The Darker Side

Chapter-23

On the other side Rhiya was busy eating chapatti and Dal Makhanni and no doubt she was a chattering box because she leaves no one from her meaningless chatter and now it was Kalpa's turn to become one of her subjects of her useless idle topics who was then accompanying her when they heard a loud heavy sound which usually comes from someone falling and then followed by Ashkira's painful tone.

It was pretty loud  and obnoxious sound which clearly distracted them from their topic.

Rhiya, she pushed her chair away from her thighs on which she was sitting didn't bother to clean her hand walked swiftly towards the drawing room from where Ashkira's voice came.

She saw Ashkira was trying to get up which meant she fell down from the staircase whereas Virak was sleeping deeply and his food remained untouched.
Ashkira's eyes and ears were red and her  tip of the nose became cherry red. Her mascara and eyeliner were spread randomly covering her eyes and some part of her upper cheeks which clearly showed the linings of her tears. And  when her eyes went to Rhiya she started crying more heavily.

"Ashu! What's wrong? What the hell is happening today. Are you okay? " Rhiya went and held her back and started pulling her gently so that she could get up instead Ashkira pulled her back and Rhiya left with no option had to sit with her.

Rhiya and Kalpa looked up and then Kalpa speaks," No one is there. Have you seen someone.?"

"Kalpa aunt Please help her to get up." Rhiya said Kalpa.

Kalpa nodded and goes to help Ashkira. And both of them started pulling her gently but Ashkira didn't wish to go anywhere. She just wanted to sit there. Rhiya again sat with her.

Kalpa then went and brought a glass of water and gave her but she refused to take it rather she started sobbing more heavily.

Rhiya then scolded her, "Take it atleast give yourself some water. C'mon take it."

Ashkira gave Rhiya don't-force-me look and her eyes which were red and filled with tears; the tears which were ready to land off from her eyes.

Rhiya thought scolding her won't help rather she need to be calm and that is when she moved closer and hugged her," Ashu what happened?" Because Ashkira is way more stubborn then her and Rhiya knows how to deal with her stubbornness.

She hugged back Rhiya more tightly which made Ashkira cry breathlessly,"Everything is over Ru. There's no hope. Please take me out of this house."

"I will take you but first tell me what happened? Did you see someone or something upstairs?" Gently rubbing her back.

"Vi...vi..rak!" Ashkira sobs.

"Yes, Virak what? He is fine. I know you are blaming yourself but it wasn't your fault. It was that bloody driver's fault and moreover we should blame that stupid unpredictable rain."

Ashkira nodded and wipes her tears from her knuckles.

"Than? What happened?" Rhiya enquired.

"Virak is Raichand. And you know what I don't want to stay let's go."

She sat on the floor watching Ashkira who got up anyway at the same time wondering the connection of Virak's last name and her crying.

Ashkira then grabbed her shoulder and shook her bringing back her state of mind. 
  "Ashu! It's 11:30pm! You know what does it mean."

"I don't care what it means; I want to go just go."

"Ashu! Stop being so stubborn everytime. It's 11:30pm, we won't get a cab neither a auto. Atleast let me call Raghav no!"

"Please Ru! Actually! You wait for Raghav and I'm going." Ashkira shouted in pain and as she went to open the door Kalpa stops her,"I think they've reached. Wait! I will tell them to drop you."

"Thanks! Aunty" Rhiya smiled at Kalpa and stares at Ashkira who was getting impatient, nervous, biting her nails and started walking from one place to another and suddenly stopped, showing her back to everyone in a way to hide her face

Rhiya was clueless about Ashkira's different behaviours and left with no other option she went and asked her," What's the matter?"When she heard a lady asking about Virak's condition, trying to get each and every detail from Kalpa.
Certainly that voice was known to her, she heard that voice somewhere and then a moment later she understood that voice and she turned her head to Ashkira.