This story is about a boy named Sahil, who lived in a small village in Uttar Pradesh. He was only ten years old and loved ghost stories and spooky things. Often, he would wake up at night to watch scary movies or read creepy tales on his phone, which his family had given him.
One day, Sahil's family went out to a function and left him alone at home. During the day, he locked the doors and lay on his bed scrolling through his phone. Suddenly, he heard the sound of anklet bells (“ghunghroo”). He thought someone was in the house. When he checked outside his room, no one was there. He went back and resumed using his phone, but again heard the anklet noise—this time realizing it was coming from inside the house. Mustering courage, he opened the door and stepped outside, but the house was dark. The light was on, yet he saw nothing. He closed the gate and went back to his room. Evening came, and he slept. When his family returned at night, Sahil, though small, was fearless—he had listened to so many stories and watched so many scary things that he wasn’t easily scared.
That night, he needed to use the bathroom. On the way, he felt someone walking behind him, but when he turned, no one was there. Back in bed, he thought he heard something under him—“tak tak tak”—but he was too frightened to look. Eventually he fell asleep, but heard those sounds for many nights afterward. Over time, he got used to it and grew older.By the time he reached 15, he was doing well in school and had good friends. One day, his parents were away again, and he invited some friends over to have fun. Suddenly again, he heard the anklet-like sound by the gate. Without fear, he opened the gate but saw nothing. After his friends left, he realized his parents weren’t coming back that night. He called his cousin to stay over, but the cousin declined because of exam preparation. So Sahil decided to spend the night alone, watching movies.
As he drifted to sleep, the sound came again. Determined to find its source, he opened the gate and walked in. It was pitch dark. Deeper inside he sensed someone but couldn’t see who. When he turned to go back, he felt someone touch his shoulder, but when he looked, no one was there. Terrified, he called his parents late at night. They told him to sleep and they’d come back tomorrow. He tried to sleep, his heartbeat racing, and eventually dozed off.
Next morning when his parents returned, Sahil told them what happened. They dismissed it, saying he was imagining things. But Sahil wondered whether something supernatural truly existed in his house—or maybe he possessed some power that allowed him to sense it.
Now, Sahil was in the 12th grade, preparing for his board exams. One day, his friends invited him to go out, so he visited a nearby ruined complex—old structures, stepwells, ponds—that looked like a haunted site. While chatting and eating, he felt like someone was watching him from a window. When he looked, he saw nothing. Curious, he went closer and spotted a terrifying shadow reflected in the stepwell water. Frightened, he ran back to his friends and told them. They laughed it off, saying he must be imagining things. Sahil’s mind stayed with the memory, but he managed to focus on his studies. They all passed their exams well. His parents then decided to send him to Kota for engineering preparation, and his friends planned to go with him.
In Kota, they got admitted and found a hostel with about 50 rooms, near food places. They established a routine of coaching, studying, and some fun. Soon, boredom set in for Sahil, Vinay, Akash, and Himanshu—they became mischievous, skipping coaching and wandering around.
One day, Sahil’s neighboring roommate began teasing him, knocking his gate repeatedly and running off. Frustrated, Sahil punctured his bicycle tire. The hostel owner intervened and calmed them. That night, Sahil heard his own gate rattling. Thinking it was his roommate, he opened the gate but saw nothing—his neighbor’s light was off. He dismissed it and slept. But nights were filled with repeated gate knocks and rattles. Sahil told his friends, but they thought someone was pranking him.
One night, Sahil waited for the noise. As soon as he closed his eyes, he heard a small bead-like sound (“chane ki awaaz”). He rushed to the gate—again, no one was there. Now he was truly scared.
One evening, the group went to the terrace to walk and talk. Some friends discussed whether ghosts existed. Sahil firmly believed they did: “If there are gods, there are devils and spirits too.” His friends left; he stayed behind alone. Walking on the terrace, he noticed what looked like a boy and girl sitting and talking on the adjacent rooftop. It was dark, but he sensed people. He realized that must be the girls’ PG (hostel) next door. Returning to his room, he tried to sleep—then heard rattling from a kettle (connected to the rooftop). He plugged in earphones and tried to fall asleep. Suddenly the power cut off, and the hostel went dark. Everyone else stayed asleep. Sahil opened his gate and stepped outside, feeling watched from the other side. He shouted, “Who’s there?” No response. He challenged whoever it was to come out—but nothing happened. Then the power came back on, and no one was around. He returned to bed and slept fitfully.
A few days later, a new student moved into the room opposite Sahil. They became friends. One night, the new guy told Sahil that a boy named Vaibhav had once lived in Sahil’s room. Vaibhav was a studious, good boy. But shockingly, he had hanged himself from the fan in that very room. And his girlfriend, who lived in the girls’ hostel above, likewise killed herself. Some people claimed that the two occasionally appeared, sitting together on the rooftop. Sahil was stunned, because he had seen a boy and girl whispering up there. He didn’t tell his friend he’d witnessed them—but now the pieces aligned.
That night, Sahil heard a voice: “How are you, Sahil? Is your sleep peaceful? Wake up, I’ve come to take you. I’m your friend Vaibhav.” Sahil woke startled—was it a nightmare? Terrified and unwell, he called home and asked if he could return. His parents urged him to stay until exams were over. He felt miserable, and couldn’t focus on studies.
