Living in the darkness.

Pain and solace

***Mature content. Recommend to +18***

NANDANI's pov

        With each passing second shruti's cries  increased, and with each cry of her increased my heart beat. I had to do something. I couldn't let her suffer. She is very small. She can fall. Anything can happen.It was morning hours. Someone or the other would definitely be in the backyard watering plants in the garden. I rushed to the window facing the backyard and my eyes fell on Jenny, our maid. I screamed  her name out. "Yes madam." He responded immediately. "Come upstairs fast, now."

        I was waiting by the door trying to calm by baby. "Shuru.. Bachu aai Is busy naa.. Jenny will come and Shuru and Jenny will go out and to masti..." She calmed down a little by hearing my voice continuously. She was assured that her yayiee was somewhere around. "Aree.. Shruti baby is here?? Look what I got for shruti.... Milk and cookies." Jenny tried to sound excited so that she could grab her attention. Jenny knew that everything was not going on the right track in this house. And She was very helpful at times. She even sent me signals that she was eager to help more but I avoided them deciding to keep her out of the hell.

        "Jenny take care of her. Don't leave her alone till I am out." I knew she wouldn't do that but I was one insecure and scared mother. "Yes mam." She said and I heard her walk downstairs while Shruti was calling out "yayiee?... Yayiee..?" Their voices faded with the distance they moved ahead. I moved to the balcony and could do nothing but, wait.

          The day passed. The sun was setting down the valley leaving the sky in orange. The birds were flying back to their nests. After good one hour of admiring Shruti  play in the backyard I wanted to hold her, right against me. I sat on the floor and rested my head on the edge of the bed.

        I was walking through the corridors of the college rubbing my eyes. Construction work was going on in the the college and there was sand and cement near this corridor. My eyes were irritated because of the sand hit them through due to wind. I was muttering abuses under my breath just when I bumped into something. I opened my eyes properly in order to appreciate a better vision I realised it was someone I bumped into. I was again caught into those brown eyes. Yes I very well remember them and that moment too.

        "Hie!!" He said grinning in surprise. "Aammm... I mean we... I mean I saw you that day... I mean that night." I went all awww on him, but I composed myself and said," yaa.. I remember. That restaurant." And the conversation ends here. I had nothing to speak neither did he had. There was a awkward silence which was broken by him thankfully. "Aam... So you study here?" He asked. "Yes."

"So. In that case you could help me find water. I am very thirsty and this machine seems to be out of service. If you don't mind."

"Yah sure." I agreed whole heartedly. Of course he was too handsome to be denied. But I didn't wanted to seem too desperate at the same time.

I walked him through the college to a cold drinking water plant. He gulped down round five glasses. He was too thirsty. Yes of course Mumbai is too hot now a days. I took a quick cheak on him. He was dressed in black  jeans and light blue shirt. His sleeves were folded up till the elbows. His hair seemed to be a little bit messed up. He didn't look like he was dressed for college. After drinking half ton of water he left a long breath and looked around.

"Thank you." He said with a polite smile.

"My pleasure." I reciprocated the genuine smile.

He looked towards the canteen and asked," Is that a canteen?" "Yup." I nodded. "Would you like to join me?" He proposed. "I would have loved to but I have a class to attend. I am sorry." I said apologetically.  "Ooh. No. No. It's completely fine." He said and we smiled looking into each other's eyes.