Trampled

Retribution

July 1995

A year later, around the same time as Payal and Vishwas's death, it was time to put the plan in motion. He had challenged the court's decision. He had appealed to the high court. He had made life miserable for all those involved. 

Mahendra stood under the Mango tree, him and Payal had played under as kids. "It's time." He glanced up to the heavens and sighed. "Its time I pay you back for all the Rakhi's you tied me over all these years. Its time I fulfil every oath I took as your brother."

___

At the girls hostel at SJS Medical college, life had resumed back to normal. Naseem was back without raising any suspicion but so were Raima and Vikram and Freddie and Akshay. They hadn't been bullying anyone recently. But they were lying low, everyone knew. They would soon strike again and go back to their former bullying ways.

However the snobbish attitude still remained.

"Warden Ma'am, I have a water leak in the roof of my room," Raima stood at the warden's desk and ranted. "Get it sorted please."

"The rains are heavy. We won't be able to fix it in this season. I'll send you a bucket. Keep it where it leaks."

"What?" Raima rolled her eyes at the warden. "Do you know who my dad is?"

"Hey, don't give me that attitude, alright?" The warden warned her with a glare. "Get lost now...go get your rich dad to come sort the roof for you. Stop wasting my time."

Raima grimaced to herself, she wanted to get the warden sacked. But her father wasn't in the city at the moment and right now she had to find a solution.

"Is there any other room I can move into?"

The warden ignored her at first.

"Ma'am...Okay, I am sorry for what I said. Please help me now." And I'll sort you later b****, Raima thought twisting her mouth.

"You can move in with Naaz."

"Yuk, what?" Raima scrunched her face. "I cannot share my room with anyone, alright? At least, not with that slime ball."

The warden glanced at her with hate.

"Have you seen the amount of oil she wears in her hair...and her fashion sense....Yuk!" Raima felt sick just at the thought of sharing her room with anyone let along Naaz.

The warden pondered over all the entries in her register.

"Hmm....in that case there is only option." She glanced up at Raima again from behind her glasses. "But I don't know if you would want to take it ."

"What option?"

"Payal Bhatnagar, her room is available."

Raima bit into her lip and deliberated on the Warden's words. Payal's room, a shiver ran down her spine. But that was the only option now.

"I'll take it."

"Are you sure? Naseem was saying she has seen Payal's....."

"I'll take it. Have it cleaned for me. I want to move in an hour."

The warden nodded. Tears pricked her eyes as soon as Raima left. Payal's sweet smiling face flashed before her eyes but she quickly blinked her tears and called the peon to get the room cleaned.

__

It was eleven at night. Raima turned off the lights and slipped into her covers. It was a humid night, she decided to leave the balcony door open. The room still gave her shudders but she didn't believe in spirits and ghosts. Payal hadn't been able to lift a finger upon her while she was alive, how exactly could she hurt her now that she was dead? She chuckled to herself and closed her eyes.