Savvy didnt get the dream again and she didnt tell anyone about it either. But it kept haunting her whenever she was alone at home which was quite often. She avoided being alone and invited one or two of her friends to study over a pizza when she knew her dad would be late.

It had been almost a fortnight since that nightmare and she just wondered if she had even had it.The memory of the dream had dimmed but the child’s face was still etched in her mind.Savvy had started taking care of the home at an early age being alone had also been boring as his dad was very self suffiecient she had learnt to be independent too. They had a maid who came early morning to clean.The cook came twice, in the morning he made breakfast and tiffin for both Savvy and her Dad and then in the evening at around 4 to make dinner for them. Since Savvy was usually back by 3 she would make sure that everything was available in the kitchen. She would normally shop for vegetables and make a list of groceries for the weekend when she would go and get it from the nearby mall.

The cook had just handed over a list of things that were needed in the kitchen and she thought she would go get the things.She could see the usual crowd at the mall while she was pulling out the trolley for the groceries.She was moving around getting the things from the list as she did not like shopping when there were so many people around.

Savyy turned the trolley into a alley as she was looking for Maggie when she saw her standing at the end of the row.The child was not alone this time her fingers were hooked into a tall women’s hands and both of them were looking intently at Savvy.Savvy was horrified but she could not look away. As she stared fascinated then she noticed there clothes.Both the women and the child were dressed in clothes that had rotten away as if they had been left in water for too long.Their skin was pale and was peeling away at places.Yet their face were beautiful beyond anything that Savvy had seen in her life.

The child gave her the same horrific smile again and tugged at the tall figure by her side at this signal they started moving towards Savvy.

Savvy could feel the scream starting in her stomach but no sound came out.She forced herself to break the spell and tried to look if someone was closeby.She was screaming her lungs out but she knew noone could hear her and she also knew that nobody else could see them either. She felt that she was rooted to the spot and could not move.By this time they had glided towards her as they seemed to have no feet and were actually floating 2 feet above the ground.Savyy knew she was trapped as she stood frozen staring at the tall figure looking down at her and the women raised her hand and moved to touch Savvy’s face with it at that time something snapped in Savvy’s conscience; she screamed and passed out.

(More later…)

This story is about Savvy. She was born 20 years back into a small family. By small i mean it was just her dad, mum and herself. Mum and Dad did not have any siblings and neither did she.Savvy grew up alone no family vacations for her…. and once her mom died when she was 5 Dad took care of her whenever he could otherwise she was mostly left alone.

Savvy grew up being self sufficient but an introvert.She was always good at studies Dad took pains to take out time to help her with her homework.So much so that she soon realised that the only way to get Dad’s attention and subsequent praise was to get excellent grades.

At 20 she was in her last year at college and amazingly level headed for her age.No nightouts for her and definitely no drugs or alcohol. Her friends were all part of a study group which she had thought of and regulated since the first year.The group met 3 times a week and they usually hung out at someones place and studied and then played online games on the laptop.

One night Savvy was watching the latest horror movie in the drawing room she was sprawled on the carpet with a packet of chips on her lap and a can of beer in her hand.Dad was away so she could indulge in her only vice…drinking chilled beer out of his overflowing stock.She soon dozed off and the 49 inch plasma tv switched off automatically. She was alone at home but this was not rare.His dad had left her alone plenty of times as the 28th floor 3 bedroom penthouse was comparatively safe and no one without identification was ever allowed inside the premises of the apartment building.

Savvy was under water and she was surprised that she could breath in and see through the murky water.She figured that she was in a lake or a pond as she could see the small fishes and the weeds waving with every movement in the water. There were lots of discarded objects swimming in the water and she could see the moonlight trying to pierce the watery surface.She tried to swim towards the surface but something was pulling her down.Her pyajama bottoms were coming off where the small child’s hands were clinging to the fabric.And then she felt the hand grip her ankle.The touch chilled Savvy to the bone and she panicked when she looked down at the child gripping her ankle, it was the most beautiful face she had seen in her life but the smile on its face was maniacle and quite horrific….She kept kicking and thrashing and started gulping down water in her panic.She could not breathe and then she heard her cellphones ringing and she woke up with a start.

