Chapter 9 ~ History repeats itself

I stared with a blank expression plastered on my face at the train stationed on the platform no.4 . Last night's conversation, the entire episode that happened played in the back of my mind.

"Sahil and he were best friend?" I asked again not believing.

She nodded looking at me carefully, "They 'were' "

"they were..? What happened? I don't understand.." I said when my mind was somewhere else looking at the pieces, seeing them fit in suddenly. I wasn't sure of what it was but they were related and I could feel something hard pressing on and pushing me to realise that it wasn't just a coincidence.

Same school,

Three boys,

Best friends,

Divyanshi folded her arms glowering at me, "that's too personal to talk about"

I stared at her, studying her for a moment then I shrugged acting I didn't give a damn about it. But,I knew her well by now, that if I acted it matter less to me, she will continue on her own eventually.

"Cinderella happened, let's say that girl's name is Cinderella" " she said after an hour when we had retired to our beds.

"Girl problem, all three of them fell for one?" I asked guessing, what could have happened when the bigger picture I was ignoring hard.

Overthinking was a curse

She laughed, it was kinda cheerful laugh, that could make others join in. It made it scarier when her next sentence wasn't even that funny,"I wish it was that simple, no I actually pray that was the cause, oh Serra you don't have any idea what Cinderella did to us. And how I hate her.. I hate her so much, she ruined my brother's life she ruined my life, she ruined the peace of our house, she ruined everything it is nothing the same now. Everything has changed, I hate it and that's why I am gonna ruin her, but I don't know how to do it without hurting my loved ones?" she asked sounding so vulnerable and lost.

"You don't have to do so, I mean wouldn't it make you equally bad like Cinderella? Karma will get her if she did wrong" I said.

"Cinderella isn't bad Cinderella is good and sad like every Cinderella. " She answered sounding enraged at that fact.

I lost her after Cinderella anology. So I didn't continue the conversation. As it is most of the time Divyanshi's talks bounced off my head.

I graze the paper of the ticket trying to make myself at ease. It is gonna be over soon.

Because

Again, I chose running away rather than facing the problems

But facing the problems means acknowledging, acknowledging means accepting their presence in my life and once you accept them, it was hard to move on, to get out of them.

I am wrong I know I am 100 and more percentage wrong,

However, choosing the right will destroy me more than choosing the wrong could.

Therefore here I picked my bags and chose to go home again. What will I explain to my parents?

I don't know.

That thing is at the bottom of my list to worry about.

I got in the train, taking a step ahead was difficult when the burden of behind was pulling you back.

I slumped on the seat leaning my back against it with a huge sigh. I covered my eyes with my arm over it.

Both Divyanshi and her brother, Sahil didn't come in the institution for studying.

Even Faisal wasn't there for studying, he cared about nothing, during the classes heck he didn't even pay attention except for chemistry class. Then how did he happen to be in my badge; the star badge?

All three of them studied from St' Xaviers

They were three boys. What were the chances if two happened to coincidentally barged into my life the very same day of the second anniversary of that incident?

Even coincidences have a limit. I would be pushing it too far if I keep calling it that. It's planned and it obviously has to do with me, the Selena Case.

I can shut it at all by thinking I am bluffing with myself and I am being my old usual self, connecting everything to me. But I think it's high time there's nothing left in me to believe and carry on living like nothing happened.

Oh God.

I could feel panic rising in me the moment I accepted the reality. Are they really after me? Of course they are after me! What kinda ridiculous question I am asking?

How do they know it? What to do? What do they actually want from me? My eyes got pulled to my mobile in my other hand.

It has everything, I has his voice the main culprit who broke Aarav's hand....who told me to run...

Who was he? Faisal or Sahil?

"Run Serra, you didn't see anything"

Thinking about it brought a shiver down my spine, my blood ran cold. I couldn't imagine him to be either of them.

And who knew I would be following his order so diligently?

There has to be some severe reason behind, why they were ready to put aside everything and come after me.. Did they actually kill..Aarav??

I gasped bending putting my hands on my knees, I can't believe Sahil would do such thing. Oh God it hurt more than anything.

I shook my head rapidly, I am going back home... to my town to the very same place which I left behind to forget everything. They can't reach me there.

I chanted,

I did nothing wrong. I should not be scared.

Then

Why the hell am I always running away?

Shit, my hands were shaking I held them tightly with each other.

"Want me to get you a heater ? Ms. Newton?" Asked an unfamiliar deep voice

My head shot up, I staggered back when l saw a guy slouching in his berth opposite to me, he had his chin propped in his hand while he stared at me with deadpanned look as interestingly as one stare at an insect.

He had a very sharp face with features that stood out like some model type, long strip of black ink ran down from his exposed arm to sleeves of the black leather jacket that stuck like a second skin to his taut and muscular body.

I looked around wondering, if I sat in the wrong place then it registered me late, he called me Ms. Newton!?

I turned to him pointing my finger at him, "Biker!"

"Or Dhruv" he told me his name dryly.

Dhruv

Why did this name sound familiar?

Divyanshi's voice played in the back of my mind.

"That is Dhruv the bad boy with all tattoos and bike kinda stuff you know.."

