WARNING: The following update may contain scenes which are disturbing for some readers. I do not intend to offend anyone; rather my only intention is to portray at least some of the horrors of real-life sexual assault and the aftermath of the same. Please proceed at your own risk.
UNDER THE SKY LANTERNS - PART 39
An original story by Archana Vinod
WHACK!
With massive force, Prakash brings the rod straight down at Roli's head, but reflexes kick in and make her block the blow with her hand.
CRACK!
She SHRIEKS in pain and surprise.
The impact of the metal on her forearm gives an instant fracture.
WHACK! WHACK!
In a fit of fury and frustration, Prakash "tries" to hit her on the head but he gets her arm again!
Raman drags in and kicks her hard in the side.
Roli is frantic now! With multiple fractures to her forearm and repeated bouts of torture, she begins to scurry away in frenzy. She must get away fast! Her life depends on it.
Prakash and Raman catch up to her and round up like hungry vultures dying to scavenge on a piece of rotting meat. Raman forces her down to the mud while Prakash raises the jack handle again... and this time... he won't miss!
THWACK!
He gets her squarely at the back of her head. The impact knocks her out instantly. He raises the rod to hit her again but Raman stops him.
RAMAN: Enough! Let's not hang around any further. It's not safe. We'll pack her into this gunny bag, dump her at the garbage site and burn her body.
BACK TO JAMANLAL
Vikrant hangs up his call with Remo.
VIKRANT: It seems that the new team had planned for an outing this evening. But they haven't caught up with each other yet. Remo's going to check with Siddhant. We will hear back from him in a while.
JAMANLAL: Thank you sir.
BACK TO ROLI
The men load the securely tied gunny bag into the trunk of the car.
They hit the streets and in a while, reach the destination: the garbage site.
BACK TO SIDDHANT
Siddhant is now at the scene of the crime, and he's not alone. He's accompanied by Anand and the policemen.
POLICEMAN: Nothing here.
Siddhant is quiet. Just then, his phone rings. It's Remo.
SIDDHANT: Hello?
REMO: Sid, have you heard from Roli by any chance?
Siddhant's heart skips a beat at Roli's name. But, before he can say anything else...
REMO: Her father popped up in the office a while ago. I got a call from Vikrant just now.
Oh no, her dad's at the office. Does he know?
SIDDHANT: Remo, we have a problem.
REMO: What?
Siddhant pauses as he notices the policeman retrieve a brilliant green saree from the bushes.
AT THE GARBAGE DUMPING SITE
The air is filled with the foul stench of rotting garbage collected from all over the town.
Prakash and Raman drag out the gunny bag and deposit it away from prying eyes.
They drench the bag thoroughly with petrol.
PRAKASH: Pour it well. She must burn off without a trace
"Without a trace" rings a chord. Raman looks up in horror.
RAMAN: The saree...
PRAKASH: What saree?
RAMAN: The saree... this girl was wearing a saree... did you take it?
PRAKASH: No... I thought you did!
RAMAN: I thought that you would.
PRAKASH: Dammit! What were you thinking?!? The saree is back there!
RAMAN: I'll go and get it quickly. You stay with her and take care of the rest. I'll be right back.
BACK TO THE CRIME SCENE
POLICEMAN: Does she wear sarees?
SIDDHANT: Mostly it's salwars, but I guess she does occasionally...
POLICEMAN: It's possible that she was wearing this saree when she got assaulted.
POLICEMAN 2: We need to call in the dog squad.
Siddhant is lost. Her saree flung off into the bushes like an abandoned piece of fabric... what could have happened?
Raman, who reaches the spot by now, notices from afar that something is wrong.
RAMAN: (curses under his breath) Too late...
BACK AT THE GARBAGE DUMPING SITE
Prakash empties the can of petrol over Roli's bagged body. He pulls out a matchbox, takes out a stick and prepares to light it.
... TO BE CONTINUED