The Shadow of Retribution: A tale of vengeance and the price of justice.

Chapter 3

The Present

1st July 2025
Delhi, India

The months spent pretending to be Sourab's girlfriend had taken a toll on me. It wasn't the act of revenge that exhausted me, but the constant need to be his girlfriend. His touchy, needy behavior was unbearable, and every time he touched me, I felt the need to cleanse myself. He knew nothing about my true identity or where I lived. The night Jared was killed, so was  Sambhavi, the sweet, carefree girl, lost her life. I couldn't understand why I deserved this fate or what Jared had done to warrant such a brutal end. His selfless act of helping an innocent girl had led to his death. I longed to erase the smug grin from Sourab's face, the one that assumed he had me under his control. The truth was quite the opposite. My plan to strike back was almost complete.

I wake up next to Sourab, and the thought of being near him repulses me. I quickly head to the shower, unable to stand lying beside him any longer. But I endure this for Jared; everything I'm doing is for him. I plan on taking Sourab for everything he's worth, but I have to bide my time. On the 13th of August, I’ll end this charade. Just over a month left.
Thankfully he left for Thailand tonight.

I feel nauseous—maybe it’s from the drinks last night. Sourab wanted to be intimate, and he thought he had succeeded. But he doesn't know the truth. Every time he tries, I give him a pill, and the next morning, I tell him we had an amazing night. His ego is built on a lie, and soon, it’s going to crumble. I’m going to make sure he suffers for it, slowly and painfully.

It’s surprising how someone like me—sweet, kind—feels absolutely no guilt. Sometimes, when I smoke a little weed, I find myself thinking, what really is love, if not this? Everything I’m doing is for love. For my love, the one that slipped away in an instant. Every night after I come home, I sit down and write letters to Jared, or "D" as I used to call him. So far, I’ve written 1,053 letters. At first, it was just alcohol and cigarettes that helped me cope. Then came the self-harm. Finally, I made up my mind: vengeance. And I will have it.

Sourab has no clue. To him, I’m sweet, loving, submissive—wife material. The perfect girl he’d proudly introduce to his family. He doesn’t see the truth. The only thing I actually like about Sourab is his dog. I feel a bit sorry that the dog will lose its best friend. But, sadly, it has to happen.

I was lost in my thoughts when Sourab called.

"Hi babe, what’s up?" he said.
"Hi, missing you," I replied, amazed at how easily I can fake it.
"I’m coming back from Thailand tomorrow, and don’t worry, no need to be jealous. I didn’t hook up with anyone. I love only you." Classic Sourab. It’s exactly what I’d expect him to say, and of course, I couldn’t care less. But I keep the act going.
"I’m gonna get you whatever you want," he added.

I told him I just wanted him to come back soon because I missed him. We chatted for a while longer before he hung up. What he didn’t know was that I had someone in Phuket, watching his every move.

As he said goodnight over the phone, I smiled to myself. He has no idea his end is just days away. The day he’s planning to propose will be the day I destroy him.