TRIGGER WARNING ALERT! READ WITH CAUTIOUS!

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"Hello?

Hello?

Damnit!

Hello? Can you here me?

Hellooo....?" She groaned as her call disconnect for the sixth time in a row.

"That's it! I'm gonna change the line. This isn't going to work" she hopelessly turned her phone front and back, twitching her lips to a side.

Terrible network had been regular lately that it happened every time they set a time to talk. Today she thought she would call again but not at the usual time. Even that wasn't successful.

She stared at her phone and caressed the picture displayed on her home screen. The sinking heart was so deep, she felt difficult to breath. Tears started swelling in her eyes as her lips curved downward.

If the voice hadn't invaded her breakdown moment she would have burst into tears making it a terrible scene in the birthday party she attended.

"Monica!" The sweet voice called her again and sat by her side enveloping her in a hug.

That was Monica's close friend, Stella. They had known each other since diapers. No one can ever understand Monica like Stella does. The moment she caught the glimpse of Monica slipping away from the party, she knew something isn't right. 

"The call didn't go through again?" She asked keeping Monica engulfed in her hold.

She nodded, the tears were forming once again.

"Shh... It's okay. That's just the network problem honey. You get the line soon. Trust me" she cooed softly.

"Now let's wipe the tears off and enjoy the party meanwhile. They are gonna cut the cake soon" she wiped off the tears with her hands and grabbed Monica's hand joining the crowd.

Despite the party being all happening and enjoyable, Monica's attention was still on her phone that never beeped or ringed. She heaved a sigh and roamed around the event area mindlessly. Feeling exhausted, she return to the hall which she assumed to be the party hall and took a seat by the staircase leading to the second floor. 

"Hey! What's up?" Thomas Ethan, her once a upon a time forgotten crush meander towards her. 

Monica remained quiet. She rather not speak to anyone. It would only infuriate her even more.

"I heard Stella and Faizous talking about you can't get the network connected?" he asked curiously. The slight smile appeared on his lips vanished as quickly as it came. 

"Thomas. I'm not in a mood to have a talk with you. Can you please leave me alone?" She requested without looking at him.

"Oh, I do wish to do that but seeing you breaking down isn't making me feel any better. My conscience will kill me if I don't help you" he spoke with utmost concern and care, anyone who doesn't know him would fall for his words. 

Thomas, the man had been her crush when they were in their high school. She was somewhat crazy for him but after knowing there wasn't an reciprocation from his side, she lost all the attraction she had on him. She moved on. Years went by and they coincidentally attended the same college under different courses.

The otherwise happened.

Monica never let him approach her for the kind he wanted to be close with her. Monica soon realise he was playing with girls who came to him in the name of love. She however, maintained distance but Thomas wasn't bothered. When she refused to fall in his trap, he openly begin to express his feelings for her, in front of her classroom, in the library, out side of the college.

Thomas's constant advance was starting to trouble her mentally. She was hating to attend classes following that. 

Then she met him. Calm nature, benevolent, firm in voicing out, heavily appealing, bewitchingly tall dark man, and lean body frame. Not that he was new to the campus back then but because him started speaking for her, he got her to think of all his traits which was actually attractive..

He suddenly became the shield for her. Stopping Thomas from approaching her for the wrong intention. As day went by they got closer and closer.

They fell in love. Fergus, her long time and only boyfriend who now works in Africa.

Yup, Africa and she's in a corner of Chennai celebrating one of her friends birthday party she isn't interested at all. The only thing she wanted was to be able to talk to him.

The call to Fergus had been a problem for the last one week. She has no idea to why the calls are not getting connected lately and each time she tries from her phone or her friends, it doesn't get through.

"Maybe he is trying to give you the signal that he has found someone there" Thomas's annoying voice pulled her back to present.

"Oh keep dreaming!" She snapped at him.

"Trust me. I dream only that. Come on Moni, it's been almost a year since he left. Don't you think he should have tried to make at least one trip to visit you, in this one year?" He continued despite her blazing gaze.

"Wait! How is that even possible, no one's phone network got connected to his?

Wait let's try mine. Give me his number" Thomas held out his hand in front of her.

"No, thank you. Please mind your business"

"I'm trying to help you, Moni" he insisted though she was showing no interest in seeking his help.

"I said I don't need your help!"

