Look Me In The Eyes

Chapter 2: Someone Knows

It was Aleya. It was always her. No matter where Darsh went she'd always be there like a damn leech. Darsh never really liked her. She was so disgusting more of a prostitute rather than a girl. Although she was beautiful, her visuals and her physique were perfect. Her body, there was something about it. Something so attractive and mysterious that it remained somewhere in a dark corner of Darsh's mind. Always . That's why Darsh hated her. She always brought the animal out of him, even from a distance. Even when he was with Chavi. And the worst part -Aleya knew how much power she had over Darsh's mind and thinking. She was recurring distraction. Aleya was Chavi's best friend and had a crush on Darsh even before she met Chavi, rather one of the reasons she befriended her was in fact Darsh. The thing he hated about her the most was how insensible she was. When Chavi died she did cry like she was mad, but she called him the day after to be with Darsh.

" Well hello sexy! Where were you? Missed you a lot at the party.", Aleya said kissing Darsh on his cheeks. " Would step back please? You are suffocating me!", Darsh said with disgust , pushed her back and kept walking. When Darsh was a few steps away from her, she said in deep voice, "You know Darsh I know. I know it." Darsh stopped as if he were paralysed. He subdued a cry in his throat and turned towards where she was standing. Suppressing the fear in his voice he said," What do you mean?". There was a smirk on Aleya's face. With deep dark eyes staring at Darsh she said as if teasing him," I know why you keep yourself away from me its because you are afraid of me. Afraid of the love that you have for me. But the question is why are you afraid? Is it because of Chavi? It's been a year that she has been dead. She won't return you know?" Darsh who was carefully listening to each word that came out of Aleya's mouth let out a deep sigh but at the same time he was filled with hatred." What the fuck is wrong with you Aleya? You are sick you know that! How can you speak about Chavi like that. She was your friend, for dammit!" Saying this Darsh plugged his earpods and started walking towards college. From the very beginning of the morning his mind was utterly disturbed and Aleya was the bonus. He had to sit down and gather what the hell was happening and who was the unknown number. For a moment he thought that Aleya knew about what he did. He was well aware what damage Aleya could do if she had that kind of information with her.

Darsh was distracted the whole day. He waited for the day to end. But interestingly enough he didn't see Aleya for the rest of the day. And that was seriously unusual. During the class he hung his head down as if to hide himself from the world. At this point of time Darsh was suddenly aware of the dark, invisible side of his. Somewhere down there Darsh knew the devil that resided in him. The bell rang and the last class of the day ended. Darsh was walking towards his locker, to take some books for the exams. He noticed there were a lot of new faces, in the hallway. Many students were admitted mid-session. He got to his locker and found it opened . Now this wasn't something new for Darsh. Random girls who were obsessed with him, liked to shower him with gifts. And Darsh loved that. He never objected against this ritual, as sometimes he actually found useful things among the gifts. He opened his locker, and there they were- all those pink and purple scented toys, wristbands, roses, love poems and literally the whole universe, right there in that locker waiting for Darsh. Darsh managed to find his books and decided to take a look at the gifts. While he was scrutinizing the gifts , he saw a brown envelope at the end of the locker. On it was his name written, with a black bold marker. Darsh took it out and opened it and he was stunned. His blood froze within his body. There was a photograph- He was in the picture, standing in the dark, doing something. Darsh knew what he was doing in that picture. The picture was taken in dark and no one could tell that it was him in the picture, except him. He was having a nervous breakdown. His hands were shaking, he was sweating, his limbs were numb. His vision faded and he fell senseless , on the ground.

***********************************************************************************************

Darsh found himself lying on the sickbed. The physician was standing by him, checking his pulse. " What happened doctor?", he asked. " Seems like you fell. Not eating well, huh? Or stressed because of the exams now?", the doctor said. Darsh was still confused and he noticed that the photograph was not with him." now then, look me in the eye, Darsh.", said the doctor with a torch in his hands. After the checkup was over, Darsh returned home, even more stressed than morning. He was now sure someone really knew, what he did and that person has proof. For the second time in his life Darsh was scared. He had to find that someone as soon a she could. Darsh was feeling dumb and his mind wasn't working. He felt like crying there in the middle of the street. He walked as if he had no strength left, he never felt so defeated. He returned to his apartment and got in. He opened his shirt and threw it on the floor, threw his bag on the couch. He was walking to take a bath, when he noticed something. Something written over his mirror, opposite to his bed. Over his mirror, with the same black bold marker and in the same handwriting was written: Now you know that I know what you did...

Darsh sat or rather fell on the ground with a loud thud. He knew somebody had caught him red-handed, caught his crime naked and now there was no escaping. He had got himself into something about which he had no clue. He punched the floor, and gave out a loud cry," Argghhh!!!". That's the best he could do for now.