Now I had enough of being in the shadows. So I finally decided it had to be out for once and for all. I decided I would confront him.

I tapped his number on my cell phone. It was exactly 12:00 noon.

'Hey Samarth?'

'Oh, hi Maitreyi. What are you calling me for?' His voice sounded like he was trying to be pleasant, but it was the same, dry and lifeless.

'Listen. I have to talk to you. Meet me at Rudra Marketplace in ten minutes'

'Okay, but what is it about?'

'Can't explain. You have to meet me'

'But Mai-'

I cut the call and got dressed. I decided to meet him in a public place swarming with people so he couldn't harm me. I jogged to the market and almost immediately, he showed up.

'Here I am, Maitreyi. What's the matter?'

'Very well then, you told the police that you had nothing to do with Anu'

'Yeah. So?'

He was positively nervous.

'So, my dear boy, why were you looking so uncomfortable in the attic that day?'

His eyes widened for a split second.

'What attic? What day?'

'The very day we unlocked the safe in Anu's attic. I discovered that false bottom, remember,? I asked for grease, remember? I tore the aluminium foil open, remember? Or have you forgotten it all?'

'How-how would I know? I- I mean, how is it so important that I'd re-remember?'

'Very well then, but you do remember this?'

'What?'

'Your latest recorded interview. At my house. What did you say?

'What do you mean by this nonsense, Maitreyi? Have you gone crazy?' he yelled. There was no doubt of his fright now.

'You said-'

'What do you-?'

'Listen up, Samarth. Before you question my sanity, you have to answer me'

He froze. I couldn't believe it! After all, he was twice my size!

'What do I have to answer?'

'That day you said, "Look, she didn't do anything that would make me take such extreme measures". Didn't you?'

'S-So?' He just about managed to say

'So, the question is, what extreme measures did you take? Hmm?'

He stood there gaping, rooted to the spot.

'Had you not made that fatal slip of tongue, I'd have been forced to resign to my fate'

'Why you-' he raised his fist at me.

'Listen up, you lying piece of crap. If you come clean to me, it stays with me. If you don't, I'm calling the police right now for hiding evidence and I'm sure you won't come out very respectfully if I do. Not to mention that obstruction of justice is a federal offense, and you'll be bustling in a cop car on your way to jail. Those things come with some huge sirens, so the entire Doon valley will see you getting dragged to the police station, followed by your face getting plastered all over the newspapers, magazines, and the internet. Don't you dare lay a finger on me, or I'll scream. In front of all these people. And of course, comes the police again. Either way, you're on the losing end. So fess up before it's too late'

No choice. I had totally cornered him now.

'What are you gaping at? Me? I scared you, isn't it? Now will you care to make a sound from that open mouth, or will you leave it hanging?'

I couldn't control my anger anymore. Not after realizing that everybody's worried sick about the twins and here he is, hiding away things and balancing on his double standards.

'Look, we were in a fight. So I- I...'

'What?'

'Anu and I had a silly fight over this thing. We were chatting during the lunch break and at one point of time, she excused herself to use the washroom. The moment she left, that silly, mascara-clad girl who flirted with Akash came up and started flirting with me. Even though I kept saying no and I kept telling her that I had a girlfriend, she still kept making those stupid eyes of hers. And that's when Anu walked in. You know that episode, right?'

'Okay, so?' Was he trying to change the subject? I mean, why are we even talking about this?

'So, all hell broke loose. She created such a tremendous scene. Everybody was staring at us. But heedless of others' stares, I ran after her down the hallway and grabbed her arm, begging to allow me an explanation. And do you know how she reacted?'

'How?'

"Why don't you go and stay with that whore of yours? Why are you running after me?"

'Then?'

'I lost it. I was so angry that I couldn't think. I had to wait at the Coordinator's office to get a permission slip for football practice in the second half, for the tournament next month. And..... And.....'

'And what?'

'I knew she kept Anu's Scholarship Certificate right there on her desk. So I went up to the desk and.....'

'That was YOU! You tore up her certificate?'

'Yes. I'm sorry. I didn't know what I was doing'

'Oh my god, Samarth. How could you?'

'I'm sorry. I felt like a total jerk after that'

'So that's why you didn't tell the police. Because it makes you a first-class criminal! You committed a felony'

'And come to think of it, Anu insulted me too! Why did she do that huh? Why did she provoke me? Why did she ask me to "stay with that whore of yours"? Why?' He flared up all over again as he recalled that day.

'Samarth! I agree what she did was wrong. But did you have to commit a felony to avenge that? If she insulted you, why couldn't you insult her back? Do you know the police were on your trail for a whole month? Her behavior was unacceptable indeed, but it certainly doesn't justify your deed'

'Wait, you're her best friend and you're saying it was okay if I insulted her?'

'Well, because in that case, she deserved it! It was totally unfair of her to make such a derogatory remark at you without knowing what happened, even if she was angry at that time. She should've let you explain at least. And yes, I did make her apologize that day for being so rude to you. Even she came up to me with eyes full of remorse, but she was so mad upon seeing that scene. You two were made for each other when it comes to mood swings'

'Did she face too much trouble?' he asked faintly.

'Too much? She got a terrible scolding from every senior school teacher for being irresponsible. Her parents told her off too. The school had to contact the Canadian authorities for another copy of the certificate and that didn't go too well either. And you know Anu isn't that type of girl at all. Teachers adored her and it was so shocking and above all so insulting for her!'

'I know. I really regretted it afterward. But obviously I couldn't tell anyone'

'Now tell me, why we're you so uncomfortable in the attic?'

'For the same reason. After that, whenever I saw Anu or her brother, I felt like one of them would come up to me and say that I sabotaged her paperwork. And that always got me nervous and jittery'

'No wonder she thought you were always hiding something from her. She said she felt that way the day you skipped your date that would've been your last'

'But please don't tell anyone. You promised you won't'

'I won't. But will you help me in my search for her?'

'Yes. I will. Look, I felt really bad after she apologized to me and she literally begged me to come back to her. She kept on insisting that she said it in a fit of rage. And now that I've lost her, I do really want her back. I was torn on losing her trust because I'd waved her off every time she asked if I was hiding something from her. But at the same time, I couldn't really say that it was me who tore up her certificate, could I? I honestly wish I could set things right'

'Really? You told the police otherwise'

'I broke up with her only because I couldn't take the stress of my wrongdoing anymore. But I cared for her, each and every day and I still crave to see her which added up to my miseries. I was to blame for putting Anu through all that stress which made her angry and worried. And I miss Akash too'

'Do you mean every single word of what you're saying right now? Or are you still lying?'

'Hey, I'm not lying, no matter how hypothetical it sounds right now. But if you refuse to believe me, I can't make you do so'

'Okay then. I believe you and I'm not calling the cops. I'm glad that you had the courage to own up to me at least and I hope you won't let me down'

Did I just bulldoze a six-footer guy? Me, with my 5'5" frame? Did I just threaten to call the cops on him? What happened to my usual shy self?

'Thanks' he replied faintly, his torso slouched.

'So you wanna join me?'

'Yes, of course!'

We shook hands. I was relieved to see that he at least didn't cast any fatal spells.

'But what do you want to do?'

'You'll see!'

***********************
A/N: Hey guys! There are way too many bugs on my app and I'm losing content repeatedly. Hence I'll publish the whole story soon and unpublish on August 1 and I'll have to wait until I get a fix. I'm so sorry for the inconvenience and I'm equally disappointed with the app interface too. In spite of repeated letters to the administration I'm not getting proper response.