Meeting the neighbor

Vidhi was curious to meet her neighbour. She felt strange that she had been staying in that home for almost a month, she had met her upstairs and downstairs neighbors but not her next door neighbour. These nightly routines of the neighbour were making Vidhi curious about them.

Next day was a Sunday. Vidhi had gone to a nearby supermarket to buy the groceries. On her way back she happened to meet a young girl. She looked a couple of years younger to Vidhi. Vidhi realised that the girl was her next door neighbour. She was delighted to finally meet the mysterious neighbour. Vidhi spoke to her and found out that the girl, Seema was sweet and friendly. Vidhi invited her for coffee so that they could relax and chat. Seema happily accepted Vidhi's invitation.

Seema and Vidhi sat down, having a cup of coffee while having a friendly conversation. They spoke about their lives and careers. This was the time when did he asked Seema the burning question, "I do not mean to be nosey. I am just curious. I want to ask you something." Seema did not seem to mind.
" Last week I was working late night. Around 2 o'clock at night I heard that someone knocked on your door. I thought maybe someone in your family works in healthcare or law enforcement. Just wanted to know because it is always great to have someone in those noble professions," Vidhi was careful with her words not to sound intrusive. She did not want to offend her next door neighbour or make her feel that she was disturbed because of a family member.

Vidhi noticed that Seema's expressions changed. Seema was relaxed a few minutes ago but now she appeared tensed. Her jaw clenched. Discomfort was apparent in her demeanor. Vidhi tried to smoothen out the misunderstanding, "it did not bother me. I can completely understand how demanding these jobs are. I thought that I should know my temporary neighbours better. Nothing besides that".

It still did not help. Seema was unable to relax. Finally she spoke, " I don't know what you are talking about. I stay alone here. I have a daytime job. Nobody visits in the night. Maybe you heard the knocks from somebody else's door". Seema left shortly after.

This whole conversation made Vidhi feel uncomfortable. Seema sudden change in behaviour made her wonder that the truth was something different. She realised that Seema had not been telling her the entire truth and keeping a secret. Vidhi wondered "if the nightly visitor is a lover. Maybe Seema did not want to discuss the personal matters with a neighbour home she had met just now".

Suddenly another thought crossed Vidhi's mind, "what if the visitor is not a lover but a stalker? This happens with most pretty girls like Seema. What if someone is trying to impose their will on Seema? Maybe Seema is afraid of them. Maybe that is why she does not want to discuss". If that was the case then Vidhi needed to move somewhere else for her own safety. She could not be the idea of presence of a stalker nearby. But she was not sure about that.

There was only one way to find out. Her downstairs neighbour Mrs Sharma knew about everyone's lives. Vidhi decided to speak with her elderly neighbour. What Vidhi did not know was that she was getting closer to the horrifying and tragic past of her neighbour Seema.