Scrounging through her drawers, she was searching for something. Taking a file, she opened the file and saw a lot of envelopes. Checking each one of their names, she saw 'Nightmares'. Opening the envelope in a swift, she read and absorbed the words slowly...
Taking slow steps towards her bed holding her bump with one hand and letter, on the other hand, she sat on the bed slowly.
As Rudra diverted his gaze to the laptop, he saw that she was sleeping peacefully with a paper beside her. There were pillows under her legs and his eyes were filled with tears...
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As Maya came inside breathing a bit heavily, she removed her mask and sanitized her hands as she had come back after a walk.
She saw that Rudra was sitting on the couch watching television. As the news played, she heard," A Pregnant Lady was brutally beaten until she bled. The reason is..."
"Merciless creatures!" She muttered as she heard the television being switched off. Our parents had always told us the importance of watching the news but look at the irony! It's scary and traumatizing.
As Maya switched the water kettle on, she pulled the chair and sat down for a few minutes. Keeping her head on the slab, she rested like a small child safeguarding her bump.
She heard him stuttering, " The Advocate... He ....had called ....me. He wants.... to see..... us!"
Placing her head above her hands, she spoke looking at the water which was boiling inside the kettle," Why is that for now? To accuse me more of being..."
She stopped and he shouted," Just stop it, Maya! Can't you just forget those? "
She couldn't get up swiftly as she wanted. But she took her time to walk close to hi. as her anger was boiling and dripping out," Are you feeling guilty? Hmm..?"
He kept silent and she shouted maintaining a distance between them," I have never forgotten anything nor will I forgive you for what you had done to me. From being friends to che! You just broke me wholly and no woman will forgive that.."
She accused him and warned him with her index finger while he just stayed mum without looking at her. As she went back to the stand, she picked a cup from the stand and asked in a milder tone," When is it?"
"Two-thirty.." Rudra mumbled and she hummed.
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As she sighed, she looked at her smartwatch and saw that it was 8:42. As she entered the study, the desk and the books were arranged in front of the board.
As she switched her laptop on, she saw that it was all cleaned. Maybe, Rudra might have done it since they had no servants. She was thankful but what he did was not forgivable. No woman would forgive such a man yet living her was mandatory because of a few legal papers.
It was until a few minutes that the online classes would continue. Since the schools and most of the institutions had closed down due to the increasing COVID-19 cases, the schools announced that the online classes would continue.
As the class started, she prayed and entered the code for the class for which she had to enter. Her table was more like a JEE or a NEET aspirant's table with so many guidrd and books which were open.
The students were happy to see their teacher back. She was teaching when the calling bell had rung. As Rudra knocked on the study, she said one minute in front of the camera and muted herself.
She shook her head in negative when she saw Rudra coming in. He showed an envelope to her and her eyes twinkled in happiness.
Unmuting herself, she said," Please copy these questions and solve it.."
Writing a few questions from the book, she asked them to solve it until she was back. Switching her video and audio off, he forwarded the envelope and she had a huge smile on her face as she saw the address confirming the sender. Thanking him, she closed the door and opened the letter.
She loved the letters which acted as a third skin on her. With a special cologne and writing way, she adored the person who was sending her the letters which were coming to her in the past few months. It was when she needed it the most.
She saw the first few lines which addressed her as 'Mumma'.
A few hours passed and her classes continued after she had read the letter. When Rudra opened the door of the study, he showed her his watch indicating it was time and she said one minute. She sighed as she remembered that she had to go to the same place where she was hurled with different yet disgusting names..
"Okay. I have a little bit of work to complete. So, you have a few hours of rest and start studying. The exam might have been postponed but the revision MCQ'S will also be helpful for your entrance.."
She switched the laptop off after a few minutes and said that she would freshen up and come.
~~~~
Feeling a pat on her shoulders, she saw that they were in the traffic next to the place where they were headed to. As the car entered the gates of the Courts, she heard some words ringing in her ears...
"Sex Maniac, Cheat, Slut.."
Every word ran inside her mind and her eyes had started to tear until it was Rudra who rubbed her shoulders. As she pushed his hands away, she got out of the car while he couldn't help but justify her rude demeanor.
As she stepped out of the car, she saw a few people smirking at her and she tighten the hold on the strap of her bag. With heads held high and shaky breath, she walked towards the Courtroom without any inhibitions. As she settled on the bench in a comfortable position, Rudra also sat next to her maintaing a distance with her.
As the hearing of the case was going on, she tried her maximum to remain numb and confident. When the same dirty and disgusting words were thrown at her yet again, she took in a sharp breath. Her insides were clenching and she knew that it wasn't her fault.
Maya couldn't concentrate when words were being thrown like daggers at her. She knew she shouldn't be affected by that yet again but she couldn't help it. Rudra placed his palm which was on the bench when he felt that she was breaking noticing her heavy breaths.
She didn't retort his touch as she knew the gravity of it. Breathing heavily, she couldn't control the images of that horrendous night which were brought in front of her eyes. Maya got up from her place and Rudra couldn't help but sigh as he had to stay inside.
