Chapter 16

Kashish's POV

"Oh my god, why did it have to rain so suddenly. I am already very late. And why did I have to forget to bring my umbrella today" I look at the time it is already past midnight. I should've called my mother before my phone battery died. I sigh and run out of the Singhania mansion, it's okay I won't get drenched much if I run fast enough, the bus stop is just around the corner.

I reach the empty bus stop fully drenched so much from wearing thin clothes. I wait for the bus, "Ohohoho…" I see a squad of boys stopping in front of me with their bikes. "Hey, baby! Do you need a ride?" the guy in the lead snickers at me. "No thanks, I am waiting for somebody" I lie to purpose them to leave, and his friends laugh "Really? It's okay you can ditch that fellow and take us as your company. As you can see we are more diligent than your friend who leaves a single lonely girl in the empty bus stop". Instead of replying I walk away from them "Hey where are you going? bad people are roaming around at this hour" I turn to see them laughing from the same spot.

I fasten my walking, I hear their bikes following me. The sound becomes closer and nearer, I start to run to escape them. But unfortunately, they catch up and block my path with their bike.

I try to run back in opposite direction but one of them gets a hold of my wrist "Where do you think you are running?" I attempt to jerk off my arm from his hold. "Help, Help. Please somebody help" I shout but the loud rain conceals my cries. They laugh at my incapability "Cry as much as you want but nobody is coming". He starts pulling me in the direction of the dark alley, I struggle to remove his grip "Please let me go" I beg tears starting to prickle in my eyes unknown to those guys.

I bite his hand as hard as I can, "Aaaah" he shouts the grip loosens and I take the opportunity to dash towards the highway. "Catch that bitch" they start chasing me with their foot, but soon they catch up and I am caught again.

The guy I bit grabs my wrist again "You dirty bitch do you think you are special. You should be grateful that you are getting the chance to entertain me. Many girls want me" the force pains my wrist "It hurts, let me go" I sob due to the pain, terror builds in my mind. If something happens to me at this moment my mother will get traumatized for life, I am only what she has. She'll be pained, no I can't let that happen. I try to pry open his clutch but my effort goes futile.

Suddenly loud honk booms on the empty road, A car has stopped in front of us in between all the chaos. Its front light blinds me for a while, but slowly I open my eyes again, and I see a figure coming out of the car. He shuts the door elegantly and walks to the front of his car. I recognize his face and begin sobbing.

"Can't you see you're hurting the girl?'' his eyes don't leave me. "Who are you? Stop interfering in others' business if you want to leave this place in one piece" the guy holding me warns him. "The one who should mind is you and your group of rats" he firmly warns the squad in return.

"Mhmm, let's go Rohan" I register the one grabbing me is Rohan and his friends are suggesting to leave. "What bullshit are you uttering?" Rohan glares at his friend, his friend anxiously whispers in his ear. Rohan glowers looking forward "So finally we meet Ashvik Veer Singhania. We have some pending business,". "I don't think I have business with garbage like you" Ashvik points out. "Huh, acting all cocky. You bastard my girlfriend left me because she was smitten by your pretty face after meeting you in an event" Rohan angrily puts more pressure on his hold.

"Aaaah" I moan in pain, "Leave her alone or you will pay a heavy price" Ashvik loudly threatens them. "Why are you so bothered? Is she something to you?" Rohan sneers looking at me. Ashvik shoots daggers at him if looks could kill Rohan will be dead by now "Oh she is something to you. Then it's going to be more fun. I will destroy you in front of her and I will make you watch how I enjoy her" Rohan laughs madly like he has crazy.

"Go and kill him no no no… go and beat him but leave him alive so that he can watch the show" Rohan orders his friends. Although reluctant at first but they move due to Rohan's intense glare. The first guy approaches and throws a punch but Ashvik blocks it with his single hand. Ashvik knees him in his stomach and punches straight to his face, Ashvik is so fast that I register only when the guy falls to the ground.

All of Rohan's minions have fallen to the ground, Ashvik has single-handedly beaten all of them. Ashvik had overpowered them easily. Rohan angrily grumbles "You think it's over" he laughs maniacally, "You think you've beaten me just because a few of my lousy followers are down. The show has just started".

Rohan loosens his grip on my wrist and takes out a hockey stick from his bike. Rohan madly runs toward Ashvik intending to hit him, but Ashvik blocks him with his arms, Ashvik fails Rohan's every blow.

The smell of rain has mixed with the air, and thunders have muffled the sounds of the streets. Every dust has been washed, everything is drenched, Ashvik is also completely drenched with the heavy rain. The expensive sleek suit that he wore for the meeting is now wet and crumbled due to the fight, he is standing in between the road alone as all the people have already fallen to the ground.

Tears stream down my face mixed with the rain, his presence has always troubled me but right now at this moment, I am very grateful. I slowly walk toward him, and he stares straight at me. His expression is of relief as well as concern. I stand right in front of him not breaking our eye contact "Are you okay?" he inquires worry reflecting through his eyes "Are you hurt? Did they..".

Before he can ask further I hug him tightly, tears flow continuously and my cries continue.

I feel his arms around me after a few seconds "Sorry, I was late", my cries don't stop instead it becomes louder. He pats my head slowly, the sensation warmly creeps into my heart. My cries turn into gentle sobs then I realize I am hugging him too tightly.

I slowly loosen my arms and move away. "Better?" he inquires, I nod in reply.

Buildings and roads pass by, strangers are still bustling on the road that is passing by. But the emptiness in my heart is not waning. I am in someone's luxurious car accompanied by the feeling of the most pathetic being. Maybe if I was a little bit stronger I wouldn't have to go through all these sufferings. If only I could stand for myself, then all these people wouldn't be able to stomp me like a bug.

Today's incident made me realize I am just a weak person who can be treated like a rag. Ashvik came at the right time but if not then I couldn't fathom my condition, I would have been like thrown-up garbage lying in the dark alley.

"We have reached" The ride back home ends with silence, the deep silence covers my feeble heart. I see Ashvik has opened the door for me, I walk out silently without giving a single glance to him. I never wanted to show fragile myself to anyone but somehow he always becomes the audience to weakest me.

"What happened? Where were you? Do you know how worried I was?" I look at my mother who is looking at me with concern, she recently got discharged from hospital and here I am again being the reason for stress. I straighten my posture "Ah! I didn't get a bus and my phone battery died so I couldn't inform". "But what's with your clothes? Why is it torn?" I look at my salwar is torn at the wrist area, it probably happened when I was struggling. "It got stuck in the doorknob" I lie to my mother who looks at me doubtfully. "Are you hiding something? You don't look okay" my mother is unsatisfied with my answer. "She is okay, her cloth was torn due to my negligence. You don't need to worry Aunty" before I can say anything, Ashvik covers me up.

"Who are you?" my mother confusingly looks at Ashvik. "I am Ashvik, Kashish works for me" he softly smiles at my mother. My mother's uncertainty is reflected on her face, but she doesn't pry further "Thank you for bringing my daughter home. It's raining pretty heavily come in for tea". "No thanks aunty. It's pretty late I should get going" Ashvik glances at me "Take care Kashish" he then zooms off.

I am in the bathroom looking haggard myself, I open the faucet and wash my face roughly. Today I felt most vulnerable in these recent years.