A/N: All the past are in Italics... So, this time, I have taken upon a social issue and I hope you understand it.
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Instead of helping the woman whom he knew and loved the most, he just ran away because of the fear which had encapsulated him. If Maya had lost her virginity that day, Rudra lost his mental health and everything that could happen when you see a woman getting rape in front of your eyes. That wasn't all! The guilt and the trust he broke, her cries and silence were an addition to the visuals he had seen.
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As Maya opened the study room, she switched the lights on before drawing the curtains. As she took the envelope from the table, she re-read it,
Hello Mumma,
Do you remember what day it is today? Today was the day you had received the first letter from me almost 6 months back?
Mumma, there are just a few more weeks until your possession would arrive in your arms. I am just speechless at all the efforts you took as a mother even when you hated it.
The memories and pain are traumatizing but living with the guilt and carrying it along, is something else. I just salute you for deciding to take care of the baby. I know you are not guilty of carrying the baby but living with a part of life that you want to forget can be haunting...
Mumma, I really adore you and love you without any bounds. I can't express the respect or other feelings I have for this mother. By the way, how are the kicks going on? Is the baby troubling you too much??
How is your job going on? You said that you were applying for further studies. Is there any progress on that? The unintentional and unexpected baby will need your care and since you've accepted it whole-heartedly, I hope that no grudges will be held. I know that you have given me freedom so I was just asking you...
With Lots of Love,
Anonymous...
She smiled at the letter and placed the letter in her file which she had taken from her room before she entered the study... It all started after the horrendous past and even Rudra knew it. He also had been a witness to this.
Finding the address was something that kept her occupied after the incident. Since it was way before she opted for the case, both of them travelled from one corner to another to find this guy but it failed.
Caressing the file in which the letters were kept, she opened the second letter which read,
"Hi Maya Jaisingh
I hope you are doing all well and don't try to find me because I am still watching you. I did watch you from our college days. I hope that provides a clue to one of the guys who stood behind you with a rose and got a broken heart instead.
How is everything going? Maya, I know your answer to this question. Life won't end after this disaster and you should recover yourself with everything you have.
This attempt is not an indication that you must stop yourself from doing everything you had done before. It's just a phase through which at least hundreds of girls/women undergo.
Maya, I want you back and I know it will take time! But do think of the people who know this and expecting a real comeback from you. Don't act that you are okay for others around you.
Prove that you are okay with yourself. A nightmare is what you got but you have your own dreams right? I know that the COVID-19 cases are rising but this man's prayer is with you wherever you go.
Take care and stay safe. We will meet in the next letter and I hope you will be more energetic and vibrant.
With loves of love and hug,
Your Stranger.."
The letter first sounded absurd and it really intrigued Maya to find who had sent this after she had received a rose along with a note to
' Don't be ashamed of how you look or how you are or whatever that has happened because wolves will keep prowling over a piece of meat. Stand up and Fight. Being weaker only makes you guilty. Time is everything! "
Every letter which had been sent after the incident acted as her "Third Skin". It helped her to be stronger than ever. Every week, waiting for the letters were one of her hobbies after her turning point..
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As Rudra sat at the bar counter, neither his dishevelled hair nor his dark circles could be seen amidst the dim lights of the bar.
This was the same date when Maya was in the hospital after the trauma. To add a contrasting effect, today was their Friendship Day! The day they had become thick friends.
He still remembers how she had been the only girl in the class to stand against all the strikes and injustices. He liked no scratch it.. he loved the attitude she had. As he drowned in the memories, he couldn't help but think of a few moments before 8 months.
The moments which made him and still make him guilty.
Rudra's point of View...
The doctor told me that Maya had lost a lot of blood and there were scratches and bites all over her body. One day and both of their lives changed. For Maya, it was on the worst side.
As I entered the ICU, I saw a stitch on her forehead and her hand which was plastered. Through the collars, I saw a red mark which made me breathe differently.
There was a long mark which I didn't know where it had ended. As she squirmed in sleep, I couldn't help but run out.
After a span of 2 days, I was informed that Maya was getting better from the critical condition. I was a bit happy but sometimes, physical abuse and harassment are much deeper than the words. Every day since I said a 'No', I an torturing myself with my nails and blood. I need her back to stop the new torture I had started.
As I entered the room, I saw her lay motionless yet her eyes told the story. She tried to bite her inner cheeks and I think that she didn't see me entering. As I took slow steps, I noticed that she was alert. As she tried to lift her head, her head fell against the pillow and lead out a low cry indicating that it was paining.
