Room No. 908

It had been over 10 years that Ron lost his job as a software developer in his favorite company, the company that everyone dreamed of getting a job in his city, and just like any other guy, Ron also wanted to be a part of that company. He got to work with it and everything was going smoothly until one day when he got involved in an argument with his senior that turned into a fight between the two. This resulted into the loss of his dream job and respect in the whole city. After this incident, none of the company was ready to offer him job. Losing all his hopes, Ron finally decided to move to some other city where no one knew him, so that he can start over again. He woke up in the morning and was about to leave the house when he saw a letter on the door. The letter read, ‘what has happened can never be undone, but what if we give you a job more interesting than your previous one? Yes, we were tracking you for over 11 years, and we think this is the correct time for you to do this job. If you are interested, then pack your bags and be ready by 12 noon, our guy will come to pick you up, just remember that your code word is- KF2.’ Ron was so confused and frightened that he first thought to inform the police that someone has tried to prank him, but then he knew how important it was for him to get a job. He decided that he will wait till 12, if someone comes he would go for it and see what the job is about, and if no one comes, he would leave the city and search for a new job as he decided last night. To his surprise at exactly 12 pm there was a knock on the door. He saw a man on the door; he asked whether he was from the company who gave him the offer letter today? The man completely ignored his question and asked him for the code word. Ron told him the code word and then the man replied, ‘Yes you got it right Mr. Ron I have come to take you to your new office. You have been assigned a very special job, now be quick and get in the car or we may get late on the very first day of your job.’ It was hard for Ron to believe on that man as anything can happen, maybe he can get kidnapped or murdered or can even be tortured by someone, also he was not aware about the job and where that man was going to take him. But due to the hardships that he went through in these 10 years, the mental torture that the society gave him, he was ready to take that risk for his life. On the way to the company office, Ron asked, ‘Can I know your name and the name of the company?’ The man replied that his name was Owen and the company is SofAi. Ron was shocked as it was his previous company and as he was about to question on that Owen replied that he was going to rejoin his previous company but this time his job will be a bit different than what he used to do earlier, something more scientific. Ron had no idea what was going on, he thought he was dreaming all this, but this was not the case, rather what he was about to see was way beyond anyone’s imagination. Soon they reached the office, the same in which he used to work, same building, same faces, it was very heart warming for Ron to return to his dream company once again. But this time there was a slight twist. Owen took him to the ninth floor of the building, where a person then guided Ron to his cabin. Everything was once again back to normal, Ron finally got his job back and this time he was having a much higher salary. He was so happy, that he did not sleep that night. Months past and soon came winters. It was very windy in the night and weather forecast predicted that there can be a snow storm tomorrow. Ron went to his office and by the time he completed his work, the snow storm has struck and he was stuck in the building with some of his friends. They all decided to play hide and seek, bringing back the childhood days was the best escape they thought in such a weather. Ron decided to hide himself on the top floor, the ninth floor where he had his cabin, he was hiding in his cabin when suddenly the lift stopped on the floor; he lifted his head to see who has come, but nobody came out of the lift. He thought it would have been a trick by his friends just to scare him, so he went out of the cabin to check. But then suddenly the lights of the floor went out and it was completely dark in there, apart from the room 908. He was told earlier that the room 908 was given to a girl about 5 years after he got fired and that girl within a month committed suicide in the same room, after this incident the room was locked and never opened again since then. Seeing the lights coming out of the room, Ron was confused and afraid as that room never had its lights on since he rejoined the company. He decided to inspect what was inside and decided to break the lock and the open. What he saw on the other side of that door just blew up his mind. He found himself teleported to the past, to his college days. It seemed to him that the door was a time portal to the past. He wanted to check whether he was actually in the past or it was just an illusion so, he decided to go to his house. As soon as he opened his house door, he was in tears. His dad was right there in front of his eyes. About 15 years back, when Ron was in college, he lost his dad in an accident; it was believed that someone suddenly came in-front of his dad’s car as a result the car got out of control and smashed into an electricity pole. Seeing his dad alive again was no less than a dream come true for Ron. He went on to give him a hug but soon realized that he can’t touch or feel anything, as if he was a cloud, that can’t be seen or heard by anyone. He soon realized that it was the same day when he lost his dad. He started to panic; he wanted to stop his dad from going out in the car as he knew what was going to happen, he thought if he could change the past, maybe he can have his dad back in the present. But unable to do anything he started crying, when suddenly he realized that if he can’t save his dad, he can at least see the face of the person who became the reason of his father’s death. So he quickly went on to the spot where his dad died and waited for his dad to come but, before his dad arrived, he saw himself going to his home with his friends after the college, when suddenly he noticed that he and his friends were trying to bully a girl on the roadside. Ron watched himself bully that girl and leave with his friends after sometime. After they all left, he saw that the girl started crying and simultaneously his dad’s car started approaching the spot, suddenly that girl ran in tears and cross the road; came in front of his dad’s car; the car got out of control and got smashed into the electricity pole and his dad died. All this happened so fast that he was unable to react, soon after the accident the whole space changed, and suddenly that girl appeared in front him. The girl said, ‘You and your friends bullied me, it was such a fun for you all, but the pain that I went through after you all left was enough to break my heart into pieces, I was so shattered that I didn’t see the car coming towards me, and by the time I could figure that out, it was very late. After the accident, I came home and cried, as someone died just because of my mistake. That incident didn’t let me sleep throughout my life, it was impossible for me to forget about that day; as a result I finally decided to end my life in this room.’ After saying this, the girl disappeared and Ron was left alone in the void, dark space, repenting on what he did that day and how his deeds took away the life of his dad and the girl that he bullied that day. He started crying when he heard his father’s voice, he looked up and it was Owen, but he sounded like his father, suddenly Owen started turning into his dad and finally it was his dad standing right in front of his eyes. Ron rushed and hugged his father and started to apologize for what he did. His dad then told him, ‘Look son, I told you earlier also that what has happened can never be undone, what we have is the present. It depends on us how we treat people. I knew it was going to be very hard for you to see what happened that day, but I am glad that you got your lesson. You must not think that you are alone; I am always there to help and guide you. Now go back son and improve your mistakes.’ Ron’s dad slowly faded and he heard voices of his friends, ‘Ron, wake up, wake up buddy! The storm has stopped.’ As he woke up, Ron found himself under the table of his cabin, maybe it was a dream, he thought. But he knew that it was for a purpose. The storm had stopped and roads were clear to go, all of them went home. Ron was unable to sleep that night as he was very anxious and sad. Next day, he woke up early in the morning and went to his father’s grave and apologized for what he did. After that he went to the grave of the girl whom he and his friends bullied and apologized to her too for that day. He was feeling a great relief as he was coming back home. On the way, he found some boys teasing a fat girl, this time instead of ignoring it, he went on to them and made them realize their mistake and apologize to that girl. The girl smiled and thanked him; suddenly he heard a sound say, “Thank you” in his ears. He smiled back as he now knew how his new job was different than the previous one...