Aarzoo:A Tale Of Twisted Desires

Chapter 4:Her Sacrifice

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The realization hit Travis, she committed suicide. He held her close to him like a crazy man. He checked her pulse which was fading slowly. His heart beat started to increase insanely as he looked around. He looked at Rutvi and told her to give him salt water. She looked at him confused and asked him why he lied to her and why he is holding Hrida but his mind had ran wild in sheer stress. He didn't have time for explaining anything. He looked at her angrily and shouted on her,

"IF YOU WANT TO SAVE YOUR FRIEND BRING IT !!!"

Rutvi got really scared, her mind blocked for a moment. What if Hrida is in danger actually? Her mind stopped working and she did as he said, she ran to bring water but salt? She thought to go try in the lab, or canteen but then she remembered she brings salt everyday with the salad box. She ran to the library where she had kept her bag, her breath heavy as she felt restless. She hastily started to open the chain of the bag and opened her lunch box. She doesn't like to have salt mostly so she avoids having it. She took the salad box and opened it to take the small pouch filled with salt. A few students who were in the library eyed her weirdly. The librarian even tried to approach her but she couldn't notice.

She ran to the professor's cabin, he was already holding a glass and gave him the salt. He quickly took it and tore the pouch pouring the salt in the glass of water. He mixed it with a spoon and went towards Hrida. Rutvi stood anxiously looking at her friend. She didn't know what was happening properly but had a hint of it. Her mind knew somewhere what Hrida had done but her heart didn't want to believe it. Travis made Hrida drink the salt water very gently making sure she gulps down some of the liquid even though most of it was spilled out. He made her drink it and soon Hrida started stirring. She was feeling suffocated all this time in her sleep but now she felt nauseous. She started vomiting furiously still not in her proper conscious state.

She vomited out several white pills which hasn't dissolved inside her body yet. Rutvi started crying unconsciously seeing Hrida's condition, she was blaming herself too for not understanding her friend's condition before. Hrida vomited on Travis throwing out the pills on him as she was on his lap. Travis caressed her back whispering gentle words. Hrida again fainted after vomiting but now Travis was a little relieved. He cleaned her mouth with his hanky and made her sleep on the couch moving away to not mess her dress. His whole shirt and trousers were wet with the vomit, some of which had also fell on the floor making a puddle on it. He looked got up and looked at Rutvi who was looking tensed and crying softly. He told her,

"Call someone from her home, I will be back with a cleaner soon.."

Travis went out to change as he called someone to bring him a new set of clothes. He went to the washroom and within a few minutes some men brought him a new outfit. Rutvi went near Hrida and sat down beside her. She started crying, apologizing to Hrida for not understanding her better as a friend. She should have taken care of Hrida more and not let her oddness slide away so easily. She took out Hrida's mobile which was in her left pocket. She had took it from the classroom earlier when she went to find Hrida. She opened the phone by entering the password, it was her own birthday.

She cried more as she remembered Hrida had asked her birthday to make it her password so no one could guess it. She opened the contacts and saw two three numbers marked as important contacts. One was her own number, she dialed on the contact named as "Bhaiya". The call rang twice and someone picked the call finally by the third ring. Rutvi heard a very deep voice saying a Hello which made her stop instantly for a few moments, she forgot how to respond. A small shiver ran down her spine when the voice asked for response irritated now. She slowly said, a single hello stuttering unknown to the reason why she was feeling so timid. The person in line asked who was it and she tried to explain herself saying,

"Ha hum Rutvi, wa woh"

(I- I'm Rutvi, actually)

But before she could continue the irritated scary person interrupted her and asked,

"Why do you have her phone? "

Rutvi got scared at his angry time but tried to reply gathering all her courage for Hrida. She needed to speak for her friend,

"Hrida woh usne uh sleeping pills kha lia hain woh be- hun .. Hello?! "

(Actually Hrida, she ate sleeping pills and she fai- hun..Hello?!)

