The Empty Flat

I woke up to a beautiful scenario of birds chirping and the sun slowly settling its rays on the earth. I went to the balcony and admired the scenic beauty until mom called me. 

After having my breakfast I relaxed a bit and bathed and washed my clothes. I went to the terrace to sundry my clothes.

As I climbed upstairs I passed through flat no. 18. I heard creaking sounds. 'The residents might be shifting the furnitures' I thought and went my way. 

As I reached the terrace I saw Salini di smoking a cigarette. I wished her "good morning" and started clipping my clothes on the wire. 

"Did you heard about flat no.18?" She asked.

"Umm not yet. Why? what is it?" I asked still continued doing my work.

"Well, the residents are leaving again."

"Again?" I raised my brows " it's been hardly a year" 

"Well, you know" she shrugged.

They are probably the 9th resident who was living in the flat and are now leaving. 

"What might be the reason?" I asked although knowing the answer pretty well.

"Well, probably the usual case. They might also have experienced some paranormal activities." 

"We can't say anything" I shrugged "The resident was not that friendly as well. Honestly, I don't even know their surnames." 

"Mr. and Mrs. Chatterji." 

"Well." I secured all my clothes on the wire and went to her. "Do you think there is any real ghost in that flat?"

"Honestly, I don't believe in ghosts so I don't really think there is any such thing."

A breeze of cold air blew out of nowhere sending a chill down my spine. 

Salini di rolled her eyes "Stupid wind." And blew smoke from her mouth. 

We both watched the smoke slowly going up until it got mixed with the air.

I wanted to ask her why she smokes, knowing very well what kind of health hazards smoking can cause. But I always gulp this question as I am afraid that she will yell "mind your own freaking business" at me like she does to other people who ask her this same question. 

I went downstairs and saw the resident of flat no.18 shifting their furniture out.

"Baba...I swear I will never going to live in this flat again ." I heard Mrs. Chatterji saying to the helpers.

She looked at me and smiled. I returned her smile back. 

" Mr. and Mrs. Chatterji are leaving the flat," I informed mom as soon as I entered. 

"They also didn't last?" Mom chuckled. 

I also laughed a little and went to my room to complete my assignment whose due date is on Monday, which is unfortunately tomorrow. 

A month passed and no new resident for flat no.18 appeared. As usual, I use to go to the terrace and talk with Salini di and she would smoke as usual. While going upstairs and coming downstairs I always look at flat no 18 and feel like someone is peeping from the peephole. But I might be exaggerating as I feel this often and there is no proof that someone is actually inside the flat and peeping from there.

Nothing new happened until one day the owner of our building appeared with a new resident for flat no.18.

He was showing them the flat trying his best to hide the fact about the paranormal activities. He didn't mention anything about the previous 9 residents who lived and left the flat. 

There was an uncle, aunty and a girl who is probably of my age but she was quite fat. Our eyes caught and we smiled at each other. 

"How is it beta?" Uncle asked her daughter.

"I loved the place. Besides that my new college is also close to this place," she remarked.

They went inside to see the flat. I also went inside mine and informed mom about them. 

"For how long?" She mocked and we had a good laugh, remembering every other residents who ran away from here. 

After a week the furniture and other stuff started to fill flat no.18 yet again.

Salini di and I were looking at the shifting of the furniture and discussing what type of furniture we like and dislike. When the fat girl approached us "Hey, can I borrow a hammer? Actually, we forgot to bring one so." She shrugged and smiled coyly. 

"To knock the ghost down?" Salini di mocked and we two laughed while the girl looked at us with a confusing look.

"Sure, I have one in my house. You can follow me" I said and went to my house while she trailed my path. 

As I handed her the hammer she began "Oh! I totally forgot to introduce myself" she pat her head with her palm "What a forgetful person I am." She laughed and introduced herself as Akansha.

Akansha with her family started living in flat no.18 from the very next day. She came to my house and returned the hammer and invited me to her house for a cup of tea. 

"You should go and make some friends." Mom told me and granted the permission at one go. 

As I entered her house a sudden feeling of fear with a pinch of excitement made my heart pump blood at a higher rate. It might be the case that I have heard so many paranormal stories about this flat which is causing me to feel so. 

I looked around the living room's white walls decorated with small frames which contained pictures of the family. A long sofa and two small ones are arranged beautifully facing the television. 

"Come inside." Akansha put her hands on my shoulders which almost made me squeal.

"Ummm" I tried my best to hide my fear. 

"This is my beautiful house" she showed me her living room proudly. 

