The Unattended Letter

A not so normal day

Walking upto my apartment door after a tiring day I'm just struggling to find my set of keys inside my bag. A jingle tells me it's there but I'm just not able to get a hold on it. The lift wasn't working as usual, I had to climb up five stories through the stairs. The sweat now tickling down my back is making me all the more uncomfortable.These are the times when I need to constantly remind myself of the reasons why I adamantly left the comfort of my house back there with my parents and shifted here to Kolkata for studies, and for a better life. The sweat, the heat, the noise, the crowd - all these were trying to break my will power day in and day out.  

I'm just about to give up; the temptation of ringing the doorbell of my neighbour seems to overpower my brain when finally I find my keys. I push the door open and walk in. Entering my flat, I jump onto my very cozy bed and switch on the AC. Five minutes into it and I don't feel the humidity any more.  

Ting tong! 

The bell. It has to be my next door neighbour - Mallick aunty. 

"Yes Mashi?", I say finding her leaning on her apartment door grill holding a paper in hand.  

"You didn't see this?", she handed out the neatly folded paper to me. 

"What's this?", I say taking a look at it without opening. 

"I don't know. It was kept just outside your door on the floor. Dheer picked it up and gave it to me", I look at her in the same quizzical way as she was at me. 

"Ok. I'll take a look". I say overturning the paper in my hand to find 'confidential' written on it. Strange. 

We talk for some more time, when finally the burnt smell signalled that Tina aunty probably now has successfully burnt her food, I close my apartment door laughing on her pitiable situation. 

Once inside, I decide to open it while sitting comfortably on my bed with some snacks. 

Ohk. Now let's see what's in it. 

I unfold the paper to find a letter written in it. The handwriting was nice and simple. 

Hello, 

You must be wondering what this letter is about. What I want to say is that please read it. Ok. I saw you the other day, you must be wondering where but I'll tell you later about that. I want to tell you that I liked you there. I like you smile. I liked the way you were moving around as a carefree girl; there is a certain charm in you. I kept looking at you the whole time. Now don't freak out please, I'm not a stalker, I just needed to tell you my honest thoughts. I couldn't hold myself.  

You must be wondering how I knew your address and that it can be dangerous. I give you that. But trust me I'm not. If you want you can go to the police with it, I'll come along if you wish. I only have one request if you can grant that, I want to be your friend. I know it's a heavy word but we can try, I know I want to. If you approve, then just open that window which is forever closed. I shall wait, just think over it........I can guarantee I'm not a bad guy. 

I wish to be your friend Dhaani. 

Forever smiling, 

Sataksh.

My heart beat was rapid. My hands were sweating even with the AC in full swing. The fact that he could see me, he knew me, he knew my name, he knew where I lived was frightening. Not only did he have the guts to leave a letter at my doorstep, he also knew every bit of my house. He asked me to open that window, which could only mean he is somewhere near.