Writer’s POV

On deserted roads of Pune, 18-year-old Nia was running for her life holding the hand of her 16 years old sister, few men were following them.

“Come on Pia we need to run fast. Come” Nia said dragging Pia along with her. Nia’s body was trembling with fear and she was holding her stomach with one hand. Nia’s body was bruised with numerous wounds.

“Di I can’t,” Pia said tiredly.

“Pia, we can’t stop… ahhh…..we have to,” Nia said firmly but she was wincing in pain because of her lower abdomen and kept dragging Pia holding her hand tightly.

“Di are you all right?” Pia asked looking at her sister.

“I am fine, we need to go to Nannu’s place. “ Nia said clutching her stomach tighter and running.

Around eight men were following them on the dark roads of Pune. Nia was running ahead with her sister and looked back, again and again, to check those men how near they were behind them and Nia judged they were half a kilometer away from us. Their Maternal grandfather’s house was nearby but they couldn’t go there directly as these men were still following Nia and Pia.

While running, Nia’s gaze fell on a small dark passage, she turned around to check those men and they were nowhere seen. Nia took Pia along with her in that dark passage and they hid there behind one large wall. Nia kept her left hand on her mouth and one hand on Pia’s mouth so their heavy breaths do not convey our whereabouts. Nia heard running footsteps just next to another side of the wall.

“Did you find those girls anywhere?” One man asked.

“No, I don’t know where they just vanished in dark. Boss will kill us if we do not find them. You know bid is already done.” Another man said.

Horror filled Nia’s veins. ‘Please God help us, help us.’ Nia prayed. Nia’s heart was beating too fast with fear. Tears started falling from her eyes.

“Let’s search in that direction.” They said and she heard retreating footsteps.

After a few minutes, Nia slowly came out along with Pia and started running towards their Nannu’s

Maternal grandfather’s

home. They reached there in 10 minutes. Their grandfather’s home was a huge mansion at end of the road they were running on trying to save their lives. They reached the gate and guards immediately took them in. They went towards the main entrance.

“Knock

“Knock

Nia’s maternal uncle opened the door. Rahul, Nia’s Maternal Cousin and only brother came behind them. Seeing our disheveled state, Rahul came forward.

Nia and Pia both hugged him and started crying loudly.

“Please save us. They will kill us. Please Uncle help us!” Nia begged them. Rahul was consoling them.

Nia’s Maternal aunt came tying the rope of her Nightgown. “Now what happened to you both? Another drama?” She said raising her eyebrows crossing her hands on her chest looking at them in disguise.

“Priya please stop it! Look at them. They are injured. God knows what has happened to them?” Nia’s maternal uncle said looking at their state.

“Yes Mom, please don’t start now. “ Rahul said and took them in. Rahul supported Nia and helped her sit on the couch.

Servants came with water and a first aid kit and Rahul helped them clean their wounds. Nia was badly abused and there were marks everywhere on her body. Rahul looked at her state. Nia was clutching her stomach tightly because of pain and looked at Marks which gave him a slight hint of what must have happened to her? Rahul with a horrified look caressed Nia’s Head and asked her.

”What happened Nia? Who did this to you?” He asked Nia with panic

Nia grabbed his hand and told him everything. Rahul’s jaw dropped hearing everything. Tears welled up in Nia’s eyes and she hugged him and cried her eyes out where Pia was still shivering with fear and pain for her sister.

“We need your help. We need to get out of this place. Help us.” Nia pleaded looking at everyone. After their mother’s death, Nia took Pia’s responsibility and cared for her like her mother. She has to keep her safe from all this mess. Taking help from her Maternal Uncle was the only way, she had even though her self respect not allowing that to do so. Her mother never wanted any type of help from her parents or brother but right now Nia was helpless and at looking at Pia she decided to take help from her Uncle who was her Late mother’s only brother.

“Okay Nia, don’t worry everything will be fine. First, we need to go to the hospital. We need to treat you and be thoroughly examined.” Rahul said and Uncle nodded in affirmation.

“No, No doctor please, I don’t want to. They will find us there.” Nia said with panic.