For about 10 minutes she could not figure out where she was and where the the noise was coming from.Finally she came through and picked up the phone..

She could hear the water gushing and the gurgling sound of it draining out  and then a child’s voice came through in a whisper…”Help me”…..and then the phone cut off…………………..

(More next time……..)

Aman drove towards her house at top speed and nearly had an accident twice before he realised he had to reach her house alive so that he could tell her how he felt…
His heart was pounding in his chest and he could feel the sweat running down the back of his shirt when he rang the bell of her third floor apartment.In the rush he had forgotten about the elevater shucks!!
He could hear the thump thump of his heart with every passing second and he was controlling the urge to ring again when finally he heard some movement inside.
He could hear the clinking of the chain and then the door opened a little and he could see Ria’s eye peering at him through the darkness.

She opened the door wide when she saw who it was and rushed into his arms…..it was like a dam had broken and water had gushed out………she was sobbing her whole body trembling with emotion.

Aman just held on to her for what seemed like centuries.Then he put his hand under her chin and held up her face….the tears were like uncut diamonds twinkling in the dim lights of the night.He kissed her tears and asked her very gently if she wanted some water. Ria just nodded her head she was just too overwhelmed to speak right then.

Ria kept looking at Aman with unshed tears in her eyes and decided it was time she told him everything.” Aman, Sunny has been my friend since we were kids…I am very attached to him.That day when he saw you with me he reacted in a very strange way.In the morning when i got up i had a bad hangover and I only remembered that Sunny had come home last night when I saw him sleeping on the couch.I think he had not slept at all cause he had big circles under his eyes and had a very serious experession…..if i didnt know him I would have said that he was sad…but i do know him so i knew that there would be trouble…he had never approved of my drinking!! but he didnt say anything about my drinking…just asked me if i had slept well if i wanted some coffee..I could see he had a pot brewing already..i said yes i would and waited for the worst.

He didnt say anything for a long time just kept sipping his coffee and looking at me….it was torture!!..
Just say what you want to say and finish with it !!! I had shouted at him and he got up took the coffee mug from my hands and kept it aside…..i mean how typical he hates it when i break things…
“I love you..” is all he said…..and then he got up and left and has not been back since..

Oh Aman i dont know what to do!! I mean he’s my best friend but i dont know if I love him!!! I’ve never thought of him like eh like a lover i mean its too sudden!

Aman was in such a dilemna he could not think!
So he asked her the first thing that came to his mind,” Why were you crying Ria? I mean he just said he loves you……..its been known to happen between friends if you are confused than you shouldnt be crying right?”
“No i shouldn’t be.” she replied in a small voice.
“You should call him besides why did he run away before you could answer him was he afraid of the answer?” Aman asked.
“No i dont need to call him I know why I was crying!” Ria said with a sudden strength in her voice.
“Why?” Aman dreaded the answer but he had to ask.
” Because……because I am not in love with him and I dont want to break his heart.” said Ria now almost herself.
“So you are not in love with him and what makes you so sure?” Aman had a teasing note in his question.
” Hmmmmmm” was all she said.
“I had to tell you something thats why I am here at this time of the night!” Aman thought it was now or never.
“Yes i was wondering.” said Ria almost tired now.
“Ria my sweet Ria I am madly in love with you and seeing you with Sunny the other night made me realise that i love you and can’t see you with another guy.The thought of you with him was driving me mad,insane,beserk call it what you want but i love you and i wont go away till you tell me you love me too and and and……”

Ria smiled at him and caught him in a bear hug Aman could just about hear her say yes yes yes before he was smothered in kisses…………

Epilogue:

Aman and Ria are commited now and Sunny is still Ria’s best friend Apparently Sunny could see that Aman was in love with his childhood friend the moment he set eyes on them together and he didnt want to lose her……he had misinterpreted his feeling of jealousy as love but had realised the mistake right after he had uttered the words i love you.
He apologised to Ria the next day for his stupidity and Ria being Ria forgave him just like that.

FIN 

(PS: Please leave your comments if you like the story and let me know if i should attempt another!!)

