cross road

Chapter 35

By the time evening arrived, the decision had been made: Pallavi would not be taken to the station that night. The law, fortunately, prevented any action in such late hours, and the police had reluctantly agreed, though their disinterest was evident. But Raghav knew they were running out of time. His anger was only growing stronger, the injustice of it all burning at the back of his mind.

Raghav's frustration simmered as he paced around, unable to shake off the restless energy coursing through him. His father's words to police echoed in his mind—wait until tomorrow before taking any action against Pallavi. But Raghav's patience had worn thin. Every passing minute felt like a wasted opportunity to clear her name. The officer's smug face kept replaying in his head, taunting him, and the missing footage gnawed at him relentlessly.

Meanwhile, Pallavi was in her own world of confusion and helplessness. She arrived home, the weight of the situation pressing down on her chest. The raghav's father and brother had promised to help, but all she could feel was the dread creeping in. 

Raghav's brother had gone to the hospital to get a copy of the footage, but upon arrival, they found that the file had been taken out—vanished. There was no trace of it. Raghav and his brother had scoured the area, asking around for any security footage, any witnesses, but they came back empty-handed.

When they finally returned home, Raghav's brother had assured him that he would keep looking, that he would do whatever he could to help. Raghav was already too far gone in his thoughts, his mind swirling with frustration, worry, and helplessness. 

As Raghav reached his room, his thoughts constantly shifted back to Pallavi. He couldn't shake the image of her face—the way she looked so lost and helpless

Without thinking twice, Raghav left his house and made his way to Pallavi's place.When he arrived, he saw her at the window, standing by the glass, her eyes fixed on something far off, her expression distant. She was lost in thought, her posture slumped, as though the weight of the world rested on her shoulders.

Raghav's heart softened at the sight of her. He knew she was strong, but in that moment, she seemed so vulnerable, so broken. He took a deep breath, steeling himself, and then gently called her name by the door.

Pallavi didn't hear him at first, too caught up in her thoughts. Raghav called her again, a little louder this time. When she finally turned around, her face softened, but it was clear that the exhaustion was taking its toll on her.

"Raghav," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

He stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, his eyes never leaving hers. "Pallavi... we'll figure this out. I promise."

She looked up at him, the weight of her emotions barely contained. "How, Raghav? How do we prove the truth when everything's slipping through our fingers?" Her voice trembled with frustration and fear.

Raghav sat next to Pallavi, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on his chest. He pulled her gently toward him, his arms enveloping her as he whispered softly in her ear, "I don't know how, but I won't let anyone hurt you. Not while I'm here."

The moment his words reached her, Pallavi's restraint broke. She leaned into him, her body trembling as tears streamed down her face. Her sobs filled the quiet room, and Raghav just held her tighter, his heart aching at the raw pain she was carrying.

He let her cry, not saying a word, just allowing her to release the weight she had been carrying in silence. And eventually, the tears slowed, her breathing deepening as she fell into a fitful sleep against his chest.

Raghav's mind, however, couldn't rest. He lay there, his hand gently brushing through her hair, but his thoughts were a storm of frustration. He couldn't fix this. Not yet, anyway. And that helplessness gnawed at him, making him want to scream. His fingers tugged at his hair in frustration, the thought of not knowing how to help Pallavi making him feel more powerless by the second.

The sound of Pallavi stirring brought him back to reality. He froze for a moment, watching her sleepily blink and shift in his arms. He didn't want to disturb her, but he knew he couldn't let her stay like this

Gently, he picked her up, holding her carefully as he carried her to her bedroom. He placed her on the bed, pulling the sheet over her to make sure she was comfortable.

Raghav stood there for a moment, his eyes lingering on her as she slept, his heart heavy with the weight of their situation.

 as he reached the top of the steps to  his room, something inside him shifted. His feet faltered, and he turned around without a second thought. He couldn't leave her alone, not when she was so vulnerable. Without a word, he returned to her side, quietly slipping into the bed beside her. He lay there, his mind a swirl of confusion and frustration, his gaze fixed on the ceiling, lost in thoughts of what they could possibly do next.