"Sandy Pandy..." Ved winced after he registered my battered image.
He got up from his spot and walked towards me with a pale look. Once he reached me, he moved his right hand forward to check my wounds and cursed as his fingers got covered with blood after rubbing below my left eye.
After roaming his eyes all over me, Ved took off his jacket and covered me. He didn't say anything, but the way his body was going rigid and eyes were turning into slits, I understood that he was going to turn into a Red Hulk soon if I didn't assure him that I and Ayush were not in danger anymore.
"We are okay, Ved," I said and placed the water jug on the floor.
"You are fucking bleeding, Sandhya," he said in frustration.
"He is right, dude. We need to call the police this instant," Shreyas said.
"I already did it after discussing with Ayush's dad, and I have called the ambulance too; they will be here in a few minutes," Shree informed.
Nikhil picked up my phone from the floor and told me that he would inform my parents. He helped Ayush sit on the bed and dialled my dad's number. Few minutes later, he was done informing everyone about what had happened and was beside me, looking like a lost child.
"Sandhya, why didn't you call us?" he questioned.
"Actually, that didn't cross my mind till we got rid of the assaulter," I said.
"Where is he?" Shreyas asked.
"We have locked him up." Ayush pointed at the washroom.
"Ved." I grabbed Ved's arm when he started heading towards the washroom like an enraged bull.
Shreyas and Nikhil helped me in holding him back and told him that getting involved with the culprit would make the matter more worse. And if Ved didn't calm down, he would end up in jail for murdering an unconscious person.
"He deserves to die," Ved huffed.
Shree patted Ved's shoulder and told him to think clearly and glimpsed at me. He gave me a knowing look, and when my slow brain registered what he meant, I nudged Ved to come with me and dragged him outside the room. He kept scolding me for getting hurt and not calling him before jumping in the action.
He was happy that his best friend and I were still alive, but he wasn't happy to see us in such a state. He kept rambling and blaming himself for failing in looking after Ayush; he was disappointed in himself. I let him talk his heart out, but once we reached downstairs, I flicked his forehead.
"It is not your fault, Ved."
"How is it not my fault?" He shook his head. "You are in this condition all because of me."
"Ved-"
"No. Don't try to tell me otherwise. Look at yourself, Sandhya. Do you think I am really happy to see you like this?"
"I don't need your scolding at this moment, Princess," I murmured. "I was expecting a hug, you know."
"I won't hug you." He backed away.
"Why not?" I yelled.
"You are hurt. What if I crushed you, and you died in my arms?"
"What an idiot." I grabbed his shirt and pulled him towards me.
I wrapped my arms around his waist and sighed in relief. "Thank goodness, my Natural Heater is still working."
"Always trying to be a superhero," Ved mumbled under his breath but moved his hands over my back.
He rubbed my back in a slow motion and kissed the top of my head. I looked up at him and told him to stop worrying. He caressed my cheek and planted a long kiss on my forehead. I smiled and hugged him tightly.
"Kid."
I looked over my shoulder when I heard Rajeev's voice. He and Mayank strode towards us and queried us about what happened. I moved from Ved's arms into Rajeev's embrace, who started his own round of lectures along with praising me for not backing down in front of the sexual offender.
Mayank joined him and after making sure that I was okay, he told me to rest while he took care of everything. Soon, an ambulance arrived with two police jeeps, and a lot of personal vehicles in tow. One by one, the medical and police officials entered the house and Mayank briefed them about the whole scenario.
While he guided them, my parents arrived with Nikhil's parents, followed by Parth and my girl gang. The moment all of them landed their eyes on me, it was a complete chaos. Mom, Dad, Avasthi Uncle and Aunty almost had a heart attack after seeing me, but they managed to survive. Dad told Mom not to hug me to death and began crying when his turn came.
"Dumbo!" Surbhi shouted and jumped on me.
"Nice to see you too, bestie." I laughed.
"How can you laugh in this situation? We thought you died, you jerk," Divya scolded and joined the hug.
Rashi and Tanya joined us too while crying their eyes out. Ved told them to be careful of my injuries and suggested them to let the medical personnel attend to me first, and then they could beat me up all they wanted.
"Okay." Surbhi nodded and made space for a nurse who came in my direction with a first-aid kit.
Under everyone's hawk like gaze, the nurse checked the severity of my wounds and cleaned them. When I told her the places where I was hit, she took me to a separate room and asked Mom to accompany me. A doctor did a whole checkup and advised Mom to get me admitted as soon as possible because I had suffered a few internal injuries apart from the exterior ones.
Mom nodded in agreement, and a few seconds later, I was on a stretcher and being put in the ambulance. The moment I laid my head on the pillow of the temporary bed, I felt a jolt of pain pass through my body, and my eyes took in the concerned faces of my loved ones before blacking out.
I woke up after being passed out for one whole day, and when I opened my eyes, I curled up my lips when I saw Natural Heater cutting fruits for me. Mom was talking to Dadi (grandmother) on the phone, while Surbhi and Parth were arguing over who would stay by my side today.
"Woke up?" Ved asked without looking at me.
"Where's Ayush?" I questioned.
"He is in his personal ward," Parth replied and went to inform the doctor that I had woken up.
When the doctor arrived, he did his routine checkup and once he had confirmed that there was nothing to be concerned about, he warned Mom not to stuff me with home cooked food instantly. Mom nodded and told Ved to take care while she informed Dad about the improvement.
"Aren't you going to feed me?" I complained to Mom.
"Ved is here, no?" she said and dialled Dad's number.
