The Deadly Prank– A short story

Tannu adjusted the strap on her new pink top as she logged on to chat like any other evening. It was just three months into her hostel life in Delhi but life was a stark contrast from what it used to be at home in Patna. No domestic work,no family tension nothing. 'work hard and party harder' had became the hallmark of her hostel life. Her top was expensive but a good buy, she decided. The messages started flowing as soon as she logged on.

RaZor:U look gud in pink .
Sweet_tannu89: who r u?
RaZor:u always bite your nail?
Tannu looked down at her nails,jagged at her nails.
RaZor: I'm waiting for an answer .
Sweet_tannu89: who r u?how can u see me?
Tannu took her cellphone and started searching for the messages she had got while she was busy attending the classes.
RaZor:1st keep the cellphone aside

The latest message forced Tannu to devote her full attention to this RaZor.A little rattled Tannu replied

Sweet_tannu89 : listen! Enough of ur pranks. Tell me who the hell r u?

RaZor: relax babes! 1st take a sip from the glass of water kept on ur computer table.

Now all that was going beyond the joke for Tannu.

Sweet_tannu89:enough is enough. This is becoming a little scary.how on earth r u able to spot me?

RaZor:scary?Do u believe in ghosts?

Sweet_tannu89 : sorry! But why do u ask?

RaZor: b'coz I'm a GHOST!!!!

Sweet_tannu89: Aah! I see. So ghosts come and chat with people online?
Tannu started smiling.

RaZor : stop smiling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tannu was taken aback She left her chair at once n took a few steps back.
RaZor: sit down and listen to me!Or be ready to face the consequences later.
A frightened Tannu had no option but to sit down.

Sweet_tannu89 : pls tell me who r u?what u want 4rm me?

RaZor: Go to http://www.deathultimatum.com/ to get the answers of all ur queries.

Tannu clicked on the link.The site opened and a message flashed——————–
Are u sure u want to see the site's content? once u do, there won't be any coming back without our consent.

Tannu hesitated for a moment and pressed ENTER

The new window that opened up had images of murdered teenage girls splashed all over the webpage. Tannu felt numb. She had every reason to feel numb.

On top of the page, it was Tannu’s picture under the heading " Forthcoming Death recommendations".

She clicked on it only to find that the date and timing were of that day only. The timing written was 7:30 PM. It was 7:28 PM already.

She tried to close the site but then this message appeared—-

" You can't log out of this site unless you are dead."

Tannu’s hands started becoming sweaty. She yelled a loud scream. RaZor, who was actually Tannu's batchmate Ritika playing this prank on Tannu, came rushing in her room.

"R u ok,Riya?",asked Ritika. Tannu pointed to the monitor.

Ritika closed the site and switched off the computer. She hugged Tannu to comfort her. It was actually a prank she played on Tannu! Actually, she was watching Tannu’s every move from her room and messaging her with this fictitios name of RaZor, which Tannu failed to notice.
" U r such a dumbo! Do ghosts ever chart with people on the net?", said Ritika.
"ok, got to go now. I've to catch the 8:45 PM train. Going home for the vacations. Aren't u going?".asked Ritika.
"No.",said Tannu.
"sorry for that prank, Tannu"
"No problem",said Tannu.

Time: 7:30 AM the next day
Place: Ritika’s house

After freshening up, Ritika took out her laptop and started checking her messages.There was1 unread message. It was her boyfriend Anurag's message

"miss u sweety. Come back soon.luv u "

Ritika found that Tannu was online too.

ritikatheroadie:" Tannu, are u there?"

Sweet_tannu89:"yup"

Ritikatheroadie:"are u ok now? Or still shivering b'coz of last night’s prank"

Sweet_tannu89 : "not anymore. By the way, what was the site all about?"

Ritikatheroadie:"oh! That one? Actually there was a rumour about the site that whoever is nominated to die on that site, dies on the time fed by the user who nominates that person to die. But the only condition is that the recommended person has to visit the site personally and click on his/her picture."

Sweet_tannu89 :"so you recommended my name!"

Ritikatheroadie:"sorry, baba! I told u it was just a prank."

Sweet_tannu89:"but do ghosts chat with people online?"

Ritikatheroadie:"don't be an idiot, Tannu"

"There you are with your laptop! Go and have your breakfast first. Then chat as much as u want with your friends." Said Ritika’s father and switched on the TV for his daily news dose.

The headline was:
"A Delhi college girl found dead in her hostel room last night in mysterious conditions .Forensic reports say that the deceased,Tannu, was said to have died around 7:30 last night "

Ritika jumped out of her bed. How is that possible, she thought. Then something stroke her. When she went to close the site, it had this message
" U can't log out of this site unless u r dead"

But the site had closed at once as soon as Ritika clicked on the EXIT button.
That means Tannu was already dead when she reached her room!!!!!
But how can she be online this time when she's dead?

Ritika’s heart was pumping like anything. Her eyes were transfixed on the computer screen. She's was looking as if she had just taken a sweat bath. Reason?This latest message that was flashing:—

Sweet_tannu89:  SOMETIMES GHOSTS DO CHAT WITH PEOPLE ONLINE!!!!!!!!!