Chap 7- Paranoia
It had become her routine, cry-sleep-wakeup-shower- dress-work. She was like a robot who had instructions already fed in her brain. She was always in daze, always lost. One day at the office, Aryan called her in office , “You know you never submitted the report on se* workers” He asked curiously looking at nervoua Imlie.
“Sorry Sir having some issues at home , I know its an excuse but sorry Sir. Can i still work on it?”
“No , i gave it to Shital. You can work on NGO scam report. Everything alright at home? You need to take off then you can” he suggested
“No I feel better at work” she responded
“Are you sure? You been looking lost lately. Look i lost my brother recently nothing can be worse then losing a loved one right? I dont mix personal and professional together. I expect same from you. Focus Imlie. Everything will be alright” He said smiling and encouraging her. Imlie nodded, guilt seeping back in her soul.
“Thank you Sir” she smiled nervously. She wants to confess, this is right time.
“By the way Sir-“ but Aryan spoke at the same time.
“Look Imlie I like you. You always been honest, you speak your mind and thats why that day i sat with you. Anyways what were you saying?” Imlie lost the courage she had mustered. She just thanked and left the cabin making excuse to finish up a draft.
That evening, she stayed behind late, Sushil and her father was going to come in today. They got delayed but nevertheless, her dad was hell bent on Imlie atleast try to have a talk. As soon she arrived, her dad told her to get dressed and Imlie obeyed. She obeyed for a reason, she will dress up alright but the way she wants to. She removed a dress, that that thin spaghetti strap little clevage show and then she applied shiny eyeshadow, with light makeup. She was ready.
Her dad called her after an hour to come out, as she came out , she saw Sushil mouth hanging open and her dad smacking his head. Sushil dad , put his head down in shame. “Imlie! Ye kya batameezi hai? “ her dad shouted
“Dad this is me. And Sushil i dont like you. You are an idiot “ Sushil dad got up angry “Dev isliye bulaya tha? Mazak banane? Chi sehar aake bigaad diye hai bachi ko. Chalo Sushil beta” He dragged his son out who was still ogling at her chest. “Stupid” she muttered under her breath, so easy.
“Get out of my house! Get out!” Her father yelled at her.
“No dad i wont, mein bhi ghar ka kharcha chalati hoon” with that she went into her room. She changed her clothes , and pulled her hair in frustration. She is so done with life. Nothing is going right. Then she got a ping “Looking sexy in that dress. Your body calls out to me” a text said. Her hands shook, it was one of the numbers Vihaan messaged her from.
“WHO ARE YOU?”she texted
“Vihaan” replied back.
Imlie dropped the phone, she was shaking, beads of sweat accumulating as she sat in AC.
She doesnt know what to do , she was horrified. How can this be? He is dead!! Imlie got up and went to her window but it was dark no strange sightings. She stood there almost whole night, scared out of her mind. Who is playing this gamw? Aryan? Did he find out? Oh god it is him. But how!? Only way to find out was at work.
She didnt sleep again that night, when she arrived at work everything seemed normal. Aryan was already in cabin, she knocked “come in” and Imlie went in.
“Sir , I had a question” she looked at him suspiciously any sign of hate, or recognition.
But he seemed normal, he was busy signing papers . “Bolo” he said
“Woh Ngo Report ke Liye , I would need extra day” she lied. She could do in two days but she had to see with her own eyes to see if Aryan is the one but it didnt seem so. Then who was it? After she went to her desk, she was back to sqaure one.
Her home didnt seem like home, it seemed more like horror home. Too dark, her dad not home, dripping sound of lose tap in kitchen. Everything seemed out of horror movie right now. She literally ran to her room and turned on the lights closing the door. She took deep breaths to calm herself, she could hear her heartbeats. Then her phone rang showing private number. She picked up, “Hello?”
There was only heavy breathing from other end, she said “Hello” again this time she got a response. It was laughter echoing and then a scream , she threw her phone closing her ears screaming herself. She was losing it, she looked around scared. She checked bathroom making sure nobody was there. The windows was closed , she picked her phone and called her friends.
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