“Shut your damn mouth otherwise we will have to use this sooner,” Jackal said showing me the knife. He was walking along with us. I pursed my lips tightly despite of the pain. My body was aching because of the friction caused by the dragging. My heart was crying and I wanted to call out for help but who would hear me? To make the situation worse I could not call anyone on the phone. I was utterly helpless.
There was a dining space attached to my open kitchen and living room. In the middle of both, and adjacent to dining space wall, there were two rooms opposite each other. A small corridor ran through between the rooms. Lion dragged me to the second bedroom. This was Sejal’s room but luckily she was sleeping soundly in mine. Thankfully she had not woken up.
Lion dragged me inside the room and left me on the floor. I felt as though all my strength had been sucked out of my body. I was coughing and panting as my breath was coming in short gasps. Every nerve was spluttering with pain. It felt as it was pain running into my veins rather than blood. I pressed my head to soothe the dizziness.
I was already weak but now I felt I could not move. Their actions were deteriorating my health. A few drops of angry tears rolled down my cheeks as I thought of my miserable state. I couldn’t believe this was happening to me. I cursed my destiny and started sobbing.
Just then Lion kicked me hard on my stomach. A shot of unbearable pain ran through my body. My hands, that were holding my head till now, were now holding my stomach. I moaned with pain as I curled into a ball. I was growing weaker and this was exactly they wanted to achieve
”Ouch!” I groaned “What do you both want, you bastards?” I managed to ask them with gritted teeth.
“We told you already. Now stop talking and let us have a look at you and your beautiful body,” Lion said sitting next to my legs.
He kept his one finger on my lips as a sign to keep them shut. Then he shamelessly started to stroke my entire body with his fingers. His eyes moved along with his finger and he moaned with pleasure. His finger felt like a creepy insect crawling over my skin. The gruesome titillation I felt was adding fuel to my chagrin. My entire body burned with hatred at his touch. Blood rushed up to my face and I started sweating profusely. I tried to move away from him but to no avail.
I turned my face in the opposite direction in disgust only to have it cupped by Jackal in his hands. “Your face is so beautiful. Look at your big eyes. Your luscious lips are quivering and look so inviting,” he chuckled and leaned forward to kiss me. I grunted and turned my face away only to face Lion. I was stuck between the two.
“So is her body,” Lion said, his hands caressing my legs. I trembled with fear. Jackal held my hands from behind while Lion faced me. I resembled a deer, trapped in a snare cleverly laid by two merciless beasts.
“Let’s start some action, Lion. I can’t control myself now,” Jackal said impatiently. It was clear that Lion was the boss.
“Relax, Jack. Let’s play with our prey for some more time. This will make the game even more exciting.” Lion raised his head closing his eyes while his hand rested on my legs.
He seemed to have started enjoying himself already in his head. When he opened his eyes, they seemed heavily drugged to me. He was looking at me with such intensity that my whole body scrunched in fear.
Jackal was having his own fun. He was rubbing his nose and lips against my shoulders. Every pore of my body was fretting with anger, disgust and hatred. I was like a piece of paper that would be crushed and discarded after use. Lion smiled widely and reached into his pocket. He fished out a mobile phone. No doubt, they were sadists who enjoyed their hunt, played with the prey and killed it when they were done. It was a terrifying thought.
“You know, baby? I bought this a month ago but am going to put it to good use today. Let me capture your beauty from every angle,” he said as he turned on his camera and was about to take my photos.
I clenched my fists in anger when he addressed me ‘baby’.
“Get away from me you bastards. Get off me,” I hissed, trying to free my hands from Jackal’s steel grip.
“We will, but not so soon sweetheart,” said Lion.
“What are you doing, Lion? First make the scene worth filming,” Jackal said.
Lion raised one eyebrow, thought for a second and smiled at Jackal in appreciation. He held out his hands and opened the two buttons of my gown. I kept struggling to get out of Jackal’s steely grip but it was impossible. He had held it too tightly to move. I twisted on the floor helplessly, pleading and cursing at the same time. I was horrified. The night that had been filled with Rajat’s memories had transformed into one of a horrifying devil’s workshop where the devil himself was ready to chop me into pieces. I was very scared.
