fall for Predator

Chapter 6

I was sitting on the balcony on my home that day, when I saw Swarez near my gate.

I wasn’t having any problem then, why was he there?  As soon as he saw me he shook his hand asking me to be down.

‘Hey’ I said as soon as I reached him

‘Are you fine?’, said he with his blue eyes looking at me

‘If I wasn’t fine you would have known, wouldn’t you?’

‘Yes, but still something is missing’

‘Like what?’

‘I don’t know’

‘Why are you here?’

‘I wanted to go somewhere with you’

‘Where?’

‘just come’

He signed me to get in his car, this time I didn’t hesitate to do that. I got in the seat where he pulled the seatbelt and tie it around me

‘I can do it myself’, I said feeling dependent

‘I know’ he jerked back again and started the engine. I didn’t know where he was taking but I was trusting him he won't let anything happen to me. Where did that trust come from?

When we were in the middle of the road, someone called him and he answered with his airpod on

‘Hello sir’

‘I am fine, I am sorry for the violence I showed earlier’

Swarez saying sorry, was that a miracle? But to whom. ‘I will make sure it won’t happen, next time sir’

‘yeah, I will’

Then he cut the call.

‘Who was it with whom you were so polite?’

‘You seriously don’t wanna know him’

‘I want to know, in front of whom a forest wolf becomes so dog’

‘Scientifically, I am his sperm’

‘Was he Dr. Shahi, your dad?’

‘so everybody knows it’

‘But why were you calling him sir’

‘I call him sir, what is wrong with that’

‘What is wrong with that? Are you serious you can call him by his name or dad or father, not sir like calling a boss’

‘He is a boss to me’

‘How?’

‘we never had a father like a son like relation ever. When we meet all we talk about is my label at sports and studies. He never cares if I need a family, a dad or medicine it’s just I am a part of his career which he wants to fulfill by making me so able that he can call me his son’

‘That’s not true, he kept his busy life aside just to see your game’

‘It’s a part of his plan, he was not there for me he was there for family pride, to show people how much he cares about me’

‘That is so sad’

‘Can we not talk about it?’

‘Okay, but you know somewhat we are same’

‘How’, said he

‘I also lost my mother when I was too young’

‘But your father played the role of the family he surely wasn’t like mine’

‘He never let me miss my mom, seeing that way I am sorry for you’

‘don’t be, I had d**k and his mother and despite all, I had many servants who could do anything for me’

I looked at him, it was another Swarez I was looking at nothing monstrous at all.

‘So we are here now’, said he opening the door parking the car near the forest the same forest where d**k brought me earlier. I didn’t think it was a great idea to tell him about my previous visit so I just followed him into the forest, deep into the forest. This time there was no pain, no deja-vu everything was clear including Swarez who was walking in front of me.

‘This is the place, where I used to come when I felt low or happy. You are lucky beside d**k you are the first one whom I am taking here with me’

‘Why me?, I asked

‘I don’t know’, as usual, he answered

We reached the rock where I sat with d**k earlier. He held me by my waist and signed me to sit there. The scene was more amazing than before, the sound of leaves swinging with air was more prominent. The sound of birds was louder and the place was filled with the sweet aroma of different forest flowers. Everything was beautiful including the boy sitting aside. ‘I hate Swaez’, I tried to control myself from looking at him but I just couldn’t

What was happening to me, I was being attracted and it was just nonsense for a girl who was going to die in a year.

‘Do you know, this is the place where my mom was attacked by wolves’

It was nonsense to get attached to the place where his mother was killed brutally.

‘Then why do you like this place so much’, I said looking at him confused.

‘I assume she is still here, can see me, and feel my presence. Nobody found her body everybody just assumed she was killed by wolves as a pack of wolves were seen here when she disappeared, not a single drop of blood was seen of her then how can I believe she was killed’

‘You don't believe your mom’s death, do you?’

‘No, never I believe she is still here’

I felt pity for him and held him by my hands around his neck resting my head on his shoulder

‘I believe what you believe’, I said

‘You are the first one to say that otherwise, everyone thinks I am a psycho to believe the impossible’

The mark of today’s wound was still on his forehead

‘Did it still hurt’, I said taking my hands there

‘It doesn’t, I have to prepare for tomorrow’s match too, and I am gonna make sure I will hurt my father’s pride again by creating a scene’

‘You fight intensionally’, I said releasing my hands from him

‘sometimes, sometimes they give me the reason to fight’

‘Can I tell you something Swarez?’

‘Yes’

‘Your dad has failed to be a perfect father but have you ever thought if you have passed being a perfect son?’

