Loveless: The Beginning of Hell

5: The Breakage

As the sky prepares for transition, remaining in the darkest shades of 5. am. Nikita impatiently waited for Kiara at the Arrival gate. She was exhausted from the wedding. But her presence was solely for Kiara. Though it was Ajay's responsibility to be here, little did he care about Kiara and the rage in which he erupted after learning of the letter, snatched away everyone's smile. Scrutinizing the board, her eyes gape at the flight status: Arrived. She calls Kiara but every ring goes unanswered, inducing anxiety in her. Kiara never does it, her phone is always on after landing.

With trembling fingers, Nikita calls Abhay who is in the same hotel, and lifts the phone in a single call.

"Abhay Dee is nowhere to be found, I am really worried. Dee's flight has arrived but she hasn't come yet. Her phone is not reachable. Abhay, she never does this. Can you please..." she converses in one breath.

" don't worry I will go to her room and check if she is alright and let you know. so my love don't be scared, tension doesn't suit you"

"Please go now, " Nikita pleads.

" ok "

Abhay, whose room remains on the ground floor, heads to the 15th floor where Kiara's room is. The open door strikes suspicion in him. He thrusts it open instantly. The sight his eyes encounter trembles him to his inner core. Gathering himself to step inside, he gasped at the amount of blood splattered everywhere and at Kiara's state, which shook him. Bending on his knees, he tries to wake up an unconscious kiara but she never responds.

"Kiara!! Kiara !!"

Pacing back and forth, the hustle and bustle of the airport rises with the time, the sky which once clasped the night now slowly cocooned dark blue sky infused with slight pink and red hues. An anxious Nikita glimpses at her phone. It's been an hour and Abhay still hadn't cared to call her and inform her about Kiara's whereabouts.

Suddenly her phone blinks, with a notification. Her fingers tap on it hastily.

"I found Kiara"

Nikita sighs in relief, inhaling fresh air. The thought of contacting Abhay and asking further about Kiara forces her to dial his number.

" abhay"

"How is Dee? Why didn't she take the flight?" her questionings uttered in a single breath are answered by a long silence, wrapping her with dread.

"Abhay" cracks that menacing silence and puts him in question again.

" Kiara... that.. last night"

" last night" Nikita repeats yearning to learn of her sister's whereabouts.

" she was raped"

The phone slips from her hand, having a harsh landing on the road. A tear rolls down Nikita's cheeks. Her body felt frigid. She wanted to cry but held that urge back. She lifts her phone in one motion and listens to abhay.

"Nikku, are you okay?"

"Hmm," she controls herself and maintains her voice subtly.

"I can't describe the state in which I found Kiara, but she will be okay, Nikku. Doctors are looking after her. Kiara will be fine." he lets out those words again as if assuring himself that she will get better but Nikita comprehended, being a girl that Kiara would never get better. Those physical wounds on her body can heal but those wounds on her heart, on her mind, they will never heal. They will haunt her forever.

" No!! No!!" She keeps the phone, being on the verge of breaking down. Her hands land on the cold steel guardrail, lending her support, rescuing her from that stumble she just got.

In the silence of the hospital corridor, Abhay tapped his feet which almost echoed. Paying attention to the door opening, he rises instantly and finds Tia, the blood smear on her white coat shudders Abhay who takes hold of himself.

"What happened? How is Kiara? Is she okay?" Raining questions on her, he demanded answers. Tia can witness the trepidation he resonated with.

"She's okay. But this is a police case. If it were any other hospital, they wouldn't admit her without notifying, but..." She asserts.

"I will inform the police." Abhay agrees but he wants Kiara to wake up first and then it will be her decision to take.

"Tia, thank you. If you weren't here, I don't know how I would..."

"Abhay, you're my best friend. I can do this much for you. But prepare yourself."

"What do you mean?"

"When Kiara wakes up, she will be in shock. If I didn't have the operation, I would have come with you myself."

Abhay nods his head, while Tia walks away.

Gathering the courage, a shattered Nikita opens the door. The heaviness in her heart never subsided but rather rose. Stepping inside, she closes the door but as soon as that voice reaches her, her hands freeze. She didn't know how to divulge it to her family.

"Where did you go, Nikku, at this late hour?"

She turns around and faces her mother Sakshi. Being a mother she catches those tears in Nikita's eyes, the gloominess which enveloped her.

" nikku?" She asks furrowing.

" maa, dee was raped" Nikita cries out falling to her knees. The string lights shut off, tossing darkness into the living room. An ominous feel strikes aditi upon finding the darkened room, her hands land on the switch, and a press to it illuminates the hall once again.

"Where is she?" Abhilash, her father, questions.

"Ho... Hospital" Nikita sobs silently, downcasting.