Chapter 3

"Macha, wake up da. It's serious!!!"
"Let me sleep for some more time da." I said rolling from end to end of the bed. Shreyas was in despair trying to wake me up.
"Macha, It's serious. Avantika's..."

That name was enough to have me woken up. I was immediately on my feet.
"What happened to Avantika?"
"Supposedly she is in some problem. Come lets go and find out."

In a couple of minutes, we were on our bikes. As the chill of the morning wind tore through us, we drove upto Sharav. Memories flooded me. My first meeting with Avantika, in class 8, our long chats on the phone, the various treats, the long walks inside IITM, the morning I proposed to her, and the evening that followed bringing rejection and anger. I was now in my 4th year. My last semester, and I hadn't spoken to Avantika for over 18 months now. I kept in touch with her day today activity thanks to Shre. He was our only common friend now. Others took sides. It had been tough times for me. I used to pine for her almost everyday, but I did get some consolation in being able to see her everyday.

As I was running through these thoughts, we were in Sharav. I was in Avantika's domain after one and a half years. That too to find out what had gone wrong with her!! On reaching there, we realized it was a serious matter after all. There was a body lying on the floor. It was that of Avantika's roommate Shalini. There were doctors and ambulances, and I definitely feared something.

My fears were confirmed when the doctor did tell us that she had died. As far as I knew, and the whole institute knew, Shalini was a very nice girl with very clean habits and was one of the most stud girls in the insti. This came as a shock to everyone. Why did this have to happen to Shalini?
The suspect was Avantika. Last night the two of them had milk together, and it had now been confirmed that Shalini's glass of milk had been poisoned.

I could see Avantika with eyes exhausted of tears, on the other side of the room. I went over to comfort her. She most definitely needed some comfort at the moment. The whole group of IITM girls were perked up on her. As I went over, I saw a stare slowly disappear and a helpless, sad look come over her face. It was then that I decided, come what may, I would get my Avantika back safe!!