"Madam, Madam" I heard the auto-man calling out my name, I stirred up from my sleep and looked around, we were almost there. I guided the driver to take the next left and straight into Dwaraka Nagar. I motioned him to stop at the bright blue building. Jolting up the stairs, I winced in pain. Why didn't his apartment have a lift and, why did he have to live on the second floor?

Waves of emotions washed over me, flooding with questions. What will he tell? How would he react? Will he trust me?

His front door was wide open, I went in and sat on the recliner, my legs were trembling with pain. Raj came out from his bedroom and was flummoxed. "Hey," I said in a low voice.

"Babe? What? What happened to you, I had been trying to reach you since morning, your phone was switched off.." He hurriedly came towards me and touched my forehead with the back of his hand. I gazed at him puzzled. He noticed the injuries and went inside, brought a first aid box and applied the most sought-after antiseptic Dettol.

I controlled my urge to push him away; I knew he was doing this for my own good. Still, it burned and irritated my skin badly. With clenched teeth and an annoyed expression, I sat as if rooted to the spot.

The torturous process was finally over. Raj brought me a glass filled with yellow colour liquid and, I gulped it down the moment he handed it over to me. It was mango juice, tasted pretty good as well. Though I craved for more, I was in an emergency to use the washroom; I excused myself and made my way to the rest-room.

When I came back, he was seated across the sectional bright blue and white sofa. I tossed the cushions to the other end. His house was neatly arranged, which was odd. The golden embroidered red carpet seemed dust-free. Did he vacuum it today? The TV was turned off and the ceiling had no spider webs.

"Tell me, what's wrong babe?" he said, I sat beside him and rested my head on his shoulders. He kissed my cheek and I smiled.

"Nats? Are you fine?" I buried my face into his chest, and he snaked his arms around me. I should have just shut my loud mouth, but the words just puked out.

"They are planning to kill Me." he held my arms so hard, I hit him back.

"What? Who Nats?..." His eyes spoke the truth, even though his lips lied. He hadn't believed my words, his voice sounded concerned, but it was artless.

"Promise me you would believe me, please Raj." He nodded and sat crossed leg. I turned completely towards him and hugged my arms around my knees.

"Joy died right?" I said.

"Yes."

"It's been just a week since he left us, yet I feel all alone in this gigantic selfish world Raj, you knew how much I loved him..." he held my hands inside his and said "you have me, why do you feel lonely. "

"It's different ... I miss him so much and... They think I killed him" I blurt out, waiting for him to react like thunder and lighting. But, he stayed mute, did he even hear what I said. I tapped on his fingers and he responded.

"I was thinking, who is planning to kill you, why would someone want you dead?"

"Don't you get it, Mr & Mrs Hedge obviously."

"Are you out of your mind hon, why would your parents try to kill you?"

"Correction they aren't my actual parents."

"So?"

"Listen carefully; they think I killed Joy, why would I kill my dear brother? Does it make sense to you? But, they told me the previous day that they believe Joy had been murdered and it wasn't a suicide." I wanted him to trust me so desperately, he was my last hope.

"Don't you believe them, babe? Do you honestly feel Joy would commit suicide?" He was right; Joy would never... take such an extreme step. But, he did, and we need to figure out why. Raj's cell phone rang and, he walked out of the house, spoke in hushed tones and returned with an assuring smile.

"I... I...I'm not sure, but he was stressed with work too much pressure, he had some financial crisis. Mr Roland Hedge's business was a downturn. He was supposed to go abroad. Maybe, all of that got to his nerves? He ..."

"You know that isn't true, don't you" He sounded serious, was he accusing me of lying to him?

"What do you mean"? I spat back, I have had enough of critics and blames for the day.

"You killed Joy." His words echoed through the walls, or was it my imagination? I was able to hear those words over and over again, multiple times at raging volume, and with different shrilling tones.

"What?" I started to feel dizzy my eyelids struggled to stay open. Why would he say such a thing? Didn't he know I loved Joy more than anyone else, his parents always hated me, and all they want is revenge. Why wouldn't a single soul trust me?

"You killed Joy, Tanya and Aanya." I was sure, I have gone Insane. Did I hear him right? I never breathed a word about Tanya nor Aanya. How did he know then? Am I missing something here?

"How...how did you know about Tanya? I haven't told you about her yet? Raj? Is there something you are hiding from me?" My head felt heavy there was a throbbing pain at the back of my head, my eyelids shut and I fell backwards, I could feel Raj's hand around my waist, he held me solid and placed me on the sofa tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear.

So many questions unanswered, and I was losing consciousness, I wanted to sink in my nails deep into his skin, hit his head with his night lamp like he never returns from Coma, cut off his tongue using his razor blade and scream right into his ears, but all I could do was mumble

"I didn't do it." And, the world turned colourless.