Horror Story : Limping Sara

Readers Discretion Advised.

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Chapter 1: Birthday Party

It's a foggy night in Gurugram. Away from the hustle bustle of the highway, in an eerily silent society building, one floor is decorated with lights and lamps. Light music can be heard coming from the house even from the ground. 

It’s the third birthday celebration of baby Sara. Ravi and Tanu had prepared for a grand party for their daughter’s birthday. They wanted to go for a low key barbeque and dinner.

Majority of the neighbours in their building were of the same age as them. Most of them had babies nearly the same age as Sara. Tanu invited them all along with a few family friends and a couple of other neighbours.

Ravi has set up a barbeque counter in the balcony along with Shekhar and a few other men invited to the party. While grilling vegetables, the men are also secretly passing shots of fine scotch which Ravi had very cunningly filled in an opaque soya sauce bottle. 

"Told you neither the guards nor the ladies would figure this out. Nobody doubts anything if it is hidden in plain sight" said Shekhar to Ravi while pouring a small peg into his glass discreetly.

"Yeah nice one genius, now stop bragging and pass the bottle along to others. Tanu might come over to check on paneer soon" Ravi replied while blocking the sauce bottle with his torso and looking towards the ladies.

As they continue passing the bottle along, a young girl in her late teens  approaches the barbecue towards Ravi. “Hello Sir, Mam is asking if the next round of grills are ready.” 

“Nancy how many times I have to tell you you can call me Ravi or atleast Mr. Gupta” says Ravi with a cheerful smile on his face. “But yes, the next platter would be ready in 5-10 minutes. I’ll bring that towards the stage myself.”

“Sure! I’ll tell that to ma’m then..” says Nancy with a smile as she heads towards the stage area again. As she leaves Shekhar looks back at Ravi with an impish smile and says "Atleast I am now relieved that I was not eyeballing your relative since the last 10 minutes".

"That's just lame dude. At least spare the kids now, you're a father yourself Shekhar!" says Ravi smirking at Shekhar. "Sorry didn't know that! But by the way, who is she if she's not your relative? Haven't seen her in this society I think".

“didn't I tell you.. she's Mr. Verma's daughter". Shekhar still had a confused face trying to recall the conversation. "She's babysitting Sara bro!"

 "Ah yes, Mr. Verma reached out to you that his daughter is looking for some part time earnings right?" Replies Shekhar. 

“Yup. In fact, weren’t you also saying that Meera was thinking of finding a job soon. Then you might also need someone to babysit Avi after his play school, right?”

 Right then, a middle aged person approaches their group. "Hi Ravi, I hope I am not intruding on you guys"Says Mr. Verma.

“Oh hey Mr. Verma,  not at all! Welcome! I didn’t even notice that you have joined the party” Ravi replied trying to sound extra alert while trying to hide the effect of three pegs he just chugged.

“Ah no worries.. I am just here to fetch Nancy. It's getting late for her.” says Mr. Verma

“Yeah she was just here right now. She must be with Tanu and kids over there” says Ravi while pointing towards the stage area. Mr. Verma gives a thanking nod to him and walks off to fetch his daughter.

“Phew! That was a close shave” says Shekhar as Mr. Verma leaves. “Lets just hope that he didn’t hear what you said about Nancy or else I will have to find a new babysitter” adds Ravi.

Towards the Center stage, a nice decorated table is placed with the birthday cake on it. Nearby on chairs Tanu was with Meera arranging lunch plates for the kids. As Meera was continuing with her regular banter about her in-laws, she noticed a strange behaviour in Sara while she was playing with other kids. Every once in a few minutes, Sara would suddenly adopt a peculiar and haunting limp while moving about.  She would give a blank expression, spread her feet outwards so that the feet are pointing in the opposite direction and walk a few steps. There was something eerie and unsettling in seeing her limp.

In a hushed tone, Meera asked Tanu, "Have you noticed the strange way Sara has been walking lately? Is there some trouble with her leg?”