As I sat next to her, I didn't know how to behave in this situation. I just wanted to kill myself for the guilt of doing it. As she looked at me, she smiled painfully which made my heart ache. Her face was stained with dry tears and more were flowing out...
"Maya.." I called out slowly to which she just hummed without looking at me. She used to look into my eyes and I instantly knew it. Taking her hand which was injected into IV, I enclosed it to hear her muffled sobs which exploded into tears.
"Maya... Please yaar.." The strings of my eyes broke and I cried with my head beside her head digging my nose into the pillow. As I hugged her, she screamed and tried to push me and I could see the fear in her eyes.
After a few minutes, she was much better as I had leaned against the chair without touching her. We had no contact for a few minutes until I just ran my fingers through her brown hair. She didn't protest now but her clutch on the bedsheet tightened. Trying to calm me and her down, she calmed for a few minutes. Her fingers weren't stressing too much on the bedsheet now.
"Maya, I ..." I tried to speak while she stared at him with the same emotions I saw when I came. I was triggering her. I remembered the doctor's words 'This is going to be a tough time for her. Don't try to break yourself and make her feel like a victim. Since she doesn't have anyone else, you are the last hope."
Rubbing my tears, I rubbed my fingers around her face where there were tear marks. Taking an initiative, I sat on the bed beside her head but an unexpected thing happened next. I didn't expect that to happen. Her fear was replaced by her trust which she still had in me but did I deserve it? She had placed her head on my lap! I didn't know what to do. She still trusts me when I thought she would be scared of me.
As she kept her head on my lap, her nails dug into my pants and I said as I heard her sobs," Maya, don't cry Maya. I feel very... Please Maya.."
"I feel disgusted Rudra!" Maya spoke after a few minutes of silence to which Rudra let out a large sob. He said," This is not the time for the victim Maya. It's time for survival. You've survived. I don't understand how it feels now but this is not the Maya I want now. You have witnessed your parents' death in front of your eyes but did you fall? You rose like a warrior Maya. Please! At least for me..."
I spoke to which she just held my hand.
"But they... " She narrated how she had been dragged by those wolves and they had torn her up when she had tried to escape!
Rubbing her skin where her tears were falling by, I soothed for a few minutes until she slept due to the sedatives which had been induced into her. If she was feeling disgusted, I felt the urge to kill myself. As different thoughts ran in different directions, the doctor came in.
Retreating his hold, I saw a new doctor with the doctor who had treated her. As I looked up to her, the doctor called me out and we spoke in front of the room where Maya was sleeping peacefully,
" Rudra, This is the best time to get depressed and even I do understand how you've been feeling with this attempt happening at your house."
She sighed and spoke again," I don't know how much you had noticed but her body is not in a good condition. Every part of her has been..."
"Stop!" I voluntarily shouted due to which the lady doctor pressed my shoulder and said," How long will you run away from the truth? Aren't you the one who is staying with her? Aren't you the one who would take care of her?"
"Aren't I the one who destroyed her?" I asked myself as the doctor spoke to me about her injuries and marks she had got, my fists clenched and my head felt very heavy with whatever was happening.
"But.. We have one more problem in front of us." My headshot up to that statement and she started with an apology," I am really sorry. Dr Jithin forgot a measure he had to do for Maya."
As I had knit my eyebrows in his direction, the lady doctor spoke," She might get pregnant!"
My eyes widened in horror as the doctor spoke," He had forgotten to administer the progesterone doses which had to be given in the first 72 hours but since it hadn't been.."
I didn't wait for anything else as I held Dr Jithin by his collars and hollered against him...
The lady doctor had asked me to calm down but I couldn't help but beat this guy! Unprofessional quack!
"All we can do is to pray!"
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As Maya sat on the chair which was placed on the balcony, she felt happy because of the letters she had been receiving. The Friendship which had turned a year older mixed her emotions.
She still remembers how they had decided to stay together for one year and how they decided on this house which had turned home for them in the first month itself.
As she caressed her bump with the some of the sweet memories, she felt that the moon setting down a bit too early. If she was asked why she hated the moon, she had a reason to tell! It was the same reason which made her feel her disgust and sourness all over her body due to some vultures which had hunted her down.
Before she could think anymore, she felt a kiss on her bump. Looking at Rudra who was kneeling, she pushed him.
- To Be Continued -
A/N: What are your thoughts on these? I hope you liked it. Please don't forget to vote to comment.