030

Vijay wanted to disclose everything at once infront of the family. They deserves to know that their golden child Achintya is not that golden anymore. But he kept his mouth shut while imagining the shock they all are about to get.

Everything was done. The plan he made was fullproofed and without of any flaws could be easily executed, that untill Achintya will even get the whiff of it, the deed would be done.

"So Achintya Babu did that?" He heard the boy standing at the distance asking that. He was the same boy to whom Achintya has kicked out from the garage he used to work at all because his girlfriend said few bad things to the Niyati Mishra.

"What do you think? Ofcourse it is Achintya who is behind that." Shekhar replied.

"But..but why would he do that? How..how come he is even aware about me? What have I done?"

"Oh..no..no. don't give all the credit to yours only. Safe some for your girlfriend" answered Shekhar taking a deep puff. Snickering a loud when the man's eyes narrowed hearing the mention of the girl. He didn't have expected them to know this, Shekhar was sure.

But what he doesn't know was how for the last two weeks, Vijay and Shekhar are doing dog laps to gather as much as information they can about the Niyati and people she is connected with.

"Asha? What Achintya baby has to do with her?" It was clear from the way Mukesh asked the question his mind surely went to Achintya's reputation and his charming personality.

"Calm your houses Mukesh.. Shekhar you too, shut up. Achintya, my dearest brother is involved with your girlfriend's friend.. Niyati Mishra. It is about the time I reckon when your girlfriend got wild and attacked the Niyati. Achintya shacked you off to take the revenge on the girl because as I'm sure..my brother wouldn't hurt a woman willingly."

It was as if the thunderbolt has stricken him that Mukesh stood rooted to his spot. He for the sake of his life, couldn't believe what he has just heard. Achintya Chaudhary and Niyati Mishra are the part of two different world, the banks of the river that are never supposed to met, the people who both belongs to the clans whose lives are miles apart.

And here he is, hearing about how the charming Achintya is involved with the sweet Niyati. How it might have even happened? Asha has told him many times that Niyati is the woman of the modern times, who grew up in the big city, has no qualm talking back no wonder she manages to capture the man's attention. On top of that, her enticing good looks only added to her charms.

His mind went to second thought that made his way to his brain, that it is because of that same Niyati that he has to shacked off from his work, stayed at the home for weeks suffering financially to gather resources to live the usual life of his, Asha spent those days crying and sobbing around the corners. His luxury was taken away from him for he has to keep the expenses in check, couldn't visit to places he likes to visit.

Fuck..his whole birthday plan was destroyed because of the stupid fight happened between the girls and Niyati snitching all that to the Achintya making him took the revenge from him.

Oh lord...

"Connected all dots?" Mocked Vijay seeing the red of his face. "Well..if you have, I have work for you. You know, to get back to the Niyati -"

"And Achintya Babu? Won't he..what he will do once he got to know? He literally shacked me off because Asha unintentionally hurt the girl..what he will do once he know about your plan?"

"Leave that to me. You don't have to worry about that..from what I know, you are planning to run off with your girlfriend. Here what you will do, after you played your character in the plan you can collect the five lacks from me and will never show your face in the Begusarai ever. "

Vijay knew, knew well enough that how much of a coward Mukesh was. He will surely tries to back out once Achintya's name will come but he also knew how much of a greedy bastard he also is, and he was right because just as Mukesh heard the talk about the money his eyes changes from fear to the excitement.

The fish has finally taken the bait.

"Here..this is what you will do.."

__

"...see..see this was why I was against the whole giving freedom to the girls. See, what Sahu's daughter had done. She blackened her father's face in front of the whole society, that poor man's reputation has been now become the stock of the laugh..oh lord..."

Niyati as well as others were compelled to listen to the Manorama's rant. Despite Niyati's swearing never to step foot in the same house as the old woman, she was forced today to come to the Shivangi dii's house where their grandmother has ordered everyone to come.

Standing near the staircase behind the Shivangi and Roopa, she listen as Manorama went on and on about the Asha, the venom dripping from her tongue.

"... involved with a mechanic? A mechanic? Oh..oh..how can she even thought of that? Did her family not taught her enough manners? Or did she decided to threw them away in the pretence of the freedom of having her own rights. In the olden times, girls' head would be rolling on the floor before she can even muster her mind- and in today's time..."

"Radha.. Roopa...come here. Come here at once." Manorama called her daughter-in-laws forward. "Listen you two..I do not want the repeat of what has happened in the Sahu's family. It doesn't matter to me what you two would think- Shivangi's marriage is around the corner and I need to funny business happening under my household. You Radha.." Manorama turned to the woman standing in the left passing a glance at Radha's daughter who is prone in running her tongue when not necessary.

