Archie's Troubling Nights: Secrets and Stalker Shadows

Archie sighed and turned in her bed. It had been a disturbing sleep. There were images of random people, Bhargav, someone running with a knife. The stalker situation seemed to have put a major pain of her heart behind her. She had never really accessed her feelings after being let down by Bhargav. Sure, Bhargav had realized his mistake and had left a dozen messages and tried calling her. He even dropped in at her place, but she simply refused to open the door.

I know what I did was wrong. Please give me a chance to explain.

I just wanted to go for a sec. Didn’t realize it got extended.

I know I shouldn’t have kissed her. I was under effect.

Allw me 2 expln.

Sry… Sry… Sry…

The only thing Archie did was not reply. She would read message and let it go. If she reacted, she would give Bhargav the advantage of occupying her head. Nandan and Amrita were at her side all the time. She would cry sporadically, but eventually the pain washed over.

And a month later the Post-its found their way to her life.

Just like today. She received another note at the door of the office.

Sorry I had to use your ex’s name. I didn’t mean to hurt you reminding you of that schmuck.

Inside the drawer with the rest of the Post-its. And a message to Rajat.

Amrita had gone home for a week. Her parents were complaining of not able to see their daughter. Nandan was just starting to protest but one sharp look from Archie and that silenced him.

Amrita was doing a favour and mostly under the watchful and ever threatening eyes of Nandan. Her parents had every right to call back their child. This was not their problem. Archie had long anticipated that the stalker will get closer and then things will go south. If anything should happen to her, Rajat at least would be aware.

She was also training herself to fight off enough so that if she ever got into a scene with the stalker, she could at least run till she found help.

Archie got up from bed and went over to get a glass of water. She was parched. And then she walked over to the window and looked outside. These days it was a comforting feeling. She would sit by the window and watch the streets below.

The traffic lights, people walking by and the ambling life in general made her happy. It gave her a sense of security – a feeling that she was not alone.

Alone with my shadow.

Archie sighed and stared at the wall clock. It was 2 AM in the morning and a few minutes over. The orange neon lights from the street were casting shadows in the living room. She sat with her head resting at the edge of the window. Her apartment was on the second floor. She glanced around the room; there was shadow of neem leaves as there was a huge tree outside her window on the opposite side of the road. In fact, there was a row of such huge trees. The light from the garage shop below which was partially hidden due to the trees, was twinkling. Right next to it was the tyre shop with tyres stacked on the curb.

The municipal corporation will enjoy breaking into the encroachment.

Archie grinned to herself.

And almost screamed the next minute.

It was 2 AM. Someone was standing, propping up lazily against the stacked tyres to look at her. They were hidden under the shadow of the neem tree. She had not noticed the first time as they were hidden under the shadow.

They adjusted themselves and she saw the shadow move.

No. It just cannot be him. He doesn’t know where I live – does he? Might be someone from the garage or the tyre shop. Maybe I am just hallucinating. Heck! It will be three in a bit. Why am I awake?

Ah! Nasty dreams

Before she could finish panicking, she turned to look at the same place. There was no one. Few people were walking to and fro, but it was the late-night crowd – people returning from shifts, or from parties or generally late.

Was I imagining? He couldn’t have run without capturing my attention.

Does he know?

Should I call Nandan? Yeah right!

Should I call my parents?

Can I ask for work from home? Yeah right!

The mental clutter ran for few more minutes before her eyes were heavy. The glass softly fell on the rug and clattered away as Archie’s head lolled, and she was asleep in a heartbeat.

***

Archie was sitting alone in the cafeteria and eating. Amrita had called in sick. Archie was sure her parents had held her hostage since it was quite a while since they got to meet her daughter even though they were in the same city.

Nandan was busy in a presentation and had messaged her not to wait for him.

She thought she would but then her stomach growled. After Nandan’s presentation, in the same conference room was Archie’s meeting. She knew she wouldn’t get to meet Nandan before evening.

Nandan Jaykumar – I don’t miss you.

Archie chuckled to herself. Nandan of late would scrutinize her and then chide her for not sleeping or not eating and she was now getting annoyed. She felt she was breathing the same oxygen as Amrita and Nandan and she was exhausted with the protective shield he was drawing around her.

Archie finished her lunch in ten minutes and was back at her desk. She didn’t want to hang post-lunch. She had a meeting.

Her hand brushed against a paper and she jumped. It was not a paper. It was a Post-it. Though it was not the regular yellow ones. It was a ruled Post-it. It was slightly bigger in size.

The regular ones are getting boring. You look like someone who should get love notes on papers in brown envelopes sealed in rose.

Archie gulped. How did this get here in the middle of the day? That too with so many people walking in and out of office? What the hell is happening?

She got a call on the office messenger asking to join in the conference. Archie looked up. Nandan and his team had vacated the meeting room. She didn’t have time to let him know. She quickly stuffed the paper in the drawer and hurried over for the meeting.

***

The sun hung low. Clouds were scurrying across the sky, but these were the grey ones. It looked like it was going to rain. The wind had picked up as Archie’s curls rose in the air and fell. Her scarf was threatening to fly away. The trees were tossing their heads a little too strongly.

Nandan was dropping her home. With one gust of wind, dust flew into his eyes as he shaded his face from the onslaught of wind.

Luckily, his car was parked under a makeshift car shed. The two reached there and panted as they grabbed onto a stitch in their sides. They rinsed their mouth because of the amount of dust they swallowed in the process.

After the two stabilized, did they check the surrounding. The sudden gust of wind had passed them, and droplets of water were falling from the heavens. It was starting to rain slowly.

And realization dawned. There was a note in brown paper plastered right in the middle of the car, heavily cello taped. And scrawled were the words

Thank you Nandan for taking care of our girl. Archie – try to sleep at night. Don’t stare out of your window for that long. You will lose sleep else.

Nandan was stunned.

Archie’s blood ran cold.

He was at my home...

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Episode 5: Text Tuesday

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Post-it is an original work published as part of the Epistories series. All characters, events, and storylines are protected by copyright. Unauthorized reproduction, adaptation, distribution, or publication, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without prior written permission.