HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR MY FAVORITES! LET 2024 BE THE YEAR YOU HAVE HAPPY MEMORIES, LOVELY SURPRISES AND LOTS OF LOVE & JOY!

Thank you for supporting me. You have NO idea how much it means to me! (Seriously, your lovely comments are therapeutic!)

What's your resolution for this year? Mine - publish a book, get 3 writing contracts, travel to at least 3 new countries, do yoga frequently (not daily cos I know that won't happen), watch more sunsets and feel good about myself! 

Have a little faith, you got this babe!

Love you!!

~~~

Chapter 18. So, he's a walking talking red flag?

"So? How was it? Is he big? I bet he's huge! How many times did you guys do it? Did you enjoy it?" Sania's excited voice gushes through my small Nokia phone that I cradle between my ear and shoulder while I fold my clothes, letting her vent out.

"Are you quite done now?" I mutter in light annoyance.

Sania sighs heavily and I can see her frown on the other side. "Yeah, I am done. You go now."

"Are you dating someone?"

There's a brief pause and her anxious tone floats through the phone. "Um, Aisha. I love you and of course, Nimit is fucking hot but I am not the threesome kind of girl. That would be too weird between us. How can I face you after that?"

My jaw drops and the phone slips from my shoulder, I quickly catch it and glare at the device, hoping it will deliver the glare to Sania. "What the hell? That's not what I meant! You are such a perv, jeez! Get your disgusting mind out of the gutter."

"Oh, Thank Loki!" Sania rushes out, relief thick in her voice. "I was so scared you'd get offended. I mean, if you weren't my best friend then maybe I would've thought about it but -"

"There's no need to think about it!" I whisper-yell, still baffled as to how she could even presume that.

Sania chuckles lightly. "Okay, if you say so. No threesomes."

I shake my head and look at the ceiling wondering why I have such crazy friends. "I was asking because there's a guy I know who is interested in you. And no, it's not Nimit."

"Oh." Sania hums in thought before replying. "I am not exactly single single but I kind of am."

That is an expected answer from her. "It's a fling?"

"Well, it's more of a situationship." Sania clarifies. "He's a fun guy but we haven't labelled it." 

I press my lips together, knowing her idea of fun. "So, he's a walking talking red flag?"

"But really good in bed." She argues back like that justifies her toxic choice.

My shoulders slump and I sit on the bed, holding my phone closer to my ear. "Sania, you can't keep doing this. You know you'll be the one getting hurt at the end." I should've known she'd be in a situationship, that's what she does to save herself from heartbreak but she doesn't realise that in the act of protecting her heart, she loses a part of her spirit and her self-respect. "Can you not find a good guy? There are many out there."

"Why would I when I can be with a different guy whenever I want?" She jokes but I can hear the pain laced under her words, it's a small cut but it runs very deep. Her past, sadly, still haunts her.

I also know nothing I say will change her mind. She's the kind of person who will ask for advice but never heed it. "Fine, suit yourself. But the guy I am talking about is a friend of Nimit, his business partner and he seems funny and smart. His name is Jace and he looks handsome too, he has that rugged look you like. Give him a chance, go on a date with him. He is certainly better than whichever random guy you are dating right now."

I don't tell her about the deal I have made with Jace. She'll never agree to the date if she knows the only reason I am setting them up is because I want some information on Nimit. I hear Sania exhale heavily. "Fine, one date but that's it, Aisha. I am doing this for you, I am not interested in dating at all. And he is already into me so that takes out the fun but I'll give him a chance. A free dinner isn't going to hurt me."

I press my lips to stop myself from grinning in victory. "Deal, don't worry, you'll thank me later."

"I highly doubt it," Sania mutters under her breath. "Can I have sex with him?"

My jaw drops and I scowl at that. "What the hell? It's up to you but wait for at least 3 dates, it's not like you are lonely and need a release desperately."

Sania chuckles. "True true, there won't even be a second date, trust me. Jace, you said?"

"Yes, I'll send him your number and tell him to contact you." I have only met Jace once but in that short time I know how persuasive he can be and I have a feeling that Sania will end up going on another date with him. They have quite different personalities and maybe Sania will hate Jace at first but I know her, Jace is the type of guy she needs but will never allow herself to fall for him. Huh, that would be some story.

"He better be smoking hot, Aisha."

"At least he doesn't have a toxic masculinity, Sania." I counterattack with a hiss.

"Jeez, don't get your panties in a twist," Sania grumbles. "One would think you didn't get laid." She pauses and I can see the wheels in her head roll speedily. "You didn't – you two didn't? What the flying crackers? Why not?"

I don't want to talk about it, not yet. My lack of sexual life is none of her concern. "Goodbye, Sania. Behave on the date and tell me how it went." I say and cut the call before she can question me further. I stare at the old phone, for the first time appreciating it because no one (other than Nimit) can reach me on this phone.

