Sophia's Freedom

Chapter 17: The Phoenix Rises

I couldn't believe how happy I was, upon hearing Sophia's feeble but sweet voice at that moment. It was enough to bring tears of happiness to my eyes.

Upon hearing Vikash's voice calling, the Staff nurses and the doctor rushed towards the room. We were told to immediately vacate the room and the doctors started their examination.

Out of sheer shock or excitement, my mind was not able to register what was going on, it was still reeling from the fact Sophia has finally regained consciousness.

I felt someone touching my arms from behind. I turned around to find Master Da standing next to me and asking, "Why don't you inform your parents about it, they should know?"

Without wasting another moment, I borrowed Vikash's phone and called up dad, and relayed him the good news. Vikash volunteered to drive to my home and bring my parents and Monika.

I went to Mr. Banerjee and asked him "Don't you want to inform your wife and family about Sophia  regaining her senses?"

"Son, I am not sure whether I should. After what I learned today, I have lost trust in her and cannot help but hold her responsible for what happened to Sophia," replied Mr. Banerjee.

I understood his dilemma after what he learned earlier from Miss Sengupta, but if he fails to inform her, things might turn ugly any time from now.

I requested Mr. Banerjee "Sir, I can understand your doubts well but believe me, if we don't inform her now, she will figure out easily that you know everything and might retaliate to make Sophia's life more difficult. Please call them."

Uncle probably understood what I was implying and called his wife.

As we were waiting for our family to arrive, the doctor who was examining Sophia came out and said "Everything seems to be normal. The vitals and everything seems to be normal, we will keep the child under observation for another 3 days. If the child responds well to medication, you can take her home."

I saw a worried and scared look on uncle's face, probably he too was perturbed by the same concern as me and hoping against the doctors allowing her to leave the hospital so soon lest Aunty and the girls hurt her again once she is back in their abode.

I went inside and saw that the nurse raised Sophia's headrest in a way that she can rest in an inclined position. I was about to ask her, how she is feeling when I heard a voice from behind asking me to leave the room.

I turned around to find Gopinath Uncle with 2 of his constables who have entered the room.

They have come to take a statement. This is a mandatory investigation procedure that needs to be followed after a patient revives from COMA and in Sophia's case, the doctor had informed them about the a***e marks on her body.

As Gopinath Uncle entered the room, he locked the door from inside, making sure that no one could have access to Sophia except her doctor, during the questioning. He didn't want anyone to scare her lest she changes her statement or is terrified and never reveal the truth. He was with her for about 30 minutes and finally came out.

As he came out, Master da decided to ask him what Sophia said.

Gopinath Uncle replied, "The child keeps insisting that the floor to the bathroom was slippery, and while preparing for a shower, the accident occurred and the child ended up banging the head on the commode."

Master da had a skeptical look on his face on hearing Sophia's version of events and ended up asking Gopinath Uncle if he believes in the statement.

Gopinath Uncle retorted that "Right now I am not sure, I kept coercing the child to speak the truth and not to worry or be scared about the family, but the child did not deviate from the statement."

"If the child doesn't change her statement it is out of my hands," replied Gopinath Uncle and left the hospital.

I was failing to fathom what could be the reason Sophia was not revealing the truth. The only reason I could think was that Aunty must have scared her so much during previous incidents with dire consequences or punishments that she is too afraid to reveal her involvement.

I went in and decided to confide her and extract the truth from her about what happened after we left.

As I saw her, I forgot everything and could only bring myself to utter these words "It seems like you forgot your smile somewhere."

She smiled at me and asked, "How are you doing dada?"

She ended up asking me the same question which I was planning on asking her. Where was my mind at?

I stepped forward and replied "I am fine honey, don't worry about me. I just want you to get well soon."

"Honey, Please don't mind me asking why you are not telling the truth to the cops," I asked.

Sophia replied weakly, "Dada, You won’t understand. This is something much beyond you or any of your friends' help. What I have been facing for 6 years is wrong, but,” She paused for a while and continued “What has happened that night, was just a tip of a greater ploy at play. She and the daughters are just a pawn. The real enemy is someone else."

“I don’t understand. What real enemy?” I asked.

“I hope you still have the journals I gave you that night,” Sophia asked.

“Well actually I got them photocopied and kept the journals back in your room.” I paused and sat next to her and continued “actually I have come to know a lot about your best friend Abhinu”

She smiled at me and replied “Well dada… continue reading the journal… You will know who the real enemy is? Try to have a lookout for someone names Abhishek Banerjee...”