"You are supposed to eat an apple, Sandy Pandy, not look like one." Ved smirked and dropped a piece of the fruit in my mouth.
"Thank you." I grinned and fake glared at Surbhi when she kept glancing between me and Ved with a teasing look.
"Is this the right time to talk to her?" A police officer asked before entering inside my hospital room.
"They want to file your statement for the FRI," Parth informed. "We can tell them to do it later if you aren't ready yet."
"No, I am okay. Let's get that motherfucker hanged up as soon as possible," I said and got up from my bed with my friends' help.
"Thank you for your cooperation." The police officer smiled and guided me towards Ayush's ward.
As we followed him, Ved held me by my waist and told me to be careful as the questions could trigger the memories. I listened to his advice, and we got inside Ayush's room where a few police officials were taking a statement from him, and his parents were looking over him with a guilty look. His grandfather was in turn looking at Ayush's parents disappointingly, but when he noticed me, he patted my head and thanked me for protecting his grandson.
"Are you prepared for the questionnaire, Miss Sandhya?" one of the policemen asked.
I nodded and sat down beside Ayush after he asked me to. I patted his left arm and started answering the questions one by one. Since the process involved a lot of personal queries, everyone was told to exit the room. Only Ved was allowed to stay because he was also a victim and his experience was required to strengthen the case.
"Thank you so much for your support, Sandhya," the police officials said and left the room after completing the formalities.
I also started leaving, but Ayush grabbed my wrist; he requested me to stay and apologized for my current state. I let out a huge breath and took his hands in mine.
"Ayush, why are you blaming yourself again?"
"I should have died that day only. First, I got Ved involved, and now you also got harrassed because of me," he cried.
"Bro, it is not your fault," Ved said.
"It is. Only if I hadn't acted like a crybaby and blamed Sandhya for everything, none of this would have happened," Ayush argued.
"It wasn't you who started it, Ayush. If anyone who should be blamed is me; I was the one who insulted her for bringing that doll as a gift. If I hadn't made fun of her, then other kids wouldn't have targeted you." Ved looked at his best friend with hurtful eyes.
"But I also didn't do anything to defend myself. All I did was yell at her and hide in my room."
"What are you saying? I know you liked that doll the instant you saw it, but it was my jealousy which ruined your birthday. If I had acted a bit mature and not blamed Sandy Pandy, you wouldn't have suffered so much."
"How can I blame you? You fought to save me, Ved. If you hadn't been there, that asshole would have murdered me for sure."
"But still-"
"Are you guys done playing the blame game?" I scolded.
Ved and Ayush didn't reply and kept exchanging worried glances. I let them do that for some time before I called Ved to sit on Ayush's other side and warned them not to say a single word against themselves. Ved did as ordered and wrapped an arm around his friend's shoulders.
"First of all, remember one thing that none of us, neither you, Ved, or me are at fault. The one who is to be blamed is that assaulter and no one else. We all were kids, Ayush; were we aware of what was going to happen? Even now did we know that the person was out jail and was planning on getting revenge? No, right?
"We should be fortunate that we are alive. And do you really think that I blame you for my condition? Do you believe that I wouldn't have done anything and let you get harrassed right in front of my eyes just because you said you hated me? I know that you never meant those words, Ayush, but I had nothing to debate because I wasn't aware of what happened in past," I said.
I cupped Ayush's face in my palms and told him to look me in the eyes. "I know I forcefully made you my best friend in school, but I never thought of hurting you. I was happy to see Ved jealous, but I really cherished you - I still do. Even though we are the same age, you are like my little brother, Ayush, and though I didn't say it aloud, but I had promised myself that I wouldn't let anyone harm you.
"Honestly, I was a little hurt to see you ignore me in college, but I can't blame for you being careful. And as for you continuously reminding me that you hated me, do you really think I ever believed that whole-heartedly? You can be mad at me, but you never hated me - and no one can change my mind about it."
Ayush's face got stained with tears as he heard me assure him that no matter what happened, he was still my friend, and he could depend on me just like he did on Ved.
"I am sorry for not being there for you when you needed me the most, but now I am here; you can rely on me." I smiled and patted his head.
Ayush pulled me in a hug as Ved patted his back. "I missed you, Sandhya," Ayush said.
"I missed you too, best friend." I broke the hug and pinched his cheeks.
I glanced at Ved, who was smiling at us like a mother. He caressed Ayush's hair and told him to rest; he had already dehydrated himself and it was time for his medicines too. After making sure that Ayush was asleep, Ved and I exited his room and joined our friends.
"Is he okay?" Surbhi asked.
"Yes," Ved said.
"You should rest too, Sandhya. You look like you will faint any minute," Parth pointed out.
"I am not that weak," I defended.
"Yes, we know, Superwoman," Surbhi commented.
I smacked her behind the head, and she was about to hit me but stopped when she remembered that I was still a patient. Ved supported me till I went back in my hospital bed and informed Mom that all of the procedures were taken care of.
"Thank you so much, beta." Mom smiled at Princess.
"Beta ya damaad (son or son-in-law)?" Surbhi blurted out, and I punched her in the stomach.
"Sweet dreams," I said and closed my eyes before my best friends embarrassed me more.
Thanks to the medicines, I felt myself drifting off to sleep, but before I completely got engulfed by the darkness, I felt a very familiar hand engulf mine, and a huge smile crept up my lips as I heard something before getting thrown into the dreamland - I didn't know if I heard it right or was just hallucinating.
"Hope you are dreaming of me, Sandy Pandy."
Of course, Princess. My mind is very efficient when it comes to that.