BOUND OF LIES

​I. The Whispers of Baneshwor

​They had been inseparable since childhood, a trio bound by the dusty streets of their neighborhood. But time and circumstances naturally forge different paths. Ayush and Aryan pushed forward, enrolling in Information Technology, their minds set on code and future possibilities. Anish, burdened by severe financial struggles at home and lacking a passion for academics, had left school after the fourth grade. Instead, he channeled his days into running a small local tea shop.

​It was 5:30 PM at Baneshwor, Tinkune, just across from the Kantipur Network building. The dusk was settling, casting long amber shadows over the bustling street. Ayush, Aryan, and Anish sat on low plastic stools, clutching warm glass cups of milk tea, laughing and exchanging banter.

​Mid-sentence, Anish went dead silent. His eyes locked onto something in the moving crowd, his mug hovering halfway to his mouth.

​Noticeable to Ayush, he turned to see what had pulled his friend away. Through the evening throngs walked a young woman. She moved with a quiet elegance, her light scarf catching the faint breeze.

​"Damn… she is beautiful," Anish murmured under his breath, his eyes glued to her footprint.

​Ayush smiled softly, struck by her graceful presence. "She really is," he agreed.

​Anish leaned back, a mixture of awe and melancholy in his voice. "I’ve been in love with her for more than four years."

​"Four years?" Ayush blinked in disbelief.

​Aryan chuckled, swirling the dregs of his tea. "Yeah, four whole years. Why do you think Anish refuses to relocate or upgrade this shop? He stays right on this corner just to catch a glimpse of her passing by every single evening."

​Ayush looked at Anish. "If it’s been four years, man, why haven't you spoken to her?"

​Anish rubbed the back of his neck, staring down at his hands. "I'm terrified. I don't even know her name. But honestly, seeing her walk past every day is enough to keep me happy. I just hold onto the hope that one day, somehow, we'll fall in love and marry."

​Two days later, as the three sat together again at the stall, the girl walked by—this time accompanied by a college friend. Anish bolted to his feet, driven by a sudden surge of impulse to approach her.

​Ayush grabbed his wrist, pulling him back. "Hey! Don't rush into this," Ayush cautioned smoothly. "If you jump out now, you'll startle her. Let me handle this properly for you. Just trust me."

​Anish exhaled a long breath and offered a grateful smile. "It really is a blessing to have a friend like you, Ayush."

​Three days passed before Ayush returned to the stall, carrying a bright smile. "I’ve got good news for you," he announced.

​Anish dropped his tea strainer, his eyes lighting up. "What did you find out about her?"

​Ayush laughed. "How did you know it was about her?"

​"Because nothing else qualifies as 'good news' to me right now," Anish grinned eager. "Tell me!"

​"Her name is Supriya," Ayush began, lowering his voice. "She lives in Chabhill, near Om Hospital. She’s studying Mass Communication—currently working on her Master's degree. On top of that, she teaches plus-two students at Madan Bhandari College."

​Anish’s excitement faltered slightly, replaced by intimidation. "She’s so educated… How am I ever supposed to connect with her?"

​The two sat in silence for a moment, brainstorming. Finally, Ayush snapped his fingers. "What about a handwritten love letter? Classic, personal, and sincere."

​Anish slumped his shoulders. "Ayush, you know I only studied up to fourth grade. I can barely write basic sentences, let alone a grand love letter."

​Ayush patted his shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry about it. You supply the feelings, and I’ll write the words for you."

​Overwhelmed with joy, Anish laughed out loud, doing a brief, goofy victory dance right beside the steaming tea kettles.

​II. The Written Word

​Two days later, the tea stall was quiet. Anish was wiping down the counter when a soft, sharp voice broke the ambient noise.

​"Excuse me."

​Anish turned around, and the breath caught in his throat. It was Supriya. She was standing right in front of his wooden counter, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. A wave of joy surged through him, instantly suffocated by a blanket of raw nerve.

​"Y-yes?" he stammered.

