~~Chapter 12~~
"Abhay!" Pia cried out in desperation, and without waiting to regain her breath, she started to run.
Her cry echoed in the silence, and Abhay whirled around at the known voice, stunned. Behind him, Sidharth sat up on the ground dazedly, and Sharad Singh peeped up from behind his position, full of curiosity. The two injured guards, who were still debating their future course of action in whispers near the jeep, also stopped talking in surprise.
Pia rounded the corner and stopped dead in ice-cold shock, as her eyes took in the terrible, bloody scene. She vaguely knew that there were some men standing, some injured badly, others fairly unharmed. But she only saw the boy who was standing in the midst of it all some 15 feet away...he was wounded...there was blood running down the side of his face, and his arm.
Tears of horror and agony blurred her vision as Pia started to rush towards him.
"Pia, go back," Abhay said sharply.
She stopped and looked at him disbelievingly. Leave...leave him...how could he even think she would...
Sharad Singh eyes swung from Abhay to the girl. And in that instant of shocked silence, he craftily noted that his master's enemy no longer looked as nonchalant as before. The unexpected arrival of the girl had shaken him a little. And Sharad Singh suddenly found a way for his master and himself to get the upper hand in the losing battle.
"Didn't you hear what I just said," Abhay demanded angrily, when Pia continued to hurry towards him. Fighting back tears, Pia started to answer when her voice died in her throat.
Sidharth had rapidly got to his feet behind Abhay, with the sword in hand.
"Abhay, behind you!" she screamed
He spun around.
Pia screamed again as the sword came slashing down, leaving a long, deep gash down his chest. Abhay winced at the wrenching pain, and then looked at Sidharth with utter fury in his eyes.
Sidharth was fuming himself. The weapon which had been aimed at Abhay's neck had missed its target because of her sudden cry, and the warning had helped Abhay shift slightly in time. He raised his sword again, and at the same time, Sharad Singh dashed out from behind the car.
"Let's catch that girl and bring her here!" he yelled to the two guards, who had been standing inert. He ran towards Pia, who was standing immobilized with fear for Abhay, tears spilling down her cheeks, with the men right behind him. The guards were careful not to take the lead because they had some idea where this fight was going, and if Abhay was going to win, they had no intention of being in his bad books.
"No!" Abhay roared in anger. He caught Sidharth's hand midway, twisted it behind his back brutally and the sword dropped to the ground. Then he turned him around and punched him hard, and Sidharth grunted in pain. Abhay let fly with another blow, and Sidharth was thrown backwards; he hit his head against a tree and crumpled down unconscious.
Sharad Singh and the two men, who had been at just an arms distance from Pia, swung around and looked at the scene of devastation.
Having dealt with Sidharth, Abhay turned around and Pia gasped in horror. The front of his shirt was drenched with blood. Fresh tears sprang to her eyes and she started to cry in earnest.
But his furious gaze was fixed on the three men and he walked towards them slowly. The men backed away until they were standing a foot away from Pia; the men on one side and Sharad Singh on the other. The guards had already borne the brunt of his blows once, and covered with sweat and quaking, they watched him come in their direction again. But they were not shaking as much as Sharad Singh, who was sincerely regretting his rash decision to take Pia hostage. The last time too,Abhay had been livid with him because of this very girl...he should not have forgotten...
When Abhay reached the little group, he shifted his gaze from them to Pia, and stretched out his right hand towards her wordlessly.
The act stunned Pia so much that her sobs subsided into hiccups. She looked at him tremulously, and then placed her small hand into his. His hand closed around it securely, and he drew her gently towards his side.
Then he let go of her hand, and stepped forward until he was right in front of the three. He surveyed their terrified faces one by one. Then he hit one of the men, who staggered backwards and fell. Another punch, and the second man doubled up, clutching his face.
Pia cringed. As she shut her eyes, more tears sped down her cheeks, and she covered her face with trembling hands, unable to watch.
Then Abhay turned to Sharad Singh, who looked almost paralyzed with terror.
'Don't ever think of touching her again,' Abhay said grimly and let loose a crunching blow, which knocked him down.
Astonished, Pia slowly withdrew her hands from her face...had he really said that...
