Aisha ko hamesha se travelling pasand thi, lekin is baar ki trip thodi alag thi. Uske parents ne decide kiya tha ki woh sab milkar ek hill station jaayenge jahan ek purana aur famous hotel tha.
Hotel ka naam tha Silver Pine Hotel.
Log kehte the ki ye hotel bahut purana hai, lekin bahut beautiful bhi hai. Mountains ke beech bana hua ye hotel door se kisi old palace jaisa lagta tha.
Jab Aisha aur uske parents taxi se hotel ke gate par pahunche, tab shaam ho chuki thi. Aasmaan mein dark clouds the aur thandi hawa chal rahi thi.
Hotel ka building bada aur thoda scary sa lag raha tha.
"Wow… ye hotel toh movie jaisa lag raha hai," Aisha ne car se utarte hue kaha.
Uski mom muskura di.
"Haan, lekin yahan ka view bahut beautiful hai."
Jaise hi woh log hotel ke andar gaye, Aisha ne notice kiya ki lobby ka decoration thoda old style ka tha.
Walls par purani paintings lagi thi aur ek bada sa chandelier ceiling se latak raha tha.
Reception par ek middle-aged man khada tha. Usne black coat pehna hua tha aur uska face serious lag raha tha.
"Welcome to Silver Pine Hotel," usne slow voice mein kaha.
Aisha ke dad ne booking details batayi aur receptionist ne register mein kuch check kiya.
Phir usne ek key nikali aur kaha,
"Room Number 12."
Aisha ke dad ne key le li.
Tabhi Aisha ki nazar reception desk ke peeche wall par lagi keys par gayi.
Wahan ek key alag se latak rahi thi jiske neeche number likha tha:
13
Lekin us key par thodi dust thi, jaise usse kaafi time se use nahi kiya gaya ho.
"Excuse me," Aisha ne receptionist se pucha.
"Room Number 13 empty hai kya?"
Receptionist ka face ek second ke liye serious ho gaya.
"Wo room… use nahi hota," usne short answer diya.
Aisha ko thodi curiosity hui.
"Ky—"
Lekin uski mom ne usse interrupt kar diya.
"Aisha, chalo beta."
Ek hotel staff unhe room tak le jaane ke liye aaya.
Hotel ka corridor long aur quiet tha. Lights thodi dim thi aur floor par wooden tiles the jo chalne par halki awaaz kar rahe the.
Staff unhe second floor par le gaya.
Room Number 10…
Room Number 11…
Phir woh Room Number 12 ke saamne ruk gaya.
"Yeh aapka room hai," usne key se door open karte hue kaha.
Room ka interior cozy tha. Window se mountains ka view dikh raha tha.
Aisha ko room pasand aa gaya.
Dinner ke baad sab log thak gaye the, isliye jaldi so gaye.
Lekin raat ke around 12:30 AM, Aisha ki aankh achanak khul gayi.
Usse ek strange si sound sunai di.
Jaise koi slow footsteps corridor mein chal raha ho.
Aisha bed par baith gayi.
Hotel bahut quiet tha.
Phir usne ek aur sound suna.
Creak…
Jaise koi old door slowly open ho raha ho.
Aisha ka heart fast beat karne laga.
Usne slowly bed se utar kar door ke paas jaakar kaan lagaya.
Corridor bilkul silent tha.
Tabhi…
Thak…
Jaise koi cheez floor par gir gayi ho.
Aisha ne door thoda sa open kiya aur corridor mein jhank kar dekha.
Lights dim thi aur corridor empty lag raha tha.
Lekin ek cheez strange thi.
Thoda aage ek door half open tha.
Aur us door par number likha tha…
13
Aisha ko yaad aaya ki receptionist ne kaha tha ki ye room use nahi hota.
Phir door open kaise hai?
Aisha slowly corridor mein aage badhne lagi.
Uska heart zor-zor se dhadak raha tha.
Jaise hi woh Room 13 ke paas pahunchi, usne andar se ek strange si cold air feel ki.
Room bilkul dark tha.
Aisha ne door ko thoda aur push kiya.
Creeeak…
Door slowly open ho gaya.
Room ke andar complete darkness thi.
Aur phir…
Usse andar se ek faint whisper sunai diya।
"Help… me…"
Aisha ka blood freeze ho gaya।
Usne shock mein peeche step liya।
Aur us moment mein room ke andar kisi cheez ne suddenly move kiya।
Aisha dar ke maare corridor mein bhaag gayi।
Uska heart itna fast beat kar raha tha ki usse lag raha tha ki woh scream kar degi।
Lekin uske mind mein ek hi question ghoom raha tha—
Room Number 13 mein aakhir hai kya?