It's time for another short story!! "Happy Diwal-loween!"

Divya was almost done unpacking, but her new home was still a mess. She plopped her tired self on the crooked couch and closed her eyes for a minute, when the doorbell rang and startled her. She looked up at the clock. It was almost midnight.

Who could it be at this hour?

Throughout the day some of her friendly, new neighbors had taken the trouble to welcome her to the building- Aman and his partner Vishesh from the 5th floor and Sona, the friendly Bong and her roommate, Pooja, from the apartment above Divya's. 

Divya had to drag herself off the couch to open the door. And when she did, her frown turned into a gasp, for she thought it was her grandmother's ghost standing before her.

“I'm Sarla. I live on the ground floor. I just wanted to welcome you to the building,” said the old lady, seemingly in her 80s. She had startling white hair knotted and tied up and dark black eyes, now misty with old age, that peered into one's soul.

Divya politely invited her inside and apologized for the mess. She still couldn't get over Sarla's striking resemblance with her beloved grandma, whom she had lost over a year ago. They chit-chatted for a while and then Sarla left. It was like an instant connection with the cute, old lady, which continued over the days to come. Divya smiled to herself, grateful for such friendly neighbors.

A week later, on the night of Diwali, Divya invited them for a small get-together. Lamps were lit, sweets and pleasantries were exchanged. After a nice meal, as the light from the lamps dimmed and the dark of the moonless night took over, the real party began. Aman had brought over a bottle of whiskey and Sona got a bottle of wine and a string of banter began as the drinks were poured. 

“Too bad Pooja couldn't be here. Would've been nice to have her,” Divya said. “I know! I miss her! But she's spending Diwali with her family,” Sona added. She then asked Vishesh why he looked a bit morose, and he simply shrugged it off. But Aman replied saying it was because of Halloween.

“Vishesh gets affected during this time of the year,” he said, to which Sona rolled her eyes. 

“Babe, you may not believe in ghosts and spirits. But there's a lot that's beyond our understanding.”

“Oh, yeah,” Divya said. “I've heard stories about this bloody bride in my mother's village. They say that she was starved to death by her in-laws because she was too poor to pay the dowry. She now wanders the deserted streets near the jungle around midnight, and feeds on the flesh of passersby to quench her appetite.” Hearing this Sona and Aman burst out laughing. But Vishesh remained quiet. 

“Speaking of a bloody bride, you've spilled some wine on your dress, honey,” Aman said to Sona. “I don't know about flesh eating brides, but Vishesh has definitely had a few paranormal encounters.” All their gazes shifted towards Vishesh, waiting for him to explain. He said that he had always been sensitive to the spiritual realm; that he can sense wandering spirits and ghosts, even see them on occasion. 

“And it's stronger during Halloween. I can actually sense something in this building right now. A paranormal presence,” said Vishesh. 

“You know, I've heard that a few years ago someone died in this building,” Aman added. “A woman strangled her mother-in-law for a property dispute and that old lady's spirit haunts the building to this day. There have even been sightings. Vishesh has seen her too.”

Vishesh nodded. “You can only see her late at night. She has white hair and dark eyes. And she's not a harmless spirit. She's out for vengeance. Any woman who remotely resembles her daughter-in-law will not be spared. I can sense a lurking darkness around us,” he said.

Divya's mouth went dry. Her mind raced with frightening thoughts. She recalled that the old lady from the ground floor, Sarla, had mentioned that she resembled her daughter-in-law who lives in London. Sarla only visited her around midnight. She had white hair and dark eyes…. 

“G… Guys. Is there someone living on the ground floor? An old lady named Sarla?”

Everyone shook their heads and said they had never seen this old lady. Divya's heart leaped into her mouth and her mind went numb. After a moment of recovery, she told them about the old lady who visits her around midnight. They all exchanged uneasy glances. And a deafening silence surrounded them. But it was soon shattered by the sound of the doorbell. It was almost midnight…

Wait! There's more. Read the caption for a chilling twist in the tale…

Vishesh braved himself and opened the door. The old lady stood before them, when the dying light from a diya flickered as the wind blew it out. Darkness engulfed them. Sarla had left her hair open, which seemed to have a sinister glow. They all drew in a sharp breath at her sight. She just stood there at the doorway, glaring at them all, before her eyes fell on Divya and her lips curled up into a menacing smile. It was time for revenge…!

“Sorry I'm so late. I fell asleep in the evening and woke up an hour ago. Then I remembered about your get-together tonight. So I thought I'd try my luck to see if you all were still here. It's been so long since I've been to a party,” Sarla said, sounding a little out of breath. “Boy! Climbing a flight of stairs really takes it out of me. But the doctor says I should try to be a little active. Mind if I join you all?”

Divya gulped a sip of her drink and said nothing, Sona seemed frozen with fear and Aman continued to stare at the old lady without blinking. Vishesh invited her in.

“Did I say something wrong?” Sarla asked.

Vishesh stepped in and asked everyone to ease up. “Guys, she's not a ghost,” he said.

“Wait. You're not dead?” Aman said. “You're not an evil spirit seeking vengeance?” Sona added. “You're not going to kill me?” Divya said in a shaky voice.

Seeing that the poor old lady looked utterly confused, Vishesh explained everything to her. 

“Oh my! You kids thought I'm an evil ghost?!” Sarla said with a chuckle. “I just visited you around midnight because I have trouble sleeping and you live on the 1st floor, which is easier for me to get to. And the rest of you never saw me because I don't get out of the house much. In case you all haven't noticed, I'm old, kids. I can't climb more than a flight of stairs and the elevator scares me. And Divya, I love my daughter-in-law. I miss her dearly and you have a beautiful smile, just like hers.”

“Phew!” Divya sighed in relief. “OK. I feel so stupid for believing in these things. I realize now that it's all a myth- ghosts, flesh-eating women, evil spirits, vampires…”

“Oh, ghosts are real. And this building truly is haunted by the evil spirit of an old lady. I've experienced it, Divya,” Vishesh said.

“What did you just say?” Sona said, looking directly at Divya. “Just because a myth has been created about Vampires being afraid of garlic and sunlight, doesn't mean they aren't real.” Sona's voice had changed, it had an edge that gave everyone goosebumps. Divya looked like she was struck by lightning. “Sona, where's Pooja?”

“Did you guys really think that I spilled wine on my pretty dress? I mean, come on, you guys!” Sona said, her voice getting colder by the second.

“Where is your roommate, Sona?” Aman asked slowly.

Sona's lips curled up into an ominous smile. “Happy Halloween!” She said in a sing-song voice, with a booming malicious laughter as shrill shrieks imploded through the silence of the night…

(Written by A. S. Grace)