Indhu POV
It was Sunday afternoon — the kind where even the sun looked lazy.
And us? We were worse.
For once, we weren't in school, weren't drowning in uniforms, and weren't arguing about homework. Instead, all five of us were sprawled around Charlotte's house for a simple chai hangout. Rohan had dramatically named it "Tea Talks", as if that made it sophisticated.
I sat on the swing, slowly sipping elaichi tea, letting it warm my palms. Charlotte came out with a tray of Marie biscuits like a proud host. Aditya was crouched near the Bluetooth speaker, aggressively tapping his phone like the playlist personally offended him.
Swetha, slouched against the wall, suddenly announced,
"Ghost stories. Let's go."
I nearly choked on my tea.
"Bro, no," Charlotte said instantly. "We agreed. No horror today."
"Exactly why I brought it up," Swetha smirked. "Reverse psychology."
I narrowed my eyes at her. "You're reverse dumbology."
She ignored me — as usual — and continued, lowering her voice dramatically.
"Okay, so in my old house… late nights… we used to hear knocking. Not loud. Just soft… but impatient. No one at the door. No wind. Just knock… knock… knock…"
The air shifted.
Even Aditya stopped fighting with the speaker.
I pretended I wasn't affected, took another sip, and added casually,
"At my grandma's house, there was this corner we were never allowed to sit in after sunset. They said if you sat there alone… someone would whisper your name."
Big mistake.
"STOP!" Charlotte yelled, covering her ears. "I'm not doing this. I'll cry."
Rohan leaned forward, eyes glittering.
"You look like a ghost when you panic."
Everyone burst out laughing.
Swetha nearly fell over. "Yeah seriously, Charlotte. Your face right now? Paranormal Activity Part 7."
Charlotte grabbed a cushion and threw it at her. "SHUT UP!"
That's when I decided to escalate things — because why not.
I turned slowly to Aditya, completely serious.
"Wait. Who did you say looked like a ghost just now?"
He blinked. "Charlotte?"
I frowned. "No… I heard you say someone else."
Silence.
Charlotte froze. "Don't joke."
Aditya's smile faded. "I swear I said Charlotte. You're messing with me."
Swetha tilted her head slowly.
"Wait… who's behind Indhu?"
My heart dropped.
I spun around so fast, tea splashing onto my jeans.
Nothing.
The silence stretched.
"WHAT DID YOU SEE?!" Charlotte screamed.
And then—
Rohan burst out laughing.
"Your face!" he yelled. "GOT YOU!"
I stared at him.
It was a prank.
A full-blown, well-timed, evil prank.
Swetha high-fived him like he'd won an award.
"You guys suck," I muttered, wiping tea off my jeans.
Swetha giggled. "You really thought—"
"I hate you all," I said flatly.
Aditya grinned. "If any of us turn into ghosts, I'm haunting your Spotify playlist first."
Charlotte shook her head. "If this group ever makes a horror movie, it'll just be us scaring each other and drinking tea."
We settled back into our places, laughter fading into comfortable calm as evening crept in.
Then—
Knock. Knock.
From Charlotte's front gate.
Every single one of us froze.
Charlotte whispered, "That's just the watchman… right?"
Aditya stood up slowly. "Or your ghost."
I grinned, raising my cup. "Plot twist — the ghost just wants tea."
Rohan lifted his cup dramatically.
"To ghosts, chai, and V5. Long may we haunt each other."
And honestly?
If this was haunting — I didn't mind it at all.