Free Palestine 🇵🇸

It's been a year since innocent children are being killed on the name of retaliation.

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“Whisks and Whips Bakery. Interesting name,” Suraj read the banner before stepping into the shop. A lady was standing behind the counter. But she was dressed more like a businesswoman than a baker and was busy typing on her laptop.

“Excuse me, can I get chocolate cupcakes please?” Suraj asked politely.

The lady glanced at him and he saw shock flashing through her eyes. But she composed herself almost immediately.

“Umm... the owner is baking cupcakes in the kitchen,” she replied.

Suraj gave her a nod but in an awkward slow motion because it dawned upon him that she is not the baker. Well, he had pretty much guessed it from her attire. Her voice carried an uncanny similarity with Mandira's voice which kind of surprised Suraj.

“Oh, alright. I'll wait,” he passed her a polite smile.

Five minutes passed, but Suraj was waiting patiently. It's not the baker's fault that he barged into the bakery so early in the morning.

But then the baker finally showed up and... Suraj was astonished to see a familiar face covered in dough. She was carrying a batch of chocolate cupcakes, wearing an apron over her saree. Their eyes collided and both of them froze at their places. Memories of their time together flashed in front of their eyes. How they almost became a couple. Almost.

They came back to the reality when the woman behind the laptop picked a cupcake from the batch and moaned at it's deliciousness. Her eyes then drifted to Suraj. “Oh, Sanjh, this gentleman came to buy chocolate cupcakes,” She informed her friend.

Sanjh blinked her eyes twice before averting her gaze from him. Her hands shakily packed six cupcakes for him. Suraj waited for her to say something but she didn't. She didn't even tell him the price.

Her friend looked at the scene in confusion and took it upon herself to tell him the price. “Oh, that's three hundred rupees.”

Suraj glanced at her and nodded before putting the money on the counter. And he walked out of the bakery with the box of cupcakes.

✿ ✿ ✿

Sanjh sighed heavily when Suraj exited the bakery. Her feet gave away and she sat down on the cold floor tiredly.

“Sanjh, what just happened? Do you know Suraj?” Niharika asked, looking at her friend's state.

Sanjh nodded while staring outside mindlessly. But then a question was raised in her mind and she looked up at Niharika suspiciously.

“Nia, do you also know him?” She asked.

Niharika was caught off-gaurd by her question. But she chuckled, “Of course, I do. He is Vidyut's brother-in-law.”

“Where did you see him though?”

“In the wedding pictures,” Niharika shrugged.

Sanjh shook her head, “I might be living in hiding. But I do know that no pictures were clicked on Vidyut's wedding.”

Niharika let out a sigh, “Alright, alright, I was lying. I know him because... he has something that belongs to me.”

“What are you talking about?” Sanjh asked in confusion. She had no idea what Niharika was talking about.

“You'll get to know that very soon. I'm getting late. Take care,” Niharika dodged her question and left the bakery with her laptop bag.

✿ ✿ ✿

Vidyut was successful in planting suspicion in Yuvraj's head. No matter how many times he repeated to himself that Devika cannot hurt anyone, he failed to defeat the one part of his brain that wanted to believe in Vidyut's words.

So he called a few college friends of his sister. Much to his disappointment, Vini and Devika did have a bad blood. But they also mentioned that it was a one-sided rivalry from Vini's part. Devika always avoided getting into arguments, but Vini kept pressing her buttons.

Yuvraj didn't want to suspect Devika, but suspecting her made a lot more sense. Which is why, the day Devika got discharged, he took her out.

“Did you talk to my father?” She asked as he drove the car.

“Yeah, I told him about my liking towards you. And also, that I was partially responsible for your abduction.”

Devika scrunched her nose at the last bit of his reply, “Stop saying that, Yuvraj. It wasn't your fault.”

Yuvraj passed her a small smile, “Alright, I won't say that again.”

“Where are we going?” She asked while looking at the passing buildings.

