Conqueror

Hey babe! I think the guy sitting in the corner is constantly looking at us. She whispered in a low voice to her friend who is sitting beside her.

Krithi and her friend Sana were sitting in the café Hangout. They decided to have a coffee first and then go to Jalan Bazaar for shopping. They had to purchase a gift for their friend Roopali. While they were having their favourite cappuccino, Krithi felt that the guy’s looks were suspicious and she got worried. “ Don’t mind that piece of trash babe, There are many people in this world whose only duty is to gaze at pretty young girls and imagining dirty things in their mind. They are perverts and never worth minding. We shall focus on our job of purchasing some beautiful gift to our dearest friend Roopa”, Sana said to her in a pacifying manner.

“I guess you were right, we will focus on the gift. How about a beautiful handbag?”, Krithi asked Sana. “I bet She would love it”. “ Then what are we waiting for. Let’s go and buy a lovely handbag for our friend”. Sana said and they left the place.

They headed straight into the market. Jalan Bazaar is lined up with quaint book shops, outlets of commercial fancy goods, heritage shops and many eateries with lip-smacking food. This market is a shopaholic's delight. The streets are gleaming with attractive wares, handicrafts, imitation jewellery, fashion clothing, footwear, and accessories. More than 200-years old, the market is bustling with all modern goods and some antiques too. The market is popular for book shops and thrift shops. Shoppers of all ages and preferences will find bags full of amazing finds at unbelievable deals. Foodies swear by the street food at the Jalan Bazaar. There are delectable dishes everywhere, in the street stalls and also in restaurants. The long queues at these food stalls speak volumes of the delight of food-lovers.

By the time, they reached to a particular shop to buy a beautiful handbag, they are carrying three bags each. Since bargaining is common and most shops do not have fixed price displays, they bought many exquisite and goodies while they were window shopping through the market. At last they found an exotic pink designer hand bag for Roopa. It was already late and they both were hungry. So they decide to have a chat at Chat Bhandaar.

They went to the chat bhandaar and had a Vada pav and Panipuri each. While they were having the chat, they looked around the shops and wanted to buy more but then they realised that it was already getting late and better to leave the place as soon as possible. They took their bags into their hands and started to the bus stop. When Krithi was gazing at the shops she found something terrible. She found the same guy who was sitting in the café is now looking at them. She whispered to Sana silently. She took hold of Sana’s hand tightly and they quickly moved out of the market.

By the time, they reached the bus stop it was already 9 P.M. Their hostel was not more than five kms from that place. The bus leaves them on the main road. From there it is around a two minute walk into the community. Krithi turned around and the same stranger is following them from the market. They both looked at each other. A bit of terror passed through their hearts. They felt a sigh of relief when they found few people walking towards the bus stop. They sat on the bench waiting for the bus number-15B. They were little tired because of the vigorous shopping and little relieved as there was no sight of the stranger anywhere around them. They were looking impatiently for the bus.

After a few minutes, they saw the bus approaching the bus stop. But then realised that it was not the bus they were looking for. When the bus stopped, everyone in the bus stop stood up and boarded the bus. And the two of them were left alone at the stop. 

“Why this damn bus is not coming?” Krithi shouted in the anger. But it was because she was more frightened. “Relax dear. Nothing will happen. Everything is going to be fine. Calm down. Trust me. I am here. Nobody is going to harm you dear”, Sana told her in a comforting tone. She wrapped her hand around Krithi and hold her tightly. 

After a couple of minutes, 15B came and they immediately boarded the bus from the front door. But they noticed that someone had boarded the bus at the back door. They took a double seat in the front at the left window. There were only few passengers in the bus. It was around 15 minutes to reach their stop. 

Sana felt a little safe in the bus. But Krithi was still scared. She was afraid of the sight of the stranger. She kept looking in every direction, out of the window, towards the driver, looked around the passengers. Everything seems to be normal. But suddenly something came into her mind. She quickly turned around and saw the same stranger was seating at the last seat and still gaping at them without blinking his eyes. He gave a ghastly smile to Krithi.

She suddenly pulled Sana’s hand into her lap to make her aware of the fact that they were being followed. Sana too felt nervous but she didn’t lose her mind. Instead of feeling tensed, she took her phone out of the wallet and started doing something in the phone to distract herself.

After sometime the bus halted. It was their turn to get down the bus. They were afraid that they will be alone till they reach their hostel. They doubted that the stranger might get down the bus. Krithi took Sana’s hand and hold tightly. Finally they got down the bus. They started walking towards the hostel. They knew that the stranger had also got down from the bus and pacing towards them from behind.

After a minute, they heard the footsteps were coming closer. He was shouting something from behind. They didn’t get the exact words but only seemed to be abusive and offensive. Krithi was horrified and started crying. Sana was also fearful but still she was careful and looking out for danger. She is looking at something, a ray of hope. And then she found it.

It was only after a while when she heard what she wanted, she became more confident. At the next instant, to Krithi’s greatest fear, she did something unexpected which is bold and foolish. She stopped and turned towards the stranger. She glared into his eyes, the eyes of the stranger. Krithi was dead with terror but also surprised. The stranger was also surprised for her bold and stupid act.

He was surprised when he found the girls, instead of running away facing them boldly. He didn’t understand what had happened. Although, he felt that the steak of terror in his heart, he thought the girls as stupid as no one is there to help them.

He decide to catch the girls and lifted his right foot to move forward. But he dropped it down. He heard many footsteps approaching there. The sound growling louder with every movement. In no time, twelve to fifteen girls reached the sight.

Sana was already aware of the sounds, so she took that bold step. Krithi also turned around and when the girls were approaching them, she was finally relieved. When Sana was doing something in the bus, she actually dropped a group message in Whatsapp. “There was a stalker in the bus. Come fast and save us”.

The two young girls are now a group of fifteen brave girls. Some of them were carrying brooms, some had rods, some had brought knives and some had chilli powder with them. They were staring at the stalker furiously. And the stranger sat in a run as fast as he was capable of. The army of girls ran behind the stalker, hunting down the target.

Both the girls thanked all the girls who came to rescue them. Sana turned towards Krithi and said, “Don’t let the fear hold you back. The brave woman is not she who doesn’t feel afraid, but she who conquers that fear”. Krithi smiled with a sigh of relief and tightly hugged her friend in joy.