Rachel Maier

PCA
Prof Furuness
Nov 10, 2020
IT Guy from Work
Date: 04/12/14
Hey Girl!
I know, it’s crazy I’m writing you a letter instead of calling or texting, but girl I’m scared.
Ya know that one guy I started dating for about a month or so, the one white guy from my
work, he works in the IT department, yeah so well that didn’t work out. He got a little too clingy
and attached too fast. I feel a bit bad because he said he loved me after the middle of the
third week of dating, and ideally that would be perfect for my situation (after finding out about
testing positive for the BRCA gene and the doctor telling me that I only have about a year or
so to have a child without freezing my eggs). Anyways, him telling me he loved me that soon,
I still took as a red flag, cause even though I have to have a kid soon, to say you love
someone that quickly... you know something is off. Moral of the story, I’m not with him
anymore, and the breakup was easy but almost too easy, and I think I know the reasoning for
that now. I think he hacked into my computer and phone!!
The other day I was talking to my parents on the phone about setting up an arranged
marriage, AT HOME, and he said something really weird to me today at work. HE SAID,
“Letting a stranger into your house is dangerous. You don’t know their intentions until it is too
late.” I MEAN THE AUDACITY. My parents had an arranged marriage back in India and they
are great. Also it's not like my parents are going to set me up with some bad guy. I trust their
judgement and there is a pretty intense process to setting up these arranged marriages.
There are interviews and parents meeting family, all that stuff he obviously doesn’t
understand the culture. I can’t believe this guy and that I dated him! EWW! And maybe I’m
jumping to conclusions about what he said, but I haven’t spoken about this to anyone else
other than my mom and dad, HOW WOULD HE EVEN KNOW TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT
MY DATING LIFE. IT'S SUPER CREEPY AND I'M FREAKED OUT, so I’m just going to
communicate in person or by letters for the time being until I feel safe again.
The fact that he said something about “letting a stranger into my house” right after I
talked with my parents about arranged marriage the night before makes me a bit suspicious.
He also asked me out two days after I heard back from my doctor. The timing just feels too
coincidental. I think he has been doing this for a lot longer than just after we broke up!!
UGHHH I get the shivers by just thinking about how gross this is!
Sadie I’m scared and don't know what to do, I’ll write you with an update soon. But at
least on a happier note, be prepared and get ready to plan my bachelorette party! (One
American tradition that I will most definitely be using).

Love you,
your girl,
Neena <3
 Date: 04/14/14
Sadie,
Sorry I know you probably are busy, and since my phone is off you probably think I am
too. Not sure if you have gotten my first letter yet it may be still in-transit to your place, if you
have gotten the letter then yours is probably on its way. I mean it does take a few days to get
mail from NY to Dallas and vise versa. Wow letters are strange I haven’t written one with back
and forth conversations in a while. I have gotten too used to texting and email.
Anyways, super premature letter, just wanted to let you know that luckily Steven has
backed off a bit. I tried dropping hints that I was uncomfortable by immediately leaving a room
when he entered and I stopped talking to anyone whenever he was around until he left. So
that's good! I might even start using my phone again soon, but it is still a bit too early to tell, so
I’m going to stick to these letters.
The preparations for the arranged marriage process has been all set up. My parents
are conducting interviews and meeting with other families, all that is left is my parents finding
the guy and setting a date. I wish so badly that I could call you or something because there
are so many things I want to talk about. For starters, I thought I would have more time. More
time to fall in love and spend time with my husband and get farther in my career before having
to think about having kids. I mean I’m only 27! I didn’t ever imagine that I would have to worry
about not being able to have kids this young. I always thought that was a future me problem.
And honestly I would be okay with staying single and just getting a sperm donor to have a kid,
but we both know how traditional my parents are about this type of thing. They would want
nothing to do with me if I did that, and we also both know that there is no way I would even be
able to raise a child by myself right now, I barely have the funds for my apartment in the city
and to maintain my current lifestyle of being a young adult enjoying city living. Obviously, I will
have to say goodbye to going out and stuff, but a child is going to be a lot more expensive
than my current lifestyle, and I would need my parents help if I were to do it alone, so single
and sperm… not a realistic option. I would need their money and time which they would not
give me. Realistically, I am not going to find a man to love me (who I love back) and want to
make babies with me within a one year and a half, and I can't afford the procedure to freeze
my eggs, so arranged marriage is the most logical choice for my situation I guess.
On the plus side I guess no more new york dating! Goodbye weird creeps! But you
need to get a plane ticket and fly out here once everything is finalized! A wedding is on the
horizon!!

