Fragrance!

Raj opened the door and switched on the light of Amit’s house.

He still could not believe it! His best friend, Amit, was dead. All of 35 years and dead due to a cardiac arrest!

He still remembered their dinner 2 days ago on Amit’s birthday when they had met at their favorite restaurant. He was perfectly fine and even contemplating taking a break from work to visit his brother. Work which kept him awake for more than 20 hours a day. Being a cop was not easy. But he was one of the best in his team.

They both had started their career together and had become best buddies in those 3 months of training. Through all the ups and downs of the cop life, they were there for each other, even when duty took them to different cities.

And the next day Amit was dead. He shook his head and looked around. A small room at the front with a section carved as kitchen. Last time the kitchen was used was for making coffee. The utensils were still in the sink.

He entered the small bedroom. Bed neatly made, clothes folded in the cupboard and books lying in the side table.

The police report mentioned that Amit had made himself coffee and had just opened the door to leave the house, when he collapsed. The security guard of the building found him. By that time, Amit was dead.

Raj stepped back to the front room. He would have to come back when Amit’s brother came to clear the house.

He was about to leave when he saw the small perfume bottle along with a thank you card on the table.

He took the bottle in the hand. He closed his eyes, thinking carefully and remembering the smell. He had smelt it 15 years back. It seemed like yesterday only. The night of their graduation, those bottles of alcohol and the shrieks of that innocent girl.

He slowly walked out of the house, waiting for his turn!