Simon's hand reached toward her to pat her head caringly, like a father does . He had a daughter around her age and he couldn't imagine something like that to happen to her, neither to any one's child .
Before his hand could reach Neha flinched away, being afraid of the stranger. His eyes softened as he watched the girl look at him in fear.
Though she was covered with her best friend's shirt, which was enough to safe her dignity that was already hurt . But the bruises she had on her face and neck was enough to Simon to get how much harm those beasts caused her.
He understood it was normal for her to react like that, when she barely knew him. How fragile they made her.
Understanding the situation, Neel held her cheeks on his palms gently making her face him, caressing them soothingly.
" Hey ....you don't need to get scared of him . He is my neighbor, simon uncle. He is the one who helped me to find you. If it wasn't for him , I would never new about you"
His vice was tender , soft , which made her fear fade slowly.
Her gaze hesitantly met Simon's for some seconds before she looked down at her lap, her hands were continuously pulling the hem of the shirt down.
Watching her behavior simon felt pity as he sighed and kneeled down in front of her and looked at her with tender smile.
" dear, I am your father's age and you're like my daughter...and that's why I am telling you this....never let anyone break you ..neither your confidence. We live in a toxic society, where people loves to throw comments, where people judges others...but never let their words affect you. I don't know who put this kind of things in your head or why you're saying this but....your purity can never be judged, nobody can taint you as long as your heart and soul is pure. They touched your body but not your soul and heart ...and don't avoid eye contact, don't be ashamed cause the one who should be ashamed are those who did this inhuman deed. "
Through this entire time his smile never left as he looked at her in adoringly.
As if his words broke the barrier that was stopping the ocean of tears . She broke in tears ...she couldn't stop her emotions. She was sensitive as a feather.
How much she wished her father would said something sweet , comforting words to her once. As she was thinking a thought of her parents crossed her mind .
What they will think ? How they will react ? Would they support her like simon ? Or they will blame her for these too ?
Without her notice , her grip on the shirt tightened as her eyes widened. Her eyes flew to meet Neel's as Neel watched her worried. He could see the terror in her eyes.
He wasted no seconds to pull her in his embrace, his hands massaging her scalps and rubbing her back soothingly.
" calm down, what's wrong hmm ? "
Being lost in her thoughts, she didn't realized how her body jerked away from the bench?
When she opened her eyes , which she didn't even realized was closed tightly, she realized she wasn't sitting anymore.
She was on her feet and Infront of her was standing her father staring at her with cold eyes.
She froze for some seconds before her eyes widened and she started to shake imagining what was coming.
Her eyes moved around and saw her mother behind his father watching her with a disappointment .
Her gaze moved at the side, when she heard a squeak sound and saw Neel standing up with a shocked face along with simon .
"D-dad.." Neha whispered.
Mr. Sen watched his daughter from up to down as he clenched his jaw.
Neha watched her father's expressions as she trembled in dread and her whole body that was in agony , wasn't helping her to stand properly either.
Neel on the other hand , knowing exactly what was the matter , what that was terrifying her in that way , approached them with a thundering heartbeat.
" u-uncle " he gulped " let's...let's calm down first. It wasn't her fault -"
Mr. Sen cut him putting his palm on the air infront of Neel ,signaling Neel that he wasn't interested in his words.
"Oh..Mr. sen you're here" the officer from earlier came "don't worry we already started our investiga-"
" we don't want to file any case officer "
Mr. sen said . The officer stared at him perplexed. Neha looked at his father with a blank expression. Neel and simon stood there looking at Mr. Sen if they heard the right.
" I am sorry?....what do you mean?..Mr. don't you want to fight for your daughter's justice? "
" No, it's our family matter..we will solve this problem ourself "
The officer sighed and looked at Neha in pity before shifting his gaze back to Mr. Sen.
" But, Mr. Sen, your daughter already filled a case . I never thought in this twenty first century ,some parents like you still exists who blames their daughter. Who shuts up their daughters and locks up them inside house . Who cares for society more than their child . It's not even her fault that you're ashamed to talk about it "
" it's easy to throw big lectures because it's not your daughter...any ways we want to withdraw our case please "
" what are you saying uncle.....why should we withdraw the case. Neha deserves to get justice "
Neel said .
" listen...don't interfere in our family matter , stay out of it and stay away from Neha "
Mr. San said glaring at Neel , pointing his index finger at him.
Neel gaze met Neha's who was already looking at him through her blurry vision, her cheeks soaked with tears.
" Mr. Sen, I have a daughter and unfortunately, if something like this happened to her I wouldn't blame her like you're doing. I would stay beside her, support her , and fight for justice until she get that . Please change you way of thinking ...people will say whatever they want ..but remember it's your daughter not their."
Simon said.
" you maybe don't care for your image to the society but I do . And please don't tell me what to do and what not "