A Stalker

It was 10 pm on a cold winter night in Delhi. She had just finished an important and a successful meeting. Her office colleagues decided to celebrate the same over a few drinks. She was not a party person and decided to leave. The cabs just won’t show up. She waited for a bit and decided to walk. Her house was about 20 minutes away.

It was recently that she had shifted to Delhi from Kanpur. Her parents were not really keen on letting their daughter move to another city, but she was rather adamant. A new place, a new job and unknown people. She was aware of the challenges, but she always dreamt of making it big. A job in a big marketing firm with a decent pay was enough to perplex her move.

There were not a many souls on the road. The cold breeze led to shallow breath. She was walking briskly whilst looking around for a cab. Suddenly she felt a bit uneasy. She felt someone following her. She did not dare to turn around but she was uncomfortable. She hastened up. So did her follower.

She could not hear any footsteps but hers. She wanted to stop, look back and warn her follower. She just did not have the courage. She decided to take another route. She suddenly took a left into a dark alley that led to another road. The dark alley was as such enough to send shivers down her spine. She sprinted though it. She could feel that she is not been followed anymore. She turned around while sprinting and could see no one. She felt relieved. Her speed coming down now, she smiled as if praising herself for taking an alternative route.

She was on to the main road again. Another 10 minutes of walking now, she started feeling comfortable with the situation, or did she?? To her utmost dis belief, the stalker was back. She could see a tall figure keeping in pace with her. She was sweating on a cold winter night. Utterly clueless now, she stopped to plan her next move. What could it be? Turn around and face the unknown? Plead for her life? Continue walking? or Run?

Run, it was!! She scampered for her life. With numb mind and constant prayers, she started visualizing. Her parents, her childhood, her revolt for shifting to Delhi, her first day at office, her colleagues and recently – today’s business meet to the stalker!! She could feel the stalker sprinting close behind her, very very close. Who could it be? She hardly knew anybody in Delhi accept her colleagues. Could it be a an envious colleague? Could it be a secret admirer gone rogue? Could it be serial killer? Or worse Could it be what it should not be?? She feared for her life and body at the same time.

Her sprint matched with that of Usain Bolt. She could see her Apartment at some distance. She hoped that the security guys would be at the gate. She hoped. She prayed. She ran. She dashed into the gate. She ran again. The apartment was well lit. The security guards were present on the exact spot that she prayed for.

She just kept running. The guards looked at her in amusement. “Didi, is everything ok?” one of them asked. “Nahin!!” she cried out whilst sprinting through the lobby. She did not even call for the elevator. She just took the stairs upstairs. And in no time she was on the 4th floor. She juggled with the keys in her purse. Her hand shivered while opening the door. It took 3 attempts to be able to unlock. She cursed herself for those 3 attempts. She barged into her own house and shut the door loud.

Her eyes closed and her heart pumping fast. She was crying profusely, out of fear or out of relief- perhaps both at the same time. She lied down on the floor near the door. She had no energy left in her. The darkness of her house was more comforting the the roads lit by street light. Suddenly her phone rang – “Did you reach home safely?” one of her colleagues on the other side asked. She just collapsed!

 

 

One’s own Shadow can play tricky games to a vulnerable mind on a cold, deserted night!! What say??