Rutvi got confused as she heard the line going beep and silent. The person just disconnected the call in between without letting her complete her words, that was so rude. Rutvi felt angry at the unknown person but huffed it making herself think maybe it's just he was concerned about Hrida. She softly caressed Hrida's face and wiped her wet neck which had some water spilled in it accidentally with her own handkerchief. She was about to apologize to Hrida again as she felt culpable for her ignorant behavior but was interrupted as Travis entered the cabin with a new outfit. He had worn a white shirt with a grey set of trousers and the grey colored coat in his arms and he entered.

His cuffs were rolled a little up folded neatly reaching to his elbow. He did look like a handsome devil straight from hell who was capable of showing any girl heaven, maybe that's why girls drool on him Rutvi thought as she looked at him. She turned her eyes immediately away not ready to think more about her teacher. She looked at Hrida who was looking a little pale and weak and caressed her soft hairs gently. Travis was looking at her every movement sharply as she was near his wife. He was not really looking the fact that his wife committed suicide for this stupid girl sitting next to her and now Rutvi was only adding fuel to the fire burning his heart with raw jealousy. He won't let his wife walk away so easily after the stunt she dared to pull.

She will have to face the worst of him for hurting him like this. He looked at Rutvi with another glare and asked her if she had called at Hrida's home. Rutvi told him she called Hrida's brother and he dismissed the call as soon as she told him about Hrida's condition so he must be coming her soon. Travis took a deep breath as he understood he will be here soon so he decided to do something. He looked at Rutvi and told her that she should go and inform the Dean that Ms Hrida needed to go home and ask for a sick leave. Rutvi told him she will ask once Hrida's brother is her but Travis compelled her to go saying it will only cause a waste of time and Hrida needs to rest properly at home and not in the university. Rutvi agreed and went out to meet the dean to inform him about Hrida's condition but she didn't tell him about the suicide, she just told him that Hrida had fainted due to weakness and needed to leave. Her family member will be here soon to take her.

Her dean agreed and gave her a leave application with his signature and the university stamp in it. She took it and thanked the dean leaving his cabin moving to the professor's cabin but then she saw a person moving out while holding a girl in his arms. Many people were whispering to each other and talking about it but her eyes catches the hem of the dress of that girl which was Hrida's. She looked at the man, his biceps were visible and back was huge. He was tall and had a slender neck with long jet black hairs. He was fair and wearing a blue colored t shirt with track pants. He had slung Hrida's bag on his one shoulder as he carried her. She tried to call the man and shouted,

"HELLO MISTER AAP HRIDA KE BHAI HAIN?! RUKIYE ZARA!! "

(HELLO MISTER ARE YOU HER BROTHER?! WAIT A MINUTE!!)

But the man kept walking ignoring her words and replied to her saying,

" MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS "

He left away with that making her feel disappointed for once. Such a rude, manner less human being. She cursed hum a little in his mind but went away from outside the cabin door not really wanting to meet the scary professor inside. Something is wrong with handsome men these days, god knows what they get by being so scary and rude. She went to the library to take her bag. She closed all the boxes and chains and went to her classroom.

The current lecture had already started so she looked at the teacher who was having a questioning glare at her and replied to her telling her that she had to get Hrida back to her home and take the leave application for her from the dean. She showed the application to the professor who then let Rutvi inside the classroom to attend her lecture. The professor started explaining the topic but Rutvi's mind was stuck on Hrida, she couldn't get herself to concentrate on the topic. Her mind kept repeating all the events like a broken record and questions surged her heart, what if she might have been late? Why would Hrida take such a big step? What if she would have lost Hrida? Soon the lecture ended but Rutvi had not noted a single word.

A few girls approached Rutvi asking her what happened to Hrida and they heard Hrida being carried by a hot man. Rutvi was feeling frustrated, these girls wanted to know about that rude handsome man rather than her gullible friend. She looked at them and told that Hrida wasn't well so her brother took her away. They awed and started talking about that man again making Rutvi lose her sanity. She was already enough anxious to face these people now. She went to the washroom and washed her face with cold water.

The cool water calmed her mind a little as she looked into the mirror on the bathroom wash basin. She felt instant hatred for herself which she used to feel before too. She didn't want to face herself anymore as a few warm tears trickled down her cheeks reminiscing how she failed as a friend too. She held the basin and made up a smile, she can't be weak here not in front of so many people. She went inside the classroom and decided to focus on her lectures to distract herself. Soon the university time ended. Rutvi was looking visibly upset, missing her best friend already. She didn't know how long she could stay without Hrida.

