"Shadows Beneath the Lake"

Chapter 1: Just Like Old Times

“Tripti! Come on, we’re getting late!”

Tripti looked up from her suitcase, her dark brown eyes narrowing at Kirti, who stood in the doorway of their shared apartment, her arms crossed impatiently. Kirti’s long black hair was tied up in a messy bun, and she was already dressed in a casual tracksuit, ready for the road trip.

“I’m almost done!” Tripti called, stuffing the last few essentials into her backpack.

“You said that twenty minutes ago,” Mahi’s voice floated in from the living room. She was lounging on the couch, scrolling through her phone. "If we don’t leave soon, we’ll hit traffic."

“I’m ready,” Siddhi said softly, standing near the door with her neatly packed suitcase. Her soft, wavy hair fell over her shoulders, and her small silver earrings glinted under the sunlight coming through the window.

Kirti rolled her eyes. “Tripti, you know we have a long drive to Himachal, right?”

“I know,” Tripti shot back, zipping up her bag. “It’s not my fault you three decided to sit back while I packed half the snacks for the trip.”

“That’s why we love you,” Kirti teased, blowing her a kiss.

Mahi stretched lazily. “Okay, okay — let’s get this trip started!”

Tripti sighed but smiled as she picked up her bag. They had been planning this trip for months — a week in a cozy Himachal cottage, away from the stress of post-college life, before they all scattered in different directions.

Kirti was heading to Mumbai for a corporate job. Mahi was preparing for her MBA abroad. Siddhi had gotten a research fellowship in Delhi. And Tripti? She was still figuring things out — but that’s what this trip was for. A chance to breathe before life came rushing in.

They piled into the car, Tripti taking the driver’s seat. Kirti slid into the front beside her, while Mahi and Siddhi sat in the back.

“We’re really doing this,” Mahi grinned, tying her hair into a ponytail. “An actual girls’ trip.”

“And no interruptions,” Tripti added, starting the car. “No boyfriends, no work calls — just us.”

Kirti laughed. “No boyfriends? You sure about that?”

“Shut up,” Tripti grinned.

Siddhi smiled faintly as the car pulled out of the driveway. The city noise faded behind them as they headed toward the mountains. The sky was a soft, cloudless blue, and the air felt crisp. Music played softly on the radio as they left behind the familiar chaos of Delhi.

For the first few hours, the girls sang along to the music, snacked on chips, and teased each other about old college stories. It was easy and familiar — the kind of comfort that comes from knowing each other’s deepest flaws and loving each other anyway.

Three hours into the drive, they entered the winding roads of Himachal Pradesh. The air grew colder, and the dense green of the forests stretched out around them. Tripti slowed down as mist began to gather along the road.

“It’s beautiful,” Siddhi whispered, looking out the window.

“Yeah,” Tripti agreed, her hands tightening slightly on the steering wheel.

The road was growing narrow, the trees on either side pressing closer. The mist swirled thicker now, creeping over the road like pale fingers.

“This is giving serious horror movie vibes,” Kirti said, half-joking.

“Stop it,” Mahi warned.

“Relax,” Tripti said. “We’ll be at the cottage in thirty minutes.”

“Assuming we don’t get murdered first,” Kirti added, making a spooky face.

“Stop jinxing us!” Mahi groaned.

Siddhi said nothing, but her hand had tightened on her seatbelt.

That’s when they saw it — a small sign, half-hidden by vines, nailed to a tree:

“Oakwood Cottage – 2 km”

“That’s it!” Tripti said, turning onto the narrow road leading deeper into the woods. The mist was thicker here, almost ghostly.

The cottage appeared suddenly — a large, two-story stone house with ivy curling up its walls and dark green shutters hanging loose. The windows were dark, and the sloping roof was covered in moss. A rusty swing hung from a tree near the porch, creaking softly in the breeze.

“Okay, now it’s creepy,” Kirti muttered.

“It’s just old,” Tripti said, pulling the car to a stop.

They stepped out into the cool air. The ground beneath their feet was damp, and the faint sound of birds calling in the distance mixed with the rustling of the leaves.

“This place is gorgeous,” Mahi said, looking up at the dark wooden beams of the cottage.

Tripti unlocked the door with the key they had picked up from the caretaker in the village. The door creaked open, revealing a dim interior with aged wooden floors and stone walls. A large fireplace sat at the center of the main room, with a weathered couch and armchairs nearby.

“It’s… charming,” Siddhi said hesitantly.

“Come on,” Kirti grinned. “Let’s pick our rooms!”

