She pulled back the curtain and peered out the window. As soon as she saw the scene in front of her, she felt a shiver run down her spine. In the dim light of the moon, the small cemetery on a plot in a residential area looked very strange.

Rumisa panicked and let down the curtain. Anyway, Sadiq was on night duty today, so the loneliness of the house and the scene she had seen a while ago only added to her panic. She looked at the clock and saw that it was only twelve o’clock. Mala had not come upstairs for a walk today, otherwise she would have had a good time. Anyway, since the dark nights of the cold season had begun, Mala rarely came upstairs. Because she did not particularly like the cold.

While Rumisa was crazy about this cold season. After sitting on the bed for a while, her fear of crossing over subsided a little. She left the room and peered outside, but Amma Hajra had gone to sleep in her room. Rumisa took out the coffee maker, turned on the TV on the stand, and the sound of the TV broke the silence in the house. She made coffee with great satisfaction and sat in front of the TV. A talk show was playing. While watching TV, she did not notice the time and fell asleep on the sofa. Rumisa got married six months ago. And after leaving, she was living in this flat with Sadiq Alam. Because her mother-in-law lived in London with her eldest son. While Sadiq was a high-ranking government official in a government department, due to which he was not willing to leave his job and go to London.

This was the reason why he rented out his ancestral house and lived here in a luxury flat in an expensive area of ​​the city. Where Rumisa had no other problem except for the empty plot that was right in front of her bedroom window. In addition to the boundary wall all around this plot, there was also a large gate.

There were small graves inside this plot. Amma Hajra had told that this was an ancient Hindu cemetery. Since this area was not inhabited before, a cemetery was built there. However, due to the increasing population with time and necessity, multi-storey buildings were built around the cemetery, but the cemetery on this plot was still in its place today. This cemetery was definitely bothering Rumisa, at least. While Amma Hajra and Sadiq had no problem with it.

Nor had any other building owner ever complained. That is why Rumisa was also silent. Because she thought that perhaps this problem was of her own making. Otherwise, other people would not have had any problem that this cemetery was in a residential

Thank goodness you came, otherwise I would have been bored walking alone on the roof. The shadow coming up the stairs was Mala’s. Rumisa brightened as soon as she saw her. Rumisa saw that her white complexion was slightly pale.

She looked sick and tired from her face. Rumisa asked, “How are you?” “Better!” Mala’s answer was always so short, yet Rumisa liked her company quite a lot. She was a very short girl who probably lived in an apartment on the first floor. On the first day after shifting here, when Rumisa came to walk upstairs, Mala was already there. Rumisa liked this thin girl for friendship. But their friendship was limited to the roof. Mala never invited her to her house, nor did Rumisa take her downstairs with her.

The reason was probably the time that would have increased so much during the walk upstairs that it was not good to take Rumisa to her house. Eat peanuts. During the walk, Rumisa held a warm peanut wrapper in her hand and extended it towards her. Sorry, I don’t eat peanuts. You are a strange girl, my friend. She doesn’t eat anything. Neither peanuts, nor raisin, nor any dry fruits, not even roasted chickpeas. Rumisa Whenever she offered her something to eat, she would always refuse.

Rumisa realized that Mala was probably a Hindu, so she would not eat from a Muslim’s hand. In all these months, she had never asked Mala about her religion. Because she didn’t like it. Although many times her heart wanted to ask her about the cemetery area.

Which was near her house. Then, thinking that she might not hear anything, she would have remained silent. Suddenly, a big black cat stood in front of her, staring at them with its deep blue eyes in such a way that they both became scared, while Mala was afraid of cats anyway.

Rumisa had seen this in action many times. Where did it come from? She hid behind Rumisa, uttering broken sentences. Rumisa took off her slippers and threw them at the cat, which immediately ran back. As soon as it ran, Mala ran towards the stairs. Rumisa tried to stop it from going behind, but it disappeared as soon as it went down the stairs, so that Rumisa could not see it in the darkness. Seeing Mala running away in such fear, she laughed in her heart and came down.

Why did Rumisa’s heart want to ask Mala some questions about her personal life today? Perhaps subconsciously, this desire was awakening in her. That she knew Mala. Who is it? For four months, they had been meeting on the roof like this almost every day, but she did not know which floor of this building Mala lived on? What did she do? Is she married or not? Thinking about this, she began her conversation today by asking Mala’s personal life. The first question she asked was! Who else is in your house? What does it mean?

While walking, Mala stopped and looked at Rumisa in surprise! She was also a little confused. What does it mean? I mean, are you married or not? After answering his entire sentence in one word, she moved forward in such a way that the desire to ask her anything more died inside Rumisa.

She lives in flat number 103 on the first floor in Bolly. As soon as Rumisa fell silent, Mala probably real

ized her mistake. So she turned around and spoke softly, coming towards her. At the same time, lightning flashed loudly in the sky, and as soon as Mala heard the sound of thunder, she panicked like a child.

