NOT UNDERSTANDING my emotions is not what I always experience. And I hate it when I cannot understand myself. And right then, I was hating myself for feeling jittery and all, especially when I couldn't understand why.

Vrishank had changed his shirt. It probably smelled of sweat. Not that I cared. His hair was still messy. But he looked cute anyway.

Vrishank Pokharel is the only child Vaidehi Pokharel has. His father, whose name I care not to mention, as much as I've heard, left them. I don't know why, but it was some time after Vrishank's birth. Don't get me wrong, but it was really a bad move from his side. Like, who wants to abandon Vaidehi and Vrishank by choice?

However, Aunt has raised Vrishank well and he has insisted on keeping his mother's last name. They share that mother-son bond that is still a sweet summer dream for many kids nowadays. They seem to be best friends and I absolutely adore them.

My last meeting with Vrishank was last year's summer. He was different at that time. I mean, we would regularly text and call, keep in contact, but we couldn't meet up due to our tough schedules. So, I was surprised when he winked at me after such a long time, not to mention that I felt giddy. Flirting was never his thing. They say that people change. But, this change was never in the milky way expected.

"Oi! Move aside." Vrishank said.

I looked up at him and narrowed my eyes. "Sit there." I pointed towards the other ball couch in the corner.

"Nope."

"Go."

"Nope." He said again.

I gave him the puppy look. "Please?"

"No way." He denied, his eyes not leaving mine. I couldn't understand why he was being like this. The Vrishank I knew didn't use to be stubborn. Who was this?

I opened my mouth to say something when Mar snapped, impatience clear in her tone.

"Would you both stop bickering and sit quietly for some time?"

Damn it Mar!

Vrishank hopped up, his thigh brushing against mine. I ignored the sudden increase of pulse. What was happening to me?

"So? What about Aimée Monet?" asked Vrishank.

I told him the story. To say he was impressed was kind of an understatement. His eyes twinkled and his grin broadened even more.

"This, this is the reason why I admire you so so much."

"What is the reason?" Maryam interjected, cocking her eyebrows in curiosity.

"That Tri doesn't buy lies and is firm in her stance. I like it."

Then, again, he winked.

"I pity your eyes." Mar remarked.

Okay, so she noticed.

"Aimée Monet is a Sociology major." confirmed Aunt Vaidehi, looking up. We nodded.

"She was last seen at college, around five to six in the evening. Then, she took a cab and headed towards home. But did not reach home. Am I right?"

We nodded again.

She hummed, "Whatever happened, happened in between."

"Do you know what the police said?" asked Vrishank.

"We don't know what they exactly said. But, the news articles helped." Mar said.

The missing case of Aimée Monet attracted the journalists very well. After the police started their investigation, we started to find articles two times per week in the daily newspapers, updating us about it. I don't know how many people read them or even cared, but those reports were fairly useful for me. They didn't provide all the details, but they atleast included the necessary information - like, interrogation of the cab driver (the same one whose cab was booked by Aimée on the day of missing). He said that Aimée's drop location was at Ballygunge Place and that she didn't get out of the vehicle mid way.

As helpful and crucial these facts were, they were as confusing as well. Like, if Aimée went home after taking a taxi, then why wasn't she at home? The driver's statement was proven true. There was nothing suspicious about him, as said by the police.

"I have read those, indeed." said Aunt Vaidehi, referring to the articles. "Have you contacted any of Aimée's friends? Like, spoken to them personally?"

I said, "Um, yeah. But I couldn't find anything new."

"Whom did you talk to?"

"One of her close friends. She was a senior too, Tania Ray."

"And?"

"And, she said that she saw Aimée last on the day of the incident. They ate at the canteen. She was smiling and laughing as usual. There was nothing weird in her demeanor."

Aunt raised both her eyebrows, "Was she the usual Aimée at the end of day also?"

"Yup." I confirmed. "Tania said that Aimée bolted the club door on her own after leaving finally. And that is, very very very normal."

"Club?"

"Yeah, music club. Aimée plays violin."

"You believed what that Tania said?" Vrishank scrunched up his nose, his forehead wrinkling.

"Of course not, idiot. I asked certain other students, including one of the guards. It is the truth."

"Everyone knows her?"

"Almost. She is the violinist and the lead vocalist of her University's classical-rock band. Moreover, she is engaged in politics, so yeah."

"Woah." He blankly said, his mouth forming an 'o'.

Maryam had been quiet all this time. She suddenly spoke up, "That means, there is a possibility of kidnapping!"

Before I could say anything, Aunt Vaidehi answered, "There probably is. It may sound strange but, considering that Aimée is kind of 'popular', there might be some people who are jealous, maybe..."

She was unsure of how to say the last part. Yeah, the thought was pretty silly, but not impossible.

"Jealousy? That's...sick!" Vrishank said, eyes widening.

"Very." I agreed.

My eyes landed on the coffee table, on the untouched croissants. I immediately lunged forward, took hold of it. One bite, and the chocolate came gushing out. The crumbs, chocolate cream, and the soft bread combined to form a paradise. I was floating. It was strange how food made me feel so relaxed.

"It's fantabulous as always, bunny boy." I smiled as I ruffled Vrishank's hair. It was still messy, and still cute.

"I never get tired of your compliments, owlie."

I turned to Aunt Vaidehi. "What are we supposed to do next? Any suggestions?"

"You don't do anything. Someone's keeping an eye on you. You need to be cautious."

Maryam asked, "Then, what about the case?"

"Um," she considered for a while. "Try to find something at school. I don't think that that stalker will have the balls to watch your activities there. I'm not saying you will find something for sure. But, try."

"'kay..." I mumbled. "But how can you say that we'll not be watched?"

"Because, my sixth sense is denying it."

That's the thing about her. Her instinct always tells the truth. We've seen it before. A lot, infact. Hence, we had no doubt in believing in Vaidehi's farsightedness.

"And what if we don't find anything at school?" Maryam asked.

Vaidehi Pokharel smiled a genuine smile. "Then I'll try to search for something outside school."

Both me and Maryam exchanged gobsmacked glances. She looked like her eyes were about to come out of the sockets.

"You mean-" she began. "You mean you're gonna help us? For real?"

"The case of Aimée Monet is intriguing, and I've been observing that since quite a long time. Now that you're trying to find out the mystery, then why not?"

"Aww, that's so so sweet!" Mar and I uttered in unison and the four of us engulfed into a nearly bone crushing hug.

The real mission was about to begin.

★

The next day, at school, the extinguished candle of Aimée Monet was lit again. This time, with much more anxiety and curiosity.

★

a/n

do you like cliffhangers?