Recap- Sharad and his dad got into an argument. Sharad thought Divyanka supported his dad that all Sharad did was sleep with girls and get wasted. He left, got drunk and when he came back. he went to Divyanka's room, determined to prove her right. So he tried to aggresively force himself on her..
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Part-18: Divyanka's POV
"Sharad, no!" I screamed as an attempt to stop him but failed as I felt his hands slither under my cami.
His hands crawled up to my midback and I kneed him where it hurts as hard as I could. It was almost an instant reaction. He yelped and got off of me his hands between his legs. I rolled off the bed, running to the door. But I felt a pull on my hair and was on the ground before I knew it. I looked up to see Sharad staring down at me with fierce red eyes. I felt my stomach clench.
"Sh-Sharad. N-n-no," I pleaded. I kept moving back with my hands. But he just came closer, always hovering me. "Please." He smirked a little. Once I hit the wall, I slid up, coming face to face with Sharad. "Sharad, please. Don't do this." He came close until he was a few inches away from me. I considered making another run for it. And so I did. But as soon as I got even a foot away from Sharad he grabbed me by the hair and slammed me back against the wall. I held back bitter tears as I finally stared into his anger-deep eyes. "I'm sorry, Sharad. Just please stop." His breath smelled like potent beer. I turned my head, crushing myself against the wall. His hands grasped the back of my neck tightly and made me come face to face with him. His teeth were clenched. He came closer, gripping tighter on my neck. I couldn't even move my face. Tears, involuntarily, fell down my cheeks. "Sharad," I whispered one last time in a choked voice. His lips started to come for mine but then abruptly stopped an inch away. I struggled to move but I didn't budge. I gave up. I bit my lip as Sharad stared into my eyes, searching frantically in them. I closed my eyes, holding my breath....
And then I felt...free? I opened my eyes, cautiously and Sharad was standing a few feet away from me now. Staring at me in horror. His breathing was long and loud; the only noise present in the room. I looked at him, wearily, watching as I saw his eyes go moist. His breaths turned quickly into gasps.
"Sorry, Divyanka," he whispered before running out the room...
~.~.~.~.~
The next morning Sharad wasn't home. By then, I had made up my mind to leave within a couple of days. Why was I here anyway? So our parents would get off our backs and we'd be free to do anything we want? Sorry, but it wasn't enough to go through this bull.
"Divyanka, will you tell me what's wrong?" Riya asked, her eyes closely watching me as I took a sip out of my flat soda. We were sitting in the food court of the Central Mall. She had called to go shopping today, and I was ready to tell her about last night then. But right now, it just seemed like a bad idea.
"What makes you think something's wrong?" I tugged the sleeves of my sweater over my hands.
"Okay. One-you're hardly talking. And two- you haven't tried even one thing on. Something's wrong, I know. I'm your best friend, Divyanka." I looked down, tracing the rim of my straw. Riya sighed, impatiently. "Divyanka, look at me."
"What?"
She continued to stare at me, looking at me intently. "Is it Sharad? Did he do something?"
"What? N-no." I looked away, quickly. But she remained focused on my eyes.
"No," she said, nodding, "He did something. Did he say something or what?" There was a long pause as I stayed quiet. However, the silence was sure to be broken when I felt her gaze move down to my seatshirt. Riya wasn't stupid. "Divyanka, did he...hit you?" I bit my lip, refusing to look up. "Oh, God. Come with me."
She took me to an empty bathroom. Riya looked underneath the stalls, then locked the bathroom door. "Okay," she said. "Take off your sweatshirt."
"Bu-"
"Divyanka, please. Just take it off." And her tone was both pleading and demanding. I sighed to myself and took it off. She gasped, as if the few bruises were a big shock. It wasn't that bad, really. I looked into the mirr-. It had gotten way worse. My swollen arms were now covered with bruises. There was barely any normal skin. My whole arms were blue, black, and purple. "Divyanka! How could you hide this?" her voice shook.
"I don't know. It happened last night. That was the only time."
"Well, what exactly did happen?"
Hesistantly, I told her everything, detailing it. But the words came out rushed. She didn't say anything until I finshed.
"Divyanka, are you okay?"
I was about to like and say I was fine. But this was my best friend. If I couldn't tell her the truth, who else would I tell it to? "I don't know." She came over and hugged me carefully, trying not to touch my arms.
"You can cry now Divyanka."
"No, I cried enough yesterday." Riya hugged me tighter and I just sunk my head into her shoulder. So grateful to have a someone like her.
~.~.~.~.~.~.
"Divyanka, where were you?" I turned around to see Mrs. Malhotra sitting in the living room. I went inside to her.
"I went out with Riya. Why?"
"Nothing, just wondering."
"Alright."
Just before I walked out of the living room, "Wait." I turned around. "Is everything okay with you and Sharad?"
"Yeah, everything's great. Why?"
"Oh, he just didn't know where you were when I asked him."
"Oh, I didn't tell him."
"Oh, well, sorry for being so nosy." She was acting different ever since the incident at the dinner table.
"No, it's okay."
I left for my room. There, I put on the TV and collasped on the bed. Banoo Mein Teri Dulhan was coming on. It was a cute show but we all knew love isn't like that. All happy and everything. Can anyone love someone that much like they do in TV shows? I doubted it. But then again, what did I know? Love, to me, is overrated.
A knock on my door. "Come in." It was Sharad. I automatically jumped off my bed, anger coursing through my veins. "What are you doing here? Leave."
"Divyanka, I just wanted to talk." His face looked exhausted and weary. I kept walking back, away from him.
"Well, I don't. Get out."
"Listen, I'm sorry. I had had way to much to drink last night. More than i ever have probably. Please, hear me out."
"I. Said. Get. O-"
"Divyanka," Mrs. Malhotra said coming into my room-without knocking. "I ne-. Oh, good. you guys are together. Are you busy?"
"No," I said. "We were just talking." I walked over to Sharad's side.
"Oh, okay. Well, I just wanted to tell you guys that the priest will come tomorrow afternoon to pick out the date."
"Okay."
"So I'll just leave you too, alone. DInner should be ready in an hour."
"Okay." I forced a smile.
Once she left, I turned back to Sharad. "You can leave, too."
"Divyanka, I'm sorry."
"Whatever, i don't really care. Just leave."
"Why are you so pissed?"
DId he really just ask that? "Why am I so pissed!? Are you serious? Do even remember last night? My head still hurts from the two hard pulls you gave it. My back hurts from being slammed against the wall. My neck is a stiff, still. And..." I looked down at my arms. "And..." I took off my sweatshirt, holding my arms out to him. "Any more questions? Do you get why I'm so pissed now?"
He stared at my arms, clenching his fists. And started to back away from me. "I-I-I'm sorry."
It was almost a replay of last night, I thought, as he ran out of the room again....
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Not very proud of it. I'm going to get this one going. I have an idea in my mind now. So just hang in there. it'll be abck on track withn two updates.
Thanks for reading,
Kalee<3
Indian Idol 16
