Chapter 4 — She Has Seen This Before

Vihaan didn’t touch the mirror.

Even in daylight.

He stood in front of it for a long time, staring at his own reflection, waiting for it to move again.

It didn’t.

Everything looked normal.

Too normal.

“Kal raat jo hua… woh real tha,” he whispered to himself.

But the room gave no answer.

By evening, the silence started to feel unbearable.

Vihaan stepped out of his room, closing the door carefully behind him.

The hallway looked the same as always.

Dim.

Quiet.

Unwelcoming.

As he walked past the neighboring door, he noticed it slightly open.

A faint smell came from inside.

Old.

Like something that had been locked away for too long.

Before he could move away—

“Tum Room 3 mein rehte ho na?”

The voice was soft.

But it made him stop instantly.

Vihaan turned.

An old woman stood at her doorway, watching him.

Her eyes were sharp.

Too sharp for her age.

“Haan,” Vihaan replied slowly.

She stepped a little closer.

“Mrs. D’Souza,” she said, introducing herself.

Vihaan nodded politely.

“Main Vihaan hoon.”

She smiled.

But it didn’t reach her eyes.

“Kal raat awaaz aayi thi?” she asked.

Vihaan’s chest tightened.

“Kaunsi awaaz?” he said carefully.

Mrs. D’Souza tilted her head slightly.

“Jo pehle din sab ignore karte hain.”

Silence.

Vihaan didn’t respond.

“Darwaza khulna,” she continued softly. “Cupboard… hilna.”

His fingers curled.

“Sabko pata hai yahan kya hota hai,” she said.

“Phir koi bolta kyun nahi?” Vihaan asked.

Mrs. D’Souza let out a small laugh.

Dry.

Hollow.

“Kyuki jab samajh aata hai… tab der ho chuki hoti hai.”

Vihaan felt something shift inside him.

“Yahan pehle kaun rehta tha?” he asked.

For the first time—

Mrs. D’Souza’s expression changed.

Not fear.

Something else.

Something heavier.

“Tumse pehle bhi log aaye the,” she said slowly.

“Zyada din nahi rukte.”

“Ky—”

“Sabko ek hi cheez dikhti hai,” she interrupted.

“Alag-alag tareeke se… par end same hota hai.”

Vihaan’s throat went dry.

“Kya?” he asked.

Mrs. D’Souza looked straight into his eyes.

“Khud ko.”

Silence fell between them.

That night—

Vihaan didn’t sit on the bed.

He sat on the floor.

Back against the wall.

Facing both the cupboard and the mirror.

Waiting.

2:16 AM.

The air grew colder.

His breath slowed.

2:17 AM.

The lights flickered.

But this time—

No movement.

No sound.

Nothing.

Vihaan frowned.

“Yeh game khel raha hai kya…” he muttered.

Seconds passed.

Then minutes.

Still nothing.

And that’s when he realized—

He couldn’t hear his own breathing.

Vihaan froze.

The room had gone completely silent.

Not quiet.

Silent.

Like sound itself had disappeared.

“Hello?” he said.

No echo.

No response.

His heart started racing.

He stood up slowly—

And turned toward the mirror.

His reflection was gone.

Vihaan’s breath hitched.

“Yeh… possible nahi hai…”

He stepped closer.

The mirror showed the room.

The cupboard.

The bed.

Everything.

Except him.

“NAHI…” he whispered.

Behind him—

A sound.

A soft… dragging sound.

From the cupboard.

Vihaan didn’t turn.

He couldn’t.

Because slowly—

Very slowly—

His reflection appeared again.

But it wasn’t standing where he was.

It was closer to the cupboard.

Watching it.

And then—

It turned its head.

And looked directly at him.

This time—

It smiled wider.

Too wide.

And raised its hand.

Not pointing at the cupboard.

At the door.

Vihaan’s voice trembled.

“Mat bata… mat—”

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

The sound came from outside his room.

Sharp.

Precise.

At exactly—

2:17 AM.

“Vihaan…”

A voice called softly from the other side of the door.

His blood ran cold.

He knew that voice.

It was Naina.

“Darwaza kholo,” she said.

Vihaan didn’t move.

Because something inside him whispered—

“Yeh Naina nahi hai.”

The knocking continued.

Slower this time.

“He’s waiting…” the voice said.

Vihaan stepped back.

Away from the door.

Away from everything.

“Tum kaun ho…” he whispered.

The knocking stopped.

Silence.

And then—

From inside the room—

A whisper.

Right behind him.

“Galat darwaza dekh rahe ho…”

Vihaan turned.

But there was no one there.

Only the cupboard.

And this time—

It was already open.

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