MEMORIES

Chapter One

I was sitting in a dark corner of my room. I hid my head between in my knees with my arms embracing my legs. I don't know how long I had been sitting like this. I was crying continuously for the last two days. My head was pounding from constant crying, my throat feeling dry and no more tears are left. I tried to sleep but whenever I close my eyes, many images haunted me.

My friends, family and neighbours left after saying their sympathetic words and pitiful looks. But not a single soul tried to understand me or my feelings. Maybe they were afraid that I won't leave them and I'll become their responsibility. That was the last thing I wanted. I didn't want to become a burden to anyone.

After a few hours later, I heard the opening sound of a door. My house was two-storied with two bedrooms downstairs and two upstairs. It also has a living room, a dining area, a kitchen and a storeroom downstairs. It was big enough for a family of four members to live. But nothing matters anymore.

My room was upstairs. I heard footsteps climbing the stairs. I was too tired to get up and open the door. It may be a thief or a kidnapper or even worse, I thought. I still didn't bother to check. I didn't care about anything or anyone.

Suddenly I heard the door of my room open. I slowly raised my head. The sudden light blinded my eyes. I blinked my eyes to adjust to the brightness.

I saw Riya and Ryan coming to me. Their eyes displayed worry and sadness. They were the only true friends I had. Riya and Ryan were twins and they lived a few blocks away. They settled at the place when I was ten years old. We went to the same school. But college life separated us. While I got admission to a nearby college, which is hardly half an hour drive; they went to a college which is more than two hours away. Since they couldn't travel for two hours every day from home to college, they decided to stay at a hostel. They would come every weekend and we'll hang out. I guess they just reached from the hostel after hearing the news and came to my house.

"Diya. . . . " Riya's soft voice called me. I sat straight, facing them. I could see the anger in Ryan's eyes. He looked at me with a piercing gaze. I guess it's from my appearance. I didn't know how I looked, but I'm sure that I was a mess. I hadn't slept for forty-eight hours let alone eat anything. I was too weak. They helped me to get up from the floor. I sat on my bed with Riya and Ryan on either side of me.

"When did you eat your food last time? " Ryan asked me angrily.

I knew this. I knew he would ask this question. I have some health problems and the doctor told me I should eat proper food and take my medicines whenever I feel ill. My family was always concerned about my health and made sure that I ate properly. Of course, being my best friends, Riya and Ryan knew about this and he was angry looking at my tired form. I looked down ignoring both his question and his piercing gaze.

"Diya! I'm asking you " he hissed angrily.

"Two days. " I whispered still looking down unable to meet his gaze.

"Really? Starving yourself? Where will it take you? " he asked angrily. I looked up and met his eyes.

"I just don't care anymore. Why should I even live? I lost everything. Everyone I loved left me. I lost my parents. My brother. Everyone. Even he. . . " I snapped angrily but I trailed off into a whisper.

They looked at me with pity and sadness. Inhaling deeply, I asked
"Give me just one damn reason for why I should live."

" We're here..." Riya said softly. That definitely didn't cheer me up.

"You should live at least until you take your revenge." It was Ryan. I gave him a puzzled look as I didn't understand anything.

"What are you talking about? " I asked him. Riya squeezed Ryan's hand.

"I think you should not... " Riya said but Ryan shook his head before talking to me. Seriously?

"What is going on? " I voiced my doubts.

"It was not an accident. " Ryan said softly. I could have missed it if I wasn't listening properly. I froze at what he said. I couldn't believe my ears.

"What??" I almost yelled at him.

"It was planned. Well planned. " was his reply.

"How do you know? " I asked him. I felt like I'm losing my mind. All of this was too much to consume.

"I got some clues," he told me. I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and shook him.

"Tell me who is it?" I yelled at him, shaking him by his collar. Tears were spilling freely over my cheeks. Tears of sadness, tears of fury, tears of vengeance.

Ryan wiped my tears and said " I won't tell you anything unless you return to your normal self. "