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the iNN
The car broke down just a stone throw away from the inn. Misotma was returning for vacation when his car finally stop working. His village was about some miles away and being drenched in the rain, he proceed towards the Inn to lodge.

The Inn seems to be unusual and unattended and the building was in need of renovation badly. A shabby elderly man recieve him and handed him the key to his room. Misotma showered and stretchingly relax on the bed. His eyes wander around the four corner of the wall. The wall had already shed its original painted colour and there was an old wooden almirah which seems to be very heavy.
He had to accept no matter what whether it was a luxurious or not, because there was no Inn to lodge.
The elderly man had a wife and a son and the trio runs the inn.

As the dusk approached he had his dinner early and was ready to rest early. His car was taken care by some of the local of the nearby mechanical workshop.

As he began to comfort himself in the room, he began to feel uneasy and somehow scare, as if some one was present in the room. He can feel the coldness around him and its unusual because it was summer. He tried to ignore all this unusual happenings and try to get some sleep, but it seems the sleep has fled away from him.

Now he knows something is not right with the room and he remember now how the elderly man confronted him not to choose that room. But Misotma choose it because of all the room, the room he chose was a little bit bigger and somehow seems to be more lavish compare to other rooms.

It was already 1:00 a.m but he could not able to sleep and everything was quiet, except the chirping of the cricket outside.

As he was about to delve into sleep, as if put in trance, he could hear a faint weak whispering voice of a female "Help me , Help me"... He was startled and give more concentration on the faint voice, alas! he continue hear again. He raise up afright from the bed, checking every direction of the room, wondering from the voices is emerging. Now the sound seems to be emitting from the old wooden almirah. With full of fear and curiosity , he advanced toward the almirah. The voice repeated even though its pace is slow.

He mustered up his courage and ask "Who are you" but the voice continue please help me im stuck here.
"where are you exactly" , he curiously asked again. " Help me , Im being cemented on the wall, they kill me and cemented me here" came the whisper from inside the wall . The voice plead the man to listen to her story and bring justice for her poor soul.

The female voice narrate her story: Once I was a student who came to the city for schooling. Like any other student I too had big dreams . I made my boyfriend, my would- be -husband, now a murderer, during my college days. He was rich, handsome and he saw me and approach me and that is how our relationship started. He flatter me with all his fake promises and lies. I trusted him with my whole heart and he promise me that iam going to be his wife. Without the consent of both our families we begin to live a new life together. All this happen so secretly that nobody knows anthing about us., even our closest friend. we rented a room and begin to start our families , everything was going fine until the moment I told him that I was pregnant. I was very happy but since from that day my husband begins to curse me, threaten me and even tell me to abort. Days passed by abd one day he took me to this inn on pretext that his best friend from village nearby is inviting both of them for a feast. Both of us reach this Inn and we stay in this very room.
Later in the late evening while Im sleeping my husband strangled me with a rope and with the help of the two person, the elderly man and his son they cemented me here inside the wall. This happen 3 years ago and nobody has even landed a foot on this room except the innkeepers, who came for cleaning and you. They put this almirah to hide the cemented wall part. Break the wall and give a proper burial to my remains and above that inform the police and justice for me by arresting my husband and his two accomplices. I trust you.

How many time flies listening to her story he does not now, as he stiffen himself , he found that he was crying all the time listening to the story. Now everything was quiet, no more voices heard . As Misotma tries to reason himself all that is happening, he finally made a decision that he will surely inform the police without wasting anytime. He remember the name and even jot down on a piece of paper the so called husband of the poor soul residing in the room.

After few minutes he finally fall asleep, when he woke up, hurriedly he pack his things and decided to leave . He bid goodbye to the elderly man , paid his bill and reach for his cars. His car already being repaired, he turn the wheel to the city to report the murder to thevpolice station.

He reach the station and enquire about the missing lady , if any file has registered in her name and found out that a case was registered back three years ago. The police in duty informed Misotma that due to lack of evidences nothing can be done in regard of this case. He narrated the whole episode to the head of that station and they agreed to help him. They immediately form a group to arrest her so called husband, and to dig out her body and the two accomplices.

The police forces reach the inn and break down the walls and the remains of her body was collected and handed to the family and was given a proper burial . The elderly man and her son were arrested and after some few days her so called husband was also arrested.

Now , Misotma finally reach his village, and spend the vacation happily with his family. And the soul of the voice inside the wall get her justice and rested in peace.





© masotshanglai