The ringing phone tore me out of a peaceful sleep.
For a moment, I didn't know where I was.
Then I remembered.
The previous day came rushing back—the city, the crowd, the humiliation, the endless changes of clothes, and finally the exhausting journey home.
I reached for the phone.
“Hello?”
Deepika's cheerful voice answered.
“Good morning, my sweety!”
I immediately sat up.
“What do you want?”
She laughed.
“I have good news and bad news.”
“I don't want either.”
“Listen first. The good news is that I'm going camping with my friends today. That means you have the whole house to yourself.”
I almost smiled.
Finally.
A day without Deepika.
A day when I could breathe.
“And the bad news?”
There was a deliberate pause.
“You have to remain dressed like that until evening.”
My smile disappeared.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“Deepika, enough! Give me the solvent and let me change.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because I'm taking the solvent with me.”
My heart sank.
“You're taking it with you?”
“Yes.”
“You can't be serious.”
“I am completely serious.”
I jumped out of bed and ran toward the wardrobe.
“Then I'll wear my own clothes.”
I pulled the wardrobe open.
Nothing.
I checked the drawers.
Nothing.
Then I ran toward the door.
I turned the handle.
Locked.
I stared at it in disbelief.
“Deepika!”
She laughed softly from the phone.
“I locked your room.”
“You did what?”
“Don't worry. I've left another dress on the bed.”
I turned around.
A neatly folded outfit was lying there.
“You planned this?”
“Of course.”
My anger exploded.
“You can't keep doing this to me!”
Her voice remained irritatingly calm.
“It's only until evening.”
“Open the door!”
“I'll see you tonight.”
“Deepika!”
The call ended.
I stood motionless, holding the phone.
The silence that followed felt worse than her laughter.
I looked at the dress on the bed.
Then at the locked door.
Then back at the dress.
For the first time, I understood exactly how carefully she had arranged everything.
She hadn't simply gone camping.
She had made sure that even while she was miles away, she could still control what happened to me.
I tried the door again.
Nothing.
I knocked.
“Anyone!”
No answer.
I searched the room desperately for another way out.
The window.
The wardrobe.
The attached bathroom.
Nothing.
My frustration slowly turned into exhaustion.
I sat on the edge of the bed.
The house was completely quiet.
Deepika was gone.
Her friends were gone.
And I was alone.
I looked at the dress once more.
There were only two choices.
Remain locked inside the room until evening…
or wear the clothes she had prepared and somehow find another way out.
Neither choice felt like freedom.
I picked up the dress.
Then I noticed something.
A tiny folded piece of paper had been placed underneath it.
I opened it.
Only one sentence was written there.
Don't worry. This is your final test.
I stared at those words for a long time.
Then I slowly folded the note again.
“No,” I whispered.
My voice was quiet, but my decision was firm.
“This time, Deepika, I'm going to give you a test.”
I slipped the note into my pocket.
And began searching the room again.
Discussion (0)