The Last Phone Call

After Jessica's departure, I began the task that always seemed impossible to me - doing the dishes. Gosh! I had to. So, I kept this thought in mind and started doing my daunting chore. The doorbell rang, but I ignored it, much like I used to ignore my husband's jokes when he was alive. Little did I know, it was Jessica's last phone call to me. If only I had known, I wouldn't have ignored it. It was a call that would change my life and break my heart.

Jessica, Priya, and I used to be the famous trio of our college, known for our contributions to the college monthly magazine. We three - Jessica, Priya, and Mukti - were not just best friends, but also like family to each other, as we were staying in a PG far from our home cities. Time passed, and it led us into new avenues. Jessica and I ended up in the same department in a media house, while Priya went abroad for further studies. Physically, the trio broke apart, but emotionally, we remained connected.

Six years of hard work earned me the title of the best crime reporter among the journalists of some channels, while Jessica became the assistant executive of the channel. All seemed well until the day we decided to work on a case that would change everything. It was a teen girl murder case that initially seemed like a normal rape-murder case but soon revealed something horrifying. Aniket, my personal assistant, informed me about a schoolgirl brutally murdered and dumped by a riverbank, about 15 km from our office. It was supposed to be a sensational news story due to the location, but unfortunately, it wasn't. By the time my team and I arrived at the scene, the body had already been handed over to the police, who had found clues indicating it could become a media sensation. We investigated the area and questioned officers, while Aniket took pictures. Despite being my story, Jessica also played a part, as she was not just my best friend but also my boss after my husband's death.

My husband's death had affected me deeply, casting doubts on his relationship with Jessica. However, with his passing, the doubts faded, and all I had left was Jessica. Whether consciously or not, I had to ignore the circumstances because all I knew was my past. My past, without any question marks. Tridip, my husband, had been the assistant executive of the channel before Jessica, and the last time they worked together on a case, nine months before his death, was the last time they were together. This case was significant because it connected to another incident nine months prior. Both cases involved bodies found in the same location, covered in a black curtain with a satanic tattoo on their left hands. After months of investigation, Jessica solved the mystery. The bodies belonged to a community in a slum near Dariyaganz, engaged in a superstitious ritual. Sacrificing their firstborn was supposed to bring wealth and fertility to their families. I felt sorry for these children, born into such a tragic fate.

Following this victory, I was certain Jessica would be promoted, but strangely, Tridip got the promotion. I felt both happy and guilty. However, my happiness was short-lived as Tridip died tragically in a road accident, just ten days after his promotion. What shocked me even more was that Jessica wasn't in the car with him. They were supposed to attend a meeting together, but Jessica canceled at the last minute, citing feeling unwell. Tridip's death left me devastated, but it took only five minutes for my agony to transform into a resolve stronger than heartbreak.

Nine months after his death, I found myself reminiscing about the case, and the reason was more heartbreaking than I expected. I suspected Tridip's death had been planned, and Jessica's death confirmed it. After finishing the dishes, I tried calling Jessica, but there was no answer. I felt a sense of dread, as if something terrible was about to happen. Then, Rishi, Jessica's assistant, called to inform me that Jessica had been in a tragic accident and died on the spot. It felt worse than when I received the news of my husband's death. I was shattered, but within five minutes, my grief turned into a determination stronger than ever before.

Jessica's last call was to confess her crime to me. She had tampered with Tridip's car, causing his fatal accident. She had done it to secure her promotion, and now, karma had caught up with her. Her call was her way of seeking forgiveness in her final moments. Now, I realize the importance of not ignoring that last phone call, as it could be a chance for closure.

The End.