THE IInd DECISION

29. Shadows of Past

Ashi Pov:-

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my waist. I spun around, startled, to see Akash standing too close, his face a little too familiar.

"What are you doing?" I asked, my voice shaky. I tried to keep calm, telling myself it was just the fever making me imagine things.

He didn't answer, just smirked. I shook my head, trying to focus. Maybe I was hallucinating. I handed him a file and moved to another corner of the room to continue searching. But then I felt him again, closer this time, hovering behind me. I turned around sharply, a surge of fear rushing through me.

"What are you doing, Akash?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady, but I could feel my heart racing, my breath coming faster. The fever was making everything worse-my head pounded, and my vision blurred.

He grinned, a predatory smile that sent a chill down my spine. "Like you don't know, love," he said, his voice dripping with a sickening sweetness.

I snapped back, "What?" and tried to move away, but he grabbed my hands, pinning me against the wall. My heart pounded in my chest, panic rising. "Leave me," I said, my voice rising.

He leaned closer, his breath hot against my skin. "You always smile at me, always ask me for help. Do you think I'm a fool, that I don't know what you mean? And now, you called me into the file room where it's just the two of us...Darling you are married ? You didn't told us .... hmmm?!" His fingers trailed from my chin down to my shoulders, then to my arms.

I shook off his hand, trying to push him away, but the fever made me weak, and my mind was a blur of fear and panic. He continued " Ashi , come with me in a Hotel , we'll have fun , you also want it , hmm?? I know you want it ". Old, blurry images flashed in my mind-darkness, a man hovering over me, his breath hot on my neck, hands that wouldn't stop touching me. I could feel his weight on top of me, pinning me down, his lips on my skin. "No," I whispered, my voice trembling, "Stop, Rishi, please stop."

But Rishi didn't stop. He never stopped. My heart was racing, my breaths shallow and quick. I could feel the darkness creeping in, my vision narrowing as Akash moved closer, his lips nearing mine. I was trapped, paralyzed by fear and fever.

I snapped back to the present, feeling Akash's hands on me again. I pushed him away with all the strength I could muster and bolted out of the file room, my heart pounding in my chest. My breaths were ragged, tears streaming down my face. I stumbled down the hallway, nearly running into Piyush.

"Ashi, are you alright?" he asked, concern etching his features. "You look unwell."

I nodded quickly, not trusting myself to speak, and rushed past him, heading straight for my car. I needed to get out, needed to feel safe. My hands were shaking as I fumbled with the keys, my mind flooded with blurry images, my body still trembling with fear. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. "Calm down, Ashi," I whispered to myself, "You are safe now."

I started the engine, my hands still trembling, tears blurring my vision. I needed to see my therapist. Now. I drove off, my heart still racing, the panic still gripping me, but I kept repeating to myself, "You're safe, you're safe," hoping the words would somehow make it true.

Ayan Pov:-

I entered the room, moving quietly in the dim light. Maybe Ashi was asleep; the lights were off, and the curtains drawn tight. As I went to change my clothes, I heard faint sobs. I stopped, my heart clenching in my chest. I stepped out of the wardrobe and listened more closely. The sobs were unmistakable-Ashi was crying, her muffled sounds of distress coming from the bed.

I immediately switched on the lamp beside the bed, casting a warm glow over her. She was lying on her side, her face buried in the comforter, her shoulders trembling with each sob. I pulled the duvet away gently. "Ashi, are you crying?" I asked softly. Her eyes were red and swollen, her cheeks flushed, her nose a tender pink. My hand instinctively went to her forehead-it was burning up.

"Oh my God, Ashi, you have a high fever," I said, worry creeping into my voice. "Why didn't you tell me? Wait here, I'll quickly bring some medicine." I was about to leave when she grabbed my wrist, her touch hot against my skin, burning like a brand.

I turned back to her and sat down on the edge of the bed. Her eyes were wide, filled with tears, and she whispered, "Before... he touched me on my arms. I felt weird at that time," she said between sobs, her breath hitching with every word. She continued, "I shook it off, thinking I was just imagining things... You also hold my arm sometimes, but I never feel uncomfortable with you..." Her words were scattered, tumbling out between gasps and tears.

I didn't fully understand what she was trying to say, but I could see she needed to talk, needed to let it out. My heart was breaking apart seeing her like this, but I couldn't stop her. She had to continue, had to get it out.

