~ the pic became our… the home became our… ~

Finally, after trying hard for many years, I managed to win the coveted Blog-a-Ton crown in the Blog-a-Ton 20 edition. Thank you all for the GOLDEN VOTES and helping me win the Gold BATOM!

 

 

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 20; the twentieth edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.

“Why am I feeling so cold? Why is it too dark here? And why my whole body is numb? Shit… I am unclothed. Oh, God. What happened to my clothes? This is horrible Riti… Riti… don’t play with me… Riti… Riti… Riti… Riti… Ritiiiii… Rit…Rit”, my voice trembled, hands shivered as it was grave silence inside the house whereas a storm cleaning the city outside.

“Let me switch on the lights” I switched on the lights. “Shit there is no current… Riti… Riti… Riti… Riti… Ritiiiii… Rit…Rit, don’t play with me please…” I turned back to search her in our living room and found her lying there… Riti… Riti… Riti… Riti… Ritiiiii… Rit… Rit I shouted but she didn’t respond… “Lighter” I thought but shit I had quit smoking and I don’t carry a lighter these days. I searched for a matchbox, lighted the candle in no time and found her lying…

“Riti… Riti….” I went down quickly and grabbed her in my hands… she was cold. CPR also did not help… “Riti Riti… Riti… Riti… Riti… Ritiiiii… Rit…Rit Riti…” I cried out loud in pain… Unbearable pain it is. God… had cheated me… God… “Police, I should file a FIR”. I heard someone knocking the door, and the knocking sound increased in no time. They broke the main door open and came running towards me shouting, “freeze-freeze”.

They pushed me down and handcuffed me. “Police, go down”. One of the police officers shouted at me,”Why did you murder her”.

“No, I didn’t kill her” I screamed… but no one was ready to hear my screams. Instead one of them knocked me down. I fell down unconscious. The beautiful moments with Riti captivated my senses and faded.

***

Slowly I was gaining conscious… I could barely see anything but I kept murmuring her name.

“Stop your non-sense. Otherwise, I will rip your ass off.” The police officer who knocked me down warned me. In fact, he was threatening me.

“This is ACP Arun. I am taking charge of this murder from now on. Are you feeling, okay?” He was the first office to speak in a polite tone.

“I did not kill my angel. I can never harm her.” I said meeting his eyes.

“Can I have the autopsy and forensics report?” Arun asked. One of the PC passed on the report to him. He read the report. And re-read the report again. “What the F… She died of heart-attack? And she was raped before having heart-attack. Or did you have make love… I mean you had sex with her?”

“Sir…” One of the PC called Arun separately and murmured in his ears. He was not happy clearly. After a few minutes of discussion, they decided to let me free and closing the case considering it to be a natural death. The mention of the call by an anonymous person was removed, though Bala tried to press it a bit. In the court the judge passed on the verdict declaring me innocent. The case was closed.

“Shall we go out for a shopping? I am sure it will help you feel better. Or at least for your company so that you do not feel lonely.” Neha texted me.

“Nah… I’m not interested.” I responded quickly. I was seeing the photograph clicked by us a month ago.

How beautiful my home was on that day, the rain drops on lens helped to create a mystic environment and how wonderfully it was clicked by Riti. This is where our love started; this is where we dream of our life, this is where she breathed her last, this is where she still lives in my heart. I still remember Riti complaining about someone else presence in our home but I took it easy. We planned to spend the whole night in our home itself.

“Why don’t we have some juice?” Riti asked.

“We should…” She went inside the kitchen to prepare juice for us.

“Can you come here for a minute?” I said without giving her time to prepare the juice. She came out scolding, “You won’t let me prepare the juice?”

I ignored her. As usual. I showed the photograph we clicked on the other day.

All of a sudden we heard some weird noise in the kitchen. Riti became nervous and I convinced her saying it must be a cat. I went in and confirmed that I don’t see a ghost. I brought the juices she prepared for us. Sip by Sip, we consumed, started to blabber something, and became unconscious.

***

“What happened to us on that day? Why we became unconscious? Who else was there in our house?” I repeatedly questioned myself.

“Is this the same person who tortured Riti during her college days. By the way who informed police about Riti’s death?” These questions puzzled me

I heard a familiar voice. Riti… Riti… I yearned.

“It’s Neha.” She said while entering the room.

She felt bad on what happened to Riti. She even tried consoling me, but I ignored her. I was reflecting on what could have happened on the other day.

“Dear, please cheer up”. Neha said… “I understand that you miss her a lot. I understand your loss. I know how bad it is to be in that position.”

“It’s good to move on.” She said. She left the place disappointed.

I felt bad for upsetting Neha. I wouldn’t have met Ritika without Neha. She was our common friend. I felt bad about myself. I closed my eyes to cherish the sweet memories we had at work.

***

“Sid… stop. Please do not pour water on me.” Neha screamed but I didn’t care instead I poured water on her. Luckily she moved and the behind her became the victim. “Sorry… Sorry… Sorry” Actually, I said sorry some hundred times to her. She simply said okay, wiped the water with the handkerchief and continued her work. Trust me she was the epitome of beauty. Her month-old-baby eyes could never be forgotten.

“She is a new joinee. Ritika.” Neha whispered. We both resumed our work. “She is a pretty girl.”

***