Knowing

Getting back to work, Mehr almost forgot of the week before. There was work to do and deadlines to meet along with travel plans to make. Life was picking up pace and she was enjoying every bit of it. There was no room for worries in her schedule.
Meanwhile, Nirvan worked his way around the management charts and found a way to drop her from the list. He figured it was in the best of interest of both parties. He remembered the last time she had heard about someone in Critical Care passing away. While everyone knew the chances were slim, she was the only one who seemed truly perturbed by the news. The secret of Room 913 was too big for her little heart to bear with. He resolved to keep her in the bliss of her oblivion.

"Arey meko kyun add kar diya yaar list mein, mujhe ni karna koi extra duty." Kshitij sighed out loud.

"Kya hua? Subha Subha kyun shor macha re ho?" Asked Riya.
"Yaar mera naam hai iss month k roaster mei, mujhe nahi karni koi extra duty. I already have enough work load." Kshitij could'nt stop whining.

"To kya ho gya, meko bhi mila tha ye duty ek din, last month" Mehr remarked casually.
"To iss month bhi karle. Tu kyun ni jaati. Mera S***A Friday kharaab kar dengey ye" Kshitij smirked, he was getting curious as to why she was being exempt of the role this month.
"Pata nahi, I was told k since I'm a newbie to this industry it is best I learn and grasp the workings of the system before I can be entrusted with such a responsibility again" Mehr shrugged her shoulders. While the reason seemed a little out of place, spiting Kshitij was amusing enough for her to keep at it.

"Aur kitna seekhegi tu" Kshitij retorted. He was anyway mad about the assigning of an unwanted responsibility and Mehr's broad smile was bringing no respite at the moment.

The day rolled on with meetings and discussions and everyone got tangled with their fair share of work stress. Life dragged on like usual until the 13th of the autumn month. One of Mehr's distant relative was to stay over for two nights at the facility for a procedure. Mehr offered to stay the night out of politeness and concern as otherwise her father would have done the same. She did not want the man to go through the troubles when she could anyway stay back and also finish up work. Anyway Kshitij and Nirvan were gonna be around for half the day so she won't be bored.
The two may not have been great fan of the other, but both were friend's to Mehr and that was where they drew the line of truce.

Staying over, Mehr checked for the comforts of the patient she was to look after, had the doctor pay an extra visit before leaving for the day and once she was all done, she came back to her office desk in the after hours to finish work. It was a rather eerie feeling, somehow the lively floor through the day now seemed pretty desolate with no one around. The streaming lights and distant city skyline glistened in a prickling manner that would make one want to look away.
Mehr got up from her chair and decided to take a stroll around the hall before leaving the floor. She was supposed to keep a close watch on her now sleeping guest, till 7 in the morning when her uncle would arrive.

She walked past the stark white cubicles, glass cabins and reception doors before coming across the fire exit for the floor. Turning a knob she realized the doors had been left unlocked for the night, to ensure safety and access lest something does go wrong. She had not seen the staircase on this corner.
*Oye* message sent.

*Oye, Paglait* message sent.

She dropped a text on watsapp to Kshitij

*Bol, Kya hua*

*Kuchh nahi, I was here on campus. Bored :( * Mehr was genuinely unexcited about spending the night in a Hospital or Krankenhauz as she had once learnt.

*To main kya karun Nachu?* Kshitij was his usual annoyed self with her. The two shared a mutual annoyance which perplexed many.

*Naach na, maze aengey* Mehr Replied

*Tu paise udaegi to baat kar. Free mei mujra nahi karta main*

*Paise deke bhi tera Mujra dekhu* Mehr laughed with a snort. His annoyance was a fun game she liked to play at.

*Jaaneman Jalwa dekha kahaan hai abhi tumne :P* He was amused by the silly side this annoying girl brought out in him.

Chiding her to be productive, Kshitij decided to go back to work instead. He was on campusr, for his dreaded MoD and trying to best utilize the time by catching up on his work assignments which needed refinement. Getting drowned in work he did not realize how time flew by and it was more than an hour now that she had texted. He casually checked his phone and that is when panick rushed through his veins.

*Main fire exit wali side se ari hu tere wale floor* was Mehr's last text to him.

A few moments later. .. . .

Kshitij was running to the ninth floor and he ran straight into Nirvan. The two detested each other, but they could read a similar fear in each other's eyes.
"Why are you here?" Nirvan looked at Kshitij, a little puzzled.
"Mehr said she's coming to the floor, but it has been quite a while since she dropped the text", Kshitij was hoarse with anxiety, something that happened to him especially before he had a panic attack.
"Someone told me they saw Ms. High-on-Coffee ascending the stairs on eighth floor. I knew she'd invite trouble", Nirvan rubbed his temples. He was a senior, and it was his responsibility to safegaurd the newbies under his command.

This chirpy one, known for her extra happy smile and borderline annoying glee was one big baby without a crib.
"Ab kya?", wo usi corner se hotey hue aaegi. Aur agar kuchh ajeeb hua to wo zaroor jasoosi karne ruk jaegi"

Kshitij spilled more than he had intended to. It was too late now, and Nirvan knew that he knew more than he was supposed to or expected to.

Nirvan looked at him with astonishment, did he know the secret of 913? How did he know? And why was he ready to risk going there for this girl he usually seemed to be so annoyed with?
Snapping back to his sense, the two decided to run towards 913.

