Two Brothers: Shadows of Deception

Chapter 7

A Shelter in the Storm

(Siddharth)

The sounds of shouting and yelling from the corridor snapped me back to reality. The girl beside me looked just as startled. In a panic, she quickly closed and locked the door. "Please don't tell them I'm here. Please. Please," she pleaded, her voice filled with fear. Her eyes were swollen and red, tears streaming down her face. Her long black hair was disheveled, partially obscuring her features. Wearing a plain blue kurta with white leggings, she stood before me, folding her hands in front of her, begging for mercy.

Seeing the distress etched on her face, an overwhelming sense of protectiveness surged within me. Rising from the floor, I approached her slowly, placing a comforting hand on her trembling shoulder. "It's okay, don't worry. No one will harm you. I promise," I reassured her, even though I couldn't fathom why I felt compelled to make such a promise to a complete stranger.

Sweat and tears mingled on her face, and I gently brushed them away with my thumb, attempting to offer solace. Guiding her to sit on the bed, I went to fetch a glass of water. While filling the glass, I stole glances at her. She continued to sob, her anguish filling the room. Returning to her side, I sat down on the bed and handed her the glass. Without hesitation, she gulped it down, quenching her thirst.

"Do you feel a little better?" I inquired, concern lacing my voice. She nodded, her sobs subsiding. Suddenly, the sounds of voices echoed from the corridor. "I'm sure she's somewhere inside this building!" someone shouted. Terror gripped the girl, and she clutched onto my hand tightly. "No one came here. I was sitting at the reception the whole time. I assure you, she's not here. Don't create unnecessary trouble. I'll call the police if needed," the receptionist's voice reached our ears. "I think she must have left. He would have seen her pass the front door. Let's search somewhere else. Don't waste any more time," another voice reasoned. After a few minutes, the voices faded away. It seemed they had given up their search.

I gazed at the girl once again, observing her petite and fragile figure. Her eyes were closed, as though she was silently praying for safety. A smile tugged at the corners of my lips. "Hey, it's okay. They're gone. You can relax now," I whispered, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Her eyes slowly fluttered open, meeting mine. I offered her a reassuring nod, but what happened next caught me completely off guard. She embraced me tightly, her tears soaking my chest. Her grip was desperate, as if her life depended on it. I stood there momentarily stunned, the wetness from her tears seeping down my abdomen. Instinctively, I began rubbing her back, hoping to provide some comfort.

After a while, she gradually calmed down and lifted her head, looking at me. I felt an unwavering determination to rid her face of that sorrowful expression. Using my fingers, I wiped away her tears. "Are you okay?" I asked softly. She seemed to regain her composure, and in that moment, we both realized how close we had become. Swiftly, she released herself from my embrace, leaving me with an inexplicable emptiness.

She shyly averted her gaze, and it was then that I realized I was standing before her, clad only in a towel wrapped around my waist. Hastily, I moved away from her, feeling the need to explain myself. "Ah, um, well, it was raining..." I stumbled over my words. "Wait here, let me change and then I'll be back," I hastily added. She nodded in understanding. I retrieved my clothes and retreated to the bathroom to change.

Emerging from the bathroom, I found her standing by the window, her eyes fixed on the outside world. Clutching her small backpack tightly to her chest, she appeared lost in her thoughts.

"Who were they?" I asked, breaking the silence. She turned her gaze towards me, a mixture of apprehension and vulnerability in her eyes. "I got off the train to get some water and ended up missing it. The next train wasn't until 6:00 am, so I waited on the platform. Suddenly, a group of guys approached me, and I had a bad feeling about them. I ran away, and they started chasing me. This motel was the closest building, so I ran inside, trying all the doors until I found this room," she explained, recounting her harrowing experience.

"You know, what you did was rather risky," I remarked, and confusion flickered across her face. "Not every man who opens his motel room for a girl would be as trustworthy as me," I said, a smile forming on my lips. She lowered her head, embarrassed by her impulsive actions. I couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"Alright, I'll drop you off at the railway station by 5:45 am. Until then, rest here," I offered. She nodded, about to take a seat in the nearby chair. Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted us. She froze, her grip on the chair tightening. The knocking persisted, and I turned my attention towards the door. Just as I was about to open it, she grabbed my wrist, her face filled with fear yet an underlying cuteness that tugged at my heart. If only I possessed the power to teleport, I would have whisked her away, shielding her from all worries.

I reassured her with a gentle tap on her shoulder, and our eyes met briefly. Giving her hand a comforting squeeze, I nodded, silently conveying that everything would be alright. With cautious steps, I approached the door, ready for any confrontation that awaited me. Little did I know that opening that door would unleash an unexpected twist that would forever alter the course of my life.