Abhay stood over the fallen attendant. "I'm only leaving you alive so that you can take that trash you call your master and get out of here," he said icily. "And not just here, get out of Dehradun. I don't want to see him...or you...in this town again."
Sharad Singh nodded hysterically, with his hands planted over his face.
Then without looking at Pia, Abhay turned around and walked to the tree, at the base of which he had kept his bag.
"Go back to college, Pia."Abhay said.
Pia, who was still standing unsurely near the elderly man to help him up if necessary, spun around to see Abhay picking up his bag.
Behind Pia, Sharad Singh got up to his feet unsteadily, as did the royal guards. They slowly made their way to Sidharth who was still out cold. The three men lifted him somehow and placed him in the back seat of the car. Sharad Singh got in next to the driver. But the driver was nowhere to be seen. He was hiding behind a tree far away watching the proceedings. Sharad Singh gestured to him heatedly and he came running towards the car, frantic to just get out of this place and situation. The guards walked to the jeep and got in wearily.
"Go back?" Pia repeated, dumbfounded.
"That's what I said," Abhay said evenly, swiveling around to face her. "Do you have a hearing problem too?"😆
Pia felt a mixture of pain and anger surge inside her. "Is that what you think of me? That I would leave you in this condition and just go back to my class?"
"I'm not in any 'condition'," Abhay retorted, "I'm fine. So just go." And he simply turned and began to walk towards the main road.
Aghast, Pia ran to catch up with him and began to walk by his side. "Let me come with you," she pleaded, tears running down her face again. "You're hurt so badly."
Abhay stopped and turned to face her irately. "What is it that you didn't understand in what I said," he snapped. "This is the last time I'm saying this; I don't want your help or your company, so get lost." And he started to stride away again. Some distance behind, the car and the jeep's engines came to life and the vehicles began to move. This time, the jeep was ahead.
Pia fought to hold back the tears. He was not going to listen to her like this...
"I am not going back, Abhay," she said forcefully in anguish, "I'm coming with you whether you like it or not. I am not going to let you be alone, how many times must I tell you that."
Abhay came to an abrupt halt and turned around slowly. Pia, who had half expected him to ignore her, waited uncertainly as he began to walk towards her.
The jeep whizzed past them, but he didn't shift his gaze from her. The car also was coming nearer.
Abhay halted right in front of her, and glittering Blue eyes studied her face with startling intensity. His intent gaze roamed over her tear-stained face, as pale and smooth as porcelain, and then drilled into her beautiful eyes, wide and studded with tears.
Pia desperately wanted to look away from the searing dark eyes...and felt utterly powerless to do so. But she had to say something to break the silence...anything at all...
The thought had just half-formed when Abhay slowly raised his right hand to her face, and Pia's breath got caught in her throat. With his fingers resting against her soft cheek, he lightly wiped away a tear with his thumb.😳
A loud screeching noise startled them both. The car which had been speeding along straight until now, was rapidly making its way towards where they were standing. Sharad Singh, who had been sitting idly near the driver so far, had abruptly caught hold of the steering wheel and had swerved it in their direction.
It happened in a split second, and before Pia could even register what was happening, a hand roughly shoved her out of the way of the car to safety.
The push sent Pia tumbling down the side of the road and she rolled into a tangle of wild bushes. The car rammed into Abhay; he smashed onto the bonnet, the windshield shattered into many pieces of glass. Then the car reversed sharply. He fell off by its side, and the car raced away. And Abhay lay bloodied and unmoving on the empty road. 😭
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Pia squeezed her eyes shut in pain. Her left ankle was hurting very badly, and her hands felt battered with the force of the fall. Her whole body felt a little bruised.
What had just happened? She had been standing with Abhay and then a car had come towards them at great speed and Abhay had pushed her out of the way...and the car had ?
Pia scrambled to her feet rapidly and once again felt excruciating pain in her left leg. She looked down and saw blood flowing out of a slash near her ankle. Disregarding the sting from the cut and the ache all over her body, she limped her way to the road and looked around hysterically for Abhay. But she couldn't see anything...everything was blurred...then she realized it was because of the tears in her eyes and she hastily rubbed them away.
