(Farhan's)

It had been 2 months since Adithi's accident. Her right hand was out of the sling but because as a safety measure because of her ribs, and head, she was advised by the doctors to not run fast or do heavy works or sports. But she was walking and doing everything else fine.

And college days had started. Adithi was in the same Media college as Ishan, and I heard that Ishan was still taking care of her really well, even when they were in college, making sure she is fine and all. Only Ishan and Adithi were in the same college. The rest of us had got scattered. Suhana was repeating her Medical Entrance exam and was going to a coaching centre and studying from home. Arjun had got into a local private engineering college. And Jiggy also went to business management studies. And I went to a hostel... I had got into a really good Engineering college in the city itself, but because the commute was far, I and my family opted for hostel life. But I could come home every weekend though.

So on the third weekend, after college had started, Jiggy came with a bomb-blast like surprise.

We were all in the apartment lounge room, chatting and having fun as usual when Jiggy said it.

"I got a girlfriend."

Arjun spat out the cola he was drinking in shock. "What?" he asked.

"Why? Can't I have?"

It was just amusing for me. "Who is it?" I asked him.

"There was one girl who used to cyberstalk me saying she likes me..." He said.

I remember him mentioning that girl to me. The girl had met Jiggy at a wedding of a common friend or relative and also a few more times at some Gujarathi gatherings.

"It appears that she is in the same college, same class as me." He said.

"She stalked you there?" Arjun asked. "Eh...creepy."

"Well, she is not that bad," Jiggy said. I looked at him and found something wrong. Ishan was also suspiciously staring at Jiggy.

"Why? Can't a girl have a crush on me?" Jiggy asked, "Do you think only you guys can get girls to like you?"

Jiggy always had a slight complex about his looks, even if he did not really show it. I knew that. He was not exactly as good looking as Arjun or Ishan.

"Is she pretty?" Adithi asked excitedly. "What's her name?"

"Name is Reva Patel. And... not so pretty." He said. I detected indifference in his voice. As if he is not at all excited about the fact that he got a girlfriend. And that is not a healthy sign in a relationship."She just looks a bit like an elephant."

"Fat?" Adithi asked.

Jiggy nodded.

"You should not talk about your girlfriend that way." Suhana said, "What the hell is calling your girlfriend 'elephant'?"

"Do you even like her?" Ishan asked.

"Well..." Jiggy looked like he wanted to avoid the topic. "Yes. But more than that, the girl has liked me for over a year now...And even followed me to my college. Should show some mercy."

"But even then..." Suhana said, "I mean, it's good that you mean to be kind to a girl who really likes you. But to date someone you don't really like is..."

"What's so wrong?" He asked, "It's better to love someone who likes you than someone whom you like. I have read that somewhere."

"Even then, if you go far as to call her an elephant, it means you don't have any interest or feeling for her at all," Suhana said.

"No. It's not like that." Jiggy said. "Any way... I am in a relationship with her now... And it's my life so."

We all shut up after that.

Arjun and Jiggy moved to play pool at the pool table, and Ishan stood near me watching Jiggy with the same concerned eyes that I had...

"Smell something wrong..." Ishan said.

"Hm..." I agreed.

"It feels weird no matter how I think," Ishan said.

"What do you think?" I asked.

"I think he is on a rebound," Ishan said.

Yeah. Jiggy loved Suhana a lot. We were sure he might still be getting over his heartbreak. And this felt a bit soon to get into a relationship. Also, even though he knew the girl for one year, he did not know her well enough. They have met only a few times and chatted through FB a few times. Jiggy practically avoided this girl after getting confessed to by her through FB. It was really weird that he was not dating her.

So this was totally a rebound. Or distraction.

"I am worried for him," Ishan said.

I sighed... Relationships are complicated. But if we try to make it more complicated things will just get more messed up.

"Let him be," I said. "He will figure out on his own... If it goes wrong, we can help him out then."

Ishan nodded.

"I want to play football," Adithi complained.

"No way." Ishan scolded her. She frowned. He went and sat by her... "I am bored," she complained. "And sleepy."

Then Ishan sat by her and talked to her so that she does not get sleepy. Still a short while after, Adithi was asleep. She was dozing off. Ishan smiled and tilted her head to his shoulder. I watched Ishan. He had the gentlest expression as he shifted his posture so Adithi can sleep more comfortably. Suhana got up and came and stood near me. She was looking at Ishan too. Ishan parted off some of Adithi's hair to the back of her ear, looking at Adithi's sleeping face, with a gentle and happy smile. He looked like he was totally in love. I had no other words for his expression.

"Even then he says he doesn't like her that way," Suhana said irritated. "Why can't he just admit it?"

"Basic nature," I told her. "Even when he used to like you, he would never admit that he did. Even if we ask him, he said 'no way'."

"Oh..." Suhana said.

"Also... I guess he is a bit confused right now." I said. "Because it's not easy to shift your feelings from one person to another so easily. Because it's not like there is a switch in heart, that can go on-off about feelings..." And that's why we were worried about Jiggy.

