Chapter 4: chapter 4

SRUTHII mutter a curse as I inspect the tires of my car. It looks flattened. Not one tire but all four tires are flattened as if punctured. I have no idea how all four tires can be punctured when it is parked in the parking lot of a seven-star hotel. Unless someone had intentionally punctured it. I glance at my phone. There is still a solid twenty minutes for midnight. I didn’t realize it was too late. Once we started catching up, the time flew and we wouldn’t have stopped if Gabe hadn’t got an emergency call. She had to rush to the hospital where she is working temporarily until my marriage. It took me another ten minutes after she left to settle the bill and get down to the parking lot. I was ready to call it a day and head home to my comfortable bed but now I am bending over my car trying to figure out what the hell is wrong with it. I have seen on social media how pranksters were puncturing the cars that are parked in parking lots. That should have been the case. But as I look at the tires of other cars, I find them all intact. None of the other cars are punctured. Only mine seems to be damaged. Maybe, it was intentional.I take a deep breath. No, that can’t be the case. The pranksters should have run out of nails to puncture other car tires. I quickly stamp down the other arguments that rise in my mind and walk out of the parking lot to take a taxi back home. But the whole road is deserted. It is nearing midnight and this hotel is located on the outskirts of the city. It is not easy to get a taxi here. A quick look at the cab apps reveals that there is no taxi available in the nearby location. I call the first person who comes to mind. My brother. But I quickly cut the call when it starts ringing. I am a grown-up woman and I can take care of myself. I don’t have to depend on him for everything. I am getting married for God’s sake. Besides, he will be worried sick and I don’t want him to be worried. What should—The whole sky lights up like a day before there is a loud sound of thunder booming in the sky. Just as my luck would have it, a heavy rain breaks out. I run to the underground parking lot to take shelter from the rain. But I am already drenched and my white top has become transparent revealing the colour of my bra. Great! This is what I need the most now. Another thunder booms in the sky and I shiver from both the cold and fear. Swallowing my pride, I dial my brother but before I could call him, my phone rings. My brother should have seen that missed call from me.“Are you all right?” my brother asks, his voice is laced with concern that brings tears to my eyes. I am going to miss my brother after I get married. I love Praveen but I hate that we are moving to another city after our marriage. I hate that I have to be 15 hours away from my brother. But sometimes, we have to make tough choices and I made mine when I said yes to Praveen’s proposal.I draw in a sharp breath and keep the tears out of my voice as I reply, “I am fine. But, my car is not starting,” I lie because I am sure my brother would assume the worst if I tell him the truth. “I am stranded in the parking lot of  ‘IYU Hotel’ with no ride back. It seems luck is against me and a huge rain just broke out here.”“I will send someone to pick you up. Is Gabe with you?”“No, she got an emergency call and left half an hour ago.”“Okay, be careful. I will send someone there quickly.”I sigh, “Viky, stop worrying. You know I am a grown-up woman and I can take care of myself.”“Yes, I know—” his next words are abruptly cut off and I look at my phone. Shoot! My phone is drained out of battery. I blow out a breath and lean on my car thinking what I must do next. I can go inside the hotel and make a call to my brother but the problem is I don’t have my brother’s private number memorized. He keeps changing his number to escape spies who might tap into the number to listen for confidential information. I hear the sound of footsteps and I turn around to find a man exiting the hotel into the parking lot using the hotel’s elevator that opens directly into the lot. He is a middle-aged man in an expensive suit. His watch and bags scream filthy rich. I try to hide in the shadows. I don’t want to attract any attention when my top is transparent and revealing my innerwear. I hold my breath as the man passes my car and heads towards a sleek black sports car. I sigh in relief but my relief is short-lived as that middle-aged man starts walking towards me again. I was always a terrible hider. I suck when it comes to hiding. I still remember how my brother would find me easily whenever we played hide and seek. I try not to look at him thinking that he would ignore me if  I pretended that he doesn’t exist but there is no such luck. He comes and stands right before me. I still refuse to give him any attention. I keep looking at my car and then at the ceiling as if they are interesting pieces of art that need hours and hours of admiration.He clears his throat. I inwardly sigh. There is no way I can ignore him now. I look at his face to meet his eyes but his eyes are fixed on my chest. Annoyance ignites in me. I wave my hand before his face and snap, “Sir, my eyes are here.”He jerks his face up to meet my eyes as I cross my hands in front of my chest. But it does nothing to hide the dark colour of my innerwear that is still visible. Neither does it stop the perverted man from ogling me. I grit my teeth in anger. My fingers twitch and I have an irrational urge to throw my purse at him. I clear my throat and he looks up again at me with a smile that is creepy as hell. If he thinks that smile is going to win me over then he is wrong.“Do you require a ride home miss?” he asks in a polite and soft tone glancing at the tires in concern. But I am not swayed by it. I know what men like these want. Besides, my brother would have already sent someone to pick me up. I just have to wait for a few minutes.“No,” I answer and turn away from him hoping he would get the hint and leave. “Miss, it is not safe these days for a young woman like you to be alone in the out. Haven’t you heard about all the evil things that may befall you?” he asks taking a step forward. I take a step back and hit the wall. Panic sets in me. I don’t even know basic self-defence to protect myself. My brother wanted me to learn it for my safety but I was too afraid of violence and fighting to bother with the classes. Now, karma is taking revenge on me for ditching those classes.“The only evil thing that may befall her is a middle-aged man like you trying to convince her that you have clean intentions,” a deep voice sounds. Before I could blink, the man is pulled from my line of sight and thrown on the floor. Madhav stands next to the man lying on the floor with a hard and cold look on his face. He kicks the man in his stomach so hard that the man yelps in pain. But Madhav doesn't stop. He kneels on the floor and starts punching the man in his face. The middle-aged man spits blood as Madhav punches him hard.“STOP IT,” I shout not wanting to see any more blood or injury.❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