Tanu's eyes flickered with a mix of concern and uncertainty as she observed Sara's peculiar walk once again. In an attempt to hide her own apprehensions, she replied in a seemingly relaxed voice, "Ah yes, that limping act. We did notice it before, and we were a bit worried at first. But we took her to the doctor, and thankfully, there's no issue with her leg. I believe it's just something she picked up from one of those cartoon characters she watches on YouTube." Despite her attempts to sound composed, a lingering doubt was quite visible in her eyes as she gazed back at Sara while completing the sentence.

Meera noticed the unease in Tanu's eyes and sought to lighten her friend's mind. With a reassuring smile, she said, "You know how kids these days pick up all sorts of weird stuff from YouTube. It's probably just a passing phase, and she'll grow out of it soon. But yes I'll say that it's always better to keep a watchful eye on them. If it continues to bother you, maybe you could also consult our pediatrician for an extra peace of mind."

Tanu mustered a fake smile, grateful for Meera's attempt to ease her worries.

Chapter 2: Mysterious Limp

The weeks passed by, and the mysterious limping of baby Sara continued to worry Tanu. Despite multiple visits to the doctor and thorough check-ups, there seemed to be no physical issue causing the limp. Tanu couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off.

One evening, while sitting in the living room, Tanu decided to bring up the topic with Ravi. "Ravi, I can't help but feel concerned about Sara's limping. We've been to the doctor multiple times, and they couldn't find anything wrong. What if it's something she picked up from Nancy?"

Ravi looked thoughtful for a moment before replying, "I understand your concern, Tanu, but it's hard to believe that Sara would imitate something like that from Nancy. I mean, we've seen her interact with Nancy, and they seem to get along fine."

"I know, but I can't shake this feeling. Maybe we should talk to Nancy about it directly," Tanu suggested.

The next day, Tanu decided to have a candid conversation with Nancy. She approached the young girl, who was babysitting Sara again. "Nancy, can I talk to you for a moment?" Tanu asked gently.

Nancy looked a bit nervous but nodded in agreement. Tanu led her to a quiet corner away from the kids and began, "Nancy, I hope you know how much we appreciate your help with Sara. You've been wonderful. But I've noticed that Sara has been limping lately, and we can't figure out why. Has she picked up anything unusual from you?"

Nancy seemed taken aback by the question. "I... I don't think so, ma'am. I haven't noticed anything like that."

Tanu could sense some anxiety in Nancy's reply, and it only heightened her suspicions. "Are you sure, Nancy? We just want to make sure everything is okay with Sara."

Nancy hesitated for a moment before saying, "Well, there is this one thing. Sometimes, I do a funny walk just for fun, you know, like a character from a show I used to watch when I was younger. I didn't think Sara noticed, but maybe she did."

Tanu's heart sank a little, realising that her hunch might be right. "It's okay, Nancy. Just be mindful of what you do around her, especially if it's something that might influence her behaviour."

As the days went on, Tanu couldn't shake off her concern. She decided to take extra precautions to ensure Sara's safety. One day, she discussed the idea of installing CCTV cameras in the house with Ravi.

At first, Ravi was a bit reluctant, feeling like it was an invasion of privacy. But after hearing Tanu's worries and considering their daughter's well-being, he agreed that it might bring some peace of mind.

They installed the cameras in the common areas of the house, making sure the bedrooms and bathrooms were excluded for privacy. Ravi ensured the setup was discreet and secure, so it wouldn't cause any discomfort to the guests or babysitter.

The days passed, and Tanu became more observant, watching the recorded footage whenever Sara was with Nancy. Most of the time, everything seemed normal, but Tanu still couldn't let go of her unease.

Then one day, while reviewing the footage, she noticed something peculiar. Nancy seemed to be hiding something under her scarf whenever she was with Sara. It wasn't clear what it was, but it piqued Tanu's curiosity.

She decided to confront Nancy again, this time with Ravi by her side. "Nancy, we've noticed something in the CCTV footage, and we need to ask you about it," Tanu said firmly but kindly.

