Durga | ✓

45. Happy Ending

Rudra was walking away from the house. His mind was going through a turmoil.

How can she say that she slept with him? And what is this Devi and stuff? Who is Devi? How come Durga and Devi are related?

By Lord Shiva, this Rishab is playing with my mind.

"You are just an ordinary hotel staff, Rashmi, don't try to threaten me."

Rudra ears picked up that sound. Rishab! Rishab is talking to some Rashmi.

He was standing near a tree. To his opposite, Rishab and Rashmi had a heated argument.

"You have goofed up many things yet I chose to ignore it."

"What did I do now?"

"I had told you call Rudra after forty five minutes. But you called him at half past four..."

No wonder her voice was different.

"... I had told you to smear correct dosage of chloroform on the napkin. You smeared less amount of chloroform..."

Chloroform? Why did he use chloroform?

"... instead of going back to your hotel, you are loitering here. What if that Rudra sees you and me?"

Don't worry Rishab, I have already seen you.

"How do I believe you?" Rashmi protested. "You wanted me to go back to the hotel where I was supposed to wait for you, isn't it?

How can I trust you when you had already lodged out of the hotel?"

Rishab fumed. "Is this the reason for your distrust? Remember that I am a man of word."

Rudra saw Rishab climbing his car. Rashmi turned back to see Rudra standing there. Thinking some random person is staring her, she walked past him. Rudra called her, "How much money did Rishab offered you, Rashmi?"

She was rooted to her spot and gulped. Rudra came to her and ask, "How much money did Rishab offered you, Rashmi?"

"W-who is R-Rishab? I don't know any Rishab."

"Your voice seems fine. You told an hour ago that you had cold."

"H-hour ago? I-I was in hotel."

"The same hotel where Rishab was staying?"

Rashmi sighed. "What do you want?"

"That's like a good girl. Coming straight to the point," smiled Rudra. "What did actually happen over there?"

"Why should I tell you?"

Rudra thought for a while. She won't spill it so easily. I have to use my acting skills here.

"Your plan was perfect but Rishab and you missed a point. You missed the CCTV camera outside her house."

Rashmi gasped but composed herself quickly. "You are lying."

"I am giving you ultimatum. You spill the secret I won't lodge a complaint in police station. You know how stressful a police case is, don't you?"

"I don't believe you."

"Think practically Rashmi. He is a son of Minister. He will use his father's influence to come out of jail. What about you?"

Rashmi thought for a while. But Rudra didn't have that much of time. He was already kicking himself for leaving Durga alone. He threatened her for the last time. "Spill the secret or go to jail."

"It was Rishab who asked me to do his work."

"Don't tell me the facts that I know. Tell me the things I don't know."

"I had two things to do. Firstly, I had to call you and postpone the timings of your arrival. I had applied less amount of chloroform on the napkin, so I called you fifteen minutes earlier. Instead of appreciating my presence of mind, he scolded me.

Secondly, I had to remove that girl's clothes while she was unconscious."

Means he was faking it. I knew something was fishy. So he didn't touch my Durga. She is a hotel staff, no wonder Durga's clothes were neatly folded.

"Okay, you may leave. I have to settle few things that I have messed up."

"You won't show that CCTV footage to anyone, will you?"

"Thanks for reminding, I will install a CCTV camera outside Durga's house."

Rudra ran towards Durga's house although he badly wanted to see Rashmi's reaction. He wanted to applaud himself for his brilliant acting skills. But he had to go. She had suffered too much to take this blow on her purity. Alone.

I am sorry, Durga, I shouldn't have left you alone.

Rudra reached the house. There was deathly silence that prevailed. A chill ran down through his spine. What would have happened to Durga?

***

Durga stopped crying. She leaned to the wall, in a similar way she had leaned six months ago. That time, memories of physical abuse was running in her mind. Now, question of her virginity was running in her mind.

Why didn't she remember what had happened. All she could remember was a white cloth in front of her eyes which turned black after few moment. When she came out of her trance, she was undressed. Who did it?

Was it really Rishab? Why on earth had Devi come into picture? How did Rishab come to know that Durga and Devi are same?

Fresh tears streamed down her face. She hadn't expected Rudra to leave without saying a word.

He accepted you even though you were a divorcee. He accepted you when he came to know that you cannot conceive. How much more do you expect from him?

She glanced at the silk cloth which she had bought for him. She had irritated the shopkeeper for an hour to select the perfect silk cloth for him.

Her chain of thoughts broke when she saw him. Standing near the door. I forgot to latch the door.

Durga looked at him with red teary eyes. Rudra's heart shattered. He sat down and crawled slowly next to her. He wiped her tears.

"Please Rudra, believe me. I don't know how-"

"Hush kanna. Don't cry. I know you haven't done anything. I trust you. I know what had happened exactly."

Durga placed her head on his shoulder. They stayed in same position for sometime. Only one thought revolved in her mind.

He accepted you even when people questioned your purity.

Thank you Devi Shakti, for blessing me with such a husband.

Rudra observed a plastic cover on the sofa. "What is that?"

Durga replied, "It is silk cloth. You should use that cloth to stitch the dhoti that you will be wearing for our wedding."

Rudra looked at her for a second. "Is this the reason you asked for six months time?"

Durga nodded.

That day, in his eyes, respect for her had increased. By Lord Shiva, bless every man with a strong and independent wife like Durga.