7:30pm: Kolkata, India.
Meera Joshi.
It's been six months since I'm working as a cashier in this cafe called "LOVERS". Today was a long day indeed. I just can't wait to reach my home whose four walls have become my best friends. They have witnessed me breaking into pieces and again gathering myself up and standing on my feet. Quickly finishing my remaining works I prepared myself to go home. My home is a thirty minutes walking distance from the cafe. At this time I usually don't get a bus going to my locality so I always walk home while returning. It is already dark outside. I braced myself up and started walking.
I live in a lower middle class society because that's everything I can afford with my salary at this point.It took me quite a lot of dreadful days to finally decide to not look back and move on with my life.
The way to my house is a bit horrific and lonely. There's very less number of street lights on the way and you never know when you'll suddenly come across a drunken maniac on your way. Everytime I pass by this way my heart races like an electric train.
Like everyday, I felt like someone was following me. I started getting long breaths. Due to my past trauma I am diagnosed with PTSD . So I easily get panic attacks. I calmed myself down and started walking faster. Finally after what I felt like an eternity I reached my society. Dashing to the 3rd floor I unlocked my house and quickly went inside then locking it behind. I leaned against the door for sometime and waited for my breaths to become even. As I was calming myself my phone suddenly buzzed. It was a call from my best friend Anand. It's a routine for him to call me everyday at this time to make sure that I have reached home safely. I calmed myself down completely and then picked up his call.
"Hello"
"Hii beautiful. Have you reached safely?"
I was unable to form any sentence in my mind.
"Meera what happened??Are you not well"
"Yes everything's fine Anand. I just reached my home"
"Good girl. Make sure to eat properly and take your medicine on time, okay??
"Okay"
"I'll reach Kolkata next week and introduce you to someone special"
"I hope it's not a pet cat this time as well."
"Ah!! not again.She's someone very much important to me and you'll love to meet her"
"okay.I'm looking forward to it"
"Bye good night....don't forget your medicine okay."
"Yes ....bubye good night"
Talking to Anand relived all my stresses. He's a very sweet guy. He's like a brother from another mother.
I freshened myself up and prepared a very simple dinner. After eating I took my medicine along with a sleeping tablet which no one knew about. Not even Anand. I'm used to it since one year. Without the tablet I'm unable to sleep with those scary thoughts penetrating my mind. I take those sleeping tablets to prevent myself from getting the same nightmares again and again.
I have cut myself off from all kinds of social media platforms because I don't want to face my past again . I have changed all my contact information as I want to spend the rest of my life peacefully. The medicine slowly started kicking in and I felt asleep.
_______
It was again a peaceful night for Meera without any nightmares or scary thoughts.
A loud beep of alarm woke Meera up from her peaceful slumber. She groggily woke up and dragged herself to the washroom. After doing her morning routine she prepared herself a cup of tea. While sipping the tea she prepared herself a simple breakfast and got ready to go the cafe.
______
I reached at the bus stop and waited for the bus that picks me up everyday. I was fifteen minuites early. It was a sunny but windy day. The cool breeze touching my face felt refreshing. For a moment I thought to freeze time forever and enjoy the moment of bliss. An old man beside me was reading a newspaper while waiting for the bus. I had nothing to keep myself busy then so I was very much thankful to the good weather for refreshing my mood. Suddenly a page from the old man's newspaper fell on the ground and travelled some distances due to the wind. I decided to help him. So I went and picked up the page. But before I could give it back to the old man, my eyes fell on the business section. "Vedant Acharya, the successful young businessman wins another massive project and joins hand with Australian Company". I couldn't read further. My eyes were fixed on the picture printed on the paper of the devilishly handsome man wearing a black suit and black trousers.He looked dashing as usual even without smiling in the picture. My hands started trembling. I felt as if my nightmare is standing infront of me. His handsome face and cold aura might me fascinating for other girls,but for me, I no longer felt anything.
My trance broke when the old man called me. I politely handed him the paper. My bus too arrived by the time and I boarded on it. I sat on my usual window seat and looked outside. The moving bus surely made the cool wind outside more cooler and refreshing. But my mind was no longer in a state to appreciate nature's aesthetic. I was again forced to think of my bittersweet memories of past. I didn't notice when a tear drop slid from my left eye across my cheek.
//Namaste everyone. I am Debasmita Jena, the author of this book. This is going to be my first book and I'm very much excited to share it with all of you. Please do read and support my work.Creation is hard, So please do cheer me up! VOTE for me!
Do tell me in the comment section your views about the 1st chapter.