Page 188 - Musings 2020

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That Menacing Smile

Devansh Kamodia 2015ABPS0632P Smit Vadalia 2015A4PS0571P

“HEY, Muffin!” I turned around as I heard Jhanvi shouting my name from far away. It was
the day before Jhanvi’s death. Jhanvi ran towards me with her messy hair, holding onto a
square box tightly in her arms. As I looked into her big blue eyes, I could see the fear in
them. She gave me the box quickly while panting heavily. Before I had any chance to ask her,
my boyfriend had slung his hand around my neck. We were planning to watch a night movie
together on Sunday after having a lovely dinner in the shopping mall. It was quite surprising
to meet Jhanvi here because I never told her anything about a date with Raghav previously.
When Jhanvi saw that Raghav stood beside me, she smiled brightly as if she was trying to
hide something from us. Probably, Jhanvi didn’t want to interrupt our date so she left in an
awkward way after saying goodbye. Raghav noticed the box in my arms and asked me what
was inside that box. I shrugged nonchalantly, “Maybe it is a gift from Jhanvi? I have no
idea.” The next day, Jhanvi was found dead in the alley near the shopping mall and a mark of
being strangled was found on her neck. I had never expected that Jhanvi would die in such a
horrifying way when I got the news from her parents. This reminded me of her fearful eyes
when she passed the box to me yesterday. After the night movie, Raghav accompanied me
home. It was a tiring day so I straight away lay down on the bed, leaving the square box on
the table without any curiosity. Slowly, I walked into my room and stared at the box on the
table. It was not big in size but it had a 4-digit lock, which may have hidden something
important inside. However, it was frustrating as I failed to unlock the code again and again.
Jhanvi’s birthday date, Jhanvi’s phone number, Jhanvi’s first day met with me in the
hostel…… None of them was the correct code for the lock of the box.

What else? Jhanvi had always been so mysterious and silent since the day I met her in our
college’s hostel, which was so difficult to guess what she thought. We were housemates but
we took care of each other as sisters. Although I could not understand Jhanvi’s actions every
single time, I always knew that there were some reasons behind them. While I was giving up
and trying to go for a walk outside, my hands lost grip and accidentally dropped the box onto
the floor. Gasp! There were small hidden four numbers written below the square box. It must
be the code! Without hesitation, I picked up the box and unlocked the 4-digits lock
successfully. “Click!” The lock was opened and my hands automatically pulled up the cover
of the box. As soon as my eyes locked onto the things in the box, cold perspiration drenched
my back as there were strands of different hair colours and lengths with a letter. “Whose hair
was this?” That’s the first thing that crossed my mind. Immediately, I read the letter in the
box.

Muffin, I’m sorry for not telling you any of these because I have no proof. It was really weird
when I saw Raghav always sniffed your hair without you knowing it on the day you
introduced him to me. I know that you love him very much but you deserve better than this.
His handsome features and built-up body are used to attract girls like you! These hairs you
are looking at were found in Raghav’s room. My sixth sense was right – Raghav is a
psychopath.

On Saturday night, I met Raghav at the pub. We were drinking all night and I acted drunk. As

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