And then she saw him. Lying motionless on the road, his shirt covered in blood.😭
Pia's scream of pain and fear resounded in the tranquil surroundings. She ran towards him, and gasping and trembling, she dropped to her knees near his head. Petrified, she kept the side of her head on his chest, and whimpered in relief when she heard the reassuring thuds of heartbeats.
But the blood...there was so much of it.😲
"Abhay...Abhay..." Pia cried out his name again and again, but he showed no signs of life.
She would never let anything happen to him...never...She needed help, but how would she get it. The road was deserted. She could run back to college, but she couldn't leave him alone here on this road. What if those people came back, she thought in horror.
And then, as though in answer to her heartrending prayers, a phone began to ring somewhere.
Pia stood up slowly, her arms and legs shaking uncontrollably, and her stomach churning with panic. Where was it...where was the phone...she rush around the arena in a frenzy, tears streaming down her face, trying to locate it. And then she saw it, lying a few feet away. She ran to the mobile, picked it up.
"Hello. Hello. Is it Abhay?"
Shaurya Singh's voice.
"Shaurya uncle...its Pia," she sobbed into the phone. "Abhay is hurt...very badly...please...help"
"Pia, I am on my way," Shaurya Singh said at once. I'll be there in a few minutes. Just -"
The phone line got cut. She tried to dial the same number again but her hands were shaking so badly that the phone slipped from her hands. She picked it up and wiped the blood off it with her dupatta and made another attempt, but couldn't get across. But he was coming soon...Abhay would be safe.
Phone in hand, she rushed back to Abhay, and sat down, keeping the handset near her. Then she raised his head with great care and placed it on her lap. With the edge of her dupatta, she gently began wiping away the blood from his face. Once she had removed most of it, Pia stroked his head tenderly, and she did so, a few teardrops fell on his forehead.
"Save your tears. I am not dead yet." 😲
Startled, Pia drew back and looked at his face. Abhay's eyes opened slowly, focusing on her troubled face. He gazed at her quietly for some time, and then his eyes flickered. Stiffly, painfully, he began to raise his head from her lap, apparently trying to sit up.
"Please don't try and get up," she pleaded in a softly coaxing voice. "You've been hurt seriously. Shaurya uncle is coming, just wait until then."
But he only persisted with his attempts, and realizing that he was not going to listen, Pia resignedly held his shoulders to help. But he had hardly sat up, when blinding pain pushed him back and he collapsed onto her lap again, breathing deeply.
Unable to bear his discomfort, Pia started to weep again and this time a tear dropped onto his cheek.
"Are you trying to cause a flood," he murmured, even as the sounds an approaching car rang through the serene area.
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Pia hurried along the hospital corridor with a bandaged ankle towards Abhay's room. Shaurya Singh had seen her injury a long time after they had admitted Abhay, and he had forced her to go and get it treated. She had protested fervently that she was fine, and that she wanted to wait outside the room to know Abhay's condition but he had refused to let her stay in that condition.
Now he was standing outside the room, chatting with a round-faced, amiable looking doctor.
Pia almost ran the last couple of steps towards them. "How is he?" she asked fearfully, looking from one to the other.
"There is no major or permanent damage," the doctor said reassuringly. "He doesn't have any broken bones, but there is a hairline fracture on his right leg. That will take many days to heal. And the other injuries are a little serious. The laceration on his chest is very bad, and he also has countless small cuts caused by glass pieces all over his chest and arms. We had to take out pieces that had got embedded in some of the wounds."
"He is not showing any discomfort, and I have to say I'm impressed with his pain tolerance," the doctor said ponderingly,😲 almost talking to himself. "Anyone else in his place would have been crying in agony. Because each and every one of those cuts is extremely painful. He must be feeling like his whole body is on fire.😲 Oh my, please don't cry, young lady. I did not mean to distress you," he said, alarmed at the sight of the weeping girl.
Pia struggled to compose herself. Shaurya Singh understood and patted her head comfortingly, while doctor stood watching with a very guilty face. "It's alright, Pia," he said soothingly, "He is ok now."
"I still say he must stay in the hospital for at least two days," the doctor told Shaurya Singh. "He can leave first thing in the morning after that."
"You heard him inside, doctor," Shaurya Singh said dejectedly. "He won't stay for more than a night, and honestly, that itself is surprising."
