Kavita's Submission [COMPLETED]

Chapter 26

Kavita's POV

Limping through the road, I try my best to remember the path that Anirudhji had led me through while taking me to that hut last time.

It's slightly hard for me because it was night then, and it is night now.

Still, I try my best to remember, not stopping even though my wounded foot was begging me to.

"Bas kuch der aur," I say, willing myself to go on.

My foot hurts due to the wound, my whole body is weak due to not eating properly for the last two days when Sameerji kept me locked in that storeroom, but I feel my will strengthen. I feel if I can succeed in getting away this time, life will definitely change for the better.

After all, I am at the worst point of my life right now. Anything that will happen from this moment on has got to be good, hasn't it?

As if in the answer, the rain starts pouring down right at this moment.

I let the rain drench me, even look up at the sky and extend my hands to embrace it.

After everything that I have endured, this feeling of finally being out of that hell, finally getting a chance to live my life without feeling the suffocation from the taunts and abuse, it is as if I have been reborn.

And this feeling is exhilarating.

"Wahaan kaun hai?"

Hearing that voice, I immediately stiffen, because I do not recognize that voice.

Neither it is of Anirudhji nor is it of Sameerji.

"Kya Sameerji ko pata chal gaya ki main bhaag gayi hoon? Kahin woh aur unke log mujhe dhoond toh nahi rahe?" I wonder, feeling fear rise within me.

"Kaun hai wahaan?"

I hear the voice again and it seemed to be closer than before this time.

Without answering him, I turn and run away from there, not knowing where I was heading, but praying that I find Anirudhji soon.

~~~~~

After running for quite some time, I finally slow down, looking around the dark street, wondering where I have come to.

"Yeh toh woh jagah nahi lagti jahaan Anirudhji mujhe laaye the. Yeh kahaan aagayi hoon main?"

An unknown fear creeps within me when I see some silhouette at a distance ahead of me.

I cannot be sure if I am being paranoid right now by thinking everyone out here is trying to catch me and get me back to Sameerji's house, but I feel I cannot trust anyone.

The only person I will be able to trust at this time is Anirudhji.

"Par main kahaan dhoondoon unhe?"

Clutching the bag that Smritiji had given me over my chest, I turn and start walking back, away from the people who seemed to be walking towards me.

I am not sure if they saw me because the street is too dark, dimly lit only through the moonlight.

"Maine unhe dekh liya hai toh ho sakta hai ki unhone bhi mujhe dekh liya ho."

I try walking faster, but after running, my wounded foot has given up and the only way I can move forward is dragging that foot while propelling myself forward with the other foot.

As I was moving slowly I could now hear those men talking at a near distance from me.

Although the loud way with which they were talking with each other and due to the slurry tone of their voice, I understood they were drunk.