Sexual harassment

Vedika looked at Aditya enter the restaurant, she felt bad for shunning him out but there was nothing else she would want to do.

Vedika walked inside the restaurant a few minutes later making sure Aditya was not around the entrance anywhere.

"Excuse me, can you tell me where the restroom is?" Vedika asked a waiter passing by.

"Right from the corner." He pointed out the direction.

"Thank you."

Vedika was inside the restaurant restroom changing into the blue strapless gown she bought with herself when she felt a certain sensation of being watched. She looked around but there was no one, she remember locking the door.

Suddenly her eyes met the lens of a high quality digital camera through the tiny gap in the translucent glass window, freaking out would be an understatement for what she was feeling then.

"Hey stop." Vedika yelled but the camera disappeared before she reached that end.

She hurriedly covered her bare shoulders with the dupatta lying on the floor and opened the door into crowded and noisy lobby.

"Hey there was someone spying in the bathroom. Someone with a camera." Vedika was telling to anyone who would listen but everyone was either drunk or too busy to hear.

"Vedika? What are you doing here? You are late. Ammi and abbu had to leave so we cut the cake, come on join us for the party." Asad guided her to a less crowded area and said.

"No Asad no. There was someone recording me in the bathroom." Vedika said almost tearing up.

"What? Did you see his face?" Asad asked, his expressions turning to utter worrisome.

"No I didn't he ran away. I'm scared Asad let's call the police."

"Ok but first let's inform the manager of this restaurant. Come on don't worry we will find him." Asad comforted Vedika and they both went to meet the manager.

They spotted the manager talking to a group of people in the private area of the restaurant, something like VIP area they have never been to.

Vedika and Asad approached the area guarded by two bodyguards standing outside the the glass double doors.

"Excuse me we need to talk to the manager please." Asad requested the guards.

"I'm sorry sir you can't enter this area." One of them denied.

"Please this is urgent. We need to complaint. Just call him outside, we won't go in." Vedika requested.

"Sure." The other guard said and went inside.

Vedika was on verge of crying and Asad had his arm around her, consoling her.

After a couple of minutes the probable manager came out, wearing black suit tie.

"Is there a problem?" He asked.

"Yes someone in ladies bathroom was recording via camera. My friend was in there and he ran away when she saw him." Asad explained.

"What nonsense? Who are you people?" The manager came on them rudely. He most definitely knew they were telling the truth but didn't want to accept with the fear of spoiling the image of his restaurant.

"Are you kidding me? I was assaulted in your restaurant and definitely going to file a case and won't be quiet unless the culprit is caught." Vedika sprayed all her anger on the manager.

"You are making commotion here. Don't disturb the people. Get out of here. Show them the exist." The manager told the guards who then started pushing them away.

"Hey hey, this is so insane. You don't want to accept unethical behaviour was practiced here." Asad yelled over the body guard's head and the noice of the music.

"I am not going anywhere." Vedika said and jerked her hand out of the grasp of one of the guards and ran towards glass double doors.

She barged in and collided with a tall muscular built body who held her by the waist out of instinct as she grasped on his shoulders tightly closing her eyes out of fear.

"Vedika?" A weirdly familiar voice brought her back from the delusion of fall.

She opened her eyes slowly to look into the dreamy eyes of Aditya, the person who gave her lift from the traffic.

"You?" Vedika said and straightened up from the arms and looked around for the manager.

"Are you ok?" Aditya noticed Vedika on the verge of tears.

"I am in hurry please excuse me." Vedika tried to hurry off but Shreyas held her by the wrist.

"Please tell me I can help. I am not leaving you alone like this." Vedika felt a sense of warmth with Aditya's words and decided to tell him the truth.

She told him everything from coming to Asad's birthday party to the manager ditching them for his selfishness.

"Really? This is insane. I will talk to him." Aditya said and was going to take off when Vedika held his wrist this time.

"No Aditya I don't want to spoil your time with your friend." Vedika said half heartedly.

Aditya moved closer to Vedika not caring that most of his team mate friends were staring at both of them intently.

"Hey I am not leaving you ok? And I will have another time with my friend, this is more important. Come on let's find the manager." Aditya pulled Vedika to come along and she followed.

She was feeling bad for Asad, he had to endure all this on his birthday but he would also want her to be safe and fight off these creeps.

.......

"There he is." Aditya and Vedika made their way to the manager in the corner talking to some of the waiters.

"Excuse me Mr. Tyagi ?" Aditya tapped manager on the shoulder.

"Mr. Aditya? You need something?"

"My friend was assaulted here someone was recording her in the washroom of your restaurant." Aditya said.

"I am pretty sure it was a misunderstanding sir, is she really your friend?" The manager raised an eyebrow.

"Do you have a doubt in that. Look we are going to complain anyway so it would be better if you get involved and help us find him." Aditya said.

"Everything alright Aditya?" Rocky, his friend and fellow team mate came.

"I will tell you later Rocky I have to go right now. I can't have dinner this is urgent." Aditya said hurriedly.

"I am sure this was a misunderstanding sir. Its impossible here." The manager said again.

"Shut up." The room echoed with Aditya's loud voice. Everyone stared in shock, no one has ever seen him so angry.

"You can't take the responsibility for misdemeanors in you place and call yourself the manager. I am going to stay here and make sure people know about this." Aditya said in a stern tone as Vedika just stared at him in shock, as how much he's supporting her without even knowing her. Although she would also do it for another person but still this shocked her.

"I am sorry mam I apologise. I will look into it." The manager said turning to Vedika who felt flustered with everyone staring.

"Aditya I need to go find him." As soon as the words were out of Vedika's mouth Asad burst in with a young boy no more than 16 with a camera on his hand.

"Here he is. I saw I'm sneaking out with the camera and had the doubt so I also checked his camera and it's all there. We should take him to the police." Asad said shoving him towards Vedika.

Vedika turned to Aditya with a grateful smile, " thanks Aditya for helping me out. I should go now."

"I will come with you." Aditya said.

"I don't think I should cause any more trouble for you here." Vedika was almost tearing up with sadness and embarrassment, she left immediately leaving everyone staring. A few seconds later Asad followed holding the boy in tight grasp followed by the manager.

"Aditya, are you ok?" Jaz asked patting on his back. Apparently he knew how and what Aditya was feeling.

"I don't know. I mean I am okay of course. Let's have dinner." He said trying to distract the conversation.

"You...ok." Rocky was starting to speak but the look on Aditya's face said it all and he decided to go along with the idea of dinner rather than talking about what just happened.

At the police station on the request of the kid's parents Vedika decided not to fill the complaint and he was let go after formatting his camera side by side with apologies.

At home she sat down with her parents and Asad to tell them the whole story.

"I don't believe, 16 year old?" Hema was saying.

"What kind of upbringing did he have." Harish said to himself more than anyone else.

"Auntie uncle I think Vedika is tired so I will go, should let her rest." Asad said getting up from the couch.

"Thankyou Asad for helping Vedika." Harish said.

"No problem uncle, she's my friend too." Asad left after bidding goodbye to everyone. Vedika went to bed soon after but instead of being stressed about the incident she was thinking about the kind and gentle soul that Aditya was.