D-20

Final flashbacks.

Day 14:

I was totally broken. I lost my friend. I was there but couldn't do anything. Her parents came. I went to give my statements. I told them that I was there, no one entered the room. I didn't hear anything. But I was in deep sleep. She was fine when I've entered. 

The doctor's report says she had a heart attack. Her internal injuries were not detected at first, so that was the reason for her death. I wanted to stay there to be there with her parents, but duty called me. 

Seema call and I went to the institute. I wasn't there with her parents when they gathered her stuff and took her corpse to her village. I wanted to go with them. I wanted to attend the funeral. But I missed them all. 

I was upset, and Manish's irritating story of betting in the cricket match depressed me more. I heard him word to word, how his poor decision led him to lose. 

Seema sensed my sadness and appeal to me to share my problems with her. I did so. She invited me to visit her house after work. I had to set Nikita's clients to other staff. I did the paperwork and transferred the salary to her account. If needed, her mother can access her account and at least have her daughter earned money.

I went to Seema's house. When I entered I saw a gigantic chandelier, crystal staircase. The hall was huge and had marble flooring. Decorated elegantly. 

She walked down the stair to the hall. She was wearing pajamas, but her pajamas seem much costlier than our party wears. She looks so beautiful, even without makeup. We sat on the white leather sofa. 

We chat for a long then she offered me drinks. I was upset and didn't want to turn her down. So I accepted.

She brought a bottle of expensive wine and two wine glasses. And placed it very firmly on the round glass tea table. She humbly served me. We have wine and I wept on her shoulder. 

She got a call and her face turn pale. She insisted me to say overnight. I felt awkward, but I agreed.

I got a call from Anita; she asked if I am going to return home or not. I told her the whole story. She understood my situation, but she needed the parcel I received on behalf of her when she was out badly. I instructed her over the phone on the way to the parcel in my house.  Listening to my conversation, Seema asked curiously how will Anita enter my house. So I revealed the secret to her that only Anita and my boyfriend Sumit have my house's spare keys. 

The night pass like that.

Day 15:

I had a hangover in the morning. I was having difficulties to recall what happened at night. 

Seema looked totally fine. She made me breakfast. When I asked her about what happens at night. She just smiled and said, 'you are so cute, I'm really happy to meet you'. These were the only word she had that day. She canceled her session for that day. I went home instead of work.

I found my house a bit messy. I sigh and scolded Anita in my mind. Due to the handover, I rested the whole day. 

And because I was asleep, the whole day I was awake the whole night. I was roaming here and there like a ghost at night at my house. I was sad; I was mad, so anxious that put the music in high volume and squall loudly. So I couldn't even hear my scream.  

My night went wild and crazy.

Day 16:

In the morning I went outside to take fresh air. I just roam randomly anywhere. There my glance hit the hoarding saying that boat race will be held that day. 

I went near the lakeside and sat on the grass. I went early so I could witness the participant's arrival, practice, and preparation. Every candidate was full of confidence. Some had arrogance, some had attitude. Different kinds of people, I observed. 

The race began and went smoothly. During the last round there occur an accident. The boat vulnerable to collide with the boat blocked the path by accident stopped immediately. Boat number 3 appeared from nowhere and passed the stopped boat with ease. The boat was far behind and unaware of the accident didn't stop and kept on moving. It was the funny moment when other candidates tried to start their boats to get on the race again after watching boat number three reaching the finish line. 

Because I went out without any proper plan, I forgot my phone at home. I felt a bit at ease after I spent my day alone watching others. Living a life as a third party and observing others of a day was quite effective.

At night when I checked the phone, every single person called me.  My staffs, Deepak, you, Sumit, Anita, even Nicky's mom also. There were lots of missed calls and messages. I replied to everyone in messages that I was fine not to worry. I apologized to everyone. It was inconvenient to message Nicky's mother or call in late at night. So I passed it to do in the morning. 

Day 17:

I was a bit cheerful that day. This difference came because of that race. The race taught me the lesson. Life is all about moving forward, no matters what. 

The accident was so sudden and the boats stopped to avoid a collision seem like the race is off. But it wasn't. It wasn't, not only because it was not declared off, but also because one of the participants was still on it. Boat number tree was kept moving and won the race unexpectedly. Everyone's confusion and over judgment took them down. The time they realized it and tried to get back at the race, it was too late. 