Rumisa saw that her complexion had turned yellow with fear. She said, “I don’t like rain at all. I feel very scared. Getting wet in the rain feels like my whole body is burning. The drops of water feel like fire to me. You know how terrifying it is to burn in fire. The very thought of it makes my whole body tremble.” Today was the first time Rumisa had heard her speak so much. But Rumisa couldn’t understand what she was saying at all. The incoherent sentences that came out of her mouth sometimes made Rumisa feel like she was crazy.

Have you ever seen yourself burning in fire while you were alive? Have you ever seen a beautiful body become visible in flames? At that moment, the clouds thundered again. Mala ran towards the stairs without hearing his answer. While Rumisa, who was standing behind, did not have the courage to call out and stop Mala. It had been more than a week. Mala had not come to the terrace. Anyway, it had been raining since last week.

Since she was afraid of rain like many other things, she had not come up. But now the rain had completely stopped for two days. Still, she did not come up. When she was going out with Naveed in the evening, she stopped involuntarily and looked at flat number 103 where the big lock was visible even in the darkness. This meant that she had gone somewhere, so she got down. And then, while sitting in the car, she mentioned Mala to Naveed for the first time. Is that girl a Hindu because that is what the name suggests. I don’t know! I never asked, but maybe she lives in flat number 103. She hasn’t come up for a long time. Flat number 103? Naveed repeated in surprise.

 Flat number 103?

Naveed repeated in surprise. You must have misunderstood because no one lives there. That flat has been vacant for a long time. Well then, maybe I heard wrong.

Naveed had been living there for the past one year. So he knew better than Rumisa who lived in the neighborhood. And then as soon as she returned home, she asked Amma Hajra about Mala. I don’t know, son, I only go out of the house to buy groceries

And where in the neighborhood do I have any friends who I can know anything about?

Her answer was absolutely correct. She stayed at home all day. Rumisa did not understand who to ask about Mala. Then she thought that maybe she should come up herself for a day or two. But that did not happen.

Thinking this, one day she came down to the first floor with Amma Hajra. Where there were several flats built facing each other. There were ten flats on each floor. Except for the one hundred and three flats on the first floor, almost all of them were inhabited.

She did not understand whose door she should knock on and ask about Mala. She stood there thinking for a while. Then she went down and came towards the main gate where the security guard present knew her well. As soon as Rumisa stood up with her, she quickly got up and said. Assalamu Alaikum! Bajji, how are you?

She said, actually I wanted to know about a girl. About the girl? Abdul looked at her first in surprise and then at Amma Hajra. Yes, Abdul Bhai! There is a thin girl living on the first floor. She also comes to walk with me on the roof every day. But she hasn’t been here for a long time.

Abdul asked. Do you know her name?

Her name is Mala. She is blonde, has very long hair. I have never seen a girl with very long hair here. Yes, she is Faisal Sahib’s daughter in flat number 107.

I don’t know her name, but her hair is quite long. Once, I noticed her like that. Go there and ask, maybe she can solve your problem. As soon as she heard Abdul’s words, she didn’t stop there, but walked quickly and stood in front of first floor flat number 107. And without thinking, she put her hand on the bill. Who?

On the other side, a forty to forty-five-year-old woman opened the door and came out. She was a little surprised to see Rumisa in front of her. Assalamu Alaikum! I am Mrs. Naveed. I live on the third floor of the same building. I actually have to meet Mala. Speaking quickly, she quickly explained her case.

She felt as if the next moment Mala would appear before her, exactly as she wished. Who Mala?

The answer was against her expectations. Now Rumisa did not know what to say. A sixteen-seventeen-year-old girl stood near this woman. Rumisa saw that her long black hair was swinging below her waist. But obviously it was not Mala. Along with disappointment,

she was also embarrassed. Sorry, actually I thought that Mala probably lives in this flat. No, not in this flat, but here, my only daughter and I live. Whereas I think that there is no girl named Mala living on our floor. Actually, she told me that her flat number was 103.

So she said that 103 has been vacant for the past many years. Many years ago, a family lived here. Then an accident happened to them that they left this house. No one came here again. Standing at the door, this woman started telling Rumisa in detail. Reluctantly, Rumisa asked,

what accident? The woman said that she had heard that her young daughter had suddenly disappeared somewhere.

They searched a lot but she was not found. Perhaps her parents left the house to avoid disgrace, but a few days after they left, the stench emanating from the flat attracted everyone. When the police broke the lock and entered, the rotting body of a young girl was lying there. Her stench had engulfed the entire neighborhood. As she spoke, the woman fell silent for a moment. Rumisa turned and looked at the door of flat number 103, but the girl had disappeared. Then how was the body found in the house? Rumisa asked in surprise. This is something that no one has understood till today. Who were those men and women? Were they really the girl’s parents?

Who left her daughter’s body in the flat like this and ran away. The police thought that maybe the girl had returned. Whom her father had killed in the name of honor. And left the body in the house and ran away. Phew! Such cruelty! Rumisa shivered with fear.

