Because I could not stop for Death

Ayesha opened a tarnished steel tap. A few drops of water dripped.

"Huhh…" Ayesha's head was burning. She wanted a splash of cold water on her face.

She closed her eyes and walked in no direction. Loneliness has its own grace. There is no one to hurt, no one to love miserably, no heartbreaks, crying, hurting, but loneliness. Like a bird flying aimlessly, in the silence of the sea.

She touched the bandage tightly wrapped on her wrist, it itched. She tried to commit suicide. It has been a week and she could not overcome the horror. Where was Manik? Will he come to meet her? Knowing that she was back to school after a week.

Ayesha opened her eyes and stared outside the window. If Manik has ever done something great was to discover this washroom. No one came here. A lonely place.

Manik, who was the reason for the bandage on her wrist. He was a sweet guy, like a child who has fallen in love. His acts were innocent, those soulful eyes and juvenile smiles he passed to Ayesha. Pure love it was.

Ayesha moved a little towards the door. Just here it was their first kiss. Manik was a little stupid, acting wildly, biting, and salivating a lot. And Ayesha trying to calm him down.

She smiled closing her eyes.

Everything was magical with Manik. Love had become an addiction. Her every emotion was connected to Manik.

And then…

Ayesha opened her eyes there was someone she thought. Someone went running past the toilet. Like a shadow. Is Manik trying to horrify her? Does he want to play?

Ayesha smiled.

"Manik…." She called the person outside the washroom door. "I know it's you."

And the next moment was swift, like a wink. A man slid into the toilet. His face was covered with a handkerchief, his eyes of a predator. A long and polished dagger in his hand. Without a moment of hesitation, like a murderer, he covered Ayesha's mouth with his palm, positioned his knife over her neck, and cautiously cut her throat. Blood spilled like a fountain from the cut.

Through her blurred vision, she saw the man, tall, in a formal blue shirt and pants of a darker shade, holding the knife. She knew who he was, she pointed her finger toward him and tried to utter something, but all in vain. Behind him stood a woman, aged, yet professional, how can Ayesha forget that beautiful face?

"Make it fast" the woman ordered and Ayesha closed her eyes to never open them again.

***

"It rained feebly that morning. Around ten minutes to eight, I pulled my bicycle and waited for Ayesha. Often she comes late." Kritika recounted and rested her intertwined fingers on the table. The investigator on the other side of the table listened earnestly.

"After a while, a bicycle bell clinked.… It was Ayesha. Driving her bicycle speedily. She beamed, when our eyes met. Then I glided on my bicycle seat and we headed for school." Kritika's voice was weak.

"On the way, we didn't talk much. We were late.… and… I couldn't muster the confidence to talk to her." Kritika gulped.

Investigator nodded. How difficult it was to meet an after a week who had tried to commit suicide.

"We entered the school by eight." She continued in a fragile voice. "I sighed with relief, we won't be punished. It was in the parking that we met Lavish."

The investigating police officer checked a list kept on the table. "Lavish Dubey?"

"Yes" Kritika confirmed.

"He was alone though. After exchanging a smile, Ayesha asked him, "Where is Manik?"…, to which Lavish replied that he was unwell and couldn't come to school. Ayesha then mumbled in my ears "Hope he is fine." I returned a grin, that meant, 'he would be'." Kritika cracked her finger joints. It seemed she had a habit of doing so.

Investigator looked into her eyes and then scribbled something on a piece of paper.

"Then?"

"Then we had our morning assembly. It was longer than usual though. Ayesha stood in front of me. We talked a little and giggled in the midst of the assembly. A boy even fainted, I don't know his name but he stood beside me." Kritika started scribbling her nails on the table.

"After the tiresome morning, we moved to our classes. We had our mathematics class. It has always bored me and Ayesha. Moreover, our maths teacher is strict. We tried to prevent him in every possible way." Kritika looked at her nails and moved to the edge of her chair.

'She must be disturbed after the incident' Investigator thought.

"Do you need water?" Investigator offered her a water bottle.

"No" Kritika refused and continued. "Our maths teacher entered the class with long strides and forcefully hit the book on his table. We wished him and he gestured for us to sit. He began the lesson seriously. Ayesha wanted to go out, she wanted to bunk this class. So she moved to the maths sir and asked, "May I go to the washroom, sir?" in her polite voice.

"No" the sir chided "No washroom during my class" he glared at Ayesha.

"Sir, it's urgent" Ayesha looked innocent.

"Okay, go" our sir permitted."

"Hmm… then?" asked the police investigator.

"A moment later a peon came with an application. Sir announced, "Manik come with me". And he left the classroom with Manik."