"Your daughter has been turned to a beautiful woman who is not only furious but is expert in attracting the attention of where is not necessary-"

"Amma ji-"

"Ahh..ahh.. don't you go whitewashing her faults, Radha. Abhay Chaudhary, remember him?"

"He is just a child-" there is a limit to the nonsense one can utter freely and this is right here, Niyati decides to put the end.

"A child belonging to the powerful family. " Rebukes Manorama. The silly girl isn't understanding the depth of the situation and as the elder it is the duty of the Manorama to make her understand that. "The people he is around are different than the boy Niyati, what if- what if someone took the notice of you? People like them are dangerous. Dangerous! Don't you see?"

The words she was about to utter dies in her throat hearing her grandmother. This, right here, she is seeing the reality of just in what light her family view the Chaudharys. The glance she threw towards the other confirmed that thought.

Because it was clear, that whenever the topic about the Chaudharys will come, it doesn't matter who, all the Mishras stood together in one line ; they are the folk the family should not holds any connection with.

" The society here is not what you have loved in your whole life. People here strives for gossips and to throw stones at anyone they can. Today it is the Sahu's tomorrow it in will be someone else. I just don't want to be part of that list, not with Shivangi's marriage looming over us. A daughter must be the blessing but a daughter who is left alone as if the boat surviving in the rough sea is equivalent to the curse and..curse only. "

"And so..I would expect you two to keep your daughters in check. Shivangi is not to leave the house untill absolutely necessary and as for Niyati..she has to come straight to the home, no going to the friend's house or to the library or anywhere. I do not want the repeat of the situation happening in someone else's house."

_

The year was about to end,and Niyati couldn't help to think just how much have passed in these months. As the firecrackers exploded in the sky Niyati closes her eyes, her hand over her heart in which was clutched her chain, as she thought about the one person she so badly wanted to see.

Achintya was not in the Begusarai and yet, Niyati wanted him here. Whenever Manorama's words come back to her, she can't help but to let fear grip her heart. Tightly, sometime so tightly it made breathing a job for her.

Hugging the razai closer to her, Niyati's hand hovered over the cellphone, his number on the screen. She hasn't talked much in the few days, saw one another in the days  all because soon the stupid election results will be out, and that is why Achintya has to be in Patna.

She couldn't understand the reason behind it and he didn't even explained properly, just a simple "papa ordered.."  and that is why he has to be there.

Really..who does that?

Niyati wanted to share the burden she was carrying for the days. Wanted to hear his voice, his calm, confident tone to assure her, that everything will be fine.

There was also an added burden called Vijay Chaudhary which she badly wanted to tell Achintya about. Because for the past few days, Niyati couldn't help but to keep noticing that man with his friend all around her. He is in the college, around the Main Street from where she sometimes takes the auto, sometimes Niyati has seen him littering around the Central library one time she visited few days back. It was as if, there was too much Vijay Chaudhary around her and for some reason his eyes are always pointed towards her or onto her.

Her intuitions could be wrong.. definitely wrong..but Niyati still couldn't shake off the feeling sometimes. On top of that, his friend's smile has to be the most creepiest one she must have seen in her lifetime along with his crooked nose as if it is broken and then mended.

It evokes goosebumps all over her body even though she always stands atleast a miles apart from them.

The finger hovered over the green button as Niyati balanced the pros and cons of calling him this late. From how much she knows, Achintya is impulsive when it comes to her and him being him, could actually leads to him packing his things and returning back to the Begusarai all because she asked for him.

And so, she shouldn't call..it is wise thing to do -

The sound of the phone call ringing echoed in the room "hello" said Niyati with a breathless excitement.

"Hello Jaan..were you sitting right on the top of the phone-"

"Don't mock me, please..."

Sighing she clutches the phone tightly to her ear , "how are you? How is Patna? When are you coming back?"

"All of that at once? Wao! Anyway.. Patna is as Patna was. loud, chaotic and busy sometimes I even forgot when the sun has came and when the night will follow up. As for your other question, I am fine now since I got to talk to you..as for the last..I'll be in the Begusarai the day after tomorrow.."

"Really? You will be? Oh god..oh god.. thankyou Mata ji. Please..come soon Achintya -"

"Why? Missing me already?" Ahh..why he always has to tease her! Can't he just be a good.. boyfriend? And treat her nicely and gently.

"No. I am missing the free rides to the college. "

"Definitely Jaan.. definitely. I trust you.." and still Niyati could hear him snickering clearly in the speaker, "on the serious note, I miss you. A lot. More than you can think off." Warning her from the inside his words causes the warm glow erupts in her body.

"Tell me about your day-" said Niyati lying down comfortably on the bed as he recited his wonderful day which was hectic and busy and demanding and from which he just have gotten freed from.

