Trigger Warning: This chapter might contain graphic references to sexual abuse and trauma.

My mind swirled with a whirlwind of thoughts, leaving me paralyzed in indecision. Before I could muster a response, he leaned in and kissed me. It was an unexpected moment.

What the hell is going on here, V?

No, I wasn't in love with him, and neither did I harbor any hate. I allowed his kiss to linger because, in that fleeting instant, it simply felt okay. After all, a harmless kiss couldn't possibly lead to any harm, could it? That was the thought that briefly crossed my mind.

He pulled off for a moment to look into my eyes before leaning to kiss me again. This time, I try to avoid his lips, realising I was making a mistake.

He was my friend. I didn't want to do this.

He continued to kiss me and his hands slowly moved from my cheeks to the nape of my neck, and slowly moved down further back. It was all happening too quickly and before I could react to it, he slowly pushed me to the floor and leaned towards me.

"No, stop, please", I plead him gently to stop.

"No"

"I can't"

I finally gather my strength to push him away. "Stop! What are you doing?" I implored, my voice trembling with uncertainty.

"Like you don't know what I'm doing," he replied, continuing to kiss my neck.

"Wait. I can't do this," I stammered, attempting to push him away again.

"I promise. I'll be gentle," he assured me.

"Surya, no. I'm not ready for this," I insisted, my voice firmer now, as I resisted the pressure of the moment.

He grunts and lets me go. I push myself up in a moment and slap him.

I bowed in disappointment and asked, "What the heck, Surya? Is this what you brought me here for?"

"Did I do something wrong? I thought you were okay with this," he stammered, his voice quivering with confusion and anxiety.

"When did I say that? I can't do this," I protested, shifting myself away from him, a mix of frustration and fear surging through me.

"What happened? I barely did anything. What are you overreacting for?" His words came out in a puzzled tone, his face etched with a blend of frustration and disbelief.

"This is not overreacting," I retorted, my voice firm, trying to stand my ground.

"Why do you keep acting innocent, or as though this is something you have never done before? You said you liked me, didn't you?" he questioned, his eyebrows furrowing in accusation.

I gaped at the kind of accusation he was making. "What makes you think I've done it before? Because I come from America?" I asked, my tone incredulous.

He froze with that accusation, caught off guard by my sharp response.

"And what makes you think I want to do it with you? Do you think I'm a slut?" I snapped, my voice laced with indignation.

"No," he backed up, shaking his head. "No, I did not say that," he hurriedly clarified.

"But that is exactly what you mean. I'm so disappointed. I never thought you were so judgmental like this," I sighed, my disappointment palpable.

"I'm really sorry, baby. I shouldn't have assumed. But you let me kiss you, and I thought..." He trailed off, his voice tinged with regret.

"I also said No," I roared, my frustration boiling over. "Which you constantly keep ignoring. Are you familiar with the term 'consent'? When a girl says 'No,' she means 'No.'"

"'No' means 'No.' Blah, blah. I've seen that in movies. But, I know how you girls are. You don't express things directly. You give out signals for us to pick up on when you want something," he retorted, his words tinged with frustration.

"Oh, really? So, what signals did I send out?" I demanded, my voice challenging.

"I mean, we were so close. We spoke for hours every day. I started falling in love with you, and I thought you did too. And then, when I gather the courage to propose to you, you tell me that you're already in love with somebody else, and then you tell me you want to be friends with me. How should I interpret that? If you only wanted to be friends, why did you talk to me for all those hours? Why did you go on those dates with me? Why did you wear this saree for me?" he asked, his voice tinged with hurt and confusion.

"So, you thought that I would sleep with you?" I questioned, my tone dripping with disbelief.

"Even yesterday, I asked you if you wanted to cherish the time we have together and make memories, and you said yes," he added, trying to justify his actions.

"I had no idea you had THIS in mind," I said as I stood up, my intent to leave apparent in my posture.

"Don't walk away from me," he shouted, attempting to grab my hand, but I pulled it away from him, my resolve unwavering.

"I asked if you wanted to be my girlfriend for a day, and you said yes," he explained, his voice tinged with regret.

How foolish I felt. He couldn't have been more obvious now that I thought about it.

"I'm sorry, Surya. I couldn't read through your signals. I deeply apologize for this whole misunderstanding. Let me clarify for you. I liked you as a friend because you make me laugh and happy. But it was never anything more. If I sent signals without my knowledge, I'm truly sorry. I've learned my lesson," I said, my voice softening with sincerity.