They ran up the staircase, laughing. Mahi and Kirti claimed the larger room with a balcony view of the mountains, while Siddhi and Tripti took the smaller room down the hall.

By nightfall, they were gathered in the living room. Tripti lit the fireplace, and they sat cross-legged on the floor, wrapped in blankets.

“I can’t believe we’re actually doing this,” Mahi said, sipping from her tea.

“Remember when we used to dream about trips like this back in college?” Kirti said.

“And now it’s happening,” Tripti smiled.

“It’s perfect,” Siddhi whispered.

It really was.

Until the sound of a knock echoed through the cottage.

All four of them froze.

Tripti looked toward the door. The knocking came again — loud and slow.

“Is that… the caretaker?” Kirti asked.

Tripti stood and approached the door. She hesitated before opening it.

The porch was empty. Only the dark forest beyond.

She stepped outside. The cold air stung her skin. A breeze rustled through the trees, and the swing creaked behind her.

“Hello?” Tripti called.

Silence.

She turned back toward the house — and then she saw it.

A shadow in the trees. Watching.

Her breath caught.

“Tripti?” Mahi called from inside.

Tripti turned toward the door. When she looked back at the trees —

The shadow was gone.

Her heart hammered. She forced a smile and stepped back inside, locking the door behind her.

“Who was it?” Siddhi asked.

“No one,” Tripti said. “Just the wind.”

But Siddhi’s eyes stayed fixed on her, dark with quiet fear.

Outside, the swing creaked in the stillness of the night.

And in the distance, the shadow watched.

Chapter 2: The First Sign

The next morning dawned cold and gray. Siddhi woke early, shivering under the thick blanket. The window was open, letting in the icy mountain air. She sat up, rubbing her arms.

“Did you open the window?” Siddhi asked Tripti, who was still half-asleep.

Tripti frowned. “No.”

Siddhi stood and walked toward the window.

That’s when she saw it.

On the glass — faint but clear — were the prints of two hands. Small, childlike hands.

“Siddhi?” Tripti’s voice was sharp now.

Siddhi backed away from the window. “Someone… was here.”

Tripti’s eyes widened. She walked to the window and touched the glass. The prints were icy cold beneath her fingertips.

A chill crept down her spine.

From downstairs, they heard Kirti scream.

Tripti and Siddhi ran toward the sound.

Kirti was standing in the middle of the living room, pointing toward the fireplace.

A single object sat on the stone hearth.

A child's toy — a small, wooden doll.

Siddhi’s voice was barely a whisper.

“That wasn’t here last night.”

Tripti bent down and picked it up carefully. It was old, the wood worn smooth by time. A strange chill seeped through her fingers.

“Maybe the caretaker left it?” Siddhi suggested, though her voice didn’t sound convinced.

“Why would he leave a creepy doll?” Kirti’s tone was sharp.

Tripti frowned, examining the doll more closely. On the back, carved into the wood, was a single letter: S.

“S?” Mahi said. “What does that mean?”

“I don’t know.” Tripti placed the doll back down carefully.

A gust of wind rattled the windows, making them all jump.

“Okay, this is officially creepy,” Kirti said. “But —” she forced a smile — “it’s probably nothing. Right?”

“Right,” Tripti said, but her stomach was twisting.

That night, it got worse.

Tripti woke suddenly in the middle of the night to the sound of whispering. Low, urgent voices carried through the cold air. She sat up, heart hammering.

“Siddhi?” she whispered, but Siddhi was asleep beside her.

She strained to hear. The whispers were coming from outside the window.

Slowly, Tripti stood and crept toward the glass. She pulled back the curtain — and froze.

A face stared back at her from the dark. Pale, wide eyes. A thin mouth twisted into a smile.

Tripti screamed.

Kirti, Mahi, and Siddhi came rushing into the room.

“What happened?” Kirti shouted.

“I— I saw someone!” Tripti gasped. “Outside the window!”

They all turned toward the window. The glass was fogged with moisture — and on the outside were two handprints.

Small, childlike handprints.

“There’s someone out there,” Siddhi whispered.

Kirti marched to the window and flung it open. Cold air rushed in — but there was nothing outside except the dark stretch of trees and the rustling of the wind.

“I swear, I saw someone,” Tripti insisted.

“We need to leave,” Mahi said. “This is not normal.”

Tripti’s hands were shaking. “Yeah. Let’s get out of here tomorrow morning.”

They huddled together for the rest of the night, hardly sleeping.

