With or Without You (Revisited) Chapter 1 Pg8

Dehradun was enormously known for its chilly climates. Tonight the vacant night was cold and dewy.

The moonlight streamed down illuminating various parts of the narrow and bleak street way. It was the only aid she had in the darkness beginning to engulf her into its bleakest abysses.

Several cars passed by but no-one stopped. Trees and shrubs densely clustered together providing her the much needed refuge from any vile, observant eyes.

A sigh of relief for her. She silently prayed attention would not be drawn to her, a woman walking alone at the darkest hour of the day. The violent pounding in her heart hammered against her rib-cage increasing an ache which roared right down to the very last inch of her body. Staggering forth, her mind kept on focusing on a single detail; she had to get help. Someone had to help her. She needed to call someone. Who could she call at this time of the night? There was no friend, no ally, no well-wisher. A bit paradoxical, since she spent the last three years of her life here.

Looking back to ensure no one was following her, she hurriedly crossed the road.

A terrible pain shot through her left thigh leaving her trembling. Biting down a cry, she shot out her arm to support herself against the nearby pole, slowly leaning against the cold surface. The pain was bad, unbearable, yet she knew she had to keep on walking. Keep going until she could get away from him. From herself.

The dappled light from the streetlight above illuminated her disheveled state. Her top was torn from the middle and the black shawl she had draped around herself covered the bruises she tried to hide. The cool air brushing against her skin reminded her of the damp spot somewhere on her arm. Blood, she was bleeding. Another spasm hit her, immediately bringing her to her knees. She fought hard, and strong for courage, but she was slowly losing out on the last few threads holding her together. The battle between the want to surrender and the need to keep walking made her convulse.

She did not want to return. Could not, would not walk back to him. A soft voice told her, he was already out looking for her; find her and take her back.

Immediately sprinting to her feet, she started to walk again not wanting to stop any cost.

It was strange, life with him had consumed her. Never known to be a compliant person, she had given up her will to fight with him. He was her alternate universe where everything was right. Nothing was ever wrong, not even when it screamed at her right back in the face. She who had always lived her life according to her own terms had done everything she could to please a man. The vengeful man had tossed her out of his without any remorse for his actions. Perhaps, the fault was in her, she could never measure up to his expectations. The flaw was in her, he would say at times. The silenced insinuations and vengeful warnings echoed inside her. Nothing could erase the agonizing torture she put herself through for the past three years. Yet, today standing alone on the road, she knew she gained nothing except for spiteful words, and scars, always to remind her love was nothing but a hollow expression uttered in vain.

She wanted to weep. Hollow. Nothing came out, not even a whisper.

The urge to curl up and cry her heart became more pronounced as she marched on. Slowly, her body was beginning to recognize the ache, numbing her to the point where she felt dizzy. Still she did not stop. Her mind registered the urgent need to locate a phone booth, her eyes could not look at anything except the road. Too weak and too strained, she roamed around like a lost soul.

She had to call her brother. He would come wherever and whenever. Although, she knew she would not make it far enough to call him. Maybe, she would die without ever letting her brother know how much she loved him. She would die in this very moment, and no one would know.

On the verge of tipping over, she looked around disoriented. Her head swiveled up and down, aware she was about to faint. It was time to say goodbye. Time to let go of the agony she had been keeping restrained for the past five hours.

She stumbled forth onto the concrete road, eventually cataleptic shock took over her body as she was welcomed by the concrete ground. Flashlights flickered like a distant dream calling out to her as her vision became blurry.

A black Lexus halted right before it could overtake her small, pliant body.

A man stepped out of the car, sprinting towards the unconscious woman. Disheartened to see her unconscious, he began to shake her viciously, uttering unrecognizable words. Not a word came from her, he gave up and returned to the car. The window of the back seat was lowered, "she is unconscious and bleeding. She needs to see a doctor. He informed, the figure seated in the back.

"Did you hit her?'' The man inquired, his voice thick, and hoarse against the chilly breeze.

The driver shook his head.

"There is no need to visit the hospital.''

"But '', hand shot out, forcing the driver to keep silent.

"Jai Prakash, help her into the car, I will call the doctor. At this time the drive to the hospital would prove to be challenging due to the weather. There has been many warnings to stay off the road at this time. The man explained, his voice becoming soft in tenor, a complete surprise for the driver. "Do you need my help?''

"No, Sir.''

The driver wrapped the black shawl tightly around the woman. Then scooping her into his arms, he helped her lie down on the back seat. The driver returned to his position behind the wheel, and the man joined him at the front on the passenger seat to provide more room at the black.

The distinct odor of blood, and sweat rapidly permeated the small vehicle.

