Vengeance of the Dead
By: Afifa Hanif
Tags: Short Story, Fiction, Crime, Bullying, Stories

"Bro, what is this mess? Is this your room or some trash can? “Nilofer shouted at her as soon as she entered her room. She was here to pick Zara for the party.

"I can't decide what to wear, I am so helpless" she cried.

"No worries, when Nilofer is here tension are not here."

Nilofer was her best friend, she was with her since childhood and nobody knew her better than Nilofer.

Nilofer helped her get ready, she knew how Zara wanted to look really good because Aunn might be there and she wanted to attract him.

Party was in its full swing, there were a huge number of people enjoying themselves.

Zara and Nilofer met Alice. They had fun but Zara was constantly searching for that one face, Aunn. She didn't know where to find him and she couldn't even show that she was looking for him.

Dave was Alice's boyfriend, she always hated him, it was something in his eyes that she disliked. Then she got to know how he harassed so many girls at her college but everyone was so afraid of him that they never raised voice against him.

Dave used to cause distress to Zara and Nilofer. They always ignored him.

Zara went to the restroom to get fresh. Dave followed her and tried to touch her inappropriately, she was very anxious and perplexed.

Out of nowhere, Aunn appeared and punched him in the face. For a minute both Zara and Dave couldn't understand what just happened.

Zara felt as if the prince of her dreams came to save her from the evil.

She was standing there confused while both of the boys were about to fight.

Aunn realized that Zara is uncomfortable, so he warned Dave, held Zara from her hand and took her out.

Zara couldn't speak a word, Aunn said: " You don't need to worry next time he does something like that, instead of getting frightened speak up for yourself" and Zara, she wasn't even listening she was just looking at him with so much admiration.

Nilofer saw them together and came towards them. Aunn told her about all that happened. She thanked him and explained how Zara has been tortured by him many times.

Zara stared angrily at Nilofer but she told him everything.

Aunn seemed really furious, but asked Zara and Nilofer for a ride home. They agreed.

They dropped Zara, when Aunn started to ask Nilofer about Zara. Nilofer wanted to tell him how Zara has a crush on him but she did not want to be killed by her. She smiled and told what he asked.

Zara got a message from Aunn that night, which read: "you are so strong, don't let the demons dim your inner light".

She didn't know why he was saying that but she somewhere knew what he was talking about.

Days went by and everything was good.

It was Aunn’ s birthday and he invited Zara and Nilofer. They had a great time and that's when they started to get close to each other. They used to talk on calls. They used to meet and have fun. They were friends. Zara never told him about her feelings.

However Nilofer wanted her to confess but she just couldn't.

She was passing through the corridor of her university when Dave came in front of her. "What do you think? You'll come up with your boyfriend and I will get scared?" She was nervous. She couldn't even say Aunn was not her boyfriend.

" I will take revenge" he said angrily pointing his finger towards her.

She was terrified; she did not want to tell Aunn about this. But her pale expressions told that there was something wrong, and when Aunn asked she couldn't stop herself. She started crying. In all these months of their friendship they never talked about Dave again. But now Aunn thought it to be the right time to make Zara strong so that she stands up to that bully.

He made her sit and listen to him.

Dave told him about an incident that happened with him. He went on saying “I was a victim of a bully at my school because I was fat at that time. He teased me all the time, he made me cry. He even beat me up. I was never able to stand up to him. Then, I got a friend. I told him. He made me believe in self-confidence. He taught to me to fight bullies. I am forever indebted to him. He used to say it takes one to bully, but two to stop it. That's how I learned to make friends and after that I never let that boy bully me. You need to do that. I want to be that friend. We will make this happen. You will stand up to him. "

This felt so powerful; she decided to stand up to him. She knew Aunn has got her back.

But she did not know Aunn would leave her alone so early.

Alice was a good friend of Zara but after the day at her house she was hesitating while meeting Zara. Zara realized that maybe it is because of what happened that day between her and Dave. She wanted to tell everything to her and she did. But Alice did not believe her. And it was expected. After that day Alice totally cut it off with Zara.

Aunn was the only force that made her feel comfortable in her own. She was falling for him more and more.

She always thought if Aunn would love her. Wouldn't it be a perfect life one could ask for? But this life is not a bed of roses.

When Dave got to know what Zara had told Alice. He confronted Zara and tried to warn her again but this time it was not the old Zara. Zara did not get scared; she faced him quite calmly and made eye contact with him. When he started to get really troublesome she slapped him and went away.

Dave was furious; he knew who was behind all this.

Aunn with the help of Nilofer arranged a dinner for Zara and himself and his plan was to propose her.

He liked her from the day at Alice's house. He never told her but she was all he wanted. She was his reason of smile. She was her everything the day after they met.

Everything was perfectly arranged. Zara and Aunn reached there. Zara was surprised more than happy. It was just like a dream until the villain arrived.

Dave came out of nowhere and pointed a gun at Aunn.

Aunn was not afraid of him at all but Zara started crying and begging him not to do anything.

Dave was red with anger; he wanted the revenge of the slaps. He did not think of anything and shot him.

He was lying there in blood; his white shirt had now turned in red. Zara's red shirt was red but with blood. She was crying and shouting for help. Her dream was shattered. She was in reality living in doom. Nobody could listen to her.

Dave ran away, he was also terrified of what he did.

This was her life. Happiness and joy was never a part of her life. She lost everything when she only found it finally.

Police arrived, people gathered, everyone was there except Aunn who was there for her always.

Months passed, no one knew where Dave ran away and where he was hiding. His rich dad helped him. They were doing everything to save Dave.

Zara was changed. She did not speak, eat or do anything. She looked like a lost soul, a broken angel.

She woke up bewildered from her sleep. It was Aunn. He came into her dreams; he was asking her to come back to life. He was asking her to be the Zara he loved. She told him she'll take revenge for him. He just smiled.

And she woke up. She knew what she was going to do.

Next morning she went to meet Alice. Alice was very sorry for what had happened. She knew if she had believed everything Zara told her this wouldn't have happened. But it is useless to cry over spilt milk.

She asked for her help. Alice agreed. She made Alice go to his parents’ house and ask to patch up with him. But Dave's parents were careful enough not to tell about him to anyone. But Dave's mother by mistake told Dave about Alice who wanted to patch things up with him.

Dave called Alice, which was a good thing for Zara. She made Alice and Dave meet up secretly. Police was on call, and caught Dave red handed.

Zara wouldn't be able to do that if it was not for Aunn.

This was her life now. But Aunn was a part she cannot forget and taught her so much.

She knew "it takes one to bully, two to stop it".