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I'm so freaked out that I'm posting this. I have never posted a story here and I'm really worried. 😕 This story happens before Indu Singh meets Saanchi.
Saanchi watched the sun fade into the distance and she knew her parents would be worried sick by now. She was scared, hungry but she wasn't alone. There were seven more girls huddled next to her trying to warm up in the cold, floor of the abandoned classroom. There were broken chairs and tables covered with dust all around them but nothing to give them warmth or comfort. The smell of smoke still wafted through the closed doors that were bolted shut but the fire had obviously been doused out.
"When will they let us go?" One of the girls, another fresher, murmured sadly.
"Whenever they get tired of their sick games," Another girl replied, "At least they haven't decided to spend their time with us."
It had all started when one of the students had passed away from a head wound after someone attacked him. The college leaders had called for a instant strike. It was only the unfortunate few who got trapped in the violence that had ensued.
Saanchi was trying to find a way to get to her cycle through the burning tires when the W boys had cornered her. She had expected them to make things difficult but she had not expected them to haul her off into an older department building. She had expected the worse when they shoved her into a room but they had neither decided to join her nor was the room empty. They boys had laughed about teaching her a lesson after the rioting was done and slammed the door shut. It had been one of the other girls who informed her about how the boys were rounding up all the girls they could find. They had tried to shove open the doors but even eight girls could not break the door open.
"I think I have a plan," Saanchi spoke up, "Initially I thought the plan was too risky but we've been here for hours and the more time we spend here the more I feel the risk is worth it."
"What is it?"
"We need someone to climb out of the window," Saanchi said decisively.
"But this is the third floor. It's extremely dangerous and that ledge is too far down," One curly haired girl looked down the window frightfully.
"That's why we'll need a rope," Saanchi smiled patiently as she explained, "All of us are wearing dupattas and if we tie them together then we will create a strong enough rope for one person to get on that ledge and find another open window to climb out of. She can then see why the door won't open and get help."
"It's still so dangerous, who would be so brave to do something like that?" The girl near the window shivered dramatically, "I wish those stupid gundas hadn't taken my mobile phone. I don't know why my parents haven't called the police yet."
"I wish as well but we can't wait here to see the gundas come back. I doubt they're going to let us go home that easily. And to answer your question it's only fair that I get to do this. I'm also not afraid of heights."
"Please," The girl next to Saanchi sniffed through her tears and Saanchi had no idea if she was encouraging her or discouraging her.
"Let's place our dupattas together and tie them up," The curly haired one decided and the girls sat back on the floor to weave their dupattas into a proper, solid rope. They tested it and for now it was solid enough.
They eased the creaky, old window open and Saanchi could see the sunset in all it's glorious form. She was grateful for such a beautiful view even though it could be her last. Their room really was high up and the ground seemed miles away.
Her new friends lowered the rope and Saanchi climbed out and sat on the window still. Their university looked completely abandoned. There were burnt things including vehicles smoldering on the ground. Saanchi tsked and lowered herself onto the ledge using the protection of the rope.
"Slowly and steadily," Someone whispered to her and she smiled back.
Saanchi followed this advice and carefully turned the corner. She was glad it was getting dark because what she couldn't see scared her less. She found a window but when she tried to open it but it was firmly closed. She carefully walked towards another window with her back firmly against the wall. It turned out to be open and She was about to climb inside making a stair out of the loose bricks that were scattered across the ledge floor when she heard a voice.
"Kya kamaal ka din tha aaj, Achey achoon ki chuti kar di," A familiar man's voice drifted towards her. Saanchi kept her head low so she could eavesdrop without being seen.
"Kyun, bhaiya, tum ko maar kutai sey kyun itna pyaar hai?" A voice she had never heard before said with a growl.
"Hum ko pyaar sey pyar, hai. Kuch hasseen kanyaun ka intazaam karoon?
"Kidher se lao gay? Asmaan se? Waisy bhi pura Varanasi band para hai. Humarai strike kuch zyada hi achi taran kaam bar gai. Bachey iss waqt sarkoon pe tamasha kar rahey hain."
"Indu Bhaiya, hum main bhi kuch soch kar baat kar rahey hain. Kuch kanyaeen iss university ki hum ney ek kamrey main rakhin hain. Un main woh W wali larki bhi hai. Boley toh hum un ko ley aain."
Saanchi couldn't keep herself from making a gasp of surprise. She tried to keep her mouth shut but it was too late both men instantly stopped talking.
"Yeh, kya tha?" The man whispered and she heard his footsteps. She looked around trying to find a place she could hide and in her panic she lost her balance. For a moment she knew these were her last seconds as her left foot stepped backwards into thin air but before she could fall a hand caught her wrist firmly.
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