Suhana seemed to have agreed with what I said.

"Let him take his time. It's not like something will happen if they don't decide at once... He has his whole life ahead. And we are just 17 yet."

Suhana nodded.

"You sometimes feel a lot older than 17." She told me. I chuckled. Yeah... Maybe I got a bit more mature than my age. I am not sure how much it has to do with the lady from Apartment 406. Since I moved to the hostel, I had not seen her much.

But maybe it was better this way... I wanted to go to a hostel in the first place, because, I felt I need to distance myself from that person. Because there was no use in being hurt over her pains like this forever. It's not like there is something I can do to help. It was better to go away than keep on feeling powerless and helpless and just stand watching...

Ishan and I got out of the elevator on the fourth floor, as Adithi, Suhana and Arjun stayed in it to go to the 6th floor.

Ishan was looking at his palm. Concentrating on it.

"Something wrong with your hand?" I asked him.

"It's strange." He said.

"What is?"

"I always feel like touching her more." He said, more to himself.

"Adithi?" I asked.

"How did you know?"

"I am not a fool," I said.

We had reached our floor, and we got out of the elevator.

"What's strange about that?" I asked him, "It's natural right?"

"No," Ishan said. "It's strange."

"It's just because of hormones," I said. "Don't think too much."

"Hormones?" He asked.

"Hmm... You are just a hormone-driven male teenager, and she is a female. Your body might like the feel of touching her and maybe want more... Gives you pleasure or something."

"Hey, that's making me sound like a pervert," Ishan yelled at me angrily.

I laughed. It does make it feel a bit perverted. But I was sure that was pretty much the case of Ishan...

When Ishan and I walked through the corridor, I saw Akram Khan's mother. She stays somewhere in Mr Khan's hometown and visits sometimes. She was now going around with a packet of sweets. She came to us when she saw us...

"Here, have some sweets." The old lady said. "To celebrate our home's happiness."

"Thanks. What is the occasion?" Ishan asked, taking a laddoo from the box.

I took one laddoo from the box she held out.

"Our daughter-in-law is pregnant." The lady said happily. I froze... I felt Ishan going a bit stiff as well.

"Then... I will go ahead. I need to distribute sweets to other floors as well... So...." She said and walked to the stairs.

I let down my hand, with the laddoo still clutched in my hand.

"Are you okay?" Ishan turned to me.

He might have raped her again... Numerous times, I have heard her muffled cries as that beast pounds on her... I closed my fist over the laddoo, and it got crushed under my fist. The broken bits of laddoo fell to the corridor floor. I was grinding my teeth.

"Farhan..." Ishan put his hand on my shoulder.

I turned to him. "I am fine," I said. I wanted to be left alone. I did not want any questions asked. I just want to be left alone...

"I know you are not fine," Ishan said. "But...It turned out good anyway. It was no use for you to like that lady. It was a crazy thing to like a married woman in the first place."

"Shut it..." I hissed at him. I was worried if someone will hear.

"Get a grip, Farhan. And honestly, what's there to be shocked about the news of a married woman getting pregnant. It's a natural thing to happen"

I know...

But I just wanted to be left alone now...

"Take this chance and forget her..." Ishan said, more cautiously.

I pushed his hand off me and went into my room. I just wanted to be left alone. Ishan can never understand me. No one can, I think.

I just stayed in my room for the rest of the day... The night fell, and mother called me for dinner. I ate without knowing the taste. Thinking maybe this was for the better. Maybe I should try to forget her... But it was not like I expected anything from my feelings to forget that person. I have never wanted any relationship or anything....Coz that was absurd. I just had wished if she would be happy, and not hurt.

If my only wish was that, what was there to forget about...? What were the feelings to be folded and tucked away? I was still standing where I was... Worrying for her, hoping she is okay, wishing if she would be happy. What's there to forget in this condition?

I went back to my room after dinner and lay down on my bed. But I could not sleep. The clock ticked away...

Then it came. Her scream. It was not that loud for the rest of the building to hear. But I still could hear from my bedroom. I sat up. Then I heard the beating sounds....

It was like the usual...

BUT SHE IS PREGNANT, YOU INHUMAN SCUM.

I jumped up and ran to the balcony. I could hear her crying and pleading coming from the room next door. The distance between the two balconies was not easily jumpable. But if I tried hard, I felt I could make it. I did not care if I fell down from the 4th floor. I jumped to the next balcony. Thankfully I landed safely. The door to the balcony was not locked. I pushed it open and stepped in. She was lying on the floor and that monster was kicking her.

I lost my reason... I wanted to stop him. I wanted to kill him... To finish him off with my hands.

My hands closed over the glass flower vase on the bed stand.

The next thing I knew was that Mr Khan fell to the floor, with blood gushing out from his head. I had hit his head with the glass flower vase.

My gaze fell on her on the floor. She was covered in cuts and bruises... And blood was oozing out from her vagina making her salwar bottom wet... One sight at that and I lost it.

I roared out and jumped on the monster, and aimed the vase which was still in my hand striking his head again and again...