‘What do you mean’, his voice reflected he was annoyed

‘I mean if he couldn’t be a good father try to be his good son show him how the relation works, taking gurge only make it worst’

‘Why should I even try, whenever I was going to die of fever he just used to send a doctor to me, he didn’t even used to spare some time for me, in every parents day everyone came with their parents but I used to go with my servant, every time I needed him he showed me his back now why should I even try to be his son’, he shouted and screamed at me standing from the rock. I triggered him again, for the first time I was seeing him hurt. His blue eyes shedding tears, it hurt my heart. The hole just felt enlarged.

‘Let's go from here’, said he trying to hide his tears and I followed him.

The whole way he didn’t even look at me neither talk to me. I regretted trying to suggest to him but at the same time, I feel positive that I said it. We were in front of my gate, he was still not looking at me

‘I am sorry for earlier Swarez, tomorrow I will be cheering for you no matter what? Bye’

He looked toward me finally, I loosen my seatbelt and went outside while he moved his car around and went his way. My heart heavy as if thousands of stones were kept above it I felt I hurt Swarez but what could I do except waiting for the morning.

‘When did you come from college?’, my dad was already there

‘one hour ago’

from behind miss Koirala came, I didn’t notice her car outside but seeing her ragged t-shirts I knew something was going on between them. They looked awkward so I decided to leave them alone for a while.

‘I have to go to washroom’, I said and went outside, my dad who was so concerned for me followed me outside

‘What are you thinking?’, said he before I could open my mouth

‘I am thinking wow everything is going as planned’, I smiled

‘it’s nothing like that’

‘Why are you ashamed in front of me dad, it’s fine I am happy you are getting along with her’

‘It’s just we had a little moment earlier’

‘That’s great dad, I want you to move on with your life. I want you to be happy’

‘But you didn’t even say hi to her, she is feeling terrible’

‘Don’t worry you go inside and calm her down I will make her favorite pasta’

I hugged dad and went toward the kitchen. Finally, good news should I tell d**k about it or not. Not today maybe after they decide to take the relationship any further, Anyway I was excited. I made pasta for them and went inside my dad’s room with plates in my hand

‘Good evening, miss Koirala’, I said correcting my previous mistake

‘Good evening, Aniya’

‘I have made pasta for you, hope you like it’

Her face glowed with charm, ‘Aww, so sweet of you Aniya, your food is the happiness when I come here’, she came toward me and hugged me.

After talking with them for some minutes I felt I was being boned in chicken so giving them some excuse I went toward my room. Everything was going my way, everything was fine but why I don’t know my heart felt like a rock I knew it would be levitated only when I see Swarez again.

The next day as before I went to my practice early in the morning, the coach was harsh again and he made us fight against each other the whole morning. Running and getting tired was becoming the reason for my heart's pain. It was painful so bad when the training stopped. I almost thought of quitting but my ego stopped me from doing that. Meanwhile, Barrby calls me from behind and ran toward me

I controlled my expression trying not to reveal what was going inside me

‘So you ready for today’s match?’

‘Why should I be ready, the boys should be ready’

‘You can’t even be humorous for some instant. You have to be ready to see one of the most intense basketball matches in the era’

‘you are giving me goosebumps’

‘You will know what I am saying soon’, we both went to the audience section, this time the section was almost filled and the whole ground was decorated like a new bride. There were two seats empty in a row near the ground, unwillingly we had to go there, the scene wasn’t better than before but we could see all the players closely. Dr shama was still with the Principal and the players started coming from their camp in a row our team was black as before and the others were blue. When d**k came near the ground Barrby shouted her throat out,  ‘d**k, best of luck. I love you’ and the best thing was no one noticed her as many girls were shouting I love you to different players, for Swarez mostly.

Swarez and my eyes met he was calm and his eyes were still showing care for me, my heart levitated finally.

The game started, with the whistle. This time the game was intense from the beginning one of the opponents who were extremely tall and his body was more like a WWE player was pushing everyone who came in the way.

‘He is new’, said Barrby

Swarez was dribbling the ball and almost got a basket but that bulky guy stood in front of him and Swarez bounced back and fall on the ground and quickly he grabbed the ball from Swarez and made his basket. There was no penalty for that guy and Swarez was still at the ground

‘Swarez’ I shouted, I wanted him to stand back and kill the game. Not only me everyone there shouted for him, d**k tried to lift him up and again he was standing in front of us with his blue eyes red in a rage with passion and with confidence to win the game. The referee again blew the whistle and the game started again.

This time Danny, Saurav, d**k along with other players and Swarez all were giving their 100 percent. But when they were about to reach the basket the bulky guy used to block them and pulled the ball from their grasp. Like this, a quarter went by the opponent was on the lead with 8 scores on their board. The hooting of the students were fading slowly, It felt as if the chance of winning was low.