Aman took out the key from her purse, opened the door and was fumbling for the light switch when suddenly the room was filled with light and he saw ………………….
There was a guy standing there with a smile on his face which disappeared the moment he saw Aman holding Ria upright.
Aman did not know how to react.He somehow felt very awkward under the guys unfaltering gaze…They stood like that for a while just looking at each other when Ria came through and looked at the man standing with the door knob still in his hand.
She moved towards him and gave him a hug,”Hi sweetheart when did you get here?”
“I think we better get you to bed first”.Aman said while moving her towards the room.
“I’ll take care of it” said the stranger.There was a finality to his voice which Aman did not want to challenge so he let him lead her towards the room.He himself opened the fridge door to get some water.

The man came out and stood in front of Aman,his expressionless eyes did not waver from Aman’s face. He held out his hand for a shake and said,” Hi my name is Sunny I am Ria’s best friend.I think she had too much to drink…she’s not used to it.”

Aman didn’t know what to say to that so he muttered something about it being late and left.

The next day he waited the whole day for Ria to call him but could not gather the courage to do it himself…All kinds of thoughts were flooding his brain…what if this Sunny was poisoning Ria’s mind against him…what if he told her that maybe he had gotten her drunk on purpose?? Afterall he was a best friend probably knew her for a long time and Aman only knew her for a couple of months who would she believe??
He did not want to lose her…..this thought kept churning in his head and he could neither work nor relax….

At around 3 in the night when he could take it no longer he called her up….the bell kept ringing but she would not pick the call…..
he tried again and again but she was not picking up her phone…He gave up after the 10th try but he could not understand why he was feeling so helpless…it not like they had fought and he had other friends who didnt speak to him for ages but that did not bother him….why was he so restless since he had met Sunny unexpectedly last night??

And finally he realised that this feeling of helplessness was nothing but love…it was the fear of losing her which was nagging him…

He decided to go to her place and talk to her at once…

He got out his car and started towards her place…………………..


(Last installment in a few days…do leave your comments if you like the story)

Aman had spotted her the moment she had entered the cafe. He was himself hidden from view behind a pillar blocking his profile but he could see her quite clearly. She was dress in faded jeans and white t-shirt. She had a slim figure and an attractive face and he could make out that she was Ria as she kept looking at the door as if she was expecting someone. He walked up to her and said, “Hi I am Aman.Were you looking for me?”

Ria could help but smile at the stranger. He was not good looking in the conventional way but he had the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen His lashes were too long and curly and the eyes had the most sincere ex-pression in them.She too said,” Hi Aman yes I was looking for you “.

They sat down and talked for hours. Ria felt like she knew him already. He was easy to talk to and she felt comfortable with him.They were both sorry when it was time to go home.

After that day they spoke to each other every day and also continued meeting during the weekends.The more they met the more they started to get attached to each other.

One weekend they went to a party and had lots to drink. Ria was not a regular drinker and she started feeling nausea. Aman decided to drop her home and tuck her in.
He half carried her to her flat as by this time she was feeling very sleepy and was leaning on him.

Aman took out the key from her purse, opened the door and was fumbling for the light switch when suddenly the room was filled with light and he saw ………………………..….

(To be continued………)

Ria was in the office and she had nothing to do…..no work today….that meant whole day just browsing the net….Actually it was a new experience for her the chatting i mean…she had not done it before.She was surprised to see so many people online at the time( she was doing night shifts at a call center). She had just created an id with the help of a friend and logged in.The chat windows started popping on her screen with “ ASL pls?”
She asked her friend,” What’s ASL?”
Her friend replied,” Age,sex and language you duffer!”
Anyways that day she chatted the whole night wid a few people and the next day she got a mail from one of them.

His name was Aman, he was very funny i mean his mail was funny so she reponded to it…and they wrote to each other about each other….
Aman wanted to speak to her….hear her voice….he kept asking her to call him..
She hesitated and then called..
He had a deep husky voice …very cultured and mature….Aman liked her too ….she could feel the excitement in his voice…

They decide to meet up over the weekend………

She was sitting in her apartment thinking isn’t this going too fast?? She decides to go anyways she is the kind who can’t stand the suspence!!

He said he would be waiting for her outside a popular cafe joint and he’ll be carrying a rose with him…well here she was and there was no sign of a guy with a rose…………………………………

(To be continued………..)