𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬

• 9 •

ARYA's POV:

(At the Other Side of His World)

"What do I do? I don't have any money. My cards won't work here. I don't even have a phone," I mutter to myself in frustration.

The realization sinks in that night is approaching rapidly. I look around, feeling a growing sense of unease. "Even my stomach is feeling hungry, but I don't have any money," I complain to myself.

I start walking, desperately searching for a solution when I spot a park. "A park? Yes, here I can sleep tonight," I think to myself. I enter the park and find a bench to sit on.

"Arya, it's just for tonight. We'll figure out what to do tomorrow," I reassure myself as I try to make myself as comfortable as possible.

Before long, exhaustion takes over, and I doze off.

Then, I hear a voice calling out, "Madam, madam."

I wake up, feeling disoriented and sleepy. "Huh?" I mumble.

The watchman approaches and says, "You can't sleep here. You have to leave."

I nod groggily, replying, "Oh, okay."

I walk anxiously along the road, a sense of unease growing within me. There are no signs of people around, and I begin to wonder why I ended up in the outskirts of Mumbai.

"Why, God? Why am I here where there's no sign of people?" I mutter to myself, my voice trembling with anxiety.

As I continue walking and talking to myself, I suddenly hear the sound of approaching motorcycles. I glance behind me and see a group of boys on bikes, their eyes locked onto me as if I were their prey.

Panic sets in, and without hesitation, I start running. But one of the boys comes forward and calls out, "Kaha ja rahi ho, madam? (Where are you going, madam?)"

I don't reply, my heart pounding in my chest.

Another one of the boys chimes in, "Hum chhod dete hain. (We can give you a ride back.)"

Desperate to get away from them, I finally reply, "No thanks, I can manage." With that, I resume my frantic run, and they follow closely behind, the sound of their motorcycles echoing in my ears.

I desperately try to hide behind some garbage boxes, hoping to evade the boys on motorcycles. They dismount from their bikes and mockingly ask, "Madam, why are you hiding from us? We're just trying to help you." Laughter fills the air as one of the boys adds, "We only want one favor from you: let us taste you." Their words send a shiver down my spine.

Fear consumes me, and I think to myself, "Why on earth did I decide to come into this world?" I silently pray, "Please, God, send some help." But as I'm lost in my prayers, one of the boys approaches me, touching my shoulder and sneering, "So here you are." He slaps me, and in a moment of panic, I grab a nearby garbage can and dump its contents on him.

I continue walking helplessly along the road when suddenly, I bump into a car and fall to the ground with a jolt.

***

Aryan was lost in his thoughts. Utkarsh, his loyal companion, noticed his troubled expression and asked with concern, "What's bothering you, boss?"

Aryan hesitated for a moment, then simply replied, "Nothing." He closed his eyes, attempting to find solace within his own thoughts.

Suddenly, the car came to a screeching halt, jerking everyone inside.

Utkarsh's anger is palpable as he questions the driver, "Driver, what's happening?"

The driver, clearly flustered, responds, "I don't know, Shahab."

Suddenly, a figure appears in front of the car, knocking on the window and pleading for help.

"Please... please... help me," she begs, her voice trembling. "Save me from those boys. They're after me."

Aryan, sitting in the backseat, instructs Utkarsh, "Utkarsh, go and see what's happening."

Utkarsh nods and steps out of the car, approaching the distressed girl. Meanwhile, the boys who have been harassing her follow closely, insisting that it's none of his business.

Utkarsh returns to the car and addresses Aryan, "Boss, they're harassing a girl. Should I intervene or should we leave?"

Aryan considers for a moment and then replies, "Come back inside. We don't have time for this. Let them do what they want."

Utkarsh nods and re-enters the car, and they continue on their way, leaving the scene behind.