The night felt heavier than before.
Aarav lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his eyes wide open. The silence of the hostel wrapped around him like a thick blanket—uncomfortable, suffocating.
And then…
The piano started again.
This time, there was no surprise.
Only fear.
Aarav slowly turned his head toward the wall.
The melody was clearer tonight. Each note echoed through the room, sharp and precise, as if someone was playing right beside him.
And then came the voice.
Soft… trembling… broken.
It wasn't just singing anymore.
It sounded like someone was trying to speak through music.
Aarav sat up.
His heartbeat quickened.
"This is not normal…" he whispered.
He got off the bed and walked toward the wall again. His steps were slow, hesitant.
The closer he got…
The colder the air felt.
He placed his hand against the wall.
Cold.
Unnaturally cold.
As if the other side didn't belong to the same world.
The piano grew louder.
The voice cracked.
For a moment, Aarav could swear—
It sounded like the girl was crying.
"Hello…?" Aarav spoke softly.
The music didn't stop.
"Can you hear me?" he asked again.
Silence.
For one second—
Everything stopped.
No piano.
No voice.
Nothing.
Aarav froze.
His breath caught in his throat.
The sudden silence felt even worse than the sound.
And then—
A single loud note slammed through the wall.
Aarav stepped back instantly.
His heart was now racing.
The piano had changed.
It wasn't soft anymore.
It was aggressive.
Desperate.
The girl's voice returned.
But this time…
It wasn't singing.
It was almost like—
A warning.
Aarav couldn't understand the words, but the feeling was clear.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
The next morning, Aarav couldn't ignore it anymore.
He needed answers.
He found Rohit sitting in the common area.
"Bro, ek baat puchu?" Aarav said.
"Hmm, bol," Rohit replied casually.
"Room 218 me kaun rehta hai?"
Rohit frowned.
"218? Bhai wo room to band hai kaafi time se."
"Band? Matlab?"
"Matlab… locked. Koi use nahi karta."
Aarav's expression changed.
"Par raat me… waha se piano ki awaz aati hai."
Rohit stared at him.
"Tu mazak kar raha hai na?"
"I'm serious."
For a moment, Rohit didn't say anything.
Then he leaned closer.
"Yahan ke bare me ek ajeeb baat hai…" he said quietly.
Aarav's heart skipped a beat.
"Kya?"
Rohit hesitated.
"Log kehte hain… waha pehle koi ladki rehti thi."
Aarav's grip tightened.
"Fir?"
Rohit looked around, making sure no one was listening.
"Fir… ek din wo gayab ho gayi."
"Gayab?" Aarav repeated.
"Officially to bola gaya ki wo hostel chhod ke chali gayi… but…" Rohit lowered his voice, "kisi ne usse jaate hue nahi dekha."
Aarav felt a chill.
"Naam kya tha uska?"
Rohit paused.
"Naina."
The moment the name left his lips—
Aarav felt something shift.
As if the air around him had suddenly become heavier.
That night…
Aarav didn't sleep.
He waited.
And just like before—
The piano started.
The voice followed.
But tonight…
There was something new.
Aarav slowly moved toward his door.
His hand reached for the handle.
For the first time—
He decided to step outside.
The corridor was dark.
Too dark.
The lights flickered weakly, barely illuminating the path.
The sound was louder here.
Much louder.
Aarav turned toward Room 218.
The door stood silent.
Closed.
Locked.
The piano was coming from inside.
The voice… clearer than ever.
Aarav slowly stepped closer.
Each step felt heavier.
As if something was pulling him back.
He stood right in front of the door.
The music stopped.
Silence.
Aarav's hand trembled as he leaned closer.
His eyes moved toward the small hole in the door.
He hesitated.
For just a second.
And then—
He bent down…
And looked inside.
Darkness.
Complete darkness.
But then…
Something moved.
A faint…
Red glow.
Aarav's breath stopped.
His body froze.
The red color didn't look like light.
It looked…
Alive.
He quickly stepped back.
His heart pounding violently.
"What… was that…?" he whispered.
From inside the room—
Something had noticed him.
And somewhere in that darkness—
Something had just started watching back.
Was that really a ghost.... or something worse??
Comment below!