Investigator had an application that said, Manik was unwell and he would not be able to attend further classes.

"Then?" Investigator persisted. Kritika's eyes were in tears, she wiped them with her hands.

"Then even after the maths class got over Ayesha didn't return. Not even after lunch. I was looking at the door repeatedly." Kritika started weeping. "She never returned sir."

"I am really sorry, but we would find her, very soon." Investigator was sorry for a seventh-standard child, who had lost her best friend. "Where did she often go, I mean when she bunked the classes."

"She told me once that,… the girls' washroom on the third floor. It was her secret place. No one uses it… I suppose because of its lonely location and there were rumors of ghosts."

The police investigator rested back on his chair and closed his eyes. Last month, a similar case appeared of a missing girl from this same toilet.

"And one last thing…., can you tell me something about Manik?"

"Sir, he is a good friend of Ayesha. She talked a lot about him. Though I don't know what was in between them." Kritika again cracked her finger joints.

"What was between them? What was the reason for Ayesha committing suicide a week ago." Officer forced the words like talking to a suspect.

"I don't know sir, Ayesha didn't talk much to me about that incident. Even we rarely talked about Manik. I promise sir…. I promise."

"Anything more you know" Investigator persisted.

"No sir" Kritika refused. Teardrops adhered to her cheeks.

***

"Yes, yes… please sit" the Police investigator offered a chair to Lavish. While he reviewed the responses of Kratika.

Lavish drew the chair and sat with an agitated look.

"Could you recount everything that happened on that day… and be specific, every word, information is of value?" Investigator kept the paper and looked into Lavish's round eyes.

"That day it rained in the morning. I left for Manik's home fifteen minutes before eight, but his mother told me he was unwell and won't come to school. So I paddled my bicycle to school and managed to reach by eight." Investigator laid his back on the chair, he knew what would happen next.

"In the parking area, I met Ayesha. I grinned, and she grinned back. She then asked, "Where is Manik?", I answered her that he was unwell and won't come to school. She then whispered something into Kritika's ears and then both smiled. I thought, they had some secret plan." Manik paused for a jiffy. He was lost in thoughts, gazing at the corner of room. Investigator knew there was something valuable he could tell.

"Then?" Investigator persisted.

"Then we had our morning assembly. I remember I stood beside Ayesha. The assembly was long that day. And she stood behind Kritika. The boy behind me, Arnab, he even fainted. "

"But why was assembly long… was there something special that day?" Investigator paused Manik. He thought Kritika also said the same thing.

"Sir, that day we had thought, news, speech, and a drama too. A theater drama... yes, it was additional that day."

"Okay. Then?" Investigator made a note.

"Then we proceeded to our classroom. It was the maths teacher's lesson. He entered with wide paces and threw his book on the table, with a thud. He wasted no time and started the lesson." Manik paused and looked into the eyes of the investigator.

"I was sitting beside Manik, as I always did." Lavish paused. He looked at the corner of the room and then into the eyes of the investigator. "He was serious that day. Not because of illness, he has been ill before but never like this. And all this I knew was because of Ayesha."

Officer's eyes expanded. It was what he was looking for. He wanted to understand the relationship between Manik and Ayesha.

"You might prove to be very useful in finding Ayesha, please Lavish, can you tell what was between them?"

"Yes sir I am not like Kratika, I knew she would try to be unknown to everything. Her mother explained to her 'The lesser you tell him, the more easily you are out of this case'." Lavish replied, trying to gain confidence.

The officer knew Kritika was acting unknown to things despite being close to Ayesha.

"Sir Manik is a very innocent, helpful, and caring friend. He met Ayesha when we were promoted to the seventh standard. Ayesha was new in this school, and she had an extraordinary habit of making friends quickly. Manik would stare at her during classes, it was a day to celebrate for him when their eyes met and she smiled." It seemed Lavish was reciting a well-practiced speech, his fingers intertwined. "Ayesha first came and waved at Manik. I still remember Manik's face turning pink. That was the first time they talked. And then there was no turning back. They started talking for hours, tried to know each other, and finally fell in love. Manik proposed to Ayesha. I clearly remember his agitation."

Officer noted. He smiled, Lavish was like a teddy bear waiting to explode, and information he knew.

"And their love story was going well until…" Investigator was ready to note the words that would now come. "Manik's mother discovered it. She saw his WhatsApp chats. His mother scolded him took his mobile phone and even didn't let him come to school for a week." Lavish's eyes were brown and round, they had a concern and sympathy for his friend. "When I next met Manik his eyes were dull, face expressionless, and no joy of coming back to school. Maturity is reflected in his words. He told me, he loves his mom, and he has promised never to meet Ayesha again."