I must say she is an extrovert and gets along with people pretty well and fast, unlike me who can't even start a conversation with a person. 

We both sat on the sofa and I observed the beautiful living room yet again and loved how it has an aesthetic look. 

"So are you new to this place?" I tried to start a conversation.

"Yes, previously we used to live in Kolkata but my father's job brought us here. I must say Delhi is a very beautiful place unless you talk about the pollution." She laughed like a small kid."I love my old residence and have really great friends there, but you know change is also important. I am glad I met you, at least I have a friend in this new place, and what about you?" She raised her eyebrows with a wide smile pasted on her face. 

'You talk too much I wanted to inform her, in case she doesn't know it already, but I choose to say "Ummm.....yep... I am also glad." 

"Oh! I forgot about the tea." She stood up "told you I am such a forgetful person. Wait a minute I will bring the tea." She went to the kitchen leaving me all alone in the living room. 

I yawned and stood up and started looking around. I closely observed the frames and saw the happy smiling faces of Akansha and her parents. There were pictures of a small kid playing whom I assumed to be Akansha. There was a picture of the family with the background of the palace Victoria Memorial. I recognized the figures as Akansha and her mom and dad. I observed closely almost all the pictures when my elbow hit a metal substance. It fell to the ground with a loud sound. I looked down and saw a Jinn's lamp. I hurriedly picked it up and cleaned it with my hoodie's sleeve. 

"That was a quite loud sound " I heard a heavy voice behind me.

"Sorry, it hit my elbow and fell. I didn't do it intentionally. " I put the lamb in its place and turned back to discover a lean and handsome person with deep brown eyes and silky black hairs. He is probably in his early twenties and must be some two to three years elder than me. I assumed him to be Akansha's brother. Beside him was a labrador dog looking at me with suspecting eyes. 

"It's ok, but you should take care. That showpiece is really expensive." He said with a deep voice. 

"Which showpiece?" I turned around to search for any expensive thing put on the shelf. "Are you talking about the lamp?" I asked, trying to figure out whether the lamp is actually an expensive showpiece or not. 

I saw Akansha approaching us from the kitchen with two cups of tea and a tray loaded with snacks. 

"Oh, you two already met. He is my brother. I forgot to tell you about him." She said.

"I see," I said and turned around. Akansha's brother was not there. He probably went to his room as I saw the door of the room near the balcony was open. I wonder how fast he walks. 

"The lamp looks expensive."  I tried to inquire.

"Nah! We found it lying on the floor when we shifted here." She said.

Weird."But your brother just said....."

The dog barked at me almost making me jump in fear. 

"Oh, you seem to not recognize my new friend my dear." Akansha came and patted the dog. It started wagging its tail showing affection towards Akansha. " He doesn't bite anyone just barks. Come you can love him as well." 

I went to him and slowly touched its head making sure my hands are at a safe distance so that even if it changes its decision and tries to bite me, it won't be able to catch hold of my hand. "What is his name?" 

"Shammy" 

Shammy started wagging its tail even more and barked loudly making me remove my hand from his head as fast as I can.

Gradually the days passed and the friendship between me and Akansha slowly grew in such a short span of time. It's not been even a month but it felt like I know her since my birth. Weird though. I have never got such type of friend ever in my life. But deep inside I am glad I got someone like her.

She would usually come to my house and we would have a hearty conversation with each other, I never felt like she is someone I met just a few weeks ago. We would go on walks together and try to exercise but would fail miserably and would laugh at our failed attempts. She is a happy and positive soul whom one can cherish for having in life. 

I didn't notice her brother much coming out of his room, I assumed he is an introvert, totally opposite of his sister. I saw him just once We usually don't talk about his brother and even if we do so she would change the topic toward her dog. I started getting a feeling that she is not as close to his brother as she is to her parents and Shammy so I always tried to keep his brother minimal in our conversation. 

One evening when I was returning from flat no.18 (now Akansha's house) I met Salini di on the way. 

"You don't come to the terrace nowadays?" She asked me.

"Quite busy in my studies." 

"But seems like this new girl and you have become besties. You get time to hang out with her huh?" 

I felt like she was jealous of Anaksha and that's amusing.

"Well.....We study together."

"Any paranormal activities?" 

Her question reminded me of what flat no.18 used to be. We use to get chill down our spines even to pass by it and here I am today who goes there almost every day and the resident there have never shared a paranormal activity since they arrived. I wonder why is it so. Why Akansha's family are not experiencing anything that previous residents did?

