The Unseen Roommate

In the heart of a bustling town, where the cacophony of daily life blended seamlessly with the whispers of the past, Neha’s journey began. It was an ordinary morning filled with the usual rush and the tender chaos of a family trying not to drown in the ticking hands of time. The air was laced with the sharp tang of pickles, a small battle between mother and daughter playing out over the breakfast table. Neha, ever so eager to embark on her new adventure, could barely sit still, her mind already racing ahead to the train that would carry her towards her dreams.

“Neha, listen! We must leave now, or you’ll miss your train,” her mother’s voice cut through the morning air, a gentle but firm reminder of the ticking clock.

In the midst of last-minute preparations, Neha’s father, a beacon of calm in the storm, reminded her of the departure time, half an hour away. The conversation shifted swiftly, from mundane reminders to heartfelt advice, as Neha’s parents packed her off with words of wisdom and love.

As the train chugged away from the station, leaving behind the familiar, Neha’s heart swelled with a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation. Her arrival at the hostel marked the beginning of a new chapter. The warden, a stern yet kind figure, handed Neha the key to her room, number 13, along with a local SIM card, a lifeline back to the world she had just left behind.

The first few days were a blur of new faces and places, the routine of hostel life slowly becoming familiar. Neha, however, found herself struggling to adapt, her meals often skipped in favor of solitude and the comfort of her own company. Her mother’s concerned calls were a bittersweet reminder of home, urging her to take care of herself amidst the whirlwind of change.

It was during one such evening, wrapped in the quiet of her room, that Neha’s solitude was interrupted by a knock. A voice, hesitant yet hopeful, introduced itself as Chaya, a senior and fellow medical student living just a few doors down. This chance encounter quickly blossomed into an unexpected friendship, with Chaya offering to guide Neha through the rigors of medical studies. Neha, grateful for the companionship and support, eagerly accepted.

The days that followed were filled with shared secrets and academic pursuits, the bond between Neha and Chaya growing stronger with each passing day. But as exams approached, Chaya announced she would be leaving town for a week, promising to return with more lessons and laughter.

Neha’s exams came and went, a testament to her hard work and Chaya’s guidance. The promise of her return home loomed large, yet Neha wished to bid farewell to Chaya before leaving. It was then that the fabric of reality began to unravel.

Upon her attempt to visit Chaya’s room, Neha was met with confusion and disbelief. The room, supposedly Chaya’s sanctuary, had been locked for over a year, the truth of its last occupant, Smita, a tale of tragedy and unspoken sorrow. The revelation shook Neha to her core, the ghost of Chaya’s presence haunting her with questions that had no answers.

As Neha stood, frozen in disbelief, a knock echoed through the hallway. Chaya’s voice, familiar and yet chillingly distant, beckoned Neha back into the room. The air hung heavy with the weight of untold stories, the boundary between the past and the present blurred by the enigma of Room 17.

Neha’s journey, once filled with the bright promise of new beginnings, had taken a turn into the shadows of the unknown. The path ahead was uncertain, the echoes of Chaya’s voice a reminder that some doors, once opened, lead to mysteries that are better left unsolved.