Chapter 23
Kavya
The moment I step into Java Coffee Shop, the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the air, instantly calming my jittery nerves . I’m not even sure if Suman knows anything, but I’m clinging to the hope that this meeting will shed some light on things and help me understand what really happened . Nisha didn’t have many friends; Suman was her one and only best friend. They were practically inseparable, always dropping each other home and sharing secrets . Maybe, just maybe, Nisha told Suman things she didn’t feel comfortable sharing with me.
Luckily, when I messaged Suman last evening, she readily agreed to meet me despite it being a Wednesday. Suman works for a finance company as a financial consultant, so finding time to meet during the week isn’t easy; yet she didn’t hesitate or make excuses, which I truly appreciate. That kind of support means the world to me right now. Reyansh offered to come with me, but when I explained that I would be more comfortable having this conversation alone, he understood and respected my decision.
My eyes scan the cafe, and I spot Suman waving from across the room. I return her smile, my heart pounds in my chest as I make my way to her, praying frantically that she holds the key to my sister’s accident.
“Hey, thanks for coming,” I say as I slide into the booth and set my bag down . Taking a moment, I can’t help but notice the familiar brown hue of her hair cascading down her shoulders, beautifully complementing her sun-kissed complexion. She is dressed in her usual blue jeans and red checkered shirt, bringing back memories of the days when she used to wear a similar style that matched my sister’s. I recall how I used to playfully tease them about dressing alike, like twins. And they would always counter back, playfully asserting that they were practically sisters rather than mere friends. But ever since Nisha came home after the accident, I haven’t had the chance to meet Suman. She didn’t even drop by once, but I fully understand that life gets in the way and keeps us busy.
“Of course,” Suman replies with a reassuring smile, pulling me from my memories . “How is Nisha?” she asks , her voice filled with concern .
“She’s stable, but... still unconscious. The doctors say it’s a waiting game now,” I reply, trying to muster a smile, though it comes out more strained than I’d hoped. Her expression turns even more worried.
“God, that’s awful. I still can’t believe this happened,” she says. Her black eyes meet mine and they fill with sadness as her voice lowers to a whisper, “How are you holding up?”
“I... I guess I’m okay,” I manage to say, my voice quivering.
She leans in slightly, placing her hands over mine on the table and pressing them lightly. “Nisha will be fine soon.”
My throat tightens as I struggle to hold back tears, but I know I need to keep it together for this conversation without breaking down emotionally. I lean in closer, my voice a bit shaky. “Suman, I need to ask you something about Nisha.”
She nods her head in understanding. “I could tell from your call that something’s been weighing on your mind. What’s going on?” she asks carefully.
“Did Nisha ever talk to you about something or someone troubling her?”
Her brows knit together, and her lips form a worried frown. “What do you mean?”
Before I can reply, the waitress interrupts us to take our order. Wanting to get back to the conversation, I quickly grab the menu and scan it.
“I’ll have a chocolate frappe,” I say, closing the menu and looking up at the waitress.
“I’ll have the same,” Suman says, nodding at the waitress.
“Sure,” the waitress says, jotting down our order on her notepad. “I’ll be right back with your drinks,” she assures us before walking off to the counter.
I exhale audibly and shift my focus back to Suman, meeting her gaze.
“Suman, what I’m about to share with you needs to stay just between us ,” I say in a low voice.
She gives me a nervous look but nods. “Of course,”
I take a deep breath before continuing, “I think someone was stalking Nisha. I found some threatening emails, and she mentioned something in her personal diary about it. Did she ever tell you anything about it?”
Her eyes widen, and for a moment, I catch a flicker of hesitation before she speaks. “I... I... don’t think she ever mentioned anything like this to me ,” she stammers briefly, her gaze momentarily shifting away before meeting mine again . “I think she might have kept it to herself because she didn’t want any of us to be worried,” she adds.
I tilt my head back slightly, studying her expression intently. Something feels off.
“Are you sure about this, Suman?” I can’t help but ask, trying to find out if she’s hiding anything.
She fiddles with the napkin on the table, avoiding my gaze. “I really have no idea. She always seemed so jovial and happy around me, so I never suspected anything ,” she says, her voice uncertain. I press my lips together, trying to read her.
“ I think there’s a connection between Nisha’s accident and the stalking. It’s probably the same person behind both, ” I state, and her head snaps to mine.