He was quiet for a few moments, tears welling in his eyes, before he spoke again. "I love you, Veena. I'm sorry for hurting you."

"I'm sorry for you too, Surya. I'm leaving," I said, and I started walking away, my emotions too raw to stay any longer.

"Wait. Let me at least drop you home," he pleaded, his voice filled with regret.

"I don't want you anywhere near me. Stay away!" I yelled, my voice filled with anger and disappointment as I walked away, leaving him behind.

He froze behind me, and I sensed his presence but didn't dare to look back. Panic surged within me as I continued to descend the path, my heart pounding like a drum. I attempted to recall the route I had taken earlier, desperately trying to retrace my steps. I could vaguely remember a few turns I had made, but as I descended further, the forest seemed to conspire against me, offering multiple paths that diverged in confusing ways.

My anxiety intensified as I found myself making one wrong turn after another. It felt as if I was running in circles, trapped in a nightmarish labyrinth of trees and shadows. The shock of the situation left me feeling utterly lost and disoriented. My mind raced, unable to think clearly.

I pressed on, my steps quick and unrelenting. Fear gripped me with each passing second, convincing me that he was still behind me, lurking in the shadows, watching my every move without ever meeting my gaze.

Minutes felt like an eternity as I continued my frantic search for the right path. Every rustle of leaves and distant chirp of crickets seemed to taunt me. I was afraid to stop, terrified that if I did, he would catch up to me. The forest had become a treacherous maze, and I was the mouse hopelessly trapped within it.

Finally, I chose a different path, determined to escape this bewildering nightmare. As I moved forward, the distant sound of voices reached my ears. Hope surged within me, and I followed the voices. As I neared them, I discovered three older men, their faces half-lit by the flickering flames of a small campfire. They sat beneath a towering tree, engrossed in a game of cards. Breathless and trembling, I approached them, and their curious eyes turned toward me.

"Hey papa (young lady). What are you doing here?" inquired a man with a bushy beard, clad in a vibrant red shirt.

"Um, I seem to have lost my way. "

"Lost?" chuckled another man, clearly amused. He exchanged a knowing look with the bearded gentleman.

"Anna(elder brother), Can you help me find the path down?", I asked.

"Anna?" The term seemed to tickle the group's funny bone, and their laughter echoed through the forest. "Are you here alone?"

"I didn't come alone," I hurriedly explained. "I came with a friend. But now, I can't seem to find my way back."

"Ah, a friend?" The bearded man quipped with a sly grin. "A boyfriend?" he teased.

I nodded, confirming his assumption.

The men exchanged hushed words among themselves for a brief moment before the bearded man stood up and approached me.

"Hey there, don't you remember me?" the third guy suddenly turned toward me, a grin on his face. "We might've crossed paths at the festival."

The first guy walked towards me in a tipsy manner. "You look absolutely stunning in that saree. It's quite irresponsible of you to get lost like this. What if some not-so-friendly folks found you?" His words sent a shiver down my spine.

Recognition washed over me as I finally placed the third man from the festival. He had been part of that group that had been catcalling and teasing women. I had been rescued from their advances by Varun, and Krish. My brain registered the gravity of the situation I was in now.

Here I was, surrounded by three burly, half-drunk men, and the realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I was in an unfamiliar place, far from anyone who could hear my screams for help. Even though I had some knowledge of self-defense, the thought of taking on all three of them at once seemed impossible.

With a sudden surge of adrenaline, I bolted in the opposite direction, running haphazardly while crying out for assistance. My hope was that Surya, the better devil in this scenario, would come to my aid. But as the seconds ticked by, I couldn't help but wonder whether he had followed me or simply left me behind.

I ran without pause, not caring about the state of my dress. The uneven terrain almost caused me to slip several times, and at one point, it snagged on a branch. I had to yank it free to keep moving. I couldn't afford to stop because I feared they might close in from any direction. My heart raced, and I continued running until I heard no footsteps closing in on me.

Within the dense thicket of trees, I stumbled upon a small natural shelter formed by a cluster of bushes. I ducked under it, away from prying eyes, and forced myself to stay silent. In the safety of my hidden sanctuary, I finally let my tears flow freely. I sobbed uncontrollably, trying to come to terms with the dangerous situation I had found myself in.

As I crouched there, I heard distant thunder and saw the sky darkening above me. Raindrops began to pelt the leaves above and the ground in front of me, but I remained dry beneath the canopy of branches. I knew I couldn't stay hidden forever, and I had a difficult decision to make: risk getting drenched or stay hidden and risk being discovered by the thugs. My situation was dire, and I realized I couldn't navigate this ordeal on my own.