Other quarter started, with the blow of Whistle again, Swarez had the ball he dribble it around the court and finally managed to distract the bulky guy with his moves and score the basket. The bulky guy didn’t seem happy about that, he started tracking their every move and stop them from scoring, Swarez seemed annoyed and irritated. He started playing violent, at one point he showing as if he was trying to dribble he smashed the bulky guy with his fist on his eyes. The bulky guy blind and in pain began to hit anyone who was near but Swarez took advantage of that too, he injured that guy so much that the guy was unable to play. He was taken to the hospital and an extra player was acquitted in his place. The opponent's team watching it were shouting for the red card to Swarez but thankfully he was just given 10 minutes penalty again, despite the penalty there was a sense of satisfaction on his face.

This time d**k, Danny, and other teammates managed to score 10 in a quarter, and when Swarez was freed the score hit 30. At last, our team owns by 30 -10 score. It was a huge celebration the golden trophy was in our side and they were dancing all over the ground. I couldn’t resist and went there with Barrby, I never knew the victory could taste that better. d**k was so excited that he ran over me and hugged me tightly on his hands when I opened my eyes Swarez was looking at us, rather than happiness there was anger in his eyes. He turned around and went away from the crowd.

‘I am so happy Aniya, I love you’, d**k exclaimed me still in his arms

I love you that was the first time any guy said me three words other than my father, was that out of happiness or was that from the heart I don’t know but I just hoped it to be from excitement. I stumbled for a minute where d**k released me

‘I know Aniya, you think you are gonna die soon, but technically we all have to die one day it’s just a matter of time. I want to spend every bit of minute with you those I have and those you have. Please accept my love’, I was numb and trembling. It was not happening with the increasing closeness of his mom and my dad it was impossible and I just didn’t want to lose my friend. I just hoped that was a dream a very bad one. Seeing me numb he said, ‘I am not pressurizing you, today I won and I confessed I will hear your ans the day you win your match. I will be waiting and yes if you wanna confess a little earlier it would make me happier.’ he turned around and went away with his other friends. And I was there feeling betrayed by my faith.

‘Why was my d**k hugging you?’ Barrby came adding the pain

‘Nothing he was just excited’, I whispered

It was no more fun, no more celebration it was just a ruined path.

‘I am having pain?’ I said

‘Where?’, said Barrby

‘My head, I have to go home. I want to go home’

‘Calm down, we will go home’, said Barrby, and took me to the parking lot where my scooty was parked. This time she drove me home.

I went upstairs when sound from my dad’s room diverted my mind.

They were giggling inside,

‘Common Mr. Sharma you are tickling me’, said Miss Koirala

‘You are beautiful, thanks to Aniya she forced me to transfer here’, said, my dad

maybe if I had heard it before d**k’s confession I would have been the happiest person in the world but now after I knew what d**k felt of me that was killing me inside. Yes, I still want my father and Miss Koirala to be something else more of love but will d**k understand that. I went to my room and slept on the bed. Tears started rolling down my eyes and my heart was in pain was the hole enlarging again?

But as soon as I closed my eyes, I got a message that was from Swarez ‘I am near your gate come soon’

I wasn’t in the mood to tackle Swarez again but due to unknown reasons, I couldn’t deny him. I went down the stairs and near the gate he was at the car and signed me to get in.

‘I am not in the mood to go anywhere, I am sorry Swarez not today’

‘I know, so I am here to cheer you up’

‘how did you knew that?’

‘I said I know what you feel every time. I am sired to you and it's your magic spell, not mine so get inside’

He always used to confuse me, whole way he didn’t even look at me. It was awkward and I had to say something to tear up the silence

‘Congratulation, you won the match today’, I said

‘Thank you I lied you earlier I wasn’t aware of your mood, I just wanted to celebrate my victory with you’

‘don’t worry, I was always skeptical of what you say’

‘Trust me rest of the time I am damn honest’

He again took me to the same forest and on the same rock. Before he used to made me sit on the rock but this time he grabbed my hand and clenched me against him hugging me tightly. His hug healed the pain that was arising in my heart

‘Are you alright’, I whispered in his ears

‘Earlier seeing you hugging d**k I was jealous I wanted to do that too, now I feel at ease’, he clenched me tightly.

Yeah, it was the same hug but feelings were different with d**k it felt relieved but with Swarez it felt relation, closeness, and happiness. I hugged him back and it felt nice. I have brought something he said and took out a bottle of champaign.

‘Wow’, I exclaimed

‘Shall I start’, said he looking at me

yes I nodded. He shook the bottle and opened the lid with his thumb. The whole liquor wet our faces.

He drank a little and handed the bottle to me.

