India, Dec. 22 -- A woman repeatedly hammering the door of an empty flat in a posh Sector 66 residential society, claiming to hear "loud noises" of furniture being scraped inside, set off a chain of events that underscored the discomfort, improvisation, and ethical tightrope that comes with chasing concealed stories. What began as a video circulating on social media unfolded into a fragmented investigation marked by fear, denial, and institutional fatigue.

American journalist and presenter Lester Holt has observed that social media often reshapes storytelling and pulls reporters into unexpected journeys. That observation rang true as I reached the society's entrance after watching the video. My first encounter was with security staff who...