After wiping her face, she texted Hrida to inform her if she's okay and left straight to the laboratory as they had lab classes today. She tried her best to focus on the experiment but utmost she did was understanding and noting the topic for Hrida. She was not interested in participating in any work just watched everyone silently. Soon the university time ended and everyone started leaving back to their homes. Rutvi to left walking quietly as she kept glancing and refreshing the chats to see if Hrida replied yet. She was sitting in the train over thinking all the incidents that took place and kept blaming herself for everything when her phone dinged with a message she opened it and her eyes gleamed as she saw it was from Hrida. She checked it and it had a message that read,

"She is fine, mind your own business"

Rutvi scoffed at the attitude and instantly understood who had replied. She really wanted to whack his head for the rudeness but calmed herself down. At least Hrida was okay, it made her feel a little relieved. She looked outside the train window and sighed. The day wasn't really good but maybe tomorrow will be a good day since today was unlucky.

Yvis took Hrida straight to his car, he was wearing his gym clothes and perspiring in the hot weather. He wasn't really used to the hot and humid weather of Kolkata even though he had been living here for years. He looked at Hrida's unconscious frame as he kept her on the back seat and bound her by seat belts. He started driving in a rush. He took her to her and Travis's wing and checked her pulse, it was faint but still good. He connected an IV drip to her body to avoid dehydration and injected her with active charcoal to absorb the excess dissolved pills from her body. He sat beside her and looked at her talking her one hand in his hold.

Soon Travis entered his room and looked at her, he too looked like had ran to meet her. He came and started kissing her when Yvis stopped him saying she needs to breathe properly until she wakes up. Travis looked at her and nodded. Travis explained Yvis about the incident which took place. Yvis nodded to him and told him to control her in some other way not by forcing her emotionally like this. After a few hours, in the evening finally Hrida opened her eyes. She looked at Travis and remembered about the stunt she has pulled.

She actually wanted to die, she was regretting being awake as she knew he will show her another hell for it. She was shivering already looking at his calm demeanour which was silent as a sea but she knew this was the silence before the storm, one which will destroy her existence. She looked at him, her eyes filled with tears. She slowly struggled to sit up and started crying. He didn't react at all, Yvis told her to be careful but she could not hear him. He mind was totally blocked with the extreme fear. She looked at Travis who was still glaring at her and hugged him. She started crying and hiccuping in fear but tried to think of something. She can't let him but Rutvi at any cost. She looked down and softly said in a scared voice,

"Ha hume maaf kar di di dijiye please hum aisa phir ka kabhi nahi karege..Rutvi ko cho chor dijiye hum so sorry sa sir "

(Pl please forgive me I I won't re repeat such a thing ever again..I'm so sorry sa sir do don't hurt Rutvi)

Her pleading only added more fuel to his anger. Yvis looked at her in amusement, she's really something. Begging her monster husband to spare her tiny friend rather than saving her own self. Such an emotional fool she is. Travis was about to speak but then she continued,

"Sa sir aap hum aa aap aapko na kabhi bhi mana nahi karege..I will ne never resist you a and surrender myself to you pl please leave Rutvi..I wi will never make any other friends sacchi..please"

(Sa sir You I will ne never say no to you..I will ne never resist you a and surrender myself to you pl please leave Rutvi..I wi will never make any other friends honestly..please)

Both the men infront of her looked at her in shock. She hates s*x, it hurts her too much and Travis is literal beast on bed. Travis was more happy then shocked at her confession. Even though it burnt a part of him that she agreed for the thing he has been begging for years in a moment just for some stupid girl but did not want to lose this golden opportunity of having her approval. He will ravish her with her own will and about her friend he will make sure she forgets that girl soon. He looked at her and broke her hold. He made her look at him and asked her,

"Are you sure Preciousa? "

She nodded her head furiously. He looked satisfied maybe she got the permission but suddenly he spoke,

"Umm fine you can have her as your friend but remember you are her friend only till the university time. You will not contact her after that and no extra outings, sleepover,going to get house or anything else "

"Agar woh yaha aai toh? "

(What if she comes here?)

