The Curse of That Night (12 page)

Chapter 24

Abhijeet

“I don’t want to listen to anything you have to say Darsh. Please leave me alone,” Abhijeet thundered over the phone. It was the first time Darsh was calling him to talk about Malvika. Abhijeet was now regretting picking up Darsh’s call, telling him something urgent he needed to know about Malvika – the girl Abhijeet was trying to forget.

He had told Darsh that he did not want to know anything at all and cut the phone. Since then, Darsh had called thrice.

“But sir, this is important,” Darsh tried again.

“Fuck you Darsh! I just want to be left alone. I don’t care,” said Abhijeet, teeth clenched in fury.

“You HAVE TO listen to me,” Darsh nearly shouted. It made Abhijeet pause. It was the first time he had heard Darsh raise his voice at him.

“Sir, Malvika madam is in the City Hospital. She met with an accident.”

“What? Why?”

“Weren’t you listening? There has been an accident,” Darsh said.

“What the fuck! What kind of accident?” Abhijeet freaked out.

“Car accident. I don’t know much, the doctors aren’t telling anything yet,” Darsh explained.

“But she is… she is… alive, right?”

“Yeah, alive but critical.”

Abhijeet stopped at this point. His mind was frozen. He could not believe all this was happening. To think that such a horrific thing had happened to Malvika and he had been too late.

He ran away from his responsibilities and abandoned her to face the world alone. He felt short of breath. He could figure out that it was not an accident but an attempt to kill her by none other than Omi Yadav.

Worrying about it was pointless. He needed to save Malvika. He needed to get to the hospital she was in and provide any kind of assistance he could. He knew she wouldn’t want to talk to him. She would want him out of his life but he was ready for it.

His biggest regret was, not being there with her when she was fighting for Aarti all alone. He should have been there to take care of her and Aarti. She didn’t have to do anything on her own. He should have been there for everything, to do everything.

But he hadn’t.

He rushed out of his house, towards the hospital Malvika was taken to. He asked about her at the reception and reached the second floor. As soon as he took a turn and entered the ward, he saw Darsh and Aarti, a look of disgust in their eyes. At first he was shocked to see Aarti there, but he was least bothered. All he needed was to see Malvika and take care of her.

Malvika was dressed in the light green hospital gown, lying unconscious on the bed. She looked frail underneath the gown, with stitches and bandages all over her forehead, her right arm, legs. There were little wounds on her body too. A tear dropped down his eye.

“Abhijeet sir,” came Aarti and put a hand on his shoulder.

“Aarti,” Abhijeet turned around.

Aarti could not even pretend to be strong now. She broke down. She sobbed uncontrollably.

“This… is… so… unfair,” she stammered.

“It’s all because of me. This should never have happened. I must die,” she closed her eyes.

“Aarti what happened at the mall. I need to know. Please, atleast now, for everyone’s sake, open up!” said Abhijeet.

And she told him the entire incident.

Abhijeet stood rooted at the spot, listening to what Aarti said. Seeing Aarti break down like this was even more painful after what all had happened with her.

You cannot undo what’s already done.

‘Wish I could’, he thought.

Abhijeet wished he had given Malvika one chance to explain. He wished he had not been such a monster. He wished to have taken Aarti’s case.

He wished… but, wishes generally don’t come true…

He stood outside the glass door, watching helplessly. There was no one inside the room, except a nurse and some equipment. Abhijeet had requested for a personal nurse for Malvika. They were doing their best for her. But, she was still unconscious, though out of danger.

“How much time do you think it will take for Malvika to recover fully?” he asked the Doctor.

“Two, may be three weeks,” replied the Doctor. “Malvika has shown some improvement. Though, she is still unconscious. But don’t worry. She will be fine.”

“Thanks Doctor,” Abhijeet said and felt a bit relieved…

Chapter 25

Malvika and Abhijeet

Malvika regained consciousness and she saw him looking at her.

“You?” she muttered.

Abhijeet wanted to run away. He wanted to turn invisible in that moment. When he saw hatred in her eyes, he realised that he was not prepared for it.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I heard what happened and I…” he was short of words. He looked at her face. There was worry and fear, at the same time there was anger and hurt.

Abhijeet was crushed.

“And? You heard what happened and suddenly you realised you love me? Mr. Raichand, I don’t need your help and your money. So please leave.”

