Together Forever (indefinite hold)

The fight (Part 19)

Riya- I can understand how difficult this might be but...

Arjun- You can't understand, you can never understand

Riya- Trust me sir, I can understand...

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A/N- A small note before we start. The video linked is the first episode of Sana's new show and she looks amazing! Please check it out.

Arjun looked at her curiously, he dreaded thinking that she might have faced something even close to what he faced. He lifted his eyebrows questioning her, pushing her to say something further but all she did was smile.

Riya- That would be a story for another time, we must get some rest for tomorrow

She tapped his hand and then laid back down on the bed, while Arjun smiled through the tears that had pooled in his eyes, it was nice to have someone by his side. He then slid back down as well, as Riya switched off her side lamp.

***

Sakshi and Riya pushed through the bodies making their way towards the wet market. The two of them decided  to buy some groceries for the house, while the guys helped Ayesha in setting up the house. Rathore had wanted to accompany the girls but they had insisted that it would be a good opportunity to test the waters. 

They almost reached the market when two men grabbed them and pulled them into an empty alley way. Sakshi was pushed onto the ground and the ruthlessly pulled by her hair as a knife was put to her throat. 

While a man  charged at Riya. Long fingers closed around her throat like a cuff. Riya wrapped both hands around his wrist, trying to stay his grip. She stared back into his flame-filled eyes, determined not to flinch.

She was not afraid. This boy—this notorious man-child—was far more afraid than she would ever be. The sweat fell in steady trickles down either side of his face.

With his other hand, he reached into his pocket and took out a small pocket knife and placed the tip of the knife beside her chin.

And Riya knew she could no longer stand idle. Knocking his arm aside, she rammed into his shoulder and made an attempt to flee.

With vicious precision, the guy seized her tight, taking her feet out from under her and slamming Riya to the ground. All the air was knocked from her chest. She gasped once, the pain in her side searing as she struggled to catch her breath.

For the first time, a cold wave of fear coursed down her back.

This skinny weasel of a boy was stronger than she. He was tall and wily. And she could not fight him off forever. Nor could she reason with him.

But perhaps there was another way. A way of diversion and lies.

A surge of fury chased after the fear. Riya gripped the wrist at her throat, digging her nails into his skin.

The indelible line had deepened to a chasm.

He was preying upon the basest of fears. A fear Riya had long held in the darkest recesses of her mind.

Riya- "What are you doing?"

She fought to keep her voice steady.

The two sides of the man-child battled for control as he glared down at her. He was so very afraid, blustering and shuddering through this hard-won triumph.

His hand traced her face as leaned in close.

She would not lie here in silence as he warred with his convictions.

Riya- "Are you going to rape me,"

Riya demanded,

Riya- "or are you merely trying to frighten me with the thought? And what do you hope to achieve by such uninspired villainy?"

The guy winced at her boldness. Her nerve at bringing his shameful intentions to light.

Riya knew her taunts were foolish. Knew they might further provoke him. But she could not—would not—comply in the face of such cowardice.

Not while there was still breath left in her body.

For a moment, the guy seemed to waver. Then he clenched his jaw, bracing himself above her. With surprising deftness, he unsheathed the knife and positioned the blade beside her face again. The feel of the cold steel against her skin did not frighten her. She clung to rage instead. She made a last determined attempt

Riya- If you think your sister, mother or girlfriend would condone your actions in this moment, nothing I can do or say will matter.

She choked back the rising bile.

Riya- But I can't imagine any girl with real love in her heart would ever approve of such a thing.

His hold on her neck flagged as his face fell to despair. Each of his features wilted into the next. In that instant, Riya saw how much his family mattered to him. But it was no excuse. There would never be an excuse for this. Successful in achieving a distraction, Riya now sought to disarm him.

Ever so cautiously, she shifted one hand from around his wrist. While the guy contended with his inner demons, Riya let her hand drop to search the ground for a potential weapon. A rock, a tumbler, a bowl, a stick, anything . . .

Her hand picked up a small rock enough to injure him. She smashed it against his head as faltered back. His hand reached his forehead form where blood dripped in a steady beat. Riya turned to Sakshi as her fingers wrapped around Sakshi's wrist. She smashed the stone on the other mans head as well, and then ran along with Sakshi back towards their 'house'. 

What could the reason of such an attack be? Her mind raced through certain thoughts yet she did not achieve an answer. 

Upon reaching the door Riya  rang the bell furiously, Ayesha opened the door, ready to yell at the person ringing the bell like a mad fool but stood agape instead at the sight of her teammates faces. Sweaty, Panting, Frightened and Disheveled. 

Until we can understand the assumptions in which we are drenched we cannot know ourselves. And this drive to self-knowledge for woman, is more than a search for identity: it is part of her refusal of the self destructiveness of a male dominated society. A radical woman with feminism in her impulse would understand how we have been living, how we have been led to imagine ourselves and how we can begin to see — and therefore live — afresh.

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Hope you liked the update!

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