"He wants to go home tomorrow? Pia asked, horrified.
Shaurya Singh sighed and nodded. "He has made up his mind, Pia. And now he will not listen to anyone. That boy is more stubborn than his -"
"Doctor, the specialist is here."
All three looked around to see a nurse hurrying up to them.
"He is in room 16 with the patient. They are waiting for you."
"All right, I'll be there right away," the doctor said and then turned to Shaurya Singh. "The painkillers I have prescribed are very strong, but he'll need them. And I'll come by the house once a day and change the bandages."
"Yes, thank you," Shaurya Singh said and the doctor left.
"Have they treated your leg, Pia?"
She nodded, and then asked anxiously, "Is he conscious now, uncle."
"Yes, but they've administered very strong medicines. He'll be asleep very soon. Pia, before you go in, could you tell me everything that happened?"
In a halting voice, Pia told him everything that had happened from the time she had arrived.
"Sidharth was unconscious and the men carried him to the car. Then ABhay and me, we were ? we were walking..." she said, looking down at her feet in embarrassment at the lie. "And suddenly the car was coming at full speed towards us...and he pushed me away out of the way...he saved me...and it hit him," she concluded in a choked whisper.
With every word she said, Shaurya Singh's face darkened more and more. And when she had finished, he looked angry enough to kill someone.
"So that's what happened...but how do you know Sidharth, Pia?" he asked, puzzled.
"I had seen him in Chinten a few days back, when I had come to give prasad from the pooja held in our temple."
"Oh, I didn't know that," Shaurya Singh said slowly. "I need to make a few calls, could you stay with Abhay till I come back?"
She agreed and Shaurya Singh left. She moved towards the door, and knocked lightly. When there was no response from inside, she turned the handle and went in. It was a big, airy room. Apart from the patient's bed, there was another bed for whosoever would be staying at night with the patient. The evening sun's rays poured into the room through a large window.
Abhay was lying with his eyes closed. There was a bandage around his forehead, and a cast on his right leg. Saline was being injected through his left hand. The outline of the huge bandage on his torso around the wound from the sword was visible through his kurta. His bloodied shirt was lying bundled in one corner of the room.
When she walked inside, his eyes opened and fell on her.
"What are you still doing here?" Abhay asked irritably, "The show is over for today...so you don't need to wait around."
But when Pia continued to walk towards him, he shut his eyes again with an air of annoyance.😆
When she reached him, her hand automatically reached out to stroke his hair. But she caught herself in time, and flushing, she withdrew her hand.
He had been hurt so badly...how could he return home tomorrow. She knew she was inviting his anger, but she had to try.
"Don't you think the doctor is right...can't you remain here for at least two days," she asked timidly.😭
"Shut up and mind your own business."😆 Abhay said.
"Abhay...please...stay in the hospital for as long as they say," she beseeched, "then you can..." She suddenly stopped as a frightening thought struck her.
"But what if they come again...what if they come here," she wondered distraughtly. "We should inform the police...I'll tell Sumer uncle."
She started to leave, when Abhay's hand suddenly snaked out and caught hold of her arm near the elbow. He had raised himself on the bed and was looking at her with downright fury.
"Which language do you understand, Pia," he questioned angrily. "Just shut up and stop interfering in my life."
The rage in his eyes frightened her, but ignoring her instincts, she tried yet again. "But what if they try to harm you again?" she asked in desperation. "We should lodge a complaint with the police. You have to tell them what they did."
Abhay tightened his grip on her hand, and roughly yanked her closer. Stunned, Pia winced in pain and bit back a cry.
"Is there no end to your stupidity," he said fiercely through gritted teeth. "What must I do to make you understand? Stop ? interfering ? in my life". And with a sudden movement, he let go of her with force, almost pushing her away. Pia reeled backwards and collided painfully with the bedside table.
"Get out of the room. The pain is bad enough without having to see your face too," he said brutally and then leaned back against the pillows, eyes closed and white-faced with pain caused by the exertion.
Shaken at the viciousness in his tone, and unbelievably hurt by his cruel rejection Pia stood stock-still for a minute. Then before the tears came, she slowly turned and walked out of the room. She was about to close the door when she realized she wouldn't hear him if he needed something, so she left the door a little ajar and stood leaning against the adjoining wall, and only then did the tears finally begin to flow.
