CHAPTER 1 : AN EVIL SPIRIT

Dhruv was driving from Jaipur to Mewar when suddenly, heavy rain began to pour. The downpour was so intense that the world outside dissolved into a blur of water and shadow, the wipers thrashing helplessly against the windshield. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and lightning flashed, illuminating the deserted road for a split second. Dhruv's heart raced as the tires skidded on the slick asphalt. Just as the vehicle was about to crash into a tree looming out of the darkness, Dhruv slammed on the brakes. The car screeched to a halt, the engine shuddering. For a moment, all he could hear was the frantic pounding of his own heart.

Shaken, he gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white, and leaned back in his seat. The cold from the rain seeped into the car, making him shiver. He closed his eyes and took a deep, shaky breath, trying to steady himself.

Suddenly, there was a sharp knock on his car window-three quick taps that cut through the storm and his fear.

A soft, unfamiliar voice reached his ears:

"Kya hua?"

"What happened?"

Startled, Dhruv turned his head, his breath catching. Through the rain-streaked, fogged-up window, he could barely make out a shadowy figure standing outside. He hesitated, then rolled down the window a crack. The cold air rushed in, carrying the scent of wet earth and something strangely sweet.

Standing there was a beautiful young woman-strikingly attractive, with red lips, piercing grey eyes, and a black cloak with a hood pulled low over her head, droplets of rain glistening on the fabric.

The girl spoke again, her tone numb and almost emotionless:

"Are wo sahab, bolo bhi kuch. Kya hua?"

"Hey mister, say something. What happened?"

Dhruv sat there, speechless, mesmerized by her beauty and the surrealness of the moment. Questions flooded his mind-Who is this girl? Why is she here, alone in this storm? Isn't she afraid?

Suddenly, she reached her hand through the window and shook his shoulder, her touch cold and urgent.

"Are wo sahab! Mar mara to nahi gaye baithe baithe?"

"Hey mister! Did you die sitting here or what?"

This time, her voice was sharper, cutting straight through Dhruv's daze.

Dhruv snapped out of it, blinking rapidly.

"Haan! Kya hua?"

"Yes! What happened?" he stammered, his voice shaky.

The girl tapped her head in mock frustration and said,

"Are sahab, main bhi wahi pooch rahi hoon-kya hua? Kahe aise murti ban ke baithe ho?"

"Mister, I'm asking the same thing-what happened? Why are you sitting here like a statue?"

Dhruv unbuckled his seatbelt, glanced at her, and replied, his voice still unsteady,

"Car ka accident ho gaya meri."

"My car almost had an accident."

She laughed, the sound oddly musical yet unsettling in the storm.

"Are sahab, car toh theek hai aapki, magar aap nashe mein lag rahe ho."

"Mister, your car is fine, but you look like you're drunk."

Dhruv felt a surge of irritation and raised his voice, his fear momentarily replaced by frustration,

"Main yahan sunsan raste par pareshan, akela, dara hua hoon, aur tum hans rahi ho."

"I'm troubled, alone, scared on this deserted road, and you're laughing?"

The girl immediately raised her hands in surrender, her lips curving into a sly smile.

"Are sahab, gussa kyun karte ho? Main kaun hoti hoon aapki hasi uḍhane wali?"

"Hey mister, why are you getting angry? Who am I to make fun of you?"

Dhruv was still angry, but his voice softened a little as he said,

"Jao yahan se."

"Go away from here."

Instead of leaving, the girl leaned closer, placing her hands gently on the car window. Her eyes seemed to glow in the dim light, and her smile faded into a thin, unsettling line. In a soft, almost whispering tone, she said,

"Sahab, ye rasta aur ye barish aapke bahar rukne layak nahi hai."

"Mister, this road and this rain are not meant for you to stay outside."

The sound of her voice sent chills down Dhruv's spine. A strange, cold dread settled over him. He quickly turned the key, trying to start the car, but the engine refused to come alive. The silence was suffocating.

The girl laughed in a strange, eerie way-almost like a ghost would. Still smiling, she said,

"Sahab, abhi toh aap bole car ka accident ho gaya hai."

"Mister, you just said your car had an accident."

Dhruv, helpless and terrified, began to cry. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he pleaded, his voice trembling,

"Bhootni ji, main abhi bas 23 ka hoon, mujhe mat maaro."

"Ghost lady, I'm only 23, please don't kill me."

The poor guy even folded his hands in desperation, his whole body shaking.

The girl's laughter faded away, replaced by a gentle calm. Her expression softened, almost pitying.

"Sahab, aap roiye mat. Main yahi paas mein rehti hoon aur main koi bhootni nahi hoon."

"Mister, don't cry. I live nearby and I'm not a ghost."

But Dhruv was still shaking, his voice barely a whisper,

"Mujhe dar lag raha hai tumse. Meri maa kehti hai aise raste par sirf bhoot hi milte hain, insaan nahi."

"I'm scared of you. My mother says you only meet ghosts, not people, on such roads."

The girl stepped back, her expression unreadable, her eyes dark and mysterious.

"Maa aapki theek kahti hain, par galat tareeke se."

"Your mother is right, but in the wrong way." she said cryptically.

Dhruv couldn't make sense of her words, but at that moment, the girl truly seemed frightening. And then, right before his eyes, she vanished-disappearing as if she'd never been there at all. The air felt colder, the silence heavier.

Terrified, Dhruv hurriedly rolled up the window and fastened his seatbelt. This time, when he tried to start the car, the engine roared to life. Without looking back, he sped away from the deserted road, one hand gripping the steering wheel tightly, the other wiping away his tears, the girl's haunting words echoing in his mind.

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...Warning:...

...This chapter contains intense and potentially distressing content, including self-harm, blood rituals, human sacrifice, and the summoning of evil spirits. Reader discretion is strongly advised. If you are sensitive to these themes, please consider whether this story is appropriate for you....

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