Escape From Trap

Note: This is a collaboration work with my friend Magnus, who narrated this story to me. We co-wrote this story and it’s completely based on Author’s fiction. It does not apply to any historical references or real-life incidents.

Story by: Magnus

WESTERN COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE

14 JUNE 2021

PEELAMEDU, COIMBATORE

2:15 PM

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. Around 2:15 PM in Peelamedu, Tejas was busy in doing his college assignments in laptop. While doing the work, he gets a call from his close friend Adhithya, who’s currently standing in Sulur.

“Yes da.” Tejas said to Adhithya.

“Hey. Where are you da?”

“I am in college, doing my assignment works,” Tejas replied. A few seconds later, Adhithya said: “Tejas. A program is arranged in a pub at Sulur. Are you coming?”

Upon hearing this, Tejas was initially reluctant. He comes from a strict family background. His father Ganesh is working as an advocate in Supreme Court of New Delhi and High Court of Madras. Having studied in reputed institutions, he is highly philosophical and believes in ethics and morality.

One day, Tejas was keen to attend the re-union party of his 10th grade friends in a hotel of his close friend Raghuram. But, his parents forbids him to attend the re-union party. This causes him to attend the party without the knowledge of his family. As a result of this, Ganeshan warns him by telling: “Hereafter, you shouldn’t even attend a single re-union party by telling lies just for the temporary happiness.”

Being a professor in reputed college of NIT in Trichy, Tejas’s mother Pavitra asked Tejas to kneel down. As said, he kneels down for whole day. At present by looking at the cigarettes and alcohol, Tejas wrote in his diary: “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”

Calling his friend Adhithya, Tejas said: “Hey Adhi. I am coming to Sulur with my friend Abinesh in Royal Enfield bike. Kindly share your location.” Before going, Tejas informed his parents that: “He is going for his friend’s home in Sulur and would return around 4:30 PM to his hostel.” They eventually agreed. Hence, Abinesh and Tejas proceeds with their journey.

“Hmm, okay da.” Adhithya said and he shared his location in Whatsapp. A few minutes later, Tejas and Abinesh travelled to Sulur in Nilambur-Avinashi roads. Within half-an-hour, they managed to reach Sulur Bus stand, where Adhithya have been waiting in his Splendour bike.

The guys followed Adhithya’s bike to reach a pub, where an important event is organised by Joseph Raghavan. He said: “Hello friends. This is an important event, we are organizing here. There’s a big surprise for all of you. It’s a popular actress. She is organizing this program.” Tejas feels glad and waits eagerly for the actress to come for the pub.

While enjoying the party, Abinesh gets a call from his friend. He left the place by telling: “Sorry guys. I got an important call from Music club. Henceforth, I am leaving now.” At the same time, a few people brings costly cocaine and drugs for the rich brats to consume and enjoy the pub. Feeling glad, Tejas and Adhithya goes to buy the cocaine.

They consumed the cocaine when the actress entered the pub. A few minutes later, Tejas’s cousin: Aravinth and Anuvishnu entered the pub in order to enjoy the pub. Upon looking the actress, Adhithya said: “Buddy. She’s Anusha Reddy da. Such a big beauty. Wow.”

Tejas stared at him for a second. He once again drugged himself with cocaine. Along with his cousins and Adhithya, he danced with the actress in the pub. While, the RJ Joseph becomes frustrated.

“I have brought instruments and several other important schedules to organize this party. But, this actress is busy in dancing with these youngsters.” When dancing with the actress, Tejas’s phone gets switched off in his pocket. He didn’t notice this as he was fully drugged.

Looking at Adhithya, a intoxicated Tejas asked him: “What drug is this da? So nice. May I get one more?”

“Hey. You are already intoxicated with so many drugs da. Please be quiet for sometimes da.” However, Tejas is adamant to get the cocaine. Left with no way, Adhithya proceeds to buy the drugs. However, he comes to know that the drugs were sold out fully. Somehow, Adhithya managed to buy the drugs and gives it to Tejas.

After taking them, Tejas said: “Wow. It’s so good than the cocaine, that I consumed before da buddy.” When speaking itself, Tejas becomes unconscious. Anuvishnu looked at Adhithya and asked him: “How do you manage to buy the drugs da?”

“Hey. I went to a bar and bought a cheapest quality liquor for him da. He thought it to be cocaine and he have consumed it.” Hearing this, Aravinth and Anuvishnu uncontrollably laughed.

FEW HOURS LATER

6:30 PM TO 7:30 PM

A few hours later, Tejas regained his consciousness. He waked up and searched for his friend and cousins between 6:30 PM to 7:00 PM. Adhithya is waiting outside the pub while, Anuvishnu and Aravinth are lying flat somewhere in the pub.

