tabhi…
Usne phir se whisper suna.
Is baar awaaz aur clear thi.
"Help… me…"
Aisha ka body freeze ho gaya.
Awaaz bahut slow thi, lekin clearly sunai de rahi thi.
Aur sabse scary baat ye thi…
Awaaz Room 13 ki direction se aa rahi thi.
Aisha ne apni blanket tight pakad li.
"Ye impossible hai…" usne slowly kaha.
Room bilkul silent ho gaya.
Kuch minutes tak koi sound nahi aayi.
Finally Aisha thodi calm ho gayi.
"Kal subah receptionist se poochungi," usne decide kiya.
Dheere-dheere usse sleep aa gayi.
Next morning bright sunlight room mein aa rahi thi.
Aisha ki mom ne usse jagaya.
"Aisha, uth jao. Breakfast ka time ho gaya."
Aisha ne aankhen kholi aur ek second ke liye confuse ho gayi.
Phir usse kal raat ka incident yaad aaya.
"Mom… kal raat corridor mein kisi ne door open kiya tha kya?" Aisha ne pucha.
Uski mom ne surprise se dekha.
"Nahi beta. Hum toh poori raat so rahe the."
Aisha thodi silent ho gayi.
Breakfast ke liye woh log hotel lobby mein gaye.
Lobby morning light mein thodi normal lag rahi thi.
Kal raat jitni scary lag rahi thi, ab utni nahi lag rahi thi.
Reception par wahi same man khada tha.
Aisha thodi hesitate kar rahi thi, lekin phir usne himmat karke pucha:
"Excuse me… Room Number 13 ke baare mein kuch bata sakte hain?"
Receptionist ka expression suddenly change ho gaya.
Usne Aisha ko serious nazar se dekha.
"Kyun pooch rahi ho?" usne slow voice mein kaha.
Aisha thodi nervous ho gayi.
"Bas… curiosity," usne kaha.
Receptionist kuch seconds tak silent raha.
Phir usne slowly kaha,
"Room Number 13 ke baare mein guests ko jaanne ki zarurat nahi hoti."
Aisha ke dad ne lightly laugh kiya.
"Lagta hai koi horror story hogi," unhone mazaak mein kaha.
Lekin receptionist ne laugh nahi kiya.
Uska face bilkul serious tha.
Phir usne dheere se kaha:
"Bahut saal pehle… us room mein ek ladki rehti thi."
Aisha dhyan se sunne lagi.
"Ek raat woh achanak gayab ho gayi," receptionist ne kaha.
Aisha ka heart thoda fast beat karne laga.
"Gayab?" usne pucha.
Receptionist ne sir hilaaya.
"Uske baad se kabhi-kabhi log kehte hain ki raat ko Room 13 se strange sounds aati hain."
Lobby mein suddenly silence ho gaya.
Aisha ko kal raat ki whisper yaad aa gayi.
Help me…
Usne slowly pucha:
"Kya kisi ne kabhi check kiya?"
Receptionist ne deep breath li.
"Bahut baar," usne kaha.
"Lekin room mein kabhi kuch nahi mila."
Aisha ka mind confuse ho gaya.
Agar room empty hai…
Toh kal raat usne whisper kiski suni?
Aur usse bilkul idea nahi tha…
Ki aaj raat woh dobara Room Number 13 ke paas jaane wali thi।