***

"Ayesha…" gloom reflected in Manik's teary eyes. "She…" his chubby cheeks and round nose were dull with fever.

"Manik I know it's difficult for you but, Ayesha might be there, alive, waiting for us to rescue her." Officer held Manik's cold hand in his.

"Sir…, my mother discovered what was between us. After my father's death, my mother was alone, managing the company, taking care of me, and never letting me miss my father." Tears filled Manik's lower eyebrow.

"Mumma never scolded me, or even interrupted but she was devastated by my act. I could see her agony, her hope in me was broken. She always wanted me to do something beyond family business. And…"

"And?" Officer looked up, scribbling on his notepad.

"And, mother said, she explained to me, love is a treacherous thing, never fall for it."

"Hmm…" mumbled the investigator. Love is indeed very treacherous, he thought. Every other case he faced had a love or money problem.

"But I did it, the heinous act. I never thought about my promises to mom. How sad she was with me." Manik broke into tears. At times drawing air forcefully with a whistle.

Manik was a precocious boy. His father had died two years ago, leaving his wife and boy with a great fortune. The Chum Chips Company, an India-based startup had become an international company. Manik's mother was now its CEO.

Investigator looked into Manik's eyes. After having a great business, and being a millionaire his mother never let Manik spoil. And Manik thinks it is all his mistake. The child is extraordinary, and the mother is caring.

"I promised my mother to never talk to Ayesha. And she always demanded we talk for once. She cried, I could always see tears in her eyes. She would go to the toilet on the second floor, probably to wait for me. She was spoiling, her grades were falling. Often she was punished. But I could never break my mother's promise." Manik was suffering too much. Every word felt heavier in his voice.

Manik waited for a moment. Closed his eyes in meditation. He dried his tears, but the pain was still raw.

"Sir it was my mistake she committed suicide. She cut her wrist. They say she bled a lot, only saved by a minute or two." Investigator picked up a document paper. It was written.

'Ayesha had cut her left wrist with a sharp kitchen knife. In about 10 minutes her mother came and not opening the door Ayesha's father broke it. Ayesha was found unconscious on her bed, her hand dangling from the bed.'

"Sir, do you think she committed suicide again?" Manik's eyes were in tears, innocence lighting his eyes.

"No Manik, she is just not there. But I believe, she is alive somewhere. Waiting for us to help." Officer ensured.

Manik pulled his head down in disbelief.

***

The investigator wore his rubber gloves. He turned on the tap, and no water dripped. He looked around the taps were tarnished, pipes broken, walls unplastered in places, and a rotten smell everywhere. Patches of black coloured fungus lurked in the corner. Despite having a police team clicking photographs and collecting pieces of evidence, Investigator felt loneliness, a depressing solitude. 'Kids nowadays are weird'. A picture of her daughter floated in the investigator's eyes.

"Sir…."

Investigator opened his eyes.

"Sir… what I think is… don't you believe in ghost tales? Sir… from last two years, there have been five suicides in this toilet. Sir… Suicide is just a reason to close the case. I have worked on the last two cases. The tale goes the same, a girl was depressed looking or attempted suicide. Then visits this toilet and is missing." The sub-officer, Vijay's voice was deep, his eyes widened and mustache hairs concealing his upper lip.

Investigator smiled, and in a moment his expressions were that of determination, "It is not a suicide. It is a murder, and all six cases were. Even if it's a ghost, I will catch him." His teeth pressed together.

"Sir, CCTV footage is ready." Another sub-officer came, his voice is hoarse and purposeful.

"Yes…" Investigator turned, looking at sub-officer Vijay from the corner of his eyes.

"He doesn't know, what this ghost will do," Vijay spoke to himself. A little experience in his eyes.

"This is nonsense... complete nonsense."

"Sorry sir, the camera on that corridor doesn't work sometimes." Peon answered, trying to conceal the mistake.

"So why the time is just an hour before and after the missing of Ayesha."

"Suicide, sir" a lady with a shrill voice, yet authority was standing at the door of the camera room. Her saare done smartly and her hair not reaching her shoulder. "Every time a new investigator arrives with the idea of a missing girl, creating headlines in the newspaper."

"Madam please cooperate." Sub-officer Murthy interrupted.

"Last we installed a new CCTV in that week, a warning board was placed and all students were well informed about the restriction." Lady folded her hands, her eyes narrowed.

"I would like to talk to the Principal" Investigator ordered, still looking at the blank footage.

"I am the principal" the lady answered, her hands still folded professionally.

Investigator looked back, grinned, and continued. "Do you have clips for CCTV that's on the school gate," Investigator asked.

