Edge of the Abyss (Part VII- Finale)
If you haven't read the previous parts, click on the links below,
It was 8 pm
of 2nd January 2019. Swastik was sitting at the police station with
Alisha and Aman.
“Sir will
see you now”, said a rather obese policeman to Swastik. He nodded and walked
into the office. Inside, Swastik found the constable pacing around the room.
There was a man in a tuxedo on the other side of the desk.
“Close the
door behind you, boy”, said the constable in a welcoming tone.
“Take a
seat”, he said.
As Swastik
sat, the man in the tuxedo turned to him. He had a fair complexion and was
wearing shades. He checked his watch and cleared his throat.
“Swastik,
we know how hard these times have been for you.”
“Do you-”
“Don’t
interrupt me. So, I’ll try my best to tell you about your parents. They have
served a noble purpose and I owe them my life.”
“What? They
were-”
“Do. Not.
Interrupt.”
“I’m sorry,
Sir.”
“As a show
of gratitude for their contributions, we’ll continue to cater to your needs.
Your difficulties will be attended to. The ring you have been given has a
number engraved on the inside. If you find yourself in trouble, dial that
number and state your name. We'll reach out to you. Now, ask any question you
might have.”
“I don't
want your help! I want my parents!”
“That's not
a question.”
With a deep
breath, Swastik tried to assess what was happening around him.
“Okay,
where did my parents work?”
“Can't tell
you.”
“Why? I
deserve to know.”
“Confidential.”
“Hmm. Where
are they now?”
“Confidential.”
“Okay, tell
me something that's not confidential", said Swastik with a sigh.
“I have
already done that.”
"Then,
why would you give me an option to ask more questions?”
“I guess I
shouldn't. Now, a final set of instructions. You're not, at any point of time,
allowed to disclose any part of the conversation we had. It'll jeopardize you
and your parents.”
“Is that a
threat?”
“Whatever
floats your boat. Pleasure talking to you, Mr. Bhowmick.”
The man
looked at his watch, got up and swiftly walked out the door. Swastik looked at
him go and then turned to the constable.
“Who was
that man?”
"That
was my assistant. So, tell me what exactly you received in the package on 28th
December 2018.”
“But you
heard what that man said, right?", said Swastik in a tense voice.
“He was
talking about a case that has just been registered. None that concerns you.
Now, back to the point. What did you receive?”
Swastik got
up and stormed out of the room crying. He hugged Alisha tightly. The constable
walked out behind him. Aman stood up on seeing him.
“He is not
yet ready to talk. I understand it completely but we'll need his statement sooner
or later.”
“I
apologize for the inconvenience, Sir. I'll bring him back when he's ready.
How's the investigation looking?”
"Given
the leads we have, pretty bleak. We're trying our best.”
“Thank you,
Sir.”
On the way
back home, Aman tried asking Swastik what happened in the station. But he just
kept repeating, “Will you believe if I told you?”
A few
days later...
Swastik had
given his statement at the station. It was around 1 pm of a Sunday afternoon.
Swastik was sitting at the study table texting Meghna.
“I really
caught you by surprise, didn't I?”
“You did!
No one shows up like that and least of all, a person I don't even know
properly!”
“C'mon, you
know me. I'm just your average neighborhood girl.”
“No...
you're more than that.”
Alisha came
and hugged him from behind.
"What's
my favorite cousin doing?”
She took
one look at his phone and smiled.
“Something
important, I see. Carry on. Proud of you.”
“No, Di.
You can stay.”
“You want
me to peek at your conversation with her? Thanks, but I'm good”, and she walked
out of the room with a smirk.
Swastik
went back to texting Meghna.
“How so,
mister?”
“Well,
given the way I treated you, you should have shut me out but you didn't. Idk
what I would do without you.”
“Oh, c'mon!
You would do just fine. You did fine till a month ago when I wasn't around.
Don't get all mushy now!”
“Still...
thank you, Meghna.”
"You're
welcome, doofus.”
Two
years later...
Swastik had
appeared for his boards and scored a whooping 93%. Many people congratulated
him except for two. There was still no news of Swastik's parents and he had
made peace with being that way.
Aman and
Reshita had gone on a business trip. Alisha took this opportunity to organize a
small party at their place. She pushed Swastik to invite Meghna.
"Hello?
Meghna, this is Swastik.”
“You don't
need to introduce yourself every time, doofus. I have your number saved.”
“So, Di is
holding this party at our place. She has set the theme to ethnic wear. I have
no idea why she did that. Would you like to come over?”
"Let me
get this clear. You're inviting me to your place when there are no guardians at
home. Wow, suspicious.”
“If you put
it that way, then yeah. You don't need to come if you're uncomfortable. I-”
“I will be
there.”
It was the
day of the party. Swastik had set up the whole place with Alisha. By 6 in the
evening, Alisha's friends started showing up. It was about 8 pm and Swastik was
almost sure that Meghna won't show up. He sat on the sofa, dejected when the
door opened and there she was. She wore a royal blue lehenga and smiled on
seeing Swastik.
“Wow, you
look-”
"Stunning?
Beautiful? Jaw-dropping? I know, I know. Thanks.”
"Flattery
doesn't suit you, friend.”
"Whatever.
Where are the snacks?”
“In the
living room. Straight up.”
"Thank
you, host.”
As the
crowd began to thin out, some people took the sound system to the roof.
Everyone was up there. It was time for the last song. Perfect by Ed
Sheeran came up. People had paired up. Meghna walked up to Swastik.
“Ask me to
dance with you.”
“You can do
that too, right?”
"Just
do it already!”
“Okay! May
I have this dance?”
“Of course!
I'd be honored”, she said as he took her hand. Alisha looked at Swastik from a
distance and winked.
Their
fingers intertwined as the song continued. Swastik could feel her breath on his
shoulder. The distance between them closed in as the song was almost at its
end. They kissed and the people around them cheered. The world dissolved as
they were lost in their own euphoria.
That night,
it was about 3 am when Swastik was about to go to sleep. His phone suddenly
rang and he was startled. It was an unknown number.
“Hello?”
"Hello,
son. How are you?”
"Ma?”
The End
Comments
The ending was too good— a cliffhanger used at its best.
The story started on a simple note, meandered in the middle, forming a mystery so very interesting, and ended with happiness; with a cliffhanger which gave me, as a reader, a ray of hope to what I thought was a lost cause (i.e., the mystery behind his parents' whereabouts).
In a word, it was "Perfect"!❤