Love ya,
Neena :)

Date: 04/15/14
Sadie, okay I know it has only been a day since my last letter but something not right is
happening! YOU NEED TO FLY UP HERE ASAP! If you don’t get another letter from me in
the next 2-3 days call the cops and give them all these letters. I AM POSTING THIS LETTER
in priority mail! If I am in immediate danger I am calling you! STEVEN SHOWED UP TO MY
APARTMENT AND LEFT A BOX FULL OF PICTURES OF ME WITH MY EX BOYFRIENDS
WITH THEIR FACES CROSSED OUT AND EVEN ONE OF MY PARENTS HOUSE IN NEW
JERSEY! I never saw him drop it off but I know it was him! HOW DID HE EVEN GET INTO
MY APARTMENT BUILDING I NEVER BUZZED ANYONE IN?! I think he is threatening me.
What if he is going to hurt my parents or what if he is going to hurt one of the guys my parents
are meeting with for the arranged marriage!?
I went over to my parents house after I wrote your letter yesterday, to follow up with
my parents about prospective husbands. They told me that they have narrowed it down to two
people and family meetings where I will meet the guy’s family will take place sometime next
week to make sure things are a good fit. GOD HE TOTALLY FOLLOWED ME! HE KNOWS
WHERE MY PARENTS LIVE! He wouldn’t hurt my parents right? I mean surely he knows
that would mean that he would never have any chance of anything. I mean there definitely
already is ZERO chance but he must just have an insanely diluted mind to think that he could
think this is somehow going to stop me from getting married. I mean they are orchestrating
the arranged marriage but he wouldn’t hurt them right????

OMG!!! DUDE, MY PARENTS JUST CALLED ME ON MY WORK PHONE, (literally only

technology I keep on because I need to have a phone for work), AND THEY ASKED ABOUT
STEVEN! Apparently he showed up and delivered some flowers to my parents saying that I
was his girlfriend and he was sitting in the car when I stopped by yesterday since I
SUPPOSEDLY told him that my dad was sick and didn’t want non-family members in the
house and he wanted to deliver some flowers as a kind gesture! I'M OFFICIALLY FREAKING
OUT TO THE MAX! WHAT DO I DO! My parents didn’t say anything because they thought
that I was going to break up with him and just hadn’t done it yet, but they were disappointed in
me for having a boyfriend and setting up an arranged marriage behind his back! I played
along with their notions so that I wouldn’t risk their safety since he was probably listening to
that call. BUT OH MY GOSH I HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE! I AM BOOKING A FLIGHT TO
DALLAS TONIGHT! I SHOULD BE THERE TOMORROW MORNING!! At this point I’m only
sending this letter as proof and documentation if something happens to me and I can not get
there! I can not stay here. I’m packing up.
UGHHH THIS ALL STARTED WITH THAT STUPID BRCA CALL! Not only am I
worried about having kids, I have a higher chance at getting cancer, and I have to deal with
this PSYCHO!!!

