An anthology of dark and scary stories

The dreadful asylum

Dr. Avinash Verma, a renowned psychiatrist with a reputation for his compassionate demeanor and keen insights into the human mind, found himself staring out the window of his new office at the sprawling mental asylum in Shimla. The once-grand building, nestled amidst the Himalayan foothills, now exuded an air of melancholy. The crisp mountain air, usually invigorating, felt heavy and oppressive, as if the very walls of the asylum were burdened by the secrets and sorrows they held within.

Avinash had been posted to this remote asylum, a far cry from the bustling city hospitals he was accustomed to. He had accepted the challenge, hoping to escape the monotony of his routine and delve into the complexities of the human mind in a setting that would demand his full attention and expertise.

As he settled into his new office, Avinash couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. The asylum, with its labyrinthine corridors and dimly lit rooms, seemed to whisper of hidden secrets and unspoken horrors. The patients, their eyes filled with a vacant stare, appeared trapped in a world of their own, their whispers echoing through the corridors like the mournful cries of lost souls.

One patient, in particular, caught Avinash's attention. His name was Rajeev, a young man with a haunted look in his eyes that seemed to pierce through the veil of his melancholy. Rajeev claimed to have witnessed a horrific accident that had left him scarred both physically and mentally. Avinash was intrigued by Rajeev's case, sensing a deeper layer of darkness beneath the surface, a layer that hinted at a trauma far more profound than the accident itself.

Avinash approached Rajeev cautiously, not wanting to alarm him. He introduced himself and asked Rajeev if he would be willing to talk about his experience. Rajeev hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting nervously around the room, as if he were afraid of what he might reveal. Then, he nodded slowly, his voice barely a whisper.

"It was a terrible accident," Rajeev began, his voice trembling. "I was driving home from work when a car swerved into my lane. I tried to avoid it, but it was too late. The impact was devastating."

Rajeev paused, his eyes filling with tears. "I saw the other driver, a young woman, lying motionless on the road. She was bleeding heavily, and her face was... it was... I can't describe it."

Avinash listened intently, his heart going out to Rajeev. The young man's trauma was evident, his words filled with pain and anguish. The accident had clearly left a deep psychological scar, one that had consumed Rajeev's life.

"After the accident, I was taken to the hospital," Rajeev continued. "I was injured, but I survived. But something inside me changed. I started having nightmares, terrible visions of the accident. I couldn't sleep, and I was constantly haunted by the image of the woman I had seen."

Avinash asked Rajeev if he had sought help after the accident. Rajeev nodded, his voice barely a whisper. "I tried to talk to my doctor, but he didn't understand. He just prescribed me medication, but it didn't help."

Avinash realized that Rajeev was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a common condition among survivors of traumatic events. He knew that Rajeev needed support and therapy to help him cope with his trauma.

As Avinash continued to talk to Rajeev, he began to sense a deeper layer of darkness beneath the surface. There was something more to Rajeev's story, something that he wasn't telling. Avinash was determined to uncover the truth, to unravel the mystery that seemed to surround Rajeev and the other patients at the asylum.

Avinash delved into Rajeev's case with a renewed determination, spending countless hours interviewing him. Rajeev's stories were filled with vivid details, but they also seemed strangely disconnected, as if his mind were struggling to process the traumatic events he had experienced. He spoke of a recurring nightmare, a haunting vision of a crimson-stained road and a twisted figure lurking in the shadows.