The Girl in the Mirror

Ek chhota, purana bathroom. Deewar par peela sa bulb mirror ke upar jhool raha hai. Mirror poori frame dominate karta hai. Phone flashlight ki harsh white beam room ko kaat rahi hai.

AAKASH (27), sleeveless vest, sleep-deprived, gardan rub karta hua, mirror ke saamne khada hai.

PALLAVI (24), modern, skeptical, phone torch ko weapon ki tarah pakde hue, doorway ke paas.

Bathroom mein bas teen log. Aur ek mirror jo thoda zyada hi bada lag raha hai.

Woh... phir se wahan thi.

Kaun? Teri neend?

Main serious hoon, Pallavi.

Aur main bhi. Tu teen raat se soya nahi hai.

Aakash mirror ki taraf point karta hai. Pallavi torch beam us taraf karti hai.

Mirror mein Aakash ka reflection. Pallavi ka reflection. Aur... ek extra silhouette, bilkul Aakash ke shoulder ke peeche.

Aakash palat-ta hai. Khaali bathroom.

Dekha?

Kya dekha? Tera shadow? Bulb ka glitch?

Ek aurat.

Bathroom mein aurat nahi, panic hai.

Pallavi mirror ke paas aa jaati hai. Torch seedha mirror par.

Chal. Main dekh rahi hoon. Ab dikha.

Mirror mein kuch der tak bas unka reflection. Phir... reflection mein Pallavi ke peeche ek old woman ka face flash hota hai.

Pallavi freeze.

...Okay. That was weird.

Aakash ka saans atak jaata hai.

Maine bola tha.

Door khulne ki halki si awaz. MADHURI (50) enters, faded uniform, bucket aur keys ka bundle le kar. Bilkul calm.

Paani ka tap band karo. Bathroom ka mahol kharab hota hai.

Aap kaun?

Madhuri. Building caretaker.

Aapko pata hai is mirror mein koi...

Haan.

Beat.

Haan?

Is building mein mirror hauntings purani baat hai.

Mazak kar rahi ho?

Main bucket lekar mazak nahi karti.

Madhuri bucket floor par rakhti hai. Keys ki khanak room mein ajeeb echo karti hai.

Kuch log apna chehra dekhte hain. Kuch log kisi aur ka.

Aurat ka?

Kabhi kabhi.

Pallavi snorts, but nervous.

Old building, bad wiring, overactive imagination.

Mirror mein reflection ka mouth move hota hai, par koi bolta nahi.

Abhi dekha?

Nahi.

Usne pehle hila.

Mirror pehle bolta hai. Phir dikhata hai.

Suddenly, mirror se aawaz aati hai—soft, female, dead calm.

MIRROR WOMAN (V.O.)

Tum log yahin ho.

Teenon jam jaate hain.

...Kaun bola?

Main nahi.

Maine bhi nahi.

Mirror mein woman ka face clear hota hai. Wet hair. Blank stare.

MIRROR WOMAN (V.O.)

Pallavi, phone neeche karo.

Pallavi ka haath kaanp jaata hai.

Mera naam kaise...

MIRROR WOMAN (V.O.)

Aakash, gardan mat rub karo.

Aakash ki haath ruk jaati hai.

Yeh mere baare mein jaanti hai.

Maine bola tha. Mirror future bhi dikhata hai.

Future? Bakwaas.

MIRROR WOMAN (V.O.)

Bakwaas nahi. Abhi tum pichhe dekhoge.

Beat.

Kaunse pichhe?

MIRROR WOMAN (V.O.)

Jo ab hone wala hai.

Aakash slowly turns. Behind them: towel rack, bucket, soap, closed door. Nothing else.

But in the mirror...

Pallavi is already stepping forward.

Aakash is already turning.

Madhuri’s bucket is already tipping.

Pallavi...

Main kuch karne wali hoon?

Haan.

Kaise pata?

Kyuki reflection mein ho chuka hai.

Pallavi stares at the mirror. In reflection, her hand reaches Aakash’s neck.

Real Pallavi’s hand is still down.

Main... aisa kyun kar rahi hoon?

MIRROR WOMAN (V.O.)

Kyuki tum kar chuki ho.

The bulb FLICKERS.

The phone torch trembles.

Madhuri takes one step back, suddenly less certain.

Oh no.

Kya no?

Mirror mein Pallavi’s hand now tightens on Aakash’s neck. Madhuri’s bucket falls. Keys scatter.

Real room mein, sab kuch ek second ke liye same pose mein freeze.

Then—Pallavi’s hand twitches toward Aakash’s neck.

Aakash... main control mein nahi hoon.

Pallavi, ruk!

Mirror ne future pakad liya.

Mirror Woman smiles for the first time.

MIRROR WOMAN (V.O.)

Future kabhi wait nahi karta.

The room goes dark.

In the darkness, a single PHONE TORCH beam comes on.

It is in the mirror.

Not in the room.

The mirror shows the three of them from a slightly different angle—like the future is already filming.

MIRROR WOMAN (V.O.)

Agla scene ab tumhara hai.

END.