"Really? What I see is that you are scared to face the reality. What I said is the reality! Fergus is seeing another woman that's the reason he is cutting your calls.  Not that the network isn't working! With so many technologies I can hardly believe you can't connect to him"

"Thomas! Will you shut up! Fergus isn't like you!" she hissed. 

"Well, certainly he isn't like me. He is smart, he sent himself far from you so, you will not know any of his dirty work" he smirked.

Monica frantically scanned the hall to find the exit. It was empty. Where was everyone? Why isn't even Stella here?

She begin to panic.

No, she can't stay here alone with this psychotic man. Monica stepped down from the staircase and looked everywhere but there was no one. Outside was entirely black, there wasn't even a blink of light. The darkness outside and dim light inside was terribly frightening her. Monica was perspiring in the air conditioned room.

Thomas took a look at the empty surrounding as well. A smirk stretched to a corner of his face that slowly turned into a lunatic smile. His eyes leisurely roamed over her body as she stared at him in fright.

He stood rooted to the ground just a few feet away from her.

"Fergus is with another woman. If you don't believe me than see this" Thomas stretched out his hand holding the phone showing her a picture.

An image of a man and a woman snapped hugging outside a building. Though Fergus was clearly seen in the picture, the woman's face wasn't visible.

Monica stared at the photo for a very long time until he took it out of her sight.

"So?" She asked. Monica did not believe him and surely the picture wasn't going to mean anything at all. After all, he being the one showing it to her was highly susceptible that the picture was even real.

"So, what I meant is... You should do it too" he took a step forward.

"What?! Stay away from me!" She warned.

"Maybe we can have a good time. Perhaps once. If you like it we can make it into a regular affair, you know" he continued to move towards her as she turned to reach for the knob of the door behind her.

To her disappointment, Thomas reached quicker. He pushed her to the middle of the empty room. She fell flat on her face.

Monica wondered when did the party ended and when the room was cleaned up? Is she actually in the right room where the party was held or was she in some other room. The hall had a lot of other halls as well.

She was panicking, her breathing hitched. Monica fear, what if something unfortunate might happen? 

"Oh God. Help me. Please" she silently cried as she tried to get on her feet.

In no time, Thomas grabbed her by the ankle and dragged her to a secluded spot at the corner of the hall. Her floral dress was nowhere to be at it's right place on her body anymore as she struggled to get out of his hold. Tears were wetting her wet cheeks while she screamed for help.

She tried to crawl away from him the moment his grip loosen from her ankle. However, that did not happen, he grabbed hold of her leg tighter. But there was no giving up for her. No, she was definitely not giving up to this bloody bastard.

Monica struggled to push the man away from her. Neither did her punches nor her nails neither did her kicks moved him an inch away. Swiftly, he caught both her hands and locked them with his one hand over her head.

Thomas was plastered on her, rubbing his lips on her neck, her cheeks and her lips despite her protest shaking her head side to side.
His hand roam all over her body. Monica cried as loud out as she could.

He held her neck, tightening his grip making her shut up. The pain was terrible, she felt disgusted. Monica could feel herself going weak but she didn't want to let go of herself to this moron.

She is not his to claim as he wish.

She need to get away from him.

Monica took a few seconds, gathered her remaining strength and screamed.

"HELP!"

Within three minutes, she was able to here the glass door pounding heavily. Multiple pounding and noises were audible yet the man on her wasn't backing away.

He was desperately trying to get as much pleasure as he could from her as quick as possible. He was almost there, about to invade her but stopped. The glass door shattered into millions pieces of shards.

Thomas stopped.

Monica was wailing helplessly with head turned facing the wall. She was too embarrassed to face whoever it was. Monica was almost undressed by the bastard, her hands immediately searched for the end of her dress that was over her bosom. She pulled them down and curled into a ball. 

Footsteps were heard running towards her and soon a soft hand place on her shoulder.

"Stella" Monica bewailed. Stella had tears in her eyes as she hugged her so tightly as if it would pull her strength back. But Monica was too weak, she let Stella's warmth sooth her as she laid her head on Stella's shoulder, crying loudly.

Even with her eyes closed, Monica knew someone was bashing him up pretty badly. Must be Faizous she thought. He was the next closest human being she ever has apart from Fergus and Stella. In a matter of moments, Thomas was dragged out of the hall leaving Monica and Stella behind. 