Now, Tejas asked Adhithya: “Hey Adhi. What happened in the pub da? What about the program?”

Adhithya’s reply shocked Tejas. Since, Adhithya said to him: “Tejas. The program is already over da. Dancing, singing and everything got over in between your unconsciousness.” When speaking with him, Tejas looked at the clouds to know that, “It’s already dark.” He questioned Adhithya: “Hey. What’s the time now da?”

“The time is already 7:30 PM da.” Adhithya said. Shocked and panicked, Tejas now realized that his phone is switched-off. He asked Adhithya to drop him in the hostel. The same thought was going in the mind of Adhithya. Since, this program has been organized unofficially by the RJ. If the truth of this pub is learnt by Ganesh, then it could lead to a huge problem for RJ, the actress, Tejas, his cousin and Adhithya himself. Both Tejas and Adhithya were keen to escape from the trap of their family members.

Adhithya takes an intoxicated Tejas with him in his bike. They travelled towards Peelamedu through Sulur Market Road. Somehow he managed to reach the lake area of Sulur. From there, he travelled towards Avinashi-Nilambur roads. When travelling, Adhithya gets a call from his girlfriend Darshini around 8:30 PM.

Putting earphones in his ear, he answered her call and said: “Tell me Darshu.”

“Where are you da? I heard that you are attending a party in pub. Why didn’t you take me there da? Really did you went to that pub ah?” Darshu asked to which, Adhithya said, “Yes baby. It’s true. I and my friend Tejas were attending the pub.”

She asked him to put the video call, to which Adhithya feels disturbed and upset. Since, he have to drop Tejas safely in the hostel and he himself should manage to be normal from his parents. If they find him in this condition, they could disown him in the future period of time. Because, Adhithya’s family have a strong principle. Their family should never touch liquor and cigarettes at any point of time.

Adhithya didn’t turn on the video call. As a result, Darshini scolded him with bad words: “Hey, nonsense. Why you are not turning on the video da? You retch, slut, idiot, nonsense, stupid……*******fucking retch******.” She used lots of offending and bad words to scold him. Hearing and tolerating all these words, Adhithya drives his bike towards Chinniyampalayam-SITRA road by 9:00 PM.

Even by now, the intoxication level haven’t lowered to both of them. At this point of time, a traffic constable stopped the guys and asked their license and house. Adhithya somehow managed him by bribing the constable.

Feeling tired, Adhithya and Tejas stayed in the roads of Goldwins for half-an-hour. By 9:45 PM, Adhithya changed his plan. Instead of dropping Tejas in the hostel, he takes him to his girlfriend Darshini’s house in R.S.Puram after informing her. She somehow managed to convince her father and elder sister to let her friends in for staying in the house for one day.

Around 9:45 PM to 10:15 PM, Tejas vomited heavily for more than 5 times on the way to Peelamedu. In the nearby bathroom, the guys refreshed themselves and re-wore their clothes. Ensuring that they are normal, the guys reached the house of Darshini around 10:30 PM. There, she fights with Adhithya for failing to turn on the video call. Consoling her, Tejas and Adhithya moves in for a separate room to take rest.

“Darshini. May I get your charger? I have to charge my phone. It’s switched off.” Tejas said to her, to which she gave her charger to him. For the whole night, he put his phone for charging. The guys slept peacefully in her house.

15 JULY 2021

6:3O AM

PEELAMEDU, COIMBATORE

The next day around 6:30AM Adhithya dropped Tejas in his hostel at Peelamedu. While, he successfully reached his flat and gets ready to go for his college. Since the classes will start around 8:00 AM. When Tejas was wearing his dresses, he gets a call from his aunt Valli. Attending the call, he said: “Yes aunty.”

“Hey Tejas. Where were you, Anuvishnu and Aravinth during the last night da?”

Initially struggling a lot, Tejas somehow replied: “We were in the house of our friends only aunty.”

“Why didn’t they answered my call?” Pausing for a while, she continued: “Your parents and I panicked for a second da. We thought of giving a missing complaint to the police. Why did you switched off your phone da when I called you around 4:30 PM?”

It’s at this point of time, Tejas realized that, “His phone switched off around 4:30 PM and henceforth, he enjoyed the whole party, forgetting about his promise to the hostel warden and his parents that: “He would return the hostel around 4:30 PM.” To escape from trap, Tejas called Adhithya, who answered Valli’s questions in between.

“His phone ran out of battery aunt.” Adhithya continued to say that: “He and Tejas stayed in the house of their friends and returned back around 6:30 PM, the next day.” Convinced that, they are telling the truth, Valli hanged the call.