​"Can you tell me who Anish is?" she asked coldly.

​"I... I am Anish," he managed to say, his heart hammering against his ribs. "What can I do for you? Why are you looking for me?"

​"You know exactly why I’m looking for you," she replied, her eyes sharp.

​Anish swallowed hard, trying to stay composed. "And... what is your response?"

​"My response is right here," she said, pulling a folded piece of paper from her bag and slapping it onto the counter. "Read it." Without waiting another second, she turned on her heel and strode angrily into the crowd.

​Anish grabbed the letter, staring at the delicate handwriting, but the English words blurred into an incomprehensible puzzle before his uneducated eyes. Trembling, he reached for his phone and dialed Ayush.

​Within twenty minutes, Ayush arrived. Anish thrust the paper into his hands. "Read it for me, please! I can't understand English. She left in such a rage... I need to know what it says!"

​Ayush carefully unfolded the paper and read the neat script aloud:

​Dear Anish,

​I honestly don't know how to react to your beautiful words. I have never fallen in love with anyone, but the letter I received was so magical, so deeply moving, that it touched a part of my heart I didn't know existed. Your expression of love is breathtaking.

​However, as magical as your words are, I cannot simply say 'yes.' I do not know you, and despite watching me for four years, you do not truly know me either, do you?

​Let us meet and talk first. Let me get to know the man behind those words before I decide my heart's answer. I cannot make a promise to a stranger. Let us meet.

​— Supriya

(Phone number attached below)

​Instead of feeling relief, Anish’s face darkened with frustration. "She’s bargaining with me! Why can't she just say yes? I’ve loved her for four years! Once we’re together, she can get to know me!"

​"Anish, calm down," Ayush urged softly, grabbing his friend by the shoulders. "She’s being reasonable. She doesn't want to blindly jump into a relationship without speaking to you face-to-face. Look, she even left her phone number at the bottom. Call her. Meet her. Show her who you are."

​After a few minutes of persuasion, Anish reluctantly nodded.

​III. Shadows in the Parlor

​The introduction took place at Gopi Krishna Movies. Anish, Ayush, and Aryan met Supriya outside the theater. The group watched the Nepali romantic drama November Rain, after which they retreated to the Universal Cafe in Sukedhara for snacks and conversation.

​Over the coming weeks, Anish and Supriya began meeting regularly. On the surface, things seemed to blossom, but underneath, the dynamic was splintering. As Anish spent more time pursuing Supriya, he distanced himself from his group.

​Ayush, meanwhile, grew increasingly quiet. What no one knew—what he buried deep within his chest—was that he, too, had fallen hopelessly in love with Supriya the moment he saw her. But out of unwavering loyalty to Anish, Ayush locked his feelings away, suffering in silence so his best friend could be happy.

​IV. The Disappearance

​September 28, 2012

​Inside the cold, stark walls of the police precinct, a mother wept hysterically into a handkerchief.

​"My daughter has been missing for over two months!" she cried out to the lead officer, Inspector Aamol. "Her phone is completely switched off. We’ve searched everywhere... we don't know where she is!"

​Inspector Aamol handed her a cup of water, his tone measured. "Ma'am, please try to stay calm. Before she vanished, did she say anything unusual? Was her behavior normal?"

​"She was completely normal," the mother sobbed. "She just went to college as usual. She was always so focused on her studies and her teaching career—she didn't have time for affairs or trouble!"

​Seeking clearer answers, Inspector Aamol brought in Shruti, Supriya’s closest friend from college, the following afternoon.

​"Shruti, you were close to Supriya," Aamol said, leaning across his desk. "Do you have any idea where she might have gone?"

​Shruti shook her head nervously. "Sir, we were friends, but Supriya was very private. She didn't share everything with me. I genuinely don't know where she is."

​"Did she have a secret relationship? Any romantic involvement?"

​Shruti hesitated, biting her lip. "I can't say for sure, but... over the past few months, she changed. She seemed distracted, lost in thought. And I often caught her talking softly on her phone late in the afternoons."

