9. Friends

"It's better if I die ", with this thought Sakshi jumped into the river but was pulled back by someone.

She turned and saw it was... Laksh.

"Are you mad Sakshi? What were you doing?" Laksh said holding her by shoulders.

"Leave me Laksh. I want to die", Sakshi said looking at the direction of water.

"Stop it Sakshi. I won't let you die. Why do you want to die?" Laksh asked.

"Because I have no reason to live.... I lost my... dignity.....", she cried and fell on the floor.

"Sshh! Don't cry... Sakshi.. Stop... I am with you. I won't let anything happen with you ", Laksh wiped her tears.

"No Laksh. I am tainted. It's meaningless now for me to love. I have lost everything in my life", Sakshi said.

"But what happened?" Laksh asked looking into her eyes.

Finally Sakshi told everything about how and what Virat did with her. How he forced her and blackmailed her for Ragini's video. How much she was scared to loose her dignity. Even after forcing her, how he circulated their video in her society. Sakshi cried when she remembered his words. Sakshi told Laksh everything right from the beginning.

Job

Blackmailing

Rape

Video

Homeless

Laksh was shocked after listening this. He was pitting Sakshi for being so naive and believing his threats. Laksh could understand the trauma that Sakshi had suffered and was still suffering.

"Why don't you complain against him in the police?" Laksh suggested.

"No!! This will not help me but infact worsen the situation. He is rich and he can easily can save himself from police. But after that he will not let me leave in peace ", Sakshi said while crying.

"It's okay. I understand what is going on with you. What he did was more than enough to traumatise you. I won't let him do anything to you. From now on I will always take care of you after all you are my best friend ", Laksh said while trying to make Sakshi smile.

"But you were gone to New York nah"? Sakshi asked.

"Actually the meeting is postponed. I will leave for New York after 2 days", Laksh said.

"Ohh", Sakshi smiled.

"You are going to leave in my house with...", Laksh's words were incomplete as Sakshi interrupted him.

"With you?" Sakshi asked in shock.

Laksh shooked his head in disagreement.

"With my family. I don't stay alone.. Mom, dad and my sister Uttara stay with me", Laksh said.

"You can't say no. You have to come. End of discussion ", Laksh concluded.

Sakshi smiled as she knew she had no options but to accept his offer.

***********

It was one day of Sakshi staying with Laksh's family. She was loved and cared by everyone in the family. Arnapurna and Durga Prasad considered her as their daughter and Uttara considered her as her sister. She got family's for which she had carved her whole life. She found a motherly figure in Arnapurna. At morning when she would get up, she would touch Arnapurna's feet and would take her blessings. Arnapurna smiled at her manners always.

"Beta can you please help me in the kitchen? Please prepare ladyfinger curry. It's Laksh's dad's favourite. I am having headache. I was thinking to take rest. Hope you won't mind", Arnapurna said.

"I would really love to do that", Sakshi smiled and said.

************

"This curry is so tasty", Durga Prasad said while licking his fingers.

"Sakshi had prepared it", Arnapurna announced.

Sakshi was smiling when the trio were praising her.

"Bhai, when is your flight "? Uttara asked.

"After two hours. I will leave after dinner ", Laksh said.

"Bhai can I and Sakshi Didi come to drop you?" Uttara asked.

Laksh looked at Sakshi and nodded his head in agreement.

*************

"Bye Bhai take care", Uttara said.

"Sakshi! Take Care of yourself ", Laksh said while hugging Sakshi.

Uttara giggled and laughed seeing them hugging each other.

"Bye", Sakshi said as Laksh went in.

"Looking sexy sweetheart ", a message beeped in her phone.

She panicked seeing that message. She knew whose message was that. Tears formed in her eyes. Her hands and legs trembled to see it. It was like her worst nightmare came true.

Flashes of a man holding and dragging her while she pleaded for help and that man slapping her came into her mind.

She turned back to see her worst nightmare standing and smrinking at her.

"Sahil", she said out of shock.

"Missed me sweetheart?" Sahil said coming close to her.

"What are you doing here. Please go away", Sakshi pleaded folding her hands.

"Go away from you sweetheart? Nah.. that's not possible ", Sahil said touching her face.

"Damn! Your sexy face... You are making me hard", he spoke coming more close to her.

Sakshi pushed Sahil and ran from there.

"Sakshi didi... Where were you? Are you all right nah?" Uttara asked.

"Wow sweetheart the girl standing next to you is also as sexy as you. If you want her safe come to me. I am waiting for you at the parking ", again a message beeped.

"Nooo... I can't let Uttara in danger. Laksh has already done a lot for me.. I can't let his sister fall in trouble just because of me ", Sakshi thought.

"Woah Uttara.. Actually I met my friend here.. She came back from Thailand today... Soo.. You go home.. I will talk to her for a while and then she will drop me at home", Sakshi said.

"Your friend? No problem didi.. I can wait while you talk", Uttara said.

"Noo.. You can't wait.. I mean we will be late. You go home.. I will come", Sakshi tried to convince Uttara.

"Okay", She finally agreed.

After Uttara went Seara walked to the parking lot.

"Sweetheart ", Sahil said touching Sakshi's face.

Sakshi pushed Sahil and ran out of the parking lot . But after she had ran a few metres Sahil caught her from behind.

"There is no way you are going to escape from me this time", Sahil said squeezing her tiny waist.

Using all her strength she pushed him and ran on the road.

"Run as fast as you can. But you cannot escape. You have to come here back to me", Sahil shouted from back.

While running Sakshi bumped into something.