Her body sagged against the seat, mercilessly being whisked into the dark voids at the hands of her fate. Nothing, nothing in her life could have prepared her for this moment to be at the mercy of strangers.

It was true what they said---with time every desire, every happiness, every ecstasy fades. Nothing in life is permanent, everything is perishable...even love.

-------

The car halted in front of a moderate looking house. It was small and compact, surrounded by miles of empty land. Now as snowfall began to trickle down, a white blanket was cast around them in the stark gloom.

Before the driver could step out, the man allowed his agile body a quick escape from the car. He didn't bother to stay back to provide help. He was rather pleased, or perplexed when he set forth to open the front door.

Seconds later, light brought the dainty house to life.

Jai Prakash looked after the man with absolute stillness. He never could understand the isolation, and this house. But to the man named Arnav Singh Raizada, this house was everything. Every winter, he would return to the small town, the small house, secluding himself to his own solitude. Sort of like penance. No, he was not a bad man, what he was though was a man in suffering. His past had left an impenetrable imprint. It was impossible to wrench away the misery blooming inside him.

Turning back to the woman, Jai Prakash lifted her off the back seat.

Snowfall had picked up its pace, making the long-awaited storm evident in the long night to come.

Settling the woman down in the guest room, he turned on the lights. To his horror, she was covered in bruises which had become welts now, also there was blood. She was still bleeding. Instantly he covered her with a bed sheet and ran out of the room to seek out Arnav.

"I have informed the Doctor. He will be here shortly. Has she woken?'' Arnav asked, impatiently viewing his Rolex while his gaze oscillated to the guest room door now and then. "She must need food. Prepare something for her.''

Jai Prakash hesitantly spoke, "There are bruises, many of them...'' unable to continue, he stopped shortly. "Something terrible has happened to her. She looks so weak, frail like a bird without wings.'' He completed with destitution written all over his face. "Do pray she makes it through the night.''

Striding over to Jai Prakash, Arnav patted the older man on his arm, "let's wait for the doctors opinion. If you are still not assured, we will take her to the hospital. Okay?''

He then left to return to his room aware not much could be done until she woke up.

Turning back towards the guest room, Jai Prakash disappeared through the wooden door. He tended to Khushi's wounds while waiting for the doctor to arrive. Carefully, he used a soft wash cloth to clean away the dried blood, small pricks marring her skin. Pushing back the fringe lining her forehead, he was appalled to see more blood. What travesty had she gone through to end up in this state? He prayed for her to live and fight her nightmare.

Continuously, he prayed for her well-being sitting by her bedside.

Arnav did not visit the guest room preferring to keep his distance.

The doctor showed up ten minutes later. He did a thorough check-up, returning a while later to a anxious Arnav and Jai Prakash.

"She is stable, should wake up soon. I would say loss of fluids and shock made her body weak. The bruises should be tended too as well. For now she needs fluids to retain her energy, but a visit to the hospital is must. The amount of blood she had lost is not healthy for her or the baby.''

Stiffening, Arnav's concern turned to puzzlement. "She is pregnant?''

"Good enough into her fourth month but since she is small, also quite weak it is hard to tell at the moment. Is this her first child?''He said vaguely not wanting to intrude on their personal life.

Arnav's stiffened, setting out to correct him instantly. "I don't know her. She fainted in front of my car.''

"Oh, I apologize for the misunderstanding. Once again, you should take her to the hospital since I believe this case requires further attention. Those bruises are worrisome. It might take some time, but she will wake up. When she does...please do not unnecessarily question her, or horde her with information since her mental health may not be sound at the moment.'' The doctor instructed both men.

Despite his resolve to stay indifferent, Arnav found himself turning a soft corner. He voiced the one question that was persistently hovering at the back of his mind. It was not like him to care neither his obligation, but the future of an innocent unborn child plagued his morals. "The baby? Will it be okay?''

Jai Prakash briefly smiled, pleased at the concern.

The doctor took off his glasses for a brief moment before positioning them on the bridge of his nose again. "I cannot say anything for sure. Let's hope for the best and stay positive.''

"Of course, the baby will be fine. I will pray for her child.'' Jai Prakash assured refusing to think ill for the woman lying inside.

Arnav headed to the kitchen, pouring himself a cup of coffee. He picked up the cup, momentarily watching the black liquid slosh against the rim, before settling down at the small breakfast table.

The A+S carved on the table caught his attention.

Sighing ruefully, he looked away. The distant memory seemed like a recollection of someone else's life now, as if he had never been in love with a woman he couldn't have. As if he had never been given up on. As if the world owed him nothing for being wickedly cruel. Cruel, and vindictive.

