Aryan ek IT company mein der raat tak kaam kar raha tha. Raat ke 2 baje thhe, aur poori building khali ho chuki thi. Aryan ne apna laptop bag uthaya aur 14th floor se lift ka button dabaya.
The Encounter
Lift aayi, Aryan andar gaya. Jaise hi darwaza band hone wala tha, ek budhi aurat ne apna hath beech mein fasa diya aur andar aa gayi. Usne kaale kapde pehne thhe aur uski nazrein neeche thhi.
Aryan ko thoda ajeeb laga, kyunki security check ke bina itni raat ko koi andar nahi aa sakta tha. Lift neeche jane lagi:
10th Floor: Lift ruki, lekin koi nahi tha.
7th Floor: Lift phir ruki, darwaza khula, bahar sannaata tha.
The Realization
Aryan ne notice kiya ki jab bhi lift rukti, wo aurat thoda aur uske kareeb khisak jati. Aryan ne darte hue pucha, "Maji, aapko kaunse floor par jana hai?"
Aurat ne koi jawab nahi diya. Aryan ne lift ke steel panel mein us aurat ka reflection (parchai) dekhne ki koshish ki. Lekin panel mein sirf Aryan akela dikh raha tha. Us aurat ka koi reflection nahi tha.
Aryan ka gala sookh gaya. Usne turant 'G' (Ground Floor) ka button baar-baar dabaya.
The Twist
Lift 1st floor par ruki. Darwaza khula. Aryan bhaagne hi wala tha ki us aurat ne uska hath pakad liya. Uska hath barf jaisa thanda tha. Usne pehli baar apni gardan upar ki... uske chehre par aankhein hi nahi thi.
Wo aurat dheere se muskurayi aur boli:
"Beta, lift toh kharab hai... hum dono 14th floor par hi gir kar mar chuke hain. Neeche dekh."
Aryan ne niche dekha. Uske pair zameen se 2 inch upar thhe. Tabhi lift ki lights gul ho gayi aur use sirf apni hi cheekh sunai di