Short Horror Story?

Epilogue

Words in brackets are (thoughts)
Words in flower bracket is {information}

Hoor inform them that Maha is now all okay. All of them have a group hug.

All of a sudden Maha starts to laugh loudly followed by Haider, then Shehry and lastly Zubi. They were laughing continuously and by watching this Hoor/Annu were confused.

Annu : What happened?

Hoor : Why are you all laughing?

Zubi : Ha-ha-ha-Mom, that....

Shehry : Actually, all this was a prank.

Annu/Hoor{shocked} : WHAT!!!!!?

Haider : I'll explain from start, when you both said in the car that you don't get scared easily. We all decided to play a prank on you guys.

That's why when we entered inside I acted like I saw someone in the forest and as well as the next day in room, so that a doubt can be built in Annu di's mind.

Then we all lied about the person in the photo frames at the side of staircase, next I lied about my wolf attack story and made a fake wolf bite mark on my neck.

Maha : When kids and I were playing with the ball, I found a room with lots of pictures of a queen and her kid. An idea clicked in my brain and I started to act like I'm possessed by that Queen's spirit. About the rope, did you forget Anu di that I took training for self defence.

Shehry : All that which we said after we came down was as well not the truth. I mean when you both were locked we were enjoying icecream. On top of that Zubi also carried her part very well.

###

Annu who was processing the whole scenario that was just explained infront of her suddenly hear a sound of slap. {Hoor gave a tight slap to Maha}

Annu : Di!

Hoor{pissed} : All of you just shut up!!! do you guys think it was funny? And Maha you, how can you involve Zubi in all this? I mean she is a kid. How can you allow her to walk on the railing of terrace?

Maha : Sorry di, I accept it was a stupidity indeed.

Haider/Shehry/Zubi{holding ears} : Sorry.

Annu : Good, now that you all have realised your mistake. You all are grounded for 1 month and no more discussion on it.

All four of them say "okay" with their heads down as they understood that they have really crossed their limits in this prank.

*******

Caretaker : It was nice meeting you all.

Hoor : Thank you uncle, you helped us a lot.

Annu : Yes uncle and get well soon.

Caretaker : I want to thank you people because after a long time I felt like I was at home.

Shehry/Zubi : Bye uncle.

Maha : Sorry to bother you so much uncle.

Haider : Take care of urself.

Caretaker : Bye, you all too take care and be safe.

*******

All of them sit in the car and starts to drive towards their home, when Zubi ask Annu to stop somewhere as she is feeling hungry. They stop at a small dhaba. Hoor go to order the food and Annu starts to ask them questions.

Annu : When did you all plan it?

Haider : We didn't plan it, we were just going with the flow.

Maha : After reading the nameplate as RAJMAHAL it clicked our mind as it sounded scary.

Annu : How did the main door closed by itself, when Maha said "No one is leaving?"

Maha : It was planned, when you took Haider to the room. He was going to climb down the window and close the door.

Haider{perplexed} : Did the door got closed?

Maha : Yes, why?

Haider : Because I slept as soon as I laid my head on the pillow.

Annu : What does that mean?

Waiter{who was serving at the side table} : It means she closed the door.

Hoor : Who?

Waiter : The ghost of Rajmahal and I'm surprised that you all are alive?

Haider : What do you mean by that?

Waiter : That whoever has entered inside after sunset never came back.

Maha : What rubbish? We stayed a night there.

Waiter : That's impossible, how did  you guys stay in the dark?

Shehry : Why dark? There were lights everywhere.

Waiter : Are you kidding because that place is shutdown from 25years. How will the electricity work in an abandoned place?

Zubi : But caretaker uncle said....

Waiter : Caretaker? You mean the man with cloth on his face?

Zubi : Yes.

Waiter : He is mentally unstable, he used to work at a villa and when he got unwell they fired him. From that time he assume that RAJMAHAL as his employer's villa.

Hoor : I don't believe you, I trust what I saw with my eyes.

Waiter : I can bet my life on it, if you want we can go and see, I can prove it to you.

Annu : Yes di, let's go and find out.

*******

They all drive back in the direction of RAJMAHAL with the waiter following them on his bike. After reaching RAJMAHAL all 6 of them were beyond shocked as it was covered with dust, rust and holes in the walls.

They walk inside it and hear creak sound while opening the door. Shehry and Zubi were tightly holding Hoor's hand as they were scared after seeing cobwebs, broken tables, chairs, windows, lamps.

They walk futher in the hall and look at the chandelier with broken strings of crystals, broken glass on the floor, spiders, ripped curtains, gloomy staircases, old portraits & paintings.

Annu : How's all this possible? When we left in the morning everything was clean and nice.

Waiter : That's what I wanted to tell you guys, now can we leave? Because no one is allowed here after the sunset.

They all turn around to walk out of the place when a chit come and land infront of Maha. She pick it up and read it loud "You all were lucky as kids were with you but never again try to act like possessed. It may come true, Queen of RAJMAHAL"

Hoor : This is a lesson, never ever play horror pranks. Who knows when it may become true and someone might die.

All : Okay.

They all head back to their home but they would never ever forget this night at RAJMAHAL.

The End.