​"Did she ever mention who she was talking to?"

​"No, sir. Never."

​Inspector Aamol logged Supriya’s mobile number for tracing, but because the device had been powered down for months, the cell towers yielded zero ping location. The case ground to a cold halt.

​V. The Box in the Jungle

​Weeks later, deep within the lush, dense national forest of Chitwan, a foreign tourist was hiking off the marked trails, capturing wildlife footage with a high-end camera.

​As he pushed past a thick tangle of elephant grass, something unnatural caught his eye: a large, heavily sealed wooden storage trunk half-buried in a shallow trench. Curious and uneasy, he approached and pried open the metal latch.

​A horrific sight met his eyes. Inside lay the decomposing remains of a young man.

​The tourist’s frantic call mobilized the Chitwan division. Inspector Aamol was dispatched immediately to oversee the crime scene.

​Forensic analysis revealed critical details:

• ​The victim had been murdered roughly three days prior, killed by multiple stab wounds to the chest.
• ​No murder weapon was found at the scene.
• ​No fingerprints were recovered from the body or the trunk; the killer had worn heavy rubber gloves.
• ​The victim's wallet, phone, and identification cards were completely stripped away, indicating a calculated attempt to obscure the victim's identity.

​Despite the killer's caution, DNA cross-matching and dental records swiftly identified the corpse: Ayush.

​Inspector Aamol’s instincts flared. Ayush and Supriya were connected through mutual social networks in Kathmandu. He immediately requisitioned deep call-detail records (CDR) for both Ayush’s and Supriya’s phone lines from the telecom headquarters.

​The data revealed a web of frequent communications leading back to two specific associate numbers: Aryan and Anish.

​A tactical unit intercepted Aryan at his relative's home in Biratnagar and brought him straight into an interrogation room in Kathmandu.

​Aryan sat huddled on the steel chair, sweating profusely despite the cool room.

​"Where is Anish?" Inspector Aamol demanded, placing both hands flat on the metal table.

​"I... I don't know," Aryan stuttered, his eyes darting frantically from the floor to the corners of the room, refusing to lock eyes with the inspector.

​Aamol leaned in closer, his voice low and dangerous. "I’ve questioned hundreds of men, Aryan. Honest men look me in the eye when they speak. Guilty men look at the floor. You are terrified, and your eyes are telling me a story your mouth is hiding. Tell me what happened, or I will ensure you take the fall as an accomplice to murder."

​Aryan broke. He burst into tears, his shoulders trembling violently. "I'll tell you! Please, just don't charge me... I wasn't there when it happened!"

​Aamol sat back, folding his arms. "Start from the beginning."

​Aryan wiped his face, his voice shaky. "Anish loved Supriya for years, but he was illiterate and too timid to speak to her. Ayush wanted to help his friend, so he wrote those beautiful love letters for him. Ayush loved her too—secretly—but he buried his feelings for Anish's sake.

​"After they met, Anish and Supriya started dating, but Anish grew distant from us. Then... Supriya found out the truth."

​"How?" Aamol interjected.

​"She went to Anish’s tea shop one afternoon when Anish wasn't there. His father was running the stall. Supriya started chatting with his father, and during the conversation, his father casually mentioned that Anish was illiterate and had dropped out in fourth grade.

​"Supriya was shocked. She confronted Ayush, demanding to know who wrote those letters. Ayush couldn't lie to her anymore—he confessed that he wrote every word.

​"When Supriya realized Anish had built their connection on a massive lie, she exploded. She confronted Anish, broke off the relationship immediately, and refused to speak to him. But over time... she grew close to Ayush. Ayush tried to push her back toward Anish, but she refused. She had fallen in love with Ayush—the actual mind behind the words she fell for.

​"Anish saw them together once. He lost his mind with jealousy."

​VI. The Truth Unravels

​Armed with Anish’s real-time mobile tower location, a team of plainclothes officers tracked him to a remote village in Birtamod, Jhapa. They surrounded a modest mud-brick house and knocked sharply on the door.