I see her face turn pale. “What? Murder? Are you absolutely sure?”
I nod. “I have some evidence indicating it wasn’t an accident but a deliberate murder.”
“I... I really don’t know anything about this,” she says, shifting nervously in her seat .
“What about your classmates? Did you ever feel like someone in your class was weird or out of line?”
She shakes her head. “No, everyone seemed nice and came from good families . I can’t imagine any of them being involved .”
Despite her words, there’s a lingering doubt in her voice that makes me wonder if there’s more to the story than she’s letting on.
“Sometimes looks can be deceptive. It’s possible for someone to hide their true intentions, even if they seem nice on the surface,” I state bluntly. “Maybe Nisha told you that she didn’t like any particular person in your class,” I press on, striving to uncover something, anything.
She shakes her head again. “No, Nisha was a warm and loving person. She was liked and loved by everyone in the class. Even the teachers adored her. She was a star student. She didn’t hold any grudges against anyone, neither did she have any enemies.”
“Thanks for this talk, Suman. Also, as her good friend, I trust you wouldn’t hide anything,” I remind her, and perhaps myself as well, knowing she would have no reason to lie when her friend’s life is at stake.
“ I promise I won’t keep anything from you . Nisha is one of my best friends, and I’ve always wished the best for her. Believe me, I will continue to do just that,” she says, just as the waitress arrives with our coffee.
“I believe you,” I assure her with a gentle nod, settling back into my chair as we naturally steer our conversation toward lighter topics, particularly memories of Nisha.
After finishing our coffee and paying our tab, we step outside into the bright afternoon light and head towards the parking lot. We pause by my car, as Suman had taken a cab to the café.
She pulls me in for a hug, then leans back, locking her eyes with mine. “Keep me updated, okay? And if you need anything, anything at all, just call.”
My face softens. “I will. Thanks, Suman.”
“Also, please tell Nisha how much I miss her and that she needs to wake up soon. I want to hear her talk non-stop,” she says, tears slipping from her eyes. My stomach twists at her words because I don’t know when that will happen.
“I’ll definitely pass your message along,” I say, watching as she wipes her eyes.
“I am sorry I neglected to visit her because of work, but I promise to drop by soon to see her,” she promises.
I give her a nod before she turns around and heads for the taxi stand.
I stand for a few moments in silence. I must relay this message to Officer Viraj. I understand the danger of reaching out to him, but this is what I need to do if I want to find my answers.
My thoughts wander back to the events of two nights ago .
I was pacing in my room, replaying the memory of Reyansh dropping me home after the party, when my phone rang. Seeing Officer Viraj’s name, I hesitated to answer it. However, remembering that the unknown person had mentioned being unable to meet due to a sudden issue, I realised this might be the perfect time to speak with Officer Viraj.
I answered the call and spoke, “Officer, I can’t talk over the phone. I need to meet you now.”
“I’ll come to the lane next to your house in ten minutes,” he said before hanging up.
With my heart beating wildly, I spent a few minutes in my room, trying to calm myself before quietly sneaking out of my house and stepping into the dimly lit alley. I immediately spotted the Officer’s car and stood a few feet away.
Officer Viraj approached me cautiously. His eyes darted around, ensuring we weren’t being followed.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, standing in front of me.
I bit my lip nervously but held his gaze steadily. I relayed the details of the ominous messages and the culprit’s threats against involving the police.
He nodded his head. “I knew this is what would happen. I’ve been searching and pulling at threads, hoping for the rat to come out of its hole. His trying to get in touch with you and keep tabs on you was bound to happen. That’s the reason I called you; I wanted to give you a mobile phone that can’t be traced, and I am glad I brought it along with me,” he said as he slipped a secure mobile phone into my hand. “Use this burner phone to contact me and keep me updated.”
I took the phone with a quick nod and headed back home, feeling relieved .
From that moment on, Officer Viraj and I had maintained contact through this untraceable phone, ensuring the culprit remained unaware of our communication. I had kept him in the loop at every step, including sending him a copy of Nisha’s emails, photos of her diary, and a list of her classmates.
The sound of a car horn passing by pulls me back to the present. With a sigh, I get into my car and start the engine. I need to find out more if I want to catch the culprit. I need to dig deeper into this mystery and the shadows that surround it.