Chapter 3: The Truth

Morning brought pale sunlight through the cottage windows. Tripti was the first to wake, her body tense with the memory of the night before.

She went downstairs and found the doll still sitting on the hearth. The letter S carved into the back seemed deeper somehow.

“Morning,” Siddhi said quietly, appearing at the bottom of the stairs. “Sleep?”

Tripti shook her head. “Not really.”

“Do you think we should tell the caretaker?”

Tripti hesitated. “Yeah, maybe.”

Kirti and Mahi came down a few minutes later, their faces pale.

“We need to leave,” Mahi said. “Today.”

Tripti nodded. “Agreed.”

Just as they were packing up their things, the doorbell rang.

They froze.

Slowly, Tripti walked to the door and opened it.

A girl stood there, smiling.

Dark eyes. Long black hair. A familiar smirk on her face.

“Samisha?” Tripti gasped.

The girl grinned. “Surprise!”

“WHAT?!” Kirti’s mouth dropped open.

Samisha laughed and stepped inside. “Did you miss me?”

“You… you were behind all of this?” Mahi exclaimed.

Samisha shrugged. “Well, not all of it. Just the doll, the handprints, the creepy face in the window — you know, the fun stuff.”

“You scared the hell out of us!” Tripti shouted.

Samisha laughed. “I couldn’t resist! You guys didn’t invite me to the trip, so I thought I’d make my own grand entrance.”

“You’re insane,” Kirti muttered — but there was relief in her voice.

“I can’t believe you flew all the way to Himachal just to scare us,” Mahi said, shaking her head.

“It worked, though, didn’t it?” Samisha grinned.

Tripti sighed. “You’re lucky we didn’t call the police.”

“Oh, please,” Samisha waved it off. “Now that I’m here — let’s make this trip memorable!”

Despite the lingering unease, they spent the next few days exploring the mountains. They went trekking through the pine forests, stopping to take pictures along the foggy trails. They found a hidden waterfall and spent the afternoon swimming in the freezing water, screaming and laughing.

In the evenings, they sat around the fireplace, roasting marshmallows and sharing stories about college and their old crushes. Kirti and Mahi challenged each other to dares, while Siddhi and Tripti stayed up late, whispering secrets under the blankets.

It felt like old times.

Until they reached Nainital.

Chapter 4: The Real Horror

The day they arrived in Nainital, the weather turned dark. Heavy clouds rolled over the lake, and the chill in the air deepened.

“This place is gorgeous,” Mahi said, looking at the lake. Mist curled over the surface of the water like pale smoke.

They booked rooms in a lakeside hotel. The owner, an elderly man with a lined face, handed them the keys.

“Careful at night,” he warned. “Strange things happen near the lake after dark.”

Kirti laughed. “Seriously?”

The man’s face remained blank. “Just be careful.”

That night, around midnight, Tripti woke to the sound of whispering.

Not Samisha’s prank. This was different. Deeper. Colder.

She sat up.

Outside the window, she saw it again — a figure standing by the edge of the lake.

Dark hair hanging over its face. Pale skin.

She shook Siddhi awake. “Wake up. Look.”

Siddhi sat up, her eyes widening.

The figure raised a hand — and pointed toward their window.

Then it vanished into the mist.

“What was that?” Siddhi’s voice trembled.

“I don’t know,” Tripti whispered.

The next morning, Samisha was missing.

Her bed was empty. Her phone was still in the room.

Panic set in quickly. They searched the hotel, then the lakeside, calling her name.

After an hour, they found her.

Samisha was sitting at the edge of the lake, her clothes wet and muddy. Her eyes were open, unblinking.

“Samisha!” Tripti shouted, shaking her.

Samisha’s eyes focused slowly. “I… I heard it calling me.”

“What?”

Samisha’s lips trembled. “A voice. A woman’s voice. It told me to come into the water.”

Tripti’s blood turned to ice.

“What’s happening here?” Mahi asked, her face pale.

“The hotel owner,” Siddhi whispered. “We need to talk to him.”

They confronted the owner that evening. His face turned gray when they told him about Samisha.

“You should not have stayed near the lake,” he said. “Many years ago… a girl drowned here. They say her spirit still roams the shore, looking for someone to take her place.”

Kirti’s face was tight with fear. “We need to leave. Now.”

Tripti nodded. “Agreed.”

That night, they all stayed awake, the sound of the lake lapping against the shore echoing in their ears.

And in the dark, Tripti swore she heard the voice.

Soft. Whispering.