Outside the room, the corridor was indeed chilly, as Mehr had complained last time. Kshitij stepped on something, which was rather familiar.

Mehr's stupid little phone with it's glittery blue sparkle beads string lay on the floor along with some pink stone beads from her bracelet. She was definitely inside. They tried opening the door, but it seemed jammed, there was light streaming through the peep door and key hole. The connections were cut months ago. and powerlines disabled for the room. Something was definitely not right. Nirvan looked Kshitij in the eyes, as if to check if he was ready, and they both nodded in agreement. As they readied themselves to knock down the door, Mehr stood in front of them, opening it gently. The two men were too stunned to speak, and stared at her wide eyed.

"Tum dono aise kya dekh re ho?" Mehr was puzzled, not only were they seemingly surprised, but also standing together as a team. What was going on?
"Tum thik ho?", "Tu pagal hai yahaan akele aagyi" Both started.
"What?" It's just another ward. Wo budhe uncle bechare last time bhi nurse ko awaaz de re the pata hai? Maana ke bechare thode scary lagte hain, but that does'nt mean ke bechare ko achhe se treat na karein hum" , She pouted complacently, "And Nirvan yaar! inka button kharaab hai abhi bhi ni chalta. This room is not exactly a good place to be. I'm telling you guys, the vibe here is rather off. Like that of a dark place, as if something bad happened here. Pata hai aatey hue mera Lord Buddha wala bracelet tut gya. Wo cute sa pink wala! Ikaluti bhagwaan wali chiz jo main pehenti hu" Mehr pouted while the two impatiently dragged her away from the room. Trying their best not to touch anything else. There were shadows in the back suggesting someone's presence but both Kshitij and Nirvan knew the room was empty as per records and nobody had been checked into it. They were in a cold sweat by now and wanted this nightmare to end.

"Tu chal abi mere saath. Paagal ladki, akele chhod hi nahi saktey terko hum", Kshitij was growing impatient by the second. While Mehr simply stared at him and Nirvan, and back at him. What made these two pair up? And why were they visibly upset and worried over her straying around a closed space which was well gaurded by security.

Her only fear in life so far was living beings who harmed each other in the name of misplaced lust. Spirits she believed were only around to seek help in finishing unfinished business.

"Pick up your things, your relative must be looking for you", Nirvan handed her phone back to her, and decided to divert her attention.
"Yaar main bata rahi hu, unka emergency switch kaam nahi kar rha and the nursing staff has not been nice to him. Poor thing was so upset." Mehr tried retaliating as the two tried their best to take her towards the hallway. Coming to realization of losing her chanted rose quartz bracelet which her bestie had brought to her from an old monastery in Tibet, she was fairly upset and distracted, to the relief of both Kshitj and Nirvan. They successfully sent her back to the private ward on the fifth floor, where her kin was resting in deep sleep, peacefully.

"So what next?", Kshitij raised a brow at Nirvan, by now he knew why Mehr was no longer on the night duty roll.
"How did you know about 913?" ,"It's a close guarded secret." Nirvan was curious.
"Bhai isi area ka hun main, word travels fast. Hindustan hai ye", Kshitij added matter of factly.
"And what about the things she said?", "You believe her?" Khsitij was curious too.
"Pata nahi, she is sane for sure and the story does check out. I used to be on night shifts when this happened. The old man was a bit short tempered and his issues started because of technical faults with the emergency call button. One night he was in some sort of pain and doctor was not available. The nursing staff was not exactly helpful and they tried using tranquilizers on him, which somehow brought out his HULK side, and lead to some serious accidents which costed them their lives. Next morning when he got to his senses and came to know of what had happened because of him he lost it completely. He threw his armchair out the window and committed suicide. Since then, people believe they have seen glimpses of him trying to talk, sometimes asking for a nurse and other times apologizing to them. Some paramedics even claimed they were yelled at while working in that ward. Most staff refused to go there and management decided to shut down that space from all operations . We've even shut down all psychatry operations since then. But, I still do not know how to explain any of this" Nirvan was out of words.

The two walked out the gates for some fresh air when they realized, it was a full moon night on a Friday, that fell on the 13th of the month. It was an old belief that spirits are especially active around such times and those pure at heart are sometimes able to connect with them or vice versa. The breaking of the chanted quartz bracelet could be no coincidence. A chill ran down their spines as realization struck them hard.

"We're not telling her anything." Kshitij looked at Nirvan with hard resolve in his eyes. Something in him was convince that she was too fragile on the inside to take the news and needs to be protected.

"Why are you acting so protective of her?", Nirvan was puzzled why Kshitij would risk his well being over someone he was so openly annoyed of. He could have left Nirvan to take care of it. It was his job after all, and he was accountable for the safety of the employees on campus during this shift.

"Pata nahi yaar, ye ajeeb si hai. Par kabhi kabhi lagta hai k there's more to her and she needs to be protected from the world." Kshitij said absentmindedly, more to himself than to Nirvan. And, walked back in, it was enough socializing for him for a day.

Nirvan simlply stood back, looking at Kshitij trudge back through the gate, lost in thought. Within a matter of a few hours, Nirvan had been faced with some major life experiences which he could not explain and also come across a beautiful bond that his experienced eyes did not need elaboration for.

Usey jeetne nahin deta
Uss se haar manta bhi nahi
Nadaan dil haar baitha hai
Aur jaanta bhi nahi