Chapter 8

@pakirani: thanx dear for bearing with this ff until now... lol i think your the only reader i have left thanx

Days later I wake up to find myself laying down on my bed, covered beneath the quilt; I turn my head slightly and frown. What was I doing here, how come I was here, who brought me here; and suddenly the truth dawned upon me; I had been suspended, kicked out of the training school because Ayesha had been lost. "Mama, dadu!" I call out, my voice full of tension and frustration; how could they just do that to me, just because Ayesha screwed up didn't mean I did; I .., I slumped back towards the head rest and sat quietly.

"Manya, your awake! I'm so glad you are, I thought I almost lost you for a moment when you kept waking up and fainting, please don't ever do that again!" Ma wipes the tears forming in her eyes and looks away refusing to meet my questioning gaze. "I'm sorry!" she says as dadu walks in; glancing at me every now and then. "Are you feeling better beta?" he questions casually. I force my smile and nod my head yes.

"Shashank, how the hell can you blame the entire situation on the women, just because their feminine, not males like the rest of you! How could you blame the entire situation on them; for goodness sake you were supposed to be with them the ENTIRE time, eventually this entire situation occurred because of you; if only you never judged us things would have been better. And, how can you forget if it weren't for Manya, today the terrorists that we have locked away in the prison jail would probably have blasted parts of india! Think about what she has done and what the others have done; you know the truth, either you work for the truth or became a cheat; and from the looks of it you won't become either. I pity you and myself that I ever fell in love with you, I PITY our children, who have a father that doesn't want to respect women; NOW you know why Rashi, Kajol and Abhay never respected you as their father!" Madam Heer shouted at her husband, Shashank, before stomping out of the room in anger.

Shashank watched her retreating footsteps, she hated him, his children hated him and more than anything else most of the women he knew hated him. How could I have done such a thing, he thought to himself; but his ego clashed with the truth; "if it weren't for the boys the women would have ruined them; if we give control to women like them then what will become of India?" he asked himself.

"Much better than what is going on India today especially with all the bribes, the rapes, the abuse, all of which is inflicted upon women, children and families because of MALE police officers who refuse to protect the country!" Shashank startled by the familiar voice, looks up to find a limping Manya with a bloody bandage on her forehead. He frowned, "what are you doing here?" I throw him a look and settle myself calmly down in a chair before him.

"Look I'm not here to fight for us to be re-allowed in the academy, all I can say is; 'I thought you were a different man, after a few lectures and talk backs you would understand but you didn't,' if you don't give us a chance how do you expect women to excel? Just think about that and your daughters, sisters, wife, and nieces, don't make their life more complicated than it already is because of corrupt officers; we don't need more of you…!" my voice trailed off as I got up and walked away.

Days continued by, finally, when I had enough of hide and seek games I went to the academy; and found Akash and Om leaving with the others for a new mission; I waited a few moments before I could get into the bus. Sneaking in I set off with their new mission.

The bus soon came to a halt just 50 kilometers away from the academy base. Everyone took hold of their positions as soon as the bus was cleared out; I waited in the back corner of the bus and watched everyone disappear into the forest; as soon as they were out of sight I raced behind them. Slipping occasionally, yet careful enough to be quiet.

I stopped suddenly and hid behind a tree; before me sat the others just pulling out food to eat after hours of hiking through the forest in search of terrorist, companions of those that had tried to kill me. "Hey yaar, do you agree with the officials new rule about 'no girls allowed' I personally think it's a piece of bull, did you notice how Manya performed not only better than the women but better than MOST men as well! Shashank sir in simple terms is being biased because he doesn't know how hard it is on them; and even though he knows Manya risked her life to save us from the terrorists he blamed the entire situation on her. He's a sick man! That's all I have to say about him. Period" one of the male cadets spoke through his bite.

I smiled slightly and hid behind the bushes when the other male cadet peeked over his head after hearing a snap near the trees. He brushed it off slightly thinking it was just another noise; I took a deep breath and walked off slowly to find Akash, Om and Gul sitting with one another in a circle, not eating nor talking. I frown what had happened here and then I saw it; Akash had a bleeding arm. My breath got caught in my throat, what had happened I questioned my mind, but got no reply.

Hours later, all the cadets returned one by one, the mission was over, the entire forest had been checked and yet not one terrorist had been found. Well if you think that, your wrong. Around 3 in the morning, Akash disappeared, blood stains found near where he was, his body broken in bits. Everyone was in a fury of pain and confusion, there where his body lay was now just clothes, ripped and torn, and blood scattered around; he had been killed.

One by one, as the days continued by and no sign of Akash, everyone left, his clothes were checked for the DNA, and it turned positive; Akash had passed away….but my mind refused to believe that, I loved the dork…I wouldn't give up on him now, nor ever.

To be continued…tomorrow evening or Tuesday!

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