VRINDA's POV
I opened my eyes to a dilapidated thatched house. The continuous beeping was just adding up to my throbbing numbing headache. I couldn't feel my hand and legs. I tried to focus and use all my strength to just wriggle my fingers, failing miserably. I close my eyes, giving up, as my brain get haunted by all the memories of the previous night, the proverbial harlot. I try to get up with the jerk with my last batch of motivation, only to be restricted to the bed. I face the reality of being tied to the frame of the bed, hand cuffed with my legs covered in white plaster. I would see dark, scab-like layer formed on the surface of a wound, a pure indication I was out of consciousness for couple of days. Damn my luck, all the rebel and run was to have a happy and a peaceful ending.
Matha Rani (Lord) , was it too much to ask .
"Ah Ah... be a bit obedient, can you sweetheart?"
I get startled by the deep voice, dark outline in the gloomy corners of the room. I freeze, secretly hoping that maybe he can someone with the good heart, rather than some lust-filled buffoon as a reward for all the good deed that I have done all my 23 years of life
"What is your name?"
Silence...
"Who do you work for? "
Silence...
F*ck, who do I work for? I don't know. You tell me. Sh*t! Sh*t! Have I got myself into the mafia?
"Sweetheart, you got two broken bones, bruised ribs and concussion to add to you prescription. Don't make me the bad guy? You wouldn't like violence, would you? Be good. Okay?"
I nod my head.
"What is your name ?"
" Vr...Vrinda"
I see him glaring with ferocity, Damn, you are the bad guys even without any violence.
" VrindaRao"
I squeak out loud.
" See, wasn't that easy? Who do you work for? "
" No one"
I see him walking towards me, bright sun from the window falls on his face, as I observe my captor for the first time. Brown neck length long curly hair with brown simmering eyes. He was beautiful. Damn, he can be a model. Why a kidnapper?
He reaches close to me and bangs his hand on the headboard freezing me in my place as I hold my hand in fists frightened to my bones.
" I.... I .... don't work for any...anyone. I was running from Vill.....Villagers last night. I was running and suddenly I got hit by a car. That all I remember. I have not robbed neither hurt anyone. I am just a normal village girl, having a mundane life."
He relaxes and moved away from me. Please just believe me.
" What did you see in the forest?"
Damn, what did I see? A murder? A treasure? Think Vrinda, Think.
" I did not see anything. I was so frightened that the villagers would catch me,I was just running for my life. I was just running, just running. Other than the trees and soil, I did not see anything ? Please believe me, I did not see you do anything. Just leave me, I will not say anyone about you, or How you kidnapped me. I will go to nearby city far from this place. Kindly leave me . Good guy? "
I try my luck. see. I him staring at me, maybe evaluating my answer, for any loophole or any error that brings my lies to light. For Goods sake, I am not lying. I wanted to shout at him. I wanted to shout loud.
"Why...."
I see his phone vibrating midway of the interrogation round. He picks it up and walks to the corner of the room. Boss?
" No, My King"
"I have asked the villagers around, There are no red flags"
Red flags? Are we playing some sick dating game, you handsome demon bloody kidnapped, You will rot in hell for every drop of tear, I spill. Uffff!
"Okay, My King "
He slides his phone into his pocket and walks towards the door. I panic, thinking he was to leave.
" Wait good guy, Please leave me, I have not done anything against you. I will keep all this a secret and not report to the police"
He scoffs " Police? Should I be afraid of a person who cannot save herself? Weren't you the one running from the entire village? Why didn't you inform the police? Such a weakling! This is the price you pay for your weakness."
I just couldn't stand the mockery. I tried, I tried hard to save it all. I could feel my anger bubbling up.
" If I am weak, then are you the Strong one? How did you become strong ? By torturing this weakling? is that how you scale your strength?" I scream out loud with pain and fury pouring out.
Deep Deep down,
I knew
I knew he was speaking the truth,
and I was acting the bad b*tch now , who couldn't handle it cool.
I was...
I was Weak
Weak
I lay motionless, the gravity of his words and situation sinking in. I had injured my leg, running was not an option anymore. It would be pathetic game of a cat and a sick broken weak mouse. They think I am a spy wrapped in sorry excuse of damsel in distress theme. The only way I can get out it, if they allow me to.
