Chapter 1: The Mysterious Arrival   In a secluded village, nestled deep in the woods, the air was heavy with an eerie stillness that hung like a shroud. The cottages, overgrown with ivy, cowered beneath the ancient trees. Among them, the most ominous was the dwelling of Vatsala Bai, the enigmatic old woman.   The villagers, their faces etched with fear, avoided her dilapidated cottage as if it were cursed. They whispered tales of her malevolence, their voices trembling with dread. "Stay away from Vatsala Bai's place," they cautioned one another, their warnings carried on the wind.   Vatsala Bai,