Like a vintage radio playing alternative rock on a rainy day, like one fine day spent on the lap of cool shadow, as if the world I lived in would never flip overnight, I dreamt of living the same day, the same moment over and over, doing the same thing I did the day before. If it was me in the past, I would have done the same with the life I had left with me.
If this heartbreak was bound to happen, it might happen no matter how far I run away from it. Still, she might not choose to show her black and blue bruised skin. I wished she did not choose the same fate ever again. I wanted her to walk away gently and choose herself over anything else in this damned world where she was hurt and where she was left alone helpless.
Over life, we meet a dozen of people every month and some stay as a fleeting moment and some become the momentum of your soul. I was yet to decide if she was a moment or a momentum. I was shaking her off when she was pleading in silence, she wanted me to just let her be. What for? To get beaten to death?
"Just lemme be straight. File a complaint… Right now!"
I sensed pain in her face, she fought hard not to show but the bruises acted up when my arms slightly brushed against hers while the bus rode through a bumpy road.
"Look! You are not taking it seriously!", I knew I had to calm down, but I failed. I was so sensitive.
"YOU are not taking it seriously, Ash!", tears swelled up as she continued, "He is my dad, I know him more than you do! He used to be a sweet person too. I am sure he is a sweet person now too, only if the situation gets better…"
I couldn't speak further, she really believed what she said. She wiped off her tears and looked away. "Thank you!"
"Do you remember the first time we met? I was worried, I doubted I was friendly enough and I…to be honest…was not even needed… What am I even saying?", I scratched my head.
"You saved me today.", I was surprised, "How can you say that you are not needed?", Sita and Prakash's faces flashed for a fraction of a second, hearing Risha's words.
"It was painful to keep this little secret of mine. There were several days and nights I wished for someone to stay beside me and listen to my stories too. It is always me only listening to others, you know, I am okay now.
It was ten at night when we reached Risha's neighbourhood. It really took merely ten to fifteen minutes to her house from the shop. I was relieved she was not lying when she always had to travel alone every day late at night. The road was lit with dim street lights and I could barely find a person out in the streets. It was a calm area unlike ours where we had many shops and restaurants which attracted visitors twenty-four seven.
From the other side of the road, a silhouette approached us in an unbalanced state. We could see the person stumbling upon his path. A loud noise interrogated, "Who are you with, bitch?"
His pace got faster and Risha reacted to him as a reflex but she failed as his hit was barely dodged. She landed on the ground covering her whole body which was already bruised to pain. How could I have stood there still? My hand reacted too, maybe it overreacted as it blew a fair punch as revenge on the old man's face.
"I am at my limit!", I whispered under my breath.
"Dad!", Risha sprung up and ran towards her old man who was laying on the ground unguarded. When she was crying for her father, he grabbed her hair and dragged it as he stood up with those stumbling legs, "You got yourself a man to fight against me now, uh?", he laughed hysterically.
I gripped on the hand holding Risha and tried to let her free but he was too strong. While I was busy trying to keep the old man's hands off Risha, he was distracted by a bang from behind him, "Risha! Run!"
I noticed her dad leaving her to target his next victim. But Risha was petrified and shrieked, "Ma! Why?". Her mother?
"Just go!!!!", she yelled. I wrapped him with my hands from behind when he was about to hurt her mother. His elbow was quick to break one of my ribs, the keen pain had to give me a concussion but I was lucky enough to go on with it further. I remembered his weak legs giving up on his so easily so I kicked his legs and when he was on the ground, I took the chance to climb on the top and to immobilize his attacks.
And a couple of trails ended up witnessing the mess we were in. I cared not to look at the faces, "Please contact the police!"
The old man pushed me away, it was not just a push. He was demonic, there was no sign of human being in his bloodshot eyes. He did not stay there any more second. I was astonished to see Sita and Prakash there, then the next thing I saw was the couple chasing behind Risha's old man.