High School Romance Revisited

Chapter 34 - The Assurance

His voice was my nightmare. No matter how much I tried to gather the courage to face him the incident of that farewell night always appeared in front of me shattering my self-confidence piece by piece.

"De-ee-pa, open the door," he sang.

I gulped down another cry not letting him know that I was there. I hurriedly went near the door and with shaky fingers closed off all the locks securing it more strongly.

"Come on Deepa, don't be a spoilsport. I just want to have fun. Sooner or later you will be mine then why wait?"

His every word was like venom for my ears. I kept cringing more and more. Pressing my back against the door I slid down, pulling my legs tightly against my chest I kept weeping slowly. My fever was making it impossible to stay awake but I remained on high alert.

"Deepa! I know you are there!" he yelled banging the door. I gasped sensing the vibration and fell forward. Dragging myself away from the door I kept shivering as his voice grew louder and louder. And with each shout, he banged on the door with full force.

I panted and cried in the fear that any moment the door would give away and fall on me letting him in. I didn't even want to think about what he might do with me.

"Deepa!" he screamed.

I howled and pulled myself up. Running towards the kitchen I searched for the sharpest knife and some red chilli powder. That was all I had for self-defence. However, I couldn't find the chilli powder. After a long search, I got the knife and went towards the door not making any sound.

"Don't you want to know baby what I have planned for your dear Mahen?"

My hands shook. No Deepa No! He is bluffing, he cannot harm Mahen, Rai was right. It was all empty threat.

"Open the door Deepa and I'll tell you," he said.

No, I won't! I screamed inwardly while my tears didn't stop. My energy was slowly draining out as I could feel the effect of the fever taking over my body and my senses, both. My skin burned and the more I cried the more I became suffocated.

Sitting down in the side of the open kitchen I held the slab for steading myself. Please go away! I whispered.

"Oh Deepa, you are being foolish!" he yelled. "Don't come begging to me when you have no choice left. I gave you one chance to save Mahen and now you just lost it."

He banged on the door again. "Die you bitch!" he shouted and kicked thrice on the door. Then everything felt so silent. No sound, nothing. 

I sat there staring at the wooden frame that had saved me. Thank god it didn't break! But was he gone? Has he left?

I slowly stood up and with frightened slow steps, I moved towards the door. I looked from the peephole but couldn't see anyone. My eyes fell on the drawing-room windows. The long windows overlooked the entrance and if anyone was there, I would be able to see.

I gulped and walked towards the windows gripping the knife tightly. My eyes fell on the switchboard. Without thinking much I quickly switched off all the lights and went near the windows. Slowly parting the drapes I craned my neck to take a wide look on the entrance if he was waiting somewhere. But I couldn't see anyone. The entrance area was empty. I sighed.

He was gone. My breathing was still not slowing down though. I wanted to check again. Was it a good idea to open the window and check once? I debated. 

After a brief second had gone by and the silence was getting more into my nerves I forced my trembling fingers to hold the window knob. It felt so cold, the bronze knob was freezing my palm. Taking a deep breathe I decided to open the window. I turned the knob once but my grip slipped.