Prey of a Predator

Chapter 36

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They both looked towards me and I got caught in eavesdropping. Maa looked pale when she saw me hearing to their conversation and came towards me while baba just stared at me. Maa, when stood in front of me, asked me if I heard everything, I nodded my head. I told them that if what baba said was actually what Henry said and baba just looked at ground indicating that it is, unfortunately, true.

I took some steps in front of baba and kneeled on the ground in front of him and asked him for forgiveness. He looked at me and then maa and then again me while maa was completely completely shook with my words. Baba then asked for what. I told him that because of me, everybody is getting hurt. He then asked if I know something about this matter and maa tried to change the subject but I refused to hide it anymore. I told him everything about Henry, how I first saw him, how he came in front of me in that garden, how he banged on our home's door, how he threatened me in that fair, how he threatened me to come at night and then the tiger incident and then finally this market incident and how he told me that a suprise will wait for me at home and why I was anxious this whole time.

While hearing all this, maa kept her hand on her mouth and looked like as if she is on the edge of crying while baba just stared at me.

I was again going to say sorry when baba asked me if I consider them dear to me. I looked him in the eyes and with tears in my eyes, I aggressively nodded my as yes and told them that in this whole village, they are the only ones whom I trust blindly, and then while looking at maa, I told him that the love and care I received from here, I couldn't find it anywhere else. I don't know who my real parents are in here but they are definitely my current parents who took me in as their own daughter without looking in my family and caste, who will do such things?

Not even knowing my identity, they accepted me and loved me like their own daughter and for that I am the luckiest girl alive. I am really suffocating with guilt that I brought this to them and told them that if they want then I will leave right now but I will never ever be able to bring myself to hate them. Baba then spoke that if I consider them dear to me then why did I thought that they will kick me out of house just because of this.

With tears rolling down my eyes, I looked at the ground and unable to say anything, I just sat silently. Then again baba spoke that if they have taken my responsibility then they will fulfil and just then maa kept her hand on my shoulder and assured me.

I then looked back at baba and asked him what should I do now and in reply he asked me as to what I want to do?

I thought for a while. What should I do now? Should I finally escape? But what if he hurts them? But if I stay here then also they will get hurt so it's better that I disappear from here so that no one else will get hurt. Yes, an escape, that's what I will do. After confirming my feelings, I looked at baba, more determined than ever and said that I will escape from here so that he won't ask me then. I think if he doesn't see me for more than a month then he will forget me, right?

Baba agreed and maa also eventually agreed as she knew what consequences will happen if I stay here anymore not that she will blame me, she will probably blame herself for not keeping me safe and all but I know she will understand that non of it is her fault and after leaving from her, I will finally be at peace. So after making my mind, I told them that I am ready and if I leave at night, none of his soldiers will be able to find me and I will reach my destination. But wait, destination? Where do I intend to go? Where should I go?

I asked baba what would be a safe to leave to and he said that there is one village where his friend lives, they don't have a child so if I live with them for a while, it will not look that much suspicious and when everything will be sorted out here, I can come back and continue live here with them.

This idea sounds okay. I nodded my head and stood up to go to my room. When I again went inside the room, I saw Avni in deep sleep. I went near her and kneeling in front of her, I stroked her hair and asked for forgiveness from her. My tears just won't stop and I couldn't bring myself to forgive myself or rather him.

I then, stood up and took a medium size bag, packed some clothes and my important jewellery, just when I was packing the necklace which was a pair of Avni's, I saw the necklace which Henry gave me. This all is because of him so I should take it with me so that I would have something to threaten him with.

I feel like a pathetic person to care for such a man and to think that he would behave like a human but somethings never change. I can't believe that at some point of time, I thought that I would have feelings for him when all I feel for him right now is hate, despise, disgust, anger and every possible negative feelings towards him. I just can't imagine that a human being is possible for threatening people like this. Not only did he increase the rate of tax but also he ordered baba to give my hand to him in marriage in order to cancel the tax for this month. What does he think of himself? And to think I spent those moments with him, I am pathetic. I cared for him, treated his wounds because that's what every human being will do in that situation but now that I think about those moments, I feel like an idiot.

After packing my stuff, I took my bag and went towards baba and maa. When I reached there, maa suddenly hugged me and while crying, she said to take care and come back as soon as possible. I wiped her tears while nodding my head and told her to not tell Avni about my escape and give her some other of why I left. She nodded her head and agreed. I then looked at baba and suprisingly for the first time, I kept his hand on head and while stroking my head, he told me that at a distance of few minutes from here, there will be many carriages available for almost every village and the village I have to go to is named as  Valmiki village.

I never heard about this village but I think it will just as good as this one. I touched there feet and told them that I will be back soon and I stepped out of my house's front door.

When I stepped outside, it was raining heavily. I turned towards them one last time and told them to take care of themselves and Avni. Then I went ahead and started walking towards the carriages.

If anyone saw me right now they will think I just got dumped from my lover. Walking in a voilet coloured lehenga with a bag in her which seemed like to fit a full week trip's clothes. Tears still streaming down my eyes and my expression as if all the world's depression is with me.

Within a few moments, I reached the specified area and saw several carriages. Some were about to leave while some just stood there and their drivers were near a tea stall while the horses were eating grass in the nearby fields.

I went towards one carriage which seemed to leave just now and asked the driver where he was leaving to and he replied as Valmiki village.

Great! I paid him the advance and jumped into the carriage in the backseat. With me there were two other older women going to the same village.

I leaned my back against the grassy cover of the carriage and looked outside the carriage with my arms folded on my folded knees with my eyes staring at the clouds, the rain and the village where I first arrived in this era and knew everyone and how much love they showered on me. With the pouring rain drops on the ground, my tears were also flowing down in the same rhythm.

And when the carriage started moving, I simply just looked at the only village where I knew and loved everything and everyone in this 1870s era.

And while looking at it, I just hoped for one thing. And that was for all of this to be a nightmare and when I return, I will finally be able to find peace in my messed up life. I hope that when I will return again to this village, there will no problem in my life named as Henry, ever again.

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