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She approached the unfamiliar door and nervously took the key from her pocket. She took a deep breath, unlocked the door, paused, then opened it. To her horror, she saw her pups, Terry and Jimmy, lying on the floor with their eyes closed. It was dark, but she could see clearly that neither of the dogs was breathing. They lay very still. She rushed over to their side and bent down. She immediately realised both the dogs were dead.
She had been invited on a blind date arranged by her close friend Christina. Christina convinced her to go on a date after the heartbreak she had suffered due to her breakup with Samuel. She had been with Samuel for nearly two years. But a year back, Samuel had left her one fine morning after clearing out all the money from their joint account. She had been devastated.
It was Christina who had stood by her throughout those days. Christina had been pestering her to go out on a date for a long time. But she simply could not bring herself to trust any man. Finally, with great difficulty, Christina had arranged for this blind date.
She had been given a key and an address by Christina. She had also assured her that she knew the person she would be meeting that evening. Christina had told her that her date was a wonderful person who was just right for her. She had left the pups shut inside her house when she had left for the blind date. She had driven her car and reached the house on Perdew Street, where the house mentioned in the address was located.
She was looking forward to a date, and now this! She stood up and rushed to the unfamiliar-looking door again, trying to put her tumbling thoughts in some order. Her mind was full of questions. How did the pups get here so quickly? How had they died? As soon as she stepped out, she pulled out her mobile phone and tried to dial the emergency number.
But before she could blink, a shot rang out in the air and her mobile phone was whittled out of her hand. She clutched her fingers, which were bloodied by now.
Christina’s voice rang out crystal clear in the dry evening air. ‘How does it feel to be at the receiving end of things for a change, Rita? Remember our good old college days?’
Suddenly, something clicked in Rita’s brain. She remembered everything the minute Christina mentioned her name and college in the same breath. Now she understood why Christina’s face had always appeared a shade familiar. Christina’s voice had also sounded familiar. Suddenly, she realised Christina was none other than Lily, who was her college mate. Age had changed her.
Rita remembered their brief interlude in college. Christina, aka Lily, had been going steady with Adam. Lily was extremely beautiful and pretty, but she never could go steady with any of the boys for a long time. She was very good academically, and she was also a member of the drama society. Adam was the most popular boy in the college. He was sought after by all the girls. But for some reason, Adam preferred Rita to Lily. Lily had caught them making love in a dark, lonely corner of the college library one evening.
She had tried to attack Rita with a knife twice after that incident. Fortunately, Adam had been nearby and had thwarted her attempts on Rita’s life. Christina had been expelled from the college and had done time in a psychiatric hospital. That had been years ago.
Christina, aka Lily, raved, ‘You never thought I would come looking for my pound of flesh after so many years, did you? Rita, I never let a slight to my dignity go unpunished. Oh, I have never forgotten what you did to my life, you bitch…’
‘I did not do anything. Adam preferred me to you. That was not my fault.’ Rita felt pity for this woman who could never earn or keep love.
I tried to take Samuel from you. But he ran away with some other woman.’ Christina laughed hysterically. ‘When I found you had the company of your pups, I took them too from you.’
‘What did those poor things do to you?’ Rita said angrily.
‘You see, you were beginning to recover. The fact that you were willing to go on a blind date proved that. I wanted to take everything you own away from you. I wanted you to die a lonely old woman.’
As Christina spoke, Rita was slowly closing in on her. Her fingers were still bleeding. With a sudden jump, Rita reached out for the gun in Christina’s hands. In the melee, it went off. Christina slumped to the ground, shot right through her heart. Rita looked down at her in horror.
Still in shock, Rita emerged from the house and drove to the nearest police station. She entered the station, and sagged to her knees in front of the SHO in charge and said, ‘Help me, I have killed a woman…’
Fast paced, good plot and a wonderful narration, Jai! Enjoyed reading the thriller👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Thank you Sis!
Very quick read with a twist at the end!
Thank you so much Sundar!