Hum dono, main aur Pranav, lift ke saamne khade the. Building purani thi, waisi 80s ki vibe—dim lights, metal ka gate, handle wala, aur thodi si khat-khat ki awaaz. Ghar ka darwaza bandh kiya, button dabaya, aur wait karne lage. "Bhai, yeh lift kab aayega?" Pranav bola, thodi si fattu awaaz mein. Tabhi peeche se ek sound aaya—thak-thak, jaise koi chal ke aa raha ho.
Peechhe mud ke dekha toh ek ladki thi. Teenage wali, baal lambe hip tak, face ekdum pale white, jaise laash ho. Uske chehre pe scratch marks the, thodi si bleeding, aur aankhon pe chhote chashme—circle wale. Haath mein chaku pakda tha, aur gussa? Bhai, aisa gussa jaise humne uska phone chura liya ho!
"Saish, yeh kya hai re?" Pranav darr ke mare bola. Main bhi ghabra gaya, par mard banne ka natak kiya. "Abe, door khol, ghar mein ghus jaate hain!" Maine chillaya. Par darwaza lock tha, bhai—ab kya? Woh ghost girl paas aayi, aur maine bola, "Dur raho mere dost se, nahi toh bohot maarunga!" Pranav ne mujhe dekha jaise main pagal ho gaya hu.
"Plan B, bhai," saish bola. "Dhakka maar ke stairs se bhaagte hain. 1… 2… 3… MAA KI AAKH BHAAAGO!" Humne usko thokar maari, woh neeche giri, aur chillayi, "Tum maroge ladko!" Hum stairs pe daudte hue, "Pranav, mummy ko bula! Saish, bhaaag pahela phone gharpe ha!!