Desperation set in, and the only person I could think of was Krish. My trembling hands found his name in my contacts, and I dialed his number. After just three rings, he picked up

"Hi, Veena," he said.

"Krish..." I choked out between sobs. "Krish..."

"Veena, what happened?" His voice was filled with concern.

"I'm sorry, Krish." I continued to cry. "I should have believed you when you warned me about Surya. I should have trusted you."

"Are you okay? Where are you now?"

"I don't know where I am... I'm... lost."

"Veena!" His tone sharpened. "Stop crying. Tell me where you are."

"I'm on that hill near the pond. There's a shrine at the top."

"That jerk took you there!" Krish's voice grew furious. "I'm going to f*cking kill him. Tell me exactly where you are."

"I don't know, Krish. I stumbled upon some drunk people who looked creepy and dangerous , so I kept running till I lost them and now I'm hiding. It's raining and I'm stuck!"

"Okay, stay calm. I'm coming right now. Just send me your live location on WhatsApp and stay under cover. I'm on my way to get you. Stop crying now."

"I... Okay," I sniffled, trying to wipe my tears away.

"Keep talking to me," he urged from the other end of the line.

Krish stayed on the line with me, his voice a lifeline in the midst of my fear and confusion. He asked me about everything and nothing, keeping my mind occupied and my thoughts away from the dangers surrounding me.

As I huddled under the makeshift shelter, the rain grew heavier. The sound of the downpour on the leaves above me was a constant reminder of my vulnerability. My trembling hands managed to send him my live location through WhatsApp.

"You're doing great, Veena," Krish assured me. "I'm getting closer. Just hang in there a little longer."

"I will," I replied, my voice steadier now.

​​The rain continued to pour, and I clung to Krish's voice for comfort as we talked. After a while, our conversation took a more serious turn.

"Veena," Krish began, his tone gentle yet concerned, "I want you to know that none of this is your fault. You didn't put yourself in this situation intentionally."

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I appreciated his words. "I know, but I should have been more careful."

He responded firmly, "That doesn't excuse what that bastard did. He's the one at fault here, not you."

I sniffled, feeling a mix of emotions. "Krish, why didn't you tell me about Surya before? Did you know already?"

"I didn't want to cause you any trouble, Veena. I thought maybe he had changed, and I didn't want to ruin your friendship."

I sighed, realizing he had meant well. "I wish I had listened to you."

Krish's voice softened. "Veena, it's essential to trust your instincts, but we all make mistakes. The most important thing is that you're safe now."

As we continued talking, I couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort in his presence, even if it was just over the phone. Krish's voice gave me the strength to endure the agonizing minutes that passed.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I heard the distant rumble of a motorcycle engine. My heart leaped with hope.

"Krish, I hear something," I said, my voice trembling with excitement.

"It's me, Veena. I'm almost there. Just a few more minutes."

Relief washed over me as I clung to the sound of his approaching motorcycle. Krish's unwavering presence on the other end of the line had been my lifeline, and now he was coming to rescue me from the nightmare I had stumbled into.

Moments later, he burst through the trees, his boots skidding to a stop near my hiding spot. Krish rushed to my side, concern etched across his face. He held out his hand to help me up, and I gratefully took it, finally feeling safe in his presence. Without a moment's hesitation, I rushed into his arms, embracing him tightly.

"Thank you, Krish," I whispered, my voice trembling. "Thank you for coming for me."

He held me close, his strong arms offering me comfort and safety. "I'll always be there when you need me, Veena," he replied softly.

We walked together down the hill, our steps slow and deliberate in the pouring rain. The raindrops soaked through my saree, but I didn't mind. This rain was different from the last time we'd been caught in a downpour. Back then, I had seen him as a friend, someone who could make me laugh and feel happy. But today, I saw a protector in him—a guardian who had rushed to my rescue without a second thought.

We reached his bike, and I joined him on the back. The engine roared to life, and we drove through the rain-soaked streets. The raindrops splattered against us, but this time, they felt like a cleansing shower, washing away the fear and uncertainty of the past hours.

As we rode through the rain, I held on to Krish tightly, not just for the sake of balance but for the comforting reassurance that he gave. In that moment, I just felt safe and found someone I could always count on—someone who would be there to protect me, no matter what.

Do you think Veena handled the situation well? What do you think she could have done or should do in the future?

Any fans on ARR ? Give me a shoutout!!!