The young security guard, who had noticed Madhav’s frequent visits, faked a big smile as Madhav got out of his car with a bag full of beer, Scotch and cans of soda.

‘Hello sir! How are you?’ The guard followed him, hoping for a tip.

Madhav stopped. As he pulled out his wallet, two condoms fell out. The guard’s eyes widened. Madhav immediately handed him a five-hundred-rupee note. The young boy smiled wickedly and ran back to his post. Madhav picked up the condoms and threw them in the bushes. He didn’t intend to use them that night.

He entered the lift and combed his fingers through his hair, exhaling into his cupped palm to check his breath. The lift smoothly sailed upwards and stopped at the thirteenth floor.

He rang the doorbell. Nobody opened the door. He rang it again but there was still no response. He dialled Meera’s number but found that it was switched off. Perhaps she had changed her mind about talking to him, he thought. There was a beeping sound from the elevator lobby as one of the lifts opened. Meera stepped out. She wore a dress shorter than Madhav’s temper along with a pearl necklace and high heels. Her hair was sleeker and shinier than ever, but it was her musky perfume that bowled Madhav over as she walked towards him. Her velvet eyelashes beckoned him closer.

‘Where were you?’ he asked. She hugged him and replied, ‘Didn’t I tell you that I had gone to the parlour?’

‘I received the payment alert!’

She grasped his collar gently and pulled him into the apartment, behaving as though nothing had happened. But Madhav was not going to fall for her seductive act. She tried to arouse him by gently scratching him with her crimson fingernails, and shoved him towards the couch. Madhav dropped his bag on the floor and held her waist.

‘What do you want from me tonight?’ She leaned forward to kiss him.

‘To kill you,’ he said, suddenly incensed. His thoughts and emotions were bubbling up inside him again, but this time they were compelled by a dark rage. He tried to suppress it and control himself but he was slowly losing his grip.

Meera laughed gaily, forgetting the severity of his mood swings.

‘I always knew you were a killer,’ she said unthinkingly, oblivious to Madhav’s rising anger. Her reply pierced through him, to the heart of all his nightmares and secrets. His memories came rushing back to him.

‘What did you say?’ Madhav’s ears turned red as he grabbed her roughly.

‘Madhav, what are you doing?’ Meera was starting to get scared.

‘You think I am a killer? You think . . .’ he mumbled and held her jaw tightly, forcing her face upwards. Petrified, Meera tried to push him away but his hold on her was stronger than ever.

‘Maddy, you’re hurting me. Please let me go,’ she pleaded.

‘I will hurt you. I am a killer, aren’t I?’ he started losing control as anger overpowered all his other emotions.