I was terrified to say the least. The reason being the message.
As soon as I woke up my phone pinged and I saw a message from some private number.
As I opened it, it read "Come to the caramel Coffee shop darling. Be quick". And as soon as I read it, the message disappeared. It actually disappeared from my own mobile phone.
I was terrified about the motive that this back mailing monster had, because the technology that he seemed to use, Akshath being drugged, the video and him black mailing me into becoming his slave is not just a mere coincidence.
It looks like a well planned series of events. Events in which I got tangled myself into.
As I searched the location of the said coffee shop it was 1 and half hour away which is almost in a different town. I don't even know what this monster was trying to do. There are number of coffee shops nearby but he asked my presence only there which I thought was odd.
I immediately called Kunal as we exchanged our numbers the other day in the cafeteria.
"Hey Sanjana, you called me? Wow!!", he exclaimed. "Umm yes, are you free today?", I asked him hoping he would say yes, if not I have to go there alone.
"Yeah, I am free, any plans?", his high pitched voice reached my ears. He seemed excited?
"Yeah, I was wondering if you would join me for a coffee. I actually know a good coffee shop which is an hour and half away from here. Is that okay with you?", I nervously asked.
"Absolutely, I wouldn't pass on a good coffee you know. So when do we leave?", he asked and I checked the time. It's 9:00 am.
"We will leave in 30 minutes if that's alright with you?", I replied and he agreed.
I got ready within no time and my friends looked at me in question.
"I know we are going for a movie but isn't it a bit early to get ready so soon?", exclaimed Piggy.
"Umm, I am actually passing out on that. I am going to mine and Aksh's secrete place. I just want to be alone and video call him. Please don't be angry at me", I some how convinced them with my lie and they seemed to sympathize with my situation and let me be.
I met Kunal downstairs and soon we booked a cab heading out to the specific coffee shop.
I am annoyed, don't take me wrong. I am actually grateful for Kunal's company but he was talking non-stop. May be he was excited that he finally has friends and is going out with a friend which is me.
I responded to kunal every now and then and stayed quite. He is a contrast to Aksh. Aksh doesn't speak much, he is silent and brooding, speaks only when spoken to or if it's absolutely necessary. So I became the talkative one around him and he listens to all my rants. I miss him!!
I snapped out of my thoughts and soon we reached the coffee shop. I was anxious and nervous. My stomach kept twisting in a wierd way anticipating the danger. I didn't know what his request would be!!
I didn't even know why he asked to come to this specific coffee shop.
Me and Kunal settled in a farthest booth and gave our orders. Our orders came within no time and we both started having our coffee.
Suddenly Kunal's fingers was on my lips wiping away the coffee forth. I immediately backed away from the touch not liking the way he just went ahead without prior warning.
"Sorry about that, the coffee foam was spreading across your lips", he justified and I just nodded slightly glaring at him.
I did not get any message from him so I wasn't sure if I had to stay put or leave. After few minutes of contemplating, I ordered few items from the menu as it seemed like he was purposefully making me wait.
After waiting for 3 hours my phone pinged and I saw a message "you can leave" and then it disappeared as if it never existed.
I thought he would come forward and meet me. I came up with a plan that I would record his voice.
At least I will have some evidence against him that he was blackmailing me. But no he choose to not meet up today.
Following his instructions, I told kunal that we are leaving and started booking a cab.
I have to endure Kunal's non stop chatter, the whole ride.
By the time I reached dorm it was already 3:00 pm. I was mentally and physically exhausted. But I know better than to take rest as I have to complete my college work. I wouldn't know when he would call for my presence so it's better I stay updated with my studies before I became too busy being his slave.
******************** (Sunday)
There was another message asking me to attend certain restaurant which is 2 hours away from here for lunch.
I complied with his order and called Kunal again. He again seemed happy to tag along. May be Kunal was the mostly neglected in his Class as he said that he has zero friends even after few weeks into college.
