Returned

In the city, night had come alive with a glow of streetlights, the roads bustling with cars and bikes racing towards their destinations. Among them, Tanaya drove her car steadily.

Akshay sat in the back seat with an unconscious Maya beside him. Gently, he shook her shoulder, trying to bring her around.

"Hey, wake up…" he murmured softly, and slowly.

Maya stirred, her eyelids fluttering open as if emerging from a deep, disoriented dream.

As her senses returned, she saw Akshay beside her, a small, relieved smile on his face.

She noticed the black hoodie draped over her and, as recent memories flooded back, fear gripped her. She pulled the hoodie tightly around herself, and recoiled back, her eyes wide with alarm. Seeing her distress, Akshay spoke gently.

"Hey, it's okay. You're safe now," Akshay assured her, moving back a little to give her space. His expression was calm, his voice steady.

Maya's eyes darted around with confusion and fear, taking in her surroundings. She spotted Tanaya, dressed in a khaki uniform, in the driver's seat.

"She's a police officer," Akshay pointed out softly, nodding toward Tanaya. "Everything's fine. We're just taking you home."

Seeing Tanaya in uniform seemed to ease Maya's anxiety a bit, although she was still visibly shaken. A tear slipped down her cheek as she clutched the hoodie tighter, a flood of relief mixing with lingering fear.

"I… I don't know what I could say to make you feel better," Akshay said gently. "I know you're scared. But I promise you, you're safe now. No one's going to hurt you."

Maya's lips trembled as she whispered, "Thank you," her gratitude mingling with the shakiness in her voice

"Uh, I'll look to the other side—maybe you'd like to put the hoodie on?" Akshay offered, carefully averting his eyes to give her privacy. "Sorry about this... Your dress was torn, so I just—" He faltered, scratching the back of his neck. "I just wanted to make sure you were covered."

Maya nodded, and put on the hoodie, Akshay continued without looking back. "By the way, you should really thank Tanaya Di, not me. After you passed out… they tried to attacked me, and I just screamed. Tanaya Di happened to be nearby and heard me. When they saw her coming, they kicked me down and ran off."

Maya turned her attention to the driver. "Thank you so much, ma'am, for saving us," she said, her voice still shaky but sincere.

"No need to thank me, it's my duty," Tanaya replied with a warm smile, glancing at Maya in the rear-view mirror. "But Maya, could you maybe keep Akshay name out when you file a complain? It might complicate things for him—they might suspect he's associated with those men," she added, hoping Maya's gratitude would help keep the incident discreet.

"I understand," Maya responded softly, her gratitude evident despite her lingering unease.

"Even if you don't file a complaint, don't worry. I'll make sure it is reported, and you won't be bothered," Tanaya assured, her tone firm but kind.

Maya nodded, turning to Akshay with a look that mixed vulnerability and gratitude. "Thank you," she said again, her voice trembling but heartfelt.

"I'm really glad I was there when you needed help," Akshay replied, his smile looked genuine.

The car came to a stop in front of an apartment complex. Maya's tense shoulders relaxed slightly as she recognized her surroundings. Letting out a quiet sigh of relief, she reached for the door handle but hesitated, glancing back at Akshay.

"Can you come with me?" Maya asked quietly.

Akshay glanced at Tanaya, uncertain. "But… Tanaya Di…"

Just then, Tanaya's phone rang, interrupting him. She answered quickly.

"Yes, sir… Understood, sir. I'll be there right away," she said, her voice shifting into professional mode. Ending the call, she looked apologetically at Akshay. "I've got an emergency to handle."

Akshay nodded, grabbed his crutch as he stepped out of the car with Maya.

"I'll be back in an hour or two," Tanaya said, a hint of apology in her voice.

"It's fine. Tanaya Di. I'll manage. Take care out there," Akshay reassured her with a smile.

Tanaya gave a grateful nod before driving off, leaving the two standing outside the apartment building.

Maya gently called out to Akshay. "Hey, my apartment is on the 8th floor."

Akshay tilted his head back, eyeing the tall building that stretched ten or twelve floors high. Nodding, he adjusted his crutch and began following her toward the entrance.

Just as they reached the entrance, a familiar voice called out.

"Maya!"

Both Akshay and Maya turned to see Arunika standing there, looking like she had rushed over. She rushed over to Maya and hugged her tightly, letting out a sigh of relief.

"Where have you been? Uncle and Aunty were worried sick! Your phone was unreachable," Arunika scolded, her worried laced with anger.

"I'm sorry," Maya replied, tears slipping down her cheeks.

Seeing her expression, Arunika softened and hugged her again. "Hey, it's okay," Arunika said, trying to comfort her.

Then Arunika's eyes caught sight of Akshay standing there, leaning at his crutch, watching them with a look of relief on his face. But despite his calm demeanor, Arunika's expression changed. She could smell something strange, like a faint smell of blood was covering him.

"Why is he here?" Ana snapped, eyeing him with suspicion, not wanting him near Maya.

"Don't act like that. He's the one who saved me," Maya quickly replied, defended Akshay.

Their exchange drew the attention of nearby residents, who were starting to look over with curiosity. Noticing this, Maya grabbed Akshay's hand and tugged him toward the entrance, trying to avoid the stares. Arunika, surprised by Maya's sudden move, hesitated but followed, her worry simmering.

"Maya, where are you taking him?" Arunika asked following them. They stepped inside the elevator, the three of them alone in the small, enclosed space.

"Sorry. People were staring, so I pulled you inside," Maya said, letting go of Akshay's hand.