The third guy!? Color drained from my face. I could literally feel it. I got up instantly making my way for an exit.

"In too much of a hurry? going somewhere? Serra" Faisal sauntered in blocking my way, suddenly coming from in front.

I stepped back my eyes averting to Dhruv then Faisal and then Sahil......
Who too entered the compartment he locked the door then turned around to look at me.

I stopped breathing my eyes flashing betrayal, this was a nightmare oh god oh god what should I do?

It took everything in me as I managed to stay calm, when I was anything but calm.

Three against one.

History repeats itself.

I can't think of any way but to pretend I was confused, panicked like any person like any girl would have been in my shoes when cornered by three guys out of which two I knew already from before.

I glanced at Sahil he appeared guilty and ashamed. I wanted to slap him again and then again and again until I could wash away this feeling of betrayal and hurt.

"What are you doing here? You both" I looked at Sahil who was now leaning against the door clasping his hair looking at me with frustration as if he was torn between two and couldn't decide what to do.

Good for him.

I glanced at Faisal who couldn't appear more relaxed he was playing with lighter switching it on and off. He gave me that small silly harmless smile.

"And you!'I pointed my finger at Dhruv. He remained sat there where I found him, same disdain on his face fixed for me or maybe that was his perpetual bitch resting face.

"You planning to runaway Serra? Why?" Sahil asked softly in a soothing voice.

I glared at him making it as viscous as I could, "I don't remember I had to take permissions from you"

"Woah, burn" Faisal said chuckling glancing at Sahil,"forgive him, Serra this guy really can't be friends with anyone" he said with pure loathing.

Sahil grinned at him it was a scary one when dark expression crossed over his face, "you stay out of it" he moved forward slightly putting his back towards me in a protective manner? I narrowed my eyes at it.

"Calm down I don't want to clear the mess after you guys kill each other, it is gonna be a hell lot of gory and blood around and that's not my thing, I like it smooth, clean and quick " Dhruv said getting up with his one hand digging in his pocket for something and he held my stare while walking intimidatingly my way. I gulped stepping back and forth not knowing where to go and what to do?

A hand clasped my shoulder I almost shrieked but got a hold on myself when Sahil whispered in my ear from behind, "Don't be scared they won't do anything" my heart thudding against my chest. His breath tickled the back hair of my neck inducing goosebumps.

"Just a few questions and you are out" he continued, I involuntarily leaned back against his touch finding somehow comfort in it otherwise I would have a meltdown. He squeezed my shoulder in an assuring way when I didn't say anything,
"trust me" he urged in a pleading voice

"And I thought you were losing your touch Sahil, I just wonder how Soumya will react to this cute moment of trust? " Faisal spoke. I withdrew away from Sahil immediately and blurted, "who is Soumya?"

So, that was his girlfriend's name. What the hell? Why do I care more about some girl named Soumya when I have some serious situation in my hand.

"Oh forget it! Just open the door I don't know what's happening! But this is just wrong to all levels, you can't just corner a girl unwillingly and then act so shady... please open it I am feeling very uncomfortable" I said turning towards the door which both Faisal and Sahil were blocking having some telepathically talk or fight or murder, there.

"This whole train is empty no one is here just us" Faisal told turning his head to me in a reassuring voice.

"Oh wow now I am very comfortable, stop it whatever prank you guys are trying to pull on me it will not work and..I have to leave I have to be at home ..what's happening? Can anyone tell me and yeah why don't you both get away from the door and fight somewhere else. This is the departure time for the train I want to know what's happening?" I tried again babbling incoherently, my hand reaching out for the handle.

But neither of them budged.

I looked at Sahil with real worry when the next sentence was a lie,"my mother is not well, please Sahil"

He returned it with an apologetic expression even I saw him wavered a little taking a hesitant step away from the door I instantly lept for it and then was blocked by a white converse shoe. "Your eyes widened Serra like they do when you lie" Faisal said pointing his finger at my face

He was seriously becoming a big nuisance.

"The train will not leave and so will you. Think how how rich and powerful our families are? You are nothing in front of us-

"My mother is a lawyer" I cut him off,
"My father is an entrepreneur" I continued, faced Dhruv with a glare, "you can't beat me in this rich and powerful family game"

Dhruv cocked his eyebrow at me,
"Even they can't save you with what I have" he said with a cruel smirk.

"What do you have?"I asked back. If I act I didn't know anything then maybe they will leave me alone.

"It is becoming so tiring...the thing is that we know that we know what you're hiding and that is..." Faisal paused for a suspense that was killing me with dread.

So here it is now they knew it,

That I was Selena

I shut my eyes waiting for it,

"that you killed Aarav" Faisal said

I opened my eyes and stared at them. They really appeared to believe that.

And like I told about my bad habit, what I do when I was shocked, "yes you are right,"I lied keeping a straight face with fixed eyes,

anything I would admit to unless no one knows about the real truth.

Sahil's head snapped to me in utter surprise then a smile crawled along his mouth as if he was proud of me for something.

"Great, now that you admitted then let's discuss it further as you know we happened to share the same situation" Faisal clapped announcing.

To be continued...