The same time, Tejas questioned about Anuvishnu and Aravinth to which, Adhithya said: “Hey. They too were heavily drunk and intoxicated da. That’s why they didn’t attend the call and lay flat in the pub.”

“Now, where are they da?”

Adhithya said: “They safely returned back to their house da.” Hearing this, Tejas felt relieved and peacefully goes to his college. In college, he had another shocker waiting for him. His HOD mam asked him, “Why didn’t you attend my call Tejas?”

Shocked and deeply in trouble, Tejas blinked for a second. Later, he said: “Mam. My phone got switched off due to low battery.” His HOD said: “Your family called me and asked about you. Henceforth, I called you Tejas. Kindly don’t repeat this mistake again. See you in the next period.”

Tejas thought he has escaped at this point but he did not know something big is yet to come .There came a phone call from his father who started raising questions after questions about the things that he did the previous day. Tejas somehow managed to cook up a story and managed to convince him .There came a surprise to him. His father had called some of his relatives and enquired about Tejas the previous day. He asked Tejas uncle to find out what is happening with Tejas and he also ordered him to update with a new information every single hour. If it were to be someone other than his uncle. Tejas cooked up story would have been a huge disaster. His uncle somehow managed to give information to his dad which was out-dated and irrelevant. Tejas received phone call from many of his relatives. He somehow managed to escape from all the traps. Tejas thought he had covered up everything and now is out of danger. He did not realise he had missed something. At this point Tejas had returned to his home for the weekend. There came a phone call from an unknown number to his mom. Tejas was standing next to his mom. The person told everything about the party and how Tejas managed to escape from all the obstacles. His mom was shocked to hear this she asked the caller who he was.

To that the caller replied, “Madam. Kindly check your Whatsapp. I have sent photos and videos of Tejas in that party. Do check it out. After saying this he hung up the phone call.

After seeing his message, the video and photos she showed this to Tejas. She asked him: “What the fuck it is?”

At that moment Tejas realised that there is no way to escape now. Because everybody around him will be caught. Only one thought was running in his mind repeatedly. It was somehow I have to find out the caller as quickly as possible. He also asked to himself, “Who the fuck is this person and what was his motive?” His mother started scolding him.

After hearing all that he went to his room and called Adhithya. He said the whole photo story thing to him. Hearing this, he was frustrated and said: “Buddy. We should not leave the person who did this to you.” He gave an idea to Tejas to make a list of his friends and enemies who attended the party and Tejas was striking one person after another.

He checked on other people’s Instagram story to find out anybody have put his photos in their story. He found out no one did. At last, he found out all the photos and videos were on Adhithya’s phone. He asked him: “Please don’t make me do something to you. I’m in a position where I have to doubt everybody.”

To that Adhithya replied: “I swear if I have to leak your photos first thing is I will be also caught. And second thing then why should I save you from all these problems and make you safe.”

“Sorry man. I had to do this. I had no other choice. Now tell me to whom you have sent your photos?” Tejas replied.

“I have sent it to only to Nithish and I have to tell you one thing about him.” Pausing a while, he continued: “I think the activities of Nithish was suspicious. He would have loved that girl. Do you remember that?”

“Yes. I too had that same thought about him. We will check on Nithish and at last we will look after all the other people.” The next day Nithish voluntarily teased Tejas and lamented.

Tejas asked: “What’s wrong with you?”

To that Nithish said: “If you and she had a problem, why should Remya block me? I approached her and she said you are Tejas’s friend and you will be also like him. How can she compare me and you?”

“Ok. Leave it. We will see some other girl.”

“I need her at any cost.” Nithish said. Frustrated with this, he left the place. His lamenting happened continuously for four days. At this point of time, Tejas recalled about the girl Remya Rao.

FEW WEEKS BACK

Tejas, Adhithya and Nithish were close friends in their class. They always hang out together every single day. They know everything about each other. One fine day, they met a girl named Remya Rao, who’s their neighbor class. Both Tejas and Nithish had crush on that girl. Adhithya knew this and he warned them not to spoil their friendship at all costs. But, Nithish mocked him: “You are committed with your girlfriend Darshini. So, you shouldn’t talk about this.”

The next day, Tejas had a situation to speak with Remya. He spoke and got her Insta ID. Once Tejas stopped talking, Nithish approached her and asked her Insta ID. Remya was shocked and asked, “Who are you?”

“I am a friend of Tejas.” She signaled Tejas and he said: “Yes. He is my friend.” The girl hesitantly gave her Insta ID to him.

Tejas and Remya texted more often and they developed a friendship between them. At the same time, Nithish was also texting her in a manner to persuade her. Tejas warned Nithish not to use his name. He said: “If you want to speak with her, do it directly. Don’t always use my name.”

