Gunaah (The Sin)

Part 2

Antara's POV

"Teri hasi teri akhon ko naii chooti. Ajib si ek mayusi chayi raheti hain teri unn bhoori akhon mein.. humesha... Pata naii apun ko kyun lagta reheta hain ki tu apne andar bahut bare dard chupa rahi hain.. jo tu kisi se naii kaheti... Apne aap mein samete rakhti hain..."

I didn't know why raghu's words bothered me so much. He was one of the people who snatched my each and every happiness. I despised him, hated him. But at the same time, I felt something very strange! I hated to admit that but there was some kind of tenderness in me. I want to scream in front of him that he was the cause of my each and every sadness, each and every misery and agony I was going through. But I couldn't, because my single mistake was enough to destroy my long patience. I wouldn't be able to do justice to my family. But I didn't know each and every time, my wounded heart want to say everything and broke out at his front. And at last when I told him everything on the very day when he killed satya and took me here, I didn't make a single conversation with him from that day. I owe him for saving me from that demon satya and I hated myself for that. Because it was impossible for me to forgive him after everything he did to my family. But why the hell a part of me wanted to forgive him, trust on his words that he was actually innocent and he didn't know anything about that bomb?! Why?! Why I was feeling weak again?! I closed my eyes and my family's burnt body came at my view. My whole feature burnt again.

I didn't know when I fell asleep last night reminding about those precious moment spend with my family. My pappa's wise, kind words and his warm presence always made me feel safe. He was like a gem person who never compromised with his ideals even for a single thing. my mother's affection and care and her enthusiasm for everything gave me strength. And my darling noor appa, who always hide me from my momma's scold, and her weird habit to learn cuisines of different states and making me and ishan and guine pig whenever required. I laughed while reminding about those moment. I laughed like hell and suddenly my laugh transformed into sobs. Tears flew down my chicks like they were my friends. My loud sobs transformed into vigorous cry. Looking towards the ceiling lying on the bed I tried to make myself understood that they didn't go anywhere. They were still with me, in my mempry, in my heart. I had to be strong. After coming that far I couldn't break down at that point. After all I choose the path. Giving away a big sigh I got up from the bed and came near the window. The snow had fallen heavily last night and the ground had become white. The alpine trees had worn the cap of white snow. The bright sun rays were glowing on them. The scenic beauty of pahelgam was no doubt breathtaking and beautiful. Surrounded by huge ice picks and alpine forest, the place was enough to mesmerize anyone. I was watching the jungle trails which had started from the behind of house. The house was surrounded by raghu's men and I could see some of them on the behind of house. But I could easily hide myself from them as the area was surrounded by alpine trees. I know the place quite well and if I was not mistaking, the jungle trail would lead me to the main road beside the ledor river, the main river of pahelgam. If I managed to reach there somehow, I could easily get any transportation to shrinagar. Though I didn't have any money... But... Lets see! But the problem was that how I could get out of that house?! I observed the house on those days quite well. And I found a way of escape. it was risky and insane but it was the only way left for me. I heard the knock on the door. I sighed and opened the door. "kaisi hain aap?!" saba, the girl whom raghu kept as my caretaker and to watch on me for 24 hours smiled and greeted me. The girl was no doubt sweet. She was quite same age as rhea. I know raghu would made her listen so many unpleasant words if I could escape. but it was my only chance. "main thik hoon..." I answered trying to keep my tone normal. "achi baat hain... aap jaldi se apna nasta kar lijiyee..." she said keeping the tray on the center table. I slowly moved near the table and chewed the bread. Saba was seating on the couch and watching over me silently. "appa.." she called slowly. "hmm.." I looked to her. "aap fir se ro rahi thi naa?" she asked in low voice. I didn't answered and lowered my gaze. "appa aap raghu bhaijaan se itni nafrat kyun karte hain?" she asked innocently. "bahut lambi kahani hain saba... tumhari soch se pare hain.. tum na hi pucho to acha hain..." I answered. "mujhe bahut ajeeb lagta hain apaa. Main samjh nahi pati hoon. Pata hain unhe aap ki kitni chinta lagi raheti hain? jab bhi main unke pass jati hoon. Bas aap ki barein mein puchte rahete hain. aap unse baat kyun nahi karti apa? Mujhe lagta hain unhe bahut dard hota hain aap ke aise ruthe rahene se.." she said in low voice. "akhir itni hi parwa hain to mujhe aise kaid kar ke kyun rakha hain? jane kyun nahi deta mujhe?" I said quite loudly. "woo too mujhe nahi pata apa. Par mujhe lagta hain ki wo jo bhi kar rahe hain aap ke bhalayi ke liye kar rahe hain. ek baat main jaan ti hoon. Woo aap ka bura nahi soch sakte..." saba said. I became silent for a while. Again I was feeling like standing in a crossroad. However I shoved away that thought soon. "saba... iss ghar ke bathroom ka tap kharap ho gaya hain... kyat um mujhe ground floor wale bathroom mein le jaogi?!" I asked. she agreed and took me at the ground floor. I observed how raghu's men was scattered at each and every portion of house and keeping their eyes on me. I closed the bathroom door and quickly ran towards the only window. I rubbed the moist scattered on the window and looked outside. Yes, a perfect place for escape. I just had to break the window glass. After some moment I said, "saba.. mere kapre gile ho gaye hain.. upar wale kamre se mere liye naye kapre la dogi?" I said. "thik hain... aap rukiye..." she said. I heard the sound of footsteps going away. I made sure that no one was near and quickly threw the mug on the window. The glass broke making enough place for me to go outside. I waited for some moment to make sure that no one heard the noise. Then I jumped outside. But I felt a sharp pain on my foot. I greeted my teeth and stopped the wince. I looked at my foot and to my bad luck, a piece of broken glass had pierced my foot and blood was oozing from my foot vigorously. I ignored the pain and stood up. I saw some of the raghu's men standing at some distance. Hiding myself from them, I made my way through the jungle trails.

