Chapter 11

Chapter 10 continued

There was a sudden burst of commotion from outside. Preeti saw the flashing red lights of police cars parked up around the cafe. Samar came to her side.

'Whats going on?' 

'..No idea..why are they parked up here?' They exchanged looks of bafflement.  There was a loud rapping on the door. Preeti fiddled nervously.

'Open up!' came loud racuous voices of the policemen just outside.

'Please step outside'

'Dyou know this girl?'

A dead body lay in a black sack that leaked with blood. Preeti looked aghast unable to swallow back her fright her body shuddering uncontrollably from the horrid sight before her. 

She had seen her in the online profiles and now was seeing her in real flesh. She was beyond recognition her face disfigured and blood soaked. Preeti clamped a hand over her mouth trying not to lurch. It was Hema.

Preeti and Samar had been taken in for questioning. Preeti quickly learnt that everyone from yesterdays party had been called in as the body had been discovered the following morning lying in a dumpster behind the cafe. The police had plied her with all kinds of questions but Preeti had tried her best to steer away from the fact that she and Pandit had had an argument that night. She didn't want to call attention to the link between the dead body and the cause of their arguments. The police officer had concluded the interrogation with a message that made her skin crawl.  Warning her to be careful with whom she trusts, the neighbourhood had a shady past and some things were returning back from the gloom. Preeti was desperate to reveal the fact that she had been receiving threats but being under compulsion to keep them to herself made her curse at the policemens inability and complete lack of insight to not see through her disturbed demeanour. 

News of the girls death spread round like a tidal wave. Sympathies exchanged between those who knew her. And Preeti was the only one who knew that her murder was connected to her. 

This was horrible. 

A sudden buzzing sounded again this time from her own locker. Preeti pulled her phone from her bag. She opened the message from the unknown sender with abated breath.

 I TOLD YOU I'M WATCHING YOU. EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE. SLEEPING BEAUTY. HOW DO YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW'. Preeti strained her eyes and felt her throat go dry. It was a video of her in her bed. A gloved hand crept over her as she slept and hovered by her serene face. It parted her hair gently away from her cheek. Preeti was screaming internally as she tried to quash the rising feelings of fear as she watched the video. The stalker had been in her own room. She couldnt even tell anyone now, not Pandit either given their recent war games. 

News of the girls death spread round like a tidal wave. Sympathies  exchanged between those who knew her. And Preeti was the only one who knew that her murder was connected to her. Her and the stalker turned killer...

'The killer is out there. Why would the police feel it necessary to track down everyone at the party last night when only a few knew the dead girl' said Samar

'But what if hes in among us.' Preeti exclaimed scanning the room of people.

'So they locked him in. Big deal.' Samar said rather nonchalantly. 

'Its a huge deal. He is unpredictable'

'You say that as if you know him'

'Um no..of course I dont know him. But most killers tend to be unpredictable.'

Suddenly a buzzing noise was emitting from inside her locker again. She pulled out a mobile from her bag. But it wasnt hers.  There was a sticker on the back that read property of Hema. 

Her face contorted into fear as she read the messages from that phone. 

'LUCKY YOU NUMBER 1 MY 1ST CALLER. YOU LOVE THE LIMELIGHT SO MUCH..WELL I PROMISE ITS GOING TO END ON A SPECTACULAR NOTE. She panicked. Someone had planted that phone into her bag. Someone who was in on the whole situation she had with the dead girl. Her stalker. Preeti flicked her eyes around to catch the suspect. But maybe he wasn't hiding behind a mask. Maybe he was here playing her like a fool. 

'If I were you I would throw it away' She jumped at Samars voice coming from behind her. 

'Or not if you want to be hauled in for a crime you never commited.' Preeti looked at him anxiously. 

'Sorry I had to peek at the message but just as well because I sense you were about to show it to the police.'

'I cant do that!'

'Seriously take my advice and discard it. Someone is trying to frame you for that girls murder and they have every reason to since the rumours circling round about your recent spat with Pandit has reached nearly everyones ears in this room.'

Preeti looked at him distraught and tugged nervously on a strand of her hair.

'I'll help you get rid of it'.

As people started to filter out after the gruelling questioning Preeti floated in their midst wondering if she would ever see the day when she could erase that part of her that manifested into the workings of her own mind causing her to retreat within herself. As she was thinking over this Pandit threaded his way to her.

'Preeti I realise I have been doing too much explaining that I forgot to apologise.

Im really really sorry. I was stupid, crazy. It was just that once.'

Preetis expression softened. She looked down at her shoes.

'Ok well I mean thats fair. The thing with me and Samar was just once too.' she said deadpan lifting her head to him.

'..What thing with Samar?'

'We kissed in the cafe.' she lied.

'I guess I deserve that.' he sighed much to her aggravation not making the impact she had intended.

'If I cant trust you I cant be with you' she stated coldly.

'I know, and I know I have to earn it...So whats up with Samar? Do you like him?'

'I dont want to get into a fight right now'

'Me neither'. He gave a sideways glance at Samar before kissing her softly on her lips.

'I miss that' he rasped huskily into her mouth. She turned her head away from him.

'You miss her too dont you?' Pandit sat beside her and tried to meet her gaze.

'No, Preeti. All I want is you.' He curled his hand round her neck and traipsed his other hand around her waist leaning into her to kiss her again but she got up as soon as his lips brushed hers.

'I have to go.' He watched her walk off in solemn silence.