Na Bangaram (Pranushka)

Chapter 23

Rana's Pov:

"... chance," I hear my mom yell. I put my phone into my pocket and walk towards the office room. I slowly lean and look in through the window and my jaw drops.

"Miheeka," I whisper to myself, "what is she doing here". I've never seen her like this and it worries me, why is Ma yelling at her. I press my head onto the door and quietly listen.

"Aunty... I," she stops and takes a deep breath. Ma is still sitting across from her with a straight face. Instead of saying anything, she bites her lip down and I hear her start crying.

"Miheeka," Ma tries to get up from her seat, but Miheeka puts her hand up signaling to stay.

"I'm sorry aunty, I," she covers her face with her hands, and my heart breaks as I hear the sobs tearing through her body. I want to do nothing but go inside and hold her in my arms and whisper to her that it's gonna be ok. I keep my cool and continue to watch them.

"Vijay is something. Yes, we used to be friends but I wouldn't marry him if he was the last man alive. My parents only see the fake side of him, but I've seen it all and I," she shivers and breaks down again and this time I see Ma get up and walk over to her. She pulled her into a hug and stroked her hair.

"He's disgusting, I mean just a womanizer," I hear the anger in her voice cut through her sobs.

"I mean he gets drunk almost every day and never shows up to his own company to work. He sleeps with so many girls and just goes through them like toys, it disgusts to me."

"I haven't seen him in a few years since he," She sniffles and drops her head.

"Last time I saw him was at a party at my parent's house. He had too many drinks as usual and he came up to my room," Ma covers her mouth with her hand. I feel my jaw tighten and my handball up into a fist. Who is this piece of filth?

"He threw me against the wall and tried to forcefully kiss me," she is now bawling in Ma's arms. Ma whispers to her and tells her that's enough, she doesn't need to hear anything else. I am afraid that if she continues, I will drag him onto the streets and beat his ass.

"That fucking maniac, how dare he," I whisper to myself. I grind my teeth and rub my fist with my other hand. I quietly walk away from that room while not uttering a single word.

"Rana, what," I bump into Prabhas while walking towards the staircase and he shakes me by my shoulders.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I glare at him as he drags me upstairs to talk.

"I am gonna fucking kill him," I stand up from my bed.

"No sit-down, calm down," he locks the door and pushes me in.

"Don't tell me what to do," I push against him and he lets go of me.

"I don't know what the hell your problem is or who you want to kill but at least tell me so I can help." I take a deep breath and look up at him. I sit on my bed and rub my hands on my eyes.

I narrate to him what happened when I finish, he is looking down at the ground.

"Miheeka," I hear Shriya yell from downstairs.

"Shit," Prabhas mumbles when we hear Anushka's voice as well.

"You need to calm down Rana, otherwise they will find out that you were listening," I nod my head and he unlocks the door.

As we walk down the stairs, I see Shriya hugging Miheeka with a smile. Can she not tell that Miheeka was just crying. I think Anushka noticed because her eyes are wide when she turns to look at us coming.

"One second," Shriya says to us. She scurries off into a nearby room with her phone by her ear.

"You two come with me, Anushka goes with Miheeka to help her freshen up," She grabs our arms and pulls us into the kitchen.

"Here, get me some cups and get biscuits from the pantry," I nod at Ma as she orders us her round. Her voice is still slightly shaky but she tries to keep a straight face. Ma comes up to me and puts her hand on my cheek.

"I'm sorry," she pulls me into a hug.

"Ma, what," I start to question her. She shakes her head at me.

"I know you heard, it's ok but," I hear Prabhas put his glass down and gasp.

"Ma how did you," I start and she slightly smiles.

"I'm your mother," she slightly pinches my cheek.

Anushka's Pov:

"Come on," I pull her into the bathroom and set my bag by the door. Miheeka turns on the water and splashes it onto her face. Her makeup was a mess so I gave her some wipes to take it off and she pulled her hair into a ponytail.

"You don't have to say anything, just tell me if you're ok now," I say to her. She looks up at me and takes a breath. She leans against the wall and starts narrating to me what happened with Vijay a few years ago. I wipe away a few tears threatening to fall and pull her into a hug.

"I'm sorry," I rub her back and she hugs me.

"Come on, let's go out, I don't want to worry Aunty," I nod at her and pick up my bag. We leave the bathroom together and walk into the kitchen. I see Rana handing his mom some plates as she stands by the stove. My curiosity gets the best of me and I start to look around.

"Ma I-" He comes out of the pantry with a silver can in his hands. He connects his eyes with mine and I feel my heart racing. He can make me go red and feel butterflies inside with just one glance.

"Yes Prabhas," Aunty looks up at him and he coughs breaking eye contact with me. I look down and set my bag by the couch.

"Um Ma do you need this," he asks her while holding up the container. She nods and thanks to him. I walk into the kitchen to help, but she makes Miheeka and I just sit at the table. She isn't making eye contact with any of us, so I know she is still kind of shaken up.

"Thank you," I hear Miheeka whisper from next to me when Aunty hands her the cup. I slightly smile and thank her when she gives me my cup. Rana and Prabhas sit in the living room, so it is just the two of us at the table.

Once we finish up our tea and I grab my bag to head out.

"Bye Aunty," We both wave at her. She smiles at us and waves from her position by the kitchen sink. Prabhas looks at me from the couch. His piercing glare was like a plea asking me not to go, but against my wishes, I put on my shoes and headed out of the front door.

Thank you for reading!! 

- Ag and Sv