Song of the chapter is
Jealous by Labrinth

-01-
-Himanshu Arora-
-Present-

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Lion's Gate Lounge, New Delhi
7 November, 2030
2:05 pm

" ....and perhaps we were all the architects of our own demise."

I finished reading the last line of my book and looked up at the audience in front of me. The familiar static faces greeted me like an old friend. My publisher, Riddhima beamed at me from a distance.

I shut the book close and said my thank you's and goodbye's in my always-polite voice and breathed a sigh as everyone left. Just as I was about to sit back down on my not-so-comfortable chair, Riddhima walked up to me.

"You did amazing out there." She said chirpily. "The audience was totally captivated."

"Thanks, Rids." I said, non-enthusiastically.

She nodded, smiling. "So where do you wanna head next? I have heard that Kolkata is really good at this time of the year."

"I'll think about it." I said, picking up my bag from the side of the stage. "Plus, we still have three more months to cover for this book tour. And only a few cities are left anyway."

"Yeah, I guess." Riddhima said, and then immediately added, "Ooo then what about taking a little vacation? I'm sure Dhrashti is already breathing down your neck for it."

"Tell me about it." I uttered, my words dipped in sarcasm.

"Well then why don't you take her? I can stall the book tour for three weeks." She suggested. "Even Goa's pretty good this time of the year."

The mention of the city left a rancid taste in my mouth. I blink twice before answering, "Um...I don't really like Goa that much."

"Why not?" She asked in a tone insinuating 'who doesn't like Goa?' .

"I grew up there." I stated in a matter-of-fact way. "And to be honest, I think I've had pretty much enough of that place to last a lifetime."

I had met Ridhima two years ago when I had struggled to get my first book published. Writing, rewriting, drafting --- was all I knew back then. I had been rejected ten times before my story had found it's ultimate goal. Ridhima Nayek, the leading publisher of Nayek and Sons Publishers had contacted me, saying she wanted to give my book a shot. And in the span of the next few weeks, I had gotten a hold of my life once again.

The book was about the traumatic experience that I and my friends had had to go through back in the fall of 2019.

The ruthless killings.

The unhinged stalking.

The infamous murder of Alishka Malhotra.

The book had been a great hit. And needless to say, I was to thank her for it.

Her face flustered as she realized what I was getting at. "I'm sorry, Himanshu."

"Don't worry about it." I waved off her apology and made my way past her towards the main gate of the hall in which the book reading was arranged. I realized from my peripheral vision that she was trailing behind me.

As I got to the main gate, she called from behind. "Well, then , I guess I'll be in touch. Though I would still suggest that you take that vacation. If not Goa, then someplace else. But take it. You kinda need it."

I nodded. "Duly-noted, ma'am."

She smiled and walked off into the distance. I waited till her retreating figure became tiny, before making my way to the parking lot. As I got to my car, my phone started buzzing. Fortunately, I had gotten over my ever-longing habit of freaking out every time that happened.

I pulled it out and checked the notification. It was a message telling me to hurry back home. And the message had come from Dhrashti.

My fiance.

__________________

"The weather is fucking bonkers here!"

She left an exasperated sigh hanging in the end, as she paced back and forth. I tried to focus on what she was saying, instead of focusing on the sky line that was visible from the window next to which she was standing.

The city lights twinkled like stars on Earth.

"I went to the fucking mall today and the sun almost killed me! I feel like I have third degree burns from just walking on the side of the road." She exaggerated as always.

"Uh-huh." I uttered, absent-mindedly.

"Himanshu, are you even listening to me?!"

I blinked twice. "Yeah, ofcourse I am."

"Baby, when are we going to get out of this place?" She asks. "I'm tired of living in hotels all the time."

"See that's why I asked you to stay in Mumbai at your parents' house until I finished the book tour." I said, rationally. "But you insisted-"

"Because I thought it would be a good way to spend time with you!" She reasoned as she came and sat beside me on the comfy bed. "But you are always busy with your book thingy! You never have time for me."

"Dhrashti, the main purpose of touring different cities was the book. Now, how can I not do that?" I asked genuinely.

She wrinkled her nose before answering. "I don't know! I guess I'm just tired of you working all the time while I sit around all day doing nothing!"

Dhrashti Bhalla, the only daughter of Harshvardhan Bhalla and Saroj Bhalla and the sole inheritor of the 10 million dollar Bhalla estate in Bandra West, Mumbai was my fiance. I had met Dhrashti on the day of my previous book launch. two years back. I had somehow managed to get an audience for the release of my first volume. And she had been in the audience, clapping, crying and dramatically gasping at every plot twist.

