This is Life

WRITTEN BY ILLUSTRATED BY

Krish Sajnani Fahad Khatuda

IIIT Comps 2nd Year Mechanical 3rd Year Krishna Shreeram

Comps 2nd Year

“Careful, that’s some dangerous stuff you are holding right there” exclaimed Jack as the jar of billysap almost slipped away. I strengthened my grip on it and kept it on the shelf. A loud bell echoed through the entire plant announcing the end of our shift. I took a quick shower and got changed. The clock struck 12 as I was heading out the door. It was way past our customary closing time. With no other cars in sight, I pulled my coat tighter around my body and started walking along the cold, deserted road. The night was eerie and bitter. Then, step, step, step. I heard something shuffling across the sidewalk. Before I could react, I felt a strong grip on my neck, and then THUD! The world in front of my eyes became blurry and everything blacked out within seconds.

The open night sky was replaced by the faint humming of the fan. The atmosphere felt uninviting, and the humid air stung my body. The door creaked open and a large blurry figure towered above me, phone in one hand, gun in the other. I tried to flail my arms around but I was bound to a chair and my muffled shouts were of no help. “Now, now, calm down. This is pointless, no one can hear you. Just give me what I need and we will be on our way”, said the large figure while removing the gag from my mouth. “What’s this place and why am I here? What do you–?” “Are you dumb? Don’t you realize you have been kidnapped? You need to arrange ten lakhs in cash or suffer the consequences.” “You don’t understand. I don’t–” My sentence was cut off by the shrill ring of the phone. He replied in a muffled voice, gagged me and immediately walked out of the room.

The door swung open again a few moments later as he reappeared. But the phone was nowhere to be seen. He instead had a black plastic bag, big enough to fit a man. His expressions completely changed once he saw me, almost as if he had seen a ghost. “You… you were… how are you… what the…?” “What’s wrong with you? Let me go, I don’t have anything for you.” “How the hell did you get back up? I checked your pulse. It can’t be possible. I– ” he exclaimed while pinching himself. “What are you talking about? You were here two seconds ago, on the phone.” “What? That was yesterday when I brought you here.” “Yesterday? That happened just now.” “Stop, enough of these games. Whatever it is you were trying to do by faking your death. Obviously, it did not work out.” “Why would I fake–” “Shut up and stay put while I get the phone.” With one last glance at me, he left the room. The door closed and I slipped out of consciousness.

The captor re-emerged but there was something different. Those eyes that once ruthlessly stared at me were now filled with fear. I guess he finally started to believe I wasn’t lying.