“Come into the water…”

Chapter 5: A Voice from the Dark

Tripti sat upright in bed, her breath quick and shallow. The whispering was unmistakable now — a soft, haunting call that slipped through the cold night air.

"Come into the water…"

Her hands gripped the sheets tightly as she glanced toward the window. Mist curled over the surface of the lake, glistening under the moonlight.

“Did you hear that?” Siddhi’s voice was low and tight with fear.

Tripti nodded. “It’s the same voice.”

Mahi and Kirti sat up too, their faces pale.

“Samisha?” Kirti whispered, peering toward the other bed.

Samisha was sitting up, her eyes open but glazed.

“Samisha?” Mahi called again.

Slowly, Samisha stood. Her movements were unnatural, almost mechanical. Her eyes were fixed on the window.

Without saying a word, she started walking toward the door.

“Samisha, stop!” Tripti jumped out of bed and grabbed her arm.

Samisha’s body stiffened, and her head slowly turned toward Tripti.

Tripti’s breath caught. Samisha’s pupils were unnaturally wide. Her lips parted.

“Let me go,” she said in a voice that wasn’t hers.

Tripti stepped back, heart pounding.

Kirti rushed forward, grabbing Samisha’s shoulders. “Snap out of it, Samisha! You’re scaring us!”

Samisha’s head tilted, her dark hair hanging over her face. And then — she smiled.

It wasn’t Samisha’s smile. It was cold. Empty.

“You can't stop it,” Samisha whispered.

“What?” Tripti whispered.

Samisha’s smile widened. “She’s waiting for you.”

Tripti felt the chill shoot through her spine. “Who’s waiting?”

Samisha’s eyes narrowed. “You already know.”

Kirti shook her. “Samisha, wake up!”

Suddenly, Samisha’s body went limp. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she collapsed into Kirti’s arms.

“Oh my God,” Kirti breathed.

Tripti knelt beside them. “Samisha?”

Samisha’s eyes slowly opened, glassy with confusion. “What… happened?”

“You don’t remember?” Siddhi asked, wide-eyed.

Samisha shook her head. “I was sleeping… I think.”

Tripti looked toward the window. The mist outside was thick and unmoving. But deep within the fog, Tripti swore she saw a shadow standing by the water’s edge.

Watching them.

Chapter 6: Secrets Beneath the Surface

“We need answers,” Tripti said the next morning.

They sat at a wooden table in the hotel’s dining room, a pot of untouched tea growing cold between them.

“From where?” Mahi asked, rubbing her hands together to fight the chill.

“The hotel owner,” Siddhi said. “He knows something.”

Tripti nodded. “And we’re not leaving until we find out.”

They found the owner in the lobby, speaking in hushed tones with an older man.

“We need to talk,” Tripti said firmly.

The owner’s face hardened. “About what?”

“The girl who drowned in the lake,” Siddhi said.

The man’s eyes darkened. He glanced at the older man, who shook his head grimly.

“You should not speak of her,” the owner said.

“We don’t have a choice,” Kirti snapped. “She’s haunting us.”

The owner’s gaze sharpened. “What did you see?”

Tripti stepped forward. “We saw someone by the lake. A girl. Samisha… she’s being affected.”

The owner’s face paled. He gestured for them to sit.

“A long time ago,” he began, his voice low, “there was a girl named Amara. She lived in this village. People said she was strange — that she could speak to things that others couldn’t see.”

Tripti’s stomach tightened.

“Amara fell in love with a boy from the village,” the owner continued. “But the boy betrayed her. He left her for another girl. Heartbroken, Amara wandered into the lake one night — and drowned.”

“Why would she come after us?” Siddhi asked.

The owner’s gaze darkened. “They say that Amara's spirit searches for revenge. She looks for girls like her — girls with broken hearts.”

Tripti’s chest tightened.

“I don’t have a broken heart,” Samisha muttered.

“No,” the owner said. “But maybe you were vulnerable enough for her to latch onto.”

Tripti felt a deep chill settle into her bones.

“How do we stop it?” Kirti asked.

The owner hesitated. “There is a temple in the forest — near the edge of the lake. The priest there knows how to perform a cleansing ritual. But you must go before nightfall.”

“Let’s go now,” Tripti said.

Chapter 7: Into the Woods

They followed the trail through the misty woods. Tree branches stretched above them like thin, withered arms. The wind was sharp against their faces.

“How far is this temple?” Siddhi asked.

“Shouldn’t be more than half an hour,” Kirti said, checking her phone’s map.