After travelling for 2 hours, we settled down for lunch and I thought now he would show up.
But to my surprise, he made me wait for an hour and asked me to leave. I was getting defeated as I thought I would slowly gather the evidence.
After reaching dorm, I just told my friends that I went for a spa and slept off the whole evening.
As usual, Akshath called but I was unable to look him in the eye. A huge part of me was guilty that I was keeping this information away from Aksh but a sensible part of me knows that I am doing this for his sake. His career, his life and his reputation.
After talking to him for a bit, I had my dinner and drifted off due to exhaustion.
************************
The vicious cycle continued for weeks and it's already a month now.
That blackmailing monster used to keep me occupied on my weekends not letting me spend the much needed time with my friends, no time for myself or my studies.
In the earlier weeks it used to be just 2 or 3 hours of wait. But as days passed, the wait time increased from 3 hours to 5 hours and then to 7 hours. I could only leave once his message popped up.
He used to ask me to go to all the different places. Places that are far away from our campus. Its mostly different town.
After coffee shop and the restaurant, he asked me to go to the movie, some sort of garden, a picnic or another coffee shop or restaurant.
I tried to figure out a pattern but I failed miserably as I wasn't able to understand the motive.
I was going to all those different places with Kunal but that monster never once met after the classroom incident or appeared infront of me in this one month. I was scared that he would ask me to come to secluded place but he never done that. It was always public places that he choose.
Initially, these visitings were mostly on weekends but nowadays, he became irritable. He is now asking to go out and wait for him on week days as well.
And in all sufferings, I felt bad for Kunal. He used to tag along with me every where I go even with such a short notice and I was grateful for the much needed protection from the unknown danger. Kunal's company was not that boring although I was still annoyed due to his non stop blabbering.
I felt guilty while talking to Aksh. I was lying to him every single day. I wasn't talking to him much these days as my mental health is on the verge of breaking down. I wasn't able to face Aksh because he would easily read me. He would figure out something was definitely wrong with me or may be he already figured out that much.
I wasn't talking to him for long hours like we used to. I would cut the call just after 5 minutes or I would tell him that I am occupied with assignments or I would ask one of my friends to answer the call and lie to him that I was sleeping.
My friends thought that I wasn't able to handle the long distance relationship and blamed my pitiful state on the separation phase. But they weren't aware of the danger that I have already stepped into.
Today is friday which means it would be another exhausting, travelling and waiting Saga planned for this weekend.
As I sat at our table in the cafeteria, I saw kunal and my friends already waiting for me. I don't even have an appetite. It's like am unable to digest anything unless the issue resolves.
"Hey Sanjana", greeted Kunal and I just smiled.
"Ahhh, small request from my end please?", he asked and I stared at him silently praying that he would not reveal the weekend plans to my friends .
But to my surprise he took out a glitter pen and a small colored paper.
"Can you please write a quote on this? Like I want this in your handwriting", he requested and I agreed.
"From me to you. A piece of my remembrance in your life!!" he said and I started writing it on the colored paper.
I did not ask any questions as I was too occupied about where the monster will ask me to come tomorrow.
"Thanks Sanjana", he said and pocketed the paper.
I smiled at him as it's the least I could do for him for all the help and support that he kept offering. When I went out with Kunal, I told him about my conditions.
1. He shouldn't ask why we are visiting these random places.
2. This has to be kept as secret. Which means he cannot inform my friends or his friends if he had any.
3. No questions asked. It's his own wish to come with me or not. So if he choose to come with me then no questions have to be directed towards me.
4. If he see any person visiting me he shouldn't question or pry into the matters.
He agreed to all these unreasonable conditions and still joined me whenever the monster used to message me to visist these random places.
As the day went by, I slept away or more like became unconscious due to the constant stress.
Is my life going to change or is it gonna become worse?
************************************
Hello lovelies, surprise double update.
Stay tuned for to know who the black mailing nonster is which will be revealed in the next chapter.
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