"I won't let such a day come.."

Hrida nodded at his words, its okay to have her even if it's for some time. She was relieved but he suddenly started kissing her out of the blue. She looked at him through her eyes and started to struggle in his hold when he mumbled on her lips you're mine and she stopped moving. Travis was delighted but Yvis left from there silently. His expressions were grim and eyes had an undecipherable look.

After two days, Hrida was going back to her university. She had healed much more, she left to the University early and soon went to her designated classroom. Rutvi had missed Hrida like a crazy person, every thing at university reminded her of Hrida to the point she didn't want to go there any more. She was so habitual to Hrida that her absence was looking unbearable but she didn't want to miss any class so when Hrida returns she could help her with what she missed. On the first day without her Rutvi felt like the day was not ending.

She prayed to Mahadev in the temple she used to visit everyday before going to the University to bring Hrida back or give her the strength to handle the boring classed with those fake students. She knew they are faking their sympathy nothing else. They want to befriend Hrida and are going to use her in the way to reach her. On the third day she literally wanted to make an absent, she couldn't even contact Hrida these days. God knows where she was busy and how she was even. The only thing she dreaded was Hrida's condition getting worse. Rutvi went to the classroom a little late than the regular time, she was not visiting library in the morning any more. She went inside the room taking the professor's permission who had just entered.

It was allowed to enter the classroom within ten minutes of the lecture time. She went inside when she saw Hrida sitting at her regular place alone. She was simply delighted. She sat down and tried to whisper talk with Hrida was Hrida didn't reply. Hrida looked confused so she didn't continue much concentrating more on the lectures. Once it was lunch time Hrida was going some where when Rutvi finally spoke to Hrida asking her where she was going. Hrida replied she was going to the washroom to wash her hands. Rutvi accompanied her without saying anything and Hrida got even more confused. Hrida finally decided to ask her,

"Hume aisa kyu lagta hain ki hum apko jante hain"

(Why do I feel that I know you..)

Rutvi laughed thinking Hrida was flirting with her like she always does. Rutvi replied,

"Kyu nahi lagega hum tumhare param wale dost jo hain..afterall Rutvi Kashyap ko bhulna muskil hi nahi namumkin hai madam..haha!!..."

(Why won't you feel, I am your closest and best friend..afterall no one can dare to forget Rutvi Kashyap..haha!!...)

Hrida smiled awkwardly and went went to wash hands with Rutvi. Once they were done Rutvi told her to come with her too the food court but Hrida said she'll join in a few minutes. She needs to meet someone and ran away. Rutvi looked at Hrida skeptically but left anyway. Hrida ran to Travis's cabin and went to his desk drawer. There was no one inside so it was better for her. She hastily started to turn over that pages of her diary. It was her personal diary in which she used to write about everyone she knew so as to remember them or get a brief detail about the people. She turned the pages into it opened the page names as Rutvi Kashyap.She looked at it as it read,

"Rutvi Kashyap, 19 years old

A girl I don't ever want to forget even after my death. She's bright like the sunshine filling my dark world with her light. I used to be scared of light because light shows us our scars but for the first time I am loving it. I understand now why people love light, even if it shows us our scars it embraces it with it's warmth. The dark coldness freezes the mind on the deep scars but the warm light enlightens the beauty of life which lies right infront of us but is shaded by the curtain of the dark misery. I love her more than anything, even though she is a forbidden flower I wish to hold her at any cost, even if it needs my own life. Her dark curly hairs shine in the sunlight, her big dark brown eyes look beautiful. Her tanned skin is soft to hold and her talks are like living in another world, so lively. She makes me smile like a fool and laugh like a maniac. I wish she stays with me forever.."

Warm thick tears spilled from Hrida's eyes as she read through it. She understood who was Rutvi and ran outside to meet her without even caring to take her glasses which had fell down when she slumped on the ground reading the lines.

Rutvi was the memory she never wanted to forget but she forgot her too.

Every relationship requires sacrifice because no happiness comes free.