_____ April 11, 2018 _____

- avi -

It has been 5 days. We have stayed inside, all by ourselves.

April called us to her place to stay under the hood for a few days. I loved her place. It was so peaceful, out of the town and it's noises. No wonder she was that peaceful every morning! We kind of started laughing again after all the mess. We went out of the place only at nights, late nights, to be specific. Nick used to just drive us through the city and we would meet our parents, talk for a while and go back to April's place. Her Grandparents were like one of the purest souls on Earth.

Dad and Nick got out that day itself, at 6 p.m. It was so hard to even come home when the whole media was there. Dad was happy when April suggested we stay with her in her place as it is out of this area and also no one would know we're there as, even in her college info Delhi's address was given. Dad also went somewhere for some days. Mom's in Niha's place. Everyday, we all just reach home by 3 at night and wake up during lunch time, and do nothing. A walk in the city every night, each time a different street is the only thing I looked forward to every night. We are still in news. Becoming more of a villains everyday. When will all of it stop?

"Today which street, guys?" said April.

"How long are we going to do this? I am done with this hiding!" Kukku was always the one worried and caring among all of us. 

Yesterday, I had fallen sick due to getting wet in the rain. I was near the lake, early in the morning, alone, when it suddenly started raining. I knew, cold rain wasn't good for me, yet, it felt so good. The drops running right from my hair towards the eyes, all the way to my cheeks, making every inch of my skin stand straight. For once, I felt I was in paradise. The coldness had caught me in it. The wind, that became stronger with time, making the soft drops my harsh opponents to survive from, showing me the strength I was holding in. Fever, cold, headache, nothing mattered. I couldn't get up from bed until today morning. I even didn't go out with them yesterday night. The way Kukku took care of me, she really is a competition for Mom. Every worried wrinkle on her face, every little smile assuring I'll be okay, and all the sneaking out to buy me medicines! Guess who fell again? Every time she kept that wet cloth on my forehead at night, with all that tenderness as to not wake me up or hurt me, if only she knew I wasn't sleeping and that I wouldn't mind if she kept doing that even in the day. In the day she just gives me the cloth to put on my head. Wow! I really love her! This wasn't the time to do anything! All I wanted right now was those three people coming back again and everything to be normal again, so, at least she would never scream or feel disgusted about me for thinking about her and me in such a situation. 

So, it was decided, they are going to the midnight walk in our college street today. Niha wanted to see the college.

"I am coming with you guys! Yesterday was hell sitting here alone!" I said.

"No ways! You are going to sit here and get better. Tomorrow night you can join us. Else, I'm going to tell Rajni Aunty about your sickness and she'll take care of your stubborn-ness!" Niha can be super Mom-ish at times!

"Come one, Ni! Give him a break! It's still just morning. If he gets better by night let him join. We'll let him stay in the car!" said Jake. I love you, bro!

"Yes Niha. You need to stop being his Mom all the time, you know." April giggled. She knew I liked her. I had to tell her three days ago, when I had been to their room at midnight after coming back to make sure both of them slept nicely and ended up staring at Niha while standing at the door, for an hour! What The Hell Even, Avi? She looked so peaceful when she slept. I could watch her all night. I had no idea April wasn't asleep and was observing me throughout the hour. Then, when I finally decided to go and sleep myself, she was like, "You might as well close the door properly, the corridors are chilly!" and I went all red! I was caught, badly! She only laughed, "Chill! She won't know until you don't want her to." she said. "Thanks. You're the best." "I know. Now go and sleep, Lover Boy, you also need equal amount of sleep as we do!" And, that was when I realized, she was the Joey to me, Chandler! 

I gave her a, 'I'm going to kill you' stare. She only dragged it more! "You know Niha, if it wasn't for you, Avi wouldn't be able to even get up today. You are like an angel to him. Isn't she Avi?" I hate this girl now! "Oh yeah! I suddenly see Mom in you, Ni! You indeed are an angel for Avi!" Nick joined in. Why am I even living with the two people who knows about my crush along with the crush in one same house?

"Stop it, guys! She would've done the same if any of you were down with fever too, wouldn't you?" I turned towards her. "Of course!" Pheww.

"Yeah yeah! Wouldn't you?" April mimicked me? I just wanted to throw her off that couch. She only kept sending wicked smiles my way. No! You should never tell a girl about your crush. She's just going to act like April when you three are in the same room. Ughh!

The day went by quite nicely for everyone except me. They had a hearty dinner, while I had to eat boiled rice with pickle. Ms. Nurse's orders! Couldn't deny, could I? I was loving the attention I was getting from her. One cough, and she would be right next to me. Obviously, I kept coughing the whole day. "You're an asshole, you know!" said April, hitting my head. "Hehehe!" I managed to smile, the wicked one.