"Pia, what's wrong?"
Pia looked up to see Shaurya Singh walking towards her, looking very concerned. "Nothing," she said quickly, wiping away the tears, "It's just...everything that happened today..."
The elderly man gazed at her with a very kind and repentant expression. "I am such a selfish man. With everything that happened to Abhay, I did not think at all of what you must have gone through. I put your life in danger by asking you to stop him."
"That's alright, uncle. Please don't feel bad about anything," Pia said hastily. Then after a pause, she hesitantly said, "Uncle, can I just go and make a call. I haven't phoned mother and grandfather yet."
"I've already informed them, Pia. They will be here any minute now. And about what happened today afternoon...I told them it was an accident and a car lost control and came towards you both. The truth...please let it remain between the three of us...I would be very grateful if you don't tell...anyone," he said awkwardly, not meeting her eyes.
Pia understood that he was talking about her mother and grandfather. "I will not tell them, uncle." Shaurya Singh looked very relieved.
"Pia!"
Pia turned around to see her mother and grandfather almost running along the hospital corridor towards them, both of their faces terrified and anxious.
The minute they reached her, Madhu hugged her daughter tightly, while her grandfather stared at her blood-stained dupatta with horror writ all over his face.
"I'm ok, ma. And that blood is not mine, grandpa."
Grandpa closed his eyes, and joined his hands in prayer, evidently thanking god heartily. Madhu finally released her and looked at her with teary eyes.
"Ma, Abhay is hurt critically. He saved my life today. When the car came at us, he pushed me out of the way and the car hit him."
"Oh no! How is he now?"
Shaurya Singh told them what the doctor had said.
"He saved my Pia," grandpa said in a choked voice. "We will forever remain indebted to him. He is our saviour. The gods will bless your nephew with a thousand years of healthy life." Madhu agreed tearfully.
"Can we see him?"
"Of course," Shaurya Singh said. He opened the door and Pia's mother and grandfather followed him into the room. Pia remained standing outside, and thankfully, they did not notice it.
She was feeling very tired and drained, like she had absolutely no energy left. There was an empty bench on the opposite side of the corridor. She walked over to it and sat down, resting her head against the wall. She was so worn-out...she would just close her eyes for a minute...
10 minutes later her family came out with Shaurya Singh. Abhay had been sound asleep when they had gone inside. The strong medicines had finally shown effect. He wouldn't wake for many hours now.
Madhu saw her daughter sleeping on the bench. She went up to her and tried to wake her gently. But when she touched her face, she drew back alarmed. Pia' skin was burning hot.
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Shaurya Singh came inside the room and walked over to the table which had a flask of tea. Abhay was still sleeping, and the saline drip had been removed some time ago.
He took a glass and started pouring out a cup of the hot beverage for himself.
"What time is it, Baba?"
Shaurya Singh swung around and saw that Abhay was awake and was trying to sitting up. "Don't try to sit up. You'll open the wound. Wait, I'll raise the head of the bed." He quickly strode to the lever at the foot of the bed.
"What time is it?" ABhay asked again when he was comfortable.
"9:30. Time to eat some dinner."
"I'm not hungry."Abhay said.
"You have to eat something. Don't worry, its not hospital food."
"Have you eaten something, Baba?"
"I'll eat after you have. And anyway I had some biscuits a little while ago with Jaiswal ji in the hospital canteen."
"What is he doing here?"
"He and Pia's mother had come to see you. And then Pia also had to be admitted, so - "
Pia sat up with a abruptness that shocked Shaurya Singh. "Pia has been admitted? But why? What's wrong with her?" Abhay demanded with uncharacteristic urgency.😲
"Didn't I tell you not to sit up? And that too like this?" Shaurya Singh reprimanded, trying to push him smoothly back onto the pillows. "The cut will start bleeding again."
"Forget that," Abhay said tersely, "Answer my question first."😲
Knowing that he wouldn't listen to anything before getting a reply, Shaurya Singh relented. "She has high - fever. She was shivering by the time the doctor came. They've conducted tests?everything is ok, but she'll have to stay here tonight. Madhu ji will be staying with her."