“No, Malvika. I just want to help. You and Aarti… ”

“Oh, you do? How come you suddenly realised your mistake?”

Abhijeet said nothing.

“Well, in that case Mr Raichand, I do not need your help. I do not need your love. I do not need your money.”

Malvika looked as if she had more to say, but she turned away. She was too worried about Aarti and her case than her own well being.

Abhijeet looked away. He couldn’t bear to see her cry. Not again!

They stayed there in silence; no one uttered a word. He looked at Aarti and Darsh, both having apologetic expression on their faces.

“Malvika,” Abhijeet said.

Malvika looked at him.

“I love you.”

Abhijeet hugged her and surprisingly, she did not protest. She felt warm in his embrace. Her body was burning up, with fever. She stayed in his arms for some time. She cried. She did not say anything.

Abhijeet had been too late. He should have been there from the very start, the time he got to know about Aarti’s rape. He should have been with them all the while. Should have protected them.

Abhijeet woke up the next morning and saw Malvika still sleeping in his arms. He lifted himself a bit and adored her beautiful, calm face. Her eyes were serenely closed and her face looked relaxed, with no signs of panic or fear caused by that accident. She was sleeping peacefully, in the arms of her love.

“I wish to see you the first thing in the morning,” Abhijeet murmured. “I have realised my mistake Malvika. I will, I will fight this case,” he decided and left.

Chapter 26

Darsh

All his hopes of making his sister someone he could never be, went down the drain after that night, as he saw Aarti retreat even further from the world. Darsh tried everything. He tried to evoke every possible emotion in her, but it seemed she had shut down all her emotions. Darsh even tried to ask her to go and tell the police what actually happened or take the help of the media, but she did not respond.

She would just do her daily chores. She would open her mouth to take the medicine or sip juice whenever Darsh asked her to. And finally go to sleep when the lights were turned off. She became a living Zombie, a robot.

It was painful to see Aarti like that. And to feel that she might never come out of it…

But he did not lose hope… and on that day she did respond…

“Aarti we need to go to the police station right now. I want that asshole behind bars,” said Abhijeet.

Aarti did not move.

“What?”

She was detached. She did not say anything; her eyes too didn’t say anything. She just walked out of the room and Abhijeet followed her.

“What the hell is wrong with you Aarti? You want those motherfuckers rot in hell or not?” Abhijeet almost screamed.

“I can’t,” said Aarti in a low tone.

Abhijeet held her hands and gave it one more shot. He could not afford to give up so easily.

“Aarti, look at Malvika. She could have lost her life. We all are worried for you. We all want to fight for you. Please, you can’t just lose hope like this.” Abhijeet tried to convince her.

Abhijeet looked at Darsh. They both had tried almost everything, love, anger. Nothing touched anything inside her.

He felt disheartened and angry, but he had to try. Without Aarti’s support he couldn’t win against Omi.

“Aarti, tell me you are listening. At least say something.”

Aarti just looked at him, then at Darsh.

“SAY SOMETHING DAMN IT. WE ARE NOT FUCKING FOOLS HERE TRYING TO FIGHT FOR YOU. COME BACK TO YOUR SENSES,” Abhijeet suddenly thundered.

Everyone around him gave him a stare. Aarti too was shocked on his sudden outbreak.

“I can’t sir. I can’t. I am not that strong. I am not as strong as you are. I am not as strong as Malvika ma’am,” she said.

“Yes you are Chutki
.
YOU ARE,” Darsh pushed her.

“You know what, Aarti. I think I should go. I am just wasting my precious time on you.”

Abhijeet went inside the room where Malvika was peacefully sleeping and with a bam, shut the door behind him. He looked at Malvika with teary eyes.

“I am sorry sir,” said Aarti.

Abhijeet turned to look at her.

“I will fight. I will fight for Malvika maam, for you, for Darsh
bhaiya
and most importantly for all those girls who have been raped by these assholes. YES. I will fight,” she said.

Abhijeet went forward and hugged her.

“What do we need to do?” asked Darsh.

“The medical report has confirmed rape. Plus, two eye witnesses have identified Omi’s vehicle. We should leave for the police station along with Aarti,” said Abhijeet.

“When?” asked Aarti.

“Now!”

And they left…