"Yes…" Peon answered, first looking at the principal and then the investigator.

"By the way ma'am where were you at that time of 'suicide'?" Investigator smiled.

"I was in my office. With a parent." Answered the principal, her voice furious.

"And who was that parent?" Grinned investigator.

"Pathetic… do you doubt me? I was with Miss Malika, mother of Manik..."

"No no ma'am… no doubt…" Investigator mumbled as he saw the principal leaving with heavy strides.

***

Investigator stood in front of a board. On the board, facts were written and images pinned, lines drawn, showing connections. It was 2 AM by the watch, above board.

Sub-officer Vijay opened the door with a thud.

"Sir, when are you planning to leave?"

"Not till the morning," Investigator uttered.

Sub-officer beamed. He still believes in the ghost tale.

"No worry sir, I have punched out your card. We can be up here till the morning."

Investigator was busy with his thoughts. Trying to weave possible plots.

"What did you say?" Investigator beamed at the sub-officer. Something caught him.

"I have punched out your card sir." Sub-officer repeated.

"All will think that I am gone. Not up here till this time. Damn, that's the thing." Investigator clenched his fist.

Sub-officer Murthy entered with three cups of coffee and looked at the investigator with interest.

Investigator moved to the board. Where broken facts and discreet pictures were pinned.

"In the CCTV footage of the school gate. Miss Malika, Manik's mother came into the school at around eight when school starts. Then her car left by 8:10, then she came again at around 9:15 to take Manik home."

"Yes, sir that's true." Sub-officer Murthy spoke while, while Mr. Vijay only nodded.

"But principal ma'am today she told Miss Malika was with her in her office."

There was a moment's silence.

"It means Miss Malika came with her driver. Manik left for school. She stayed in the school and met the principal so that no one suspects her presence. Told her driver to leave and come back by 9:15 so that we all feel she was not in the school. No one else entered the campus during this time."

"That's great, sir." Said Sub-officer Murthy.

Sub-officer Vijay nodded and said "Sir but I have a different explanation."

"No ghost stories please" Investigator glared, while Mr. Murthy grinned.

"No… no sir. I have been a part of all previous five cases. And an interesting fact always disturbs me. Whenever a girl is gone missing, it has always been the same class by a maths teacher, Mr. Pathak."

"Hmm…" mumbled the investigator.

"In the last case, a note was confiscated from the victim's diary."

The investigator and Mr. Murthy were taken aback.

"Bring that note," Investigator ordered mechanically.

Mr. Vijay went, and after about a quarter-hour returned with a file. From it he produced a document. A duplicate of the diary note. The words were illegible and incorrectly spelled. But weighted with a girl's mental trauma. A girl who was depressed, and tried to commit suicide. Then was found missing after a few days. The words ran;

Death, a beautiful man perhaps. A man who helps in the lowest times. Carries you round to lonely lovely places. Heals you at times. But I know it kills you, with a dagger and handkerchief over his face…. The horror.

'Because I could not stop for Death –

He kindly stopped for me –

The Carriage held but just Ourselves –

And Immortality.'

***

Because I could not stop for Death...

The words meant something. The girl was depressed, her words reflected mental agony, and she called death her friend. Obviously, she wanted to die.

But who is this 'man'? Mr. Vijay said the maths teacher was always part of the story. A teacher who is strict, but seldomly permits a girl to wander.

Investigator pointed a finger at the maths teacher's and Miss Malika's photograph, they must be investigated.

Miss Malika, how easily she could have texted and called Ayesha to the toilet the next day. Stayed in the school without any reason and got hold of Ayesha in the toilet. Her motive might be to shield her son and eliminate Ayesha.

And the maths teacher, he knew when Ayesha left, where she would go and in all six cases he knew the absence of the victim. But why would he abduct them?

Investigator took a Chum chip. It tasted better than usual. He took a sip of coffee.

Hope all the six girls are alive.

His pulse started retreating, his heart squeezing violently, his lips grew in pain, and his pupil enlarged.

"Aah… aah…" he shouted pathetically.

'Investigator is dead.' Typed Mr. Murthy, the image of him, mixing poison in the cup of coffee, reminiscent in his mind.

On the other side of the phone, Miss Malika folded her legs, turned her office chair, and made a call.

"Investigator is dead." She barked, her lips exquisitely smiling.

"Oh… you are a devil." Replied the man on another side.

"Who would be your next target." Asked Miss Malika.

"Another depressed girl from my maths class."

Both Miss Malika and Maths teacher laughed in unison.

On the other hand, the media and researchers could never discover what meat is used to make the Chum Chips.