‘I don’t drink’, I said refusing the bottle

‘then you should drink, it is a wonderful experience I am here if anything happens’

Experience he melted me with that word. The experience was the thing I wanted to collect before I die how could I not drink that.

I slipped it, it was not tasty but for the experience, I drank all of it. My head was spinning inside and it felt I was flying.

‘How are you feeling Aniya’, asked Swarez

‘Amazing’, I replied

everything felt heightened, I slept in his arms on the rock holding his hands if anyone would have seen us there they would have thought we were in unconditional love but what were we, a friend, an enemy, or the enemy trying to befriend. I went with the later one it suited us more.

When I opened my eyes it was already morning and I was in the bed, who brought me there it must be Swarez who else. I had fun yesterday, I saw the clock it was already 8 am. I was f****d up I just missed my training. I hurried and went to my Scooter without even bidding my dad bye. I didn’t even freshen up I just wore my jeans and hurried on my Scooty. When I reached there everyone was already dribbling the ball. The coach looked at me as if he was going to eat me whole.

‘I am sorry coach’, I said avoiding his eyes

‘The match is just 2 days to go so I am letting you off this time. You become late again you are out of the team’

‘Yes coach’, I shouted in relief. I joined my team and started practicing defense with them.

Our match was near so we doubled the time for practice and plan. By that time I was close to some of my teammates. Mostly with Ankusa and Anu they were my senior and were very good at basketball they taught me some moves too. Practicing with them was amazing. Don’t know how two days went by. Maybe along with basketball I was also practicing how to confess d**k that I wanted to make him my brother, not boyfriend without breaking his heart.  

Finally, it was the day of my match, out first match was a final match as there were only 2 girls team in the whole district but as we were tagged looser it was a pressure to win that time. This time I was in black our team was in black and others were in the audience section There were Barrby, Swarez, d**k, Danny, and Saurav all hooting for me. I had to show them by winning. I looked at d**k more than the match he was focused on getting the answer after the match and I was not ready for that.

So the referee blew the whistle and the game started. Barrby was right the other team was very strong all the girls were taller and bulkier than us and when they grabbed the ball it seemed as if they are grabbing chicken from the leg piece. Within the first quarter, they scored 6 and we were still on 0. Tackling with them needed mind and common sense rather than strength so we planned within 2 minutes which we got as a break.

We planned to show one thing and do the other,

Second quarter started, we implemented the plan the co-ordination between me, Ankusa and Anu were so great that we were going good I used to pretend to pass the ball to Anu and used to pass to Ankusa like this we scored 10 in the next quarter and they were on 9. Their face showed how annoyed they were by our moves. For the first time, there was hope for our girl’s team. For the third quarter we implemented the same plan but this time the other team played violently. When I was trying to pass the ball to Ankusa one of the bulky girl hit me on my chest and I fell on the ground. My heart started paining and the pain was so unbearable that tears were running out of my eyes and I knew I was going to pass out.

My savior Swarez was first to reach me there was a smile on my face in that pain too then d**k then Barrby then Danny came and I became unconscious.

When I opened my eyes I was at hospital, Horror

Did everyone know about my disease and what happened to the match did we win?

Swarez was sitting next to my pillow, d**k and Barby were next to my each leg and my dad he was looking like a don, old movie don with the mustache. He was looking angry but at the same time, there was intense care for me in his eyes.

‘Can anybody tell me the time?’, I asked

‘It’s 8 pm’, said d**k.

‘Seriously, I am in bed for 7 hours?’

‘Yes’

‘What happened to the game?’ I was worried but I knew the answer without anyone answering it

Everyone hung their head, and I became sure what happened.

That was probably my last game and I lost that too, my faith cheated on me again, tears rolled down my eyes and the pain it increased too.

‘We won by 5 scores’, Barrby jumped from bed unable to hold the lie for long

‘Are you telling the truth’, my mood changed

‘Yes, after that girl hit you she was expelled from the game and the game ran in our favor.’

I was happy, extremely happy I had won my last game, now my name will be there on Mysty high school album even after my death.

The doctor came to measure my pressure

‘your blood pressure is extremely low, so when she hit you on your chest you passed out. From now take care of your diet’

Was that doctor a fraud or he was told to lie, there was no way my pressure was low I passed out because of the hole in my heart and that doctor was talking nonsense. Meanwhile, my eyes went toward d**k he was signing me that my secret was still a secret so that was d**k who made the doctor lie. Again my friend saved me he saved me from abnormal life again.

‘Why are you always getting into problems’, said Swarez embracing my forehead

‘It’s not like I am getting into problems on my will’

‘You are?’

‘I am not’

‘Stop it guys’, said d**k again ‘Let Aniya sleep, she needs rest’

The sleep was going to come so deep today, I won my match and my secret was still a secret.