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After receiving the news, the principal and other faculty member’s arrived at the location. As it was a suicide case, family members of the deceased and cops gathered to investigate. This tragedy left a lasting impression on both the school and the children.

Written by Adyasha Parida,  Harshita Singh, Khumbar Debbarma, B.FSc, 8th Sem

 

‘Hostel life’ a fresh chapter in everybody’s life, where we hope to write pages of joy and happiness but occasionally we face trails that leave us with bad memories and restless nights for a life time. With age, I’ve discovered that there are places that you don’t want to step foot in, but circumstances lead you there.

 

One such is an incident I’m about to share of Aravalli hostel. It was an early summer evening where I raced back to the hostel with my friend after our classes were over. We parted ways since we had different destination. As I was about to walk through my dorm’s main entrance, I heard a cry it was my friend’s I realized, without a moment of hesitation I dashed towards it. Getting closer to her hostel, the weeping and cries got louder, it almost sounded like a frantic yearning to help someone. I realized something was gravely wrong. As I stood at the entrance of the room, I saw an image that has stayed with me to this day: a rope hanging from the fan, my friend struggling to lift someone’s leg, but the face was obscured by a blanket, I grasped the scenario; I was scared of the sight in front of me and shouted in distress without a second thought. The house mistress and others rushed after hearing my cry, only to reveal a scenario that no one could have predicted: the house mistress collapsed at the sight and was ready to tumble off the steps when others ran to hold her. My friend and I, as well as other students, were taken out of the hostel, wailing and sobbing.

After receiving the news, the principal and other faculty member’s arrived at the location. As it was a suicide case, family members of the deceased and cops gathered to investigate. This tragedy left a lasting impression on both the school and the children.

The regular visits of cops persisted in the midst of our on-going final examinations, leaving the entire campus lifeless as if someone had hit the pause button in our lives, and when the frequent visits eventually ceased a few days later, we assumed our everyday lives could return to normal. Students started heading home the day after final examinations concluded with the announcement of summer vacation, but a few of us chose to leave the next day just to spend another night together because we had a two-month summer vacation. We were

 

joyfully packing our luggage and making vacation arrangements without knowing what was about to happen.

As the night approached and drops of rain started to hit the window, we realised it was time to call it a night. We placed our luggage in one corner of the room and headed for the bed. I remember being woken up by a peculiar sound – heavy yet shrill. I looked around and nothing seemed out of place, my drowsiness got the better of me and my eyelids started feeling heavy. I rested my head on the pillow only to hear that sound once again, but this time it was clearer, from what I could make out it was the sound of something heavy being dragged.

The sound was getting louder by the second; I dared not raise my head for God knows what that could be. Fear crept into my senses and made me numb. I wanted to call out and ask if it was just someone’s silly night prank, but my numbness did not even allow my voice to come out. I shut my eyes and prayed, prayed with all my heart, prayed for the sun to shine and end this night.

The loud screech came to a stop near my bed. Now what? Is this my end? Will this be how my chapter will end? It was quite, so quite almost like the sound of death, I laid still, slowed down my breathing, hoping to make minimal movements on my part. I stayed like that, crying in my prayers, wishing for the night to end. I don’t know how many hours passed by like that it became a mission to survive.

‘Wake up’ a familiar voice called, and my eyes opened in routine it was my friend. The sun rays hit my eyes, it was only then I breathed an air of relief. The terror from last night still fresh to my bones, but maybe I just had a nightmare, yes that’s possible. I got off my bed and bent down to grab my slippers; my eyes fell on my luggage that I placed yesterday night in the corner of the room to be under my bed. How did it reach there?

As a result of situations like these, people are quick to pass judgement. For some, it becomes a joke, but for others who have experienced it, it leaves a scar.

There’s more to this than meets the eye.

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