A/N :- Mention of drug use, physical abuse, torture, abusive language. 18+ Only.

It's been four days since Tina's symptoms started, and Kartik had hated every moment of it. For the first time in a very long time, Kartik had felt concern for anyone other than his family. He had also felt rage, at those disgusting people who had done this to her.

Although Keerti was still angry at Kartik for his deed, she constantly helped him on how to take care of Tina, during this condition. As more and more she explained, the more and more he had understood why Tina had been so obedient to him, so calm, so willing because that's what heroin did to people, gave them a euphoric, happy feeling.

Keerti also had suspicions that they weren't just giving her heroin but some other drugs too, like opioids which were highly addictive, but she wasn't sure. God knows from how long had it been going on and how long she had been with those disgusting people. She had also told him about all the dangerous withdrawal symptoms, if any of them occurred, he would have to take Tina to the hospital, where Keerti's friends would help him out.

Kartik had also called his office and told them not to disturb him for a week unless it was a real emergency. He had clearly told them, that if they called him for matters other than any emergency, he would immediately fire them.

It had been almost ninety six hours without the drugs, and Kartik knew that Tina's body was just entering the peak of this entire ordeal. Day two had brought tremors and fatigue added to the abdominal cramps, sweats, muscle and bone aches, vomiting and nausea. Tina, at this point, was dealing with restlessness, a rapid heart rate, and the craving for more drugs. As Keerti had suggested, Kartik gave Tina water, light foods, and aspirin to keep Tina hydrated and to provide a little relief from harmless painkillers.

Kartik sincerely hoped that she would become better after this was over. However, this was only the fourth day she'd been in his care, and Keerti said to expect he symptoms for about seven to ten days, things would be rough with getting Tina clear from all the drugs.

Currently, Tina was in the bathroom, dealing with tougher moments of wanting the drug, to make the withdrawal stop. Kartik was sitting beside Tina holding her hair back, looking up at the ceiling, as she puked and cried. Finally the vomiting stopped and he heard her soft whimpers of misery. Kartik looked at Tina as she looked at him.

Tina begged :- Pl-Please? Please, j-just...a li-little.

Kartik :- no Tina, no more drugs.

Tina turned a little, putting her hands together, and pleading on her knees to Kartik to give her more drugs.

Tina :- I'll...d-do...any...thing, please, ma-mast...er ?

As much as it broke Kartik's heart to see her like that, he knew he had to be firm in his decision. Better she be in pain now and then get relief later. At least this way her body would be free from all the poison she was given.

There were dark circles under her eyes, her hair was a mess and she looked tired, very tired. Tina was shaking, sweating, and crying all at once. The sight pained Kartik's heart even more.

Kartik :- No, I am sorry !! It's not going to happen, Tina. You can offer me anything, beg, and cry until you pass out from exhaustion, but I am not giving you anything except water, aspirin, and light foods.

Tina lowered her head and cried more. Kartik pulled her in for a gentle, loving hug, letting her lay her head on his chest. Kartik rubbed her arms and back a little.

Kartik :- Ssh now. It's going to be okay.

He didn't know if it would help, but he was willing to try anything at this point.

Kartik :- I know it hurts, and it will go away, if I let you have what you're craving, but that stuff isn't good for you, Tina, it will ruin you and I'm not like those people. I'm not gonna give you drugs to fix things. I promise you, that once this passes, you'll feel better, trust me.

They say quietly for a moment, Kartik holding Tina in his arms. Her cry subsiding for a moment.

Tina :- why are you so nice to me ?

Kartik froze. Tina had asked the question so softly that Kartik had almost missed it.

Tina :- my previous masters were always rough and mean. They used to hit me. I only remember what they taught me and if I did good, they used to give me a shot. They never cared for me like you do. They never held me the way like you do.

Kartik pulled back and looked at her. From the last few days Kartik was constantly seeing her in a state of constant vulnerability, but at the moment Kartik saw something else. A small hint of innocence. An emotional vulnerability in her eyes, which he was seeing for the first time.

