Our Office Is Not Haunted

Sub: Urgent Notification for All Employees
From: Hr@T4tech.com

Hi,

This is to notify all employees of T4 Tech Inc. that the HR department will not be accepting any more resignations from today onwards following strict instructions from our Managing Director Mr. D. Roy.

It has been brought to our attention that many employees are acting unprofessionally and spreading rumors within the office premises. It has also been reported to us that some of you have opined that the accidental death of our Accounts Manager, Mr. N. Bagchi last week was not merely an accident; instead it was driven by some external forces.

We have received complaints that some employees are spreading irrational and illogical rumors surrounding Mr. Bagchi's unfortunate death. Words like "Supernatural causes", " Paranormal forces", "Haunted Office" and "Ghost" are being used to describe this mishap. Several employees have also reported "seeing" a translucent female figure roaming around in the corridor and the IT department floor. Some employees have even reported hearing "voices and "an unseen presence", especially during the night shift.

This is why we are releasing this official notification today. Our office is NOT "Haunted"! There is no supernatural presence in the premises. All employees are warned not to spread any unnecessary rumors about the company. Strict legal action will be taken against anyone found guilty of defaming T4 Tech Inc.

We would also like to inform everyone that the safety and security of our employees is our top priority. We assure a safe, supportive and comfortable workspace for all.

However, we request everyone to abide by the following guidelines for added security:

1. Do not roam around the office premises alone after sunset
2. Always carry your phone with you for emergency contact
3. Make sure all night shift employees follow the "buddy system" at all times, especially during breaks so that no one is alone
4. If you see or experience anything unexplainable, report to the HR department immediately
5. Do not take smoke breaks in the 13th floor fire escape balcony after sunset
6. No one will work or stay alone in the office floor
7. If you encounter someone impersonating Late Mr. Bagchi in the corridor, do not engage. Report to the HR dept. immediately
8. Do not believe or spread rumors and superstitions

We request you to contact the HR department directly if you have any queries or concerns regarding any issue.

As mentioned earlier, we will not be accepting any resignations for the next 3 months. All night shifts will continue as usual.

We request everyone to focus on the successful completion of their respective projects and to expect the best facilities & support from the company in return.

Regards,

Tania
Manager, Human Resources
..............................................................................

Aakash breathed a sigh of relief immediately after reading the email. He looked at the clock in his desktop and realized his shift was over. He grabbed his backpack, punched his thumb in the biometric and took the elevator to the ground floor.

The soft cool breeze outside made him feel relaxed as he inhaled deeply. He finally let his thoughts take over his mind as he walked down the busy street. He can now live free. No one suspects him of anything. Those ball-less bastards at work are too busy being scared of ghosts at the office. He chuckled to himself. Not at his smartness, rather at the stupidity of others.

It all began 6 months ago when he pushed the office maid off the 13th floor fire escape balcony. It was not a planned act. He saw the office maid talking on the phone while he was taking a smoke break. She was leaning on the railing while giggling on the phone. Aakash observed her silently for a while and then out of impulse, gently pushed her off the balcony. He was not angry, frustrated or vengeful. He was simply bored and somewhat curious about how she would look upon impact with the ground.

However, his curiosity was met with disappointment when her body became a mangled mess of blood and flesh upon impact. Being engrossed by boredom again, he climbed down the stairs, looked at the ceiling for the lack of CCTV cameras and went back to his work station.

The cops came, investigated and believed that the maid had slipped from the balcony and fell to her death. As there was no CCTV cameras in the balcony or the stairs, there was no evidence to link Aakash to the death.

Sadly, Mr. Naren Bagchi, Accounts Manager at T4 Tech, had seen him walk down the stairs that day just before her body was discovered behind the parking lot. Bagchi was also a bored aimless employee like him drifting through life. And just like Aakash, Mr. N. Bagchi was curious. So he put things together and concluded that Aakash was responsible for her death.

Soon things got complicated. Bagchi started observing every single move Aakash made. He toyed with Aakash, playing mind games, leaving him clues about his knowledge of the murder, texting cryptic messages in WhatsApp and finally blackmailing him. Meanwhile, unexplainable incidents started to occur in the office premises. Everyone started believing the office was haunted. Taking advantage of the rumors, Aakash got rid of Mr. Bagchi while he was taking a smoke break in the 13th floor fire escape balcony. Aakash was rather surprised at how easy it was.

Again, due to lack of evidence, the cops ruled the murder as an accident and the balcony was sealed off. Aakash spread the rumor that Mr. Bagchi had a hand in the maid's death and so her spirit got revenge on him. Everyone simply loved the concept and the rumor spread like wild fire. Although, unusual things kept happening at the office, Aakash knew it was simply people's imagination and obsession with the supernatural. Everyone needs some entertainment at work. This was theirs.

Aakash knew he had to survive another month at this stinking office. He already had a new job. But he couldn't leave T4 Tech right away as it could arouse suspicion. He did not care about submitting resignation or release letters. He just wanted to join the new work place next month. They had prettier maids.

His phone buzzed. A WhatsApp notification popped up on the lock screen. It was a new cryptic message. A hint about the knowledge of both his murders. Sender: Unknown Number.

A horror fiction by Dipayan Chatterjee.