The Darkest Night

Chapter 2

Shreya got into the bus waving him good bye, he smiled and murmured under his breath “silly girl” and rode away, while riding his bike Karthik was thinking about the all the incidents, "why is she waiting for me every day? Is she in love with me? He thought, we hardly met couple of times and how can she fall in love with me? But this place is so dangerous and if I see her here tomorrow, I should shout at her so that she doesn't come here again". 

Next day as always Karthik was riding his bike, he was close to the dangerous place, he was wondering if shreya be there waiting for him... As he was riding by, he could see a girl standing alone in the bus stop, the road was so dark, even the streetlights were turned off. Karthik stopped the bike and looked at her, she smiled lovingly at him but in return she did not get a smile instead he signaled her to sit on his bike. As they started their ride, Shreya asked "did you expect me today?" She did not get any reply. Karthik spoke nothing, he quietly rode the bike and stopped where he always dropped her. "Why aren't you talking to me?" She asked sadly, again, she got no reply, "I am here only for you, say something" she said. "Why?" he asked angrily. she was trying to comprehend her feelings "I don't know...." she said softly, her eyes on the ground. "This is not an answer, do you know your life is at risk everytime you come here?" She smiled, "but when you are around stop it...." "Shreya!!"he yelled, cutting her off abruptly, we have hardly known each other...what is the necessity for you to meet me and risking your life for it?". "Because after coming here for my studies you are the only true and caring person I have met". "Okay So you know that I care for you right? Then listen to me, do not come to this place again," said Karthik. "I will come" replied Shreya. Karthik pulled out his wallet from the pocket and gave her a visiting card and said "call me if you want to meet me, but DO NOT come here" he said and zoomed away. 

A week passed Karthik neither received a call from Shreya nor did he see her again. but every time he crossed that spot, he thought about her. It was more than 10 days now, while riding, Karthik received a call from an unknown number when he answered the call, he heard a soft voice say, "can we meet now?" Without second thought "Shreya?" Asked Karthik, relieved upon hearing her voice "yes it's me" she said. "Where are you?" he asked "In the same place" she said. "Have I not told you to avoid that area? Are you alone or is anyone around?" he questioned. "Just a group of boys.... nothing to worry, I am not alone" she said "oh gosh! Just keep talking to me, I will be there in 2 mins" he said.

Karthik reached the place in 2 mins, he looked at Shreya and signed her to sit. She quietly sat behind him and the group of boys started laughing loud and one guy said, “look who is here!!”, karthik, grinding his teeth raised the accelerator and rode away… his face, red with anger. He spoke nothing. Shreya understood he was angry, so she decided to stay calm. Karthik stopped his bike where he always dropped her. she got down from the bike and asked “are you angry about something?” and as a reply she got a slap across her face. Tears rolled down her cheeks, “did I not tell you to avoid coming there at this time? do you know who those boys are? They are the rapists!!! for god’s sake!! why can't you get it in that thick skull of yours!!! good that i was on time, if not I can't even imagine what could have happened to you. Next time if I see you in that place again then never, I will talk to you, you either stay away from that place or forget about me! the choice is yours!!” he said angrily. “Then what should I do if I want to see you?” questioned Shreya, “why the hell would you want to see me?” shouted Karthik, people around looked at him weirdly, “because I am in love with you" replied Shreya looking straight into his eyes. Karthik was in shock “Wha… but how?” He stammered. “I will tell you but not now” she said and as she was about to walk away Karthik caught her by her arms. she looked at him “why not now?” He asked, she said “that's my bus leave my hand I have to go” she said. “I will drop you home today” he said, she stood quietly, and he started the bike and waited for to sit, Shreya sat behind him, she spoke nothing much other than guiding him with the route. Karthik stopped the bike in front of a PG, Shreya got down and said, “where do i meet you tomorrow?” “Cafe?” asked Karthik. Shreya thought for a while and asked, “at what time?” “Around 6pm he replied, and Shreya agreed. She waved him goodbye and walked into her PG.