Nancy looked visibly nervous now. "I... I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered.

Ravi spoke gently, "Nancy, we installed the cameras to ensure Sara's safety, and we trust you, but we need to know if there's anything you're hiding from us."

After a moment, Nancy hesitated before pulling out a small packet from under her scarf. "It's just a packet of candies, ma'am. I know I shouldn't have brought them, but Sara seemed to enjoy them, and I didn't want to upset her."

Tanu let out a sigh of relief, realising it was a simple misunderstanding. "Nancy, it's okay. You don't have to hide anything from us. But please don't bring candies without checking with us first. We want to be aware of what Sara consumes."

Nancy nodded apologetically, and from that day on, they all established clear guidelines for what was allowed for Sara to eat while she was under Nancy's care.

With time, Sara's limping slowly disappeared, and Tanu's worries eased.

Chapter 3: Unveiling Secrets

After a few regular days, Sara’s limping pattern again resurfaced. This time Ravi noticed this strange walk during his playtime with Sara. This time around it was even more weird. He couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling he got when he noticed Sara's strange behaviour during playtime. It concerned him deeply that she would occasionally stand up, stop speaking, and perform the limping walk silently for a few steps. It was as if she was possessed by something, and the spooky nature of it sent shivers down his spine.

Determined to understand what was happening, Ravi decided to review the CCTV recordings more thoroughly. As he randomly fast-forwarded through the past days' footage, he was taken aback by the discovery of a strange pattern. Every one or two days, there were a couple of minutes missing from the recordings.

The eerie feeling in the pit of his stomach intensified as he couldn't ignore the coincidence. He didn't want to burden Tanu with his concerns just yet, fearing it might only increase her anxiety. Instead, he approached Nancy privately, hoping she might provide some clarity.

"Nancy, I noticed some gaps in the CCTV footage in the past days. Can you tell me if there's any specific reason for that?" Ravi inquired cautiously.

Nancy thinks for a while recollecting her daily routine and then says. "Oh, those gaps... Sometimes, the electricity trips for a few minutes, and the cameras stop recording. But it's only for a short duration, and I didn't think it would be a problem."

"Oh power cut!" Says Ravi with a relieved breath. "Yeah, I completely missed out on it. Okay thanks Nancy and please don't take it negatively alright. I just noticed in the recording that I got curious".

"Not an issue sir. I understand".

Ravi smiles back and says "You don't have to call me sir Nancy. Your father is my senior in office." Nancy smiled back.

Feeling a bit relieved after the discussion, Ravi boarded his office bus. But as he continued to review the footage on his mobile while on his way to the office, he noticed something else that chilled him to the bone. 30-40 minutes into the recording after it had a breach, he sees Saara coming out of her room with her eyes vacant and distant. Suddenly, she started to perform the limping walk, but this time, it was different—it looked almost supernatural, as if something was controlling her movements.

Ravi's heart raced, and his mind couldn't comprehend what he was witnessing. He felt a mixture of fear and determination. He also realised a very obvious error from his side.

The kill switch of the CCTV camera was not in the frame. It meant that anyone could access the camera and switch it off without being noticed. This realisation hit him hard.

Back in his office, Ravi shared all these developments with Shekhar, confiding in him about his reluctance to share the strange occurrences with Tanu. Shekhar thought for a moment before suggesting a plan to get to the bottom of things.

"Ravi, you need to uncover the truth, but you also have to be cautious. Install a secret CCTV camera in a place Nancy doesn't know about, and tell her that the current CCTV is gone for repair. That way, you can monitor things discreetly," Shekhar advised.

"I think you're right. Privacy and all is okay but seeing Sara walk like that.., I think it's worth being a bit invasive to ensure my daughter's well being"

"Hmm" mumbles Shekhar. " One more thing I wanted to ask.. but please don't take me wrong"

"Yeah, tell me" replies Ravi looking at his mobile.

