Well, it's simple. Anika Trivedi decided to let things go by writing what had happened a year ago; at Career Camps.
Filled with various feelings, all negative, she tries to keep distracting herself by staying busy. But when lockdown happens, she fi...
The night was silent; too silent for my comfort. There was no chirping, no talking, no arguments, just endless silence. Even snores of our neighbors in next tents was absent today.
I stared at blank transparent sheet of my sleeping bag. The air felt stuffy, and all I wanted was to run. Away from here, away from things that made no sense.
Various feelings exploded in my heart, making it difficult for me to sleep. Radhika and her absurdly calm behavior on everything; Adeela and her theories; Akash— well, Akash and my confusing feelings. And Samjhana. Her case of being dead.
My gut churned, and I turned around. Squeezing my eyes shut, I tried to put the feelings of guilt, grief and sadness down.
It's funny how some things just fade away from mind, while others are imprinted so strongly that they remain with you, your entire life.
I kept tossing and turning, the entire day's events played in my mind in a loop. I thought about how I exploded with anger when my friends brought me to the place where I last saw Sanjhana. Then, I almost ended up kissing Akash at the same place. The mere thought of Akash left a millions butterflies in my stomach. I took a deep breath, and again turned around.
Closing my eyes shut, I thought about Adeela. Her insane theories. I get the fact that she loved mysteries and this one left her stumped — but there was a limit. She actually made theories on a dog. A freaking dog.
Then, camp declaring Sanjhana's death as suicide.
Truth to be told, this news was bugging me more than the letter. Why would camp authorities be so quick to dismiss this thing? Wouldn't it have negative impact? What would media say? The reviews? Would this even run next year?
Another thought popped up. I again turned around.
The students here were being extremely weird too. I mean, except for the first day; no one talked about her death again. It was as if it didn't even happen. Like, shouldn't students be worried or something?
Sitting up, I massaged my head. Radhika and Adeela was either fast asleep or pretending to be asleep. I didn't care. My hands automatically reached the small pendant that I always kept next to my pillow. Tracing the edges of the sharp silver pendant, I thought about my parents.
Wait a minute.
Why weren't Sanjhana's parents here? I abruptly stood up, my head touching the top of the tent. Dizziness washed over me, but this time — I stood still instead of falling down. Taking a deep breath, I focused on the task. Parents were the first ones to be notified, but her parents were neither there when they found her body, nor did I see them at the reception — when I went to find someone after finding the first letter.
Did they even know?
With that terrifying thought, I scrambled towards Radhika's tent. I did not — couldn't handle Adeela's theories at this moment, and I needed someone calm.
Shaking her awake, I said, "Her parents." She moaned, turning away from me. I groaned, "Radhika!" She didn't answer. Rolling my eyes, I got up. Walking to back of tent, I grabbed a bottle of water. Coming back to her, I poured the water all over her.
She snapped, sitting up, "Fuvk!" Wiping water off the clothes, she glared at me. She said, "What?"
I sat down. Taking a deep breath, I said, "Do Sanjhana's parents know about their daughter died?"
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