Although Kartik had bought Tina, he didn't see her as a slave, he would have her rather as a friend, but he also knew that at this point Tina saw him as her master and nothing else. He was almost sure but Tina had confirmed that her previous captors treated her with nothing but cruelty. He wondered if he showed her, that he wouldn't hurt her, she would eventually see him as a friend and not as her master.

Kartik :- Tina, I am not like them. I am not your master, but rather I am your friend.

Tina :- why did you buy me ? They said that you bought me because-

Kartik :- hey, i don't care what they said to you. What they said, it doesn't matter. My reasons why I bought you are my own. I care about you Tina, and for now that's the only thing that matters.

Tina didn't say anything nor did she nod. She just looked at him, like she was seeing him for the very first time.

She yawned, and Kartik understood that she was going to sleep. Kartik's hands grabbed the edges of his t-shirt which Tina had been wearing. Tina raised her arms as he slowly removed it. It had puke over it. She was completely naked. He also needed to buy clothes for her.

Kartik slowly and gently washed her face. He slowly picked her up from the floor in his arms and carefully took her to his bedroom and laid her down on the bed. The whole time she kept staring at him, like she was seeing more and more of him each second.

Kartik smiled gently and leaned down to kiss her on the forehead.

Kartik :- get some rest. I'll be in the living room.

As soon as he was about to get up, Tina suddenly reached forward and grabbed his hand. She didn't say anything just tucked his hand between her breasts and closed her eyes. Slowly her breathing evened out as she fell asleep.

Kartik looked at her as she slept. Tina looked so beautiful, so peaceful, so relaxed, like the past few days hadn't happened at all. But he knew that this was only temporary, she would wake up as soon as her body revolted again. He just prayed for this phase to be over without any complication.

Kartik didn't want to leave her but had to. He needed to clean and then cook something light for her. What she had eaten earlier, she had puked all of it. Kartik gently extracted his hand from her grip and covered her with a duvet. He kissed her on the forehead again and went out of the room.

Kartik went to the bathroom and flushed the toilet. Kartik washed his hand and face, he picked up the t-shirt and put it in the laundry bag before going to the kitchen. He started making something light to eat for both him and Tina.

As Kartik cooked, he couldn't help but reflect back on what Tina had said.

Why did he buy her ? Why did he take her ?

WHY ?

That was the biggest question. And to be honest, it was the only question which mattered at all.

It wasn't just lust, of that much he was sure. His lust alone wouldn't make him do such an inhumane thing. No it was something else. Kartik had felt lust before, but that lust always faded after he spent one night with that person, but for Tina, it didn't fade, rather it increased after the first time he had sex with her and it had made him insatiable.

And now ,when she was sick, the lust had completely faded out, like it wasn't even there in the first place. The only thing he felt for her was concern. He wanted her to be well, not because so he could satisfy his lust, but because he genuinely wanted her to get better.

He had known her for less than a week, but he already cared for her a great deal, which surprised even himself. It hurt him every time, when she puked or cried, or whenever she begged him for drugs, or whenever she called him master. That word alone created so much distance between them, which he'd rather not have.

But that again begged the same question as before. Why ? Why did he care for her so much ? And that too, in such a short time, more than half of which had gone by him taking care of her. He knew nothing about her, except for her name, which was definitely not her real name. He hadn't even talked to her properly.

Kartik couldn't help but think of that night when he had first seen her. As soon as Kartik had seen her, he knew that he wanted her. And now as he properly thought, he realised that it wasn't just lust, it was something else too. A feeling which he couldn't name, but which had suddenly reignited his soul, as soon as he had seen her. A feeling which already threatened his cold, dark heart to care for someone else other than himself and his family.

