Short Stories

The Phone Call

Riya was a journalist who worked for a leading newspaper in Delhi. She was known for her investigative reporting and fearless exposés. She had uncovered many scandals and corruption cases, and had earned the respect and admiration of her colleagues and readers. 

One day, she received a phone call from an unknown number. She answered it, and heard a distorted voice on the other end.

 "Hello, Riya. I have some information that you might be interested in. It's about a very powerful and influential person, who is involved in a very serious crime. If you want to know more, meet me at the Cafe Coffee Day near Connaught Place at 8 pm. Come alone, and don't tell anyone. If you do, you will regret it." 

 Riya was intrigued by the phone call. She wondered who the caller was, and what information he had. She decided to go to the meeting, and find out more. She thought that it might be a big scoop, and a chance to expose another wrongdoing. 

 She checked her watch, and saw that it was 7:30 pm. She grabbed her bag, and left her office. She hailed a cab, and told the driver to take her to Connaught Place. She hoped that she would reach on time, and that the caller would not change his mind. 

 She reached the Cafe Coffee Day at 7:55 pm. She looked around, and saw that it was crowded with people. She wondered how she would recognize the caller, and how he would recognize her. She decided to wait near the entrance, and look for anyone who seemed suspicious or nervous. She waited for five minutes, but no one approached her. She checked her phone, and saw that she had no missed calls or messages. She wondered if the caller had already arrived, and was waiting for her inside. She decided to go in, and look for him. She entered the cafe, and scanned the tables. She saw many people, but none of them matched the voice that she had heard on the phone. She wondered if the caller had given her a wrong address, or if he had played a prank on her. 

She decided to call him, and ask him where he was. She dialed the number that he had called from, and waited for him to answer. She heard a ringing tone, and then a click. She heard the same distorted voice that she had heard before. 

 "Hello, Riya. I'm glad that you came. I'm sorry that I couldn't meet you in person, but I had to be careful. You see, the person that I was talking about is very dangerous, and he has many enemies. He also has many friends, who are willing to do anything for him. Including killing you." 

 Riya felt a chill run down her spine. She realized that she had walked into a trap, and that she was in grave danger. She looked around, and saw that some of the people in the cafe were staring at her. They had phones in their hands, and guns in their pockets. They were the friends of the person that the caller was talking about. They were the killers. 

 Riya tried to act calm, and asked the caller, "Who are you? And who is the person that you were talking about? Why did you call me? What do you want from me?"

The caller laughed, and said, "You don't need to know who I am. You only need to know who he is. He is the one who rules this city, and this country. He is the one who controls everything, and everyone. He is the one who you have been trying to expose, and who you have been writing against. He is the one who you have been annoying, and who you have been irritating. He is the one who you have been challenging, and who you have been threatening. He is the one who you have been digging, and who you have been uncovering. He is the one who you have been exposing, and who you have been revealing. He is the one who you have been investigating, and who you have been accusing. He is the one who you have been defying, and who you have been opposing."

The caller continued to taunt Riya, listing the alleged sins of this powerful figure she had dared to challenge. Riya felt her heart racing as the gravity of the situation sank in. She questioned the mysterious voice, "Why are you doing this? What does he want with me?"

The distorted voice chuckled, "He knows you're a threat, Riya. Your relentless pursuit of the truth has become an inconvenience. He wants to make an example out of you, a warning to anyone else who dares to expose his dark secrets."

Riya, now desperate and scared, tried to negotiate, "Please, I won't write about him again. Just let me go. I won't tell anyone about this meeting."

The voice on the other end grew colder, "It's too late for that, Riya. You've already crossed a line, and there's no turning back. You should have thought twice before challenging someone with such influence."

As Riya scanned the cafe, she noticed the suspicious glances from certain individuals. The gravity of the situation became even more apparent when she spotted someone discreetly approaching her. Panic set in, and she made a split-second decision to escape. Pushing through the crowd, she ran towards the exit.

The mysterious voice on the phone spoke again, now with a sense of urgency, "You can run, Riya, but you can't hide. He has eyes everywhere. You're marked, and there's no escape."

Riya burst out of the cafe, her mind racing. She knew she couldn't go home; it wasn't safe. She needed to find a place to hide and think of a plan. As she flagged down a passing auto-rickshaw, she couldn't shake off the feeling that her life was about to change forever. The pursuit of truth had led her to a dangerous crossroad, and there was no easy way out. 

Riya instructed the auto-rickshaw driver to take her to a friend's place on the outskirts of the city. Along the journey, paranoia set in, as every passing vehicle seemed like a potential threat. She constantly checked her surroundings, half-expecting a car to pull up with ominous figures inside.

Arriving at her friend's house, Riya quickly explained the situation. The friend, a fellow journalist, understood the gravity of the threat. Together, they formulated a plan to expose the danger she was facing while ensuring her safety.

They decided to leak the information Riya had received to a trusted colleague at the newspaper. This would serve as a failsafe, a way to ensure that if anything happened to Riya, the story would still break. It was a risky move, but they believed it might act as a deterrent to those threatening her.

Days passed, and Riya lived in constant fear, always watching her back. The tension grew as she received more calls from the mysterious voice, each time with escalating threats. Yet, she persevered, driven by her commitment to truth and justice.

The story broke, revealing the corruption and criminal activities of the powerful figure Riya had dared to challenge. The exposé sent shockwaves through the nation, leading to public outrage and demands for justice. Riya's gamble had paid off, and the very people who had threatened her were now on the defensive.

As the investigation deepened, the mysterious voice on the phone was revealed to be an insider who had grown disillusioned with the criminal activities of the powerful figure. The insider had reached out to Riya, hoping that her investigative skills could bring about change.

In the end, justice prevailed. The powerful figure faced legal consequences, and Riya's bravery became a symbol of resistance against corruption. Despite the challenges and threats, she continued her work as a journalist, inspiring others to stand up for truth and hold the powerful accountable.

Riya's story became a legend in journalistic circles, a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who refuse to be silenced in the face of adversity.

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That's it for today.

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