“Let me call Doctor at Farmhouse itself. Rahul takes them to Farmhouse right away. Let me make some phone calls. We cannot keep them here. Manish will definitely sense that they are here and lawfully I will not be able to stop him. You know his connections in Mafia are quite strong, Stronger than us.” Nia’s Uncle said looking at Rahul.

“You are right Papa, I am taking them to our Farmhouse on Mumbai Pune Highway and will keep security around them,” Rahul said caressing Pia’s head.

***

After a month,

Nia’s POV

Current Day

It was 2 AM in the night. The cool breeze of October was touching my face. I looked at Pia, who was sleeping soundly in the backseat of the car. I adjusted her jacket and looked forward.

“Are you okay?” Rahul asked me looking at the road.

“Yes, I am fine. But I am scared.” I said to him closing my eyes. Thousand different thoughts were touching my heart and fear was crawling under my skin.

“Trust me, everything will be fine. I have made all the arrangements there.” Rahul assured me holding the steering wheel of the car.

I nodded in ‘Yes’ and looked out of the window. We reached Mumbai Airport. I and Pia was helping Rahul to take out of luggage from the trunk of the car.

“Did you text him?” Rahul asked me while closing the trunk of the car.

“Yes, I have…” I said sadly and Pia looked at me. I smiled at her sadly and looked at Rahul.

“Niyu, you don’t have a choice. This is the only way we have. He was at home looking for you guys so many times. This is not the right time He should find about you.” Rahul said to be keeping his hand on my shoulder.

“By the way, here are your passports and other documents also I have made arrangements for your stay. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer are very good family friends. They will take good care of you both. I have already sent some cash in your account.” He said handing over the passports to me.

“Rahul, I don’t know if I can ever repay you for the help you did to us. I am indebted to you forever.” I said to him holding his hand with teary eyes.

“Don’t thank me, the money I am transferring to you always belonged to you. It was the last wish of your Mom to be transferred to you. And don’t worry, I will keep visiting you both once everything is settled here.” He said to me hugging.

“Thank you Rahul bhaiya,” Pia said to him and hugged him tightly.

“Take care of each other and be safe. Call me if you feel anything suspicious around you.” Rahul informed us and we took his leave and we went inside the airport.

I never thought life will take such a turn for me and Pia such that it will force us to permanently leave our grounds and fly to the US one day. That one night changed our lives forever.

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Suddenly our Flight number announcements broke my chain of thoughts and I grabbed Pia’s hand and my bag and our passports and stood in a queue of boarding.

We settled in our seats and looked at Pia who was scared and worried. I squeezed her hand.

“Pia, we will be fine. I am with you right. We will forget everything and start our life fresh. Where No one will be there to haunt us and we will build New life for ourselves. A fresh Start. Trust me!” I said to her smiling. She smiled softly and nodded as ‘Yes.’

“What about him, Di?” Pia asked me. I looked down and closed my eyes. A pain squeezed in my heart.

“Our worlds are different Pia. Everything is changed now. He will understand and forget about me in some days. He deserves a good life and so did we. This is better this way.” I said to her.

‘But can I forget about him ever?’ I thought.

I looked out of the window and closed my eyes to calm my nervousness and thumping heartbeat.

I took a deep breath and sighed.

“Goodbye Ritvik. I am sorry for what I have done to you. I will always love you no matter what. I will always keep you in my prayers.” I prayed for him and lone tear escaped from my eye.

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Characters:

Nia Mehra : A 23-year-old beautiful girl working in San Francisco but based from Pune

Ritvik Kapoor : A 25 yeard old Handsome Self Made Billionaire, sole heir of Kapoor Industries

Pia Mehra : Nia’s 21-year-old Sister

Siddhant Singh : Ritvik’s best friend and Nia’s Boss, CEO of Singh Industries

Nihaal Sharma: Ritvik’s best friend and Industrialist

Rahul : Nia and Pia’s Cousin brother

Sharanya : Rahul’s wife and Ritvik, Siddhant, and Nihaal’ friend from college

Aahana : Nia’s Best Friend

Manish Mehra : Nia’s Father

Rita Kapoor : Ritvik’s mother.

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