A Family's Unspoken Love - Part 7
In a hurry, I turned off my phone and carefully concealed it among the clothes in the closet. Wiping away the sweat on my forehead with trembling hands, I approached the door. With a deep breath, I opened it.Ragini stood before me, a disapproving look on her face. "Why did you take so long to answer the door?" she snapped.
"I was tidying up the room," I lied, quickly thinking on my feet.
She and Gayatri took a seat, their eyes fixed on me. "Mom, hurry up. We need to make it to the movie before it starts," Gayatri urged as she stood up.
That's when they both turned their gaze directly on me. "It's ready," I stammered.
"Where are you going?" I asked, looking at them suspiciously.
"We're going to watch a movie. Just lock up and don't go out. We'll call you when we're back," they replied, showing little interest in my whereabouts.
"I'll be alone here," I muttered thoughtfully.
"Well, you have to deal with it," Ragini retorted, her tone laced with scorn.
"Is your mother coming?" Gayatri asked angrily.
"Yes," I replied reluctantly.
"Then lock up and stop bothering us," Ragini snapped, walking away with Gayatri.
I slowly followed them out into the yard, descending the stairs. Ragini, her back turned to me, questioned, "Where are you going?"
I looked at Krishna, who was trying to park the car.
"What's going on? You're just watching?" Ragini scolded me. "Go and close the door. Your own father doesn't want you, and no one will rescue you."
Her words stabbed my heart like a dagger, and I teared up, but I managed to hold back my tears as I looked at Ragini.
"Go inside without staring at me," Krishna shouted.
I looked at Krishna one more time before going inside and locking the door behind me. I could still hear them talking outside, the words ringing in my ears.
Mom, let's not go on this trip today. We'll go tomorrow," I heard Ragini say.
Ragini smiled, and I knew something was amiss. "And tonight, let her stay here alone. I've arranged for someone to scare her. Maybe it will humble her."
My eyes welled up with tears, and I whispered to myself, "What are you looking for? Are you coming?"
Krishna shouted impatiently from the car, "Hurry up!"
I replied with an "Ahh," and they drove away. I watched them leave, my eyes filled with tears. Wiping my eyes, I made sure to lock both the kitchen and main doors before heading back to my room.
I retrieved my phone, finding numerous unread messages. I decided to make a video call to Achu. After two rings, Achu answered.
"Where have you been?" she asked as soon as she picked up.
"My mom called me," I replied, looking at her.
"Dee, hold on a moment. Let me add Hari to the call," Achu said, putting me on hold.
Moments later, Hari joined the call, asking with a smile, "Have you both arrived?"
"Um," I replied, my voice shaky.
"Why are your eyes filled with tears?" Hari asked, concern evident in his voice.
"What's wrong, Deepu? Did your mom say anything to you? Why did they call you?" Achu inquired.
"Close the door," I whispered.
"Close the door," Hari echoed.
"Yeah, they all went to the movies," I replied, thoughtfully.
"Oh, that's it? You're sad," Hari said, trying to comfort me.
"Get lost," I retorted, my anger flaring up.
"My Deepu, why are you sad? Let's come over and see," Hari suggested.
"No, you don't need to. I mean, me and..."
"Not later, you don't have to go with them. Just come with us," Achu reassured me.
A small smile appeared on my face.
"Is the door locked?" Hari asked.
"Yeah," I replied.
"Are you scared?" Hari inquired again.
I glanced at him and managed a faint smile.
"Don't be afraid. Let's talk until they return," Achu suggested.
"So, have you had dinner?" Hari asked.
"Yes, I did," I replied.
"Dee, I'm getting another call. I'll call you back," Hari said before ending the call.
Achu then said, "Deepu, suddenly I got scared when my mom came."
"Yeah," I replied.
"But my dad didn't say a word to me. You're coming," I added, my eyes brimming with tears.
"Leave it, Deepu. You know what they're like," Achu reassured me.
"Mmm," I replied.
"Don't worry about it anymore. Even if you don't have anyone else, you have us," Achu reminded me.
"Ah," I acknowledged.
"Dee, just a minute. I'll call you back. My dad's calling," Achu said.
"Okay, Dee," I replied.
"Be careful, both of you," Vasudevan, Achu's dad, said.
"Yeah," we both responded.
I got into the back seat of Hari's bike, and we began to move. My fear intensified as I heard footsteps approaching.
"Please save me, Krishna," I whispered, folding my hands in prayer.
"Didn't I tell you? They won't hesitate to do anything. But they've left our Deepu alone," Hari said with a hint of anger as he increased the bike's speed.
"If Kichu doesn't call, she'll be there all alone. They didn't even thank her for the tour, and now they've gone to the movies," Achu expressed, unable to contain her frustration.
"Hmm," I agreed.
"Are they even human beings, leaving a girl alone like this? I even told them it was for a movie," Achu added, her eyes filling with tears.
"I... I have you both," I replied, trying to sound more positive.
"Don't worry anymore, Deepu, even if you don't have anyone else," Achu reassured me.
"Ah," I replied.
"Dee, don't sleep. I'll be right back," Achu said before ending the call.
"Okay," I replied.
As Achu hung up the phone, she sat down, lost in thought. Suddenly, she heard someone banging on the window and looked around in fear.
"Please save me," I murmured, trembling with fear.
The banging on the window continued, and I picked up my phone, calling both Hari and Achu repeatedly. They were both ringing, but neither picked up.
Achu finally answered my call. "Achu, please help me."
"Deepu, don't be scared. I'm on my way," Achu replied before hanging up and putting her phone in her pocket.
"Dad, Mom, I'll call you when I get there," she said before leaving.
"Be careful, both of you," Vasudevan cautioned.
I watched as they left. When Achu and Hari arrived, I opened the door, and I was overcome with emotion as I hugged Achu. Hari followed, and we locked the
door behind us.
Achu and I sat on the sofa, and I clung to her, tears streaming down my face. Hari placed a glass of water in front of me.
"Drink this," he said softly.
I took the glass, my hands trembling, and sipped the water. Achu and Hari both looked at me with kindness and concern, and I knew I was not alone in my struggles.
After finishing the water, I set the glass down and sat between the two of them, our hands intertwined. Achu and Hari placed their hands on top of mine, and a sense of security washed over me. Smiling, I looked at them through my tears.