"Hey, Somebody there"
"Please, Leave me"
yeah, definitely not working. I close eyes giving into the drowsiness. It has to be the drip. I wake up, by the loud bang of the door. I wouldn't make out the amount of time I was out. I would hear the birds chirping loud. The usual morning tune their species had practiced long long ago.
"Hey Sweetheart, Good morning! "
His voice was filled with sunshine with a hint of mockery with no tinge of malice. I take that to be good sign. His dress was the same as his previous visit.
" You not talking."
"It's okay, I have come here to reward you, your well deserved freedom. " I would hear my heart racing fast. I would see his icy cold eyes painted with evil dark glint. Waiting for his judgment.
"So, The village chief has sent people to get you. They are waiting outside."
And that was my clue, I started pulling my cuffed hand, desperate to free them. I could not go back. No...
"Please, I am sorry. I did not intentionally appear in front of your car. It was just a coincidence. You would have heard from the village chief, they were chasing me. They wanted to punish me for a crime that I did not commit. Please, Leave me. I will never appear in front of you. I will not harm to anyone."
His lip curled up into a half loop smile, he was fueling his pride with my fear, but did I care?
No, not now.
" Well, I can leave you, but I will missing out 50k Rupees that the villagers are offering me for you. How can you compensate me for that, Sweetheart? "
My body shivered with disgust. I definitely knew what he was hinting me. He knew my story, maybe the villagers would have given away their part of story.
'I AM NOT A PROSTITUTE '
I wanted to shout out loud. But I knew it was not going to help me in any way. My hands was shivering vigorously. My eyes were running rivers, that just didn't know to stop. I was slowly crumbling down under this pressure. The hope of life slipping away.
" I can give you 60K " I tried a futile attempt.
" Well, It is not a profitable deal, you have much more to offer. Don't you? "
I just cry hard, not answering his question. This greedy, selfish world. To be humiliated in such a way. Should I just fall in darkness, let the world move me around, be totally numb.
" What are you doing? Did you inform her? "
In the mist of sobbing, I hear a new voice by the door, dress in a black casual shirt and suit.
" No sir" the perverted prick responded to the new guy with complete obedience.
By the way the rogue buffoon turned obedient pest, I knew the new guys was in power. Maybe, he can help me. My body buzzing with adrenaline ,grabbing onto this opportunity.
" Sir, I mean no harm to anyone. I am sorry for the accident, the previous night. I was being chased by bad people. Please, Let me go" I plead in between my sobs. Some kindness, that was all I need to feed my hope.
" Vrinda, Sorry, but we cant let you go."
A 2 second pause from his side took a toll on me hard. He continued,
"During the accident, in order to avoid hitting you, the car had to diverted toward the tree. You have been admitted in hospital for 15 days. The Car damages and the Hospital bills amount to around 5OOk Rupees. Do you have the money to compensate the damages? "
500K Rupees, even though It sounded much better than paying with sexual favors, the amount was too huge. Can I pay?
" I.... I....."
" If you don't have the money on you, you will have to work for Hukam ( "Lord" ). You can be a maid at his place. You will be paid monthly. You can pay the damages by working in the Fort. You can do the house chores? "
" Huh, Y.....Yes, I can do the house chores, I can work for 12 hours doing all respectable duty of a maid, nothing more. Okay?"
He looks me in utter confusion, and then glaring at the perverted prick. His body language screamed extreme respect towards me, in contrast to the earlier buffoon.
" Okay, you only have to do the house chores to pay for the damages. Nothing more is expected from you. You will be safe. It would take few day for you to walk, the other maids would help you till you fit to help them. Then, you just have to do the work that the head maid has allotted for you. "
" okay" I nod my head in utter disbelief. It sounded good to be true, well anything is ok, until they hand me to the villagers or sell me for prostitution. The warm light rushing within me. I was screaming joy in my head.
"Okay, then, the maids will come and guide you to your room, See you there"
He turns towards the buffoon instructing him to come out. There was completed silence after they both left the room. Much more like peaceful serene silence.