He was pulled out from his thoughts when his phone started ringing. Kartik realised that he was almost finished cooking and he quickly turned the gas off , the food was about to get burnt. He wiped his hand and pulled out his phone from his shorts to look who was calling him ? It better not be someone from the company.

It was Keerti, he picked it up.

Keerti :- hi.

Kartik :- hey.

Keerti :- Tina tere saath hai ?

Kartik :- nahi, abhi so rahi hai, just thodi der pehle hi soyi hai.

Keerti :- how is she ?

Kartik :- what do you think ?

Keerti :- i know, but I'm still asking. Aaj fourth day hai withdrawal ka, toh abhi aane wale 2-3 din jyada dhyaan rakhna. Jo symptoms maine WhatsApp par likh kar bheje hai, agar vo aaye, immediately take her to the hospital. Agar ye 2-3 nikal gaye, toh dheere dheere she'll start improving.

Kartik :- hmm.

Kartik was feeling horrible because of Tina's condition. Keerti was quiet for a moment before she spoke.

Keerti :- how are you ?

Kartik was quiet for some time before speaking.

Kartik :- to be honest, I don't know.

Keerti:- wow, the great Kartik Goenka doesn't know something. Well, now I am surprised.

Kartik growled :- Keerti, mere pass tere mazaak ke liye time nahi hai, mera mood bahut kharab hai, isse aur kharab mat kar.

Keerti snapped :- aur main bhi koi mazak nahi kar rahi. Teri harkat ki wajah se mood meri bhi mood off hai.

Kartik :- maine tughse pehle bhi kaha hai ki iss baare mein hum baad mein baat karenge, abhi bas mughe Tina ki fikar hai.

Keerti :- vo mughe bhi hai, warna baar baar tughe call nahi karti. Tu bhi dhyan rakh ki as much as I am angry with you, I am on your side.

Kartik went quiet for a moment before he spoke softly.

Kartik :- I know, I am sorry.

On the other end of the phone, Keerti was shocked. Kartik never apologized. He would acknowledge his mistake, but he would certainly never say that he was sorry. As much as she was angry at Kartik for the disgusting act that he had done, she also couldn't deny the fact that what he had done, had already started changing him. Her brother was taking care of some stranger, was asking for help, was apologising for his mistakes, it was a side of her brother which she hadn't seen in many years.

Keerti :- main baad mein baat karoongi, mughe update dete rehna.

Kartik :- Keerti, vo mughe kuch puchna tha ?

Keerti :- haa bol.

Kartik :- Tina ne aaj thoda sa apne past ke baare mein mention Kiya.

Keerti was immediately alerted.

Keerti :- kya ? Exactly kya bataya, ki vo kahan se hai ? Ya apna asli naam ? Ya apni family ya parents ke baare mein ? Ya apne sheher ka namm ? Ya-

Kartik:- ek min. Keerti, aisa kuch nahi boli.

Keerti :- toh phir kya batayi ?

Kartik :- bas ye ki jinke saath vo pehle rehti thi, vo ussey marte the. Aur I don't think ki ussey apne past ke baare mein kuch bhi yaad hai. So I was wondering if you have any idea about this ?

Keerti went quiet for a long time which already made Kartik anxious.

Kartik :- Hello Keerti, are you there ?!

Keerti :- yeah, yeah, sorry, I zoned out.

Kartik :- do you have any about what I told you ?

Keerti :- yeah, I do. God, I was hoping to avoid this.

Kartik asked worriedly :- avoiding what ?

Keerti :- Kartik, it means ki unhone ussey physical ke saath mentally bhi torture Kiya hai.

Kartik growled :- what !!

Keerti :- yeah, removing the drugs just means ki uski body mein koi drugs nahi hai. However, it doesn't account for any of the mental or emotional trauma of things jo unn drugs ne supress kiya hoga.

Kartik :- matlab, tu mughe saaf saaf bata Keerti ?

