Things were not really working out between my roomie and me. We were staying at a rented flat and shared the rent and the chores but recently due to him having trouble at work he did not help me with either. He even came home at ungodly hours and this somewhat annoyed me. Two months passed and I was still paying the rent while cursing him under my breath.
On a certain rainy night I decided to indulge in the supreme joy of having pasta while watching a movie on Netflix. I assumed that my roomie, Rajat would be late and decided to put my plan into action. Everything was ready. I got back home from work at around nine in the evening and it took me an hour to freshen up and prepare dinner. At ten o’ clock I was in front of my television with my eyes glued to the screen. I was watching ‘A Business Proposal’ and had given my heart to Kang Taemoo-ssi, the handsome tsundere CEO and Shin Hari-ssi the ‘proposed’ girlfriend. It was really entertaining to watch them as their complicated love lives mixed and gave birth to all sorts of humorous and awkward situations. It was then that I, hearing a knock on the front door, asked myself, “Isn't it a bit too early for Rajat to return? But then who would come knocking at our house so late at night.`` These days crimes have risen and the criminals seem determined to make our that is the policemen's life a living hell of overtime.
I never go anywhere without my cell, in fear of missing an important call since I always keep my phone on silent mode. I don’t want to be surprised by the very ringtone of my smartphone. I heard a familiar voice and was shocked to hear what it said,
“Hurry open the door. It's me, Rajat. Hurry, there is a strange stalker chasing me.”
My first thought was, “Since when did he become so handsome to be chased by a stalker?” I was a little surprised when I realized what I was thinking. Meanwhile the knocking continued to grow louder and more aggressive. The house was empty and the sound echoed through the flat and with it my heart beat grew louder. I proceeded to open the door when the phone vibrated in my hand. “Bastard roommate” that was what the caller id showed. I received the call and heard Rajat say, “Don't. open. The. door. It’s not me. Please trust me. It's not me.” the call was dropped after this.
Before I could reply another trouble popped up. The rain had caused a power cut and the entire flat went dark. I could not see through the peephole as all the lights in our building had gone out. The rainy weather had become more aggressive without me noticing it and the knocking continued with the incessant pleading of the person to be allowed admission into the flat. My nerves were all haywire carrying all sorts of information to my head and my heart was busier than usual in pumping blood to my head, hands and feet. With all the physiological changes and abnormal release of the hormones I made a hasty decision and called out to the person. “Whos it?” I shouted. “I know it is not Rajat, who….” Before I could complete something unimaginable happened. A sharp broad knife pierced the door and wriggled furiously to escape the grasp of the wood only to pierce it again. I froze for a moment before realizing that I had a gun that I could use for self defense. I turned around to head to my room to bring out my gun when I suddenly tripped and fell. The intruder continued to stab the wooden door with the knife until it had opened a hole for him to see through. I had no other option but to scream my lungs out, hoping someone would hear me. I had forgotten that I was carrying a phone. I could not see the face of the culprit in the darkness but I heard a distant noise of commotion through the hole in my door and it seemed to move upstairs to the third floor where my flat is. The person stopped stabbing the door and without delay ran away, very likely in the direction of the fire exit. A moment later Rajat arrived with the police, broke through the half damaged door, approached me and held me up. It was from him that I heard that the man was about to take revenge on me, the sub inspector responsible for his brother’s death penalty. It was purely by coincidence that Rajat had overheard his conversation at a tea stall and had decided to take action but lost track of the man and that led to the present scenario. My heart was still not calm. The police had sealed all the exits and a search was commissioned under my command but he could not be caught.
It was too much stress for a single night and I felt light when the storm of fear had subsided. I fell asleep in Rajat's arms, hoping to be welcomed by a sunlit morning.