"Not yet," I replied.

"I wonder how is it possible." 

I shrugged and our conversation ended there.

One Sunday afternoon when Akansha and I were chilling after a serious study session I noticed something.

I hesitantly asked Akansha "Do you mind if I ask you something?" 

"Ask," she said stuffing her mouth with the French fries aunty has made for us.

"Why don't you have any pictures of your brother in these frames." 

Akansha's eyes widened and she looked at me with her stuffed mouth looking rather funny. She put her hand on her head as if she forgot the most important thing on Earth. She chewed the content of her mouth at the 5G speed and started "I never noticed that. I should get our most recent photo framed. Thank you so much for this. Here have all of my share of French fries." She handed me the bowl and I was facing difficulty coping with the credit I  got for doing almost nothing. 

One evening when we were so engrossed in our studies Akansha asked a random question that almost got my soul out of my body " Do you think we should have some sort of hawan in our house?" 

"Did you felt any ..." I gulped my words putting my both hands on my mouth. I don't want to scare her by telling her about the previous 9 residents and their experiences in this place. "Why are you asking me this?"

"Mom says that whenever you shift to a new house you should do some sort of hawan. It's been a week since we shifted and we haven't done any pujas. I think we will do it after we come from..."

I sighed and my increased blood pressure came back to normal. 'They haven't experienced anything paranormal' I told myself.

"Well. Did I mention that we are going to Kolkata this week?"

"Why?" I asked.

"We are selling our old house in Kolkata so mom and dad are going to finish the paper works and there are some more stuff to be shifted as well."

"Oh" I resumed writing my assignment.

"Do you mind taking care of my brother in our absence?" She asked. I look at her with a 'are you kidding me?' look.

"He is so big. He can't take care of himself?" I scoffed.

"Come on. What if he is big? He can't cook his own food. I hope you know that." She laughed.

"But....." I started

'Of course, most of the boys don't know how to cook their meal. But he is too big to be in this category I thought, but said "Ok as per your wish." 

We didn't had any further discussion about this topic as my mom called me and asked me to return home.

We didn't met until Akansha and her parents left for Kolkata leaving a spare key of her flat and some bucks to feed her brother and Shammy. She asked us to keep Shammy in our house for as long they don't come back. She gave me a detailed some 30 mins long lecture on how to take care of Shammy. 

"Take care of my brother." She said with a smile before leaving.

I felt awkward when she told me to take care of her brother. Like seriously? A full grown-up mature boy can't take care of himself? But I can't say no to her as well, after all, she is one of my good friends or perhaps my only good friend.

I told mom to prepare some extra lunch for Akansha's brother.

" Her brother doesn't comes out of the house?" Mom asked while packing lunch. " I haven't seen him yet. I wonder what he looks like." 

" I have seen him just once, and it seemed like he loves his showpiece more than his life." I laughed. I remembered how he looked so worried when the lamp fell down as if his heart has fallen.

"By the way, what is that kid's name?"

"I haven't asked yet." I shrugged. "By the way, he is not a kid. He is a fully grown-up man. I wonder how he doesn't know to even cook for himself." I rolled my eyes and left.

I went to Akansha's flat with packed lunch in my hand. I rang the bell thrice but it seemed like the resident inside doesn't care to open the door. When there was no response from Akansha's brother  I was compelled to open the door with the spare key. 

There was pin-drop silence in the house and I was already freaking out. I went to Akansha's brother's room to inform him that I have brought the food. 

I knocked and a voice came "Come in."

I didn't expect him to casually call me in. I thought he would think a thief has entered his house. But his calm behavior explains it all, that how much he cares about the house.

As I opened the door I saw him writing something on a piece of paper.

"I have brought you lunch," I said awkwardly. 

"Ok," he said rather rudely without even bothering to look at me.

"Where should I keep it?" I asked

Obviously not in the air." He smirked and my cheeks turned red with embarrassment. 

I put the tiffin on the side table of his bed. 

As I reached the door I turned around and asked if I need to bring him the dinner as well, to which he said he will manage it. I sighed and felt relief. 'At least he can manage this I rolled my eyes inside my head and left. 

This became my daily routine to go to his house and give him lunch and return back. He would not even thanks me or glance a smile, because of which I always felt how ungrateful he is. 