A long time passed since the door broke and they came to her rescue. Monica was still clung onto Stella, not letting her go even was a second.

"I tried to stop. He did not listen" her voice muffled. 

"Everything is going to be fine from now on, Moni. Trust me" she caressed her hair.

"Thank God we heard your scream. Thank, you for not giving up, Moni" Stella voice was soft, it was comforting her like her mother's voice.

If it wasn't for her last scream none of them would have found her in that room. With the room door entirely tinted in black it was not possible to see anything from outside nor inside. The room was almost neglected by Stella and her friends when they were looking for her. 

A hand lightly tapped on Stella's shoulder. She looked up and nodded. Faizous gestured her to bring Monica out of the room to head back home.

------

"We were in just at the nick of time, I believe. I hope we wasn't late" Faizous spoke. He held a cup of steaming hot coffee in a hand while the other on his hip.

"Nothing unfortunate happened. Monica told me." Stella replied, taking a seat on the couch. They were in Monica's house.

"I wanted tonight to be special. It turned out to be a disaster. I'm still not done with the bastard" the third and the last person in the room roared.

Fergus stood by the window sorrowful, the disheartening sight of his lady love broke him completely. That wasn't how he wanted to surprise her. He knew she would cry when she meet him but today she had cried for a whole different reason. And that hurt him..

The lady asleep upstairs isn't even aware that the man she waited to see almost a year is back for her. Fergus was angry with himself. Only if he had not played the drama of disconnecting calls, she wouldn't have got upset and end up in a room where she wasn't supposed to be in at all.

He punched the wall next to him for the third time. Faizous pulled him away and made him sit.

"It's not your fault, Fergus. Stop it. It was Jessy's fault. She shouldn't have invited Thomas–" 

"Whatever, Stella. If her mind wasn't disturbed because of the calls, Moni would have been with you the entire time she wouldn't have pulled herself away from the crowd. It's my fault.

How am I going to apologies to her? She is hurt. Too much and it's because of me. I'm supposed to take care of her but I ended up hurting her"

"Fergus! I want you to stop it" Faizous loud voice boomed around the living room.

"Forget about it. Thank God nothing unfortunate happened. 

Let it go, okay"

Fergus nodded robotically.

Stella and Faizous soon left to their respective dwellings while Fergus stayed in Monica's house. Thinking about her house, Fergus was thankful that Thomas did not make an effort to break in her house before.

He sat on the empty side of the bed staring at the vulnerable Monica looking disturbed even in her sleep. He hesitated to even touch her head afraid she might get frighten to the touch.

The struggle she was putting with Thomas vividly flashed before him, Fergus snapped his eyes shut.

That desperate attempt to break the door when he heard her screamed was still raging in him though she is safe next to him. He wished they hadn't ignored the dark tinted door.

The birthday party was just a namesake to bring Monica there. She was brought to the place as per Fergus instruction. He had planned it all.

First he would propose her in private and later announce their engagement to their friends. None of his plan worked. Neither did he surprised her nor did his proposal plan succeeded.

An almost unfortunate night.

The night turned to morning, Fergus did not move out of the room. He occasionally did the walk back and forth watching her all the time.

As the sun rise, illuminating the room. He sat facing the window, his back faced her.

Monica stirred, waking up feeling pain everywhere Thomas had touched her. She felt disgusted and uncomfortable with the memory of last night passed before her. Involuntarily, tears flowed out of her eyes.

She hadn't realised another person's presence until she turned herself to face the other side. Startled at the foreign presence in her room, she moved back, panicked. She fell off from the bed.

Monica dragged herself backward to the wall. Horrified, she did not realise who was person trying to calm her down even. She was paranoid, all she could see was Thomas trying to abuse her again.

She cried, pushed, punched and threw stuffs until he shook vehemently pulling her out her delusion.

"Monica! Monica look at me! Everything is fine now. No one is going to hurt you anymore. I'm here...I'm here"

The realisation of who it really was held her emotion on pause for a moment before she broke into tears once more. A sense of relieve washed over her as he held. To finally be in his arms feeling secured was all she needed.

She stayed embraced in his hold for a long time. Her tears had drained out leaving only dry stain of tears on her cheeks. She looked up at his beautiful face, he had his eyes closed. Her hand moved up to his cup face and carresed his cheek with her thumb.

