Aisle 12

Rosy was a regular visitor to the public library. She would spend her weekends in the library. On a cloudy Sunday morning, she left for the library. 

She walked through the first aisle of the Library in search of Horror stories. She found a huge pile of 'horror' books piled up together. She grabbed the pile and walked to the nearest table. She flipped off the first two pages like she always did. She's got no interest in author bios. She began reading the book and found it very much engaging. She sank her tooth into those books. She flipped through the pages with trembling hands and curiosity. 

 As she flipped through the last book the power went off. she checked the time and it was seven already. She couldn't leave the book halfway so she walked up to the nearest candle and finished off the last book. "These are the best books ever!" she exclaimed. She closed the book and found a photo of the author on the cover. The writer's name was written in bold and capital letters 'RAMJI'. She kept back the books on the shelf and walked up to the door. It was raining heavily. So, she walked back in.

The environment looked scary. The Library was completely dark with a few candles lit hither and thither. The librarian was not to be found. The sounds of barking dogs in the far end of the street were nerve pricking. There was a strange smell throughout the library. The wind was howling. She peeped through the door and found a few sandals. She was relieved. There were some people inside the library. Maybe at the far end. She walked through the aisles in search of a book by Ramji. 

"Slow down." She heard a loud-strict and angry voice out of nowhere. The voice was so terrifying that she dropped her torch down. She bent down in search of her torch. She found it lying under a huge shelf. She picked it up."Hey! be careful" Another voice said. She stood up with trembling hands and switched on the torch. 'AISLE 12' A board read. She hurriedly walked through the aisle in search of the voice. As she walked forward the voice became louder. She was nearing it. She heard loud sounds of laughter. She kept walking forward. Her red eyes finally fell on A Giant-sized man with an untidy red-stained dress, A woman in a crumply draped saree, and a young boy in smudged red clothes surrounding an elderly man.

The four of them were facing rearwards. they held a book in their hand and were breathing heavily. Rosy shivered but, she gathered up all her willpower and walked forward. "E-E- Excuse me." She said. The four mysterious characters turned to look at her. A smile glowed on Rosy's face. It was RAMJI and his family. She couldn't resist her excitement. "Oh my god! sir, I can't believe it's you. I read your books today, they were amazing. I -" "You read my books today. Those were published seven years ago." he interrupted. He sounded harsh. His voice was baritone. It sounded like he had spoken after many years. "Yes sir. actually, I found it in the library today so, I read them. They are really very good." "Oh. ok, thanks. " Ramji said and continued reading the book he held. "Eh! Sir, may I take a selfie with you?" Rosy requested. "That might get you into trouble," Ramji said much louder and faster without looking up. "Sir, please can we take a selfie?" She requested once again. "Hmm," Ramji said in a harsh voice. "Thank you, sir. Thank you so much." She said as she clicked a selfie. 

She walked back to the first aisle, picked up another book by Ramji, and walked out. The rain had stopped. She put on her footwear and walked away from the library. The four pairs of footwear, she saw earlier, were not there; but, she didn't notice it. 

She reached home and placed the book on a study table. About an hour later, it started raining again and so, the power went off. She picked up the torch from the study table and switched it on; simultaneously The howling wind flipped open the first page of the book. The light from the torch fell on the words "A book by LATE Ramji............" Rosy was awestricken. Her hands began to tremble. She could not believe what she had just seen. The nerve pricking thunder and barking dogs added to her fear. The torch fell off her hand. She hurriedly fetched for her phone and googled 'Ramji'. The strange smell in the library began spreading around her room. Ramji had passed away in a car accident along with his family three years ago, "His body was not to be found, his car lied along with his family members soaked in blood, on STAR street 12th Aisle" She read out loud. If this was true then who did she meet in the library? With whom did she take a selfie? She swiped through the photos. The selfie was no more there.  

The next morning; she woke up with sudden thoughts of the last night. Was this all a nightmare? She ran to the library and rushed to the librarian, "Sir, did an author visit the 12th aisle yesterday?" She asked. The librarian exclaimed "What? AISLE 12?? you're a regular visitor! Don't you know that there are only 10 Aisles here?!"