Clean Bowled

Chapter 38

*Aslesha*

I am deep in sleep when the ringing of my phone wakes me up. What the hell! Looking at the flash of the screen I squint my eyes and pick up the phone without looking at the caller ID.

Agar ye Pari rahi toh bahot maar khaayegi. Raat ke dedh baje hai.

"Hello?" I say, my voice thick with sleep. No answer. Kya mazak hai? "Hello?" I say again.

"Hello" he whispers.

It's Viraj. Even though his voice could barely be heard, I know it's him. Hello se hi pata chal raha hai ke koi problem ho gayi hai.

"Viraj?" I say and sit up on my bed. "Kya hua?" I ask rubbing my eyes.

What's with this sudden phone call? Itni raat ko vo bhi. Aunty toh thik hai na? Damn why isn't he speaking? I'm getting restless here.

"Aslesha" he says and his voice breaks. He breaks down too as I hear him crying on the other line.

Oh my god!

"Hello Viraj? Kya hua" I say but just then the call is cut as my battery goes dead. Fuck my life! Ye bhi abhi hona tha.

I quickly get up and take the keys to my scooty. Papa ek conference ke liye Jaipur gaye hai so vo tension nahi hai. I lock the house securely and get on my scooty.

The roads are fully empty and I'm completely freaked out as I ride towards Viraj's house. During one turn I see some young guys and girls smoking. And it's not cigarette. A shiver runs down my spine when one of the guy eyes me. Please mera peecha mat karna bhai.

Hey Bhagwan meri rakshaa karna. Meri nahi karoge toh bhi chalega, Viraj ki karna please. Kya hua hoga?

Is he in pain? Is he hurt? Kyu mai college nahi gayi aaj... Usse meri aaj jarurat thi. Damn!

I speed up. Itna tez kabhi chalayi nahi hu mai. The cold wind is not helping my situation. November ki raat me, dedh baje mai scooty se, pajamas pehen ke, mere dil todne wale ladke ke ghar ja rahi hu.

Taaliyaan bajni chahiye mere liye. Ya gaaliya padni chahiye. I don't know! Pyaar me har insaan itna pagal hota hai ya mere case me itna extra ho gaya hai sab kuch?

I reach his house and run towards the door. I'm about to ring the bell but I see that the door is slightly open.

Itni raat ko darwaza khulla? Koi andar ghuss ke Viraj ko kuch...

My hands literally start shaking as I push open the door open and step in. It closes behind me with a soft click.

It's all dark. Vo ghar pe nahi raha toh? Ye toh maine socha hi nahi. Living room me toh koi nahi hai. Bedroom uska upar hai. Hopefully he is safe.

I tiptoe upstairs and see that his door is open too. I walk inside and breathe a sigh of relief when I see that he is alone and there's nobody torturing him or anything.

But then again my breath catches in my throat when I look around his bedroom. Sab idhar udhar fekaa hua. Ek flower vase toota hua, his study table lamp on the floor. One of the chairs turned upside down.

He is facing away from me and his head is in his hands as I see that his bare back is shaking due to heavy breathing.

Kya hua mere dummy ko?

He senses my presence and looks back and stands up. I gasp. His eyes are bloodshot and he looks miserable. His shoulders are slumped and he looks at me like he can't believe it that I'm here.

Even I can't believe it actually.

"Aslesha" he breathes. He looks at me like he just found some water in a dessert and then his face crumples up. I run towards him and throw my arms around him as his body starts shaking with sobs.