The light smile that appeared on his lips as he tighten his hold on her was her all time favorite. It held a kind of tranquility, she could survive with just that.

Then something strike her mind, "When did you came?" She asked, surprised.

"Last night"

"Last night? Why didn't you tell me you were coming?

Yeah, right. The damn network" she mumbled.

"It was supposed to be a surprise but... Nevermind go get freshen up. We will talk more over breakfast.

I'll see you downstairs" Fergus got on his feet first then helped her up till she got into the bathroom.

----

The smell of breakfast pulled her to the kitchen even sooner than she thought. Monica silently slipped on the chair of the two seater dining table and watched him work.

"Oh hey!" He greeted her with a cheerful smile making her not-so-good morning into the best.

As he set her breakfast on the table, she noticed his hand was bandaged.

"What happened?" She asked and took his hand to examine his now hidden wound.

"That's nothing. Just a few shards of glass pierced my hand. You don't worry about that" he assured, slipping his hand out of her hold and tapped her head before heading back to the stove.

"Nothing?" A look of disbelieve run over her face. Then she remembered, the glass door broke last night and he too came last night.

That meant he was there. She jumped out from the chair and pulled him to face her. "It was you. It was you who bashed him terribly, right? I heard that" there was a glint of happiness and sadness mixed in her look.

He was there for her and he had to see her in such a situation.

He knew what she was thinking but before she could put it into words or bring them out through her emotion, he spoke.

"I know what you are thinking but I'm sorry, sweetie. I shouldn't have done that" he held both her hands between his.

"Done what?" She feared at his sudden apologies, what if Thomas had said was true. She shook her head lightly brushing the thought as quickly as it came.

"I shouldn't have pretend the network wasn't working for me. I was afraid, if I had spoke to you, my excitement would have told you enough that I'm coming.

I wanted to surprise you. I asked Stella and the rest to arrange the party but trust me, I didn't invite him.

It was because of me, you had to go through so much last night. I'm sorry" tears spilled out of his eyes.

"It's okay" she mumble. Her gaze found the floor interesting.

"It's not your fault. Thomas always had the wrong intention on me and found last night the best opportunity to do it.

Thankfully he did not get to relish whatever he had come for" her voice was barely audible. "I was really scared. I tried to fight him. He was stronger than me.

But it was you I had in mind. What would you react if anything unfortunate happened. It was supposed to be you not him" she was tearing up.

Fergus had wiped off his tears by then, Monica needed more moral support. He cupped her face in both his hands and made her look into his eyes.

"It doesn't matter. Whatever may have happened last night, I wouldn't have walked away from you. I cannot do that.

I love you.

And that's all that should matter to you" the calmness in his voice, the care in his touch and the love in his eyes. She felt the whole world was there for her.

There was nothing else she needed but him alone. Monica hugged him ever so tightly.

"I love you" her voice muffled.

They stayed hugging each other for sometime until a strange smell hit Fergus nostrils.

"Do you smell something burning?" He suddenly asked.

Sniffing the air, Monica turned to the stove. The rice flour batter he had poured on the pan was burning. It had turned black.

Fergus rushed to the stove and offed the fire. "Breakfast burnt" he stated and dropped the pan in the sink.

"Anyways, I have something to ask you" he ran upstairs and in seconds he was down back to the kitchen.

Fergus stood before her by the kitchen sink and went down in one knee.

Monica was having the big smile on her face already.

"Will you marry me?" He asked as a courtesy though he knew the answer very well.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" She jumped in excitement and kissed him who was in the process of standing up.

The incident that had bothered her were gone far disappearing for the moment. Monica's future stood before her six feet tall. She couldn't have asked for more.

"And I'll be going with you to wherever you go, right?"

"That's right. We don't have to wait for calls and video chat anymore. You will be by my side all the time" he said flashing his pretty smile.

His touch, his voice and his eyes screamed love and all that terrible incident did not matter at all.

When there is true love,
distance doesn't matter.

****END*****

What's so great about this story that it popped in my head when I was extremely sleep and that I had to write it before I forget🤦
I wrote it last night.

And since Armed Forces in Love isn't making progress for the next chapter. A complementary story for you all😝

Anyway, what do you think of this one long shot?

Do comment your thoughts or anything that you would like to say to me or for the story.

Thank you!