I send a text to Jace, passing him Sania's number and telling him to be a gentleman on the date.

His reply comes in seconds. Of course, he can reach me too, it's his company's phone. 'Thanks, I'll call her in the evening! I am always a gentleman, Aisha. I am not Nimit, he's the beast.'

I roll my eyes at his message and keep the phone to the side, mentally listing all the questions I want to ask Jace about Nimit. I wonder if Jace is aware of Nimit's nightmares, it is something real from his past and hopefully Jace can shed some light on it. Because Nimit definitely isn't confiding in me.

Just as I finish folding all the washed clothes, Nimit walks into the room without knocking. I scowl at him. "Can't you knock?"

"In my own home?"

"This is my room."

Nimit shrugs a shoulder, unaffected. "I am hoping one of these days you'll be naked when I come in."

My mouth forms an 'O' at his rare flirty response and I am too stunned to speak. Nimit winks and settles into the empty spot on the bed next to me. That's when I notice the small rectangular box he is holding. "What's that?"

"A few letters." He replies hesitantly.

I lean back to get a better look at his face, my shock only growing. He is seriously going to show me those letters? Whoa. "Why?"

"I talked to your father and we agreed to let you see some of them." Nimit says, "Maybe it will trigger a memory and help us catch whoever this creep is." 

I can't help the giddy grin from appearing on my face. I jump on the bed and fold my legs Indian style, patting the space in front of me with excitement. Nimit gazes at my delight with a wary yet amused expression. "You shouldn't be this excited to read letters from your stalker, Aisha. You should be scared."

"Why would I be scared when you are here? You'll protect me." I say truthfully. Around Nimit, I am always safe, I know that. But Nimit stiffens at my comment and a flurry of expressions passes on his face, I only catch one – guilt. "What's wrong?"

"Hmm?" Nimit shakes his head. "Nothing." He keeps the box in front of me, dragging my attention back to the stalker. I take a peek inside and gasp as I see a whole bunch of papers.

"That's a few?" I ask in bafflement. That's at least 20 letters and there are more that I don't know about yet.

Nimit nods his head, worry etched along his eyebrows. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes. I want to." I assure him, pulling out the first letter. They are all persevered in plastic cover and I notice the slight change in handwriting quickly. The curves are a little off and the t's a little too tall. "Wait, this handwriting is different."

"Yes." Nimit nods proudly, acknowledging my swift grasp of the difference. "We thought it was different people at first but the context and writing style is the same. We sent it to our handwriting analysis team and they confirmed that the person writing this is the same but he or she is going through a lot of trouble to change their handwriting with every letter."

"So we can't catch him by matching his writings." I muse in thought, a little impressed by my stalker. At least he's someone smart.

Nimit nods grudgingly. "Exactly."

I read the letter.

My dearest Aisha, 

How's college life for you? Tough, I see. Is it too much homework? I hope you are doing your assignments on time.

What's this deal with this Ryan guy? He is so in love with you. He can't stop staring at you. At the art gallery last week, he was so fascinated by you. He followed you around like a lost puppy desperate for a pat on the head. One would think you were the art and not those expensive paintings. I was a little jealous, to be honest. I think you deserve someone better, someone more...manly. Ryan is too lame. We'll talk more about this when we meet.

Till then stay single.

Again, there's no signature. I gulp and reread the letter, my finger shaking slightly. The art gallery was 4 months ago, and this person was there... looking at me... following my every move. What the fuck?
A shiver dances down my spine, a tingling sensation that makes my heart race with fear. Here I am, nestled in the safety of Nimit's house, right by his side, yet an inexplicable feeling persists, as if unseen eyes are watching me.

Nimit notices my panic and pulls the letter away from my hold. I rub my fingers as if the letter has burnt them.

"Aisha, shit, I shouldn't have shown this to you." He grumbles under his breath. "Are you okay? Look at me, you are fine, you are with me. I am right here."

My breaths become shallow, and the room spins as I fight against the overwhelming waves of anxiety. Nimit cradles my face in his hands, forcing me to meet his worried and concerned eyes. "Breathe, Aisha. You are safe. You are with me. Breathe. I won't let anything happen to you."

I swallow a lungful of air and exhale in a rush, my eyes are disoriented, my thoughts more so. "Are – are all of them like this?"

He doesn't reply and I plead with my eyes. I tug on his collar and my fist trembles. "Please, I need to know."

Nimit drags a shaky breath and looks away from me as he answers, regret and guilt etched on his face. "One even talked about the colour of your underwear and how it suits you." 

I gasp, flinching away. Nimit reaches for me but I clamp my hand over my mouth, eyes widening in dread and disgust. Bile rises up my throat and I rush out of his hold, hurling myself into the bathroom.

I am going to be fucking sick!

~~~

Vote and Comment? You know I appreciate it!