"It's alright," Akshay replied with a gentle smile.

Arunika, feeling a touch guilty for her reaction but still uneasy, glanced at her friend with concern. The thought of Maya being hurt weighed on her, making her wary of Akshay's presence.

"I'm sorry, Maya," Arunika apologized, her voice softening. "I was just… worried"

"It's okay, Arunika," Maya responded, pressing the button for the 8th floor. Though her tone was calm and steady, her expression still shaken.

"Maya, what really happened?" Arunika urged, concern she tried searched her friend's face for answers.

Maya didn't respond, the fear still too fresh to put into words. Silence filled the elevator, thick and heavy, until it finally reached the 8th floor. As the doors slid open, Arunika and Akshay followed her down the hallway to her apartment. Maya rang the doorbell, and moments later, a kind-faced woman in her forties opened the door. Her expression, tense with worry, softened as her eyes landed on Maya. Relief spread across her face.

Without a word, Maya stepped forward and wrapped her arms around the woman, her mother, who hugged her back tightly, her shoulders trembling slightly as she whispered, "Where were you? Your phone was out of reach."

Maya clung to her, tears spilling down her cheeks, the weight of the night's events pressing in on her. A man appeared behind her mother—her father, his face mirroring both concern and relief.

"What happened? Why couldn't we reach you?" he asked gently, his voice steady but filled with worry.

Maya didn't respond, her silent tears answering in her place. Her father's gaze shifted to Arunika and Akshay, standing nearby, their expressions filled with worry and support.

"Come inside," Maya's father said, motioning them all into the apartment. Once they stepped in, he turned to Arunika and Akshay, his voice warm despite the tension. "Please, make yourselves comfortable."

Inside, Akshay and Arunika took a seat on the sofa while Maya's parents gently guided her to her room. Once alone with Maya's father, Akshay began recounting the story, carefully sticking to the version he had shared with Maya earlier.

"Thank you, Akshay," Maya's father said earnestly, his gratitude unmistakable. "You really saved our daughter."

"I'm just glad she's safe," Akshay replied humbly.

Arunika, however, couldn't shake her suspicions. She studied Akshay closely as she asked, "What happened to them afterward?"

Akshay held her gaze, his expression calm. "I don't know what happened after they ran off."

Maya's father quickly interjected; his tone relieved. "It doesn't matter what happened to them. My daughter is safe—that's all that counts."

"Sir, if you don't mind," Akshay said politely, "please don't report this to the police. It could make things more complicated for me. I actually live with my uncle, and it might help Maya put this behind her."

Maya's father nodded thoughtfully, though his worry lingered. "I understand. But what if they come after Maya again?"

"They won't," Akshay said firmly, his voice carrying an unusual certainty. "I can give you my words on that."

Arunika's suspicion deepened as she listened to Akshay's confident tone. She was sure he was keeping something back.

"The officer who helped us is a friend of my uncle," Akshay added. "She promised to handle it."

Maya's father sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly under the weight of the night's events. "Alright," he said, though the worry lingered in his voice. "I just hope this really is the end of it."

As Akshay and Arunika was about to leave, Maya's father walked with them to the door. "Let me drop you both home, it's almost 9 PM…" Maya's father offered kindly.

"Thank you, uncle, but it's alright" Arunika said, "Someone's waiting for me outside"

"I will also call someone, so, please don't worry," Akshay also assured.

As they were by the door, Maya's mother stepped out, "Wait!" her expression was mix of gratitude and worry.

Akshay and Arunika turned to her mother.

"How is she now?" Maya's father asked.

"She's asleep," Maya's mother explained softly. "She told me what happened. She was so scared… crying, apologizing for lying about the date." Her tone was so gentle, but she was still shaken by the thought of what could have happened to her daughter.

Maya's father placed a comforting hand on his wife's shoulder, his face also reflecting his own worry.

Maya's mother turned to Akshay, "Thank you," she said reaching out to him, her hand gently placed on Akshay's cheek. "If you hadn't been there… I can't even bear to think about what might have happened to her."

Akshay's eyes widened, looking at Maya's mother with shock, something deeper hit him. A single tear rolled down his cheeks, but before he could stop it Arunika and Maya's mother noticed looked on with surprise. She wasn't expecting a reaction like these form Akshay, but Maya's mother, noticing Akshay's tear, gently wiped the tear with her thumb. "Are you okay?"

Akshay seemed startled, like he hadn't realized he was crying. He was overwhelmed by some emotion. He stepped back, brushing away the tear with his hand. "I am… sorry."

Maya's mother instinctively reached out and wrapped her arms around him, embracing him as if to ease his sorrow. Her touch carried a maternal comfort that seemed to break through his walls. Akshay stood frozen, overwhelmed by the gesture, became powerless to move. He was overwhelmed by the warmth of a motherly hug, what somehow feel so strangely familiar.

He hesitated, but his hand raised, almost warped his arms around her, but suddenly something held him back. Guilt or fear—it was hard to say—kept his arms at his sides.

"I'm really sorry," he murmured, stepping away from her and retreating toward the door.

Maya's mother looked at him with confusion and concern, while Maya's father remained silent, observing.

Arunika, who had been watching the exchange intently, felt a pang of confusion herself. But her suspicions of Akshay's intentions kept her guard up.

"Goodbye, uncle, aunty," she said, bowing slightly. "Please take care of Maya."

With one last glance, she followed Akshay out of the apartment, her mind racing with questions she couldn't yet voice.