Deepak Jaat
Stories (7)
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The Shadow in the Mirror
It started on a humid, rain-soaked evening. Ananya was alone in her apartment, nestled on the fourth floor of an aging building in the heart of the city. The dull, flickering light of the streetlamp outside seeped into her living room, casting long shadows that swayed gently with the wind. She was used to solitude, found solace in it even, but tonight felt different. The air was thick, not just with humidity but with something unspoken, something lurking.Ananya had recently moved in after breaking up with her longtime boyfriend, Kunal. She needed space, a fresh start. The apartment was a bit run-down, but it was hers. She had filled it with cozy furniture, books, and soft lights that brought comfort. Yet, since the move, she had been having strange dreams—dreams of a shadowy figure that stood silently in the corner of her room, watching her. She always woke up drenched in sweat, heart pounding, but she could never quite remember the figure’s face. Or if it had one.On this particular night, she tried to shake off the feeling of unease by distracting herself. She stood in front of her large bathroom mirror, brushing her hair. As the brush moved through the strands, she noticed something strange in her reflection—something fleeting, just at the edge of her vision. A shadow, darker than the dim room around her, seemed to shift behind her, near the doorway.Ananya froze. She turned her head to look directly behind her, but there was nothing. Her heart raced, her fingers tightening around the brush. "Just tired," she muttered to herself, forcing a nervous laugh. She had been working long hours and barely sleeping. That had to be it.She took a deep breath and returned her focus to the mirror, but her stomach dropped as she saw the shadow again—this time, closer, standing directly behind her reflection. It was a tall, slender shape, almost blending into the darkness of the room, but unmistakable. Her body turned cold with terror.Slowly, she spun around again. Nothing. No one was there.Her breath came out in short gasps, her chest tight with panic. Her trembling hand reached for her phone on the sink, but when she turned back to the mirror, the figure was gone. The room was empty again, except for her and her reflection.She quickly exited the bathroom, the brush still in her hand, her mind racing. She paced around the living room, trying to calm herself down. "I'm seeing things," she whispered. "It's not real."But she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, as though the shadow had followed her. Every creak of the floor, every whisper of the wind against the windows made her jump. Hours passed, but sleep would not come. She lay awake, staring at the ceiling, her body tense.Around 3 a.m., she heard a sound. It was faint, like someone softly humming, but it was unmistakable. Ananya sat up, straining to hear. The sound was coming from the bathroom. The door was ajar, and beyond it, the darkness seemed alive.Fear gripped her, but something else pulled her toward the sound—a morbid curiosity, a need to confront whatever this was. She stood, legs shaky, and moved toward the bathroom door. The humming grew louder, more distinct, almost melodic. She pushed the door open fully.The bathroom was as she had left it, except for one thing—the mirror. The surface, once clear, now rippled as though it were made of water, and within it, the shadow stood. It was no longer just a vague figure in the background. It was right there, its outline sharp against the swirling, inky depths of the mirror.Ananya's mouth went dry. She wanted to run, to scream, but her legs felt like lead. She was trapped in place, staring at the thing that was now stepping out of the mirror. It moved slowly, deliberately, as if savoring every moment. Its face—or what passed for a face—was featureless, just a smooth, dark void. But its presence was suffocating, filling the room with an unnatural cold.The shadow extended a hand toward her, long fingers curling in the air, and Ananya’s mind screamed for her to move. But she couldn’t. It touched her cheek, and the sensation was ice-cold, like death itself. Her breath hitched in her throat, and as the shadow’s hand slid to her neck, squeezing gently, she gasped.In that moment, something deep inside her snapped. With every ounce of willpower, she pulled away, stumbling backward and knocking over a small table. The shadow recoiled, retreating back into the mirror as though it had been wounded. The surface of the glass rippled again, and then it was still. The humming stopped.Ananya ran out of the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. She grabbed her phone and called the only person she could think of—Kunal. Her voice trembled as she explained what had happened, and to her surprise, he believed her. He had always known she had a connection to things beyond the ordinary, things she didn’t like to talk about.He promised to come over immediately.When Kunal arrived, the first rays of dawn were creeping through the windows, bathing the apartment in a pale light. Ananya threw herself into his arms, trembling. “It’s in the mirror,” she whispered. “I saw it.”Kunal nodded, his expression grim. He had brought a small bundle with him—items his grandmother had given him, things meant to ward off spirits. They worked together, carefully placing protective charms around the apartment and especially around the bathroom.But as they finished, Kunal glanced at the mirror. For a moment, his face went pale, eyes wide with fear. Ananya followed his gaze, and her heart dropped. There, in the reflection, was not the shadow—but her.Except, the Ananya in the mirror smiled back at them, cold and cruel. And in her hand, she held the same brush Ananya had dropped hours ago.