“Please let me go. Don’t do this. Please goo… ” I cried with tears rolling down my face. My dignity was at stake; the dignity which is every girl’s most prized possession. That very dignity of mine was quivering with fear and asking for mercy.
“Tch tch tch. Don’t cry, sweetheart. I know we seem to be troubling you. But I have a solution. Why don’t you co-operate with us and enjoy the whole thing while your beloved husband is away in Mysore for some di’s marriage?” Lion said dramatically pouting his lips outwards while taking a photo of me.
They already know Rajat was in Mysore? But how? I was stunned. No matter how much I disdained their actions, I couldn’t stop myself from asking.
“How do you know where my husband is?”
“Poor chick. When you were talking in the parking lot and bidding sad good bye to each other last evening, we were there too. We eavesdropped on the entire conversation and knew you’d be alone tonight. I hate it when a beautiful lady like you is alone at home. I feel it is my duty to give lone ladies company. And here we are. Such a reward for all of us,” and then he opened the remaining two buttons of my gown.
That was it. The sight drove them crazy and their actions drove me crazier. Lion was very near to me so I punched his face with my head with as much strength as I could gather. He staggered back and threw down his mobile. My head hurt but I tried to ignore the pain.
Ouch! You bitch,” Lion shouted.
“You morons. My husband won’t leave you. You both will pay for hurting me. Mark my words, you scoundrels,” I shouted spitting anger with every word. Jackal let go of my hands. He was aggravated when I hit his partner in crime. He faced me and slapped me again. He wrested my hair tight. He was clearly short tempered.
“You bitch. How dare you do that to him? I had warned you not to do anything stupid. But now that you have chosen to ignore my warnings, you are going to pay for this. Every bit of your flesh will cry for mercy, and that’s my promise to you,” and then he pinned me down on the floor and mounted on my stomach. He slapped me several times and locked his hands into mine over my head. He then started to kiss me roughly on my lips, cheeks, ears and neck. He was so rough that each part of my body hurt. His every kiss left bloody traces behind them.
He was actually biting me brutally. Tears flooded out of my eyes as an agonising cry escaped my lips. His bites were hurting me like sharp needles. My legs thrashed about in excruciating pain as I struggled to free myself. Just then Lion grabbed my legs and pinned them down. I tried to scream loudly but Jackal punched my face with his fist. This sent waves of pain through my body and everything went blank. His punch started to anesthetise my senses. I went numb. It seemed my life had already started to drift away from my body. I felt as though I was already dying. Everything around me was blurred. I couldn’t identify my surroundings anymore. My body was giving up and gradually I reached to the state where everything merged. Only the corners of my eyes were shedding tears. The unbearable pain was taking me down and my legs which were thrashing minutes ago silently rested on the floor. I could see nothing but Jackal’s blurred moving face over me. He let out a demonic laugh.
“How does that feel… huh? Will you fight now? Can you fight now? You are going to hell, you bitch” he got off me. It
felt like a mountain had just moved above me. I couldn’t move. My hands were still stretched on the floor. I didn’t have any more strength to collect my body. I lay very still as though I was already dead.
All I could see in the void was Rajat’s lovely face. He was playing with Sejal. Their faces surfaced from the deep ocean of memories. Rajat’s smiling face filled my sight, soothing my hurting retinal veins. My ears were chiming with the sound of Sejal’s giggling. Both of them were playing and laughing. Rajat was swinging Sejal in his arms. Their faces pounced on my aching heart and brought on a fresh round of pain. Sejal’s picture jolted me. What would she do after finding her mother dead in a pool of blood? Where would she go? How would she handle herself? The thought itself was strong enough to pin nails onto my senses. I went deeper in a state where I could see but could not react any way. I could feel my entire body reluctantly surrendering to the brutality. I knew I was going to die but I couldn’t fight with it anymore. Every drop of my courage vaporised in the heat of the animalistic torture.
