Chapter 9

Chapter 9

mere mehboob qayamat hogi

aaj ruswa teri galliyon mein mohabbat hogi

Trigger Warning :  sexual assault

"Alone at last" Akshara whirled around to face him, heart thudding in her chest.

Akshay sauntered towards her with a sleazy grin on his face, hands shoved into his pockets. Akshu backed up till her back hit the wall.

"Ak-Akshay?"

"Ak-Akshay" he mocked. "God, you really are pathetic."

"What?"

"Little Miss Akshara Goenka, thinking she is so much better than all of us" he snarled, slamming his hand beside her head, making her jump.

This is not happening, oh god, no, this is not happening.

"Tell me, how do you sleep at night knowing you've taken away a capable man's seat?" he asked, his eyes almost crazed.

Her head shot up, eyes incredulous. Is that what this was about? He thinks she took his seat?

Akshay rolled his eyes. "Oh don't give me that look. Tumhe kya lagta hai, kisiko tumhaari sachai pata nahi hai? Poora hospital jaan ta hai ki Doctor Abhimanyu ne tumhe kyun chuna." His eyes slid down her body suggestively, making her skin crawl. Akshara wanted to push him away, run, scream, anything, but her limbs were frozen in place. It was like she was having an out of body experience, his lecherous eyes and poisonous words turning her blood to ice.

"God you must be really good. Why else would a man like him fall prey to such a whore? Tell me did you sleep with his father too, or just him? What about his uncle? Do they take turns? It's always the quiet ones...." he continued, his rotten breath fanning her face. Akshu could feel her heart losing control as her anxiety spiked to unknown levels. Tears streamed down her face.

"Please, don't" she whispered, yet her plea only served to encourage him. He was enjoying her fear, her helplessness.

"Kyun nahi? Tum jaisi cheap, characterless ladki ko waise bhi kya hi farak padta hai. Hum bhi toh dekhe, aisi kya baat hai" he spat before lunging at her.

It all happened way too fast. Even days later, whenever she tried to recall the incident, she couldn't piece together the exact events. She remembered his hands grabbing at her, squeezing till they left bruises at the first second. She remembered hearing a loud, heartbreaking scream at the next second, which she later realized was her own. And she remembered Akshay being on the floor at the third, howling in pain.

Abhimanyu was on top of him, almost shaking with rage. He was livid. His fists slammed into Akshay's face once, twice, three times before Akshay slumped to the floor, unmoving. Akshara remembered almost detachedly noticing the entire Birla family operating in sync, like a machine. Harsh and Doctor Anand scooped the unconscious Akshay off the floor, slinging one arm each over their shoulders, none too carefully and following a grim faced Doctor Mahima down the hall. Neil ushered the stunned party goers swiftly and sternly out, claiming the stray cellphone that had emerged to record Doctor Abhimanyu going feral on an employee. She watched it all happen from her place, leaning against the wall before Abhimanyu filled her vision.

He pulled her into his office, shutting and locking it behind him. She couldn't bring herself to look at him. She felt.....dirty. She wanted to go home and curl up in her bed and never leave. 

One hand cupped her chin, raising her face. His trained eyes examined her from head to foot, analyzing, deducing and logging her symptoms. She almost laughed. She'd spent hours getting ready for him and he didn't even spare her a glance. Now that she did have his attention, she probably looked like hell. Her dress was skewed and ripped at the shoulder, her hair was a mess and her makeup, oh god her makeup, probably looked like a ghost's.

There was a tense silence in the room, heavier than any sympathies he might have offered. They were both shaking, she realized. Her with shock and fear, him with fury. 

"Are you hurt?" he finally asked, softly. Almost like a prayer.

And Akshu

broke.

"Go on then." she laughed hysterically. "Scold me for this too."

His eyes narrowed in warning. She was lashing out, she registered somewhere in the back of her mind. He didn't deserve this, but she couldn't stop.

"Scold me! Tell me this was my fault!" she hissed, her chest heaving.

"Akshara"

"No! No, you always tell me to be more careful, be more focused! That's why this happened, didn't it? I wasn't careful?!"

"Akshara"

"Go on! Tell me I allowed a boy to distract me" she spit out, throwing his own words back at him. "Tell me I'm being silly, tell me I wasted your time! Tell me it was my goddamn fault!"

"Akshara" he growled.

"Kya Akshara? Akshara toh aisi hi hai. Uski toh niyat hi kharaab hai! She is such a whore, she goes around sleeping with anyone in power! Cheap, characterless-"

"AKSHU!" he roared finally, both hands clasping her face and yanking her closer so there remained only an inch of distance between their lips.

"Do. Not. Ever. Tell. Me. To. Blame. You." He practically growled the words through gritted teeth. Her jaw slackened, stunned into silence. He closed his eyes and inhaled a shaky breath, reeling himself in.  "I tell you to be careful because I know the kind of poison that exists in the world. Not because I think you're careless. I tell you not to let a boy distract you, because I want you to succeed. I have never, ever, doubted your capabilities, your character, or you. And I will burn anyone who does." 

Akshara clutched his shirt in her hands to ground herself. Her hands weren't shaking anymore. His words swept like a storm through her heart.

"Akshu" he continued, his eyes softening. "Tumhaari niyat, tumhaara character, aur tum; ekdum perfect ho." A broken sob escaped her, as she crashed into his chest. She didn't care about her tears staining his shirt, or her hands clutching at him. She just allowed herself to let it all out. The fear, the anger, the helplessness. She felt the phantom feel of Akshay's slimy hands on her and pressed closed to Abhi, willing her body to replace Akshay's touch with Abhi's. 

Strong Abhi. Fierce Abhi. Her Abhi.

Akshay groaned in pain, struggling to sit up as he heard a door behind him slam shut with a loud bang.

"Akshay Chauhan," a cold, ruthless voice said. "Let's play."

I can't resist a sunday update, I just can't. 

Small announcement - I started a little business this week. You guys already know about my love for writing, well I've decided to turn this particular hobby into a service. 

So Introducing Letters By Ishi.  A curated handwritten letter writing service, where you give me a little input about a special someone in your life (family, friend, lover) and I hand write a beautiful letter for them and have it delivered. Basically a letter to them, from you, through me. Now I don't know if starting this was a good idea, or if it will even get anywhere, but well, ummeed pe duniya qayam hai. I would really appreciate if you guys could follow and share the link above. And if you can't, just your wishes would do <3

Moving on, I deeply appreciate the comments you people left on my last update. I didn't know how much I needed to see my writing being appreciated like that. Thank you, really, for helping me through my writer's slump and doubts. You guys are the best.

Tell me if you liked this chapter. I'm sorry if I worried anyone, but I would never let anything happen to our dear Akshu. (And neither would Abhi).

Who's excited for Abhi's ruthless side, I know I am.