After dinner, he went walking on the terrace—alone—but saw nothing for a while. Then he heard two voices at once behind him. Looking back, he saw two shadowy figures—one terrifying. He rushed inside, locked the gate, and slept. Suddenly, in deep sleep, he felt someone strangling him. He tried to rise but couldn’t. He woke up choking, drank water, and later fell back to sleep.
The next day, he told his roommate everything. His friend advised him to change rooms—or even hostels. But all his friends were in the same hostel, so Sahil was reluctant. Yet if he wanted peace (or to stay alive), he felt he must leave.
Sahil, feeling unwell, returns home for a few days. His body has turned yellow, and even the doctors can’t diagnose what’s wrong. After extensive treatment, he recovers—but now insists on going back to Kota. His parents beg him to stay and continue his studies, but Sahil is adamant. His exams are approaching, and his preparation awaits him in Kota.
He travels back and reunites with his friends. They joke, share meals, and for a while, he seems completely healthy—until strange events begin again. He hears someone knocking at his hostel gate, feels footsteps in the hallway, and glimpses a figure on the ceiling. But Sahil ignores these signs, focusing instead on his exams.
The exams finally come, and after a night of celebration, everyone returns to their rooms and sleeps. Days pass, and result-day arrives—only to bring harsh news: Sahil didn’t get selected. Devastated and tense, he retreats to his room. He eats, scrolls his phone, sleeps—and slowly, the world loses meaning. One day, he’s overwhelmed by the thought that life itself isn’t for him, and he drifts into a sleepless despair.
At midnight, he awakens to a chilling sensation: he is suspended in mid‑air, as though hung from the ceiling fan. He struggles in vain and suddenly loses consciousness. When he wakes again, it’s to his own bed at home—completely confused. He was in Kota—how did he return home? No one has any answers. When he gently questions his mother, she says: “You were possessed by a malevolent spirit. It bent your arms and legs, and tightened your body.”
Horrified, Sahil realizes what must have been happening. It wasn’t illness—it was something far darker. Soon, a guru baba visits the house, chants mantras, sprinkles holy water everywhere, and slips an amulet into Sahil’s hand, promising protection from evil forces.
Gradually, Sahil recovers—and once stronger, moves to Mumbai to pursue his graduation, living with his aunt and uncle. He finishes his degree, lands a good job, and finds happiness. But the darkness isn’t done with him.On a business trip to Uttarakhand, Sahil drives through the hills. At a wayside tea stall, his amulet slips from his hand and falls to the ground. As he proceeds up the mountain, he spots a shadow gliding across the road ahead. He slams the brakes—crashing into a tree. He’s shaken but unharmed. While waiting roadside for a replacement part, a car stops. A voice says, “Come in, I’ll help you.” He gets inside—and meets a young woman named Payal.Sahil chats with her about the accident and his destination. She offers him a ride. Soon, the car speeds up, the mountain air growing chilly. Sahil becomes nervous: “Go slow,” he warns. “Are you scared?” Payal asks. He forces a laugh. “I’ve never been scared,” he says. “I’ve seen and felt things far more terrifying.” Payal replies, “Then maybe you should look in the mirror.”
When Sahil glances to the rear‑view mirror, he freezes. No one is in the passenger seat—it’s empty. The car is driving on its own. His amulet is missing. Realizing the return of dark forces, he slams the hand‑brake to stop the car, jumps out, and waits again. Soon a bus picks him up and brings him to a mechanic in the valley. After fixing the car, he heads to the hotel—but the story doesn’t end here. The region seems saturated with malevolent energy, a place that may never free him.
Later, on assignment in another hotel, Sahil delivers a company presentation. Among the attendees, he notices the owner of another firm—Payal. He’s stunned. Is she a real person or a haunting presence? Sahil proceeds professionally. When the post‑meeting reception begins, Payal approaches him. “How are you finding the mountains?” she asks. “I’ve heard terrible things.” Sahil smiles easily. “The people, the valleys—they’re better than I imagined.” He leaves to rest, wondering if his earlier encounter was real.
The next day, he meets Payal again at work. This time he must test his reality: he extends his hand to shake—and she grasps it. It's uncanny. So Payal the person exists—but who, then, was the ghostly driver? Are the spirits haunting him again?
That evening, Sahil plans to leave for Mumbai—but his flight is canceled. Forced to stay, he impulsively invites Payal to dinner. She agrees. They head to a remote restaurant—isolated and dim. Over food and conversation, they enjoy each other’s company. As dusk deepens, they both hear a sound behind them—but there’s no one there. They glance back, unsettled, yet continue on.Their bond strengthens over the next night. Sahil suggests camping outside. Payal hesitates, but they eventually pitch a tent near the hotel, start a fire, and talk until late. They fall asleep, tired and close. At dawn, Sahil departs for Mumbai, and Payal returns to Indore. They’ve grown close—friends, perhaps more.Back in Mumbai, a memory hits: his laptop—his lifeline—left behind. Urgency grips him. He heads back to Uttarakhand. On the journey, fatigue sets in; the vehicle veers off and collides with a tree again. Miraculously, Sahil is safe. While stranded, a car appears—again, Payal. He climbs in, caught by surprise. Once more his mind reels—is she real or an apparition? He exits the car and hurries back to the hotel, determined to escape—and yet the haunting continues…