 One day, Tejas called Remya out to the canteen to which she said, she will come. He called Adhithya to accompany him to the canteen. Nithish asked him: “Where are you going da?”

“I am going with Adhithya to meet Remya.” Looking at him deeply, he added: “I know you are also texting her. Please be aware Nithish.” However, he lied to him that: “He is not texting her.” Tejas knew something is wrong with him at that point of time. Tejas and Adhithya reached the canteen.

Tejas called her to which Remya replied: “Don’t wait for me Tejas. I don’t know where I will be at any point of time.” Frustrated, he left the canteen with Adhithya. Soon Nithish joined them. He started teasing Adhithya and Remya.

“Something happened between you people in the canteen. 1 straw 2 persons. Oh! Superb, Nice da.” Laughing uncontrollably, he said: “Enjoy like that.” Without knowing what had really happened in the canteen. This angered Adhithya a lot. Yet, he controlled it for the sake of Tejas.

“Nothing happened in the canteen da.”

“No. You guys are hiding from me the exact truth.” Nithish said to them by blocking their way. However, they managed him and Tejas went to his hostel. He was checking his Instagram and there was a shocker for him. The girl had put up a story with a boy in a café.

Tejas called Remya and asked her: “You could have told me openly about this.”

She replied: “That is not your problem. That’s my wish.” Soon both of them developed a fight which lead to a ego clash between them and they blocked each other on social media. Nithish was texting her continuously for five days without knowing she had blocked him also. Nithish showed this to Tejas and said: “Buddy. She is not replying. She is showing attitude” to which Tejas found out that he was also blocked from her on all social media.

Tejas told him: “We had a fight between each other which lead to blocking.” Nithish was tensed. He checked Tejas’s phone when he went to the staff room and found out Tejas and Remya had spoke to each other for 1 hour and 15 minutes with each other. Nithish thought Tejas lied to him. At that point he decided: “Either I will persuade that girl. Or else no one should. I have to do something big in Tejas’s life so that he will stop talking to that girl.” So, Nithish waited for the perfect time. Once Adhithya sent the party photos to him saying: “You have missed this.” Nithish thought this is the right moment and he called Tejas’s mother to send her the photos in a stranger’s number.

PRESENT

At present, Tejas finally understood that he is doing it on purpose to remind him about that incident. When checking on him, he understood if the photos are to be leaked, there is no other way possible other than Nithish. But, there was a turning point in Tejas’s tale. He escaped from his parents by saying that: “It was photo-shopped.” But his parents didn’t believe it. So, he asked his Tech Savvy friend to create a photo shop of the photos and make the real one also look like a photo-shop. After their parents checked for one last time in a browsing shop, they were convinced that the photos were fake.

Nithish was thinking that, “Tejas would have been finished with this photos. At last, Tejas came to Nithin and said, “I know you did the photo thing. But, I don’t have any proof against you.”

“It was because of you I got blocked.” Angered, Tejas showed the café photo between Remya and her boyfriend. With tears in his eyes, Nithish felt guilty. He embraced Tejas and said: “Buddy. I made a huge mistake. She can be happy with him or whoever she wants.” Wiping off his tears, he said: “I was so desperate but she was not even interested in texting to me. I knew it from the start. But now, I learned my lesson.” Holding him tighter, Nithish said: “Tejas. Now you can slap me or can tell my parents about whatever wrong things I did to you.”

Adhithya came forward to him and said: “We thought of doing this to you da buddy. But, you know?” With little tears, he said to Nithish: “Friendship is always a sweet responsibility. It’s never an opportunity.”

Coming closer to Nithish, Tejas said: “I asked to myself. If I do these things, what will be the difference between me and you?” Upon hearing this, Nithish looked with a guilty face. While, he added: “Look buddy. Everybody do their mistakes in life because of the situation. It’s the main reason. I would have been someone else if my parents would have treated me differently. It’s because of them, I am in this reputed college. I had no other option to relieve my pressure. So, I had to do many wrong things.”

After drinking a little water, Tejas added: “Once we have done it for many times, there’s no other way left for us from exiting. Even if I could do other factors are not allowing me. Same is the case for you also Nithish. If you would have seen this in a different way things would have been different.” As things are going in a serious tone, Adhithya chuckled his teeth by looking at a few girls. Upon seeing this, Tejas laughed uncontrollably.

“See, what’s he doing da? Why this much aggression da buddy?” Tejas asked to which, he said: “I wrote a psycho-story recently da. In that, I am the main antagonist. So, I tried to perform it lively.”

“It was excellent. But, please don’t do it here da. Because, this is a public place. Additionally, your Darshu will feel bad upon seeing it.” Nithish said to which, Tejas laughed out and Adhithya felt relieved. He said in his mind: “To make them laugh, how much risks are to be taken. Hmm!”