So needless to say, I had been intrigued.

I had proposed six months ago, not really knowing why. Maybe it was the fact that my parents had been putting every bit of pressure on me to do so. Or maybe it was the aggressive impulse to put a bandage on the deep cut that had throttled my heart.

Don't get me wrong, I did love Dhrashti, but I wasn't ready to be engaged. I wasn't ready for this serious of a commitment. Dhrashti was a good person, but she always treated me like a possession of hers. She would get insanely jealous if I spent my time being with anyone that wasn't her. Being with her had made me realise a long time ago that I had lost a sense of myself and my individuality.

But then again, I had stopped caring about myself a long time ago.

"Alright, alright, then." I said, taking her hands into mine. "What do you want us to do?"

"I want you to take a break from your tour and focus on me for a little while." She says, smiling widely. "So the next city that we visit, it feels like a pre-wedding honeymoon, rather than a work tour."

A knot tightens in my stomach at the mention of the word 'wedding'.

"Fine." I managed to give her a smile. "I'll squeeze in a couple of days next week for a small vacation. Just us. No work. Cool?"

"Ugh thank youuuuuu!" She jumped as she put her arms around me. I merely gave her a warm smile.

"You're the best!" She said as she kissed my cheek. "I love you."

I smiled, feeling constricted. "Yeah...yeah... I... love you too."

She believed my lie, and let go off me to surf through her phone and figure out where she wanted to go for this little vacation. I swallowed the lump in my throat and went over and sat at the small built in desk in the hotel room, to check my mail.

As I surfed through my inbox, I noticed a lot of junk mail. Some from the clothing stores that Dhrashti usually shopped at, some from book clubs of which I once was a member, and some others.

But one particular mail stood out among the rest. It was from a public account. I clicked on the mail.

Subject : Reunion Invitation

I furrowed my brows as I read further.

From : Delmore High School

Delmore High cordially invites the graduating class of 2020 till this day to their ten year reunion at the school on the 14th of November, 2030. All alumnis are requested to be present.

RSVP to confirm your presence.

My palms sweltered even as I sat there in the fully air-conditioned room. My mind went black for a few seconds. My breathing became uneasy.

Was I ready to do this?

Was I ready to go back to the place that had carved scars in my mind like indentures, the place where my friends had been tortured, the place which had grown to give me nightmares all day, every day for the past eleven years?

I adjusted my tie as I picked up the glass of water and gulped it all in one go.

"Honey, how about Kashmir? I've heard it's started snowing a little there already! If we reach by next week, we'll probably be able to-" Dhrashti begins but I pause her mid-sentence. "I've somewhere else to be."

"What?" She jerked up and sauntered towards me. "You just said we could take a vacation! What in the-"

"It's my school reunion." I heaved.

There was a long pause before she spoke. "So.... you're thinking of going to.....Delmore?"

I nodded. "I guess,.... yeah."

She placed a hand over my shoulder in order to comfort me. "Babe, do you have to? I mean....after everything that happened-"

"It's gonna be.... fine, Dhrashti." I said, trying to reassure myself more than her. "It's been eleven years since that incident. I've got to move on...anyway."

But could I ever?

And if not that incident, could I ever move on from the one person that still held my heart hostage in the cages of her fragile hands?

The thought of her woke something in me and I inhaled heavily.

"Okay then." Dhrashti announced quietly beside me and went back and sat down at the edge of the bed.

I swiveled my chair to face her. The evident sadness on her face made me uncomfortable with guilt.

"Okay....how about this?" I said, trying. "The reunion will be over by Monday. Then we can board a flight and go to whichever place you want. And for one whole week, you'll have me to yourself."

A slow smile graced her lips as she beamed at me. "I'll take that."

I returned her smile and looked back at the cellphone screen. Muttering two incoherent words under my breath, I laid my fingers on the keypad.

Here goes nothing.

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hiya loves, how are we doing today?

it feels so good to be back to my beloved characters and you beloved readers! I can't believe I'm finally saying this but the sequel is FINALLY OUT! oh my god, someone pinch me-

no but seriously, i still can't comprehend that the sequel is finally out and you guys are going to be able to read it!

stay tuned for the upcoming chapters cause this one's even more intense than the previous! you have no idea what's coming for you-

and please make sure to vote, comment and share the book with everyone you know!

love,
Bosedisha