Shadows, Smoke and Secrets
1653 Words
Kritik’s duplex house was ultramodern but not very large. Downstairs, apart from a hall and a garage, there was no separate bedroom. Upstairs, the master bedroom belonged to Kritik himself. Another room — a guest room — temporarily housed Aru and her sister. There was also a private gymnasium. But the most beautiful parts of the house were the two long roof balconies. One of them held a miniature swimming pool, barely two or three bathtubs of water. It had been built more for show than for use.
On a misty evening, under the reddish glow of fragrance candles, the shallow blue water of the pool shimmered as if enchanted by a magician’s spell. Elisha, Arnab, Sayor, and Kathleen sat with their feet dipped in the water, savoring the cold air despite the chill outside.
Elisha, Arnab, and Sayor were Kritik’s best friends — almost family. All of them carried a sense of incompleteness in their lives. Each one a drifter with no anchor, all four preferred the thrill of crooked paths to the calm of straight roads. Outwardly everything seemed normal, but inside, their lives were labyrinths. Maybe that’s why they were soulmates. Despite Kritik’s stubborn, hot-tempered nature, they had stayed by his side for years without complaint.
Leaning on the balcony railing, Kritik exhaled stream after stream of nicotine into the cloudy sky. Kathleen gazed at him with fascinated eyes. She was Elisha’s cousin, much younger — about Aru’s age — yet carried a quiet weakness for Kritik. She never missed a single bike race of his and was the top badge-holder of the fan club where “Rider Jeke” always trended number one. But Kritik knew nothing of this; he only threw his reckless heart into danger to find some twisted peace.
Everyone else knew about Kathleen’s crush but excused it because of her age.
Tonight she had begged to come with Elisha since it was Kritik’s birthday, carrying a gift for him that he probably would never open.
---
Because of the rain, Anu hadn’t returned yet, and Aru had stayed inside her room all evening. When the rain slowed, she stepped into the corridor to check if her sister had come back. Just then Elisha’s voice rang out from the balcony:
> “Hey you! Bring hot coffee for all of us.”
Sayor objected in a low voice,
> “Hey, who do you think you’re talking to? She’s not a servant — she’s Kritik’s stepsister.”
Elisha’s eyes widened,
> “Really? But Kritik said to treat her like a servant.”
Sayor glared at Kritik, still standing there like a stone, and turned back to Elisha,
> “He told me the same thing. He doesn’t even acknowledge her as a sister. How awful can you get?”
Elisha peeked toward the corridor to stop Aru but found she wasn’t there. Feeling guilty, she hissed,
> “Wait, I’ll handle her.”
Arnab, ever suspicious, asked,
> “Hey, what are you whispering about? It’s not about me, is it? Tell me now or else—”
Sayor rolled his eyes,
> “You’re a hacker, Arnab, not a magician. You can’t read minds.”
Kritik finally turned. Elisha threw the question directly:
> “Jeke, Aru’s your sister — why didn’t you tell us?”
Kritik replied flatly,
> “She’s not my sister, so why would I? And what qualifications does she have to be my sister?”
Before Elisha could counter, Aru arrived with a tray of steaming coffee. She didn’t mind being asked for coffee — after all, they were guests.
But Kathleen did mind. She couldn’t accept that while she fought for a glance of Kritik, this brown-skinned, long-haired girl lived under his roof, saw him daily, talked to him, laughed with him. Her jealousy flared. When Aru handed her the cup, Kathleen deliberately tilted it. The boiling coffee spilled over Aru’s hand.
It was scorching hot. Aru didn’t scream — only a muffled gasp escaped her lips.
Sayor rushed to her at once, checking the reddening skin. Aru kept her eyes shut tight, silent tears rolling down her face.
> “Are you okay, baby?” Sayor asked anxiously.
No answer. He plunged her hand into the cool pool water. A moment later Aru blinked; the chill eased the burn.
Elisha glared at Kathleen. Kathleen mumbled,
> “I’m sorry, Aru. I didn’t mean it.”
Aru knew she’d done it on purpose, but for the sake of dignity said,
> “It’s okay.”
Then Kritik spoke, his eyes burning as he looked at Aru,
> “Enough. Go inside. I’ll bring ointment.”
Aru sensed no softness in his tone — only fire, maybe even violence. Lowering her head in embarrassment, she left the balcony.
