The Diary (#2,#3,#4)

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To read the #1 part: https://www.launchora.com/story/56592/details

Thanks for launching :) 

This is #2, #3,#4.

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Okay. So let me pick up where I left off. Because every detail in this story is important- especially the dreams.

As I was saying- ah, yes- the landline call. 

So just two days after Priya's death a call on my landline claimed that her death was her diary.

I lived with Priya for two years and she was more of a friend than a life partner.

So the moment the phone got cut, my heart was racing. I was trembling with fear. You know, how those horror movies begin. This was the horror movie of my life. 

It took two minutes to settle- I almost stumbled over the dining table, got a glass of water to drink (I felt alcohol was the best option, but Priya didn't let alcohol in the fridge) and made a mental check list:

Priya married me but she loved another man.

She knew I am gay.

That was our deal.

I don't know the lover's name. But she did address him with some name once. 

I couldn't recollect that name. I cursed myself for not listening much carefully.

So if the landline call was true, I had to check under the mattress. 

Let me tell you, I rushed into the bedroom (No we didn't really share a bed, I slept on the couch most of the times) and pulled the mattress upward in a jiffy.

Yes. There it was. The Diary. 

Now it was tough. For a moment I cursed myself for not getting a Caller ID for the landline. 

Smart move by that caller.

So there I was, standing over a diary that belonged to my deceased wife. 

For a moment I did think that it would be mere coincidence- but then how could the caller be so precise. 

I picked the book up and inspected the same. It was a diary, indeed.

The first page read:

A property of Priya Thakur. 

The heart was engulfed with fear. 

The fear of what a person would write in their diary. 

#3

Date: 18th July, 2013

Ms. Lobo really didn't like me leaving in the lunch break, but little did she know I wasn't going home. 

Revan was still at work.

I went to meet Daksh at a local coffee shop. It looked like he wanted to meet since so much time. My phone was buzzing since ten that morning and it was all from various phone numbers. 

Should have known it was him.

 "We need to sort a few things" he grumbled as I sat down on the table.

Looked like he wasn't happy with me being a married woman. 

Now Daksh and I were going on-and-off because I was married. Because I never told him Revan was gay.

He thought I was romantically involved with my husband. It took a real long time to convince him to stay- without telling him Revan's secret.

"Listen honey" I told him, "I know what you are thinking but you are wrong. I maybe a married woman but my husband is not interested in me too". 

"That is not possible" he shouted, "anyone can love you. I am here for you Priya. Let us run away from this marriage of yours. To somewhere abroad. I shifted my base in the city just for you".

He was right- when I had to settle in the city, Daksh was ready to move too- all for me. So both of us are here in this city- since six months.

But what do you do when you have a very supportive husband and want to run out of his life? 

Revan, you are my friend and I respect you. 

Would you ever want me to run away from you who has always supported me? 

How would you feel? 

I may have to talk to him. But then I don't think I should.

#4

That hit me.

She wanted to talk to me. But she didn't. Because she knew I would be hurt. 

I sighed.

So yes- his name was Daksh. 

 Now I had to look into a surname too. 

It was decided- the police would not know anything about Daksh. 

I have decided to keep the police out of this whole narration anyway.

Yes they did trouble more than they should have. I was called to the police station on the basis of inquiry and all the assorted police things they are supposed to do. It came till a point where they had people dispatched to her house back home, inquiring about me. 

I believe Daksh did come as a name associated with Priya but they were discrete enough that his name was cleared. I do know they were discrete, more than those college couples anyday.

So yes, the first entry in her diary made my heart feel heavy. It felt like Priya was calling out for help, an answer, and I couldn't give her one.

 If she ever asked me the same question in person I would be have been sad. 

But then at the end I would let her go. With a heavy heart. 

I kept the diary down. Yes, I kept it. I didn't want to read it any further. 

I walked out of the house and locked the door behind me.

It was my time to follow the trail my deceased wife had left behind.

(to be continued)