Followed

Watika sat down on a chair to read a book. The book was a compilation of poems. On a table in the corner of the room was a pile of books. They were all from this year’s book fair. They were bought a few months back but Watika’s mother had been strict about not touching them before the final examination of grade 9 was over.



Hence, as the examination came to an end and the books came within reach. Watika could still smell the newness in them. While she was in her own world created by the words of poetry, her mother entered the room.



“I need you to go to the market and get a few things,” said Mrs Taneja



“Market is fine, but I hope examinations ending does not mean ‘meet the relatives’ time has begun,” said Watika as she closed the book



“Do you have a valid answer for when they say ‘now that examinations are over, you can come to visit us’?” asked Mrs Taneja



“Yes, I do. Tell them she is visiting distant worlds,” Watika said pointing to the books



Mrs Taneja smiled, “Now, go to the market.”



Watika stepped out of her house; it was 8 pm, hints of sunlight still remained in the sky but night had started on land with outdoor lights of the houses and street lights illuminating bright.



Watika first walked to the grocery store and bought a packet of cumin seeds and a packet of coriander powder. She made the payment and stepped outside and noticed a girl about her age watching her intently from a distance across the road. Watika turned around to see if it was someone else, the girl was looking at, but no one was there and when Watika turned back the girl was gone.



‘That was odd,’ Watika thought and she proceeded towards the medical shop where she bought her father’s sugar medication.



Watika began her return home thinking about the poem she was reading. She turned right at the bend of the road and that’s when she saw her again, the girl. The girl was standing in front of the medical shop.



‘Do I know her?’ Watika thought in her mind as she looked closely at the girl. The girl stood still with no movement other than breathing, and that of eyelids. A constant blank expression remained on her face.



‘Let me go and talk to her. Maybe she needs help,’ Watika thought and turned to walk towards her, waving her hand to her, but surprisingly the girl turned and ran away.



‘That one might need a psych evaluation,’ Watika thought, as she continued her walk home. Watika walked ahead and then she looked behind to see the obvious, the girl was standing, still far.



Watika moved further and looked again and the girl had also moved further. ‘She is following me for sure,’ Watika thought and it continued till another right turn came and this turn was bordering a building which meant Watika could get out of sight and she did that with a sudden burst of speed, but she didn’t run away.



Watika waited and as she thought, the girl came walking fast and that’s when Watika caught hold of her.



“What is the matter with you? What do you want with me?” Watika asked with a sudden burst of anger



The girl’s expression suddenly changed from surprise to fear, then she spoke, “I am sorry! I am sorry. Please listen, this is not what you think.”



“Not what I think? Then what is it?” Watika asked as she let go of the girl



“Social media, it’s for social media. Content for my channel,” replied the girl pointing out to another girl who was standing with a camera. This girl maintained her distance.



“Following people for no reason is content?” asked Watika



“Its people’s reaction to being followed which is content. I am sorry about it,” said the girl



Watika took a long breath to calm herself down, “Listen, if I see you around doing this to other people or if I see myself in a video online, I am going to take things very very seriously.”



Watika walked away without waiting for a response.



Mrs Taneja opened the house’s gate after Watika rang the bell.



“You took more than the usual time. Took the longer route?” asked Mrs Taneja



“You have no idea what the world is coming to. Let’s go inside, I will tell you about it,” replied Watika.

Written by Anuran Chatterji

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