Kavita's Submission [COMPLETED]

Chapter 19

Kavita's POV

"Bharosa hai mujhpe?" Anirudhji asks.

I look at his kind yet handsome face. His brown eyes. The slight smile on his face that tilted his lips and made his eyes twinkle.

As I continue looking at him, I recall his thoughtful gestures, from bringing maa's letter to me to getting this photo for me. Just to lessen my sadness.

"Haan. Bharosa hai aap pe, Anirudhji," I reply, realizing at that moment that I did trust him.

"Agar bharosa hai toh chaliye mere saath."

He walks to the main door and opening it, he steps outside.

I too walk to the door, but before stepping out, I look back at the house. Uncertainty and fear arising within me.

'Pichhli baar main din mein Anirudhji ke saath gayi thi, tab bawaal mach gaya tha. Agar kisiko pata chal gaya ki main itni raat ko inke saath bahaar gayi hoon, tab kya hoga?'

That thought stops me from stepping out of the house, and I hesitantly look at Anirudhji.

"Kya huwa, Kavitaji? Ruk kyun gayin?" He asks, frowning at me.

"Kya hume aise saath mein jana chahiye, Anirudhji? Woh bhi itni raat ko? Uss din jo huwa-"

"Uss din jo huwa woh galat tha," he says, interrupting me. "Par isliye nahi ki hum galat the. Balki isliye kyunki logon ki soch galat thi. Aur aaj bhi hum galat nahi hain, Kavitaji."

"Mana ki hum galat nahi hain. Par logon ki soch toh ab bhi wahi hai, Anirudhji."

He nods. "Pata hai. Par abhi bohot raat ho chuki hai, aur sab so rahe hain. Hum kuch hi der mein wapas chale aayenge. Kisiko pata bhi nahi chalega."

When I only look uncertainly at him, he takes a deep breath, and says, "Aap ne kaha ki aap mujhpe bharosa karti hain. Toh apne bharose pe hi bharosa rakh lijiye. Bas ek kadam aur hai, Kavitaji. Aur yeh aap ke upar hai ki aap yeh ek kadam aage lengi ya pichhe."

I knew at that moment that I could be making a huge mistake. That everyone could accuse me of being immoral and characterless if they found out I went out with Anirudhji this late at night.

But, for once, I did not want to care.

The painful knot was unraveling me, scaring me, and if Anirudhji says he can help me by taking me somewhere, then so be it.

I take a step forwards and walk out of the main door, hoping that the consequences from this would not be too dire.

But then, thinking about it, my situation is already too dire.

It can't get worse than this, can it?

~~~~~

"Aap mujhe yahaan kyun le aaye?" I ask Anirudhji, looking around the dark street where he brought me.

We had been walking for almost half an hour, and he has brought me to a quiet place where not one house could be seen. Also, there seems to be no street light around, making the place almost as dark as the night was.

The only source of light was the bulb about two feet far from where we were standing.

It was due to the light from that bulb that I could at least make out Anirudhji's silhouette in the dark.

I stiffen slightly when he suddenly holds my hand and takes me to another corridor, leading me to what looked like an abandoned hut.

When Anirudhji lights the lamp, my doubt about that hut being abandoned strengthens because I could see spiderwebs on the walls all around, with dust and dirt scattered around the floor.