Escaping Aman

"I don't know we were going to leave right then but she left in a minute when I went to see Naseer." Aditya was saying.

"Told you, she said it was an emergency don't worry." Mohit said.

"But it's not like her."

"How do you know what's like her? You've known her for like what? A week are two."

"Something's wrong Mohit, I can feel it and she's not picking up the call."

"Hey Aditya this says Aditya as the caller." Sahid came towards them lifting a cell phone in his hand.

"This is Vedika's cell phone. Where did you find it?" Aditya asked hoping everything to be alright.

"Right there beside that door."

Aditya ran towards the spot followed by Mohit and Sahid.

"This area has cameras we should look." Aditya said panicked.

"What is wrong with you Aditya there is no reason to believe she was in danger or someone must have seen her." Sahid said trying to calm him down.

"This doesn't feel right." Aditya said.

"You got to calm down Aditya. Do you have her any other contact?" Mohit said.

"I'll go see at her home."

"Let us know anything." Sahid said as Aditya stormed out of the glass doors.

"Where did he go?" Heer asked as she just saw Aditya's back.

"Vedika's house. He is so in love." Mohit said as all of them joined the party not realizing what had actually happened.

"Aman you don't have to do this." Vedika was saying as Aman drove through the lonely lane.

"Did I ever tell you how much I want you. I think about you all the time, I can't masturbated without looking at your pic."

Vedika cringed at the thought and looked away.

"You are so hot Vedu."

"Don't call me that." Vedika snapped and Aman stopped the car.

"Ok don't be mad at me. I love you." Aman shifted near Vedika.

She was trying to open the door but it was locked.

"You don't love me." Vedika said and pushed him away.

At that moment she realized how much she missed Aditya. She felt for him what she never felt for anybody else.

"I love someone else Aman."

"You can't love that cricketer. I won't let it happen."

"I love him and I'll be with him only."

"No, no. I will make you mine right now." Aman pulled the hem of her dress up exposing her most of her thighs and tried to thug on her panties from the bottom as she screamed and kicked his face taking a couple of teeth.

"You bitch." Aman pulled the car door open and stepped out spitting. Vedika came out behind him sneakily and hid behind the closest half wall, sliding down.

"Vedika get inside the car I know you got out." Aman said facing the other way.

"Vedika I said don't try to hide from me." Aman turned around to see the blank space.

"Vedika." He yelled and looked around, even behind the wall she wasn't there.

"How did you find me Aditya?" Vedika was sobbing in Aditya's arms as he continuously patted her. They both were slided down in Aditya's car hiding from the outside view even though the window was tinted dark.

"I was going to your home to see if you are fine and I heard you scream. I am glad I took this path." Aditya said, tears breaming in his own eyes.

"Thank you Aditya. Thanks." Vedika's voice trailed off at the end as she moved closer into the jacket of Aditya trying to control her sobs.

"Everything will be fine shhh, you are fine." Aditya said as he further pulled her into his chest soothing her.

—

"Aditya I think I am going into shock." Vedika lifted her shaking fingers to show them to Aditya like an ailing kid.

"Just breath, breath Vedika. I am here." Aditya said squeezing her hand with his own.

"I can't, he tried to rape me."

"What? Vedika you are having a panic attack. Don't think about him." Aditya was confused, he was too scared to see Vedika in that condition by something should be done. He can't let go of her as she was clinging onto him like life.

Finally he gave in and layed there with her for as long as it take.

Without another word they stayed there on the car seat for more than half an hour. The shallow breathing beside was now back to normal. Vedika was asleep. He didn't wanted to shift, didn't wanted to move and then her eyes opened.

___

"Vedika how was the pool party?" Hema asked as soon as Vedika entered, Aditya's hands wrapped around her.

"Ma I have to tell you something. Where is pa?" Vedika said feeling much better now.

"Harish is out to meet Uncle Samar. What happened?" Hema asked and Vedika told her everything from leaving the pool party to escaping Aman.

"What? Are you ok now?" Hema hugged Vedika.

"Thank you Aditya for being there for my daughter." Hema said.

"Your daughter already had it aunt, she is very brave." Aditya said.

"I need to inform the police. File an FIR." Vedika said.

"We will but take rest for a while." Hema said.

"Aditya you can go, I don't want to keep you from enjoying with your friends." Vedika said.

"Are you kidding me? You are more important to me than some party. I feel so guilty that I wasn't there for you." Aditya said.

"You were there Aditya, you were. And thanks for that.”

"I am always there for you Vedika you don't have to go through any of this alone ever." There were some unsaid promises in these words that neither of them acknowledged openly but they knew well enough.

___

Vedika woke up with a terrible headache, creasing her head she looked to her side and saw Aditya half on couch and half on floor. She smiled to herself, got up from the bed and touched his hair slowly. His eyes popped open.

"You are up?" Aditya said sitting up on the floor.

"You were sitting here for 5 hours, it's almost night." Vedika said feeling overwhelmed.

"I wanted to. I asked auntie after you came here to sleep." Aditya said.

"Aditya." Vedika couldn't say anymore, she choked on her own tears. "Are you hungry?" She asked further.

"Are you?" Aditya asked back.

"Very much." She said.

"Let's eat then."

____

"I hope they arrest him soon." Asad was saying.

Right after the dinner at Vedika's house, her and Aditya went to file a complaint and at night when she talked about this to Asad he went berserk and all worried.

Vedika calmed him down then and they decided to meet the next day for lunch.

Now here they were.

"Mmm, by the way you know my cousin Preesha is coming to live with us. She got job in a private investigation company that she interviewed in, a few weeks ago." Vedika said.

"Wow that is awesome Vedika. When is she joining?" Asad asked.

"Next week. It will be fun. When last time you two meet, you broke her makeup kit and she was so angry." Vedika laughed.

"I remember. Maybe I'll buy he a makeup kit as welcome to Mumbai gift." Asad said.

"I am sure she must be above that now. I didn't talk to her about you so not sure but we will know when she come here." Vedika said