Shruti's room was now covered in bright sunlight. She stirred in her bed trying to open her heavy eyelids. Scenes from her last nightmare still haunted her. She  looked at the digital clock at her bedside, trying to identify the numbers on it, she looked carefully and the numbers appeared as 11:38 AM. Her eyes widened, she sat on her bed letting out a long yawn and  quickly hurried to the bathroom to freshen up. Warm bath felt better.

She looked into the mirror of her dresser, while combing her hair. She found a familiar figure approaching her. Her expressions quickly changed into happiness when the figure appeared to be of Rahul. He was in a formal attire, tie and all. He leaned closer and pushed strands of her hair from her back, which exposed her neck, he planted a trail of soft kiss on her neck and said, "See you in the evening Darling!" Saying this he went out of the room, adjusting his tie. While Shruti kept staring at him till he disappeared.

She had stopped combing her hair, after realising that it was a memory. Sweet memory of Rahul, he used to do this everyday before going to work. She looked back at the mirror intently as if a magical world awaits beyond it. The world in which no one would hurt her.

"Shruti! Are you up yet?" Monika's voice came rushing from downstairs.

Shruti answered, "Yes!"

Shruti went directly into the kitchen. Breakfast was waiting for her. Sandwich and fruit juice looked tasty. She sat on the chair and without any hesitation took a big bite from the sandwich, making munching sounds. Monika was sitting on the other side of the table, she said, "Shruti! Eat slowly! Your sandwich is not going to run away."

Shruti answered, "Sorry, but I can't help it, its so tasty." Both laughed at her reply. "Where's Uncle?"

"He left in the morning itself. Around 6 in the morning."

"Okay."

Monika said, "He told me to inform you that he knows everything."

Shruti froze. She almost dropped her sandwich back in her plate, "What! He knows what?"

Monika said, "I don't know, but he said you would understand. Anyways leave it, I wanted to tell you that your music school was concerned about you. Some girl named Jennifer called here and asked about you. I haven't told them everything but they had a condition, that if you don't join in this week then they will have to terminate your employment."

Shruti said, "Oh my god. I almost forgot about my job in this process. I don't want to get fired Monika."

Monika said, "Then go, meet them and clear things out."

Shruti finished her sandwich and decided to clear the things out. She called her music school and came to know that everyone went to JJ College of Arts, as the children had a performance there. She quickly started gathering her things in her purse.

"Where are you going?" Monika asked.

"I am going to meet them, I have to go otherwise I cannot afford to lose my job at this stage. I'll be back by 2. Okay!" Shruti said as she slipped into her sandals.

Fresh air brushed her face as she stepped outside Monika's house. She felt better after much time. But who knew, that feeling was going to last only for few minutes. She had no idea what was going to happen with her. She took a cab and hurried towards JJ College of Arts.

When she reached the college, her eyes widened as she recognized that she used to study in this college. Strangely she remembered everything about this college, various memories flashed through her mind including her selection as GS, her friends, the day she met Rahul, the day she lost Chess Championship to Sameer, this particular memory gave her goosebumps. She sighed and went ahead. To her surprise, the college was remarkably silent. No noise of children, no ringing of bell, there was absolute silence. She checked the name plate again to confirm if she is in the right place. Yes, she was  definitely right at the right place.

Now she went inside the college, she strode through the stairs of the college, she passed through notice boards, bulletin boards, principal's office. Everything was vacant. She decided to go home, still not sure whether this is her dream or reality. Her question was answered by a strong push on her back. She fell on the floor, and felt sharp pain in her back, she looked everywhere but there was no one, then who pushed her?

Before even recovering, she was pulled by leg towards the hallway, and it stopped at the door of Auditorium. She was horrified and started screaming for help, which was replied by a tight slap on her face.

Then 'it' revealed itself. It was a familiar face, rather very familiar face. He was Sameer, or so called 'Red Faced Man', he was walking towards Shruti, he had the same intensity of anger and rage as Shruti saw in her nightmare. His disgusting appearance made her scream. She stood up with all her strength but was kicked hard by him.

"Your place is right here, at my feet!" His voice was so loud and powerful that even tears in her eyes were forced to stop at the edge of her eyes.

