Chapter 29

Warning. DO NOT READ if you can't handle sensitive topics.

I stirred my drink lazily as I stood near the counter. The bartender was serving others. I was a bit nervous as it was my first time in the club. But my friends insisted that it was the right time for initiation. My twenty first birthday.

I was in a purple knee length body con dress and looking drop dead gorgeous. I knew it because my best friend was the one who did my makeup. She always does the best makeup. I just had a sip of the drink in my hand and it was so sour. Why do people even like this? Yes, it was my first time drinking alcohol.

I noticed a few men eyeing me. Some of them were my friends or friends of friends. Honestly, that felt uncomfortable. I pulled my dress down a few times and it was not even that short or vulgar according to the settings.

My best friend came with Raghav towards me, he was one of the people who was eying me. She urged me to go dance with him. I whispered in her ear that I was uncomfortable. But she said that I was just nervous and I should live life a little. Not wishing to be a party popper on my own birthday I agreed to dance with him.

Initially, it was fine. But then he started coming closer. I kept distancing myself from him. But he took it as an invitation. He slowly started touching my hand, then my shoulder then my waist. I honestly wanted to shout but it felt like my voice was lost in my throat. His hands inched lower from my waist. At that point something in me snapped. I pushed him with all my might and ran towards the bar.

I couldn't find my best friend. She must be nearby. Thankfully, the purse was on me the entire time. I called her and she picked up.

"Where are you?" I shouted over the loud noise.

"I am outside, will be leaving in a bit." She spoke.

"Wait for me. I'm leaving right now." I said on my way towards the exit.

"Okay I'm near the parking." She said and hung up.

It was not like she was my only friend. I had others too. But they were not as close as her. She was my best friend, Riya. Her behavior today was very out of the blue. She usually partied till the morning. I didn't think much about it. Maybe something came up.

When I reached the parking lot, there was no one there. Where is she? I called her. It showed she was busy. She'll definitely call back. At that moment, Raghav and three of his friends came out of the club. He was on call with someone. My instincts said run. I searched for a guard. But there was none. Why is there no guard here? Riya said it was a reputed club. A safe spot.

One of them noticed me and pointed towards me while saying something to others. I removed my heels and ran. There was no settlement in the area nearby. I ran in one direction on the road. Why is there no taxi? Why did I come in Riya's car? I could see settlements before me.

I shouldn't have increased my hopes so much. I was so wrong. The place was in ruins. Steps caught pace never leaving me.

I ran as fast as I could fearing what would happen if I could not. No, don't think about it. Don't think just run. I could hear steps behind me, telling me there was no way out. I knew that but this wasn't the time to believe that. If there was even a 0.01% chance I would grab it. Run, run, run... I kept chanting to myself.

And so I ran through the dark alley. I could see the ruins of the buildings in some of the streetlights which still worked. I turned around to see how far they were. The biggest mistake I made in my life. They weren't near but stumbled over a broken bottle of beer and I fell. The glass pierced through my skin. I pressed my hand to my mouth to muffle a scream. Tears were running through my eyes.

Blood was rushing out of the wound, but I couldn't wait I had to run. Their drunken shouts and loud footsteps were getting near. They were having fun chasing their victim. I tried to get up but I couldn't walk it was difficult to even take a step forward. But I somehow limped into a storehouse that had a broken lock. I could see blood dripping from my wound, just hope others won't notice it.

Nearly all the windows were broken which was bringing pale moonlight into the room. There was a thick layer of dust covering the whole room. Blue drums were kept in the room upside down. I hid inside one of them. After that everything was dark.

Water still fell from my eyes from fear or pain I don't know. I silenced myself but it was of no use as in a few minutes someone entered the room. The voice sent chills down my spine.

"Baby, where are you? You know you can't hide from me." It was Raghav.

My blood betrayed me that day. I knew that he had found me. I still kept quite even when tears were streaming down my eyes. A bit of hope that he won't find me. But that hope shattered as soon as he picked up the drum.

In the dim light he looked like the worst kind of monsters. I was sitting in a crouched position. He checked me out. Eyes removing my clothes, I shivered in fear. He smiled and I knew there was a good possibility that this was my last night in this world. How will my parents find me? I hope they never find my body.

He grabbed my hair and pulled it so that I had to stand. The sound of drum falling back was drowned by my scream. I had not realized then that it was just one of many.

My hand went up to my hair, desperately trying to remove his. In that moment his other hand went on my neck and he whispered near my ear. "Still playing hard, don't worry after today everyone will know what a slut you are."

"Please let me go Raghav. I don't want this." I tried to reason with him trying to push his hand on my neck. But the more I pushed the tighter it got.

"Dekh aayi na please pe. Ab dikha aag. Ab hata mera haat." He said touching my breast. (You came back to begging. Now show me your  fire. Now remove my hand.)

I had never felt dirtier than what I had felt in that moment. I hated the entire world including myself. But my mouth only uttered words of pleas as my eyes watered.

"Please, please, please let me go. I won't tell anyone."

"Why would I let you go? You were asking for it."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Please. Please. PLEASE"

The next morning I was found with scratches all over me, four broken bones, a broken rib and memories of being raped by four people.

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