"Ok. Take care and stay safe." I hung up the phone. I have talked to Akansha after so many days. Whenever I would call her, it always use to be out of network coverage so we didn't had any conversation over the phone since she left. Akansha said that it will take one more week to come back here. She inquired about her brother and I sighed at thought of her brother and just said that he is ok which I assume him to be. He doesn't talk much and doesn't share anything so all I can do is just assume things. I have to go there for one more week to provide him with lunch now and that's a kinda tiring thing. Not physically but mentally. I feel kinda weird to go there and put the lunch on his bedside table without even uttering a word. He doesn't even bother to open the door and that is what freaks me out. 

When the clock struck 12, I left my house and slowly went to flat no.18

As I opened the door as usual a sudden feeling of uncertainty grabbed me. I don't know how to explain the feeling but it felt like I am all alone in this house and there is no one in the house yet there is the presence of someone. I shook my head and tried to calm my heartbeat and went to the room where Akansha's brother is. I always wondered what is his name but never got the guts to ask. 

I opened the door of his room with a creaking sound. As usual, he didn't speak a word nor bothered to even glance at me. I put the lunch on his bedside table and was about to leave the room when I mustered up all my guts stored deep inside me and finally asked " If you don't mind can I ask you something?" To which he just briefly nodded. I assumed it to be a 'yes' and went forward with my question. "What is your name?" He looked rather startled by my question and answered in a deep voice "Jim" 

I didn't expected his name to be something like this. I didn't said anything and left the house thinking that tomorrow I have to come to this same house with the same lunch at the same time with the same feeling yet again. 

Slowly the days passed. Going to his room, giving him lunch, and coming back home with lots of questions popping in my head continued. There are a lot of questions I want to ask him but due to his weird and ungrateful behavior, I have always been quiet. 'Why is he so silent?', 'What does he do the whole day in his house all alone?', 'what does he writes all day long?', 'Is his real name Jim?' I never thought his name would be as unexpected as Jim. It sounds like a foreign name, not an Indian one. I wonder if he is lying, but the second thought- 'why will he lie to me?' or maybe it is just his nickname, if that is the case then what is his real name?????

The more I think of him the more I get confused. Akansha too doesn't talk about his brother. They might don't like each other much, but the way she says 'take care of my brother doesn't feel like she hates her brother.

One week passed and the day arrived when Akansha will return. She has already informed me that she will arrive between 10 to 11pm at night. 

As mom packed the lunch I sighed with relief. Finally, I don't have to go every day to that place like a dead soul. I went to his place but this time with a bright smile. The thought of today being the last day didn't let my wide smile fade away from my face. 

I stood at the entrance and looked at the door and said to myself 'Today is the last day' I sighed and reached out for the key in my pocket. But before I could grab the key, the door opened and scared me. I almost squeal, when I saw a known figure standing in front of me with a smile. "Come," Jim said and called me inside. I frowned at him thinking whether this is the same person who used to be so rude and ungrateful to me. "No, that's ok. Here..." I tried to hand him the lunch but he went inside. I stood at the entrance unsure of my move next. I stood there debating about whether should I go or not. The unexpected and sudden behavior of Jim scared my soul. I started doubting his intentions now. 

"Don't worry I won't harm you. You can come inside." He said as he went to the self. I entered with shivering steps. I decided to just put the tiffin on any table I get first and run away as soon as possible. I put the tiffin on the coffee table and informed him "here is the lunch" I was geared up to run when he said, "have some tea and go." He said putting his favorite lamp on the coffee table just beside the tiffin. I denied and tried to come up with the best excuses 'No I should go now, it's been late', 'It is lunch time, 'mom is waiting for me for lunch' but the only thing I managed to say out loud was a plain no. 

"I know it's lunchtime but have some tea I really make good ones you won't regret having them." He insisted and went to the kitchen. Unsure of what to do next I just stood there staring at the lamp on the coffee table. He didn't make me wait long as he soon arrived with two cups of tea.  How fast? I wondered. 

 

"No, it's not what you think. I have made one cup extra, so." He sipped his tea delightfully. "Have them. I swear you won't regret it. I am a big tea lover. I can literally have tea any time of the day." 

"I see" I whispered and sipped tea. He is right. The tea really is very tasty and quite hot too. It took me quite a time to finish the tea. 

We sipped the tea in silence. I really had no appetite for having tea but his tea is just at another level. 

I thanked him and stood up to leave when my eye caught the lamp. It looked so shining than the previous time I have seen it. "Please don't go." I felt like I heard him say. I turned back but he was busy sipping his mug full of tea. I ignored it and went my way feeling relieved that from tomorrow I don't have to bring him lunch. 