~~~~~
When she felt she was ready to go after splashing a few fists full of water, she walked to the courtroom to hear Rudra's voice which said," Yes I had seen it happen. She was drunk and she was... "
He couldn't complete it as he looked down in shame and guilt for not revealing it earlier while their advocate had given some tape to the Judge who was a woman in her fifties. As the judge saw it, Maya knew what was happening inside her as she saw the judge's fist.
" So, according to the submitted proofs, Mr Ryan Roy, Justin Mathew and Merar Kangia are punished under the sections.."
As Maya walked a few steps to her left, she sat on the chair outside the room. It was not until a few minutes when she had felt a pat on her shoulder. It was the advocate who had stood beside her even in the first trial of the case and second re-opening which was initiated by Rudra.
As she thanked the advocate, she saw the boys under the name who were now handcuffed. As they walked up to her, one of the arrogant boys spoke," You are nurturing the baby! It clearly shows you... "
Before he could complete it, Maya crossed her arms across her chest and spoke in a bold tone," Bravery!"
She was pushed by one of them which resulted in her falling back to which Maya had fallen over the advocate. Giving the boy who pushed her a slap, she said," I will see your parents suffering in front of society.."
"And even my brother!" One of the boys said looking at Rudra...
"Hadn't he really cheated you? What have you done to make him agree? Did you have se..." Before he could complete she slapped and warned him,
" Most of the men in the society are like this. Whatever happens, all they think is that the woman had laid down with another person to get it. There are some but when you accuse the people whom you know, be careful because their curse is always behind you.."
~~~~~
As she caressed her bump, Rudra knew that he also had a small part in her life of whatever had happened. He was the reason behind it. He was also the reason behind the baby in her womb but she avoided him in court... Courtesy: Friendship which didn't have a base now.
He knew that she was in her memory lane where the unfortunate incident had occurred. Some tears had flown out but he didn't have the courage to wipe it off or even lend a tissue.
As they reached home, Maya had walked out of the car without any notice. Leaning against the driver's seat, he recalled what had happened...
Rudra's point of View...
Walking near the storeroom with wobbly legs, I was feeling very happy today! All my friends were here and my bestie too. That was the main reason! Humming a tune, I heard some voices and knit his eyebrows. Shoving my phone into the pocket, I walked towards the door to get the biggest shock of his life.
I saw it through the slightly open door. A woman was being raped. She was being beaten and her cries and pleadings rung in my ears. Closing my mouth, I wanted to rush in but I saw that it was my brother and his friends.
I heard a scream which was so familiar to me. Trying to watch what it was through his vision which was getting blurry by the minute, I knew what was happening as a helpless cry rung out.
Feeling all the contents from the stomach rushing to my mouth, I entered the opposite room. Vomiting thoroughly, I couldn't take those visuals out of my eyes.
I started running in the opposite direction and called Maya to hear 'not reachable'.
Before I could act, one of my cousins dragged me out of there. I wasn't engrossed in any work which was given to me and my parents. As I got a chance after a span of 2 hours, I ran as fast as I could without any inhibitions or calls from my friends.
As I tried calling Maya since I needed a female companion to carry this out, I entered the room in a haste to regret the decision. The woman was lying naked! But what shocked him to the core was it was Maya!
Screaming out in fear and anger, I was numb for a few seconds before I searched for a piece of cloth. When I saw a large sheet, I tried to cover her to notice that she was bleeding heavily. Her head was also hurt. I was brought out of my trance by Maya's voice which was pleading for some water.
As I fed her some water, half of it went out and I knew that I needed to take her to the hospital as soon as possible. My eyes were also not helping me due to the hot tears and the hangover I was having.
The vomiting was just a part of it and there were more. Checking her pulse, he knew that it was slowing down. With a pair of droopy eyes, this time I was determined to take her to the hospital without any fail.
~~~~
With her blood all over my body of her horrendous incident, I waited outside impatiently until the doctor came. Crying out, I was suffering from a migraine as well as the guilt which was hunting me. I couldn't stop them from doing this. I ran away for myself. If I had stopped them, they wouldn't have done this to my friend.
Cursing myself, I don't know when I had slept yet again. Feeling a pat on my shoulders, I looked up to see a doctor clad in his green scrubs.
"You are patients??." The young man dragged as he didn't know who I was.
"Friend. How is she?" I asked immediately to which he said with a sigh," We have informed the police and they will be here within a few minutes. She has been brutally raped and there were a lot of marks on her body... Teeth, nai..."
I couldn't hear the whole statistics of what had happened to her and I was drowning in guilt. Soon enough I heard my name being called and the doctor introduced me as the 'victim's friend' to which I let out a dry chuckle.
Look at the irony! It hadn't been even 24 hours to which he had said that they were examples of a great friendship.
"Do you know who had done this to her?" The police asked to which I muttered after a sigh,
'No'
- To Be Continued -
A/N: How was it? Do you think it was worth your time?