Sannate ki Goonj
Aryan ki cheekh lift ke band darwaze se takra kar wapas uske kaanon mein goonjne lagi. Andhera itna gehra tha ki use apna hath tak dikhayi nahi de raha tha. Tabhi, halki si 'ding' ki awaaz aayi aur lift ki red emergency light jali.
Aryan ne dekha ki wo budhi aurat gayab thi. Par lift ke steel panel par khoon se kuch likha tha: "Wapas upar aao."
Floor 14: Phir Se
Lift apne aap upar ki taraf bhagne lagi. Aryan ne emergency alarm bajane ki koshish ki, par har button dabane par sirf wahi awaaz aati—vahi budhi aurat ki khaufnaak hansi.
Lift 14th floor par ruk gayi. Darwaza khula, aur Aryan ne samne dekha:
Office ki lights jal rahi thi.
Uska laptop bag table par rakha tha.
Aur sabse daravni baat... Aryan khud apni chair par baitha kaam kar raha tha.
Khud Se Samna
Aryan ne himmat karke apne "doosre roop" ke paas jane ki koshish ki. Jaise hi usne uske kandhe par hath rakha, chair par baitha 'Aryan' palta. Uske chehre par bhi aankhein nahi thi.
Wo bina aankhon wala Aryan bola, "Tum der se aaye ho. Body niche padi hai, aur rooh yahan phasi hai."
Tabhi Aryan ko yaad aaya—kaam ke stress mein usne lift ka darwaza khulne se pehle hi kadam badha diya tha, jabki lift wahan thi hi nahi. Wo seedha 14th floor se niche shaft mein gira tha.
Safar Abhi Baaki Hai
Achanak office ki deewarein pighalne lagi aur wapas wahi lift ke darwaze samne aa gaye. Aryan ab samajh gaya tha—ye koi bhoot ki kahani nahi thi, ye uska 'Loop' tha. Use har raat 2 baje wahi lift leni hogi, wahi maut dekhni hogi, jab tak koi aur uski jagah us lift mein nahi aa jata.
Door se lift ka button dabne ki awaaz aayi... 'Ding'.
Niche 1st floor par ek naya security guard lift ka intezar kar raha tha. Aryan ki bina aankhon wali muskurahat budhi aurat se mil rahi thi. Usne apna hath lift ke darwaze mein fasa diya...