The Broken Vow

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Can we please get 60 votes on this chapter? It would mean the world to me <3

16 Years later(Present)

Aahana Agnihotri 

"Need a special invite?" the pot-bellied police officer quipped, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Before I could retort, the stern-faced lady officer behind us shoved Niharika and me into an already cramped holding cell.

The rusty door let out a loud protest as it swung shut behind us. Its metallic clang echoing ominously in the narrow corridor.

"Ugh, this is so annoying," a female voice grumbled from our group, followed by a muted thud.

My face scrunched in disgust as I studied my grimy surroundings. Most of these people weren't friends; they were mere acquaintances with faces and names I barely recognized. Under the dim light, figures lounged indifferently on the filthy floor or propped themselves against the walls, laughing and chatting as if we were still at the party we were all arrested from.

A collective groan rippled through the crowd as someone in the corner succumbed to nausea as a side effect of whatever he had used at the party. This triggered a chain reaction of retches and gags in the cell. I turned away, but I wasn't quick enough. I caught a glimpse of another girl doubling over in a violent expulsion.

The stench of alcohol and sweat now mingled with the acrid scent of vomit. Holding my breath, I moved closer to the steel bars, making sure to not touch them. Who knew how many people had touched them and left their germs?

How had the night that had started with the promise of the most happening party ended here? The pulsing music and flashing lights along with the best liquor and drugs money could offer all seemed like an eternity away.

"Why do you think they are questioning Sapna and Mahira separately?" Niharika asked after a beat.

"They think they'll be able to get something if they separate us."

I glanced in the direction of the familiar voice. I couldn't believe I had slept with this man willingly more times than I would admit, but then I guess boredom and inebriation made you do stupid shit like that. My voice cracked with anger as I turned to face Rohit, his figure slouched against the wall. "This is all your fault," I seethed, the words tumbling out in a torrent of frustration."Who the fuck told you to bring a gun to the party and then fire it?"

He chuckled dismissively and slid onto the floor, stretching his long legs out before him. His lips were bleeding from the scuffle he had with the police while resisting arrest like an idiot and even from this distance, I could see his eyes were still dilated. "Realx, why are you getting so worked up? It's not like it is your first time here."

It wasn't. I had been arrested before, trespassing and arson, and then one time for illegal street racing. But never before had I been put in a cell. Both times, my father's lawyers were already waiting for me at the station with papers for my bail even before I arrived with the police. Being the sole heiress to Celestial Flights, the country's premier luxury aviation empire, did have its perks.

The female police officer from earlier returned and stood outside the cell with a glare. Noticing the vomit on the floor, she audibly sighed. "Which one of you is Niharika?"

Niharika's eager voice pierced the tense air, her hand shooting up. "Me!"

With a begrudging huff, the officer unlocked the door. "You can go. Your lawyer is here." Niharika dashed out before the door had fully swung open, leaving me behind without a second glance. "I'll see you at the club for the polo match on Sunday," she said with a sheepish smile when she realized that she had forgotten about me.

I nodded and watched her figure disappear around her corner. I wasn't surprised at her for choosing to leave without me. I would have as well. In our circles, we had been groomed to save our own skin.

"Rohit Agarwal?" a different officer called out, already opening the door.

"Hey!" I protested, blocking his path. "He is the reason why we are all here. Why does he get to leave before us?"

He responded with a mocking pout. "Is my pookie upset? I can ask my lawyer to get you out." Cupping my jaw, he leaned in. "But it'll cost you. A blowjob? Or 3?"

"I'd rather rot in here for the rest of my life," I retorted, slapping his hand away. People around us snickered which only fueled his anger.

"God! You are such a bitch," he spat before storming out.

I rolled my eyes at his juvenile insult.

It had been 45 minutes since I had been put in here. Most of my cellmates were released already. My parents should have sent a lawyer. I knew that they weren't in the country but I was sure my call to my mother's assistant would suffice. With my father shooting for the chief minister position in the next elections, he wouldn't want this scandal.

Hopping from one foot to the other, I tried to not ease the tension in my feet. I looked down at my heels only to notice a stain marring the surface of my Gianvito Rossi silver sequin pumps. Irritation flared within me, and I hastily attempted to wipe away the blemish with my hands, my frustration mounting with each futile swipe.

The dim lights above me turned off and suddenly I was plunged into darkness. My stomach dropped as I tried not to panic. "Excuse me!" I yelled out, wrapping my fingers around the bars. The cool metal was a good reminder to help remember where I was. "Why did the lights turn off?"

No one responded, but I could hear the officers outside moving around and talking.

"In here. Please," I screamed.

Someone yelled at me to shut up from the other side, but I ignored it, rattling the bars of the cell. My breaths came in shallow bursts as I tried to scream again, but no sounds came out. The pounding of my heart and blood roaring in my ears reverberated through the silence. The erratic rhythm of my heart was painful. I pressed my palm against my chest as if that would make it stop hurting.

I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine.

Irrational fears took root as I watched shadows in the corner morphed into a grotesque shape of a man. Panic coursed through my veins as the feeling of a suffocating grip tightened around my chest, squeezing the air from my lungs.

The shadow began looming closer and closer to me, and I tried to move away only to slip and fall onto the ground. Screwing my eyes shut, I wrapped my arms around my knees and them closer to my chest mentally pacifying myself that this was going to be okay.

"Don't worry, little butterfly, I'll save you," a masculine voice said, before fingers touched my face. Unlike Rohit's touch, this was more of a soft caress.

My eyes flew open only to realize that the lights had turned on. Through blurry tear stricken eyes I saw the man crouched on the floor on the opposite side of the bars with a condescending smirk and patronizing glint in his eyes.

Adarsh Khanna.