As she heard his tone, Niyati couldn't help but to notice the tiredness lingering in his tone . He must be tired and from how much activities he has to do daily she can only guess how energy consuming of an experience it would be...

And so.. how can she burdened him with her worries too? Tell him exactly what is happening here?

She can't, Niyati realises...she really can't..not when he is miles apart working hard day and night, she can't just burden him more by sharing the worries of hers.

"Achintya.. please come back soon. " She will tell him once he come back. Yeah..that will be the right time.

"Soon.. Jaan soon. I love you. " And really..pressing the heel of her palm over her eyes Niyati savours the warmth that could only he can ignites in her. The assurance in his tone of whenever he said those words..those words she wants to hear all the time from his mouth..

"I love you. " She says, finding her emotions taking control of her as she blurted out "we-we will remain fine, right?"

Oh god..why she said that..he didn't speak for a long moment making Niyati thinks of her mistake. He is a sharp man..catches easily to things..surely he will somehow guess something is wrong with her..oh no..

"It will be. Trust me, we will be fine. " She heard in between the panic of her heart "and even if time tries to test us..it could not make me stay away from you, I promise you that, Niyati."

_

As the Wednesday rolls out, Niyati's happiness turned to the dust. Despite waiting for the whole day.. Achintya didn't came. He didn't came..but what came was the simple text explaining his absence because of the work related issue and the labours protests in their Patna factory."

It made the tears of frustration rolls on her cheeks which Niyati rubs furiously with the corner of her dupatta so not to gather the unwanted attention..and yet the more she wipes the more they came.

She was so excited for today.. excited by the thought of seeing him after days of not being able to, to tell him about the things and her worries all for it to go to the drains as his arrival was pushed back. Swolling hard, she looked forward to the road..and goosebumps were back on her limbs.

Vijay Chaudhary was here. Again. And from all the way she is ignoring him.. Niyati still couldn't shake his omnious presence away. According to the Reecha it is because she only has heard worst things about him from the Achintya whose words means world to her that she has made the stereotype of the Vijay Chaudhary in her mind.

Shivangi dii on the other hand told her very clearly to stay as far as away she can from him. "Out of the all of them, Vijay Chaudhary has to be the one I dislikes the most. And his friend, Shekhar..he is a complete maniac..he was after this girl who was my senior and when she rejected him, he would torture her daily from her way to home, in the market or by standing outside of her house so much so that she couldn't even come to give the papers. "

"And nothing could be done against him because he has the connection and the protection of the Chaudharys especially Vijay who threatened the girl's father and brother for even thinking of going to the police or the Phoolan Chaudhary."

It was a bit hard for Niyati to guess who was the worst in between them the both..but Shivangi solved that for her by concluding "it is Vijay Chaudhary. He has the power and authority, he could have stopped his friend, but instead he only encouraged him. Infact, he only got involved in the whole thing to shelter Shekhar.  People like them..they are worst. For him, that girl's life matters less than the obsession of his friend..it made me question what would he be doing if it was his own personal agenda. "

Shivangi, Niyati find was right. Because something is indeed quite sinister about him especially whenever his eyes is on her. The crazed look in there..it just made Niyati want to run miles and miles away from him.

Somehow at last, she manages to stop the auto and went to the home.

_

Her head throbs from the pain and when she bring her hand forward Niyati saw the blood in between her fingers. Slowly she pulls herself from the thin iron rod of the auto where her head was smashed when the auto stopped abruptly and saw Asha..

The vision infront of her was blurry and the panic gripped her when she finds the auto driver not moving..

"Niyati.. Niyati...help me..help me..." Asha's pale hands clutches her as she run to her, her face has spotches of dust, and her hand were bloodied and scratched.. "help me please.." she sobbed.

What..what is happening?

Why Asha is here? She was supposed to be locked in her home not wondering in between the road. And why the hell she look so disheveled..

Her hand was only turning worst as Niyati put pressure on her wound by her dupatta..first Achintya didn't came, then Reecha has to leave early because her sister gotten in a minor accident and then she has to leave the college at the very last because someone has stolen her lab note books.

The accident she has gotten into could have taken the cake if it was not for the Asha..

"What? Why are you here? Who did this you?"

"Please..I can't tell you..I can't tell you here..they are after me-"

"Who is after you? Asha..tell me?" Her loud shrill voice was making her headache worse as the fingers of her nails buries in Niyati's skin with the force " how come you are even here? You are supposed to be at your home-"

" I ran away. I ran away hoping to see Mukesh but in the way I met few druken people-" she sobbed harder and despite the pain of her head and hand Niyati tries to console her by patting her back.

"Calm down..calm down..look the auto got in the accident and the driver isn't moving..let me call the ambulance and then we both will -"

"No..no..no..we can't wait. They are coming here, I ran away but they are coming here-"

"I understand. But the driver -"

"Leave him. Leave him..we have to run.."