Keerti :- first of all, humme ye nahi pata ki vo kitne time se drugs par thi, aur Tina ne kaha tha, ki jab bhi vo log ussey khush hote the, vo ussey drugs dete the, matlab ki drugs Dene se pehle vo ussey completely andar se tod chuke the, aur drugs ke use se vo trauma brain mein aur bhi piche shift ho gaya hai. Extended long term drug abuse ke side effects abhi badd mein dekhne ko milenge. Aur ye log inn kidnap kari hui ladkiyon se apni baat manwane ke liye, kisi bhi hadd tak jaa sakte hai. Mental trauma can stay with a person for a long time and inn drugs ne ussey block kar diyo hoga, toh phir ye uss trauma se bachne ke liye ye baar baar unn logo ki baat maante hai, taaki inhe drugs mil sake.

Kartik was horrified.

Kartik spoke softly :- unn logo ne aisa bhi kya kiya hoga uske saath !?

Keerti :- depends, ki vo pehle kaisi thi ? Agar wo ek strong willed ladki thi ya kamzor Dil ki, aur iss case mein mughe feeling aa rahi hai, ki it was the former aur aise case mein vo logg kisi bhi hadd tak jaa sakte hai. Was she a virgin ?

Kartik hesitated a bit before responding.

Kartik :- yeah. You mean to say ki unhone ussey torture Kiya ?

Keerti :- Kartik, tune mughe bataya, ki Tina ne shuruwat ke ek do din kaise behave kiya tha. She was completely obedient to you aur withdrawal ke time par bhi she begged you to punish her because she thought that you were unhappy and she calls you master. Iska matlab hai ki unhone poori koshish kari hai, Tina ko ek mindless slave banane ki, ussey unn logon ne train kiya hai inn sab ke liye. They didn't rape her to keep her virginity intact, but usko aur tareekon se torture kiya hoga. She was probably denied food, whipped, chained up, molested, given electrical shocks, drugs aur na jaane kya kya, so that by the end, she remembers nothing of her past, she only knows how to obey her master, no matter what he says. If she does good, she is given a shot, if she doesn't, she is punished.

Fists clenched, Kartik was seething with rage as he heard all that. He felt so angry. He would kill those people if they ever came in front of them.

Keerti :- drugs ke baad, there will be underlining problems such as the trauma, jo usne endure kiya hoga. It's not going to be easy, and it's a very delicate matter, Kartik. Getting clean from drugs will not heal her, ye toh bas shuruwat hai ek lambe Safar ki, Tina ko rehabilitate hone mein abhi time lagega.

Kartik spoke with a heavy voice as tears burned his eyes :- how can I help her ?

Keerti :- it's the same thing as rehabilitating abused and injured animals. Ye poora same process hai. Tughe slowly uska trust gain karna hoga, show her affection, love, taaki ussey ye realize ho ki vo safe hai, and everything is okay and you are not going to hurt her.

Kartik :- I'll do that.

Saying that Kartik cut the call. Kartik couldn't bring himself to speak anymore than that. He was feeling too emotional, his throat felt heavy, like someone had stuck something in there.

Kartik went up to the room where Tina was still sleeping and he sat beside her and gently started caressing her head.

He couldn't even imagine what Tina must have endured. Just hearing about it had caused him to become so emotional, so angry, but Tina had actually suffered all of that.

Then and there Kartik decided something which he said as a promise to Tina.

Kartik said softly :- i promise you, I'll take care of you from now on. Agar poori zindagi bhi mughe tumhara khayal rakhna padega, toh main rakhoonga. You are my responsibility from now on, and I won't let anyone hurt you again, ever.

A/N :- So guys, how was it ? Please vote and tell me in the comments.

If you have any ideas , please tell me in the comments or you can message me personally. Sorry for not replying on the comments of previous chapter.

I DON'T PROMOTE ANY KIND OF DRUG USAGE, VIOLENCE, TORTURE BEATING OR ANYTHING ELSE HARMFUL THINGS MENTIONED IN THE CHAPTER.