To test himself, he scarcely ran his finger over the letters trying to revive the brief memory hidden behind those two letters.

---------

Staring blankly at the clock, she tried to register the numerical values. How long had she been awake for? How long had she been staring at the clock? How long since she was in this room? Where was this room? Why was she here? Hundreds of questions swirled inside her head, the deadliest of them---did he find her? Surely he had found her, dragged her back to hell. Stiffening, she traced the whereabouts of the room gradually relief seeped through her. This was not her room. Not her bedspread. The bright orange was horrendous, he hated bright colors. If the room was not hers, whose was it?

Springing to her feet, she dashed to the small window. It was pitch black outside, and inside the house. Turning on a small lamp, she was glad to see a phone in the room. Quickly dialing the only number she could remember at the moment, she waited with abated breath for the line to connect.

"Kinjal?''

"Khushi!'' The voice was sweet as honey, laced with alarm. "Khushi, where are you? Aman has been worried sick ever since Neel called us.''

Trembling, she swallowed the fear. "He called you?''

"You didn't tell him where I am, right?'' Her teeth chattered making her words indistinct, "Please don't tell him anything. I am coming home. Please let me come home, Kinjal.''

"Khushi, you are worrying me!''

"Where is Aman?''

"Wait, I will call him.'' Within seconds, a rough voice boomed through the receiver, "Khushi? Where are you? Tell me you are alright. Where are you? I am coming to get you.''

"I left him. I left him and came far away. I couldn't stay anymore. I just couldn't...I need money. I don't have anything. I want to come home. I am scared.''

The desperation in his sister's voice tore at him. "I will fix it. All of it. Tell me where you are. I'll come. Don't worry, Khushi.'' He coddled as he would with a child. She was still a child for him. After their parents demise, he raised Khushi like a parent. "I'm here...don't worry'', Aman consoled.

"No! I can't wait that long. I have to leave right now otherwise he'll find me again.''

There were sighs and some whispers, before Aman spoke again. "Fine, I'll book you a ticket. The first flight to Dehli, you'll be on it. Just be at the airport. Khushi, if there is any danger, I suggest you tell me right now. Please...you are scaring me. Where is Neel? What did he do to you? Why aren't you telling me anything?''

"I will tell you everything later. I have to go now. Don't worry too much.'' She said hastily and hung up, unaware when she told her brother not to worry, it was all he was going to do until he set sight on her.

She heard the footsteps looming near the door. Something akin to fear immediately filled her sorrowful eyes. Swinging her feet off the bed, she stood up---tried and fell back down. The weakness in her limbs made it impossible to stand on her feet, refusing to cower against the desolation, she rose grabbing her shawl to drape it around her shoulders once again.

A quick visit to the adjoined washroom improved her appearance greatly.

Opening the door, she was greeted with the sight of an elder man. She instinctively stepped back, recoiling into the dark.

Jai Prakash held out his hand. "You need to go to the airport.''

Nodding, Khushi stayed still.

"Don't worry. I'll take you...Sir has told me you need to head to the airport.''

They left within five minute, in the echoing silence of her staggering ache.

When they reached the airport, orange ink had begun to seep out of the dark clouds welcoming the new day. No further words were exchanged, Khushi bolted out of the car not bothering to look back.

The plane journey home was not easy in any sense. The occasional stares she received mixed with hurried whispers, they all filled increased her agony. She prayed she could crawl into a hole every time an insinuating gaze swept across her face.

She was finally escaping. The love, the lies, the hurt, she was leaving it all behind.

-------

As if he already knew Arnav would be awaiting his arrival, Jai Prakash hid his beaming grin. The concern was endearing if not revealing of Arnav's nature. Someone who cared not to intervene in the lives of others, worried for a woman who was nothing more than a stranger in his life. It definitely said a lot about the man.

"I dropped her off at the airport and waited until she walked inside.'' Jai Prakash explained against the obvious apprehension on his employer's face. "You care...you still care. You're not fully stone yet. Don't hurt yourself on the account of your past, Mr. Raizada.''

Arnav left the room before Jai Prakash could complete his thought. Climbing the staircase, the screeching steps were a pleasant diversion as opposed to thinking about the woman. When he had caught the last few bits of her conversation, he had been close to approaching her, but decided otherwise sending Jai Prakash to her aid. Strange woman she was, and her state even more stranger. He had not bothered about her until the doctor mentioned the child, then he felt compelled to worry about the unborn child. There was no mistake of the child in the matter, whatever transpired was between the woman and the man.

He hoped the baby and the mother found the safe haven they were in dire need of.

-----

Would love to know your thoughts as always.

If you wish to be notified, you can follow me on twitter @invisiblesmile2

Take care :)