​When the door opened, Anish stood on the threshold, looking gaunt and hollowed out. Without a fight, he was handcuffed and transported back to Kathmandu.

​Inside the interrogation locker room, Inspector Aamol pulled up a chair across from Anish.

​"Where is Supriya?" Aamol asked coldly.

​Anish kept his gaze fixed on his lap. "I don't know what you're talking about. You brought me here for no reason."

​"Aryan already confessed," Aamol lied smoothly, testing him. "He told us he stood right beside you when you killed both Supriya and Ayush."

​Anish snapped his head up, his eyes wide with outrage. "What?! He's lying! He wasn't even in Kathmandu when I killed Ayush!"

​The room went dead silent. Anish froze, the realization of his slip-up crashing over him like cold water.

​Inspector Aamol leaned back with a grim smile. "And there it is."

​Anish’s breath came in ragged gasps. Realizing there was no escape left, his composure completely crumbled. "Yes... I killed them both."

​"Why?" Aamol asked softly. "Ayush was your childhood brother. You claimed to love Supriya."

​Anish slammed his fists onto the table, tears of rage spilling down his cheeks. "You don't understand! Before she found out about the letters, Supriya and I were happy! We even ran away together for a short time! We were living together in secret, away from her family. We had a physical relationship. But she kept pushing me to marry her immediately, and I kept making excuses because I was scared. When she felt I wasn't serious, she packed her bags and left me!

​"We returned to Kathmandu and stopped talking. Two weeks later, I asked her to meet me at my tea shop to fix things. That was the day she met my father... that was the day she found out I couldn't read or write English. And then Ayush confirmed it all to her.

​"After that, she discarded me like trash and ran straight into Ayush's arms! I saw them together! Day after day! It was killing me... burning me alive from the inside!

​"A week later, I dragged Supriya to an isolated spot near the river bank. I begged her to tell me the truth about her and Ayush. I asked her a thousand times! But she just stood there in cold, arrogant silence! That silence drove me insane. I pulled a knife from my jacket and stabbed her... over and over. When she stopped moving, I threw her body into the fast river current."

​Anish choked on a sob, his hands shaking violently. "Then there was Ayush. I knew he had taken a short contract job in Chitwan. I tracked him down into the jungle. I confronted him. I demanded to know why he betrayed me.

​"And you know what he said to me?" Anish laughed hysterically. "He looked me in the eye and said, 'Anish, there is nothing between us. She came to me because she was confused and hurt, and I was just trying to help her understand you. Why are you destroying your life over this?'

​"I didn't believe him!" Anish screamed. "I knew Supriya’s parents had gone to the police! I was terrified Ayush was going to hand me over to you! The paranoia was eating me alive... so while his back was turned, I stabbed him. I put his body inside an old trunk I found, dragged it into the brush, and fled."

​Inspector Aamol stood up, looking down at the broken man with a mixture of disgust and pity.

​"You complete fool," Aamol said, his voice ringing with cold disdain. "Do you want to know the tragic irony, Anish?"

​Anish looked up, his face pale.

​"Ayush never said a word to us," Aamol revealed. "When we questioned him weeks ago about Supriya’s disappearance, he protected you. He didn't tell us about your secret getaway, he didn't tell us about the argument, and he didn't tell us about your threats. Right up until his final breath, he was trying to shield you and heal the bond between you and Supriya.

​"We didn't catch you because someone betrayed you. We caught you through simple cell-tower pings that tracked your movements straight to the crime scenes."

​Aamol shook his head, moving toward the heavy steel door. "You were blessed with two things most men search a lifetime for: a woman who loved you for who you were, and a friend who was willing to sacrifice his own heart's desire just to see you happy. But your insecurity, your lies, and your blind rage destroyed them both."

​The heavy door clicked shut, locking Inspector Aamol out and leaving Anish alone in the dark room, weeping inconsolably for the lives he had destroyed—and the soul he had forever lost.