Bumping Into A 'Superhero' (BIAS)

Chapter 06 : Oh My God

"You sure your mother's okay ?", I asked him as we ordered coffee. We were in a cafe now.
"Yeah, she's just.. not used to this. I probably have a lot of explaining to do though", he laughed it off. "So what do you need help with ?"

"I want to take a break. I just can't take it anymore. Everything around me just reminds me of how much I've lost in my life. I just want something I can hold on to, my entire life", I said as I held his hands. His pupils dilated due to the sudden touch.

"Uh, yeah.. sure", he blushed. But his expressions soon changed as he noticed a text message.
"What is it ?", I asked him casually.

"It's Baba. I told him not to go to work today. You know today's the day I had become Satvar in the original timeline", he said. "What were you saying ?"

"I want to start anew. I want to.. evolve!', I said in an exciting tone.
"Into what ? A Pokemon ?", he muttered.

"What ?!"
"Come on. Our order is here", he corrected as he saw the waitress. Nice save.
"Tanuja ?!", Tejas said all of a sudden.

"Tejas ? Wow", the waitress said.
"Looks like you both are quite.. acquainted", I remarked.

"Yes, we were in the same school. You work here ?", he asked.
"Yeah, part-time. After my dad's death..", she let out her tears. "I'm really sorry..", Tejas said as he stood up and started comforting her. Like too much.

"I'm Sejal by the way", I said abruptly breaking whatever moment they were having. Was I being jealous? Na, impossible !
"Nicee", she said as she scanned me. Like literally she scanned me from top to bottom.

Yes I do look better than you Tanuja.
What ?! Why did I think of this ?

"We'll catch up later", Tejas said as she went away.
"Who's she ?", I asked.
"She's Tanuja", he said.
"What is she ?"
"A human", he muttered again but changed his words as he noticed my expression. "She was a friend of my best friend back in school. I used to call her Vahini."

We sipped our coffees. The bill came and clumsy me as always forgot my wallet. "It's okay, I'll pay", insisted Tejas but I could notice his tense eyes when he saw the bill.

"Na na. Uncle knows me. He'll add it to my account", I waved to the manager. "Am I right uncle ?"
"Yess sure Sejal beta", he waved back. "Add it to the REDZ account", he instructed one of his attendants.

"I come here often. I like this place, it's peaceful, quiet. No one cares who I'm except for Mishra uncle who runs the cafe", I said as we exited but I couldn't help notice Tejas's face. He looked disturbed, probably due to the bill incident. Oh my God, did I do something wrong ? "Tejas ??"

"Oh yeah, Mishra uncle", he said softly. "I'm sorry about the incident back there, I should've paid. I even brought extra cash but.."
"Arey it's okay. It's on me anyway as I was the one who came to you for help", I tried to get him out of his 'guilt'. Was he suffering from some financial crisis ? Should I ask him.. no I shouldn't get so nosy.

"Thanks.. you wanted to start a new life. Right ?", he asked as he started to walk backward, facing me.
"You'll fall !", I warned him.
"No I won't", he said as he continued his reverse-walking. "Tell me. I'm waiting."

"Yess sort of."
"Then I have a place we should definitely visit", he smiled.

***

"So I'm taking the membership of saffron saviours now ?", I asked as I saw filled the form.
"Yeah, just trust me on this", he said as others of his friends joined in.

"She's a friend", he introduced me. "Dr.Sejal."
"Sejal ji, welcome to the saffron saviours. We devote ourselves to abolishing this western influence", one of them said.
"Arey ha Kedar, I met Tanuja on our way", Tejas said. "She works in some cafe now."

"I told you before - I don't care..", Kedar said. "We'll all meet at Talav-Vihar at 5 O'clock."
I turned to Tejas. He just signalled me to keep quiet.

"What are we going to do at Talav-Vihar ? As far as I know, it's a creepy place - girls and boys.. do weird stuff there", I told Tejas as we sat on Tejas's bike. We rode to the local market nearby.
"This is the part where it gets interesting", he said as he bought a saffron dupatta for me.

It was 5pm now. We were at Talav-Vihar. Too early I suppose. Others of the team joined in. I could see more of the male members though. "Here", Tejas passed me a thick bamboo stick.

"You wanted to do something new, right ?", Tejas smiled again. I hate that smile.
"This isn't what I meant by that", I commented as I realized what we were going to do. I pity the stupid teenage couples now.

"Har Har Mahadev !", Tejas roared as they all charged with their sticks. I'm so going to regret this, I thought as I covered my face using my handkerchief.

Everyone started to run helter-skelter. "This is a public park. Your lust has ruined the reputation of this place !", Kedar was literally screaming. "Children and old people fear to come here due to your actions !!"

He was really pissed off. I could see people half-naked running around. This is getting worse. There was this one corner where they hadn't reached yet. I decided to check it out and evacuate it before someone gets hurt.

"Leave me ! I don't want to-"
"You have to ! Don't you love me ?!" - I heard muffled sounds. I went deeper into the woods. My saffron dupatta got entangled in thorns of some scrub. That's when I found the source of the sounds - a man forcing himself on a schoolgirl.

"Get away from her!", I ordered as I left the dupatta there itself.
"Look miss, this is our personal matter. You don't have any right to interfere !", he protested.

"But this isn't right !"
"Leave me alone !! Get out of here !", he insisted. He was right though. I couldn't tell them what to do..

I looked at the girl. All she wanted was affection as she didn't speak up for herself. Then I looked at the man - he had some weird sunglasses, a gold chain, and ripped jeans. All he wanted from that girl was her body.

"Can't you understand ? He's using you !", I asked the girl as I pointed to her torn shirt.
"But he's the only one who loves me", she cried. "He won't leave me, right ?"

He smiled as he turned to me. He had her support, I couldn't do anything.

"You know what to do..", I heard a familiar voice in my head. I pulled the saffron dupatta from the scrub. It tore but I didn't care.

"Har har Mahadev !", I charged as I wrapped it around my shoulder.