I touched her forehead with my right hand and replied "You are a strong soul. I hope it’s not late before I come to know about your secret. I don't want you to get hurt once again. I promise you something though. I failed you once, but I am not going to fail you again. This dada is prepared to take a bullet for you if the situation comes."

“Promise me dada… you will not do anything reckless, please… I don’t want you or Monika to get hurt because of me…” as she raised her hand and indicated me to put mine on top of hers.

I reciprocated and replied, “I promise.”

As we were talking, a man in uniform entered the room. By the looks of it, he was not a cop but an army man.

I saw a sudden gleam of recognition and warmth in Sophia's eyes. The man smiled at her and asked "How are you doing? I hope you are feeling better now."

Sophia looked at him and replied softly "Yes, sir I am. I am feeling better now."

The man suddenly looked shocked and touched her hair and asked, “What’s with this long hair of yours?”

“He he… its nothing sir… just a little style… I felt like growing my hair a little.”

Sophia’s face seemed like she was not happy while talking about her long hair. I guess she is worrying too much.

The man started again, "By the way… I know what has happened, Your uncle has told us everything." he paused and continued "If you want any help from us, don't hesitate. We can help you."

"I will manage sir. Things are about to change soon..." Sophia replied.

Sophia's promise to the officer seemed very abstract and delusional at that point in time. If he had witnessed the CCTV recording of that night, he would have taken her away from the family. I considered stepping out of the room to allow them some personal space and walked out.

After about 15 minutes, I saw Mom, Dad, and Monika approaching the room with Vikash tagging along.

Mom and Dad decided to stay outside, and I accompanied Monika to the room. As we entered the room, I was in for another surprise, it seemed like the officer already knew Monika and greeted her with a comment "It seems like, you have not grown a single inch. you are still a lilliput?"

I saw Monika smile and reply abruptly "Do you still play basketball with that big belly of yours, I doubt you can still hold the ball?"

The man laughed and shook his hands with Monika and said "How are you, child? It seems like you have not forgotten me yet?"

Monika replied "No sir, how can I forget you? You have been the best mentor a student can get."

The three of them kept talking for a while and after some time, they sought to leave. Monika told Sophia that she will accompany them out.

As soon as the officers were about to leave Sophia said "Sir, the Phoenix says Lady Maleficent's promise will be fulfilled in 72 hours."

The officer with the big belly spoke to Sophia "Remember the name, Cerberus will rise from hell to take away the sinners to their rightful place..."

Sophia smiled and replied, "Thank you, sir... Thank you, for visiting."

As they were walking out of the room, I saw the officer saluting someone. I looked in the direction of his salute and saw Master da, Miss Sengupta, and my father standing there. Whom did he salute, Was it master da, Naah...I don't think so?

As I was figuring out the answer to this, I saw my dad nodding his head in acknowledgment of the salute. But it did not make sense since he is a civilian. 

I ignored my curiosity and began to wonder about the words Sophia said to the army men. Phoenix says Lady Maleficient's promise will be fulfilled, Cerberus rising from hell, what the hell were they talking about. What did she mean by that? 

My thoughts were interrupted, the moment I saw Monika opened her arms and hugged Sophia. Seeing both of them this happy, I could not control my tears of joy.

I wanted to hug the 2 of them too, but I was feeling embarrassed to do so. The nasal cannula tube was still placed in Sophia's nose. Suddenly she commented in a soft voice "Monika, Joe dada is crying."

Monika turned around and lifted her right arm gesturing me to join in on the hug and Sophia too followed suit by lifting her left hand. As Sophia lifted her hand I witnessed the I.V. cannula was still inserted into her hand. I tried to put on a smile but for some reason, I ended up crying. I stepped forward and hugged both of them.

Precisely at that very moment Vikash and Koushik also entered the room and saw the 3 of us hugging one another.

Vikash commented, "Wow, that's the sweetest thing I have seen in the last 10 days."

Koushik too joined in. "You know sis," Looking towards Sophia he continued, "Your Joe dada has not let you off his sight during this entire ordeal. Even when he had to go home, I was told to keep an eye on you. You are really lucky to have a brother like him."

I let go of her and landed a kiss on her forehead.

She replied "I know dada, even when I was unconscious, I could feel that someone was trying to reach me and encouraging me, to wake up for the sake of my friend Monika. It felt like my father kept telling me that it's not my time to leave the earth, my purpose in this life is not yet fulfilled." She finally paused and then she said the most amazing thing " Finally you know dada, today morning in my dream, I saw Maa Kali approached me and with her, there was Vikash dada and she gave him a thread and asked him to tie it around my wrist... the moment Vikash dada did that, a beautiful bird with a golden tail, came and sat on my chest and began to cry. The moment the first drop of tear fell on my face, all my wounds began to heal and I woke up"

I turned to look towards Vikash and strangely I saw tears in his eyes. Vikash barged in on the conversation and asked, "My dear Sophia, did you really see me in your dream?"

