HER SAFE PLACE

Ghost

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Shivangi's POV

After we left the wedding, we were buzzing with energy, our laughter still echoing in the night air. That’s when Adi’s eyes lit up with that devilish glint we all knew too well.

“Guys,” he said with a grin so wide it looked like his face might split. “Let’s pull a prank.”

“What insane idea are you cooking up this time?” I asked, half-laughing, half-dreading his answer.

“A ghost prank,” he whispered dramatically, his face serious like he’d just uncovered the best idea of the century. “And I know just the ghost for the job.” His gaze zeroed in on me like I’d been selected for a special mission.

“Oh no, not me!” I protested, laughing and shaking my head. But with everyone cheering and egging me on, I finally caved. “Fine, fine! But if this backfires, I’m throwing you under the bus, Adi!”

With a quick transformation, I became our “ghost.” I let my hair fall wild and messy around my face, smeared dark makeup under my eyes, and threw a shawl over my head. Even I was impressed – I looked like I’d crawled straight out of a horror movie.

The others tried not to laugh too loud as they ducked out of sight, eagerly awaiting their victim. And fate handed us the perfect one: Rocky, who’d wandered off for a phone call and was now walking back completely clueless about what he was about to stumble into.

Rocky ambled up the path, his eyes glued to his phone. I took a deep breath, preparing my creepiest ghost act. As he got close, I let out a low, eerie moan.

"Rooockyyyyy…”

He froze mid-step, his head snapping up as he squinted into the dark. “What the…? Who’s there?”

I fought back the urge to burst into laughter and continued in the creepiest voice I could manage, “Rockyyyy… I’m watching youuu…”

He spun around in complete confusion, glancing over his shoulder. And that’s when I slowly crept out from behind the bushes, head tilted at an unsettling angle, moving in these creepy, jerky steps.

“Roooockyyyyyy…” I whispered again, stretching out my arms toward him like I’d just crawled out of his nightmares.

He stared at me, wide-eyed, his mouth dropping open in horror. Then, suddenly, he let out this high-pitched, panicked squeal I never thought he was capable of, practically tripping over himself as he stumbled backward.

“AAAAHHH!” he screamed, his phone flying out of his hand as he scrambled to get away. “WHAT THE—Shivangi, is that YOU?!”

I stayed in character, extending my hand toward him in this spooky, slow motion. “You cannot escape me… I have returned…”

"ADI, SOMEBODY HELP ME!" Rocky shrieked, looking around wildly like he’d just seen a real ghost, his face paler than a sheet.

By now, Adi and the others had already collapsed in a giggling heap behind the bushes. I couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst out laughing, doubling over with tears streaming down my face.

Rocky’s expression morphed from pure terror to absolute indignation as he realized he’d been duped. “Are you serious right now?! You guys set me up for this?! I thought I was about to be possessed or something!”