"The mind is its own place, and in itself it can make a hell of
heaven and a heaven of hell"
-John Milton
They both were at the graveyard. Sejal bend down to place a white rose on the grave in front of them. Then she straightened her back to look at him with her sparkling eyes. His nose was red and he was looking down. She was sure those eyes had tears in them.
They call him heartless but I have seen streams coming out of this rock,she thought.
" Now don't you dare to cry.... I'm sure she'll be in heavens", she tried to smile. He nodded. Then he looked up at a blind spot somewhere in the air.
" Now that you know... I request you to keep it a secret as I know women can't digest words"
" I know how to keep secrets."she tilted her head to take a look at him. One of her tress moved at a side. Just then a droplet of water fell at the tip of her nose. She blinked as he look at her.
"It's about to rain. We should head back home" he said as they both moved with fast steps towards the gate of the graveyard.
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The family of three was there to have dinner in the dinning area. The mother was last to have a seat as she was setting the table. The dinning area was brighten with white light. All of them had their food in plates.
Everyone was chatting and enjoying their meal until Mr. Lee's phone rang. He fastly chewed his bite to wipe his hands with napkin and received the call.
" Hmm..... Where?" He asked in hurry standing up from his after the person at the other side had conveyed his words. He was looking worried. Rest of the person where silently looking at him.
"I am coming", saying this he cut the call and put the phone in his pant pocket.
"Where are you heading to?" Asked her mother looking up as she was sitting. "Another rape case is reported....", he said while approaching the main door. The door was almost slam shut when he departed. There was pin drop silence which was then broken by her words." These cases are increasing day by day", Sejal said.
"Your father was saying, the officers are not active much except a few. This is also one of the reason that things are not working well", her mother said before having another bite of her meal. Then looked at Sejal. She was staring at a blind spot in the air.
" Finish your meal..", her words brought her back to reality." So that we can watch tv together" she nodded and then grabbed her spoon to finish her meal.
"Mom.." she called sitting at the couch with both legs crossing up whose back was towards the open kitchen where her mom was doing the dishes."yes..", she replied.
" One of my classmate told me that his friend got into the same incident, an year ago. Wasn't the first case reported last year from my school?", there was silence at the other side then she turned back to look at her.
"It may or may not be because there were many cases after that too", she turned back facing the tv screen." Hmm"
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The main door open with a click. The women in the lounge got attentive and head fastly towards the door. It moved at a side showing taehyung's figure. He moved in then close the door. His mother was looking at him anxiously."you went to her house?" she asked.he nodded with a poker face in response ." Are her parents alright? did they ask you anything?"
"they were all right...",he paused for a while." I didn't talk much I just went there tomorrow a picture then came back", he signal towards the photo frame in his hand. His mother nodded with a my smile. His face was still expressionless."all right", she pated his shoulder."change your uniform I will take out dinner for you",
Her worries faded now.
"appa?" he asked before going in. "he wasn't feeling well so took his medicine and went to sleep",she said he said from the kitchen. He went to his home placed his bag at the study table, kit at a side then place the frame that he was holding at a table sized book rack. A girl with grey eyes and black hair ,smiling . Then, he went to change his cloth.
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Sejal turn off the light and lie on her bed. The moonlight was entering the room through the window at the left side of the room. Some of it was striking her face too. She was mused,thinking something while looking at the ceiling.
" He had lost a friend in an incident. He was in a miserable state but didn't tell anyone but I won't let it happen again so no one else lost their friend. That group of criminals should be punished. I am sure he will cooperate with dad. "
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"Good night , my child." Taehyung's mom was at the doorstep when she patted his hair sleep well and don't cry okay he try to smile with a nod. She kissed his forehead and again patted his hair before leaving. Taehyung turned back and something on the rack caught his sight. Laura's picture. His eyes were about to sparkle with tears but then a voice echoed in his mind "don't you there to cry...I am sure she will be in heaven", he walked to brush and then sleep. So many things happened just into one day that they both were surrounded by thoughts. Sejal was new to everything so she was dominated by the thoughts of cases and Laura. And taehyung spent his whole day in grief and now when he was about to sleep, when his mind was totally blank, he began to remember some other things of that day. His hair were over his forehead head. He was thinking, " sorry Laura. I wasn't able to save you", he was feeling sleepy. Suddenly a thought hit him making his heart heartbeat a little fast "our eyes met",he said in a lower tone while smiling.
"Twice",saying this made him smile even more." First in library I was awake. I close my eyes when she called me so no one couldn't find me crying but..." ,he paused, turned his side." I even saw the tissue in her hand she was startled looking even more beautiful", he was mumbling. He him self didn't even know what he was speaking. "but she has courage and power to protect herself ....she looks furious with that angry face" he remembered which make him chuckle." I thank god that no one can hear other person's heartbeat or thoughts otherwise she would have slapped me straight in the face." He didn't even realise that he fell asleep while talking to himself .
He woke up when the sunlight struck his face as his mother slided the curtains apart."wake up, my dear."
He sat on his bed with half closed eyes, rub one of eye with his hand and then flipped his hair backwards. He put his on both sides and supported the shoulder.
" Wait..... What I was talking then? Did I fell asleep talking about her? " He remembered.He lifted one of his hand and hit his palm at the side of his head." It all is the game of this jerk." Put his hand back sideways."hey....don't you dare to think like that again" he said to his brain and then stood up to get dressed.
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Sejal just got out of her room after dressing up for school when his father came back. The lounge had dim lights. He came there to sit on the couch and strengthen his back a little as he had been working the whole night.
" What happened?" She asked worriedly. Her mother also came out of her room and instantly her husband caught her attention. He headed towards them.
" She managed to survive somehow, now is in hospital" she felt relieved.
" Will she be able to recover?"
"Hope so" she sat on the puffy at his left side." Dad one of my classmate had a friend who got in the same case " she told as he nodded his head a little." Hmm"
" He is a witness...." hearing this both of her mother's and father's eyes widened. He forwarded.
" I hope he will be willing to help." She completed her words.
"Witness?" Asked her mother" you didn't told me the whole matter before"
" Sorry.... But"
" Is he really alive",her father asked. She nodded.
" I'll meet him but let me settle down this case first", he said.
" Okay", she replied.
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