Tridiva Chakraborty, Class 7 shares this story about the chilling mystery of a missing man named Kabir in this suspenseful story set in Gujarat.
“Congratulations, Mr. Sen, you’ve bagged yourself a fine job!” Rohit exclaimed with a broad grin.
“Indeed, my dear friend,” Mr. Sen replied warmly. It was the 4th of January, 2024, and Mr. Sen had just secured an impressive job in Gujarat. He headed home, eager to share the news with his wife, Saheli.
As he stepped inside, he called out, “Saheli! I’m back. I’ve got something for you!”
There was no response.
“Oh, she must be asleep. Let me give her a ring,” he thought, fishing his phone out of his pocket. But when he dialed, the phone rang near the front door, unanswered. A strange sense of unease washed over him.
“Why aren’t you picking up, Saheli? What’s going on?” he muttered under his breath. Finally, after what seemed like ages, she answered, “Oh, sorry, darling! I didn’t hear the phone; I was in the washroom.”
“It’s alright. Open the door, please. I’m freezing out here!” he said, with a chuckle.
Once inside, Mr. Sen, beaming with excitement, shared his good news. “Guess what, Saheli? I’ve landed a fantastic job! We’re moving to Gujarat!”
Saheli’s curiosity piqued. “That’s wonderful, dear! But what’s the occasion? It’s neither our anniversary nor my birthday.”
“Well, you know me, always full of surprises!” Mr. Sen teased.
Excitement filled their days, and soon enough, they packed their bags for Gujarat, flying out on the 21st of January 2024. Upon arriving, they were welcomed by their new home—a quaint rental house, number 46.
“Oh, it’s lovely, isn’t it?” Saheli admired the cosy little house.
Mr. Sen, however, felt a shiver down his spine. “Hmm… have you noticed the gatekeeper? He looks a bit odd, doesn’t he?”
Just then, the gatekeeper appeared at the door, his expression eerily calm, with a coldness about him that unsettled Mr. Sen. “Can I help you with anything, sir?” the man asked with a soft smile.
“No, thank you… uncle,” Mr. Sen responded nervously.
The man’s presence chilled the room, and the air suddenly felt unnaturally cold. “Saheli… Saheli! Wake up!” Mr. Sen called out in fear.
His wife stirred, confused. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Did you see the gatekeeper? He was standing right beside you, with this strange look on his face!” Mr. Sen exclaimed, his heart racing.
“Oh, stop it! You probably just watched too many horror movies last night. It’s messing with your head,” Saheli dismissed his fear, turning over to sleep.
But Mr. Sen knew what he had seen. The man’s face haunted his thoughts, and he struggled to sleep that night.
The next morning, as Mr. Sen prepared for his first day at the office, Saheli was rummaging through a drawer, looking for her husband’s cufflinks. As she searched, something caught her eye—a dusty old journal tucked away at the back of the drawer.
“What’s this?” she wondered, curiously opening it.
Her hands trembled as she read the scrawled message inside:
“Please save me! I’m trapped by a gang called ‘Hide and Seek’. They plan to kill me today, by 2 PM. If anyone finds this journal, please help me! I’m Kabir, and I’m not in room 46 of ‘Whispering Pines’ as they told you. They’re lying! Please!”
The entry was dated February 2, 2024.
Saheli’s heart pounded. Was this a cry for help from the past? Or worse, was this man still missing? She rushed to show the journal to Mr. Sen, who had just come back from his first day at work.
When he read the note, the colour drained from his face.
“That gatekeeper… could he be involved? What if Kabir was killed and his ghost is still trapped here, seeking help?” Mr. Sen whispered.
The mystery of the missing man deepened. Who was Kabir, and what had really happened in room 46?