"Uhh, do you guys still tie a black thread on Sara's wrist or ankle to protect her from evil eye. I know it sounds very lame and superstitious, but just asking just to be sure. The recording does look a bit odd to me. There's also a cemetery near our society actually." says Shekhar in a low tone.

Ravi pauses for a second before answering as Shekhar just blurted out something that even crossed his mind when we saw the bone chilling recording the first time. He then replies in a firm voice "C'mon yaar Shekhar! Don't sound like my parents okay! And just to assure the traditionalist inside you let me tell you, Tanu does tie a black thread on Sara's wrist."

Despite this last exchange, Ravi still agreed with Shekhar's plan to install a secret CCTV camera. He even decided to also take it one step further. He installed another hidden camera in their bedroom, making sure it was completely concealed. He wanted to ensure nothing would escape his watchful eye.

Chapter 4: The Horror

The next day he installed the cameras while Tanu was gone out and he was alone. Later when Nancy arrived, he shouted from the living room towards Tanu "Hey Tanu, there was a problem in the CCTV camera I think so I called in repairmen to take it for repair." He just glanced at Nancy and noticed that she also heard this.

Tanu suddenly peaked from the kitchen after hearing it. "Uh okay. Can you come over here for a second Ravi?"

Ravi entered the kitchen "When will you stop your stupidities Ravi!" murmurs Tanu. "Even if the CCTV wasn't working why relay it in front of Nancy ha". Ravi looks back to confirm if Nancy's not listening. "Trust me on this okay. I have something in mind that I will share later okay". He adds and then tells Tanu to act normal and leave for her office usually.

The next day, after reaching his office, Ravi checked the recordings from the hidden cameras, and what he saw left him dumbstruck. What unravelled after that was something that was far worse than even his worst nightmare.

He froze in his seat as he saw the recording. Around 2 pm , the door opened and Mr. Verma, Nancy's father, walked inside the house.

He kept his bag and glasses on the table and looked at Nancy with an eager grin.

"Go! get the water now" says Mr. Verma to his daughter. Nancy goes towards the kitchen.

Sitting in the corner of the room, there was Sara who was playing with her toys. After seeing Mr. Verma, she dropped her toys suddenly and became frightened and silent.

"Come here sweet Sara! My little angel! Time to play our fun game" Said Mr. Verma to Sara.

Sweat started pouring down Ravi's temple and his eyes flushed red with tears as he watched the recording.

Nancy came out of the kitchen with two glasses of water. Mr. Verma gulped the water and Nancy took out a tablet from her scarf and added it to the other glass. She then handed the glass to Sara and said "You know the rules before starting the game right Sara?".

Sara nods and drinks the glass full.

"No no no no" says Ravi as he shakes his head in denial as if wanting to convey his daughter not to drink it. His eyes get teary as he leaves his desk and walks outside with the phone playing the recording.

Mr. Verma then unzips completely and takes Sara in his lap and with the evil grin and closed eyes starts to sing lullaby as he rocks Sara back and forth on him.

Nancy laughs devilishly and starts to touch herself erotically on the couch as she  watches her father doing the unspeakable.

Ravi loses his mind as he frantically shouts out his lungs with raging eyes "NOOO !!!" . Everyone gets startled as Ravi runs outside the office. Ravi hears Shekhar's distant voice "what happened bro, you alright". He didn't turn back and sprinted out of the office premise towards the main road to catch a taxi. After getting in the taxi, he skips forward the recording by 10 minutes and finally sees the reason. Sara gets up from Mr. Verma's lap with a completely blank expression. She walks two or three steps limping in pain but without showing the pain in her expression. She silently walks back towards her toys with wide open eyes and blank face and then resumes to play with them.

Nancy stops touching herself after getting her orgasm and lays back on the couch. She then starts to sing the lullaby her father was singing in a crooked maniac tone. Her father continued to smile with his eyes closed.

Ravi continued to curse and cry in the taxi as it raced towards his home. After a few minutes of this shock, He called his wife and police to also bring them over. 

