30 Reasons To Read

Episode 13: Night study

Vaishnavi finished her late-night study session as usual, switching off the lights and fans before stepping out of the empty classroom. She adjusted the straps of her bag over her shoulders and glanced up at the night sky. The stars shimmered above, and the glowing moon bathed everything beneath it in a soft, silver light. A gentle breeze caressed her face, bringing a smile to her lips. She loved these quiet moments and often wished she could spend every night like this, lost in the beauty of the night, even beyond her final breath.

As she made her way down the corridor and descended the flight of stairs, she glanced at her wristwatch. It was 9:45 pm. The night was eerily still, the only sound was the rhythmic click of her low heels on the worn floorboards.

Reaching the ground floor, Vaishnavi noticed something unusual. The watchman who typically stood by the gate was nowhere to be seen. The entrance stood wide open, unwatched and unattended. A slight unease settled over her, but she shook it off and quickened her pace as she walked past the college park, a place long rumored to be haunted. For years, the park had been a source of fear and mockery among students, but no one ever dared to venture there at night.

As always, she ignored the park, keeping her gaze fixed straight ahead. But that night, something tugged at her instincts, urging her to stop and look back. She paused, her breath hitching as she debated whether to listen to that inner voice. Taking a deep breath, she gave in, casting one last glance toward the abandoned gate before turning to peer over her shoulder.

Seated on a bench in the park, not too far from where she stood, was a strikingly beautiful girl. Dressed in a simple yet vivid red salwar, her eyes were fixed on Vaishnavi. The girl's arms were wrapped tightly around herself, as though she were trying to shield herself from the cold. A soft smile played on her lips and one of her hands slowly released its grip to wave at Vaishnavi.

Without thinking, Vaishnavi found herself waving back, her feet hesitating but ultimately moving towards her. There was something mesmerizing about the girl. Her large, hazel eyes. Her sharp, defined nose. Those perfectly shaped lips as red as her salwar. Everything about her was flawless, almost otherworldly.

Before she realized it, Vaishnavi had crossed the distance between them and was sitting beside the mysterious girl, captivated by her beauty.

"Hi! I'm Vaishnavi." She extended her hand, smiling warmly.

The girl looked down at Vaishnavi's hand for a moment, hesitating before accepting it with a smile that grew wider.

"Bhuvana," she replied softly.

As their hands touched, a sharp chill shot through Vaishnavi's body, making her pull her hand away almost instinctively. She regretted the abruptness immediately.

"Your hand is so cold! Have you been sitting here long?" Vaishnavi asked, trying to mask her discomfort.

Bhuvana's smile didn't waver as she wrapped her arms around herself again. "Yes, for quite some time."

"I haven't seen you around before. Do you study here?" Vaishnavi asked, curiosity creeping into her voice.

"First-year MBBS," Bhuvana replied with a soft chuckle.

"Really? MBBS? That's surprising! I'm in my third year, but I haven't seen you around at all!"

"Well, I'm glad we finally met," Bhuvana said, her laughter light but somehow unsettling. Vaishnavi smiled in return, though something about the girl's demeanor made her uneasy.

"Haven't you heard the rumors about this place being haunted? Why sit here all alone?" Vaishnavi asked, noticing the girl rubbing her forearms as though she was cold. Odd, considering the night wasn't particularly chilly.

"And yet here you are, alone as well. Aren't you scared?" Bhuvana shot back, her eyes glinting in the moonlight.

Vaishnavi frowned, then shook her head with a chuckle. "Ghosts, spirits, all that supernatural nonsense? I don't buy into it. I believe in the night breeze, the stars, and the peace. In three years of late-night study, I've never been scared."

Bhuvana didn't respond immediately. Instead, she stared deeply into Vaishnavi's eyes, a gaze so intense it felt as though it pierced right through her. An uncomfortable sensation settled in Vaishnavi's stomach, something that urged her to look away.

"Alright. It was nice meeting you," Bhuvana said suddenly, breaking the silence with that unsettling smile still on her face. "But it's time for me to go."

Vaishnavi nodded but couldn't bring herself to return the farewell. She watched as Bhuvana walked away, her gaze fixed on the girl's retreating figure, feeling an inexplicable heaviness linger in the air.

As Bhuvana neared the gate, the watchman appeared out of the shadows, startling both her and himself. His face paled as his eyes landed on the girl in red.

"Good lord! You nearly gave me a heart attack. Who are you?" he asked, beads of sweat forming on his brow despite the cool night.

"Bhuvana," she replied casually, "I'm a first-year MBBS student."

"And what are you doing here at this hour?" he asked warily, still keeping his distance.

Bhuvana's smile widened just a fraction. "I heard a story. About a girl who jumped to her death from this very college three years ago."

The watchman's face turned ashen. "Yes... A third-year MBBS student, I think?"

"Exactly. Her name was Vaishnavi. People say she used to study late into the night, every night. Even after her death, they say she still carries on with her routine. I'm the kind of person who doesn't believe in rumors until I see for myself, so I came here to check it out."

The watchman's eyes widened in terror, his face drained of all color. "And... did you see her?"

"Oh yes," Bhuvana said, a strange glint in her eyes. "I saw her. I even spoke to her."

Satisfied, she turned and walked past him, leaving him rooted in place, terror-stricken and speechless.

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