THE LADY IN THE RAIN

SLAP FROM THE REALITY

Ritwik  reaches the graveyard. He comes and sits on the grass before Emma’s grave.
‘Do you know what I saw today?’ Ritwik  speaks to the grave.
‘I saw a name that I wished never to see. I am damn sure that it was not any delusion. It was him. But how I don’t know? What do you think? Is it really him?’
‘You are very close to the answer, young man!’ interrupts the same old man.
‘You? What’re you doing here?’
‘I always stay here talking to them. Help Emma as quickly as possible. She doesn’t deserves this punishment. Justify her death. Now only you could help her out. That young girl will help you.’
‘How do you know?’
‘I talk to them,’ he says in a slow tone.
Suddenly, squalls starts, adding spookiness to the uncanny silent atmosphere.
‘Wha...what do you mean by you TALK TO THEM?’ Ritwik  asks in a petrified tone.
‘You are smart. You know that. Help her. She needs it. Don’t let the evil empower.’
Saying so, the old man walks away.
                              *********
Following Day
The group has started continuing their project. Anaya comes in with four glasses of lemonade.
‘Have this, guys!’
‘Anaya!’ Ritwik  calls her.
‘Wow! It was unexpected that you will take my name.’
Ritwik  wants to give her the cold shoulder but couldn’t because he sincerely needs her help.
‘Anaya, I want to talk to you in private.’
‘Private, huh?’ Pihu teases.
Both Sahil and Pihu give a naughty look to Ritwik . Anaya blushes. Ritwik  ignores them.
‘Will you please come?’
‘Sure.’
She happily goes after him with butterflies in her stomach. She starts remembering all the romantic songs that she has saved in her Spotify Playlist.
‘Where could we talk? I mean your family members are sitting there,’ Ritwik  says pointing towards the Shekhawats who are having tea and gossiping.
‘Come to my room.’
Ritwik  follows her. Anaya opens the door. He gets stumbled upon seeing his photos in her room. They were all single random clicks. But in all the photos, he looked tempting and charismatic. He sees a collaged photo frame of his and Anaya with a heart symbol between it as a design. He gets shocked on seeing her madness for him.
She is nuts. He thinks.
‘So, did you like the pictures? They are very close to my heart.’
She comes closer to him and keeps her hand on his chest. Now he understands Anaya's intentions. He immediately comes to the point.
‘Where is Amrit Shekhawat now?’ he asks.
The question comes like a bolt from the blue to Anaya.
‘Why do you want to know?’
‘Do you love me?’ he asks.
‘Of course, I do.’
‘If you really do so, then speak the truth. It is because people in love never lie to the person whom they adore,’ says Ritwik .
‘Boston,’ she says.
‘But he was supposedly dead, no?’
‘Yep! But that was just a setup.’
‘For what?’
‘For humiliating some Emma whom I don’t know.’
‘Who was she?’ he pretends as if he does not know anything.
‘Ex-wife of Adi chachu. She was fucking cheating on my Adi chachu with Amrit chachu. That’s why they decided to punish her by making her life a living hell.’
‘Means?’
‘She once slapped Amrit chachu in front of the whole family and once tried to kill him when he threatened her to reveal their relationship before everyone.’
‘You are right! But you are unaware of the other side of the story.’
‘What?’
‘Amrit Shekhawat was obsessed with Emma. He wanted to have her all by himself. And when she rejected his advances, he tried to rape her. And Emma out of self defence, hit him on his head. He was unconscious. But the world saw him as dead.’
‘How do you know Emma?’
‘That’s not important. Listen, will you please do a favour for me?’
‘Why not? Say.’
‘I want you to confess the same thing before the police.’
‘I can’t.’
There is a complete silence for a while.
‘No problem, a tempting soul will keep on suffering forever.’, he says sadly.
‘What do you mean?’
Ritwik  decides to narrate the whole story. After hearing everything, Anaya remains in shock.
‘I am sorry. I didn’t know about all these. I will help you out. I will go to the police with you.’
Ritwik  kisses on her forehead.
‘Thank you,’ he says.
                                **********
Ritwik  enters his house with Anaya. Vani and Palash look surprisingly at both of them.
‘Baba, I want to talk to talk to your best friend, ACP Sabyasachi Bakshi,’ Ritwik  demands.
‘Why?’
‘I found Emma’s culprit. Please, help her.’
‘Why didn’t you go to the local police station?’
‘They refused to take up the matter.’
‘Oh! I got it. Fear of losing job. Okay, I am calling him.’
                          ***********
Sabyasachi arrives within an hour. He is in a khaki police uniform. They greet him. Anaya narrates everything. He then goes to the Shekhawats and confronts them.
‘Call Amrit Shekhawat immediately back to India!’ Sabyasachi says in a bossy tone.
‘How could I, Sir? Bhaiya is gone forever from this world,’ he makes a sad face.
‘But Anaya Shekhawat’s call records say something else.’
Aditya starts sweating.
‘I don’t want to involve any media. But if you keep quiet, then I’ll be forced to call the media.’
‘No, Sir! I’m saying,’  says Aditya.
He takes a deep breath and continues.
‘We both lost our sanities when that Emma slapped my brother once in the public because he tried to dance with her. And that day, she hit my brother. So, we decided to throw her not only from this house but also from the society. We decided to make her life a living hell. We knew that one day when she’ll learn about Amrit bhaiya's death because of her, then for sure she’ll ruin herself completely due to the guilt. That was our motive.’
‘And did you ever tried to learn the reason?’
‘Means?’
‘Your brother attempted to rape Emma that day. She hit him in self defence. Your brother touched inappropriately Emma in the public. That’s why she slapped him. And when she learnt about your brother’s fake death, she committed suicide.’
‘What?’
‘Yes, now call your brother,’ he orders.
A week later
Ritwik  sits down on his knees before Emma's grave.
‘Justice provided, Emma. Your culprits are punished. I do hope now you are not angry with me.’
He looks tearfully at Emma's grave.
‘I am sorry. I killed you, Emma. But I had always loved you. I don’t know how to repent.’
He breaks down into tears. Suddenly, a white rose falls before his knees. He takes that in his hand and looks at Emma's grave.
‘You are here. I know,’ he smiles.