Away

She was safe now. He couldn’t come here.

He was watching her. She didn’t see him but she was sure he was around. She didn’t even know what he looked like, but he kept appearing in the most unusual circumstances. He had stopped bothering her for eight months now. And then suddenly, when she had least expected it, there he was. Clear as day. She still got shivers when she thought of that day.

It was a Tuesday. The placement in-charge, Priya was telling the class about the campus placements. Companies were hiring in the college. After eight harrowing months of submissions and deadlines, learning how to be an honest journalist, and how to make the right journalistic choices, students were being recruited for writing content; online content, like ‘how to write a cover letter’ and ‘how to apply Midnight Blue eye shadow’. She was listening in rapt attention, when suddenly she felt a familiar cold shiver. In panic, she dropped her books, just when Priya was saying something about newspapers not wanting to hire fresher journalists. When she got back to her feet, he was standing right in front of her. He was carrying a blue college file, and was listening patiently to Priya. Only when she looked at him, he turned. Slowly his eyes locked with hers. It was a hard, cold stare.

The next time she saw him, was in the college canteen. That day, there was a lull in the usually crowded canteen. It was almost empty except for the Advertising and Marketing students who were walking around nervously. She was sitting with her friend, completing an assignment. She had a headache, which was getting worse. Her friend got up to bring more chai. She put her head down, blocking out everything, trying to relax. The assignment deadline was the next day. She wanted to finish earlier so that she could go home and start writing her CV, and send it to...
A tap on the shoulder. “Hi, this place taken?” She looked up. The stare was back, making her shiver inside. The knot in her stomach was tightening. He looked different:confident and dangerous. She looked over to her friend. He had spotted a friend from the Advertising class and was congratulating her for some reason. She had a big blue folder in her hand too.
“When are you giving it to me? I’m running out of time,” he whispered. He almost smiled as he finished the sentence.
“I told you the las....last time too. I’m trying. It will take some time.”
He chuckled and leaned in close. He picked up the sandwich she was eating and said, “Too bad you don’t have too much time. Tick tock now.” She winced as he said those last words; they were like sharp cold knives cutting through her skin.
“One special chai. You know, Priti just got a jo­­-What happened to you? Are you okay?”Her friend was back. And now, she was sure, so was he.

For the next couple of weeks, he was everywhere. In the hallway, in the classroom; he even followed her home, but always kept at a distance. She could feel him growing impatient. And every day, he would just smirk, and point at his watch. It was funny, she didn’t think he’d need a watch. She tried telling him she was doing the best she could to deliver it, but he was so restless that she was scared he would lose control. So she kept her head down, and kept working. The only way to get rid of him was to give it to him. But for that she needed time; and she needed him to be patient.

Then one day, there was a miracle. It was a beautiful day. She had a very interesting class on Literary Journalism. She always loved attending that class; there was always so much to learn. Then she ate her lunch with her friends, and laughed at their jokes. He was nowhere to be seen. She thought she saw someone who looked like him, but dismissed the thought when Priya gave them the good news that a news agency was coming to hire them. Her class project had got an A, and the group was heading out to the city coast, Marine Drive. She slung her bag over her shoulder, and walked with her friends, feeling relaxed after a long time.

Marine Drive is beautiful at any time of the day. The light of the sun setting behind the clouds, throws splashes of colour over the city line. The outline of the city is slowly unveiled, gently and softy. She and her friends sat in silence, looking at the expanse of the sea, and the gentle waves. It was spellbinding. She felt a calm she had never felt before. He could not follow her here. This was no place for fears.