See you soon,

Neena
 Later that night, after Neena placed the letter in her outgoing mail slot, she was packing
to flee to her friends across the country, she realized she needed to stop at the local
convenience store down the block for an extra toothbrush. She honestly felt more safe
considering it was one in the morning and feels as though it is late enough where Steven would
be sleeping in bed. She left her phone at home since she hadn’t been using it and just in case
Steven was tracking her somehow. When she gets back to her apartment building Steven is
hiding behind one of the brick wall railings in the shadows. Neena lives above an area of
produce markets and shops, so the streets are never really deserted. As she fumbles around
her keys to get to the right one to open the door, Steven steps up and immediately makes a
scene.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant! I saw the test in the trash, I know that we
didn’t prepare for this but I promise that I will take care of you and be here for you always,”
Steven says as he walks up and hugs Neena tightly covering her month in his chest so she
doesn’t have a chance to say anything.
A young, handsome, indian man outside the produce shop, nearby, walks over and says
congratulations then walks past Steven and Neena. Neena waves from behind Stevens back to
try and get his attention, the man notices but doesn’t think much of it and continues to walk
away.
“Come on baby, I already loaded up your bags in the car. I made sure to turn on the heat
and got your favorite playlist already set up in the car. I turned up the volume because I know
you like to listen to your music loud. You won’t need to worry about a thing this little vacation is
going to be a perfect way to celebrate us starting our own family! You can sit in the back so you
can stretch out and relax since you probably aren’t feeling the best.”
Steven forces Neena in the back seat of the car. The blaring music dulls out some of
Neena’s screams. Steven gets in the car and begins to drive, he turns down the music a bit so
they can talk.
“Sorry but this is your own fault. I thought for sure after telling your parents you already
had a serious boyfriend they may call off the wedding but of course in the eyes of parents
‘daughters can do no wrong’. So now it is plan B. I have been keeping my eyes on you for a
while now and we are perfect together, I guess saying I love you too soon was my own fault for
having you break up with me but after having sex I with you I could not hold my self back from
saying what I feel. I thought for sure after you getting the news about having the BRCA gene
there would be no way you would break up with me with your limited window. But I guess I was
wrong. I will make sure you and I are together, and since I know from your last letter that you
think there is ZERO chance for us, I will make it so no other man would agree to marry you. You
will have my baby. And you will stay with me until that happens.”
Neena terrified, “You stole my letters? How did you even do that, the mailboxes have
locks?”
“Well I learned to pick locks when I was little, I thought it was a cool trick to show off to
my friends.” Immediately, Neena realizes that now no one knows anything about what is
happening to her right now, and he knows everything that she had been thinking and saying
about him he now knows, she faints.
***
 Steven arrives at some unknown location, and Neena wakes up by the sudden chill in
the air as she is being carried in his arms in some old poorly lit building. Neena instantly
remembering what is happening flails and screams trying to get someone's attention and to
break loose. Steven then drops one arm that is holding her legs as they suddenly drop to the
ground and covers her mouth and drags her inside the building.
“This is an old industrial part of town that is under construction so not many people are
here this early in the morning, I will bring you back to my place after. So you have a soft,
comfortable, and safe place to stay while I await for the positive pregnancy test. Now I’m going
to tie you up so you can’t leave or hurt me, and so this process goes a little smoother.” Steven
says to Neena as he brings her to the place where he is going to set up. Steven begins to tie
Neena to one of the structural pillars of the building and she flails and around and screams.
Steven says “I don’t know why you're freaking out so much, it's not like we haven’t done this
before, only this time it will feel a lot better because there will be no condom.”
“There is no way that this plan will work, you do realize that this will get you arrested.
You’re not going to have anything to do with this child. You don’t think that I will be able to get
married after this, that's a joke!” Neena screams at Steven.
“Oh but didn’t you say in one of your letters that your parents won’t help you support it,
and dating during pregnancy, you’re just going to find a bunch of creeps that have a fetish for
that type of thing. You said you couldn’t financially support it. So I mean how many options do
you really have.” Steven said as he finished tying her up. “Now let's get you undressed.”
Suddenly the man from the market on the streets shows up and punches Steven in the
face. “I already called 911 earlier when you put her in the car and she started screaming,” the
mysterious produce man said. “They should be on their way now.” Steven pulls out a knife,
“YOU WILL NOT RUIN MY PLANS WE ARE MEANT TO BE EVEN IF I HAVE TO REMIND
HER!” and charges at the indian man. The knife goes straight into his stomach and he
immediately starts bleeding. “Well I have come this far, there is no backing out now,” the man
whispers underneath his breath as he grabs his stomach around the knife. He takes the knife
out and charges back and slices Steven’s legs and then falls over.
“HAHA, you can’t do much when you're bleeding so much through your stomach,” I
guess I have some time to fix up my legs a little bit,” Steven remarks with confidence and walks
back to his car to grab some bandages to wrap his legs. The Indian man gets up and crawls to
cut Neena loose. “My name is Hadier,” the man says to Neena. Steven arrives back and grabs
Hadier and pulls him away from Neena. “Oh you think you can take my place, NEENA IS NOT
HAVING ANYONE ELSE’S BABY BUT MINE!” Steven yells at Hadier and punches him in the
stomach where he was stabbed. Neena breaks free from the ropes and grabs the knife while
Steven is beating up Hadier, and stabs Steven in the back. As Steven falls to the ground, Neena
wraps Hadiers wounds with the bandages Steven brought back, and ties him up with the
remaining rope.
“Hey what gives?” Hadier asks Neena, a bit pissed off. Neena ignores Hadier and
searches his pockets for his phone and calls 911.
“Officer I have been kidnapped, and there have been two people who have been
stabbed. I think this phone dialed 911 earlier. I don’t know where I am but there is one guy that
is bleeding pretty badly and another guy here I tied up who was also stabbed. I don't know this
guy but I am using his phone. Is there any way I can get some officers and ambulances here?”
Neena speaks to the operator on the phone and they confirm that they will arrive in 3 as they
were already on their way. “Well it looks like you were telling the truth you did already call 911.
Why did you follow me? You know that's dangerous? I mean I am thankful that you did, but
why? Did you think you could have a chance if this guy failed?” Neena says to Hadier.
“No of course not, you just looked familiar when I saw you walking up to your building.
Then that strange guy walked up to you and started talking really loudly. He was standing there
for about 15 minutes and only moved when you walked up, super weird.”
“Familiar how? I have never seen you in my life. How would you know me?” Neena says
on edge, gripping the knife.
“My parents are setting me up for an arranged marriage soon, they showed me photos of
the girls that they were thinking of setting me up with.” Hadier said, and suddenly Neena relaxed
a bit.
“Okay, well, we will see when the police arrive. Thank you for untying me and helping,”
Neena says and sits down to calm herself.
The police arrive and the men are taken to the hospital, the letters were retrieved from
the car and everything got sorted out. Steven barely survived the stab in the back, and was sent
to jail after. Neena had found out that Hadier was the man that her parents had chosen for her
to get married to, and Sadie had a great time planning Neena’s Bachelorette party.