His feet tapped the floor impatiently, waiting for the lift to come down. It's already an hectic day for him, adding to that the lift also took more than required time to descend down.

He opened the top two buttons of his shirt loosening his tie. His shoulder slouched on one side by the weight of his laptop bag. It's not the laptop, but the hours he carried it amidst of hundreds of people in the bus bumping and colliding with others, he found it difficult to reach his home in one piece.

Ding...

The lift indicated it's presence at the ground floor making him to sigh in relief. Throwing a smile at the neighbour, he pressed his floor number.

"Tired?"

He nodded slightly.

"That's it. Today you're coming to our home for coffee"

"What?? No uncle. I'll come some other time"

"When? You're saying this from past three months. Seeing your face, I can easily conclude you're going to hit your bed directly. Strong coffee will do wonders my boy... Your aunty will be happy if you come over there"

He looked reluctant to agree to that offer "But..."

"No but's... No one is waiting for you at your home"

He gulped at his words "Ok uncle"

All the tiredness flew away like the uncle said by taking few sips of aunty's special coffee. Same like he drinks everyday.

"Uncle is lucky to get this  wonderful strong coffee everyday" He said with a tinge of mischief.

"I am lucky to get her" The uncle laughed while aunty blushed even at this age.

"Soon you'll get one for yourself my boy"

He smiled at that wish. A part of his heart said otherwise. Bidding a quick bye he reached his flat. Pushing the key inside the keyhole, he twisted opening the lock. Other than the flipping sound of the key there was no other sound was heard. Fortunately or unfortunately his flat was at the corner.

Curling, uncurling his fist he twisted the knob of the door. The door creaked open. Gulping he set his foot inside. As soon as his both feet stepped inside, the door closed automatically and got locked. As a matter of fact lights came on giving life to the dark flat.

Calming down his shuddering heart, he chanted himself 'This was normal. Everyday it happens like that. There's no harm'

Throwing the laptop bag on chair, he sprang on the nearby sofa. Next moment he jolted up from his lying position. He gasped when his shoes are taken off. His eyes widen like saucers, when his shocks followed the suit.

His vision followed the way of shoes. It flew through the hallway and settled itself on shoe rack neatly. Gulping the saliva he rounded his big eyes throughout his flat. A sound of door opening heard. Frantically glancing at the source of sound he debated whether to check the place or not. Because the sound was from kitchen. Heart beats picked up it's pace beating like it was exposed to boiling hot water. Before his heart could decide, the door closed.

He let his eyes to wander around the hall to find any unusual thing but found none.

'Everything was like before' He assured himself and next moment he hopped back on the seat when a glass of cold chill water came infront of him. It floated on air sending chill down his spines. With trembling hands and parched throat, he held the glass.

His eyes fervently searched for the presence of human but it returned empty visoned. Cupping the glass with his both palms, scared to let it down he gulped all the content. He clutched it to his dear life. Whom was he kidding? He felt someone pulling it from his hold. Fearing by the worst he left the hold and expected it to kiss the ground and scatter into pieces devastating it's perfect shape. The broken sound didn't came. He peeked opening his eyes only then he realised he closed his eyes in fear.

The glass fly through the dining area. Mustering all the his scattered courage, sending quick prayers to his favorite gods he stood up on his feet.

Almost running, he covered the distance between living room and kitchen. He gaped at the scene before him, the glass arranged perfectly on the glass stand.

All the courage he collected with great difficulty broke like a sand castle. His knees almost gave up by the next set of incidents. The gas stove lit automatically, a pan flee from the cupboard and settled itself on the stove.

His eyes circled around the kitchen desperately waiting to know the upcoming happenings. Fridge door got opened following by a milk packet which flew surpassed him.

With darted pupils, he saw the pan filled with milk and within few minutes a cup of steaming hot coffee floated near his hand.

He stood stunned to react anything. It was not new for him, it was happening from past month yet everytime it scares him to the core.

"Who are you? Why are you doing like this?" He tried to shout, unfortunately it came out as whisper.

In reply, a plate fell down from the rack. He jumped from his place. Next moment, a jam bottle opened and spilled on the floor. He felt weird by the way the jam spilled. Sitting on his knees, he noticed it keenly and recited after a lot of difficulty.

"You'll get your answer soon, now drink that coffee. You must be tired"

He punched the floor in frustration. He is accustomed to the happenings but can't get to know head and tail of it.

"When will your Soon arrive? Do you hear me? I am asking this for umpteenth time, I want answers today. Tell me why are you doing this? Who are you? Why are you torturing me by looking after my needs? Why are you caring so much for me?" His voice raised by passing minute.

A drop of water fell on his palm. Flabbergasted he raised his eyes. Many drops fell on his palms following by. Feeling irritated, he twisted his brows "Don't cry now" The drops stopped instantly as if the switch was turned off.

"I already had my coffee. I don't need this" He said continue to stood up.

He felt someone holding his arm. Instantly his eyes darted towards there. Nothing was visible. Everything looks like a mirage. He can feel it, but he can't see. He can sense someone's presence, not anyone other than him can feel it.

"What do you want now?"

To his question, the coffee mug flew towards him waiting for him to relish it.

He closed his eyes in annoyance "Didn't you heard what I said? I had it already. I don't need it now"

The coffee mug floated and rested on the kitchen slab. Next moment he was dragged to his room and was made to stand infront of the washroom.

