Beyond the Beats

Chapter 55. Get strong first

Hiding in our home wasn't going to be of any use. After yesterday's events, my family couldn't even sleep properly. We had somehow managed to calm Dad down, but he was always on alert and didn't want to leave any of us alone.

In the morning, Mom did her best and convinced him to go to his job. After he was gone, we women huddled together, and after a very intense crying session, we gave strength to each other; none of us could lose our hopes, especially Dhara Di because she still blamed herself for everything.

Unexpectedly, my niece was the strongest - she didn't complain about what had happened and agreed to help us in keeping the conversation between Shailesh and us a secret from Dad.

As she was a kid, she ignored her injuries and started playing as if nothing had happened, but we adults were having a hard time coming over the same thing.

Dhara Di kept zoning out, so Mom suggested about taking her to the doctor before my sister's mental health deteriorated.

In the afternoon, I called up Akshay from my sister's phone and told him to inform our mentor about my absence. I requested for a one-day emergency leave, and I didn't need to make any excuses as Akshay knew it must have been related to Dhara Di.

Once Mom left with Srishti and Dhara Di, I fell down on the mattress. I stared at the ceiling and cursed at the top of my voice. I wanted everything to turn out to be just a nightmare, but even if I closed my eyes, I knew that nightmare wasn't going to vanish.

Still, I closed my eyes, and even if I was 99.99% angry at my luck, I was still 0.01% grateful for making it out alive. If I was fully unlucky, then I wouldn't have seen everyone again.

Okay, Bhoomi, now that you have taken the responsibility to keep your family safe, you gotta act quick.

As only half of the day remained, I read Shailesh's deal over and over again. Foremost, the case against that jerk needed to be settled. I didn't want to but that's what was promised. It wasn't going to be that easy and fast, and I was counting on using that point against Shailesh if he tried to threaten us again.

For now, I needed to make him completely trust me before I found a way to get rid of him. Also, I had to put up an act and not let my friends suspect anything or they wouldn't have held back from getting themselves involved.

I had gotten a leave, so I decided to take full rest and told Mom to get me some painkillers on her way back. My right scapula was hurting, but since I didn't feel any fatigue, I didn't go for a checkup.

The day felt longer than usual, and each second passed like an hour. When Mom returned with my sister, we started our plan of distracting ourselves and didn't mention anything related to Shailesh.

We behaved as if we were not at all affected, and when Dad came back from his work, we were able to fool him. After dinner, when everyone fell asleep, Mom and I went on the terrace.

"Bhoomi, I am really worried for you," Mom said. "Why did you take all the risk on your head?"

"I am also a part of this family, Maa. You think if you were the guarantor, none of us would have done anything?" I asked.

"But you are still a kid..."

"I am for you but not for the world."

Mom hugged me. "I am sorry, beta. If I had known Shailesh was going to turn out like this, I wouldn't have gotten Dhara married to him. Your sister is right; I got blinded by my greed, and now we are all facing the consequences of it."

"Maa, please stop blaming yourself," I scolded. "Dhara Di does the same and then Dad also starts cursing himself for making wrong decisions. We can't do anything now; all of it is in the past. We can only move forward."