ROOM 105

I have always loved to sleep. I sleep for 14 hours

a day if it is a holiday. Otherwise, I only sleep

for 8 hours with no choice. I must wake up, get

ready, eat and go to work. One day, as usual, I

woke up and heard the news of a girl dying in a

very cruel way. She was killed and cut into

pieces, thrown into the drainage. This haunted

me yet I have no power to find the killer. Like all

news, this too passed and I held up in my

routine. Three months passed, again the same

incident happened to another girl. Same story,

Same Tragedy but a different girl. She was killed

and thrown in to another drainage. Police have

to search for her body parts.

As a girl, this really traumatized me. I am a girl

who avoids the sad news, sad films and sad

stories. I am too empathetic to listen to other’s

story. I am 24 and I was working in IT industry. I

was living in a hostel. One day, I decided to look

a home for me to shift from hostel. It is my

dream to have a house filled with the products

that I love. I don’t have a dream of owning a

house. I am okay with rental too. Because I can

afford only this.

Days passed, I was still searching and finally

found a flat in an apartment. It was in a quiet

interior location. The apartment had totally eight

flats but only four were occupied by the tenants

including mine. I am an ambivert, so I will not

initiate speaking with others until they start. I

haven’t had any conversations with any other

tenants in my apartment. My favourite colour is

pink.

Of course, I paint my house in a subtle pink. I

bought a dark pink curtain. I bought a white

mirror in a vintage look and matching white

cushions for my sofa.

I had a pink mat, bought some tulips and peonies

as home decor. I bought a pink soft carpet for

my floor. I like to paint and it is my favourite

hobby. I had a lot of paintings of my own. I

started sticking it in my hall. I love garden, I

cannot have a garden in my rental home, so I

bought some plants. I kept them on my balcony.

Now, going to my bedroom. I know that you

have already guessed my bed colour. Yes, it is

pink. The blanket, curtain, all the other stuff are

shades of pink. I decorated my bedroom and

kitchen.

Finally, the makeover is done. I sighed, deeply! I

was happy. I am not a great cook, but I cook for

myself. Believe me, you will not die eating my

food.

Again, my sleep was disturbed by another

murder case. The pattern didn’t change.

Another girl had been killed, cut into 25 pieces. I

wanted to look deeper into it. I started digging

into the previous cases. That’s when I noticed

something.

The number of pieces matched their age. The

first girl was 23. The next was 24. And now…

25.

I realized he was a psychopath, now looking for

a girl aged 26.

I am 26.

Who knows, I might be next. He might cut me

into 26 pieces after killing me.

Sometimes imagination is a curse.

I look at the time. It is morning 8. I have to go

for my job. I reached my office and this murder

news was everywhere. That was the main topic

on that day.

I nodded along with them, pretending to listen

but I cannot stop thinking about the murderer.

My work time was over, and I came to my

apartment at 6 in the evening.

I stood outside my door, searching for my keys

inside my messy handbag.

“Hi.”

I froze for a second before turning back.

My neighbour.

I forced a small smile. “Hi.”

“Are you new here?” he asked.

I nodded.

I’ve never liked talking to men. Not because all

of them are dangerous but because one of them

could be. He introduced himself and called his wife to

meet me. His name is Ram and he wanted me to

call him “Ram uncle”. His wife Lakshmi came

and we talked for 5 minutes. They seem to be

good. They informed me that the tenants from

this apartment are planning a one-day trip. This

couple invited me to join the trip. During this

conversation, he wanted to introduce me with

other tenants.

My apartment has three floors; I am staying in

second floor with other two tenants. One more

tenant is living in ground floor.

While we were talking, another tenant came to

his home. He is a bachelor doctor. This couple

introduced me to him.

He said, Hello! And I replied the same. His

name is Vishal. He is working in Government

Hospital. All these formal talks ended after 5

minutes. I informed them that I am busy these

days, so I will not be able to join the trip. They

were decent enough to understand my situation.

At last, the final tenant arrived. He brought a

newspaper for Ram Uncle. I got introduced to

the last tenant too. He is a psychiatrist.

I was very tired and came into my flat. I took a

bath and had my dinner. I watched series and

went to my bed. The day has ended.

After a long week, my day has come. It is

Sunday. I woke up at 11.00 AM. I brushed my

teeth; I ordered food from outside and had my

breakfast. I went to my bed again. I continued

watching my favourite series.

Suddenly, the wind blew heavily!

It was raining!!

I suddenly remembered today was the day when

my neighbours planned to go for a trip. My heart

skipped a beat. Should I go… or stay in my flat,

safe and alone?

I went and checked my neighbours. I felt

relieved when I came to know that their plan

was cancelled due to rain. Neighbour aunty

invited me for a lunch in their flat since it is their

11wedding day and the couple wanted to treat us.

She has invited other two tenants too.

I took a bath; I dressed well and joined with

them for the lunch. The other two tenants were

also there. It seemed like a happy family. After a

while, I felt safe. They all seem to be good. They

have taken good care of me since I moved in.

While having a lunch, we were discussing about

each other’s life. The good mood didn’t last long

after we watched the news on television.

Yes, the fourth murdered has happened. As

expected, she is 26 years old and she was cut

into 26 pieces. My hands trembled. On one side,

I felt relief that it wasn’t me.

Aunty and uncle were shocked. Doctor seems to

be cool as he has already known about this

murder.

I know this will be in the news today, said the

doctor.

How come you are so calm? I asked him.

I performed the postmortems on all the victims,

including today’s girl,” he said, his voice steady

but heavy with exhaustion.

