Dusk is the deal-breaker

Chapter 11

After a few minutes, I was convinced that I took the wrong road and headed back to the main road. While I was returning, I found a small lane which branched out to another road. I impulsively took the lane without giving much thought.

My gut was right, after all, I found a parked car as I drove ahead, outside a semi-constructed building. I was almost sure Shraddha was there when I figured the parked car was a cab. I immediately ran inside the building and took the concrete stairs.

As I was running upwards, I heard a woman scream loud. All of a sudden, my past traumatic incident reappeared in front of me like a horrendous movie. I was filled with anguish and terror, collapsing on to the floor. It was extremely dark, I couldn't breathe, I started sweating and I couldn't move. It felt like the worst nightmare of my life is hitting me again, even harder this time. I forced myself to move, but I couldn't. I felt like the biggest loser.

Shraddha screamed again and again. I definitely knew it was her but I was unable to help her. I wept and cried at my disability.

No! I will not let this happen again. I cannot let another woman suffer because of my inability. I wouldn't be able to live with it this time, I thought, pushing my limits. I gathered all my strength, stood up strong, turned the phone torch on and rushed upstairs.

I didn't care about my surroundings anymore. My body totally focused on my sense of hearing and blindly followed the voice. After climbing up a few floors relentlessly, I found two men violently trying to force themselves onto Shraddha.

As I looked at her in that miserable condition, the rage underlying inside me for a long time rushed out at once. I could see those men who assaulted Vithika in these guys. I impulsively grabbed an iron rod lying on the floor and started hitting them furiously, again and again, venting out all my pent-up anger, until they collapsed on to the floor. Shraddha looked petrified by the incident, she didn't move, until I held her and consoled her saying, "It's okay, I am here now. They won't get up. Everything is going to be alright." I held her hand and got her out of there immediately.

As we got into the car, she sat silently, her eyes red, filled with tears. I hugged her tight and promised that I would never let anything happen to her again. Tears rolled down her cheek endlessly. I didn't understand how to console her. I decided to give her some time and started driving.

As I drove out of the lane, I thought, How can I let these perverts get away with it and move around freely? What if the same thing happens again to somebody else?  I immediately turned the car back without talking.

"Why are you going back?" Shraddha freaked out. "I can't leave them like that," I said while dailing to the police. "I don't want to see them again, please turn back. You can still give a call to the police while going home," she said, weeping. "But we can't give them a chance to escape Shraddha. I know you are scared. But I am right here, we don't want this to happen to somebody else right?" I asked. She nodded and stayed silent.

As we reached back, the cab was still there. I stood outside the car watching the building until the police reached. Surprisingly they were quick. They arrested the guys and pushed them into a police car, while Shraddha and I watched. 

I felt a sense of relief from the guilt I have been living with, from years. I was relieved from my fear eventually, after a few months. 

However, Shraddha couldn't get over the incident, she couldn't sleep at night. That episode continued to haunt her for many months. She was not the same person. She has become aloof, keeping it to herself from then. I felt really bad, tried to cheer her up in many ways but nothing ever worked. I understood, only time could heal her. While I always had an eye on her well being, I decided to give her some time and space.