At around 11 p.m., everyone were ready to go. After 3 sweaters, a winter cap and April's Grandpa's shoes, I was approved to go with them by Ms. Nurse. I was burning with all that layers. But, to see that satisfaction her eyes held, it was all worth the burn. We first went to Niha's place, met Mom and Manvika Aunty. They were laughing looking at my state. Mom was so glad Niha was with me there. "Look's like someone is happy having Ms. Niha Rai for a daughter-in-law!" April whispered to my ears. "Shut up, Woman!" I said, giggling along.

We then went to Jake's place. His Mom only sent us back with cookies and a take away of milkshakes. She prepares one of the best ones ever! 

T's house. As always, we entered from the back door, so that T's Dad wouldn't know. He is shit angry on us. Only T's Mom understand our situation right now. She only hugs us tight saying, "Thank God, at least you are okay!" and we talk to her a little and then leave. Same thing happened today. I felt so weak after leaving his place. His Mom must be going through so much right now. She also told us that Doc's son will come her after his exams. He still thinks his Dad's in the conference. After he comes here, he'll be told the truth and she wants us to be there when that's done. God! I don't want to be there when this happens.

All fell silent as we drove to the college street. Just like weeks ago, I was dreaming of walking on these streets everyday, and now, I've to walk in it during the night so that no one knows I'm here. I hated this. Nick stopped the car near a jewelry shop that was closed obviously. We walked from there. The street was so silent. The street lights lit up the street, but nothing like daylight! We walked across the college and went inside a lane. Dim street lights were present there.

We were talking really softly. And then, Niha went.. "Hey! See there! The lights are still on! Isn't this a commercial place? How come it's On even now? What say we go peak in?" We just went closer and like, in a jiffy, April went mad.

"Guys! Guys!" She suddenly stopped. "Look.. Look at that!" She was pointing to the floor on the grass near the room that was lit, which seemed like the garage of the place.

HOLY FUCK!

"How can that even be? This is, this is NEWSTOP, April!" 

We all saw the faded name-board on top of the Place. It was NEWSTOP! How could it be? 

"I'm going to kill that guy! I am not going to..." April went mad. Nick held her mouth tightly.

"Shut up! Are you sure, he's the man?" 

"Can't you see that Shadow? It's the exact same thing. Besides, he is the only one who knew what we were up to before anyone else. He must've overheard our conversion when we were here!" she calmed down. "I'm gonna f*cking kill him! He is the reason we have lost three people and he's even alive and working at midnight! That proves this isn't a newspaper store by night like how it looks in the morning! This guy is the one who has kidnapped them. He is the culprit. I'm telling you, it's him." She ran towards the shop and peeped in for like 5 minutes.

She came back with a red face. "It is that freaking guy who gave us the newspapers itself, Niha, except he isn't old at all! All that we saw was face extensions to hide himself safely here. He is the Shadow. Why didn't we even think of him when we listed people who knew we were searching about KRI? Remember, the News item he had hidden from us? It was because he, that Man, that bastard, is the one who's behind all this! No one would even take him for a suspect. Not the police, not your Dad, not us, not anyone! He seemed all innocent as a shopkeeper, and guess what he turned out to be? A freaking shadow who knew that lives are going to be ruined as he forgot to tell us something more than a threat, and let that happen! He wanted this to happen. Oh, he has a huge plan that we have no idea about! He's an undercover!"

She walked heavily and super fast towards the shop, again. Nick held her elbows tight. "Will you please stay here?" She stopped. She made sure after the missing that she never went against hat Nick had to tell, actually everyone did!

Pushing us a little far away from sight, he walked slowly towards the shop. He peeked in. As he was about to enter to see if there is anyone else, we saw a vehicle coming our way! It had powerful lights. We instantly hid behind the walls of the next shop. Nick managed to go out of sight too.

It stopped right in front of NEWSTOP and.. What?

All the recovery that I went through after the missing, all the plans I had in my mind once we can move out freely, all the gratefulness that I had for having him in my life, everything broke down to little, small, tiny pieces of ash, ash that made me want to die right now, ash that made me want to kill him right now, before that, kill myself, ash that made me just run towards him and ask him, "WHY?" I fell weak. Kukku caught me. She was in tears. When we saw him get down the car and walk in, everything in us died. I instantly became a living corpse.

Nick came to me. "What is all this?" He hugged me tight. In all these days that I was in the process of making myself stronger just broke down, just came down flowing and I hugged him tight, while my hands held Niha's. She also started sobbing. "No, Avi. I'm sure it isn't as it seems. We need to investigate."

I didn't know what to do! 

"How can it be Swaroop Uncle? He's behind all this? He knows The Shadow Man? I guess that's why, not once did he shout at us." Jake lost it!

Everyone lost it!

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