I was lying motionless; waiting for them to tear my integrity with their canine intentions. Destiny had decided to shower the cruellest of crimes on me tonight.
“Good job, Jack. The bitch deserved this. But we need to hurry. It’s getting late now. Let’s get on with it and leave.” and Lion pulled my night gown up to my thighs. The lower half of my body was exposed; but I couldn’t do anything about it. I could feel the shame but could not refute their actions. I was lying half naked and limp. I was only able to move my head slightly with tears rolling down my face.
“Please don’t do this. I beg you. Please! Please! Leave me,” I heard myself pleading in a whisper in between the sobs.
“Shut up! Just shut up,” Lion said pressing his hands against my mouth. He scowled at me. They were getting down to business now. Lion started to unbutton his jeans while Jackal waited with the mobile phone in his hand.
A big lump of saliva choked my throat and I found it hard to swallow. I tried to sit up but failed. Every inch of my body was wobbling with fear. I could feel nothing but only fear. It was engulfing me and I could do nothing to combat it. For the first time I felt how awful it feels to see your death right in front of your eyes. I just couldn’t believe my destiny.
Jackal settled down on the bed and was ready to make a spicy MMS while I was being completely humiliated. Many a time I had read about rape victims in the newspapers and the consequences they had to face. I involuntarily pictured myself in the headlines of the next day’s newspaper with all the details of the gruesome incident; how two criminals entered into my house, raped me brutally and killed me. Rajat would be shattered while Sejal would be crying and asking for me. Everyone would be crying next to my body covered with a white shroud. I now knew how it felt when everything that one has was at stake.
My very own little world was about to crumble. Every dream pertaining to our future was about to turn into ashes with the flames of cruelty. I realised it was my worst nightmare that I had never come across. I realised that I was going to die a very painful death. But I was still. I was drained of all my strength. My already weak body was getting weaker by each passing second and could not withstand any more pain nonetheless I kept trying to gather strength. But I was failing at my attempts. Moving myself even an inch seemed a mountainous job at the moment, let alone getting up to fight. I ridiculously longed for Rajat. I wished he was with me like he had been during Antaragni, and when I had fallen ill, when Sejal was born and during my recent illness. He had always been there for me. But why was he not here tonight? That was such a silly question. The events of the night wouldn’t be happening if he had been here in the first place. I wished I had not sent him to Mysore.
I remembered the time when I had fallen ill in IIT. I remembered how he had taken such good care of me. My other friends were there to look after me but Rajat had played a role of true caring friend. He often used to come to my room and asked about my health. He instructed me to have my medicines on time and eat well. He would talk to me in order to take my mind off my illness. I would listen to him patiently. His words always had a magical effect on me or I was magically falling in love with him, I wasn’t sure. One day when I was feverish, he had held my hands and said something. I couldn’t remember his words but they had cheered me up. I tried my best to recall those words but Jackal’s brutal bites felt like bee stings burning my skin with their poison. The more I tried to recall his words, the harder it became to hold on to my senses. I was slowly losing myself to a void while my mind constantly tried to battle against all odds. But one needs hands, legs and above all, the strength to fight and this all meant that I had lost the battle already.
It’s Never Too Late
Lion was ready to destroy my integrity with his upright hungry monster. He was impatiently waiting to violate me. ‘I am going to die a thousand times before I actually die’ I thought helplessly. I closed my eyes, finally surrendering to my destiny. Nothing could save me now. Even if they decided not to kill me at the end, I would not be able to live. Final teardrops trickled down my cheeks as I waited for the inevitable. I tried my best to remember some of the sweetest memories of my life. Thinking of my loved ones might make my death less painful or so I thought.
I thought of Rajat and Sejal. My family meant everything to me and there I made the last wish of my life: to get Rajat and Sejal in my next birth and to live a happy life. No punks, no brutality, no tears; just Rajat, Sejal and I in our flawless happy world. For a second, I smiled. Smiling with bitten lips was hurting though. I would surely join with my family in my next birth. I resigned myself to fate and waited for my death with its hungry paws and sharp teeth.