Chapter 5: Broken

The sterile grey of the interrogation room barely touched the man seated across the table. Mr. Verma sat upright, hands neatly folded in front of him as if attending a parent-teacher meeting. There was no resistance in him—no anger, no guilt. Just calm.

Across from him, Inspector Rathi stared for a long moment before speaking.

“Do you understand why you’re here?”

Verma nodded politely. “Because the cameras saw what we do. Me and Nancy. With little Sara.”

The inspector clenched his jaw but kept his voice level. “You abused a child, Verma. Your neighbour’s three-year-old daughter. You drugged her. You—” He stopped, looking down at the notes he didn’t want to read again. “You need to help us understand how you let yourself become this.”

Verma’s eyebrows lifted slightly, as if surprised. “You think this started with me? I only did what I was shown. By my father. By his father before him. In our home, Inspector saab, we never saw these things as wrong. It’s… affection. It’s love. It’s a game.”

Rathi stiffened. “And Nancy? What kind of father teaches his daughter—”

“She never cried,” Verma interrupted softly. “That’s how I knew she understood. She played along. She never ran. Not even once.”

The silence in the room turned viscous.

Verma smiled faintly. “You all see monsters. But none of them screamed. Not Nancy. Not Sara. They sat quietly. That’s innocence, isn’t it? Silence means consent. That’s what we were taught.”

Inspector Rathi leaned back in his chair, disgust and exhaustion fighting for space on his face. “You’re going away for the rest of your life. That much I’ll make sure of.”

Verma nodded, his voice as calm as ever. “As long as Nancy is okay. She’ll miss me, I know. But she’s strong. And maybe… someday, another child will understand her. The way she understood me.”

Rathi stood up, his chair scraping back sharply. He couldn’t stay in the room any longer.

Outside the child therapist’s clinic, Ravi sat on a bench beneath a wilting ficus tree, staring at the cracks on the pavement. Tanu sat beside him, her head resting against the cold wall behind them. Both looked older than they had a month ago. As if years had passed.

Shekhar approached quietly, holding two coffees. “She inside?” he asked.

Ravi nodded. “Doctor says she might not say much. Might not even remember it all. But it’s in there. Somewhere. A bruise doesn’t need to be visible to exist.”

Shekhar sat beside him in silence for a few moments. “Maybe it’s better if she forgets.”

Ravi turned to him. “IF she forgets it. But if she retains even a small trace of these memories. It would remain like a suppressed wound. In time she would have to be made aware about this.” Tears run through his eyes as he continues “I don’t know how we would get the courage for that Shekhar”.

Tanu’s voice comes from behind “Or maybe we’re the ones who’ll spend the rest of our lives waiting for her to forget something we’ll never be able to.” His voice cracked at the edges.

Tanu looked down at her hands. “She’s started limping again.”

Shekhar opened his mouth to say something—anything—but Ravi cut in quietly. “Remember what you told me that night? At the barbeque. When we were hiding the scotch in that sauce bottle?”

He didn’t wait for a response.

“You said, ‘Nobody doubts anything if it’s hidden in plain sight.’” He swallowed hard. “It was true. It always was.” He breaks down and hugs Shekhar. Tanu sits there with red teary eyes and a blank face.

Somewhere, in a far quieter part of the city, a narrow hallway echoed faintly with a song. Not a melody of comfort, but something crooked and uneven, a tune broken by the tremble of a cracked voice.

Nancy sat alone in a padded cell of an asylum, cross-legged on the floor. She hummed to herself softly, rocking as she sang the lullaby.

“Nanhi kali.. sone chali..”

A charcoal stick in her hand, blackening her fingers and clipping her nails. There’s a drawing on the wall in front of her. The drawing was rough—childlike—but unmistakable. A man with  a grin stretched too wide and beside him sits a black girl with braids.

She reached up and added another line, a collar to his shirt, and then pressed her forehead to the wall. The corridor continues to echo her humming.