chapter 80

[ Aru's p.o.v ]         This girl had given me almost an heartattack when I heard she was in accident . Arriving at hospital I didn't see the one who had called me and a part of me had started to relax believing it was just a prank but I still went ahead to ask.The didi from the class was still standing by the gate . A nurse heard me asking for Vibhavari and came over. She used exact description to confirm for me it was her. ' The girl who can't stay still even when she is injured. Nuisance for real.'  She directed me to the ward while I fidgeted with my handkerchief all nervous and sweating.         If her not much serious condition had calmed me a bit the seriousness of the accident definitely boosted my panic twice as much . The lady officer who seemed much of concerned about the matter took me to confirm the identity of the stalker. She also made a hint to the fact that she is suspecting involvement of her friends in the matter . Especially her ex-boyfriend, Abhijit. She made a point to stress the fact that I keep a look on her circle and they could be dangerous.          I told it all to Vibha. She refused to believe any of her friends or her ex would do it. I didn't mean to poison their friendship or anything but to me it seemed weird , just as the officer said. Also Abhijit used to stalk me before as well. Her friends had pulled that stupid prank on me and not to say she did mention this Sahil not being happy with their breakup. And then he sent stalker to get her information and she still has the nerve to say he won't do any such thing . I didn't want to get into an argument with her over it but still ended up getting pissed.           It's not that I don't feel butterflies at her antiques or that I don't like her flirting with me or getting all lovey dovey but I don't consider it making up. I am expecting a serious talk out of this. I don't want it to continue this way . Not with her casually turning blind eye towards something that could actually prove lethal and go around calling such people friends knowing very well what they did. I hate them for real. They had always been a trouble since I know them.     Maybe I seem a bit too toxic at this point but heck how can I not be worried when I literally heard the officer tell me it was an attempt for acid attack? And especially when I know that stalker guy was hired by her very friend. She won't believe it but come on a guy who can send a stalker after you what are the chances he won't pay to get you killed?        My mom was staying at home with her while I headed to the college for submission. I was having too much going on in my mind right now that I didn't see uncle and father coming my way and ended crashing into uncle who just stopped me with a  smile." You okay?", he asked me and I immediately apologized. " Yeah. Sorry  Uncle , Vibha-"  he laughed  despite all the worried wrinkles on his face. " You are too much worried about her child . I asked if you are okay. You look so pale and zoned out. ", he voiced it and I just forced a smile. " I am fine. Thank you .", I said and stepped aside. " You are going to college?", he asked and I nodded." You don't look so well.", he stressed his point of me looking like some half dead ghost.      My dad stood besides in silence . Perhaps the presence of his boss or he just afelt guilty for not picking up my calls. I had basically spammed them both. " Take the day off ." , finally dad said something. " No. Its fine. We have submissions. ", I said and he just nodded. " Don't stay too long then. Submit and return. Have you eaten?" " Yes. I have. I should get going now or I will be late.", I said and they both let me.        I was expecting them but not this early. The first thought that concerned me when they showed up was Vibha having to deal with that mark.      Goshh what was I even thinking while doing that ?       I felt my blood rise to my cheeks as I dashed out of the building.  I surely was messing around with her like she did to me but that seemed a bit too absurd. Why did I suddenly feel the urge to do so? Was I being possessive? Wanting to mark what's mine. Heck what even are these thoughts!??        I didn't quite keep a track of my surroundings while being embarassed about my own deeds. " Arushi wait!", someone grabbed my wrist and made me halt. My first instinct was to yank off the hold but it was firm to be shaken off. I turned to find Abhijit standing there with eyes as gone as flooded with tears entire night. He looked beaten up and drained. In summary, horrible. " I have been calling you entire night . I also called you on the way here but you didn't hear me. We need to talk. " , he said that without letting go . I tried to get my hand back from his hold but he was reluctant to do so , perhaps fearing I'd run off. " You can say whatever you want let go off me first ."" No you listen . You have to listen."The desperate demand in his voice somehow creeped me up." I said leave my hand first or I am calling the police!"The fear in me reflected in my aggressiveness. " No. Listen first. You have to talk to my -", he wasn't able to complete when he was pulled off me like some random sack and tossed aside . " Officer mam-", I just mumbled. It was the same officer from yesterday.       I kind of found her behaviour harsh since the very moment I met her. Her bun tied hairs which were carefully set, the pressed uniform without a single wrinkle anywhere , the peircing eyes that looked at everything as if it were a crime for it to even exist or those barely ever smiling lips, the stern expression that never ceased her well defined facial features, or perhaps those all time polished shoes despite the conditions they might be working in, everything about her screamed ' discipline '. She was walking definition of strictness if you ask me. " Thank you." , I blurted out when she turned to me. She gave me a nod and then turned back to glare at him.        Analysing from her response to the entire event yesterday and even now she seems to have personal grudge against boys in general or Abhijit personally. I am not sure but she seems to have her beliefs about this entire thing. "I will throw you in jail if I find you following her again.", she threatened him while he stayed on the ground looking helplessly at me.      