Chapter 9

Please note I have reverted to their previous names. Also Rohan is now Samar to avoid confusion with the show.

Chapter 9 Surprise.

Preeti was locking up the cafe for the night when from nowhere an alarm blared inside making her jump to her feet. She swore out loud and went to investigate. The back door of the cafe was slightly ajar. She closed it promptly, put the lock on, stepped away from the door and swerved around in search of the switchboard to turn the lights on to full, cursing the machine when the power went out. She extracted a torch from a drawer and switched it on. The sudden ringing of the phone made her jolt in shock and she picked the phone up with trembling hands.

'Hello, this is security, we have received a signal that your system has been breached.' the mans voice was distorted but she was glad to have the him on the line.

'Yes hello please send help, Im alone and its getting quite dark' her voice let out a quiver

'Just take a deep breath'

 'Could you give us your name and code.'

'Its Preeti, code is cafe mist'

'Great Ive sent my guy out to sort it out, the patrol should be over there soon.'

'Um could you please could you stay on

the line till they get here.'

'Sure'

'So tell me Preeti, do you like movies?'

'Are..are you trying to distract me? Because you arent really doing a great job.'

'Guilty, but hey, gotta keep your mind off with something. Well what do you watch?'

'Uh I dont know, game of thrones, marvel, Tarantino films..'

'Kill bill?'

'Yeh..'

' I like a strong female lead. You sound pretty tough yourself. If that guy is inside right now maybe he should be afraid.'

'Don't even joke about that...What's taking him so long?' 

'He's getting close.' She double checked all the locks and latches in every opening of the cafe.

'But what you really should be asking is DID YOU JUST LOCK ME IN OR OUT??'

Preeti froze to her skin. She spun on her heel extricating a large cricket bat from the nearby stand in the kitchen.

'If you're in here I swear to god-'

'What you're going to try a little batting practise on me?'

'You're damn right I will'

'Gotta find me first and I could be anywhere.'

Preeti treaded carefully out of the kitchen keeping her back to the wall as she walked, her eyes wide open, not taking her chances.

'Im going to call the cops.' There was a sinister cackle on the end of the line.

'Oh Preeti, you have not learnt a thing have you?' 

'Go AHEAD and Naina DIES. So if you have any ounce of feeling left for her I suggest you talk to me.'

'What d'you want?'

'To show you the truth'

'About what?'

'About you. Who you really are. And trust me its going to hurt.'

'You dont know me.'

'Oh but I do. Im inside your head Preeti. I know you and that is the real horror show. I know that everyone close to you has been lying to you.

Your 2 faced friends, your fraud of a family, your wh**e of a mother. It all started with her Preeti. But its going to end with you.'

'Screw you, you son of a-'

'Careful Preeti. My mercy has limits'

'What do you want?'

'Your complete co-operation'

'I gave you it.'

'You thought you could trace my phone without me knowing huh? I have eyes on you Preeti. Try outsmart me again and someone dies. Him or her. Your choice.' 

 See you soon.

She stood rooted to the place in fear. Unable to move an inch of her body. 

He was in here. Or very close. She knew it.

She heard a distant clatter sounding like glass. And somewhere a slash of a knife ripping through the silence. Something was amiss. Cautiously she followed the noise that led her to the living room. Her flashlight casting sinister shadows upon the walls. The shadows grew. Hushed voices broke out from the gloom. And she saw him. The ghostface masked figure waving to her slowly. Then a dazzling light blazed through the room causing her to shield her eyes and:

'SUUURPRIIISSSE!!!' 

Preeti uncovered her eyes scanning the room. The masked figure had dissapeared and replaced with familiar faces and some unknown, all college kids. The room pealed with animated chatter and laughing as Preeti stood there dumbfounded. People came forward to greet her their voices distant, their faces hazy as she drifted amongst them. She couldnt see Pandit.

'Hey hope we didnt spook you' Sameer said

Naina hugged her.

'Ok sis? You seem lost'

'Oh nothing just the standard surprise reaction, wasnt expecting it.'

At that moment someone tapped her from behind. It was Pandit, he gave her a brief hug conscious of the others standing around them. 

