The Artificial Jury

8. Hacked and Buried

Avika's POV 

I am broken. I need someone. But, there's no one with me. No one. I felt someone besides the door. Maybe, or maybe not. I know I would get hallucinations, after all, who is there with me. My brain will make imaginations. 

I started crying and hid my face in between my hands and kept in on my legs. I sobbed. 

Mihika, Abhinav, were coming to my mind. But, not alone, with Partho. I- I need him. Suddenly, I heard a beep sound. I started to find the source all through the room. It was my tab. I realized, my phone wasn't with me. I moved towards it hesitantly. It beeped louder, and I held it in my hand. 

"Please listen to me once Avi. You will get to know everything. Please listen to me once." it was the voice message of Secret Grey Wailer or should I say, Partho. Tears again formed my eyes. 

"Just shut up!" I shouted. 

"Try to remember that I said in the 21 questions game that has incorporated an illegal activity to save my someone special and that's you, just you. Please give me a chance to explain." it again called. And I heard a hard knock on the door of the room. I dashed the tab on the floor. 

But, his words were ringing in my ears. I shouted. His words had definitely made an impact on my mind. I heard a ring sound. Someone was calling me. The tab was not broken yet. 

I picked it up. Call of the inspector, now? 

"Yes sir?" I asked. 

"Ma'am, I wanted to inform something important. Your hacker Vivian Tracker is in the hands of the police. So, you don't need to worry." 

"But, how? Who is he? And who helped me? Like, who helped you to catch Vivian?" I asked in surprise. 

"You should ask your lawyer- Parthiv Saxena." saying so, he hanged up the call. What was it now? If Parth is the Secret Grey Wailer, then who is this Vivian? I need my answers. And, why did Parth say that he did this for me, and I am his special person? 

I opened the door and saw Parth with moist eyes. I felt a wave of guilt. He saw me and embraced me tightly. I felt like snuggling more into him. Unknowingly, I reciprocated his hug while he hugged me even more passionately. I got back into my senses and parted. I wiped his tears.

"Thank you so much, Avi, for understanding me and giving me a chance,"  he said in between sobs. 

"Just speak the damn truth," I replied coldly. I felt guilty to talk to him with this tone.

"It's ok. I don't mind you speaking like that," he said with a forced smile. I looked on. 

"I and Vivian were batch mates while learning law and even best of friends. We were together for everything. You were a rising actress by then. We both were your crazy fans. But, what Vivian had was kind of an obsession. I was an expertise hacker also. He got to know this and with some excuse, he made me make a new technology that can hack anyone's device mischievously. Its aid was with me only and no one else knew. Gradually, we parted, and he worked on this technology and made it even more advanced. Yes, he also learned to hack. He hacked your device and social media platforms. And, I got to know this. The only way to save you and your devices was the newly instilled antivirus that I had. I also hacked your devices and social media accounts to install that anti-virus and now, all of your private stuff is safe." he explained it all. I was taken aback. I was feeling guilty, really guilty but made a stern look. 

"Then, you could have directly come to us. We would have believed you. Why did you hack my device?" 

"Vivian had already hacked your device, so he would know my activity on it. That's why, I did it in secret and the way to install the antivirus, was anyway a hack. I know it's weird, but this technology is new. And above that, I didn't want to become a bad personality in front of you." he confessed hesitantly. I was broken. Can fame bring these things also?