Pritha Ghosh, a student of class 5, shares a chilling horror story about a girl named Sneha who moves to Darjeeling and enrols in Darjeeling College, only to uncover the terrifying mystery of a haunted room 333.
Once upon a time there was a girl named Sneha. Her father had a transferable job, so they often moved from place to place. When her father was transferred to Darjeeling, Sneha had to leave behind her friends and familiar surroundings to start anew in this mist-covered hill town.
After settling in, Sneha’s father searched for a good college, eventually deciding on Darjeeling College. He spoke with the principal, who mentioned that only one room was available in the hostel, and it had to be shared. The room had two beds, one almirah, and a study table. Sneha’s father agreed, and soon Sneha was set to begin her new life.
On the day she arrived at the college, Sneha met the principal, who directed her to her new room. As she entered, she saw a girl sitting on one of the beds, looking up with a curious smile.
“Are you Sneha?” the girl asked. “My new roommate?”
Sneha nodded, smiling shyly. “Yes, I am. And you must be Riya?”
Riya smiled back. “That’s right. Welcome!”
As Sneha began unpacking, she noticed a door down the hallway marked with the number 333. It was locked and looked old, almost as if it hadn’t been opened in years. Curiosity got the better of her, and she asked Riya, “Why is room 333 locked?”
Riya’s face went pale. Her smile vanished, and her eyes darted nervously around the room. “We’ll talk about that later,” she said hurriedly. “Let’s have dinner first.”
The uneasy look on Riya’s face lingered in Sneha’s mind, but she decided not to press the matter further. They had dinner in silence, the cheerful chatter of the other students a stark contrast to the growing unease in Sneha’s heart.
Later that night, as they prepared for bed, Sneha couldn’t shake off her curiosity. “Riya,” she asked, “why is room 333 locked? You seemed really scared earlier.”
Riya sat down on the bed, her face serious. She gestured for Sneha to sit beside her. “There’s something you should know,” she began, her voice low and trembling. “About ten years ago, a girl named Priya stayed in that room.”
Riya’s eyes darkened as she continued, “Priya was brilliant—top of her class, always kind to everyone. One day, just before summer vacation, it was announced that the hostel would be closed for some renovation work. Everyone was to leave by the end of the week. The day came, and all the students packed their bags and went home. All except Priya.”
Sneha leaned in closer, her heart pounding.
“The watchman, not realising that Priya was still in her room, locked the door from the outside,” Riya whispered. “Priya cried for help and pounded on the door, but no one heard her. The hostel was empty, and the workers weren’t due to arrive until weeks later. Priya was trapped in that room for an entire month. When they finally opened the door, they found her… dead.”
Sneha felt a chill run down her spine. “And then?” she asked, her voice barely audible.
Riya’s voice trembled as she spoke, “A few days after her death, students started hearing strange noises coming from room 333. Shouts, cries for help, the sound of someone pounding on the walls. It was as if Priya’s spirit was still trapped, reliving those last terrifying moments. The principal decided to seal the room, and it’s been locked ever since.”
Sneha felt the room grow colder, the shadows in the corners seemed to stretch and twist. “So… do you think she’s still in there?” she asked, her voice quivering.
Riya glanced at the door and then back at Sneha. “Some say they still hear her cries at night,” she whispered. “No one dares to go near room 333. And no one ever will.”
That night, as Sneha lay in bed, she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone—or something—was watching her. The wind howled outside, and the old wooden floor creaked, but Sneha knew better than to check the door at the end of the hallway. For in the silence, she thought she could hear faint, desperate cries… from room 333.
