Raat ke 11 baje the. Aarav ek naye sheher mein job ke liye shift hua tha. Usne ek purani si hotel mein room liya — Room Number 307.
Receptionist ne key dete waqt dheere se bola,
"Sir… agar raat ko koi awaaz aaye… toh please darwaza mat kholna."
Aarav hasta hua bola,
"Horror movie chal rahi hai kya?"
Aur seedha room mein chala gaya.
Room thoda ajeeb tha. Deewaron pe purani paintings, aur ek bada sa mirror bed ke saamne. Sab normal lag raha tha… lekin hawa mein thandi si ajeeb feeling thi.
Raat ke 2 baje…
ठक… ठक… ठक…
Darwaze pe knock hua.
Aarav ne aankh kholi.
"Kaun hai itni raat ko?"
Koi jawab nahi.
Phir se knock hua… iss baar thoda tez.
Usse receptionist ki baat yaad aayi… par curiosity jeet gayi.
Jaise hi usne darwaza khola…
bahar koi nahi tha.
Corridor bilkul khaali… aur lights blink kar rahi thi.
Wapas room mein aate hi uska dil tez dhadakne laga…
Mirror mein usne apne peeche kisi ko khada dekha.
Aarav turant peeche mudaa…
koi nahi.
Phir dheere se mirror ki taraf dekha…
Iss baar clearly dikh raha tha —
ek ladki… safed kapdon mein… uski aankhen kaali… aur wo seedha Aarav ko dekh rahi thi.
Aarav chillaya aur peeche hat gaya.
Ladki ne mirror ke andar se apna haath bahar nikalna shuru kiya…
Jaise mirror koi darwaza ho.
Aarav bhaagne laga… lekin darwaza band ho chuka tha.
Handle hilaya… lock ho gaya tha.
Peeche se awaaz aayi…
"Tumne darwaza khola… ab tum nahi bachoge…"
Aarav dheere se mudaa…
Wo ladki ab mirror ke bahar thi.
Aur next second…
Lights off.
Subah hotel staff ne room khola…
Room bilkul saaf tha.
Aarav gayab.
Bas mirror pe ungli se likha tha:
"Room 307 belongs to me now…"
Agle din… ek naya guest aaya.
Receptionist ne key dete hue phir wahi kaha…
"Sir… agar raat ko koi knock kare… toh darwaza mat kholna…"