After the suicide attempt inside the college premises, the college authorities issued TC to him through his parents. Rita and Sush got this news and were little content and happy about it. They were thinking that Arun would no more come in to play in their lives but that thought was short lived. Here he was there waiting for them in the bus stop after the college hours.

Sush showed her expression of shock on seeing him and brushed Rita with her shoulders to grab her attention.

“Look, he has come again” said Sush.

“Who?” asked Rita

“Who else? That idiot Arun” replied Sush.

Rita saw him standing in the bus stop along with few other people not known to either of them. It appeared he was standing all alone. He had grown a stubble and was looking little weak and tired. He wasn’t looking the same as he used to be. Could be because of his hospitalization and medication all these months plus the loss of education.

“Oh ! No ! not again !” exclaimed Rita and continued saying “well any way just ignore him and lets get into our bus and keep moving. If he comes to talk to you, just keep mum and don’t reply anything. Not a word. Ok ?” advised Rita.

“Ok. Ok. What if he misbehaves ?”. asked Sush

“I’ll handle that, if he does.” Said Rita.

So, they were ready to confront him if he tries to do something this time. They went and stood away from him in the bus stop.

Rita was browsing through her mobile to see if she had stored Arun’s father’s mobile no. She had forgotten his father’s name. She couldn’t locate in her list of 200 numbers in the mobile.

She then asked Sush if she remembers his name. She couldn’t remember either. Rita was then browsing to see if she could find the number of the local police station and she was able to get the number of Inspector Lokesh’s mobile no. She called up to see if it is working. The number was ringing and thereafter she immediately disconnected.

“Not to worry. I have the Inspector’s number. This time, we will alert him if he does something” she said.

Over five minutes they were waiting and Arun didn’t move from the place where he was standing.

Sush asked “Hey ! how come he is just standing over there unmoved?”

“Surprising. Anyway its good for us. Don’t worry about him.” Replied Rita.

Sush got a doubt whether he saw them or not. She pushed her head forward towards him to see if he is looking at them. Yes, he was looking at them only and she then realized that he has seen them but still didn’t make any move. This was slightly unusual of him.

“He is looking at us only” said Sush.

“Keep quiet and stop discussing about him” said Rita.

“Ok. Ok. Don’t get annoyed” said Sush.

There was no sign of this bus today and it had crossed the normal time. Rita and Sush then started discussing about that day’s Dance programme after the class while Arun was just looking at both of them and kept on staring at them without moving from the place where he was standing. Once, some other passenger who came to the bus stop stood in between his vision which prevented him from staring at Sush and Rita and he made his adjustments thereafter and stood like a statue just looking at them.

After few minutes, the bus came and Rita and Sush got into the bus and got themselves seated in their usual seats. Arun also got into the bus and was standing slightly behind their seat though some seats were vacant. Sush was curious to know whether Arun also got into the bus and she quickly turned back to position herself when she noticed he was standing just behind her.

No discussions. No sign of any movement. He just kept standing and looking at her. During the journey tension was prevailing and they both were tight lipped and didn’t talk a word about Arun during the entire journey. Arun made no moves to go near them or made any attempt to talk to them.

They reached their destination and both Rita and Sush got down from the bus and so did Arun. From the bus stop they have to walk for about 5 minutes to reach Rita’s house and another 5 minutes to reach Sush’s house. Both of them noticed that Arun had got down from the bus and was following them from behind.

“Rita, this guy is followed us” said Sush

“Yes. I know. I am watching” said Rita and continued saying “Look, I will accompany you till your house and then return back to my house. I can’t leave you alone. This guy perhaps is waiting for me to go my house first and leave you alone”.

“I think, that’s a good idea.” Said Sush

So both of them walked together till Sush’s house and Arun was just following them and made no attempt to talk to any of them. They both wished each other and once Rita was sure that Sush was safe at her house she returned.

As she was walking back to her house, she noticed Arun going towards the tea stall near her house giving an indication that he is going to wait there.

“Sush” Rita called her mobile. “This guy is waiting near Kaka’s tea stall. I will come with my scooty and pick you up for the dance class. Don’t come down till I tell you”

“Oh ! no ! what is he waiting for there ? What is he upto ?” said Sush in a worried tone.

“Don’t worry Rita. I am there to see nothing happens. Let’s wait and see what he has up his sleeves this time” consoled Rita but she was equally worried about this strange behavior from Arun.

Rita was quick to freshen up, have her snacks and was ready to leave for the dance class.

“Bye Mom” said Rita, took her scooty keys and moved towards the parking lot.

She drove towards Sush’s house and was looking at the tea stall. Arun was still there sipping tea and having some biscuits along with it. As she reached Sush’s apartments, she called her up and made her come down and Sush was also ready and was quick to respond to her call. Both of them were ready to move. Sush noticed that there was an autorickshaw waiting near the tea stall and as they moved crossing the tea stall, Sush turned back to see Arun getting into the Auto.

The Auto was following the Scooty.

………………….to be continued