The Girl in the Window
(खिड़की में लड़की)
It was a quiet night in the police station when the phone suddenly rang. Inspector Sharma picked it up. On the other side of the call, a young girl’s voice trembled (कांपती हुई), “There’s a killer in my neighbor’s house. He’s trying to kill a family!”
The inspector sat up straight, alert (सतर्क). “What? Where are you? Tell me the location!”
The girl replied quickly (जल्दी से), “I live in 33/1345 Bandra, Mumbai. I can see everything from my window (खिड़की).”
Inspector Sharma’s mind raced (तेज़ी से सोचना). “Do you have any camera or phone to record the incident as proof?” he asked.
The girl’s voice softened (धीमी हो गई), “I don’t have a mobile. I’m paralyzed (लकवाग्रस्त), and today my family isn’t home. I’m all alone.”
Inspector Sharma replied firmly (दृढ़ता से), “Stay calm, we’re coming in 5 minutes. Don’t worry.”
The inspector and his team rushed (तेजी से गए) to the address. It was midnight, and the streets were fearfully silent (सन्नाटा). When they arrived, they saw the girl watching from her first-floor window (पहली मंजिल की खिड़की), her face pale(फीका) in the dim light (हल्की रोशनी). She didn’t speak, but with a weak gesture (कमज़ोर इशारा), she pointed to a house nearby (पास).
The police team approached the house cautiously (सावधानी से) and rang the doorbell. After a few moments, the door opened, revealing a sleepy-looking man (नींद भरा आदमी). His eyes widened in shock at the sight of the police.
“What’s going on? Is everything alright?” the man asked, confused (हैरान).
Inspector Sharma explained, “We received a call from the girl in that window. She reported there’s a killer inside your house. We need to check.”
The homeowner paused and then burst into laughter (हंसी में फूट पड़ा). “Oh, that girl again? She’s a bit mischievous (शरारती). Every time her family goes out to late-night parties and leaves her alone, she pulls pranks (मज़ाक करती है). She’s called the police, the hospital, and even the fire brigade saying there’s a fire next door. She just likes playing tricks. Don’t take her seriously.”
Feeling embarrassed (शर्मिंदा), Inspector Sharma apologized, “Sorry for the trouble, sir. You can go back to sleep.”
The homeowner nodded, still amused (मज़े में), and shut the door.
Inspector Sharma turned back to look at the girl. At first, he felt angry (गुस्सा) that she had wasted their time. But then, as he stood there, looking up at her lonely figure (अकेली छवि) in the window, he realized something deeper (गहराई से समझा)। She wasn’t mischievous, just incredibly lonely (बहुत अकेली). Her family left her behind, and with no one around, these calls were her way of reaching out, her cry for attention (ध्यान खींचने की पुकार).
The inspector gave the girl a soft, understanding nod before leaving. She had wanted to be noticed, not ignored(अनदेखा करना), and in that moment, he understood her pain (पीड़ा).
Questions
- What did the girl tell Inspector Sharma on the phone?
- Why couldn’t the girl record the incident?
- What did the homeowner say about the girl’s call?
- What did Inspector Sharma realize about the girl at the end?
Questions and Answers
- What did the girl tell Inspector Sharma on the phone?
The girl said there was a killer in her neighbor’s house trying to kill a family. - Why couldn’t the girl record the incident?
The girl was paralyzed and didn’t have a mobile phone. - What did the homeowner say about the girl’s call?
The homeowner said the girl often played pranks when her family left her alone at night. - What did Inspector Sharma realize about the girl at the end?
Inspector Sharma realized that the girl wasn’t mischievous but lonely and wanted attention.