18/12/2019 - At Chennai.

Aparna's P. O. V :

I booked a cab as I walked out of the street. I waited in the main road for about 10 minutes for the cab.

For all those 600 seconds, I hoped that Shiva would come out to the bus stop and stop me from going. But he didn't.

I got in the cab and finally let the situation sink in my mind.

I had no strength left. After what Shiva did at Shwetha's wedding, I thought he wouldn't do the same again. But he has only gotten worse.

Shiva didn't think twice before throwing away his childhood best friend, it would be stupid of me if I thought he wouldn't do the same with me.

I went back to that office, because I knew that there was no one to work on that project. We were supposed to submit our work in two days.

Shiva didn't show up yesterday, so I took it in my responsibility to complete it. And then he is using this as an opportunity to show his power. What an idiot!

The worst part was I didn't have tears to cry. It felt like I have seen enough and it is better to leave now. I didn't have enough space in my mind to worry about Shiva.

I thought Shiva was different, but in the end, he was just the same as Michael. I huffed out and shook my head.

But I had a strong belief that Shiva would come out this trance very soon. He was under the control of Anjali. When reality starts to hit him harder , he won't be able to uphold anything.

I wanted to keep the personal away from the professional issues. But it seems Shiva doesn't know where to draw the line. Even after being kicked out, I didn't feel a tiny bit about my position and I was worrying about him.

If there was one thing I was confident about me, it was my self respect. I was confident about my work. I would never bear anything which tries to bring me down. I have already left one office for the same reason , why won't I do the same this time!

I had to stop working soon anyway. At least now, I had the chance to leave with self respect than being pushed out by Shiva for the license issue.

I had given up on my self respect lots of times already, just because of the senseless feelings I had for Shiva, I have done enough. He doesn't deserve anything more. And I don't deserve the treatment he gives me.

Even after trying to console myself for the 100th time, my heart felt the pain. My mind was telling me that I did the right thing. But in my heart, all the words he threw at me felt too heavy.

I just wanted to go back to my room and sleep this out.

I finally reached my PG. Three men were standing outside near the watchman. As I walked closer , the figures started to become clear.

It was Michael and his friends. I stood frozen on the road and I didn't know what to do. Before I can react Michael saw me and waved towards me. I turned the other side and started walking away.

He caught my hand and pulled me to halt. Michael's eyes were as darker as the last time I saw him. He was dressed in formals. And the fear of him was getting stronger.

" Let me go! " I told him.

" But your PG is this side! " He said laughing.

" I know! " I said gritting my teeth.

" So, you know, my parents told me to check on you. They are planning to have the engagement as soon as you return to Bangalore. Looking at the situation , you would soon do that. I am very excited! " He said.

I looked away from his strong glare and I just wanted his image to disappear from my sight.

" Do you really think you can stretch this fight more than this? " Michael asked me.

" As if I have another choice! " I said.

" You do! Accept my love and come back home! Your career will reach heights you never imagined! " He said.

" Please don't use the word love. Everything you did was for your sake. You did nothing for me. I don't want to live a slave life under anyone. " I said and turned back to walk towards my PG.

Michael held me back again. But this time, the watchman saw me struggling from his hold.

" I really don't want this to happen to you! Please stop! Just come back! " Michael said.

" Even if I had to give up everything, I still won't come to you! " I said.

" Fine, good luck. Let's see how long you can do this! " Micheal said.

" Any problem here, do you know this guy? Is he causing any trouble ? " The watchman asked me.

" I don't know him. Please ask him to go out! " I said.

" You look like a gentleman, why are you doing this in daylight? I would call the police! " The watchman said.

Michael hesitantly released my hand. I instantly walked inside the PG.

" I would be waiting for you darling! Whenever you decide to come out! I would wait here just for you! " Michael shouted and his voice echoed inside my room.

I closed all the windows and the curtains. I sat on my bed trembling with fear. I picked up my phone and called Shwetha. But her number was unreachable. She wasn't able to pick any of my calls ever since she went for her honeymoon.

I threw away my phone and fell back on my bed.

I didn't know when I fell asleep. But my room mate woke me up at night.

While we were eating dinner, I finally decided to ask them.

" Is that guy with that black shirt still in front of the PG? " I asked them.

" The one who stalked you? " My room mate asked me.

I nodded my head.

" It seems, he is staying in the house right opposite to our PG. It is somewhat like a service apartment. " She said.

I gupled hard and closed my eyes in terror.

" This is serious invasion of privacy! " Another girl said.

" Should we call the police? " My room mate asked me.

" How can we! He is just staying in that house. And we don't have any evidence of stalking, besides he is a known person to me! " I said confused.

Nobody was able to help me much. I decided to wait out the storm.

For the next few days, I wasted my time inside my room. Occasionally I opened my windows to have a look outside, and Michael's car was right in front of my view. I felt like being trapped in my own room.

I called Shwetha several times, but wasn't able to reach her. I texted her everything that happened and asked her to pick me up from here as soon as she can.

I called Karthik, but he was either completely drunk or sleeping whenever I called him. Karthik had lost the sense of reality and I didn't want to bother him more.

I ran through the days doing nothing. Sometimes I would cry thinking about everything I did for Shiva, sometimes I would cry in fear of Michael.

I was terrified to tell Prerna or my parents, because they would freak out and cause a bigger problem.

After 7 days, I called Karthik. Someone in his house picked up the call and informed me that Karthik had gone out of station with his friends for a long bike ride. I decided to not pull him into this.

I made sure to not attend any of the calls from unknown numbers.

I didn't even know why I was scared to go out. Was I scared of Michael's compulsion? Or was I scared of the reality outside my room?

I pacified myself after the long rest,I decided to pluck up some courage and walk out of my PG.

As I walked out, I saw Michael's car in front and two of his friends were chatting in front of the house. I ran back inside not knowing what else to do.

Me, left alone with my thoughts, I was completely lost. I got high fever the next day and couldn't move from my bed. My roommate brought me food and medicines.

On 27th evening, a known voice came barging into my room. I was sick and couldn't open my eyes to look at the person. Shwetha shook me from my sleep and hugged me tight.

She packed my bag and pulled me out from my room. Shwetha walked me to the car in front of the PG and I was finally out of my room after days.

Shwetha kept on cursing Michael as Hari drove out the car from the area.

From one bed to the next, when I woke up I was in a hospital.

" You idiot! " Shwetha scolded me as soon as I sat up.

" Hey! " I said looking at her.

" I leave you alone for 14 days and this is the wreck you give me! " Shwetha said.

She sat beside me and hugged me tight.

" Cry it out! I know how much you like to hold on to your pain secretly! Just let it out! I would kill anyone who made you do this to yourself! " She said and patted my shoulder.

After a really long time, I felt relieved. I finally had the chance to vent out all the pressured thoughts.