The Curse of That Night by Rochak Bhatnagar

shown some improvement. Though, she is still unconscious. But don’t worry. She will be fine.”
    “Thanks Doctor,” Abhijeet said and felt a bit relieved…
     

 
     
     
    Chapter 25
    Malvika and Abhijeet
     
     
     
     
     
    Malvika regained consciousness and she saw him looking at her.
    “You?” she muttered.
    Abhijeet wanted to run away. He wanted to turn invisible in that moment. When he saw hatred in her eyes, he realised that he was not prepared for it.
    “What are you doing here?” she asked.
    “I heard what happened and I…” he was short of words. He looked at her face. There was worry and fear, at the same time there was anger and hurt.
    Abhijeet was crushed.
    “And? You heard what happened and suddenly you realised you love me? Mr. Raichand, I don’t need your help and your money. So please leave.”
    “No, Malvika. I just want to help. You and Aarti… ”
    “Oh, you do? How come you suddenly realised your mistake?”
    Abhijeet said nothing.
    “Well, in that case Mr Raichand, I do not need your help. I do not need your love. I do not need your money.”
    Malvika looked as if she had more to say, but she turned away. She was too worried about Aarti and her case than her own well being.
    Abhijeet looked away. He couldn’t bear to see her cry. Not again!
    They stayed there in silence; no one uttered a word. He looked at Aarti and Darsh, both having apologetic expression on their faces.
    “Malvika,” Abhijeet said.
    Malvika looked at him.
    “I love you.”
    Abhijeet hugged her and surprisingly, she did not protest. She felt warm in his embrace. Her body was burning up, with fever. She stayed in his arms for some time. She cried. She did not say anything.
    Abhijeet had been too late. He should have been there from the very start, the time he got to know about Aarti’s rape. He should have been with them all the while. Should have protected them.
     
    Abhijeet woke up the next morning and saw Malvika still sleeping in his arms. He lifted himself a bit and adored her beautiful, calm face. Her eyes were serenely closed and her face looked relaxed, with no signs of panic or fear caused by that accident. She was sleeping peacefully, in the arms of her love.
    “I wish to see you the first thing in the morning,” Abhijeet murmured. “I have realised my mistake Malvika. I will, I will fight this case,” he decided and left.
     

 
     
     
    Chapter 26
    Darsh
     
     
     
     
     
    All his hopes of making his sister someone he could never be, went down the drain after that night, as he saw Aarti retreat even further from the world. Darsh tried everything. He tried to evoke every possible emotion in her, but it seemed she had shut down all her emotions. Darsh even tried to ask her to go and tell the police what actually happened or take the help of the media, but she did not respond.
    She would just do her daily chores. She would open her mouth to take the medicine or sip juice whenever Darsh asked her to. And finally go to sleep when the lights were turned off. She became a living Zombie, a robot.
    It was painful to see Aarti like that. And to feel that she might never come out of it…
    But he did not lose hope… and on that day she did respond…
     
    “Aarti we need to go to the police station right now. I want that asshole behind bars,” said Abhijeet.
    Aarti did not move.
    “What?”
    She was detached. She did not say anything; her eyes too didn’t say anything. She just walked out of the room and Abhijeet followed her.
    “What the hell is wrong with you Aarti? You want those motherfuckers rot in hell or not?” Abhijeet almost screamed.
    “I can’t,” said Aarti in a low tone.
    Abhijeet held her hands and gave it one more shot. He could not afford to give up so easily.
    “Aarti, look at Malvika. She could have lost her life. We all are worried for you. We all want to fight for you. Please, you can’t just lose hope like this.” Abhijeet tried to convince her.
    Abhijeet looked at Darsh.