After gathering few guts, she managed to speak, "Are you going to kill me?!"

He said, "That's right! You are very good at guessing Shruti!" His voice conveyed anger and revenge.

She asked back, "But Why?"

This time he didn't answer, but kicked her again, and she went a little far through his force. Then he answered, "You know everything right?"

She gasped in fear and spoke, "No I don't remember!"

"LIAR" his voice now piercing her ears. "I'll make you remember!"

Saying this he went backwards and closed his eyes, when his eyes opened, his body had begun transforming into normal one. Within seconds, he was morphed into a much handsome and well built man. Shruti eyes were nearly popped out. Because, his eyes were not green anymore, his face was free of all the marks and bruises and he rather looked innocent. Unknowingly the name came out her mouth, "Sameer!"

He asked, "Do you remember me, now?"

She didn't dare to speak a word, as if someone had cut off her tongue. He continued,"I have been waiting for this moment Shruti! I wanted to tell you how disgusting it feels to be dead, and in this ugly body. I had to face this only because of you. I need to free myself from this disgusting life, for that I will have to complete my sole wish, which is to destroy you. I will destroy you by killing you with my bare hands, I want to give you slow painful death. I want you to suffer the same fate which I suffered. I want my revenge. You will just watch, you will suffer like one had never suffered before." Saying this he started walking towards Shruti's direction. He had knife in his hand. He just raised the knife high to stab her, but was interrupted by a voice.

"STOP", voice was masculine and familiar. It was Uncle, who was standing at the entrance of Auditorium. He was holding a pendant in his hand, which looked like a big diamond. Uncle came forward, Sameer went backwards as he couldn't resist the energy emitted by that pendant.

"No Sameer, stay back. We can talk about this." Uncle said.

"Why are you here? I had already warned you, not to interfere" Sameer spoke to uncle.

Shruti was clueless, not knowing what to say, many questions formed in her mind, How come uncle is in the college? Did Sameer knew Uncle? Why was uncle hiding this? She laid on the floor thinking to find the answers, she also remembered Monika told her that 'Uncle knows everything'. Maybe that has some connection with Sameer. Her thoughts were broken by Uncle and Sameer's fight. Uncle was controlling Sameer's spirit with the pendant's power, it seemed Uncle was winning. Shruti carefully stood up and ran behind Uncle. Sameer was covering his face with his hands, as an unknown power was stopping him from moving. He was trying so hard to overpower it, but his efforts were not that effective. He then finally gave up and stopped moving. He was now on the floor, weeping.

Shruti said,"Uncle! Thank God, you are here, if you wouldn't come on time, then I could have died. Let's go uncle! I want to go home."

Uncle went towards Sameer, completely ignoring Shruti, which was surprising. He lowered himself to Sameer, and took his hand in his own hands. He closed his eyes and chanted some mantra. Sameer was looking confused at uncle.

When Uncle released him he said, "You have a very troubled past indeed. I had already known since the day I analysed your case."

Shruti said, "Uncle! What are you saying?"

"Shruti please don't talk in between!" Uncle said cutting her off.

"Shruti! Remember, when we communicated with  Rohit's spirit, he gave us the half truth. Now we need Full truth to complete our case." Uncle asked Shruti.

"I don't understand, uncle! I already told you I don't remember anything!" Shruti stated.

"Its only you Shruti, who knows Full truth. I know that you have recalled everything, i knew it because that night I  listened to the tape a thousand times, I focused on only one sentence, which said Rohit was regretting something, and on the same night Monika had called me to her home telling me about you, where we found you slapping yourself, and any person who slaps himself is either guilty of doing something or is mad, but you seemed normal, then I related all this to that tape and the way you behaved that day. It only proves that you are hiding something from us. Look at him and tell me if you know him" Uncle pointed towards Sameer, who was still on the floor, weakened by the pendant's powers.

Shruti looked down, which proved her guilt. She looked at helpless Sameer and blurted out, "I am sorry Sameer! I am really very sorry! We shouldn't have treated you that way! Please forgive me!" Shruti fell down on her knees apologising for each thing she had done to Sameer in past.

"Do you accept your mistake Shruti?" Uncle asked her, to which she nodded.

What was their dark past?