Yes, this is the reason why this flat was not re-inhabited. The killers left it deserted and then despite wanting to, no one could re-inhabit it. A fear and dread was so evident among people regarding this flat. That perhaps it has not gone away yet. Hey,

I am standing here and talking all this. You come in, maybe this woman realized. That she had been standing at the door with Rumisa for the last half an hour. No thanks! I will go now!

It is time for my husband to come home. Rumisa came upstairs apologizing. And then it took Rumisa several days to forget the story according to which the foul-smelling body of a young girl was found in the flat. And perhaps her real father also had a hand in killing her like this. The world is so cruel. She came to know this a few hours ago.

She was in a state of despair for the next few days. Rumisa completely forgot the accident at flat number 103 in a few days. But the search for Mala was waiting somewhere inside her being. That maybe someday in her life she would find Mala again. That was the reason why she would look carefully at every girl coming and going in the building. Sometimes when she had to go to a department store, her searching eyes would search for Mala.

She would search for Mala in every girl passing by on the road. But Mala had disappeared without knowing where. Which every time her search for Rumisa had to face failure.

Her search, her devotion to Mala was so true that one day she succeeded in it. But such a success after which for many years Rumisa’s heart would tremble thinking why she had made so much effort to search for Mala! It was a winter evening, Amma Hajra had been gripped by a cold since morning. Due to which she was lying on her bed covered with a blanket. Naveed Alam had gone to Quetta yesterday for some office work.

And in this solitude, Rumisa’s heart was extremely worried. She talked to her mother and sister in Lahore for two hours. Then as soon as she hung up the phone, she felt as if someone had passed by the outer door and moved towards the stairs leading up. Its inner wooden door was open, while she always kept the grille outside it locked. Forced by the curiosity that arose in solitude, she peeked out of the grille. A girl with very long hair was climbing the stairs quickly. Rumisa thought she was Mala. She quickly put on her dupatta and ran after the girl, then she went up to the roof and disappeared. Rumisa quickly climbed the stairs.

It was already dark on the roof. As soon as Rumisa stepped on the last stair, she turned on the bulb near the stairs. Its light spread across the entire roof. Mala, Mala! As he climbed up, he called out. No one responded to his call. Rumisa went a little further and looked. There was a feeling of air all around. The roof was completely empty. She turned back in a moment of panic. Then her foot hit the black bat.

Which always scared Mala. The bat roared and looked at Rumisa. What was in its shining thick glass-like eyes that made Rumisa run down in fear. She opened the grill lock with trembling hands. Then Amma Hajra was standing in front of her. Son, where have you gone? Naveed Sahib called. He was asking about your well-being. Call him and answer. While talking, Amma Hajra realized that Rumisa was a little nervous. What’s the matter, son?

Everything is fine! In response, Rumisa narrated the entire incident that happened some time ago. Upon hearing this, Amma Hajra looked at him and said, “Listen to me, son, forget about this girl.” Because I feel like you have completely taken her over your senses. She has come out of your thoughts and has taken on a form. Which is appearing to you all the time here and there. My thoughts are right, mother.

Rumisa took a deep breath and said. I must have thought that someone had gone upstairs. She ran upstairs for no reason. Maybe her mind was messed up. And by dinner time she had completely forgotten the evening’s incident. After eating, she spoke to Naveed on the phone. Then she made coffee and sat in front of the TV. When at that moment, a light rain started outside.

Rumisa came to the window in her room with a cup of coffee. She had just opened the curtain and looked outside when she felt someone standing in the middle of the cemetery. She quickly took cover from the window. Maybe it was a thief or a robber. Or maybe some poor garbage picker.

Who had probably entered the cemetery at that moment of the night to take shelter from the rain. Rumisa was watching him as a way to pass the time. When that shadow slowly walked out of the cemetery, Rumisa saw that it was a girl. She slowly walked and stood under the yellow bulb on the road. Long black hair spread out on her back. It was definitely Mala. Which was not Rumisa’s illusion at all. She quickly opened the window and looked down so that she could call out to Mala. But before she could call out, Mala stood by the electric pole and looked up. Even from such a distance, Rumisa felt that Mala was smiling at her.

There was something in Mala’s smile that made Rumisa afraid and step back a little. At that moment, Mala turned and slowly entered the cemetery. As soon as she entered, the darkness spread in the air became even deeper. Rumisa opened her eyes and looked around. The cemetery was completely empty. Oh my God! A wave of fear engulfed her in such a way that she fell to the ground while standing.

As she fell to the ground, Mala’s words were echoing in her ears. Raindrops are raining on my body like fire. Have you ever seen someone burn? The pain of burning and with it, Rumisa fainted. When she regained consciousness, both her mother and Naveed Alam were with her in the hospital. According to Naveed, Rumisa regained consciousness after a week.

She could not tell anyone why she had fainted even if she wanted to. But considering her condition, she changed her house without telling him. And in her life, she never went to the place where she had last seen Mala. Who was Mala?

Where did she live? The desire to know all this had died down. Or perhaps she had come to know what the real truth of Mala was.

Ended