Ahead, the path narrowed beneath a stone archway carved with ancient symbols. The forest pressed in closer.

Suddenly, Samisha stumbled.

“Careful,” Tripti said, steadying her.

Samisha’s skin was cold. Her eyes were glassy again.

“We need to hurry,” Mahi said, her voice tight.

They emerged into a clearing — and there it was.

An old stone temple stood beneath the shadow of the trees. The structure was crumbling, its walls covered with moss. A heavy iron door sat ajar.

They stepped inside.

The air was colder in here. Shadows clung to the walls. A faint scent of burning incense lingered in the air.

“Hello?” Kirti called.

An old priest emerged from the shadows. His eyes were clouded with age.

“You have brought darkness with you,” he said.

Samisha's eyes rolled back. She sank to the ground, gasping.

Tripti dropped to her knees. “Help her!”

The priest pulled a small copper bowl from the altar and began to chant. He lit a stick of incense and circled it around Samisha’s head.

Samisha’s body arched. Her mouth opened — and a low, distorted voice spilled out.

"You cannot take her from me."

Tripti's blood ran cold.

The priest’s chant grew louder. He poured water over Samisha’s forehead and placed a black thread around her wrist.

Samisha screamed — a raw, terrifying sound.

The shadows on the walls deepened. The temperature dropped.

And then — the dark shape behind Samisha twisted violently and vanished with a deafening wail.

Samisha’s body went limp.

The priest knelt beside her and placed his hand on her forehead. “It’s over.”

Tripti’s breath hitched. “Are you sure?”

The priest nodded.

Samisha’s eyes opened. Her gaze was clear again.

“What… happened?” Samisha whispered.

“You’re safe,” Tripti said, relief flooding her chest.

They helped Samisha to her feet. The weight that had settled over them since arriving in Nainital seemed to lift.

As they walked back through the woods, Kirti smiled. “So… does this mean the trip isn’t ruined?”

Mahi laughed. “Hell no. We survived a ghost — we deserve a drink!”

Tripti smiled. The shadows of the lake still lingered in her mind — but for now, they were safe.

Or so she thought.

Because far behind them, beneath the surface of the lake, something stirred.

Watching.

Waiting.

And it would not be forgotten.

Chapter 8: The Calm Before the Storm

The girls returned to the hotel, exhausted but relieved. The priest had said it was over, and for the first time since arriving in Nainital, the heavy sense of dread seemed to lift. The lake looked less menacing, the shadows in the woods less threatening.

“Okay, so we nearly got possessed by a vengeful spirit, but at least we have a story to tell now!” Kirti grinned as she sprawled out on the bed.

Mahi laughed. “Exactly. How many people can say they were almost haunted to death and survived?”

Siddhi tossed a pillow at her. “You two are insane.”

Tripti sat on the balcony, looking out toward the lake. The moonlight shimmered over the water’s surface. It was calm now, still. Peaceful.

But Tripti couldn’t shake the feeling that something was… unfinished.

Behind her, Samisha sat down on the floor, her back against the wall. Her face was pale, her eyes hollow.

“You okay?” Tripti asked softly.

Samisha nodded slowly. “I think so.”

Tripti studied her closely. “You don’t remember anything?”

Samisha hesitated. “Only pieces. The lake. The cold. That voice… it wasn’t mine.”

Tripti’s chest tightened. “It’s over now.”

“I hope so.” Samisha’s eyes darkened.

Tripti watched the moonlight ripple over the water. Deep down, something told her that it wasn’t over. Not yet.

The next day, the girls decided to explore Nainital properly. After all the chaos, they deserved to enjoy themselves.

“Boat ride?” Kirti suggested.

“Yes!” Siddhi said. “But let’s not drown this time.”

They rented a large paddleboat and floated out onto the lake. The water was cool beneath their fingertips, the air crisp and fresh.

“This is more like it,” Mahi said, stretching her arms.

Tripti leaned over the edge, trailing her fingers through the water.

“See? Nothing to worry about anymore,” Kirti said.

Tripti smiled — but at that moment, a sudden chill spread across the water.

The boat rocked.

Tripti’s breath hitched.

“What was that?” Siddhi sat up.

Mahi frowned. “A wave?”

But the lake was smooth, undisturbed.

Suddenly, Tripti’s hand seized up. She yanked it from the water, gasping.

“What’s wrong?” Kirti asked.

Tripti’s palm was icy cold. And beneath her skin…

Red marks. Finger-shaped bruises.

Her chest tightened. “Something touched me.”

“What?” Samisha’s eyes widened.

