Anushree Roy of class 4 shares the story of a young student who moves from Cooch Behar to Hyderabad. She not only adjusts to the new city but also discovers an unexpected friend in her college—a ghost named Priyanka, who is trapped in a classroom since 1925.
I woke up early, around 6 a.m., feeling a heaviness in my heart. I went downstairs, where Dad was on his second cup of tea, glancing at me with a soft, knowing smile.
“Are you all packed, kiddo?” he asked, his voice gentle.
I nodded, biting my lip. “Yeah… but, Dad, why do we have to move to Hyderabad? I love it here in Cooch Behar, my friends, my school…”
He patted my shoulder. “I know it’s tough. But new places bring new adventures, and who knows what surprises Hyderabad might have in store?”
The next day, with a mixture of nervousness and excitement, I found myself waiting at the airport, clutching my backpack tightly.
My sister, Maya, grinned. “Come on, it’s not so bad. At least you get to fly! Think of all the clouds we’ll be flying through!”
“Sure…” I mumbled, watching as our flight arrived. We boarded, and as the plane soared above the clouds, I found myself wondering what lay ahead.
After landing, we reached our hotel and had a quick lunch. Later that afternoon, we went to Hussain Sagar Lake. It was beautiful—sparkling under the setting sun, with the massive statue in the middle of the lake.
“See, you can’t tell me you’re not impressed!” Maya nudged me, smiling.
I gave her a half-hearted smile. “It’s nice… but it’s still not Cooch Behar.”
Back at the hotel, I was feeling a bit down. Seeing this, Maya suggested, “How about a game of antakshari with Mom and Dad?”
Dad chuckled, “Count me in! But don’t blame me if I only remember old classics.”
We all laughed, and soon, the air was filled with laughter and tunes. It did cheer me up a bit, and I found myself smiling, forgetting about everything for a while.
The next morning, I dressed up, ready for my first day at David Memorial Junior College. I was nervous, my stomach churning, but I tried to keep calm.
As I entered the college, a girl with a bright smile approached me. “Hi, you’re new, right? I’m Jyoti!”
I smiled back, relieved. “Yes, I am. I just moved here. I’m… a bit nervous.”
“Oh, don’t worry!” she assured me. “You’ll fit right in.”
Classes went by in a blur, and during lunch, Jyoti dragged me to the canteen. We were chatting when suddenly, I heard a faint, muffled crying sound. I turned, frowning.
“Did you… hear that?” I whispered.
Jyoti shook her head, looking confused. “Hear what?”
The sound seemed to come from a classroom just down the hall, and curiosity got the best of me. “I think it’s coming from over there… I’ll just go check.”
As I walked towards the room, the noise grew louder. I noticed the door was locked, but as I leaned against it, it creaked open slightly. I stepped inside, and a chill ran down my spine as I noticed a shadowy figure in the corner.
“Hello?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
The figure moved closer, and I saw the face of a young girl. She looked no older than me, with sad, wide eyes.
“My name is Priyanka,” she said, her voice echoing faintly. “In 1925, just before the Puja vacation, I came to grab my bag from this room. But the guards didn’t see me and locked the door.”
I felt a pang of sympathy. “You… you’ve been here ever since?”
She nodded. “But I still love to play with people who come here. Would you… would you be my friend?”
I swallowed, unsure but feeling oddly comforted by her gentle voice. “Yes, Priyanka. I’d like that.”
We spent the rest of the afternoon together, playing and chatting. For a brief moment, I forgot about missing home and school, feeling like I’d found a friend in the most unexpected way.
As I left the room, I turned back and waved, “I’ll come by to see you again, Priyanka.”
And she smiled, whispering, “I’ll be waiting.”