I wonder if one can actually be jailed for following someone but I would be great to be freed of him. Though I still classify her conduct a bit rough. " But mam please -" " Shut up! Cry those crocodile tears to your mom not me. I have seen many of your kind. "" Mam I am not-"" Shut up! Don't blabber your nonsense in front of me. Go home and maybe get yourself a lawyer. You are going to need one . ", she said that in such a tone that even I was intimidated. Was this all so serious? And yet that dumb girlfriend of mine thinks it's nothing but an accident." You are going to college?", she turned to me and it took me a few seconds to even nod. She scares me as much as this creep right here. " Get on I will drop you just incase some stalkers try to ambush you or more. ", she said that while her eyes accused him of the possibility. I don't see the need but I have no guts to refuse her. She might throw me in jail for talking back as well. I quietly followed. " So this Vibhavari. What's your real relation to her?", she asked not once breaking off her gaze from the road. I sat in the passenger's seat besides her fiddling with the seatbelt. I don't know how and why I found the nerve to lie about it. " Roomates. We used to go to college together. So friends kind of?", I replied. I sounded so unsure myself that it must have been an easy pick for her to catch me lying. " See. I am not going to judge you. Just so you feel comfortable I have a girlfriend myself. So yes. You can be open to me. I am asking just incase I find more clues to why this attack happened.", she said , her tone lighter than before. Kind of assuring. But deep down I didn't want to say it yet. I understand her point but I feel the need to consult someone before opening my mouth here. What would Vibha answer if asked? Who's she to me? My wife obiviously! That girl doesn't even think before opening her mouth." Girlfriend." , I mumbled. She caught me . I saw her lips curl into a smirk." I knew."" How?"" Your girlfriend doesn't even try to hide it while you are here. ", she laughed it off. Obiviously that no sense girlfriend of mine. She'd announce it on live tv if given a chance. " Anyways if you don't mind, I would like to dig a bit deeper . How was her relationship with Abhijit before she got to you?"" I -I don't know. They had already broken up before she even met me. "" So you know nothing of their relationship? Like why they broke up ?"" I am not sure. We never talk about that. All I know is she used to call him a total moron and from rumours it was so that he was the one who dumped her not the other way around. " , I was answering her still unsure if it was the right thing to do. But what else do you do when a police officer asks you something?" So when did she approach you? What was her take?" " She , I guess around second semester of 11th std. Umm it was random. I am not sure but I guess we kind of easily became friends and I didn't know when I developed feelings for her. ", gosh this all felt so embarassing while telling someone. " What was your first meeting like?" " Umm. She sat besides me and drew me a sketch? ", I answered. I don't see where this was headed. " Intresting. So basically she was a complete stranger but acted like a friend?"" Kind of ."" How was her relation to you back then? "" A friend?""How?" How was I supposed to answer that question? I don't understand a thing here. " Good."" You don't seem to understand. Okay , let me put it straight. If I am not getting anything wrong here , her ex dumped her and then stalked you and then out of nowhere she became your friend and now you two are in relationship? Funny.", she commented and I don't know if I was supposed to respond. "Maybe just a hunch but I find this all weird. A guy dumps his ex to follow you and his ex comes up and proposes you first. And now his ex is trying to get a revenge on either one of you. Can't say exactly whom. But I advice you talk this through with her and I suggest break off all the ties with such people.", she completed her advice right at the entrance of the college and I thanked her immediately getting off. I am not sure why I felt the need to be away from this all.            Just to maintain formality I smiled it through and let her know I'd take her advice into consideration and do so accordingly but I don't know. It made no sense to me. Her concern seemed too exaggerated. I understand the gravity of situation but the way she put it , it was as if she suggested I was the victim of some huge plan they all are plotting together. I know Vibha won't do a thing intentionally to hurt me. But that doesn't mean it won't happen. With all the things happening because of her friends and ex , I am afraid the police officer was right. I do need to talk to her . But now doesn't seem the right time. Not when she's at her worst. Maybe I should save it for later.           I tried to force my focus throughout the lectures while at the back of mind the officer's words phantomed into worst possibilities. " You look sick. What's wrong?" , Niharika as if read me through voiced her concern. I just shook my head. "Is Vibhavari alright? I got to know she was in accident." " She's fine ." " You?" " Me?"" You don't seem fine. What's wrong?"         What's wrong? How do I tell her what's wrong. I don't think someone else needs to be involved in our matter. I can better sort it out with Vibha herself. Yet I found myself asking for advice in an obivious indirect manner. " Niharika. Consider a situation where your friend who's in relationship was told that their partner should break off ties with their previous relation since it can be problematic but your friend doesn't know what to do or should they tell their partner or not, what would you suggest?"" Isn't that obivious? You end one thing before going to another. You should ask , I mean your friend should tell her partner to get her head straight and choose.  Either they get over their past completely or they just return to it. There's no in between. It's plain stupid to hurt your current partner for your past. "          I nodded. Her response seemed a bit harsh but totally agreeable. So it's either the present or past? You can't hold both ends and wish it to work out. So I tell her to make a choice? It's either me or him. What would it be though? What if she gets mad? What if she thinks I am being irrational? What if she chooses him? What if I become  the reason she doesn't want to be with me anymore? What if- what if she leaves me? Will I be able to take that? Loosing her to someone else?