DEPTH

Chapter 14

 After his confrontation with Vikram, Vel just auto piloted to his home. Since his cellphone was fully damaged in the accident he called Chotu from the landline and was shocked to hear that though Valli was out of coma and fully awake, she had no idea as to who she was or what happened to her

She wont recognize me. And how would she? She hardly knows me. 

He couldn't take it any longer. She was shooting star. She came into his life, gave him a new  perspective. Gave him hope but alas Shooting stars do not stay. Letting her go would be the correct thing to do under the changed circumstances. Now that she was out of coma even if she was suffering from amnesia she must be under the care of her parents.

Whatever happens happens for the best. She could now start on a new note. There was probably nothing that could disrupt her. Vel knew Vikram and his team would bring an end to Dass who was instrumental in the kidnap of  Valli and many girls like her. Vel was confident that in the subsequent days the police would be able to find and retrieve them from whatever hell they maybe.

 With each passing minute his emotions were taking the better of him.  His resolve to return her safely to her parents was breaking. So without any further delay he called her father to inform him about the latest development but it was Devi who picked up the phone and he was not ready for any sort of interrogation from her. But who was he to say No? Better be done with this once and for all.

"You were to call us on Sunday! And today is almost Wednesday."

"I had an accident and was hosp...."

"What happened to my sister?"

"She is fine and awake but there is a pro..."

"WHERE. IS. SHE?"

"May I Please talk to your father?"

"NO! Answer me first."

"If you want answers then you will get it from him! Now give the phone to him. Will you please?" He barked but the last word which was a whisper sounded like a request.

And the phone went to her father.

"Sir, I know you are waiting to see your daughter. I shall give you the directions to reach the place at the end of this call. But before that I want to tell you something.."

"Yes Please"

"My Name is Vel, an architect by profession. By Bizarre coincidence I  saw your daughter.. She was fighting tooth and nail for her virtue. I was able to intervene and together we drove them away. I Could have chased and caught them but I saw that she was now fighting for her life. She was admitted to a hospital where she slipped into a Coma, the fighting spirit in her remaining intact. Today she is out of Coma.. wide awake...but..."

"What are you not telling me?"

He could withhold no more.  All the pain that was eating his heart and creating the void him saw a chance to be out. So without skirting around he wanted to come to the point, but didn't know how to.

"This brain of ours is an amazing thing... to protect her from the trauma and its related side effects it completely erased her memory.  

"What?"

"She may not recognize  you."

Which father could take in such a thing. It completely broke him who buckled up and howled his heart out. Devi wasted no time to jump to conclusions and took the phone to verbally kill the guy who made her dad cry.
The voice on the other end was not laughing at their misery as she had expected but was hoarse and chocking with emotion as he gave the directions to the Farm House. For the first time she felt compassionate towards him.

 All this while Vel had tried to stay nonchalent but he couldn't. He couldn't even act or make it appear that nothing bothered him. Hadn't he decided to stay out of everything and just coordinate with Chotu and her father for safe reunion with her family. He had acted the plan then why was he feeling the sinking pain.