'You dont need to hide it from us. We figured as much.' Sameer said elbowing Pandit in the ribs who scowled at him though unable to restrain a smile from curling at the corners of his mouth while Preeti blushed.

'Awww, you cuties' said Naina. Pandit approached her.

'Hey are you okay?' he asked calmly.

'Huh yeh. Actually I-'

'Hey pretty girl!' Swati came and gave her a crushing hug. Preeti feigned a smile even though deep down she was feeling on edge. She hadnt seen Swati in a long time.

'Hmm who are you and what have you done with my bubbly chatty girl?' Swati teased.

'Right you good looking bunch, lets get this party rolling!' yelled Sameer to the cheers of everyone around. The music blared from the speakers playing out 'tenu suit karda' and the lights dimmed. Sameer led Naina to the dance floor as Preeti turned her attention to Pandit who got caught up chatting away to a bunch of boys from their college. 

'Pandit I need to-' But he couldnt hear her above the loud music

'Did you say something? Hang on Im going to get us the drinks' He dissapeared around the corner and she tried to follow but was blocked by Swati. 

'Hey birthday girl, where you off to?' she held her hand and pulled her back in among the throng of people.

'Lets dance' Swati held her hands but Preeti moved back. Her phone buzzed with the message TELL ANYONE ABOUT OUR LITTLE COMMUNICATION AND SOMEONE DIES TONIGHT. Preeti tried to suppress her shakyness to no avail unable to disguise the trembling in her voice. Even though the room was warm from everyones body heat Preeti felt none of the profit, feeling chilled to the bone that her stalker could be lurking anywhere in the dark. When he wasnt wearing the mask which form of illusion did he assume among all these people? She didnt feel safe at all. If he was here she would need to tread really carefully, he had only been threatening so far but if that escalated into something worse then the consequences would be disastrous. She was in the dark as to what he was capable of doing. And this room was now a breeding ground for all his malicious intentions. She was nervy at the slightest movement around her and watched everyone with suspicion and mistrust. She tried to detect any trace of looks written on their faces but everyone seemed either too occupied in dancing or drinking.

'You go ahead, I need to sort something first' Swati shrugged her shoulders not in the slightest aware of Preetis predicament while the bunch of boys Pandit had been talking to crowded around them to dance. The cd flowed into the next song 'bom diggy'. Preeti eyed them warily and backed away just as one of them was about to advance on her. She turned sharply around clashed hard into someone.  Her arms falling to rest against his chest while he wrapped his arms around her supporting her from tipping over from the impact. She raised her head to him and gasped.

'You?' She exclaimed meeting Samars fervent gaze as he beheld her from their close proximity. A strand of hair fell against his forehead making him seem more boyish than usual. The top quarter of his shirt was unbuttoned.

'You okay?' he asked warmly. She felt his body comfortingly warm against hers even through the layers she wore and she shrugged away from him just as she began to feel herself slide into his embrace and folded her arms looking away while he pursed his lips together in a smile. A rather charming one she hated to admit. 

'Care for a dance?' he asked calmly

'No thanks.' 

Swati came by her side

'Lucky you, why didnt you say yes yaar?!  hes cute. And you can tell he works out' she said above the music

Preeti furrowed her eyes at her wondering if Samar had heard them. He hadnt moved far though his back was to them, and was taking a sip from his drink.

'What? You can. That shirt looks like it might burst at any moment' Swati giggled 

'You done?' Preeti said. 

'No. Should I fake spill some alcohol over his shirt like they do in films to get him to take his shirt off?!'

'Do me a favour and you go dance with him seeing as you cant stop gushing over him' Preeti said in a hushed voice.

 'And he can hear you you know.' Swati swore under her breath while Samar turned to face them again and flashed Preeti a charming smile that made her blush.

Pandit returned then with the drinks and shared them out. He slapped Samar on the back. 

'Need a refill?'

'Im good'

'So how's it going dude?'

'Good'

'I hear you know Preeti already huh?'

'She and I work at the same place'

'Well well, its a small town afterall.' Pandit sipped on his drink watching Samar oddly. 

'Wait..you know each other?' Preeti questioned

Sameer joined the trio at that point and threw an arm around Samar.

'So I see you met my step brother'. Preeti looked at him in bewilderment.

'Step brother?'