Arnav

I glance towards my watch and wait for the clock strike 7.30. I have been doing this for past 25 days. This girl, Khushi, she is my best friend Neil's little sister. I remember her when she was really small. I used to come to play with Neil when we were kids. But after my parents shifted abroad I lost touch with my best friend. And then I was back after getting my degrees to pursue job here before I join my father's business. When I met Neil her told that his sister was abducted and was sold to the sex market. She was just 18 when all these happened.

I feel a lump against my throat while recapitulation our conversation. I wonder what she must have gone through. For three years she was with those monsters as their sex slaves. She was a baby damn it. Looking at her pale lifeless face, I still find her baby. Her perfect innocent pretty face covered with misery. And from nowhere I feel possessive about her. My blood becomes active just in the mere thought of protecting her and never let anyone hurt her.

I still remember the day when she came home. She spoke nothing at all. Neil cried like a baby holding her in his arms. Few days before she arrived he got a call from the police station. They found Khushi in the streets of Dubai unconscious. He took the next flight to meet her.

Apparently, the cops took her to the hospital for treatment. The other two men who were related to that dirty business died on the spot when their car collided with a truck. That night they were taking Khushi to her prospective owner. During the accident, Khushi got the least hurt due to her placement in the car. She was sitting in the middle. Other than few minor broken bones and severe bruising's she was fine. After a few days, he got her back in the house. But seeing her like this, quiet, aloof, it is equivalent to seeing a dead woman.

Every morning she came and sat beside the poolside looking at the water. Her eyes remained blank as she stared into god knows what. Today was no different. I went towards the window to look at her. I know she knows that I watch her every day. There are times when her eyes collided with mine. But I never saw any response other than some blank expressions and sometimes she made me feel that I don't even exist. I may not understand the extent of her pain. It must be immense. But I know the more she hides the worst it will become for her. She is one of the strongest women I have ever come across. After what has happened to her, she survived so she is a fighter to me. And I want to bring her life back. I want her to talk to me, share her pain, and share her ugly moments so that I can help her heal. But I don't know whether she wants the same or not. But I vow to try. And with that determination, I slide open the door and walked towards her.

I could see that sensing me, her shoulders became stiff. I smiled a little. "So she isn't that oblivious of my presence", I mutter to myself. "There are some feelings left inside her". As I reduce the distance between us the more determined I become.

"If you don't mind can I join you?" I ask her standing right beside her. I can see the top of her soft and silky hair. I want to run my fingers between them and ease away all the pain her pain.

There was no reaction from her. She didn't even blink her eyes.

I cleared my throat and pull a stool beside her lounge chair. She took her cup and sipped her morning coffee. I have noticed that she took her coffee black and strong but every time that liquid touched her throat she pinched her face. Probably she doesn't like it that bitter then why does she have it like that I wonder.

"Why do you have your coffee black when you don't even like bitter stuff".

She remained quiet and took a few more sips.

"I am Arnav, your brother's best friend". I hope she shows some sign of recognition but she doesn't.

"I remember you as a baby you know. I used to come to play with your brother and you always wanted to play with us. You used to have two piggy tails and your brother used to pull them to irritate you. It was me who used to stop your brother from doing so. I still remember you used to cry immediately and I used to go to your room and watch you cry. And then seeing me you used to wipe away your tears pretending to be strong when inside you were hurting like hell. Is this what you are trying to do now Khushi? Is this pretend, this stony facade you have built to show it to the world that you are not affected, that you are strong?" Damn it, she still didn't flinch. I desperately want her attention. "Trust me when I say that you are failing miserably. Everyone can understand the pain you are going through".

Still, there was no reaction.

"Khushi, talk to me. What is going on in your head tell me? I know there are certain things you cannot share with your brother because he is your brother. But you can share it with some outsider. For god sake, come out of this misery. You have fought and you have won. You are free and they are dead. They will not take you ever. Your brother will protect you this time. I will protect you". I sighed.

"Why?"

My head snapped up as the first word fall out of her mouth.

"Why would you protect me?"

I am speechless. For the first time in my life, I am dumb folded. After 25 days she spoke. This is the first step I know and if I go on one day she will give in and open her heart out and then I will be there for her to take all the weight she has been carrying for past three years. I kept on watching her as her lips form those words. Her voice is sweet like a breeze during spring and her lips are like soft petals of a rose.

"Do you want to get inside my pants mister?"

Before I could formulate her blunt words when she splashed the hot coffee on the chest. It burned my skin instantly and I hissed in pain.

"Keep your hand off me, mister. I know what you are up to. I don't want sympathy...I don't want any friend...you talk about how hurt I am? The demo, which I gave you right now, is nothing compared to the burnt I felt when those monsters who burned every part of my body with their filthy hands. Don't even pretend that you know what I have gone through because you don't know what they have done to me. And I am not nave. I am aware of your intentions. Every man in this world is the same and you are no different. You all want only want one thing and that is how to satisfy your dirty needs.

"So stop beating around the bush. If you want me then tell me on my face instead of trying to sweet talk with me". She stood up and all I could do was the hiss in pain. She narrowed her eyes and leaned towards me. She was wearing a deep neck top. The way she was leaning I could have easily seen what she was showing but I refused to look down to prove it to her that I don't want her that ways. Hell, I want her that way but not at this moment when she is vulnerable and accusing me and comparing me with those men who stole her innocence and treated her like a piece of shit.

"I don't want you like that," I tell her looking straight into her eyes. "I want to make friends with you, talk to you, understand you...help you".

Then she laughed...it was an ugly laugh, a mocking one...no a painful one.

"Of course you don't want me. Who would want to want a girl who has been with, I don't know", she thought for a moment, counted something and shrugged, "more than 50 men", I immediately regretted my sentence formation. I didn't mean to come out like that. I don't even mean it. I want her. I definitely want to make love to her. To show here that what she has gone through isn't the only way it is done. There can be lots of emotions involved when two souls meet.

"You are a sophisticated man Arnav and you want your girl to be one man woman not some wh**e like me. When you make love to her, you want to feel special and cherished not a tunnel full of darkness and filthy scraps. So stop acting nice to me. Neither I want to share my interesting story' with you nor do I want you". With that, she glanced towards my chest. "You wanted to have a little taste of my life, here you are feeling the first burn of it. Stay away from me mister or else I will burn you to death very slowly".

She turned to go when I stopped her by standing up, "Burn me as much as you want".

Comments and Likes, please. It will encourage me to write more. Thank You