Haunted: The suicide well

Each place carries certain type of energy. Some places carry positive energy, where we feel happy, at peace, or relaxed. Whereas some carry negative energy, where we feel suffocated, anxious, or uncomfortable. For some of these places, the history is known and hence we can deduce the origin of the negative energy. For some places the history is not known hence what originated it completely remains unknown. Despite of knowing the origin, the presence of the negative energy in certain places affects the individuals who come in contact with them.

My friend Prachi (pseudonym used to protect the identity of the individual) experienced the presence of a negative energy. This is Prachi's paranormal experience.

Prachi had recently started working in a multinational organisation. Prachi who belongs to a small town had to relocate to a metro city for her job. When Prachi moved to the city, she was staying in the organisation's employee quarters till the time she found her a place of her own. The employee quarters was located near her office. It actually was in the outskirts of the city. The roads were not crowded. There were not many residential areas near her office. The residential complexes were far away from her office. Considering the commute time, getting a place in the residential area was not an option. At the same time, staying in a deserted area was not safe too. Prachi was looking for a place on the rent so that she can live comfortably while working. There was a reason behind it.

The employee quarters was huge with many small buildings. None of these were higher than three story. This was bit strange because the city had only skyscrapers. Building were erected several years ago that is why they maintained the vintage look and feel. Still the vintage look had a haunting presence. At soon as Prachi would enter the employee quarters, she would feel uneasiness. An unpleasant feeling would creep through her body as an indicator to run away from that place. At a particular building she would feel suffocated. There the atmosphere used to feel heavy. Breathing would become difficult and a strange pressure on lungs. She would attribute it to the city's pollution, knowing very well that the pollution was not the reason. She would work on all the weekdays and she would hunt houses on the weekends, so that she could stay away from that strange place.

Finally one day she had found her own place. She was delighted that she does not have to return to the dreaded employee quarters. She had informed this news to her colleagues. Prachi had mentioned that she feels uncomfortable at the employee quarters and her desire to move away from there as quickly as possible. Hearing that her colleagues' faces changed, however they did not add anything to the conversation. Prachi did notice this change in behaviour, but she decided not to pursue this topic ahead. 

Prachi had shifted to her new place. This new place was what she wanted. A calm and quiet home in a residential complex. She had found her peace. After being back in the office Prachi mention to her colleagues that she has finally settled in. This time Prachi asked her colleagues about the incident that happened the other day. Prachi asked them that why their faces changed when she mention that she feels uncomfortable in the employee quarters. She asked them if they know anything about the employee quarters. Her colleagues try to brush off the topic. However Prachi was determine to know the truth. She knew that they were hiding something. She asked them repetitively to tell her without any hesitation. 

After a brief resistance, one of her colleagues told her the truth. They mentioned that they have heard stories about the employee quarters is haunted. Especially a building near or closed well.  At this building the paranormal experiences are more profound. Prachi never saw a wall in the employee quarters so she was confused. The colleague continued further with their story. Behind that building there used to be a deep and dark well. This well is the breeding ground of negative energies. It is said that this well used to lure people to it. People would feel hypnotised and would walk up to the well.  Several people without realising had walked up to the well and jump to their death. Nobody knew why it would happen. Various employees who had stayed in that employee quarters had committed "suicide" by jumping into that well. There are at least 20 known cases of suicide at that well. The police investigations led nowhere. The well became infamous as "the suicide well". As per the request of several residence, this well was covered and a wall was built to shield it. However the pull from this well still remains. A lot of people feel uncomfortable and uneasy near the well. 

Chills ran down Prachi's spine. She asked her colleague that why the organisation still asks employees to stay at such a haunted place. The answer was simple (capitalism baby!). Prachi was a glad that she was finally able to break free from such a dangerous residential area. But whenever she speaks about her experience from the employee quarters she still cannot shrug the thought that she had stayed in a haunted place. Even today, the well remains silent. Without a clear history to explain the darkness, it has become a monument to the unexplained. It serves as a hollow echo of the past, proving that even without a known legend, a place can still hold a terrifying power over the living.