He continued saying, “I could not sleep well for

the past three months after coming across this

case. I really hoped these murders would stop,

but they continue. The murderer is so clever that

he has left no trace in the victim’s body. He is a

true psychopath; police are trying hard to find

the murderer. I wish the murderer to have the

cruellest death.”

I was stunned hearing this and I noticed the

psychiatrist’s calmness. He ate slowly, not a

single sign of shock or sorrow on his face. His

eyes briefly met mine, then flicked away, and

something in that glance made my stomach

twist.

The doctor and I noticed this, and I felt

something is off with him. The psychiatrist

quietly set down his fork, glancing at the TV

screen a moment too long. His expression didn’t

change. But my gut told me, he knew something

we didn’t.

We all finished lunch and returned to our flats.

The doctor and I had a short conversation.

I wanted to know more about the case, murders,

the pattern, everything.

I had decided then that I would talk to him in

detail, no matter how uneasy it made me feel.

He discussed his life journey with me. He is a

man who is afraid of blood. He became a doctor

because of his parents wish. He eventually

overcomes his fear after joining medicine.

Sometimes , I really wanna quit this job and

become an artist, he said.

Oh! You are an artist too? I questioned him.

Yes, I love to paint. I paint to relieve my stress. I

cannot imagine this life without painting.

I loved this answer because I have always felt

this. I used to paint to escape from my stress. I

really wanted to know more about him, more

personally.

What’s your favourite colour? he asked.

“Pink!” I said, immediately.

Pink? Like a typical girl?” he teased.

Yes, I am girl and I love pink, Mr. Doctor, I

replied. Then, teasing him back, I added, “I think

your favourite colour is red, since you love to

see blood.”

He smiled at my comment. I found him cute,

though I didn’t quite agree with his idea of pink.

He paused, then said, “Sorry… pink is actually a

really good colour.”

I lifted one eyebrow and gave him a short smile.

He laughed, and the sound made the air between

us feel lighter. I found him cute, so genuinely

cute even if I didn’t agree with his earlier idea of

pink.

Our conversation ended. I came back to my flat.

Doctor has gone too. Suddenly remembered, I

forgot to ask his favourite colour. I have decided

that I will ask him the next time when we meet.

To interrupt this calmness, my mind reminded

me about that psychiatrist. I got chills. My mood

was spoiled. So, I decided to sleep.

I rested and rested, and before I knew it, Sunday

had flown.

Days passed, I was held up in my busy life.

Going for a job and taking rest. One day, after

finishing my dinner I wanted some air.

I went to the corridor and watched the stars.

Moon was beautiful that day. To my surprise, I

saw neighbour aunty standing in front of

doctor’s flat. She was frozen, staring at

something in his house.

It was late night. I wanted to call her. She

suddenly started walking towards terrace stairs.

Doctor seems to be noticed this from his house.

He came in hurry to call her. He ran behind

aunty and grabbed her neck, slammed her in the

wall.

I stopped breathing seeming this. Doctor didn’t

notice me.

He pulled her hair and dragged her into his

house. I couldn’t move from where I stood.

Her scream pierces the air, nobody came for help

because there is no one in the apartment except

me.

Bringing my courage, I walked towards his flat.

His door was slightly opened. I could see blood

flashed through his house.

He has a dead body lying in the stretcher. It was

cut into pieces. He is going to kill the aunty

since she has witnessed this.

I stood in front of his house, completely frozen,

not knowing what to do.

Suddenly he appears Infront of my face where

he is drenched with blood. I could not breathe,

suddenly opened my eyes and It was my dream.

I started crying, I questioned myself why I got

this kind of dream. I realized, it is just a dream.

I washed my face. It was 11 PM. I cannot stop

sweating. I decided to go out to get a fresh air.

There comes the shock. I am seeing the

neighbour aunty for real.

Seeing her like how I saw in the dream made me

shatter. I convinced myself, nothing bad is going

to happen. I wanted to talk to her. She walked

towards terrace stairs. Suddenly, doctor came out

from his house and called her to visit his flat.

I was standing in the corner noticing this. She

walks towards him; I immediately went there

and hold the hands of aunty.

I felt like what if the dream come true. I was

standing in front of doctor’s flat holding her

hand and I cannot believe what I saw in his

house through the door.

He was sweating seeing me. Aunty and I noticed

blood inside his house.

Like the same vision I had in my dream, I saw a

girl lying dead in the stretcher inside his house.

She was drowned in blood.

Doctor raised his hand to grab me. I pushed him

strongly and kicked his leg. He fell. Before he

gets up, I ran with the aunty to the ground floor

as fast as I can.

He followed us in a hurry; I have nowhere to go.

I saw a flat on the ground floor which is slightly

opened. It is Room No 105. I entered the room

with aunty.

I left the door opened in a hurry; I noticed him

following us. Neighbour aunty seems to go mad.

She started watching something in TV. She got

froze; I shake her and ask her to come with me.

She stood there like she was possessed by evil

spirt. The room was completely dark. Only the

television was on. I was crying and shocked to

death.

I left her in the hall and went into restroom and

locked the door. He came inside the house. He

bangs on the restroom door with full force.

I stood there watching the door, It got opened

suddenly, my mom woke me up after hearing my

scream.

Yes, this is my dream. Nothing in this story is

real.I am sorry, my gentle reader, if this ending

disappointed you. This story is based on the

dream I had few years ago, but I have always

wanted to bring it to life as a story. I have

sleeping paralysis, and my dreams are often like

this. Thanks to my mom for waking me up that

day.