She took a shuddering breath and went on, "We went to the file room for some documents, and he... he touched me. He tried to ki... kiss me," she stammered, her voice breaking. She took my hand and placed it on her waist, where she'd felt unwanted touch. "And he..." Her voice cracked again, and she sobbed harder. "Ayaan, after that incident, I thought I was okay, but why is it always me? It happened four years ago too... Ayaan, I can't take it... it's hurting me... I feel so ugly, so dirty... It's always me !! why It's always happens ?"

She collapsed into me, throwing her arms around my neck, burying her face in my chest as she cried uncontrollably. Her body trembled against mine, her sobs shaking her entire frame. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tightly, my hand gently patting her shoulder. "I'm here," I whispered, my voice soft and soothing. "No one's touching you. You're safe now and I promise it won't happen again , I won't let it ."

"But he did," she cried out again, her voice raw with pain and fear. She coughed, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She cried for what felt like an eternity, her tears soaking through my shirt, but I didn't move. I just held her, whispering words of comfort, stroking her hair, wiping away her tears.

After an hour, when her sobs had finally quieted into soft whimpers, I reached for the medicine in the bedside drawer. "Take this," I said gently, trying to keep my voice steady despite the anger boiling inside me. "You're burning up."

She took the medicine, and I pulled her back into my chest, guiding her to lie down. I didn't leave her side until she finally fell into a deep sleep, her head resting against my chest, one hand clutching my shirt as if afraid to let go. I kept my hand on her head, patting her gently, even after I felt her breathing slow and her body relax. My body was boiling of anger .

When I was sure she was deeply asleep, I tried to move, but her fingers still clung to me, even in sleep. I chuckled softly, whispering, "I'm never going to leave you." Carefully, I removed her hand and placed a pillow beside her, so she wouldn't wake up feeling alone.

As I stood up, I immediately called my PA. "I want CCTV footage of the file room and the areas outside it. I need it ASAP," I ordered, my voice low but firm.

"Yes, sir," he replied instantly. I hung up and stepped outside, my mind racing. Sleep was the last thing on my mind now. All I could think about was Ashi's face-her tear-streaked cheeks, the way she clung to me like I was her only lifeline. My white shirt was still wet from her tears, a stark reminder of how much she had cried.

Riya was on the swing outside, her face lighting up when she saw me. But she quickly frowned, noticing my tense expression. "What happened, Bhai? Is everything alright?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.

"Yes," I lied, not wanting to worry her. She smiled softly, trying to lighten the mood. "You know, Bhabi is my childhood friend," she said. "She might not remember, but she once saved me from some bullies."

I looked at her, surprised. "She did?"

Riya nodded, chuckling. "Yes. After Papa died, Maa was busy with the company, and you... well, you stopped talking to everyone, became cold and distant, trying to handle everything on your own. At school, some girls started bullying me because we were rich, and Ashi... she beat the shit out of them!" Riya laughed at the memory. "I can still remember her exact words: 'If you say anything about my friend again, I'll make sure you don't come to school the next day.'"

She laughed, but then her face grew serious. "I don't know what happened to her. She used to be such a tomboy, never afraid of anything. But then she got quiet. I guess... after that incident..." Riya trailed off, unsure whether to continue.

"What incident?" I pressed, my heart sinking.

"I'm not sure, Bhai," Riya admitted, her voice low. "But I heard in college, her boyfriend... what was his name... Rishi, I think. He leaked some pictures of her. There were rumors that he even... harassed her. But some people said Bhabi was just making it up because he dumped her, and others... well, they said a lot of things." Riya looked uncomfortable. "I don't know, Bhai. I have to check some files now." She quickly went inside, leaving me standing there, seething with rage.

My hand tightened into a fist, heat rolling inside me. I called my PA again. "I need all the information you can find about Rishi, who was Ashi's college classmate. ASAP," I demanded.

"Consider it done, sir," he replied.

Anger bubbled up inside me, threatening to boil over. I could kill someone right now. I stormed off to the boxing room, taking out my frustration on the punching bag, each hit harder than the last, trying to burn off the anger. I whispered to myself, my voice a low, determined growl, "Those bastards will pay for what they've done to her, They don't know whose wife they had touched ."

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