Hey! Posting Chapter 3... Enjoy!
Chapter 3
Shreya checked her watch. It was 10 pm. damn! She had worked overtime yet again. She glanced around. The bureau was empty. She groaned. She didn't have her car tonight. She hurried out of the bureau quickly and headed to the bus stop. She got the bus quickly. The journey was 16 miles and 10 stops away. The bus had only one occupant. A man was sitting in the farthest corner at the back and appeared to be fast asleep. He wore a brown coat and a hat. His face was hidden by the hat. Shreya put headphones in her ears and settled comfortably on her seat. After two stops she casually glanced back. She noticed something different. Did the man shift his position? Or was it just her imagination? He was still fast asleep. 'It's probably all in my head' she thought and looked ahead. But her mind was not at peace. She glanced back again after a few minutes and almost jumped. The man certainly appeared closer. Her heart thudded loudly. 'Shreya stop being paranoid!' She scolded herself. The lighting inside the bus was very poor. In fact she realised there were only two flickering lights. One, directly above her head and one over the extreme front seat. She shivered and put her cell phone and earphones in the bag. 'Just six more stops to go' she thought.
She looked out of the window and felt the cool breeze ruffling her hair. She closed her eyes enjoying the cool breeze. 'Shre...yaaaa... Shre...yaaaa' her heard a soft whisper. She turned to her right and almost got a mini heart attack. The man in the brown coat was sitting right next to her! The stench from his body was unbearable. He removed his hat and Shreya screamed in terror. His teeth were yellow and rotten and his face was totally distorted. At that moment the light above her head flickered and died. She stood up kicking him and screaming and desperately searching for her cell phone inside her bag. She got it and she turned on the flashlight. She stumbled upon something and fell down on the bus floor. She was yelling at the top of her voice. She flashed the light in the man's face. He was standing at her feet with a machete in his hand. 'I told you I am the serial killer!' He said in a low snarl.
Shreya's eyes widened in shock as she saw that the man was none other than Daya!
He raised the machete ready to kill her and then - 'aaaaaaarrrgggggghhhhhhhh!' Shreya fell down from her bed and hit the cold floor.
She switched on the night lamp breathing hard. 'Oh god! It was a dream! Oh god... Thank god!' She said and took a few deep breaths. Finally she calmed down and drank a glass of water. 'Damn! I hate you Daya! You are ruining my sleep!' She said angrily. She slept on the bed after some time keeping the light on.
O-o-o-o
Shreya kept getting scary nightmares for next few days. But then the burden of work increased so much that she would drift off into a deep sleep instantly and would wake up directly in the morning. Gradually her anger melted away. Daya was quite friendly and to be honest Shreya found him attractive as well. He seemed a very introvert person and talked concerning his work only. Shreya knew him for almost a month now and yet she didn't know anything about him. Like his personal life, what he did in his free time, his friends... Nothing at all. He was still the mysterious stranger to her. She yearned to find out more about him. They sat together for lunch and sometimes dinner whenever they worked late. He too felt comfortable with her and was glad she had finally forgiven him for their disastrous first encounter.
O-o-o-o
A few days later...
Shreya slammed the car door shut in frustration. It had been a hectic day and she was really tired. As soon as she entered the house she poured herself a glass of icy water. Her father had left her a notw that he was going out of town for some work. She stripped out of her clothes and wore night pants and a loose T shirt. Tugging her hair off her neck, she pulled it back into a sloppy ponytail with the hairband still on her wrist. Running her index fingers under her eyes, she sighed. "I really need a warm bath" she said to herself.
Suddenly a dark figure jumped in front of her. Shreya let out a blood curling and had her eyes tightly shut. Then she heard laughter. High pitched maniacal laughter. She opened her eyes and saw a familiar face laughing hard. 'You?!' Shreya shrieked. 'You just wait... You are so in trouble Kavin!' She yelled and tossed a pillow straight at his face. He missed it and began running at top speed. 'Stop! You idiot! How could you? You scared the hell out of me!' screamed Shreya.
