The sky was dark, a pitiful moon, covered by the dark clouds of water vapour mixed with smoke. There were almost no stars, as usual, in the metropolitan city of Mumbai. In a particular desolated 'mansion', as to say, there was complete silence. Not a single soul could be seen lingering, as if the mansion was home to none but ghosts and demons. There was a deathly silence in the atmosphere and the mating sounds of crickets were the only things that could be heard.
The only signs of human life were the little lights that lit up the place just enough to see and walk without bumping into another human. The dull moon was no help at all. The wind howled, as if mourning the loss of someone. In the distance, one could hear horses neighing. After all, animals have an excellent instinct, and know when something bad is approaching.
A little girl, probably no more than four years of age, sat in her majestic room, on the window sill. She looked out of the window and up at the sky, seemingly asking if the night could be any worse. As if answering her question, she heard a woman's pained wailing. She shrunk back, putting her head on her knees, nobody knew whether from pain, or anger. It was already the second time today. Then there was another grunt, from the said woman, along with the neighing of horses. Something didn't seem right.
Scared at once, the girl got down from the window sill and ran as fast her little legs could support her, to reach her destination. Reaching, she stood still in front of a gigantic, albeit cold, door. She was scared. Unsure if she should continue, or retreat. She hesitatingly pushed the door open, only to see what she shouldn't have. Something that scarred her in ways more than one. Something which had more a lasting impact than anything had, or could in the future, near or far.
She wanted to shout, scream, at least make a noise... but her voice betrayed her. Finally, she found her voice, but the only thing she could utter was, "No... no...no..."
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