By Deepak Jaatabout a year ago in Horror
Healthy Eating for a Happy Heart
When stress hits hard as it has during the pandemic, many of us eat more, and less-than-healthy comfort foods may be the treats we reach for first. But an unhealthy response to stress can be hard on your body, especially your heart. That’s why it’s smart — at the top of the New Year, or anytime — to try to eat more foods that nourish. It’ll make your heart happier, and maybe trim your waistline, too.Don’t know where to start? Let the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) help."We have many recipes for healthy and really tasty dishes, plus an award-winning eating plan called Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH for short," says Charlotte Pratt, Ph.D., M.S., R.D., a nutrition expert at NHLBI. For years, the DASH eating plan has ranked among the U.S. News & World Reports’ best diets for healthy living and heart health. Its secret, says Pratt: "Eating nutrient-dense foods and meals that are lower in sodium and saturated fat, rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, and legumes."Some of the recipes NHLBI has developed to support the plan feature healthy versions of comfort foods, such as oven-baked french fries, chicken chile stew, and sweet potato custard. The recipes are easy to make and family-friendly. They include traditional African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Vietnamese, Latino, and Filipino dishes. You can find these recipes, along with tips about safe cooking, what to stock in your kitchen, and food shopping at healthyeating.nhlbi.nih.gov."The DASH eating plan is scientifically proven to lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels," says Pratt. And NHLBI research shows that increasing your physical activity and watching your calories while following DASH will also help you lose weight.DASH requires no special foods, and it helps you set daily and weekly nutritional goals using these simple guides:
By Deepak Jaat4 years ago in Lifehack
Living With Christopher
Mark Haddon wrote a marvelous book that became a bestseller and won both the Whitbread Book of the Year and Whitbread Novel awards. It was said that Mark Haddon himself exclaimed, “Who on Earth would want to read about a fifteen-year-old boy with a disability?,” while he was making this book. Little did he know that it was exactly the fifteen-year-old boy with a disability that made his book stand out, win awards and become a bestseller. The book is called, “The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time and the boy is Christopher.”
By Deepak Jaat4 years ago in Lifehack
Super Affiliates Generating Big Commissions With Online Casino Affiliate Programs
Casinos have always been associated with glitz and glamour, celebrity and excitement. It has long been a pursuit for the rich and famous, the high rollers staking vast fortunes against the casino. They have also often been used to prop up flagging communities all over the world, due to the huge revenues generated and the businesses and employment that is generated by their sheer presence. However now in the 21st century, the casinos have had a significant electronic facelift. The Internet has been used as a forum for all sorts of makeovers and facelifts. Because of its enormous size and worldwide audience, the Internet has become a playground for new and old ideas to be recreated. Online auctions have become huge, as has the e-commerce industry, but few can rival the huge financial and market gains generated by the online casinos. However much like their real life counterparts, the online version of the casino has been quick to help others profit from their success.
By Deepak Jaat4 years ago in Gamers
The 3 Easiest Ways For Newbies To Start In Affiliate Marketing
The 3 Easiest Ways For Newbies To Start In Affiliate Marketing With the aid of the Internet, you can almost have everything right at your fingertips. With just a few clicks you get access to thousands and even millions of pieces of information and data on virtually any field of interest. As years pass by, the Internet continuous to effect radical changes in many facets of human endeavors, including commerce. Experts say that the information space, commonly known as the “world wide web,” grows by over a million pages everyday as more and more people utilize the Internet for information, education, entertainment, business and other personal reasons. It doesn’t take a business-oriented individual to realize that this phenomenon can bring about sky-high financial gains. The Internet’s fast-growing popularity in the recent years is surely an opportunity for business that any entrepreneur would not want to miss.
By Deepak Jaat4 years ago in Education
