Amor Fati - Our Love, Our Fates [COMPLETE]

Part 60 - Ebullience

A Week Later, In Bengaluru

Rohini sat patiently as she awaited her turn. She was in the Waiting Room at the Police Station and knew that she had to hurry back home. However, she knew that she had to do this today. She couldn't postpone this any longer. There were a few more people in the Room and they all appeared as bored as she was. Rohini got up from the chair and paced around, finally stopping in front of one of the Notice Boards and went through the various Notes and Clippings that the Station had put up for benefit of the people who usually waited there.

Rohini glanced at her watch. It was only 10 a.m., yet the day was already hot and stuffy. The fan whirring over her head hardly had any impact, and beads of sweat glistened on her forehead.

A while later, a policewoman came to call her. She was ushered deep inside the jail to another room which had nothing noticeable, except for two chairs facing each other. A while later, the door opened and a female constable entered with Barkha. She and her husband were both still awaiting trial and were being detained as untried prisoners, in this jail which fell within the jurisdiction of the investigation. The women sized each other up as the constable stepped outside.

"Why are you here? To see how miserable we are?" Barkha spat out at Rohini, irritation and frustration deeply etched on her face. Hatred burned like hot embers in her cruel eyes.

Rohini remembered her smirking in that fateful video call that she had made from Nikhil's phone that evening while her every dream had collapsed around her, like a pack of cards. She remained quiet and concentrated on the words of the woman in front of her.

Barkha waited for Rohini to open her mouth, but Rohini remained calm and quiet.

Barkha's impatience got the better of her and she started blabbering - "You are back with Nikhil na? But I don't see him here. Why exactly are you here? Do you want me to tell you how good he was that night? Would you like to know how great the sex was? Do you ..."

"You raped him" Rohini's voice was sharp edged as it cut across the still air in the room. "I am going to press additional charges ..."

Time stopped as Barkha stared at Rohini, her mouth open.

"I didn't do anything ..." she said after awhile, the pitch in her voice dropping by decibels. "It was voluntary ..."

Rohini sighed as she sat down in the chair - "The Doctor had found traces of Rohypnol in his blood ... he had submitted a Report which is with the Police."

"He came with us on his own " Barkha continued.

Rohini remained quiet.

Barkha was now despondent. She realised that the web of deceit that she had so intricately woven had finally collapsed, burying her underneath.

"I have just one question. You all were friends for so long. Why did you do all these?" Rohini asked. 

"He left me ..." Barkha stammered.

"Bloody liar" Rohini shot back at her.

Barkha shook her head - "You don't know what he's capable of?"

Rohini smiled as she got up from the chair. She walked towards the door and then turned around; Barkha was still looking at her. At that moment, the door opened and Nikhil stepped in, though he remained at the threshold of the room.

Barkha's eyeballs literally popped out of her sockets.

"Oh yes" Rohini continued. "Nikhil is man enough for me ... and I love him so"