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Aishwarya 5007

Nikhil's POV

The flashes, the camera clicks, and the loud journalists screaming for my attention disorientated me. Strict guidance we provided to not leak this information to the public or media but looks like the information has been leaked within minutes after admitting Sakshi to the hospital. God knows how! Sakshi's all over the news, channel debates, and social media. Various film actors have come forward with support for Sakshi and have expressed their anger toward this horrendous crime. Even though it is great to see these people coming forward with support what distresses me is that after a couple of weeks or months Sakshi will be forgotten when another news arises. But nothing will change for Sakshi the impact of this crime will forever haunt the poor soul. Currently, Sakshi's in the intensive unit with a million tubes attached to her. Various specialists from all over India has arrived, and they're all trying their best to save her. However, whether she will survive or not is still a big question as her injuries are quite severe from the brutal rape.

A big issue were facing today as a society is rape, as a police officer I believe the law is more favoured towards those who commits the crime instead of the victims. I've seen these kind of news in the tv and have even personally dealt with it as a police officer but today I feel devastated to be the prime witness of the attack and the investigation officer responsible for this case, personally it is overwhelming as Sakshi was once my world. But no matter what I vow to ensure the culprits are punished to the maximum, not because she was mine once but because she is a women who deserved to be treated with dignity and respect. Women like Sakshi are someone's daughter, someone's sister, somebody's family and a person who has brought brightness into many people's lives. They don't deserve to be treated in such a horrendous way.

Ever since she's been brought in I've been waiting outside the ICU. I mean I could've left much earlier as two constables are already stationed outside the ICU. Nevertheless, something was holding me back from leaving. My heart ached to see Sakshi in such a state and somewhere in my heart I felt slightly guilty as I am partially responsible for all this mess as well. Just as I was thinking about all this my phone started beeping, it was Shradda. This is the 22nd time she's left a missed call according to my phone. I keep declining her call as I am in no mood to speak to her, at the moment I want some space.

When I was speaking to the senior doctor one of my constables informed me that Sakshi's mother and a child were creating a commotion in front of the ICU. Quickly I rushed downstairs to guide through Sakshi's mother what happened. But as I approached Damini she slapped me tightly across my face in front of the other fellow officers.

"You Rascal. First you killed my son, then you divorced my daughter and to make her suffer even more you've bloody raped her as well? Not even God will will forgive you" Damini spat out. Where did this lady get the guts to accuse me of her daughters assault? Normally, if it was anyone else I would have have taken immediate action against them. However, for now I'm letting of this witch considering her daughter's condition and her mental state.

"I am not taking action against you for this. But from now on if you open your viscous mouth and spit anymore venom I will use all my influences as a police officer to put you behind the bars" I said quite sternly. "Gautham explain to her what has happened and deal with the situation" I ordered my colleague and went down to the hospital canteen, I was absolutely exhausted. I've been in this uniform for over twenty four hours now. As much as I wanted to leave I wanted to stay here, I know my presence wouldn't do any miracle and make Sakshi come back to life but still...

As I was drinking my tea, my colleague Gautham came running towards me. "Nikhil the media people's creating a massive havoc at the hospital entrance. They are demanding to know what has happened to Sakshi, her present condition and what not."

"Damn it!! Everyone's testing my patience today! Right I'll deal with it Gautham" I said and went down to the media after gulping down my piping hot tea. Being a police officer can sometimes be a very testing profession.

As soon as I stepped outside the hospital the reporters bombarded me with questions.

"Are you Mr Nikhil IPS? The prime witness and investigating officer for this case?" asked this bald reporter. As soon as I gave a brief nod. The reporters went into a frenzy. They jostled with each other to shove their mikes closest to my face.

"Sir in what condition was the body when you found it?" asked another

"The victim is still alive therefore, there is no need to refer the girl as a body." Answered my fellow colleague Gautham.

"Nikhil sir are you the victims ex-husband?"

"Sir what did it feel like to see your ex-wife in such a state?"

"Sir, what do you have to say about the growing crime rates against women in India? What are you planning to do with the criminals?"

"Sir where are the criminals now? Sir do you have a hand in this crime by any chance?"

"Sir were you still in relationship with Sakshi Ramachandra by any chance?"

