Haunted By Unknown

2. the friend's reception

He is good looking but he checked himself several times in front of the mirror before going to the girl's home. He has seen her when they were kids. He doesn't remember her name but he remembers her face. Her cheeks were red every time not because of the makeup but because of her constant laugh. At first everybody thought the girl got heavily makeup. Slowly they got to know they were wrong. If she still looks like that arjun was scared he would look dull beside her. So he made sure he looks attractive.

Her parents called him to come inside. He thought of waiting inside but he remembered he did not go inside the house after his marriage got fixed. He felt embarrassed and said he will wait outside. Her parents were confused but said nothing.

Luckily the girl came out in five minutes. He thought blindly the girl will come out after half an hour. She looks pretty just like he heard. The light orange lehenga was a good choice. She looked perfect in the dress. He would have felt blessed if she was blushing. He is thinking about her face since the morning. She is serious as if she is going to her exams. Though her head is bowed it is clear that she is not shy or happy. Is there any problem?

"It is first time for her to go out to a party without us" her father explained.

"It is also my first time to go out without my parents" it is not true but arjun said it to relax the girl. No response from her.

He got in the car after she got in. She is beside him but neither of them talked. Arjun wanted to break the silence between them but she did not look at him for once. She only looked outside. He felt wrong about the awkward silence. But the words died in his throat as he has to concentrate on the road and also on his mind.

After two hours of journey, they reached the destination. He got out before she opened her door. She was frozen when arjun opened the door for her. Finally they looked at each other. The colour did not come on her cheeks but she did not look at him angrily or feeling disgusted. She only looked surprised and a small smile lit her face. He looked at her for a moment before asking her.

"What's your name? "

She did not understand his question. She looked at him puzzled.

"I have to introduce you to my friends and I don't know your name"

She was shocked for a second and got angry.

"I'm Samyuktha. So what's your name? "

He was shocked for her cold behaviour but still answered her question. He realised he should not have asked name so badly. Now the girl is nothing but cold to him. Samyuktha did not bend her head as she was before. Instead she walked as if she is going into battle and arjun got worried he will lose his respect today. To his surprise she talked perfectly with others, just like anyone expected of her. She spoke very little to him before others but he know she is acting.

He also acted well beside her. After some time his friends separated him from Samyuktha. He know what they were about to say.

"Congratulations arjun. She looks very cute"

"Thank you mohit"

"But don't you think it's odd that she is not feeling shy with you"

Arjun felt like mohit is reading his mind. Who can say that? Only if they knew her....

"Girls these days don't feel shy mohit. Your wife has planned to elope afterall...."

"You told me you both are not so close. You even did not even personally met her before" sampath asked him doubtfully as if they were in relationship and kept it a secret from his friends.

" I don't know about her personally. Maybe she never feels shy with anyone"

"You mean she has no shame?" Mohit asked mockingly.

"I didn't say that!"

"Just joking arjun. Don't get so angry for her. This is my day. Please don't let any guests know you are kicking me. My wife will kill me" for that they laughed. The dinner was good and after another hour he and samyuktha left.

Same awkward silence is between them except there is some light to see the surroundings before and now even on pressing the light button she did not turn her head from the road. He sighed and concentrated on the road again.

After driving for half an hour, the tyre got punctured. Samyuktha got scared as if something will happen in few seconds. Arjun got out and tried to change the tyre. Suddenly the other tyre got punctured even though the car is not moving. There is no choice but to leave the car on road.

"I'm sorry to say but we have to go...." arjun was really worried to see her so horrified. He's not gonna eat her. He felt she will cry at any moment. It is just 10 : 10 pm now. He called his friends to help him. Though she is walking, it looked more like a robo walk than a human walk. It made him more tensed.

........................................................................................................................................................................

Most of them left in other way. Only he took the wrong route. Arjun wanted to scream for his mistake but feared he will scare Samyuktha. So he suppressed his frustration. By god's grace he found a mechanic shop in ten minutes. His happiness did not last long. Nobody is in the shop.

Samyuktha called her father. He thought of coming to them but their car is not working. All the hopes were gone......and then Samyuktha's phone vibrated. It is her father.....

"There is a hotel close to your location...."

They both checked the place in Google maps and went to that hotel. Samyuktha asked to book a cab and leave. Unfortunately the signals in their phones is lost and at the same time, the rain started. With no choice, they went in the hotel.