Fragile heart

24.

Rhea's footsteps echoed in the college hallway too fast, too sharp, like she was trying to outrun something only she could feel.
She wasn't wearing her usual confident smirk. No dramatic eye-rolls. Just silence. A silence Prachi had started noticing. Shahana too.They realised that she is feeling guilty about the incident but then what is the need to do it,is something they can't understand.

The whole day they noticed how rhea didn't talk much with them,even if they talk it's only very few words before she excuses herself.They thought she needed some space so they decided to let her have it.

But after a week they realised that rhea is trying to run away from them with the most lamest excuses she can ever give them,they were happy till last week what happened that night that she's acting like this.They really wanted to not think about the thought of her avoiding them but the whole thing is happening infront of them that they can't ignore it and they didn't want others to worry about it.

They are hurt when rhea stopped sitting with them during lectures or going out during lunch breaks and mostly not returning home at night.They were scared about her safety when they confronted her all they received was "I miss Adil and akhil bhaiya so I'm spending time with them in the main house" they believed her as they know how close she is with them but when shahana saw Adil at a cafe and asked him about rhea he was confused but then replied "Me and akhil are on a mission with boss so we r not living in the main house infact no one goes to the main house apart from boss rhea and us so I guess she wants to be alone." Shahana wondered why did rhea lie to them but didn't question Adil any further and texted Prachi about it.

Pragya and kiara had a very busy week after acquiring major shares of Mehra industries they both are working over time to make sure everything is fine with the company and as alia and Abhi used the company funds to their own benefits they are trying to incorporate all the losses and making sure that the workers receive the salaries on time.As they both don't want innocent people to suffer they informed about their busy schedule to prachi and Shahana who understood them and sometimes they drop by to help them as much as they can.They make sure Pragya and kiara are having meals properly and taking enough rest.They feel bad for not spending time with rhea after getting a bit close to her but the situation is not in their hands so they are determined to solve the problem soon to spend time with all the kids.

The change in Rhea's behaviour is noticed by both Ranbir and Aryan but they didn't know how to bring this infront of prachi or Shahana.One such day when they saw rhea leaving hurriedly from college even before realising Ranbir asked
"Where is she going lately?" watching Rhea leave the cafeteria without so much as a glance.

Prachi frowned. "Away from us."Saying this she walked away.

Rhea's POV

She hated herself for caring.

For laughing with them. For thinking maybe, just maybe, she could have that sisters.Whatever that even meant.

Because in the back of her mind echoed every abandonment: her father choosing Alia's words over hers, people leaving, lies that dressed themselves up as love.

So she did what she always did vanish before they could and break her apart because this time she knows she can't bare that pain.

End of Rhea's pov

After reaching the main house she parked the car and went to kitchen to grab some water.She was all alone in the huge mansion she is scared to answer the questions of her brothers and her superhero but she knows they love her more, but then again this place is more safer to her than anywhere else in the world she made her way to her superman's room tired from running away,tired from pretending she don't care about them and loathed herself when she saw that hurt face of prachi.She lay down on the bed and soon went to dreamland.

A dark alley, rain, and a gunshot is heard and
Little Rhea bleeding from a shallow wound and crying for help.

A man appeared from the shadows. Not a cop. Not a stranger.

Her superman in a Sharp suit, blood on his hands, rage in his eyes.

"You're safe now," he said, kneeling to her level. "No one will hurt you again, not while I breathe."

She hugged him finding solace in his arms crying profusely but then she heard another gun shot and she flinched badly in his arms and then she saw her hands  painted in crimson red colour.She tried to break free from the hug to see her protector but the hold of him is too strong as if trying to protect her from the world. She don't want to lose him the person who protects her from everything her little brain started thinking all of this is happening because of her the words of her aunt were ringing in her head she is too young to understand them but now she believes those words to be the truth.She started panicking and she saw how her superman was calming her down she is shaking like a leaf she can't hear anything apart from the voices of her aunt and she is having trouble in breathing before she knows she fainted in her safe place.The man immediately picked the 6 year old in his arms even when his arm is injured because of the bullet wound all he wants is his princess to be safe.

Rhea woke up screaming drenched in sweat  and trying to breathe she is thinking about the nightmare she saw but the way she remembers it,she started thinking if it actually happened to her,her head is spinning,her vision blurred with her tears she wants her superman to be in his arms to hear his voice telling that she's safe,With shaky hands she reached for her phone and with great difficulty she dialed the number while trying to breath the call is answered immediately and a shaky panicked voice asked her even before she can talk "Princess are you okay,it's very late why are you awake and are u crying I'm coming okay u r my strong warrior right,u r in the mansion right,can you hear me,Rhea is someone there with you.. with great difficulty she cut the other person "Ple-ase co-me I I I'm sc-ared" before she can talk more she saw darkness engulfing her.