Posted:
Disclaimer : This is totally different from the show. If you can't handle that, then I can't help you.
If you can...you have a great imagination. SO keep on keeping on. This can be more than a one shot, if requested. You know what I mean ;)
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Open at the Close.
"Get out of my house. You don't need a roof over your head. Go to your real father." His words still echoed in my ears. Looking back at my house, I saw that my so called father was throwing my mother out as well. Screaming at her, calling her names. Men. Such double standards. I saw my sister smirk at me, happy to see me gone, happy to know that the house was hers to rule. Rolling my eyes, I walked toward my mother who sat crying on the porch. I could see the neighbours looking at us - most with disgust. Double standards.
"Get up Mom, we don't have all night. We're leaving."
"How can you remain so calm?"
"Calm? I'm furious."
"At me? I should have guessed."
"Not at you! At him! Mom - come on now. You don't need to grovel. You took in Ria as your own daughter when she landed on our door holding a letter. Holding results in her tiny hands clearly explaining that 'Dad' was her father. Look at the damn hypocrite now? Throwing you out! How dare he?"
"I love Ria. Just as I love you. And Khushi, don't talk about him like that..he's your father."
Shaking my head, I picked up our stuff and started walking away. "Come on Mom, I already called a friend, we can stay at her place tonight." Yelling over my shoulder, I said, "Come on, you're better than him."
"We'll figure this out. He'll be sorry. He'll come to us crying. Don't worry darling - he loves us."
"Yeah, keep telling yourself that Mom."
"I think I will."
I saw her pick herself up, dust herself off and walking to me. I smiled at her, proud that she could be so strong. I saw her smiling back, her eyes telling me the same thing.
An hour and two teas later, we sat in Payal's house. I got up telling my mother that she needs her rest and she said, "Likewise."
"Khushi.."
"Payal. Don't even. I'm not in the mood to discuss this."
"You'll have to at one point."
"What do you want me to say? That my father threw us out? That my mother kept this truth from me? Or the fact that I knew this all along?"
"What. Are. You. Talking. About?"
"I'm not in the mood. I'm going for a walk."
I could hear Payal saying ,"Khushi - don't. It's too late for a walk." Diregarding her, I walked out into the cold night.
I'm not sure how long I walked for. I didn't have my cell on me. I didn't have a watch. Chuckling, I thought, " This is when the girl without a phone, late at night, gets abducted..HA. Like that will...WHAT THE.."
Gulping, I tried squinting my eyes to make out the images in the dark.
Taking a deep breath, I took a step or two closer and closer till I could see what was happening.
Two figures bent over another.
Rape? Murder? Mugging? Maybe they were friends?
Why was no one else around? What was going on?
I walked closer and closer till I could hear them.
"Bhai. Wake up."
"Chotte! Open your eyes. Akash, find something to eat. He probably hasn't eaten properly. Go! What are you looking at?!?"
Before she could look down, she saw a girl handing her a chocolate bar. Saying a hurried thanks, she looked down at her brother. Opening his mouth, she stuffed a small piece of chocolate. She heard and felt her brother chewing. She fed him more and more till he opened his eyes.
"What are you feeding me? It's disgusting."
Before she could reply, she heard the girl huff, "Glad you're better." Looking up, she saw the girl walking away. She saw her brother craning his neck to take a look at the girl walking away, only to be blocked by Akash.
"Chotte! I'm so glad you're fine. And Akash, you're an idiot! Why didn't you make sure he ate something! For god sakes, you own so many restaurants."
Akash looked away sheepishly. "Sorry Di."
"Yeah, you better be sorry."
"Di, I'm fine. Now, if you'll let me, I would love to get off this sidewalk."
Taking out his cell, he looked at the time.
2 A.M.
"Why are you out so late Di?"
"Akash called me, said you fainted. I was worried Chotte. I mean, you don't faint."
"Di, I was busy. I didn't get time to eat so I fainted. It's not a big deal. Kind of like a sun stroke. Now come on, let's just go home. Di, where's the car?"
Looking straight across, he saw the car. Empty. Looking back at this sister, he frowned. "Did you drive?"
"Maybe"
"Di! You're pregnant."
"That doesn't mean I can't drive Chotte."
"Yea, but you'd be a lot safer if you didn't drive. Come to think of it, a lot of people would be safer if you didn't drive."
He knew his sister was rolling his eyes at him. Smiling, he crossed the deserted road.
Soon, they were on their way back home. The car was so silent that he could hear his sister and cousin breathing. Sighing, he slowly shook his head thinking about his over-protective sister.
2:20 A.M.
He looked at the watch to make sure. A deserted road and a girl walking alone always spelt trouble.
Turning to his sister, he said, " Should we ask?"
"No. You're not a superhero Chotte. You don't need to rescue everyone."
"Are you sure? Take a look."
Looking out the window, she exclaimed. The scene playing out in front of her was shocking. A man, obviously drunk, trying to drag the poor girl into an alley. Though that's not what shocked her.
She saw the girl. She saw the drunk man. She saw the girl punch the drunk man, kick him in his groin and saw the girl standing over the man while he crouched in pain. Chuckling, she saw the girl grin.
She turned to see her brother and her cousin, staring with their mouths open. "See? No need for you. The world has changed, Superman. Girls can protect themselves."
"Yeah, for sure. ." Akash looked on as the girl walked away without a scratch. The three smiled and were on their way again.
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