"Wait." I heard. I turned and saw him approaching me. My heartbeat slowly started pacing faster. My heart started pumping the blood in my veins pretty hard. I gulped as he stood a few inches away. "Yes?" I asked almost whispering, my voice didn't reach his ears.

"Can you do me a favor?" He asked scratching the back of his neck. 

"What type of favor?" this time I sounded a little loud. 

"Can you please throw that lamp for me?" He pointed out to the lamp.

"Why? It's a showpiece. Why do you want to..." 

"I just don't like it now." He cut in between and said it rather in a stern way that I didn't dare to refuse him. 

"As your wish." I went to the lamp and while picking it up my shivering hands dropped the lamp yet again. "I am really sorry" I apologized wiping it to remove any dirt it might have got in case. As soon as I grabbed the lamp from the floor I left the house without having a glance at the person standing behind me. 

I went straight to the guard and handed him the lamp and told him to throw it whenever the truck will come. I felt an unexplainable type of relief when I got rid of that lamp. 

The next day I woke up with a happy and smiling face and observed the birds chirping. My gut feeling said that something good is gonna happen today and maybe it's true because when I went for breakfast mom informed me that Akansha has arrived and she has called me over to her house. "She said that she has something to show you. She looked so excited." Mom said.

"Oh...it's been so long I haven't met my dearest friend. How are you?" Akansha said hugging me as soon as she opened the door. I went to her as soon as I had my breakfast.

"I am fine. What about you?" I saw Shammy wagging his tail and looking at me lovingly. 

I entered the house and felt like breathing the purest air of my life. A positive feeling is what I felt totally unlike what I used to feel previously when I use to enter this house. I assume it is because of Akansha's energy. Her positive energy is really contagious. 

"I really have something amazing to show you," Akansha said excitedly. She took the large bag that was lying on the sofa and slid out a large rectangular brown envelope. 

"What is it?" I also got excited to see what was inside that huge brown envelope.

"Something special. Something that I would never know I didn't have if you haven't told me."

She opened the envelope and took out a large frame. Her eyes lit up as she looked at the frame. 

"Let me see." I tried to peep, but she hid it saying that she will reveal it only when it will hang on the wall. 

"You have to help me to find a perfect place to fit in this frame." She smirked as she put her condition.

"Ok madam" I surrendered playfully. 

We both decided to remove the smaller frames and put this large frame instead. We removed all the frames and she told me to close my eyes until she hung the large one. I did as directed " Are you sure you can manage it by yourself?" I asked closing my eyes.

"Don't worry I can " she laughed. 

I wonder why I am so excited about hanging a frame. 

"Ok you can open your eyes, on a count of 3..2...1.." I opened my eyes and saw a wide frame with pictures of 3 smiling faces and a dog. 

I went close and observed, that there was Akansha, uncle, aunty, and Shammy. 

"Thank you for reminding me to include my brother in the photo. He is an important family member. I love him so much." She said clasping her hand and looking admiringly at the picture frame. 

"But where is your brother?" I asked in confusion. I can't see her brother anywhere in the picture. 

"Here" she pointed out at Shammy. 

I looked at her checking if she is kidding me. But it seemed like she is serious. 

"I mean to say your ACTUAL brother." I said emphasizing the word 'actual.' 

"Shammy is my actual brother." She said rather firmly. It didn't seem like she is kidding for the merest fraction of the second. 

"Are you sure?" 

"How sure should I be?"

"I am talking about your actual human brother." 

"Come on dear. I don't have any human brother." She laughed.

"What about Jim ?" 

"Who Jim?" 

"Your brother."

"I have no brother named Jim." She said, confirmation in her voice. 

"But...." My voice trailed off. 

"I guess you are dreaming" she chuckled. 

"No, I am not," I said in a firm way that might have sounded rude because Akansha stared at me. 

"I can prove you, you have an elder brother named Jim. I use to bring him lunch in your absence, as you have told me to take care of your brother." 

"I was talking about Shammy. He is no less than any human brother." She shrugged.

"But you gave me keys to your house so that I can get him lunch."

"I did it because in case something happens....."

"I can prove you." I cut her in between and clutched her hand and dragged her to her brother's room. She coped with me in silence. 

I slammed the door open as I reached Jim's room. My eyes widened and my jaw dropped on the floor when I saw the sight in front of me. "How...?" I asked Akansha and she looked at me bewildered. 

I stood there staring at the dusty store room which was occupied by Jim yesterday. I see no bed, no side tables, no Jim, and nothing at all. The sight in front of me slowly became dark and I lost balance.

[AN: Do leave a comment if you like it🥰♥️]