High School Romance Revisited

Chapter 38 - The Shadow

The most challenging situation as a photographer I have ever faced was Chitra's wedding fiasco. I have handled several difficult projects in my career but me playing a dual role of the bride's best friend and the chief photographer was making it a mess! Of course not to forget I was also performing on the sangeet night.

Thank god my entire team was there otherwise I would have never done this alone. From dress fittings to makeup and last-minute rehearsals to light settings I was being pulled towards all the directions. Sometimes I even thought I should cut myself into pieces and distribute among my friends and employees.

Giving myself a brief break I simply sat down on the ground with a half litre water bottle. God knows I might also die of dehydration!

"This is what we call a 'siyappa'!" Karan announced his presence and settled down beside me.

"Karan if you are here to pull my legs or try some of your crazy annoying ideas on me then forget it! I am cranky right now and I might bite!" I warned him. The silly idiot ignored me and flashed an irritating smile.

"Bite is better. Debyut threatened to cut off my penis if I didn't turn up for Chitra's sangeet!"

"Wait, you were thinking of ditching us?"

Karan shrugged.

Now that was unusual. Karan Bajaj would never miss a party, given a chance he would also call a funeral a death party and would celebrate it with a cocktail. That Karan Bajaj was thinking of not attending Suchitra and Koushik's Sangeet night!?

Very fishy!

One second! Of course! Karan was paired with Elora and they were doing a romantic number. Was that the reason?

I coughed, "but you are already doing a major performance with Elora, it would have ruined the whole routine."

As soon as I mentioned Elora's name I noticed his face suddenly becoming tight.

"Karan? What's going on between you both?"

"Nothing," he threw a stern reply which surprised me. Although I hadn't mentioned Elora's name he understood I was referring to this strange tension between him and her.

So I decided not to rub that topic and took out my phone. "Okay, see this," I showed him the picture I found last night.

"Do you recognise this person?" I pointed at that shadowy figure.

Karan frowned.

He was the last person from the gang I showed the picture to, everyone else failed to recognise. I didn't even leave some of our seniors. Since morning I have been after this image. But no luck.

"This ring. Isn't it the Garage's elite member's ring?"

Yes! Of course! This is the reason we admired Karan. He was not only a party freak but an encyclopedia of the city's nightlife.

That particular ring featuring a design of a skull and key was gifted to the elite members of Garage.

"Most of our friends are an elite member. And this doesn't look like Jason also," Karan too tried to figure out the silhouette of the boy.

"But Karan all our friends are in this photo, then who could it be?"

"I don't know Deepa and I can't remember who was wearing this suit on our farewell night. There were seniors, juniors, teachers, invited guests, performing artists and also trustees. It could be anyone."

Another dead-end.

We tried to think of all the possible people but nothing matched.

It was almost late afternoon and everyone was hurrying to get ready for the Sangeet night. Early summer marriages had one advantage; a long day for setting up for evening parties.