I learn that life is still on,  a sudden incident won't stop it. If I get confused like those fellow boatmen, the loss is mine only. I will be as frustrated as them, will have regrets like them too. 

So I callback Nikita's mom. She had lost her daughter but still remembered me. Her pain is much deeper than mine. Unimaginable. I call her and talked to her. Asked how the funeral went. She was upset, I consoled her. She asked if I owned a bracelet with an eagle charm in it. I denied and said that I am not that fond of pieces of jewelry, only one bracelet I was wearing currently was the lucky charm given by Nikita to me. I told her the story of me getting that bracelet too. Her daughter's naïve work made her smile for an instance.

Seema didn't contact me that day also. I guess she was busy with her schedule.

Day 18:

I wasn't with Seema, but the stalker was in front of the institute. I guess Seema was avoiding the session because of him. 

We all were missing Nikita. You came forward and gave a sweet speech. You told everyone that wherever she is will be upset watching us like this. She wants us to pay for her, be happy so that she could be in peace. 

Seema was absconding that day again. I was worried about her. I asked you to find out what happened to her.

Deepak came to me and stayed by me. He finally denied using the ticket which was for Nikita.

 Day 19:

I felt so low. I called Sumit and like every day; I talked to him. But he sensed my mood. He asked the matter. I told him that I wasn't feeling well enough to attend the concert. But he insisted to attend the concert. It will be a change for me. I needed a change, was his opinion. 

I said that without Nikita and Deepak, I couldn't enjoy it there. But he insisted to me that I should attend it.

Strange, but Seema called me that evening. She apologized for being absconding and asked me if I am going to the concert or not. I said I was not in a mood to attend. She had a fight with her boyfriend, so she was feeling low. She said that I wouldn't be like her. So she cheered me up and insisted to attend the concert. She said she sent a dress for me as a gift for me. It was for me to wear at the concert. She said she will come to see me in that dress so better to wear it.

I couldn't turn her down and agreed to attend the concert.

Day 20:

I got ready for the concert. Went to the institute so that we can all gather there and go to the concert together.

The concert started at 3 pm. It was about to end at 10 pm as per the government guidelines. 

I got a call from Sumit confirming whether or not I was attending the concert. So sweet of him. He wanted my happiness. 

 We all went to the concert. There was an announcement that they will end the program early at 8.30. There will be another program that will show the comet's last day view on the giant screen. I felt relaxed in the crowd, coz the noise made me forget who I was. 

During the concert, Arijit Singh was singing the song Pachtaoge I got a call from Sumit. I couldn't hear anything due to the noise. I went out but couldn't understand what he said. I went far from the concert and tried to call him. He didn't pick it. When I returned the bouncers restricted my entry. I was not allowed to enter again. 

It was around 7 to 7:30 pm. I argued with the bouncers and told them I was inside. But they didn't listen.

So finally I retired to my house. It took me nearly an hour. I was at the entrance of the compound where I was walking towards my house and trying to call Sumit, eventually. 

A man bumped into me almost made my phone dropped. I scolded him. 'Are you blind?'

 Then I opened the lock of my house. I stepped in and noticed bloodstain on the floor. I followed it and saw Seema's bloodstained dead body near my kitchen. 

I got shocked. My legs got weaken and I drop on my knee there. I saw a g*n next to her. It was a small piston with a golden handle. 

"Aaaaa" I heard Anita's scream and became conscious. 

"You killed her? I'll call the police." She said.

I saw the hate for me in her eyes. I got scared. So I ran from there. I ran vigorously and ended up at the bridge. I calmed down and thought to surrender. I haven't done anything, so why run. 

But the news fetched my attention. The news said I was the fraud and extorted money from the celebrity.

 I haven't overcome that shocking news, and a powerful hand pushed me into the water. 

I was choking inside the water. Was about to die. I closed my eyes with defeat with life, but I ended up waking at my house like we did last night.

***

I thought it was a dream and all happened as I mentioned before. But when I fell on the water again in the 20 days I figured out it is really happening.

I even thought I was crazy. I couldn't trust anyone. I was so confused. And you know the rest.

"You went through a lot," Jayesh says and hugs me.

"I am sorry I wasn't there for you at that time." He added. "But now I am with you. I won't let you suffer."