" I can't leave him here Asha. " Said Niyati at once, the blood loss taking toll on her as her vision starts blurring "beside, if those men were following you..they would have reached here till now..if they are not it means they are not coming after you."

As she takes her scratched hand from her, Niyati turned to take her bag from the inside of the auto missing the look of the frustration on Asha's face..

"Hello..hello..I'm talking from the Mg-13 road, there is-"

The mobile phone fell on the cemented road with a thud falling apart as Niyati turns to the Asha who has lost her mind.. " Have you lost your mind? Why did you do that?"

"I'm done pretending. I can't actually fathom to see your face for even a second..so I'm done.."  narrowing her eyes Niyati looked at the other girl who was wiping her face and hand in her dupatta and in the second was standing infront of her in her all usual glory looking the same Asha she was in the college who pushed Reecha and Niyati that day.

As she take a step nearer to her Niyati stood rooted to her spot.."how did you felt Niyati? How did you felt when Achintya Babu shacked Mukesh for you? Did you felt the joy..the happiness knowing you ruined our life." Her hands reaching for her hand covering her forehead and yanking it harshly as the few drops of the blood dropped on the floor .

Despite that, no sound of the pain came from her lips even when Asha scratches the back of wrist with force. Niyati's eyes looked unfocused as the blood flow in the steady way... "I didn't. I told him nothing - he knew..I tried..I'm sorry Asha..I always wanted to apologise but -"

"Keep that fake apology to yourself, you bitch. After ruining my life you are giving me the apology. Look where I am now..I drugged my parents' morning teas with the sleeping pills so I could leave the house..I have to run away from the Begusarai.. Mukesh is leaving his family behind too...all..all.. because of you. Because you manages to bait the biggest fish of the sea and now it is ready to do everything you say."

"Leave.. please, leave.." and Niyati's body gently away as her bag fell on the floor sliping from her grasp..

"Tell me Niyati..is Achintya Babu really is that blessed that even a person like you fell for him? What did he do for you? Did you already gave him your everything - your honour, your virtue -"

The slap echoed as Niyati's palm touches Asha's cheeks leaving the finger marks behind. "D-dont..don't talk about me in that manner, I'm not the one who drugged my parents' to elope with a boy."

The words stings more than the scratches she gave to the Niyati as Asha looked at her clenching her lips. Even in a time like this, she still is maintaining her grace, has the audacity of slapping her and talk back.

The sound of the vehicle came as their heads wiped to that, Asha's having glee on her face and Niyati having terror.

Clutching the rail of the auto to steady herself she watches Vijay Chaudhary emerging from the SUV along with his creepy maniac friend and who she now recognises as Mukesh who sent straight to the Asha but didn't even passes any glance towards her or to the finger marks on her cheeks.

The creepy looking man noticed that and snickered aloud "look..despite in this condition she still going around slapping people.." making Asha flush and embarrassed.

The briefcase was then tossed towards the Mukesh's feet with the carelessness as Vijay said "fuck off. Don't show your face ever again."

And Niyati's blood run cold.

What? Why ! What is happening..

"What do you think- you are doing?" Her breathing turns unsteady as her body feels more and more heavy, the darkness wanting to lay her in its embrace. "Asha..what?"

"Don't worry dearest Niyati -" and it bought the bile up her throat hearing the excitement in Shekhar's tone "- we will keep you safe from here. Safe and sound untill your purpose is done and then.."

"No..no..I'm not go- going anywhere.."

"Good thing. Because we are abducting you, that solves your problem."

And it is then, when her composure slipped and the loud sob left from her lips "no..no... Asha.. Asha..why you did that-"

"It is what people call Revenge, Niyati. Because of you Achintya Babu made my life hell and now it is our turn to return the favour." Said Mukesh. Her face has lost the colour and her cheeks were blotched with tears, and yet she paints the picture of the beautiful maiden that for a moment, Mukesh was about to ask that once things are over could he also has his turn-

"Fuck off you two. " Comes the order from the Vijay who has been observing the girl for some times. "Shekhar go start the car..I'm bringing her -"

"It is not because you did anything Niyati Mishra that you will suffer this fate but because you are involved with my dearest brother that you will suffer this fate. " Niyati heard those words as he pull her reluctant body towards the car and even though for she was close to fainting that she manages to mutter..

"Only a coward..a coward like you could..only do this.. don't..don't worry Vijay.. because I'm cursing.. cursing you all to suffer..even the worst fate than me.. remember my words Asha."

As her eyes finally closed and her knees hit the ground .

__

Uff..let's see how true Niyati's words are gonna turn and what these four have in the store for themselves.

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Fun fact :- the senior girl story is true and happened in the Punjab around 2013-14.

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