Manmarziya

chapter 5

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All they could hear was screams, flames engulfed the shop they were sitting in, not only that shop but the shops around them too were burning in the fire. 

VANSH POV 

I stood up and grabbed Vishakha, Running out of the shop. Everyone was terrified and I was too confused to understand what suddenly happened, all I knew was I had to keep her safe.

Just when we came out of the shop, I  figured out what was happening. 

Chills washed down my body seeing the scene in front of us. my hold on her hand tightened and she scooped closer to me, her eyes holding the same fear as mine. 

Riot 

It was a situation of Riot. 

People were out of control. Rushing through the streets trying to save themselves. At that moment everyone thought of only themselves.

The man in front of us charged at us with a burning piece of wooden stick in his hand.

I clenched my jaw and moved Vishakha to my other side to save her and then held the man's hand and elbowed his face.

I looked around to find a safe place 

" Let's go there," I told her pointing at the bench at the corner, we could sit behind it for a while to escape this. 

I took the shawl that was lying on the ground and wrapped it around her. 

We both sat behind the bench hoping to be out of here soon. 

A scream boomed around and I hugged her close to me  almost hiding her in my arms,

We both looked at each other for a brief second before I turned to the other side to check if there was any threat.

Just when I turned towards her another man with a thick wooden cue in his hand attacked her, she closed her eyes gasping my name.

Moments passed by and she slowly opened her eyes to find herself caged between the wall and my arms and my eyes bloodshot red. 

The impact of the stick on my back was so harsh that my face and eyes turned red and the cue broke.

Anger was one of the Major contributors to my redness,

She looked into my eyes with so much fear and concern for me.

I turned around and snatched the cue before smacking him with it, I threw the cue and held him by his neck. All I could see right now was red. 

This Bastard attempted to harm her. I threw him on the wall before punching his face a few times.

I turned around to confirm her safety and to my surprise, she was not present there.

Panic.

It was all i felt,

My eyes roamed around and my mouth shouted her name . once twice thrice but I could not find her.

My heart beat started to fasten, I felt all forms of fear at that moment, I just wanter her.

I checked everyone, whoever came my way but no sign of her until my eyes landed on a female figure shouting with all her might.

I immediately recognized her as the same lady from earlier who was in the shop with her son.

My gaze followed the direction she was looking and I found Vishakha safely bringing the boy out of the shop; that was burning in fire.

The shawl I had wrapped around her was no longer resting on her shoulder, instead that boy was rolled in that. 

I didn't know what to feel. Should I be glad that she is alright or should I be angry that she risked it to save the boy or should I feel proud that the girl who makes me reconsider my decisions is so selfless?

How will I  not like her when she repeatedly yet unknowingly gives me the reasons to like her?

Suddenly we all heard the police siren and the people who caused the trouble started to run leaving everything behind.

The kid ran to his mother hugging her and I turned my eyes again at her.

She noticed me and I clenched my jaw.

Although many people were running and the distance between us was far too as we were parllel to eachother , I can say that she understood my reaction.

She gulped and started to move towards me and so did I, Bumping into many people on our way,

when suddenly someone pushed her in the process of running I made my way faster, and just before she could land on the ground I held her shoulders.

She looked at my hand which was grabbing her and frowned seeing blood oozing out of my knuckles. She immediately looked at me and her frown disappeared.

she must have understood how I got hurt.

.

.

.

.

We entered the Main house ( Roop's house) and found everyone gathered there with a tense face.

As soon as Yuvraj noticed me he called out our name loud catching everyone's attention.

The ladies rushed towards us and took  Vishakha from my side, hugging her.

" Are you both alright, is anyone hurt? " Vishakha's mother Questioned us to which we nodded and replied none of us were hurt, calming them down. 

" Thank god, Nothing happened to them" My father stated joining his hands and thanking the god.

Lala ji came towards us and kept a hand on my shoulders. After patting there he removed his hands giving me a assuring nod.

The radio was still on and the news about the riot was still going on. 

" "But why were you coming from that path? Why didn't you come from the usual road?" Tayi Ji ( Roop's mother) asked wiping her tears.

Vishakha's muscles visibly tensed and I just hoped that she would stay calm.

Before she could answer Roop interrupted " They just came  mummy ji, are you going to enquire about them on the doorstep?" 

Roop tried to dismiss the topic but failed when Tauji spoke " One minute, Sulekha's Question is not wrong. Why were you coming from that side? When you could have just headed straight?"

Tauji looked at me demanding answers. Yes, it was true, we went on a different road because it had the coffee shop.

I need to think fast. Just an excuse. Any excuse.

"Mama ji" Vishakha for the first time in this conversation said,

"Actually it's because of me " she looked down with guilt " I wanted to get Some Bangles from Market Road. I was the one who asked him to go from that side "

She said and pulled out a beautiful pair of bangles that had patterns on them from her Salwar's pocket.

What? Where did she get that from?

While looking at the pair of bangles her mother hit her on the head saying "You stupid girl, do you even realize just because of your stupidity you both were caught up in the riot"

To which Vishakha sincerely apologized to everyone.

I tried to remember if she purchased them with me. But no I am pretty sure we didn't.

My chain of thoughts were broken by Roop's Voice

" What happened Vish? Is that blood? "  Roop gasped

Vishakha looked at the direction Roop pointed.

Her upper arm sleeves had blood spots. She stared at Roop then again at her arm and then slowly looked at me.

I knew it was my blood.