Girl in the Burka

Sheroes

Characters
Afreen as the girl in the burkha.
Ibrahim, Afreen's uncle.
Farah, Afreen's aunt.
Shabir, Ibrahim's best friend.
Shoor, Ibrahim and Farah's son.
Riya, Afreen's best friend.
Raju, Afreen's neighbour.
Rama, Raju's wife.
Ahar, the man who tried to help Afreen.
Arnav Awashti, the Minister.
Bhavin Awasthi, Arnav's son.
Raghav, Chief of Police.
Laxmi,Ahar's project partner.
Dhruv, Bhavin's friend.
Naisha, the other rape victim.
Mr Naveen Dixit , the lawyer.
Mrs Ahilya Diwedi, Naisha's boss

___________________________________________

The Next Day

"There's no time left for the final showdown." Riya said. "And remember, if you'll fail, you'll get an extension. Maybe you should forget all of this and move on."
"I'll try but it's gonna be difficult." Afreen said.
"But it will be worth it, you'll finally become a l.l.b. The dreams which you and your uncle have seen for you will finally come true."
"I know. But I've lost many things. I need to get back on this."
"No problem. I am gonna help you out with it. Okay?"
"Hey!" Ahar came in.
"Glad you came. I have some work.Can stay with her meanwhile, okay?" Riya said.
"Umm.. yeah okay."
"Well done. Okay Afreen. See you in the evening. Bye." "Bye saviour." Riya said to Ahar.
Ahar sat there with Afreen. There was nothing but silence for 1 minute only when Afreen broke the awkward silence.
" You have some work, right?"
"What? No." Ahar came out of his god knows what world and said.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I am." And then again silence took over and this time the phone ring broke the silence.
"Hello!" Ahar said.
"You coming to the site or not?" Laxmi on the other side, said.
"I am busy right now. I'll talk to you later." He cuts the line.
"Was it Laxmi?" Afreen asks.
"Mmhmm.But it was nothing."
"You have work on the construction site, right?"
Ahar didn't say anything.
"Listen. I know I am going through a very hard time. But I can surely protect myself. "
"I am sorry. I can't leave you alone. No matter what you say."
"You have given me this amazing place to live. Why do you think that I am unsafe even here?"
Ahar remained silent.
"You must go. I'll protect myself." Afreen said.
"I am not leaving. That's it." Ahar was reluctant enough to leave.
"Do you want me to become a girl who is too afraid to do things on her own just because she got raped? Because I can't be that."
"It's not like that."
"Then what? Why am I feeling like I am in ICU and somebody has to be with me  everytime no matter what important work they have. Please don't let down my this spirit. It's precious."
"Okay. I'll go. But promise me, you'll protect yourself no matter what."
"I will, Sir." Afreen chuckles.
"Bye. Take care." Ahar stood up to leave.
Afreen called him back.
"Have a nice time at work."
Ahar smiled back at her and left.
.
.
.
Afreen was busy systematizing her stuffs and was making her little house a better place to live in only when she heard some footsteps which were growing louder and louder.
"Ahar,is it you?"
*No answer*
Afreen went out to find out who was in the house only to be caught by someone from behind but thankfully she got free from the grip. And there she saw a man wearing a mask.
"What made you think that you could complain against Bhavin?" The man said.
Afreen tried to run away but that man caught hold of her.
"Remember not to file a case in the court. Or else this will not stop."
Afreen bit his hand hard and got freed from him. But the man didn't lose and he slapped Afreen hard enough to make her fall down on the ground.
She stood up stronger and was about to punch him hard only before the man broke out laughing.
"You.. You think you can do that? Hahaha poor girl."
And there went Afreen's punch straight on his eyes, enough to topple him down.
He ran away out the window.
Riya was coming back to the house when she saw the man running away. She didn't go after her and ran into the house.
She cried out "Afreen.."
"Afreen, are you okay. Who was he?"
"I don't know. He somehow broke into the house and tried to threaten me and.."
"And then.."
"I punched him, hard. That's what he deserved."
"I am so proud of you." Riya hugged her.
*Footsteps*
Riya and Afreen freaked out when they heard it.
"Who's it?" Riya said.
"Do not fear. I got this."
Afreen went towards the door and as the guy entered she punched him hard.
"Ouch. What the..." Ahar cried out.
"Oh shit. God. Sorry. Sorry. I am really sorry. Are you alright?"
"Yeah I am but why would you do that? Are you a hidden boxer?"
Riya busted out laughing.
"Riya stop it." Afreen said.
"I am sorry. I can't help it. Poor boy." Riya chuckled.
"Hahaha very funny it is, isn't it?" Ahar said.
"See, we thought that some stranger came in."
"And it turned out to be me."
"Yeah." Afreen chuckled.
"And you know what someone really broke into the house but Afreen punched him real hard and he ran away like a rabbit." Riya chuckled.
"What?Wow. Cudos to you S-hero." Ahar said.
Afreen couldn't stop smiling when she heard this.
.
.
.
"While arranging the stuffs, I found out this." Afreen handed over some papers to Ahar.
"What is this?"
"These are my house papers. And it clearly states that the house which my aunt has taken over is not just her's."
"So who's the partner?"
"It's me. My grandfather divided the property's ownership between my dad and Ibrahim uncle. And now legally, I am the other owner of that house."
"Wow. That's such a good news. So that means, You're gonna move out of this place."
"I am not sure. Maybe I should stay here until my exams get over. I wouldn't be able to concentrate when I'll live with that lady."
"Well then, that's great. And Anyway, you can stay here as long as you want."
"Thank you so much for helping me out of this mess. Every man should be like you."
"My pleasure." Ahar chuckled.
"And yeah, I am sorry for that punch." Afreen smirked.
Ahar smiled hideously.
.
.
.
One month later.