Soul serenade।18+

chapter 7

Deepa looked up at him, her eyes red and swollen from crying. She tried to speak, but the words caught in her throat, her breath hitching as she struggled to form a sentence.

"Bhaiya..." she finally managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper. "Woh... woh ladka... college ke raste mein... usne..." She broke down again, unable to continue.

Ashok felt a cold fury building inside him. "Kya kiya usne? Tum mujhe sab kuch batao, Deepa," he urged, his voice trembling with both anger and concern.

Deepa took a deep, shaky breath, trying to calm herself enough to speak. "Main college se ghar aa rahi thi... tabhi ek ladka... usne mujhe roka aur... zabardasti karne ki koshish ki... main dar gayi, Bhaiya... main bas bhaag kar yahan aa gayi..."

Ashok's hands clenched into fists. The thought of someone trying to harm his sister filled him with a rage he had never felt before. "Kaun tha woh? Kya tum usse pehchan gayi ho?" he asked, his voice low and deadly calm.

Deepa nodded, her tears still flowing. "Haan, Bhaiya... woh college ka hi ek ladka hai... Ajay naam hai uska. Pehle bhi usne mujhe tang kiya hai, lekin aaj... aaj to hadd paar kar di..."

Ashok's blood boiled. He knew Ajay—everyone in the village did. Ajay was a notorious troublemaker, someone who thrived on intimidating others, especially those who were vulnerable. But this—this was beyond unacceptable. This was unforgivable.

"Mujhe pehle kyun nahi bataya, Deepa?" Ashok asked, his voice softening as he wiped her tears away. "Main tujhe kabhi kuch hone nahi doonga, yeh to tu jaanti hai na?"

Deepa nodded, her lower lip trembling. "Mujhe laga tha ki yeh sab khatam ho jayega... lekin woh to aur bhi zyada badtameezi karne laga. Aaj to main bahut darr gayi thi, Bhaiya."

Ashok's heart ached as he saw the fear in his sister's eyes. He couldn't bear the thought of her living in fear because of someone like Ajay. His jaw tightened, and his hands curled into fists, the rage simmering just below the surface.

"Yeh Ajay hai kahan?" Ashok asked, his voice steady, though his mind was already made up about what he needed to do.

Deepa hesitated for a moment, her voice quivering with fear. "Woh... woh college ke raste par jo chai ki dukaan hai, wahan aksar milta hai. Uske saath uske dost bhi hote hain."

Ashok nodded, his mind racing with a plan. He knew the chai stall well; it was a popular hangout spot for college students. But this time, Ashok wasn't going there for tea or casual banter. He was going there to confront Ajay, to make sure that his sister would never have to live in fear again.

He stood up, his eyes darkening with determination. "Tu fikar mat kar, Deepa. Main abhi us ladke se milta hoon. Tum yahin raho, aur Maaji ke paas jao."

Meera rushed after him, catching up to him just outside the front door. "Ashok, ruk jao! Gusse mein aise nahi jaa sakte tum," she pleaded, grabbing his arm to stop him. She knew that once Ashok got angry, there was no controlling him.

"Meera, chhodo mujhe. Ajay ko aaj sabak sikhana zaroori hai. Tum samajh rahi ho na? Meri behen pe haath uthaya usne!"

Meera nodded, understanding his rage, but the dread gnawing at her wouldn't let her stay quiet. "Haan, lekin gusse mein jaa ke tum kuch galat kar doge, Ashok. Tumhe apne gusse pe kabu rakhna hoga. Deepa ko insaaf milega, par aise nahi."

Ashok stopped and looked at her, his eyes burning with fury, but he could see the genuine concern in Meera's eyes. For a brief moment, it seemed like he might reconsider. But then, the image of his terrified sister flashed in his mind again, and his resolve hardened.