“I swear… someone grabbed my hand!”

A ripple formed in the water beneath them. Slowly, it expanded outward.

Then — a low, soft voice.

"Come back…"

Samisha’s face turned white. “No… no…”

The boat lurched violently. The girls screamed as it tilted to one side.

“Hold on!” Siddhi shouted.

Tripti gripped the side, her heart racing.

Beneath them, the shadow of a hand reached toward the surface.

Tripti’s breath stopped.

A pale face appeared beneath the water — dark hair spreading like ink, empty white eyes wide and staring.

“AMARA!” Samisha screamed.

The face disappeared. The water went still.

Tripti’s hands trembled. “It’s not over.”

“No,” Samisha whispered. “She’s still here.”

Chapter 9: The Forgotten Truth

Back on the shore, the girls sat huddled together.

“We need to leave,” Siddhi said. “Today.”

“We can’t,” Tripti said. “Not until we understand why this is happening.”

“We already know why!” Kirti snapped. “Amara drowned. She’s angry. That’s enough!”

“No.” Tripti’s jaw tightened. “There’s more.”

Samisha’s face was pale. “It’s me. She’s attached to me.”

Tripti sat beside her. “Why you?”

Samisha’s eyes darkened. “Because… I lied.”

The others stared at her.

“What are you talking about?” Kirti asked.

Samisha swallowed. “The boy Amara loved — the one who betrayed her. It was my brother.”

Tripti’s breath hitched.

“My brother was in Nainital eight years ago,” Samisha said. “He met Amara. They were together for a while — until he left her for another girl.”

Tripti’s stomach tightened.

“She came to see him that night. Begged him not to leave her. He… he told her he didn’t love her anymore.” Samisha’s voice broke. “She ran to the lake. And the next morning, they found her body.”

“Oh my God,” Mahi whispered.

“She thinks I’m him,” Samisha said. “That’s why she’s haunting me.”

Tripti stood. “We need to go back to the temple.”

Chapter 10: The Final Call

The girls returned to the temple as the sun began to set.

The priest met them at the entrance, his expression grave.

“We need to break the connection,” Tripti said.

The priest nodded slowly. “Bring the one who is bound.”

Samisha stepped forward.

The priest began chanting as he circled her with incense. A soft wind stirred through the temple.

Samisha’s eyes fluttered. Her body tensed.

“She’s here,” she whispered.

Suddenly, the temperature dropped.

The doors of the temple slammed shut.

And then — Amara’s figure appeared.

She stood at the entrance, her long black hair hanging over her pale face. Her eyes were empty voids.

“Why?” Amara’s voice was hollow. “Why did you leave me?”

Tears filled Samisha’s eyes. “I’m not him.”

Amara’s head twisted unnaturally. Her body jerked forward.

“You are the same!”

Tripti stood in front of Samisha. “It wasn’t her fault!”

Amara’s eyes narrowed. “He left me!”

Tripti’s breath quickened. “And he’s not coming back. But you don’t have to stay in this pain.”

Amara’s face twisted in rage.

Suddenly, Samisha stepped forward. “I’m sorry.”

Amara’s body froze.

“I’m sorry for what my brother did,” Samisha said. Tears spilled down her cheeks. “He was wrong. You didn’t deserve that.”

Amara’s face softened. Her dark hair fell over her eyes.

“You… understand?”

“Yes,” Samisha whispered.

Slowly, Amara’s body began to fade. Her pale face softened into shadow.

“You can rest now,” Tripti said softly.

Amara’s eyes closed. A single tear slid down her cheek.

And then — she was gone.

The doors of the temple creaked open.

Light spilled inside.

Samisha’s body sagged. Tripti caught her.

“Is it over?” Mahi asked.

The priest nodded. “She’s at peace now.”

Tripti smiled. “Finally.”

---

Epilogue: Sunlight After the Storm

Two days later, the girls sat at a café overlooking the lake.

“Well,” Kirti said, stirring her coffee. “That’s a hell of a way to spend a vacation.”

“I’m just glad it’s over,” Mahi said.

Samisha smiled softly. “Me too.”

Tripti glanced toward the lake. The water was calm, shimmering beneath the sunlight.

“Now that the ghost is gone,” Siddhi said, “can we go back to having fun?”

Kirti raised her glass. “To survival.”

The others laughed and clinked their glasses together.

Tripti smiled. The shadows were gone — but the bond between them had only grown stronger.

And from the surface of the lake, the wind carried the faintest whisper.

"Thank you."