The Tenant in Room 304

Dim hotel reception. Amber lobby lamps. Cold glow of a SECURITY MONITOR. A REGISTER BOOK lies open. A ROOM KEY CARD rests near the desk. A LOCKED SUITCASE stands beside a chair.

MR. BHATT (55), immaculate uniform, polite smile, stands behind the desk.

ROHIT (31), thin, jumpy, wrinkled shirt, headset on, stares at the monitor.

Sir, main bol raha hoon... room 304 ka guest register mein hai, par CCTV mein nahi.

MR. BHATT

Aur main bol raha hoon, Rohit, hotel mein system galat nahi hota. Log galat dekhte hain.

Main teen baar rewind kar chuka hoon. Entry gate, lift, corridor... kuch bhi nahi.

MR. BHATT

Toh phir guest hawa mein aayi hogi?

Sir, mazaak mat kariye. Mujhe already headache ho raha hai.

MR. BHATT

Headset pehle seedha peheno, phir headache discuss karenge.

Rohit adjusts his headset, irritated.

A faint CLICK. The front entrance opens.

NANDINI (28) enters. Elegant, dark coat, controlled steps. She carries a LOCKED SUITCASE.

Good evening.

A beat.

Mera key card kaam nahi kar raha.

MR. BHATT

Room number?

304.

Rohit and Bhatt exchange a look.

Yahi woh room hai.

Nandini notices the register.

Register book abhi bhi hard copy mein rakhte ho? Cute.

MR. BHATT

Hotel standards.

Haan. Aur CCTV standards?

Rohit freezes.

Aapko CCTV ke baare mein kaise pata?

Kyuki aap dono usi se pareshaan ho.

Bhatt keeps his smile, but his eyes tighten.

MR. BHATT

Madam, agar aap guest hain, toh ID dikhaiye.

Aapke paas already hai.

She points at the REGISTER BOOK.

Nandini. Room 304. Checked in at 10:14 PM.

Par footage mein aap kahin nahi dikh rahi.

Tumhari monitor ki date sahi hai?

Kya?

Kal raat bhi tum usi chair pe the. 2:07 AM pe tumne headset utaar ke washroom ke bahar kisi ko phone pe bola tha, “Sir, main nahi kar paunga.”

Rohit goes pale.

Aap... aapko kaise—

Main kaafi cheezein notice karti hoon.

She turns to Bhatt.

Aur aap, Mr. Bhatt... cufflinks achhe hain. Same pair jo aapne ek dead man ke locker mein rakhe the.

Bhatt’s smile disappears for the first time.

MR. BHATT

Aap kaun hain?

Sach bolun? Main woh hoon jise aap log yaad rakhna nahi chahte.

She places the LOCKED SUITCASE on the desk.

Sir...

MR. BHATT

Shut up.

Nandini opens the register book to an old page.

Is date ko dekh lo.

Bhatt looks. Rohit leans in.

Mere father ki death ka din.

Aapke father?

Previous manager.

Silence.

Us raat unhone hotel records mein ek death entry dekhi thi. Agle subah woh file se gayab thi. Jaise aadmi nahi, bas inconvenience ho.

MR. BHATT

Madam, aapko galatfehmi—

Galatfehmi nahi. Cover-up.

She taps the suitcase.

Ismein meri father ki recording hai.

Recording?

Manager’s log. Audio.

Bhatt steps forward, low voice now.

MR. BHATT

Yeh hotel badnaam ho jayega.

Hotel ko badnaam records nahi karte, Mr. Bhatt. Log karte hain.

She opens the suitcase. Inside: a small AUDIO RECORDER.

Sir... footage delete kisne kiya tha?

Bhatt says nothing.

Main bata deti hoon.

She presses PLAY.

A CRACKLING MALE VOICE from the recorder.

RECORDED VOICE (V.O.)

Agar main kal nahi raha, toh register mat badalna.

Rohit stares at Bhatt. Bhatt stares at the recorder.

Sir...?

MR. BHATT

Main ne delete nahi kiya tha.

Nahi. Aapne bas dekha tha.

Bhatt can’t answer.

Aur tum?

She turns to Rohit.

Tum bhi duty pe the.

Main... main job lose nahi kar sakta tha.

Mere father ne zindagi lose ki thi.

A long beat.

The monitor flickers. Empty corridor. Room 304 number glows on the screen.

MR. BHATT

Aap yahan kyun aayi hain?

Kyuki main guest nahi hoon.

She closes the recorder.

Main previous manager ki beti hoon.

Rohit swallows hard.

Room 304 mera room nahi tha.

She looks at the desk, the register, the monitor.

Woh unka witness tha.

Silence.

Nandini picks up the ROOM KEY CARD, turns it in her fingers, then places it beside the register.

Ab room 304 ka guest mil gaya.

She looks at both men.

Bas hotel ko yaad dilana tha ki woh kaun tha.

The monitor hums. The lobby light flickers.