Chapter 3
It was night.
A strange silence wrapped the entire place.
The damp walls of the old mansion echoed with the howling wind—hoo… hoo…—as if the house itself was breathing in fear.
From inside the bathroom came the constant dripping of water, each drop deepening the stillness, as though time had slowed down.
Outside, faint sounds of owls hooting and distant crickets chirping blended with the eerie quiet of the jungle that surrounded the mansion.
Raj was taking a bath—yet his hands kept slipping. The soap, the towel, even the bucket—all fell again and again.
Frustrated, he muttered,
“What’s happening… why is everything slipping from my hands?”
Suddenly… from the corridor, Rose noticed a shadow sliding slowly along the wall.
Her breath quickened.
“Wh… who’s there?” she asked in a trembling voice.
The shadow froze… then began to stretch forward, growing larger with every step.
Rose’s heartbeat pounded so hard it echoed in her ears.
She screamed,
“Answer me! Come out—who is it?”
From the darkness, a frail figure emerged.
It was the Oldman, holding a tray in his hand.
“M… madam… I brought food,” he stammered.
Rose flared up,
“I was asking you for so long—who’s there? Why didn’t you reply? Lurking like a ghost… have you lost your tongue?”
The Oldman lowered his gaze in embarrassment.
“I thought everyone had gone to sleep. I didn’t want to disturb. I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
Rose exhaled sharply,
“Fine. Just keep the food and leave.”
As he turned to go, he paused, lowered his voice, and asked,
“Is sir alright? His face looked pale… unusual.”
Rose’s lips quivered,
“Yes… just some itching. Is there any doctor around here?”
The Oldman revealed the bitter truth,
“This place is isolated, madam. No doctors, no medicines. Only a small village across the jungle… but it takes six or seven hours to reach.”
Rose’s voice sank with unease,
“So this place truly is… a hidden world.”
The Oldman nodded,
“Yes, madam. I’ll bring breakfast in the morning.”
And he walked away.
---
Scene Two – Raj’s Fear, Rose’s Desire
Sitting outside on a chair, Rose called out,
“Raj! Are you done bathing? Hurry up, we’ll eat together.”
Inside the bathroom, Raj stood frozen, staring at his hands.
The spot where the dog had bitten him was now red and swollen. Angry rashes had spread across his body. The itching was unbearable—he scratched like a man possessed, his nails tearing into his skin.
He whispered to himself,
“What… what’s happening to me?”
From outside, Rose’s voice came again, calm yet commanding,
“Do you hear me? Wash properly… we’ll eat together.”
Raj gave no reply.
Meanwhile, Rose’s eyes wandered toward the red bag kept on the bed. It seemed to pull her closer.
She unzipped it and peeked inside.
Her fingers touched a golden chain. She lifted it and held it against her neck, gazing into the mirror.
A smile crept across her lips—
“You look so beautiful, Rose… golden like the chain itself.”
Then her eyes fell upon the bundles of cash. She picked one, pressed it against her lips, and closed her eyes.
Her face glowed with the happiness of a girl dreaming of a new life.
Suddenly—
The bathroom door banged open.
Raj stormed out. His eyes were bloodshot, his face twisted with anger, his body covered in hideous rashes from the relentless itching.
“What are you doing?” he thundered.
Rose flinched,
“N… nothing. I was just looking.”
“Looked enough? Now put everything back and go to bed!”
His voice burned with rage and a strange restlessness.
Rose whispered, almost pleading,
“But… food?”
Raj snapped,
“Food, food, food! Is that all you think about?”
“Raj… what’s wrong with you? Why so much anger?”
Her eyes welled with tears.
Raj turned off the light, his voice cold,
“I don’t want to hear anything. I just need sleep.”
Rose quietly zipped the bag shut and walked out.
Darkness engulfed the room.
The untouched food on the table slowly turned cold.
---
Scene Three – Romi Meets Joy
Night had deepened further.
The jungle around the house whispered with unseen lives—owls hooted from the treetops, a fox howled somewhere distant, and the rustling of leaves carried with it an unsettling chill.
Romi pinned a stranger to the ground, her hand pressing firmly against his throat.
Her voice was sharp, icy, and controlled,
“Who are you? What are you doing here?”
The man chuckled, even under pressure,
“Hey, hey… planning to kill me already? I wasn’t doing anything.”
“Don’t lie. Speak the truth—who are you?”
“Alright… name’s Joy. I’m the nephew of that old caretaker here. I just… heard some noise and came to check. Honestly!”
Suspicion burned in Romi’s eyes,
“Really?”
“What should I do, sign a paper for you?” Joy smirked, pretending innocence.
Slowly, Romi loosened her grip, but her gaze stayed sharp.
“Then why were you sneaking behind me?”
Joy stuttered,
“Actually… the way you were talking to that dog… it was sweet. I just wanted to tease you a little. To scare you.”
Romi frowned,
“Are you insane?”
“How was I supposed to know you were this strong? From the looks of it… you seemed just like a cute little girl.”
“Enough. I don’t want to waste time. I’m leaving.” Romi got up, her tone firm.
Joy smiled mischievously,
“Looks like you’re angry. Come on, no one ever visits here. I get bored. You’re my age… maybe we can be friends.”
Romi shot back,
“I don’t make friends with lunatics. And by the way—you look 25.”
“No, no! I’m just 22. And anyway… does age really matter?”
Romi didn’t answer. She walked away.
Behind her, Joy called out with a sly grin,
“Bye… pretty girl.”
Countinue.....
By Pooja Kumari
