Chapter 7

Shreya didn't know whether to feel sad or not. The truth that Daya was in a relationship with someone in the past was too difficult for her to digest. She tried talking to him but he refused to divulge his feelings to her. Shreya had a doubt that Ayesha and Daya had broke up much before her death. It was just a thought. She didn't know why it struck her suddenly. She wondered whether Daya would ever come out of the shock of losing someone so close to him. She doubted whether he had a family. He had never spoken about any family member or relative.
She had absolutely no idea about his personal life. Once again he was a total stranger to her. He was a man full of surprises. She hated to think what shock he would reveal to her next. She couldn't talk to Kavin about it. This had happened for the first time in her life. She didn't know why she lied to Kavin that day when she was with Daya. She had no reason to do so. Even Kavin behaviour had turned a bit different towards her. He seemed to dislike Daya and her closeness.
She decided to keep her emotions at bay at that moment.

A month after Ayesha's death

Daya seemed to be returning to normal once again. According to the evidences, Ayesha's death was the filthy work of the unknown serial killer.
Shreya hoped he would be caught soon. She was really scared this time. Now that Daya seemed to be talking like normal again, Shreya decided that it was time for some immediate action. She was sure about her feelings for him. But she had no idea what was going on in his mind. She didn't feel the need to get to know about him and Ayesha. It was his past. And moreover Ayesha was no longer alive.
'I have an idea! Write a letter to him!' said Rachel one evening when they were out for a movie night.
'A letter? It will sound dumb!' said Shreya.
'Girl as far as I know you, I am sure you are not going to go and ask him. So a letter is a better option' said Rachel.
'So you are basically suggesting that I should write him a letter full of lovey - dovey stuff on a pink paper?' asked Shreya.
'I think a heart shaped pink paper would do?' said Rachel smirking.
'I hate you!' said Shreya angrily.
'Haha... I was kidding babes! Just write him a simple note... Be very straightforward and most important your original self. Just keep it on his desk. Then meet up for a coffee or something in the evening and speak out your feelings to him. But your letter should give him the hint' said Rachel simply.
'Okay... I guess that - that would be fine...' said Shreya nervously.
'It'll be fine baby... Come on stop thinking now... let's enjoy the movie... Can't wait to see Tom Cruise... He is sooooo hot!'
'Yeah... His body is amazing..!' said Shreya a dreamy look appearing on her face.
'What kind of a girl are you? You are in love with someone and here you are dreaming of some other man?' said Rachel.
'Oh shut up! It's fine. And I don't think Daya would mind' said Shreya smiling.
'Yeah you are right! He won't mind after he receives your heart shaped letter' said Rachel sniggering.
She aimed a kick at her but missed. Rachel stuck out her tongue and disappeared inside the cinema hall laughing heartily. Shreya followed vowing to seek the right opportunity to hit her. The following night shreya wrote the letter and decided she would give it to Daya the very next day.

O-o-o-o

Shreya was jittery all day, and her palms were sweating so bad that she had to keep wiping her hands and keep changing pens as each one slipped from her fingers. She kept shooting glances every now and then at the door hoping to see him. The whole day passed but there was no sign of him. She thought of calling him but then almost immediately decided against it. That would seem really obvious. Time passed at snail's pace. Every passing second was becoming more and more frustrating. The clock showed 6 pm. 'Where was he?' she wondered now getting really restless.
Finally he arrived at 7 and she heaved a sigh of relief. He gave her a small smile and went to ACP sir's cabin. Her stomach gave a huge jolt as she realized that the time had come. She carefully proceeded towards his desk and kept the note partially hidden below the keyboard of his computer. Then she quickly gathered her things and went to ACP Pradyuman's cabin.
'Sir may I leave? I had told you I had to go early today' she said.
'Ah! Yes of course dear! You may leave. See you tomorrow' said ACP Pradyuman.
She gave a quick nod to Daya and came out. With a final look at the note on Daya's desk, she went home.

After a few minutes Daya cane out followed by ACP Pradyuman and Kavin.
'There you go Kavin. You have all the files you require on my PC. As soon as the report gets ready we will plan our next move' said Daya.
'Here are some of the letters addressed to you. Have a look' said ACP Pradyuman keeping them near the keyboard. Kavin set to work on Daya's computer, While ACP Pradyuman and Daya went back to his cabin.
At around 11.30 Kavin had half finished preparing the case report. Then he decided to check the letters ACP sir had given him before proceeding with the report. While doing so, he found a neatly folded note. It bore no name. Wondering who might have left it for him, he opened it and began reading. His expression turned from surprise to happiness as let the writer's words sink in. He couldn't believe it! He was on cloud nine! He was so happy that he felt the urge to give her a tight hug at that moment. 'Very soon' he thought happily. Truly this was the best day in his life! EVER. Smiling to himself he picked up his cell phone and dialled her number.

O-o-o-o

The entire evening had passed. But there was no call or message from Daya. Had he read the note yet? Was he angry? She was dying to know what was in his mind. She lay on her bed. It was quarter to ten.

Was she nervous?

Hell, no.

She was absolutely, positively PETRIFIED.

That night she tossed and turned in her bed. Sleep did not visit her. She kept thinking about how Daya would react. She was so nervous she could die.

Does he like me too?

Does he think that it's a stupid idea that I gave him a love letter?

Would her reject me?

Would he say yes?

Would he say no?

A sea of questions. But no answers to either of them. She didn't know when she fell asleep. The next day she woke up with a jolt. With trembling fingers, she reached for her mobile phone. There was no message or call from Daya. But there were four missed calls from Kavin.
'Something was very wrong. Why hadn't Daya called her yet? Was there a possibility that he had not noticed the note below his keyboard? But she ruled out that possibility as she was sure anyone would have spotted it. I will go to the bureau and ask him' she thought.
She got dressed and went to the bureau. Daya, Kavin and Joe (their Colleague) were present in the bureau.
'Good morning Shreya!' Joe wished her. Daya gave her his usual smile and continued looking at the screen. But then she saw Kavin and the sight made her go numb. Kavin flashed a loving smile at her and pointed to a letter clutched in his hand. Shreya's stomach lurched and she stared open mouthed in horror at him. It was the letter which she had written for Daya. 'What was it doing in Kavin's hand?'

She was desperate for answers. She approached Kavin.
'Kavin I -' she began.
'Where were you love? I tried to call you so many times' he said.
'What that in your hand?' asked Shreya eyeing the letter in his hand.
'I got your letter. I never thought we would become more than best friends you know.' he said.
'Where did you find it?' she asked in a panicky voice.
'You had left it on my desk!' he said smiling.
'No I hadn't!' said Shreya in a loud voice.
Joe and Daya looked at them.
'I - I mean I had kept it on some other... I thought it won't get delivered to the right p - person' she said stammering.
'Why are you so anxious? It's okay... It got delivered to the right person. You had kept it for me hadn't you? See? I got it!' said Kavin happily.
Shreya looked at Daya. He had no idea what was happening. He was trying to fathom the meaning of their conversation.
'No! No! This can't be true!' thought Shreya. She had no idea what to do. She received another electrifying shock when she remembered that she had not written Daya's name on the letter.

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