Still sitting upright, Abhay closed his eyes for a minute. Assuming from his expression that it was because his injuries were giving him a lot of pain, Shaurya Singh went on.
"The doctor said it's the shock of what happened today. They all think it's just because of the accident. But what she saw before that must have really affected her. Pia must not have seen something as terrible as this before. It must have frightened her so badly. The poor girl," he said heavily, "she has had such a sheltered and secure life till now. And this is my fault entirely. If only I had not asked her to stop you from leaving the campus. All this would not have -"
Abhay's eyes snapped open. "You actually asked her to -" he cut in furiously. "How could you, Baba. Didn't you know of the danger you were putting her in."
Shaurya Singh hung his head in shame. "I was so afraid when I got the phone call. I tried calling you but I couldn't get through. This was the only way I could think of at that time to inform you. I cannot explain how much I regret it now."
Abhay didn't say anything and it was evident that he was trying to control his wrath at the old man.
After a while, Shaurya Singh said, "I've called up the old guards. I am not going to spare Sidharrth and Sharad Singh this time."
"There is no need for that, Baba. They've been punished enough."
"No, my lord. They have not. They tried to kill you again when you were walking away. Cowards like them do not deserve to live. I almost filed a police complaint today. The doctor wanted us to lodge a FIR, and I was tempted to go ahead. But I restrained myself with great difficulty thinking about...and if I had not gotten this doctor to speak to Dr. Singhvi, he was all set to inform the police on his own. Anyway, I don't need any help from the authorities. I will go after them with my friends," Shaurya Singh said vehemently.
"Baba, Sidharth has got what he deserves," Abhay said calmly. "You will not take this any further."
His tone was no longer casual, it was autocratic. He wasn't making a request of Shaurya Singh, he was giving him an order...
And it had the desired effect.
All the fight seemed to go out of Shaurya Singh. He stood silently for some moments, then bowed his head a little and dejectedly said, "As you wish, my lord."
"So when are you leaving, Baba?"Abhay said.
"Leaving? For where, my lord?"
"For the ashram, of course. Have you forgotten?"
"I am not going anywhere when you are in this condition," Shaurya Singh said in astonishment. "They can take care of themselves for a change."
"I think this is the hundredth time I am saying this today," Abhay said irately. "I am fine and can take care of myself."
"You have some serious wounds and a fracture, my lord."
"It's just a hairline fracture," Abhay said dismissively. "And the other injuries are nothing."
"The cuts are quite deep. You'll need constant care for the next few days, so I am not going to leave for the ashram."
"One of us has to go within the next 24 hours." Abhay snapped, "And if you won't, then I will."
"No, my lord!" Shaurya Singh exclaimed, aware that this was no empty threat. "Alright, I will go," he conceded despairingly. "But you will not stay alone in Chinten. You will have to move to Prashant for the duration that I am away," he added grimly.
There was pin drop silence in the room.
"Is this your idea or a joke, Baba?" Abhay asked coldly.😆
"I'm afraid not, my lord. That is the only circumstance under which I will go to the ashram."
"There is no way in hell that I am going to stay in that house. So you can forget about it, Baba. I will stay alone in Chinten and you will go to the ashram."😆
"I had thought you assigned some value to what I feel and say," Shaurya Singh said quietly. "But now I know better. You can do as you wish."
"What you want me to do is impossible, Baba," Abhay said, clearly frustrated.
"So is what you are asking me to do, my lord."
Once again, there was absolute silence for some time.
"Very well, you win," Abhay said angrily. "I'll go to Prashant. But don't you think you should ask its residents their permission before forcing me to go there?"😆
"They already volunteered to do so before I had even thought of it, because I had told Jaiswal ji two days back that it was extremely urgent that I go. So he himself said I should not keep aside my important work and that they will only be happy to take care of you. But knowing you, you'll make your way back to Chinten the minute I am out of Dehradun. You must remain there till I come back."
"Fine," Abhay said crossly.
"Do you swear by Her Majesty?"
Abhay gaped at him for a few moments, astounded. Then he gave a curt nod and Shaurya Singh sighed in relief.
Now he could depart in peace. This was one promise Abhay would never break.
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Hope you Like it😊😃😃
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Edited by krishnarock - 13 years ago
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