A Haunted Mansion

 The old mansion on the outskirts of our town was a sight to behold, but its beauty was shrouded in an eerie aura. Locals whispered tales of its two-century-old history, filled with chilling events that would make one's blood run cold.

​Children, even during the day, would steer clear of the place. It was said that a boy once ventured inside on a dare and was never seen again. Despite extensive searches by the police, no trace of him was ever found. From then on, the house earned its infamous title as the "haunted mansion."

​As night fell, strange sounds would emanate from the house. Some said it was the groans of a tormented soul, while others claimed it was the sound of children weeping. A lone, ancient sheuli tree stood in the yard, and on moonlit nights, a figure in a white saree was said to appear in its branches.

​One evening, my three friends and I, driven by a foolish sense of curiosity, decided to approach the mansion. The silence was unnerving, but we heard no sounds. Suddenly, my friend Sajal whispered, "Look, look!" We all turned our gaze to see three pairs of eyes glowing in the darkness, staring right at us. Panic seized us, and we fled without a second thought.

​The next day, all of us were struck by an inexplicable fever that even doctors couldn't diagnose. My grandmother, with a knowing look in her eyes, said, "An evil shadow has fallen upon them." It was then that we realized our grave mistake. We had tempted fate, and it had responded. From that day on, we never dared to go near the haunted mansion again.