Kavin was about to go to bed, when his phone rang. The contact name flashed, 'purvi'. He was shocked to see that after all these years he still couldn't delete her number, or that she hadn't either. But he felt this weird sensation of hesitance towards picking up the call, as it was no longer the time when receiving such calls was a casual occurrence. He regretted taking those times lightly. He decided to accept it anyways, but the call ended before that. Maybe she doesn't want to talk to him after all.

***

Dushyant gained consciousness to a concussion as he held tightly onto his bleeding head, before he managed to get up. He couldn't remember what had happened, as he looked around to find himself in the middle of nowhere, only for him to find his mother, lying there in the middle of the road, badly injured and unconscious.

"maa! Maa! Maa, utho na! Maa!" he screamed, as he shook her body, only to notice how she was all soaked in blood.

Dushyant woke up panick stricken, as he felt breathless. He face palmed himself, as some of his fingers were around his forehead, that sensed a cut. He got his hand off of it, as he looked at it, to find it completely clean.

He shrugged it off, as he lied down on the bed again, covering himself completely with the sheet, as he held tightly onto his pillow, before closing his eyes, only for them to open in the next second, as there was no way to find sleep now.

***

Ishita, who was lying on her mattress on the floor, checked to see savita, who was snoring away in hers. She slowly took the sheet off, tip-toed to the cupboard where she had kept the shampoo earlier, she made to leave it slightly open, so that she could open it without any noise. She took out that bottle, making sure savita is still sleeping. Her glance was fixed onto her, with her hand still in the cupboard, as she took out something so small, that it fitted in her fist completely. She slid the cupboard slightly, as she tip-toed to the main door.

***

14 year old purvi was scratching her head over math problems, while sitting on the dinning table, when suddenly the bell of her house rang.

"beta dekhiyo toh kaun hai!" yelled neelu from the kitchen, as purvi marched to the main door.

the door opened to kavin, in front of her sight, as she immediately, composed herself on the spot.

"uhh, dush hai?" asked kavin.

"haan, haan, hai...uhhm, aaiye..." fumbled purvi, as kavin got inside.

"kaun hai beta?" asked neelu.

"uhh, woh bhaiya ka friend..." replied purvi, desperately trying to avoid calling him, 'bhaiya.'

"kaunsa...ohh kavin, arre acha hua aa gaye, kuch loge?" asked neelu, as she stood by the kitchen.

"nahi, nahi aunty, bas dushyant ko..." responded kavin, pointing to dushyant's room, from where, dushyant just appeared.

"arre, bahaut badiya kiya aa gaya, ab chal maths karwa meri, fail nahi hona mujhe!" said dushyant, as he grabbed kavin by the wrist, and took him to the room.

***

"haan, dekh a baa gaya...yaar woh Sharma sir ko toh nikal hi dena chahiye, tu toh itna badhiya hai usse..ab dekh, tere bina toh sadiyon mein na samajh aata yeh.." remarked dushyant, as kavin chuckled.

"bhai tu class mein kuch sunega toh samajh aayega na..ab har baar exam se pehle hi mujhse puchega.." replied kavin.

"phir, tu haina, uski bakwaas sunne ke liye..." retorted dushyant, as purvi came in with a tray in the room.

"uhh, chaye..." she offered, as she placed the tray on the table.

"woh chini.." attempted kavin to confirm.

"kam hai, jaisi aapko pasand hai...." replied purvi.

"thanks." Replied kavin with a smile, as purvi nodded in agreement, his smile taking her to another planet.

"oye, mummy ko keh meri coffee ka kya hua!" exclaimed dushyant, as purvi came back to earth.

"haan, jaati hoon..." she said dishearteningly.

But before she left, she took one last glance of him.

Purvi moved to her side, still sleeping with a smile, as she grabbed onto the pillow tightly. It was like she was a teenage girl again, with those butterflies in her stomach. But, it was still, a dream.

***

Ishita stood neardby a house, hiding in plain sight.

A man, in his late forties, came home, tired. He brushed his hand lovingly across his son's hair who was already asleep, as he smiled fondly at him. he then lovingly looked at his wife, who was just lying beside their son. He took off his gamcha, and shirt, as he too lied beside them, taking rest after a long day.

ishita gave flame to the lighter in her hand, while she glared at the house with an intense fury, strong enough to burn the house itself by it.

***

the truck came with an intense speed, as it continuously changed directions, from left to right. It was right that second, when neelu came in front of it, as the truck moved over her mercilessly. Those tires, hitting right at her legs, crushing them. she was left lifeless, almost death, with no chances of survival at all.

Neelu's eyes opened wide, as panick started to ensue inside of her.

***

author's note:firstly, we are only 3 votes shy from a full 50 for the story, so thanks to all these who helped me come this far, and please keep them coming, they really keep me going. secondly, i know, a lot of suspenses, but sab dheere-dheere unravel hoga, so be patient.