'Gotcha! You are too easy to scare!' He said still laughing heartily.
Finally after few more minutes of chasing him, she was exhausted and sat down on the couch coughing slightly.
'That's it? You lose again!' He said and sat down beside her.
She punched his shoulder hard.
'Ouch! That hurt!' He said.
'How did you come back early? You had told me you won't be here until next Friday!' said Shreya.
'Well I had a change of plan. And so I planned an early birthday surprise for you. I was going to wake you up at 12 but I couldn't resist scaring you right now!' He said grinning.
'You are such a jerk!' said Shreya.
'Thanks!' He said.
'Wow just four hours left and then I'll be a year older. I hate to grow up!' said Shreya.
'Chill babes! Don't think so much. I have planned a perfect night. You are going to enjoy very much' said Kavin.
'Wow I am so excited' said Shreya.
'I am damn hungry... I will cook some pasta', he said.
'You will? Oh I love you!' said Shreya kissing him on the cheek.
'I really need a warm shower. I will be back' she said.
He felt really happy. His stomach gave a heavy jolt. Shreya's gesture made him so happy. He had never felt this before. Whoa! Man! He was actually blushing! He brushed aside his thoughts and proceeded towards the kitchen.
Kavin and Shreya had been friends since high School. Shreya had moved in Woods borough with her father when she was in her seventh grade. Kavin grew up in Ohio and later had shifted to Woods borough. He also happened to be Shreya's neighbour. They got along really well in High School and their friendship further intensified they started working together in CID. He was a year senior to her in CID.
Shreya was smiling as she settled into warm water tub.
She and Kavin had been best friends since her seventh grade. He was very funny, annoying and a total jerk yet she liked to hang out with him. He would barge into her flat for some stupid news 'Look! Look! I won two pints of beer! He would come brandishing the bottles in front of her face and then just leave leaving the door open.
He would materialize in front of her all of a sudden like from inside the wardrobe or from behind the laundry machine scaring the hell out of her. He would steal her food and then blackmail her to complete his pending files while he would flirt with girls or go on dates. She liked their 2 a.m. talks, when they and the world around them became quiet and mellow, and they'd sit on her couch and talk about nothing and everything.
They fought and laughed over petty things. But she wouldn't mind. She would do anything for him.
As she stepped out of the shower, she saw a wrapped package. She opened it and saw a beautiful blue one piece. 'Oh Kavin! This is so beautiful!' Shreya whispered.
Kavin smiled as he stood by the door listening to her reaction. He descended down the stairs to set the table.
Shreya emerged wearing the dress. She indeed looked pretty.
'You look stunning!' He said.
'Thank you! I loved your gift' Said Shreya her cheeks reddening.
'Well here's you pasta' said Kavin.
'You know what? You seem really different today... Not your usual annoying self who doesn't miss a chance to irritate me. What's gotten into you?' asked Shreya
'Really?' He asked shrugging his shoulders.
They finished their pasta and he narrated his experiences during his undercover mission in the last few weeks. Time just flew by and the clock struck 12. 'Hey Happy Birthday!' said Kavin hugging Shreya.
'Thank you... Really I am very lucky to have you in my life!' said Shreya.
Kavin smiled and once again his stomach gave a strange jolt.
'Okay hurry up... We are going for a horror movie first and then we'll go to a club', said Kavin.
'What? Kavin you know how much I am scared of horror movies! How can you do that to me on my birthday?' Shreya demanded.
'You were complaining some time ago that I am not being my usual self right? See? The annoying and irritating Kavin is back!' He said with a wicked grin.
'I hate you!' said Shreya.
'Thanks for the compliment! But please hurry up! We are going for Scream Part 7! They have rated it the best horror movie of the year! I really don't want to miss the start!' He said.
'You are impossible!' She said and followed him shutting the door behind her.