Chapter 12.
They didn't have to go far. About fifty feet from the path, there stood an old deserted wooden hut. Setting her down on the steps gently, Shaurya used a stone to break open the door and stepped inside. Aditi waited. It was dark already and the rain was still falling incessantly. The drop in temperature meant the sun had already set. She shivered.
'Its safe for tonight..', Shaurya called from inside. He came out and carried her in. He moved around inspecting while she looked on sitting against a wall. Managing to find some dry wood and matches, he started making a fire.
Aditi's ankle throbbed badly. She was cold and shivery, her wet legging and t-shirt clung annoyingly to her body. She felt dizzy but willed herself to keep her eyes open. She didn't want to fall asleep...not here...not in front of him. The dread in her heart was slowly gaining. She knew she had no chance if he turned his attention to her.
In the light of the fire, Shaurya saw Aditi's eyelids drooping. His mouth twitched. He had seen her condition when she arrived yesterday. The girl was stupid to think she could complete a ten mile run in her state. He looked around and found some clothes. None of it fitted his huge body. He took off his wet shirt and dried himself with a cloth. Then went to Aditi and woke her up.
She sat up with a jolt when she saw his bare body, taking in the size and muscles. She decided it was pure luck she was able to overcome him the other day. Mouth going dry, she changed while Shaurya waited outside. Once back inside, he made her sit near the fire. She was wearing some longish tunic, too big for her. She couldn't find anything to cover her legs so sat there tucking her legs underneath her.
Without a further word, he settled opposite her, leaning against the wall and closed his eyes.
*****
Shaurya was disturbed. He couldn't shake the feeling of deja vu. He remembered Mahek and himself, in that hut near Agra. How he had tried to seduce her and how shy she was. He smiled sadly. They had hardly spent any time together. Two days into their honeymoon, she had met with the fatal accident that had taken her away from him. His eyes turned moist. If only he was there to save her...she would be here with him today. He turned on to his side and saw Mahek sleeping peacefully near the fire.
*****
Aditi closed her eyes. She was too weary to even be scared of Shaurya Khanna. Somehow he seemed different today...more gentle. It felt like he was just going though the motions, his heart was really not in it. He must be missing his wife...she thought. She fell asleep thinking of Shaurya Khanna.
Her dreams came hard and fast..she twisted and turned, eyes streaming, shaking her whole body in violent convulsions. She could not breath as she felt their hands nearing her, trying to grab her. She tried to jerk away in her sleep, when the hands grabbed her and pulled her. She felt a dreadful scream escaping her mouth as she woke up, shaking all over with fear, eyes wide open but seeing nothing.
Someone was calling her name. Someone was holding her and trying to calm her. The deep, soothing voice kept murmuring, calling her name, cajoling her. She moved closer to the voice, she felt safer there. She laid there nestling against the warmth until she dozed off again.
*****
Shaurya hadn't been able to sleep. He was sitting against the wall of the old wooden hut, holding Aditi in his arms.
He was shocked to see her torture, could still feel the tremors in her body. He couldn't make sense as he watched her going through the spasms. He feared she might pass out or worse. Her thrashing had taken her perilously close to the fire, it was only his quick action that had saved her from burning. He saw her now, leaning against him, apparently in deep sleep. He waited patiently for her to wake up.
*****
Wednesday-
It was already late morning when Aditi stirred from her slumber. She was warm and comfortable. She opened her eyes to find herself lying snuggled with Shaurya Khanna. Releasing her, he looked at her warily. She looked fully awake now. He could see disbelief and fear in her eyes, her hands clutching the front of her tunic. Her steel gray eyes looked at him, questionning, waiting for an explanation.
'You had a nightmare last night', he said as he watched her. She slumped against the wall, ashen faced.
'You need a doctor', he added.
She sat up straight and looked at him. 'Its just one dream Mr Khanna. I'm perfectly fine. Thanks for all your help but I want to go back now.'
He ignored her. 'We are not going anywhere until you tell me the truth', he said and sat back.
'There's nothing to tell..', she said evasively, 'It was just a bad dream. They are normal. I bet many people have them.'
He studied her. 'There was nothing normal about last night, Ms Shekhawat. You could have died of heart attack, you could have burned alive'. He looked at her again and continued, 'You have lost considerable weight since when we first met. You look ill.'
Aditi didn't reply. She was too tired, her head hurt, her ankle throbbed with pain. She just wanted this to end.
Tears came unbidden, bringing with them all her painful memories fears...she cried like never before as she let go. She told him everything...about her orphanage, her friends, and her dark hiding corners. She told him about her nightmares... that she had mastered once but were back in full force.
She was angry at him, for forcing her to reveal her deepest fear, her darkest secret, her shameful weakness. That she..ACP Aditi Shekhawat was a fraud, a lier. She was no confidant, self-assured woman, but a frightened little child scared of her own shadow.
She blamed him for her torture...it was him, his reckless actions that had triggered her worst nightmares, brought the memories back.
Aditi cried until she was spent..until there was nothing more left in her. Then she went quiet and curled on the floor clutching her knees to her heart.
*****
The rain had stopped sometime in the night. The gushing water rivulets had reduced to a trickle. Shaurya stepped carefully, watching the steep, narrow, winding path that took them downhill. Aditi had dozed off on his shoulder, swaying dangerously with his each step, making him precariousy unsteady. But he did not mind. He held her firmly and walked on.
*****
Back at the resort, the elders of the Sharma, Shekhawat and Khanna families had arrived to find Aditi and Shaurya missing. Aditi had gone jogging into the forest yesterday and still hadn't returned. Neither had Shaurya. Megha Shekhawat stood there anxiously as her husband made phone calls for emergency rescue services. They should have been here yesterday...he cursed angrily.
Kanta stood on a side, not knowing what to do. Her daughter was missing. And it seemed Shaurya Khanna was responsible again. She was shaking, somehow controlling her tears. She knew it...She knew this would happen.
Karuna was looking worried. She just wanted to see her son safely back. She also hoped the girl was safe..for Shaurya's sake. If anything happened to Aditi Shekhawat, Shaurya will be a history. Her father will make sure of that.
Vicki, Vivaan and Mohit were preparing to go up the hill in search of them when they spotted a figure on the path coming down the hill. As he came closer, they saw Shaurya slowly walking downhill, carefully balancing Aditi on his shoulder. She seemed to be asleep or unconscious. He reached down and paused for a breath when he was surrounded by the others. Vivaan took hold of Aditi and carried her to her room. Shaurya stood there watching before Karuna whisked him away from the others.
***** *****