In an blink of eye, a towel was on his hands and his night dress was neatly placed on the bed.

Sighing he got changed into something comfortable after taking a chill bath. A knock was heard whereas he turned sensing someone presence.

He narrowed his eyes founding no reaction nor any order from that side. To clear his confusion, a plate full of night dinner flew towards him.

Frowning at this new tradition, he took it and sat on the bed. His hands in own accord searched for the remote. Like always the TV switched on sensing his need even before he could found the remote controller.

Amused, he took a morsel "Don't you get bored by doing all these things for me?"

He gets an answer only if a person was before him.

"Tell me are you a girl or boy?"

"Why are doing this? Even my mom will not do so much for me. What do you need from me?"

Habitually he raised a stream of questions which was left unanswered like always.

"You know what, sometimes I wonder this all was my hallucination and I gone insane staying alone" He chuckled at his own conclusion hoping to get a reply.

"Your food was always amazing. How do you manage to cook all this items?"

"I have two hands, two legs and a brain too. But I can't cook, you see. Will you be my cook always?"

It was always like this. After arriving  from his office he would take few minutes to accustomed this weird habits, getting scared at earlier and then change into jovial accepting everything.

"Ok, good night. I am hell tired" He yawned washing his hands. Leaving the slippers on the floor he lied on the bed. The comforter was pulled over him eventually and lights turned off. His anticipation increased knowing what was coming after that. Not betraying his expectations, he felt a soft caress on his forehead. Never known, when will he sleep after that. All his tiredness will fly out of window as soon as the caress teases his tenses giving him a serene feeling.

•••

Wind chimes made noise unusually making him to churn in sleep.

"Stop it.."

The sound didn't stop until he sat up on the bed groggily. Sleep seems to like him so much that it didn't leave him.

Wind chimes stopped but wind didn't. Harsh wind made him come out of his sleep. Something forced him to stood up. Pushing aside the harsh wind like it was some visible obstacle he stood infront of a mirror. He looked himself on the mirror.

Firm jaws, clean shaven cheeks, sharp nose, brown orbs, expanded forehead he looked as a handsome young man. Sudden flash appeared on the mirror, his eyes saw that for a second and that's it. Like a hyptonised person he took a paper, pen and scribbled something on it.

Another harsh windp, he slumped down like a sack of potatoes. How many hours he lay there unconscious, no one knows? When he was up he felt weird again.

His fingers had a tinge of inkprint on it. Frowning he looked down and to say shock would be an understatement. There lays a letter in his handwriting. With trembling hands, he took it in his palms knowing there was no one other than him in his flat whom would have written a letter.

Dear love,

I know you must be wondering how this letter come in the first place with your handwriting when you didn't write. Well, you will get your answers at the bottom.

Always you asks, who am I? Why I am doing all this? It pained me to know that I have no place in your heart and now even in your memory.

Do you remember our college days? We are bunch of five fellows who would go to extreme for our loved ones in the tag of friendship. I am doing the same. The only difference is I am doing all this out of love. Don't be shocked. Remember once I proposed you indirectly...

"Thank god, you saved me darling. I am very hungry. Mom went to temple" He said rubbing his stomach like a kid.

She laughed "Chocolate boy turning into Motta boy"

"Shut up ok"

"Aww chocolate boy"

"Come on darling. No one can cook like you do. Nowadays I am not even liking my mom handmade food"

"Is it a compliment or are you trying to butter me?" She scoffed.

"Oh oh.. darling. Seriously you're an amazing cook"

"If then, Will you give me the permission to cook for you daily for lifetime?"

"Oh yes, why not? I'll be more than happy.. wait... What???? For lifetime. What the hell?" He jolted up shocked to say anything. Never will he can think of her like that. He simply can't. She's his best friend dammit!

"I am kidding yaar..." She wiped the corner of her eyes which went unnoticed by him who breathed out in relief.

I realised you never thought of me in that way and never will be. But that didn't stopped me from loving you. I thought I can live my whole life with my imaginations. But how fortunate  am I. God did not want me to go through hell that he gladly took me up to his heaven. Do you think that will stop me from loving you? NEVER! But for that sake I cannot stuck into you for your whole life. The time has come! I need to go up. Before that I wanted to finish a task. It'll be finished if you open your flat door.

Time is running up! I need to leave!  Will always love you!!! Your love will always love you, it's my blessing.

Coming to the first question, I died due to an accident. It's not suicide. I cannot tell all this to you in person. But I need a person to convey my heart. That's why I used you. Don't fear about that. Will be always seeing you!!!

With love,
Lavanya.

Dinggggg....

His head snapped up from the letter.

"I wanted to finish a task. It'll be finished if you open your flat door"

He stood up abruptly as it rang on his ears. Taking haste steps, he opened the door hurriedly. There stood two persons.

"Mom..."

"Meri bacha..." She hugged him feeling serene after seeing her son after three months contrary to her son's confusion.

Breaking the hug, she pulled the another person near her.

"She's my friend's daughter Khushi"

"Khushi he's my son Arnav"

Arnav stretched his palm, his lips formed a grin unknowingly. The moment khushi palms clasped into his he felt electrocuted. A wave of white foam floated in air going up and up and then disappeared.

_____

A sudden thought after reading a story. This was inspired from that. Hope you all like it.

Let me know your opinions in this! Hit the star and comment if you liked it!