“To meet my sister,” He answered simply.

That caught Devika's attention. “You mean, your sister who is in coma?”

“Yes,” He nodded, but did not explain further. So Devika didn't ask him any further questions either.

✿ ✿ ✿

Devika wasn't completely oblivious. She could connect the dots. Yuvraj and Vini shared the same last name. Vini fell off a building and was in coma for three years. The same had happened with Yuvraj's sister. But it was foolish of her to hope that her doubts were false. They were indeed true. Vini was Yuvraj's cherished sister. A sibling he raised like his own child. Also, the girl who wrecked havoc in Devika's life.

Devika wondered where she found the courage to date Yuvraj even after doubting that he is connected to Vini.

But in that moment, as she stood in front of Vini's unconscious figure, she regretted letting him into her life.

She was waiting for him to lash out at her, to blame her for Vini's condition, to declare her as the culprit. But it never happened. Instead, he gently guided her to the sitting area of the VIP ward.

He bent down on his knees and held her clasped hands in an assuring manner. “Don't be scared, Devika. I know you can't hurt anyone.”

What was he saying!? How can be so calm when he is talking to the prime suspect of his sister's accident? He was manipulating her into trusting him. Yes, he was manipulating her. But does that make any difference? Not really.

He cupped her cheeks, “Just tell me what happened that night. Did you do it unintentionally?”

Here comes the twist. Unintentionally? He just wanted her to be a fool and trust him and admit the crime. The crime she didn't commit.

Devika sighed heavily and removed his palms from her cheeks. “Yuvraj, please drop your act. I know, your sister is far more precious to you than what's between us.”

His breath hitched at getting caught. He got up from his knees, removed his coat and sat down on the couch next to hers. The look of sympathy was now replaced by suspicion.

“Tell me the truth, Devika. Please,” He stared into her eyes, trying to find any trace of fear. But there was none.

Devika took a deep breath before she began soeaking, “Your dear sister was enraged at the fact that I got first division consecutively in all the semesters. Not even once she could beat me and she let out her frustration by bullying me. Do you want to know what she did the day before the accident?” She took a pause, assessed his expression, and continued, “She made fake images of me and Purab Sir. She wanted everyone to think that I got first division every time because I slept with him. That night I went there to tell her what a horrible person she is.”

Her every word stung him like a needle dipped in poison. To hear what a horrible person his sister was, it stung a lot. “Are you the one who pushed her down the building?”

She looked into eyes. Again, he saw no fear.

“I really wanted to push her. But I didn't. I was on the second floor when I saw her falling down. I got scared that I'll be the suspect. Luckily, I entered and left the building from the back door with no CCTV cameras so no one knew I was there right before the accident. But I was worried about leaving my fingerprints on the terrace. So Mandira bribed the doctor to remove my fingerprints from the scene.”

His gaze turned into a glare, “If you had confessed at that time, maybe it could have helped the police to find the real culprit.”

Devika was quick to disagree, “I disagree. The police would have blamed the crime on me because they failed to find the culprit. I don't regret letting Mandira tamper the evidence. You would have done the same if your loved one was involved.”

“You aren't as innocent as you look.” All the admiration that he had for her was gradually sucked out by each word that left her mouth.

“Yeah, because I'm sick of getting manipulated by people like you,” And all the respect that she had for him vanished in that moment.

She stood up and headed towards the exit.

“Don't think that I trust your words. I still suspect you. And, by the way, I recorded our conversation. Your confession might just help me reopen the case and prove you guilty,” He uttered every single word laced with hatred and menace.

Devika turned around, “You know what, your sister,” she pointed at an unconscious Vini, “deserved it. She deserves to be hanging between life and death.” And she walked out, shutting the door loudly after her.

Yuvraj wanted to kill her right there. But he controlled himself. He had the evidence now.

•••

Do you think Devika is the culprit?

•••

What will happen next? 🤔