"Yes, dada..." Sophia replied and then she raised her right hand and saw the thread with Vikash had tied to her wrist. She replied in a surprised tone "Did you really tie the thread on my wrist Vikash dada?"

I saw Vikash gave a nod indicating that it was indeed him and then he spoke again in his goofy tone "You know dear... for the trust you have shown in me, I promise you from today on, you will be my sister, and I promise you I will protect you to my last breath. Just like Monika is my sister, you are my sister too, and I will leave it to the 2 of you to decide who wants to be my youngest sister."

We all burst out laughing at this sudden attempt of humor by Vikash.

Amidst all the laughing I interrupted, looked towards Sophia, and said, "Jokes apart, there is something very important that you should know. Your teacher Mrs. Das will not be teaching you anymore. We have arranged for a new teacher Babul dada for you. He will come to teach you once you are fully recovered. When he is around, you need not worry about aunty anymore."

"This is Koushik Dada, he will be coming to teach you physical exercise. Uncle will convince your aunty that he is there to train you in basketball, but please remember that he doesn't know anything about basketball.”

“Don't worry about your sisters finding out. Trust me both of your sisters, who claim that they are getting a scholarship from SAI, were lying. Therefore, you need not worry much about them."

"The day they played the match with us, I understood that they were bragging, and they were novice at it. We have already had a word with your uncle, and he will make sure that you will be allowed out of the house for 2 hours every-day.”

“We understand, if we ask your aunty to let you out, she will never comply, but with Koushik around and uncle approving him, she won't get a chance to deny you playing outside daily. You should also know that your aunty cannot fire him because if she does or even if she considers the idea, Koushik has some very kind and helpful friends whom normal people detest. These folks will support you in all your deeds."

“Don't be alarmed by his presence, he looks sweet and cute, he will be there to keep an eye on you. If he feels that you are in trouble, he can, and he will protect you."

"I am going to make sure that you will not have to suffer anymore from those mean relatives of yours."

Sophia caught hold of my hand tightly, started weeping and replied: "You know Joe dada... No one has ever done so much for me... How will I ever repay this favor?"

Vikash looked at her and replied "You know sis, some great man had once said, a big smile of a sister is enough to repay all the debt that she owes to her brother. I hope you understood what I meant."

She might have understood what he implied and smiled. At the sight of her radiant smile, Vikash too gave a broad smile and commented, "God has made this smile of yours with leisure"

Koushik interrupted, "Stop it Vikash. we all know you are a practical comedian; you don't have to quote Mithun dada's words to keep proving it. Dada is a legend, you suck."

We all could not help but laugh at Kaushik's comment.

Finally, we guys decided to leave Monika with Sophia. We went out of the hospital to get a cup of tea. Master da and Miss Sengupta said that they did not want Mrs. Banerjee to know that they were here and left us. Dad was talking to Mr. Banerjee and Mom went inside the room to meet Sophia.

On the way to the tea shop, Vikash asked "Joe, remember the guy in uniform who went to meet Sophia."

"Yes... what about him?" I asked.

"I think I have seen him in the hospital premises since the day Sophia was admitted here, but I don't think he is alone, there are 2 other guys with him" he paused again and continued "there was another guy who would sit next to Sophia's room and these 3 officers would constantly keep watching over him... however ever since Sophia woke up, that guy is nowhere to be found..."

Koushik supported me and added, "I have also seen the 3 of them keeping a close watch over the men sitting next to Sophia's cabin, all the time. I assumed they knew each other or were waiting for some other patient."

I shared with them, what happened when I and Monika were inside and that how they knew him and called him a mentor, as well as those discussions about Phoenix, Cerberus, and Lady Maleficient.

Koushik told me not to worry about that and he knows what that meant and he will tell us later when the time is right.

Amidst all this happiness, the only thing missing was Aunty and her daughters. It has been 5 hours now and there were still no signs of them.

Based on Vikash and Koushik's observations, my mind could not help but wonder a few things.

'Who was the officer whom Sophia and Monika and quite possibly my father know well?

Who was that guy whom the 3 officers were keeping a close watch all these days?

Was their presence in the hospital a coincidence or somebody from Sophia's past life was keeping an eye on her?

Amidst all these questions what bothered me, the most was who is this enemy that Sophia was talking about earlier and who is this Abhishek Banerjee?

                                                                    TO BE CONTINUED...