In a bustling Chinese restaurant nestled in the heart of Chennai, Abirami and her best friend, Priya, were celebrating their recent triumph — a challenging project at work, they had successfully completed. The evening had been nothing short of perfect. The room was adorned with ornate red and gold decor, and the air was filled with laughter and the aroma of Szechuan cuisine, creating an atmosphere of mystique and elegance.
They indulged in multiple servings of their choicest wine and mouth-watering food. As the night wore on, Abirami and Priya decided to indulge in one last tradition, the fortune cookies. Abirami picked one up, cracked it open, and found a small piece of paper inside. She unfolded it and read the message: "Your life is in danger. Say nothing to anyone. You must leave the city immediately and never return. Repeat: say nothing."
Abirami's heart raced as she read the ominous message, and she glanced around the restaurant in search of answers. The message echoed in her mind, "Your life is in danger. Say nothing to anyone." It sent shivers down her spine.
Disturbed, she turned to Priya and whispered, "Priya, we have to take this seriously. It can't be a mere game, can it?"
But Priya, ever the pragmatist, shook her head and replied, "Abi, come on, it's just a fortune cookie. It's not astrology, and it can't possibly predict our future. And neither do we believe in astrology, do we? Let's not let it ruin our night."
Reluctantly, Abirami nodded, allowing herself to be convinced. They paid the bill hastily, left their untouched fortune cookies behind, and gathered their belongings. They exited the restaurant, leaving the ominous message behind and making their way back to their scooters.
The cool night air and the gentle hum of their scooters under the city's dimly lit streets began to put Abirami at ease. Priya's assurance seemed to be working its magic, and they rode with smiles on their faces, the unsettling message slowly fading into the recesses of their minds.
As they approached a narrow, dark alley that would shorten their route home, a chilling sense of foreboding washed over them. At the far end of the alley, they could see the faint silhouette of a shadowy figure, armed with a massive sickle on his shoulders, and waiting.
The playful and carefree atmosphere of their night had suddenly transformed into a scene of suspense and danger. Abirami's heart raced in terror, as her scooter slowly ground to a stop, the eerie warning from the fortune cookie resurfacing in her thoughts. She turned back to check out on Priya who was following just behind her, but she was nowhere to be seen.
- Suresh Menon
That was super suspense