CHENNAI: The street is dark, with only a streetlight throwing a white beam onto the rusted vehicles parked at DeMonte Colony in Alwarpet. Shadows creep behind the pavements and walls, flickering and swirling on the tarmac. The figures walking on the adjacent street cross the road and continue their journey, throwing wary looks at the street. A scream fills the air.
Two young men in the prime of their youth burst through the gates of the DeMonte Colony and rush to the tea stall at the end of the winding road. Their friends nervously gaze at them, calling out to them worriedly. Panting, they gesture to the building and speak in quick bursts, tripping over their words. The howl of a police siren follows their scream, and they hop on their roaring motorbikes, the engines throbbing excitedly, and speed away as the riders cry out to their friends, who throw paper and coins to the owner of the tea stall and follow.
Formerly owned by John DeMonte in the 19th Century, the urban legend states that the businessman led an unhappy life due to the mental instability of his wife and the poor health of his child. His wife and he passed away after their son’s demise, and the tale states that their spirits linger at the residence. Visitors morbidly curious in the afterlife have often come to DeMonte Colony, with a sharp spike of interest after the 2015 movie of the same name.
For the last ten years, Shiva, the owner of the tea stall in DeMonte Colony, has been conducting business near the famously haunted house. “After the movie released, a bunch of youngsters would come here after the night show and try to go into the house. Neighbours complained of the nuisance and the police intervened, forcing me to shut shop for three months,” he said. The young men would frequent his shop to buy cigarettes and tea as they steeled themselves to enter the haunt. The 32-year-old Chennaiite calls the tale as a hoax. “I’ve worked here for so long, and I stay late into the night. I’ve seen nothing. I even used to go into the compound myself when business was slow to see what all the fuss was about, and there was nothing there,” said Shiva.
Yet some cab drivers, who park their cars on the street due to its proximity to TTK Road, St. Mary’s Road and CP Ramaswamy Road, have reported hearing and seeing disturbing images. One such cab driver working for a popular mobile cab service said, “We usually park our cars here at night and try to get some sleep between duty. Some of my co-workers have said that they have heard someone tapping on the window and whispering while they park here. Many prefer to stay on St. Mary’s Road instead.” Chuckling nervously, he waved off any suggestion that his friends may just be spooked by the tale, insisting that the events occurred.
A year ago, the building was demolished and space is now used as a parking lot. Trucks and lorries coming from afar are left on the dark grounds, which is lit only with a flickering light at the next plot. The area is deathly still, interrupted only with sharp slithers of wind shrieking by as the moon glowers over the residents.
The story
Urban legend states that John DeMonte, a 19th-century businessman led an unhappy life due to his wife’s mental instability and son’s poor health. It is said that the family’s spirit lingers here.