---
She had barely entered her room when Kritik came in and slammed the door shut. He had never done this before. Aru stepped back, spine against the wall. Kritik rolled up his sleeves and walked toward her.
In the dim flash of light his expression was terrifying. Aru swallowed hard, stammering,
> “Wh-what are you doing? You’re scaring me.”
His voice was cold and dominating,
> “How dare you?”
> “W-what did I do?”
He grabbed her scalded hand and squeezed hard. Pain shot through her; she cried out,
> “Ahh! It hurts!”
Still holding her, he dragged her to the bathroom, opened the tap, applied shower gel and scrubbed her burned skin roughly.
Shocked, in pain, Aru bit her lip,
> “What are you doing? Can any normal person hurt someone like this?”
Kritik replied while scrubbing,
> “Who said I’m normal?”
The skin was soft from the burn; now under his harsh cleaning it began to bleed. Aru crouched down, sobbing,
> “Please stop, I can’t take it anymore.”
He finally let go, cupping her soapy hand between his palms,
> “Next time you do this, I won’t just wash your hand. I’ll throw you in the tub and wash your whole body. I repeat — your whole body.”
Through tears Aru asked,
> “What did I even do?”
Kritik gave a bitter smile and hissed,
> “In future, don’t you dare touch anyone else.”
---
That night power still hadn’t come back. Anu hadn’t returned. Aru lay on the bed staring at her bandaged hand. Kritik had hurt her but also dressed the wound himself. Was he mad or an alien?
A knock interrupted her thoughts. Surprised by the formality, she said,
> “Come in.”
Elisha entered, a striking figure in black skinny pants, crop top and winter overcoat, her bobbed hair dyed deep brown, nude matte lipstick perfect. Compared to her, Aru felt plain and shy. But Elisha’s warm smile and gentle voice eased her discomfort.
Elisha carefully inspected Aru’s hand,
> “This didn’t need a bandage. Who did it?”
Aru said,
> “I did it myself — helps the pain go away faster.”
Elisha chuckled,
> “Smart girl.”
They both laughed. Then Elisha said,
> “Hey, don’t call me ‘you.’ I’m only sweet sixteen. Call me ‘tumi,’ okay?”
> “Okay, apu. But why make friends with that monkey — I mean Kritik bhaiya?” Aru teased.
Elisha smiled,
> “I don’t know what kind of person he is to live with, Aru, but as a friend he and the others are unmatched. We’re all rich enough, but what we lack is family — unconditional love. Maybe that’s why God tied us with the bond of friendship.”
Aru sighed softly. Elisha continued,
> “Arnab and Sayor have no parents. But Kritik … well, he has but doesn’t have.”
> “No, apu, you’re mistaken. Kritik bhaiya’s parents are both dead.”
Elisha stared, thinking, This girl knows nothing.
> “What is it, apu? Did I say something wrong?”
> “Kritik’s mother is alive, Aru. She’s living with another man.”
Aru felt as if the floor had vanished beneath her feet. All this time she’d believed otherwise.
Before Elisha could explain more, a scream echoed from below — Kathleen’s. Elisha ran out, Aru following.
They found Kathleen trembling in the middle of the hall, surrounded by Arnab and Sayor. Kritik sat on the couch eating an apple, watching.
Elisha raced downstairs, scanning everything.
> “What happened?” she asked.
Arnab replied, Kathleen had gotten an electric shock. Her hands were in bad shape, her body shaking.
> “How? There’s no electricity,” Elisha said.
Kathleen stammered,
> “I don’t know … Jeke bhaiya asked for espresso … I went to the coffee maker … then …” she broke into sobs.
> “Jeke, since when do you drink espresso?”
Kritik bit into his apple,
> “Felt like having something bitter in the cold. Besides I didn’t tell her to do it — she offered. The coffee maker’s analog, runs on batteries — no risk.”
Elisha muttered, moving toward the counter,
> “Let me see that coffee maker—”
Arnab grabbed her hand,
> “No way. If something happens to you, I’m finished.”
> “Finished? What’s going to happen?”
> “I’m not taking risks with you, that’s it.”
> “Arnab, let go.”
> “No.”
Sayor rolled his eyes,
> “Guys please, it’s late. Let’s take Kathleen to a doctor for a checkup.”
---
They all left shortly after. Aru remained in the corridor. Kritik walked outside, flipped the main switch, and instantly the hall lit up.
Aru frowned.
That means the electricity had returned long ago. He’d turned off the board himself. But why … ?
- Writer