Finally I had lost all my control. The reporters were exceeding their limit. Finally I lifted both my hands in defeat hoping the reporters would shut the f*** up and give me space to speak. "The victim has been brutally gangraped. Her injuries are quite severe, the medical professionals are all trying their best to bring the victim back to normal life. During a investigation round we found the victims attacked body near the central market next to the bus station. We don't have much information regarding what has actually happened however, we are assuming the victim was attacked on her way home from work. We will be taking the criminals to the court on Friday. At the moment this is all I can disclose, I am not in a position to disclose anymore information" I said trying my best to keep in with my professional boundaries. People need to understand that this is not easy for me especially when the party opposite me is someone who I had once loved with my heart and soul. Not even once in my life till now I've imagined Sakshi to go through everything she has. No girl should go through this, now this incident has made me think about the women in my house including my wife to my sister to my daughter. How can I raise my daughter in a society like this peacefully?

Aarav's POV

Couple of days ago my dad suffered from a minor heart attack therefore, I had to go back home to take care of him and my family. I would have stayed longer at my house if Mr Kumar, my beloved employee didn't threaten to fire me if I didn't return asap. So here I am back in Bangalore, it's 8 in the morning here I've only reached the city. Due to tiredness I decided to drink some tea from a dingy little tea shop set up, as I was drinking my piping hot tea a piece of news that just flashed across the tv inside the tea shop caught my attention. A girl was gang raped in the city? Shit, that's scary. This news has just proved that not even the surroundings I live in are safe for women. Honestly, I wished the government would do something to tackle this issue to protect the women of our country.

Very soon when I finished my cup of tea, I paid the money for it and turned around to leave. Almost immediately I turned back when I caught a glimpse of Nikhil IPS, he was with the press as the officer in charge for this case. The reporters were asking him questions in relation to the victim being Nikhil's ex wife. That's when it strikes me, the victim they are on about is Sakshi? That's when I heard a few random people's conversation in the coffee shop.

"Who's this girl that's been raped?" asked this elderly lady

"Oh its the officers first wife. She's called Sakshi or something ..."

Suddenly my heart beat started to rise. I was beyond scared and shocked. I couldn't believe what I was hearing...

"I blame the girl tho. Why was she walking alone at night with no male support?" Asked this elderly man who looked as if he was in his sixties. I shot a death glare at him in anger, nevertheless I had no time to confront that stupid man as my priority was to get to the hospital without wasting time. On my way to the hospital I prayed silently to every single God I knew for it not to be my Sakshi, even though I knew the chances are slim for it not to be my Sakshi.

In between all this my speed rose to a unimaginable figure but I wasn't bothered about that. As soon I reached the hospital I shoved through crowd and ran as fast as I could to the intensive unit. Various police officer tried to stop me but I had no time to deal with them. In front of the intensive care unit was Damini - Sakshi's mother, Meera, Keshav and Nikhil.

"NO!!" I screamed as loud as I could and broke into tears. This isn't fair I cried.

Using all the energy Nikhil had he pushed me away from breaking into the intensive care unit. "Aarav I can understand your feeling but please control it. Sakshi is fighting for her life in there, the only thing we can do at this instance is to pray for her." Said a Nikhil who's eyes were red and puffy now. Dark circles were also present under his eyes.

By now I had calmed down a little but I was absolutely devastated. Slowly, I untangled myself from Nikhil's strong grip and walked towards the doors with the letters 'I C U' engraved on it. Intensive Care Unit. The meaning of the acronym made me shiver. This was the first time in my life I was standing in front of the ICU door, thinking about the person on the other side and what she meant to me and my life. A raw fear passed through me. I tried to look in from the little glass window embedded in that door and yes I saw a Sakshi covered in tubes and wires. Once again tears started flowing through my eyes "God please," I said staring at my Sakshi through the little window. At that instance I felt someone placing their palms in my shoulder. It was none other than Nikhil.

"She will come back Aarav. She hasn't committed any grave sin so don't understand why God is testing her this much" Nikhil said silently. Not being able to bear it any longer I hugged Nikhil and said "Nikhil please ensure those bastards get the maximum punishment our law can offer" to which Nikhil just nodded.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"WE MUST SENT A MESSAGE ACROSS THE WORLD THAT THERE IS NO DISGRACE IN BEING A SURVIVOR OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE - THE SHAME IS ON THE AGRESSOR"

- ANGELINA JOLIE

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