Just then something unexpected happened. I heard a faint sound. I shook my head but when it grew louder I slowly opened my eyes. I saw Lion stopping halfway just as he was getting ready to violate me. I tried to gather my senses. Suddenly a clear sound echoed in my ears. Was it Sejal? Was she awake?
As the sound became clearer, I realised it was Sejal. She was awake and crying in the other room. I was horrified. The horrendous twist in the current scenario thumped my senses. If the men found Sejal, they wouldn’t spare her either and would kill her along with me. I couldn’t let that happen. I had to do something but what? I was clueless. Jackal was annoyed at the interruption. He put the phone back into his pocket and went to the other room cursing under his breath. He came back holding Sejal with one hand. He was holding her carelessly like she was a doll; a lifeless doll. She was crying loudly. Jackal covered her mouth with his palm.
“Tell her to stop crying otherwise I will kill her before you,” Jackal snarled.
Damn it, Maya! What are you doing? You have to do something right now. They are trying to snatch your family away from you. Think about Rajat. He will be lost without you and little Sejal. And even if by chance they spared Sejal, she would never have a happy childhood without you. Everything that you and Rajat had ever dreamt of would crumble. It’s never too late, Maya? Do something right now!
The gravity of the situation sent shivers down my body. I felt a gush of pain but I had to think of something fast. My mind roared like a wounded lioness which only gets stronger with her wounds. I was racking my brain when I suddenly remembered the words Rajat had said to me when I was ill and I was trying to recollect sometime back. He had held my hands and said, “You are the only one who can win this battle. You think you are weak but I know you are not. You have the strength to fight your illness. You are an amazing girl, Maya. I know you will be out of your misery soon.” That was it. His words charged me and I decided to fight for my family come what may.
“Stop crying, you little one,” Jackal said as he hurled Sejal on the floor towards me. “Be quiet like your mother,” and then he turned towards me.
“You better make her shut up otherwise she will also end up dead like you,” Lion yelled at me. Sejal crawled into my arms.
She started crying uncontrollably. She couldn’t understand
what was going on.
“Please leave her. Don’t hurt her. She is my daughter. Pleeeease! I beg you,” I cried holding Sejal tightly in my arms.
“Who are they, Mamma? This person hurt my hands. I don’t like him,” Sejal said pointing at Jackal. She was terribly scared with two strange men hurting her in her own house.
“Please don’t hurt her,” I said putting my lips on Sejal’s ear. I whispered to her.
“Sejal! I want you to be quiet. Trust me, nothing will happen to us. But please listen to Mamma. Whatever happens, just be quiet. You are a good girl.”
My whisper was lost to Jackal and Lion because of Sejal’s loud sobs but I made sure she heard them clearly. My whole body was aching but I decided to push that aside. I had to save my family even if I had to sacrifice myself. I was willing to take the risk. It was more of a leap in the dark. Lion came forward and pulled Sejal away from me and tied her on a chair next to the bed with a scarf hung on the wall hook.
“Please don’t hurt my mamma. Go away. Pleeease!” she pleaded in her babyish voice. My heart swirled with agony at her panic stricken face.
“Be quiet I say, damn it!” Lion scoffed at her. “We are late, Jack. There is no time to lose. We’ll have to leave soon according to the plan. You hold her hands tightly.” He pointed towards me. Sejal’s loud cries turned into silent sobs as she heard Lion’s shout. She was petrified.
Jackal followed him. So they had no shame humiliating a mother right in front of her daughter? I thought in disgust.
As Lion reached out for me with his monstrous expression, I quickly observed my surroundings. In a slow careful eye movement, I observed the surroundings in a quick glance. Lion was towering over me and Jackal sat pinning down my arms, chortling in excitement while Sejal sobbed on the chair with horrified face and Rajat…he was fast asleep far away from me. A huge rush of adrenaline hit me. I have to do something. I must do something. These sick men have to pay for their heinous act. I felt my all strength and confidence percolating inside me with a steady pace.
It’s Never Too Late Page 11