Raghu's pov.

I madly threw the stone inside the water. The stone made some wave inside the clear water of river lidor and then everything became quite. But the storm inside me was not ready to saturate. Daya mai and his men were madly searching for us all over. I managed to escape them somehow but how long?! But those things didn't bother me. My reason for those mental havoc was something else. Antara!! Her name was enough for raising my heartbeat. Her single glance made me forget everything. She came in my life all of a sudden and took away my night's sleep with her. Antara! my fascination, my craziness, my love! But she was unable to understand a single thing. she was not ready to understand that if I left her unprotected outside, daya mai and her men wouldn't leave her into single pieces. Cause daya mai thought that she was the main reason of her son satya's death although I was the one who murdered him. Antara was stubborn always! And I was still afraid that she would try to escape from my grip. although I arranged tight securities but I know what kind of girl she was. Honestly speaking she was super intelligent, brave and reckless when it came to her family. Otherwise no one had guts to plan exposing daya mai, one of the most dangerous criminal of the country. And she did actually! Without saying a single thing to anyone, not even her ruksana and machmach who were enough close to her. no one among us understood that the girl had that kind of plan in mind! I looked at the forest area aimlessly and suddenly I caught the glimpse of a green and white dupatta fading inside the forest. Without thinking for a moment I rushed towards that spot. I didn't saw anyone but something got into my eyes. I saw the trail of blood drops going inside the forest and no doubt it came from the side of that house where I kept antara. I ran keeping track of those blood drops.

Antara's pov,

I couldn't ran anymore. My wounded foot was aching badly. I tried with my last ounce of strength to run further but suddenly I fell down on the grass under an alpine tree. I looked above and the sky through those shade of alpine trees got into my eyes. the sky was so clear on that day. I felt like my pappa, momma, noor appa was calling me from the clouds. I smiled! At last I managed to escape from his grip. I was free to breath, free to live, free to die! My eyesight was fading slowly. "antara!!!..." a loud scream got into my ear. I couldn't answer. before my eye sight could fade up I saw a hand cupping my face whose wrist was wrapped with a leather belt and hanky. "yeri... kya kar diya tune?!" his frustrated yet concerned voice got into my ear and then everything blacked out.

I regained my consciousness at the hospital. My foot was aching like hell. A nurse came and smiled to me. "so mam, at last you regained your consciousness. Thank god. He would be very happy. He was really worried for you." she said. "whom are you talking about?" I asked the nurse. "raghu... he brought you here in the morning. Till then he didn't moved for a single moment from the hospital." She said and went outside from my room. Again!! that raghunath naik, my whole family's killer again saved my life. how many times I would owe my life to him? I sighed heavily and looked outside the window. The snowfall had started again. with the snowfall the old memory flashed again in front of my eyes. the very day when a simple girl named antara kaul, whi had so much drems and hopes in her eyes, changed into a heartless being. The very day when everything begun. The day I meet him for the first time!