This was only the second time in six months that she had visited “The Sanctuary”. True to its name this building housed one of the most capable, experienced, honest and dependable persons in the world. Senior Advocate Prativadi Bhayankar Chakravarthy or PBC as he was known was one of the fiercest advocates of truth and justice. He stood by the real victims getting them justice. He was also a close friend of Sahithi’s grandfather Mr. Jagannatham which was why she had come to here. As their family lawyer, he held answers to many questions. Sahithi rang the bell and waited for someone to open the door. “Raju!” she exclaimed. “Why are you here?” he motioned for her to come in, stepping aside and holding the door open. He shut it when she entered and signalled her to follow him. She suppressed her curiosity knowing that he couldn’t speak and would have to hold in her questions till the right moment. He took her to PBC’s chamber and left her there. The room was empty except for two women –
Sahithi shook her head as her troubles seemed far from over. Her mind drifted back to the time when she was living a nerve-wracking life before she had gone unknowingly to this hell hole. She had spent the entire week looking over her shoulder and ensuring that no one could barge in unannounced. But, despite her efforts her bava would always find a way to be present whenever she came out of the bathroom after having her bath. “Why did you remove the handles?” she had asked him once. “To protect you.” “Rubbish! You are invading my privacy!” “You are my fiancée and there is no such thing as privacy between us.” “I am not marrying a pervert who treats me so shabbily in my own house.” He simply chuckled as if he was amused by her. “You are so adorable and cute!” “GET OUT!” “After you get dressed.” That made her look at herself and she screamed. She had only a towel on her body. “GET OUT YOU MORON!” he had simply pulled the towel off with a smile mortifying her. He then had literal
“Who the hell do they think they are?” Sahithi burst out in the dormitory. There was no sign of the Group Leader for once. “Just wait! I am going to have my revenge.”“How?”“I intend to get them arrested.”“You are dreaming.”“I am not. I know what I can do.”“They are too strong!”“SO WHAT?” Sahithi shouted in anger. “WE KEEP LETTING THEM STAMP ALL OVER US AND THEY WILL BE STRONG!’ she paced to and fro in frustration. “HOW LONG WILL YOU BE SILENT? HOW MUCH MORE HUMILIATION DO YOU NEED BEFORE YOU EVEN THINK OF PROTESTING?” “Please don’t make a scene, Sahi. We will all be in trouble.”“TROUBLE? IS GETTING STRIPPED IN FRONT OF EVERYONE NOT TROUBLE? IS GETTING GROPED OPENLY IN A FRIENDLY MATCH NOT TROUBLE? IS WALKING ALL THE WAY FROM THE OTHER END OF THE CAMPUS TO THE HOSTEL COMPLETELY NAKED NOT TROUBLE? WHAT MORE TROUBLE DO YOU NEED?”The other girls were frightened by Sahithi’s anger. However, her shouting had brought the rest of the girls and the Group Leaders to their room. “What’
The cool breeze was soothing to Sahithi as she leaned her cheek to the window that was partially open. The bus she had taken home was slow when compared to the family car she usually went home in. The words family and home brought fresh tears to her already swollen eyes. She recalled the events of the past few days that had changed her life forever. "Sahithi, your father is here." Miss Sharma had called from the crowded Reception area where the parents of the students were registering to take their kids home for the winter vacation. Sahithi had been waiting for this moment as she would get to spend the holidays with her grandparents in the village, eating the delicious sweets, snacks and dishes that would be prepared for one of the most important festivals of Bharat - Sankranthi. It was a three day festival that involved lots of fun mixed with tradition, excitement and joy. It was an out and out farmers' festival and she loved every moment before, during and after the festiv
The bus entered the bus terminus of Eluru. From here, she had to take another bus to her village, though she was sure someone might have sent a car to pick her up. She had declined to accompany her aunt and uncle to her home, preferring to travel by bus, so that it would give her the much needed time to come to terms with the tragedy. She knew she could never be the same nor could the void left by her loved ones be filled by anyone else. So, her uncle had booked her a seat in the Amaravathi A/C Coach of APSRTC, which was one of the most luxurious buses in the fleet of the State Public Transport Department. As she came out of the arrival block, she found Raju, one of her father's most trusted farm hands, waiting for her beside a Mahindra Jeep, her favourite vehicle. His face was grim and clouded with a sadness that seemed to go deep into his soul. He and his family had been serving them for generations and had a deeper bond with them than the other workers employed by the family. For
"I told you to go out!" he smiled shamelessly."I brought your clothes." She gave him a scorching look. "I don't want you to expose to everyone." she was confused by his words till he pulled her towel off. "Only to me." he said staring at her. She screamed and ran into the bathroom closing the door behind her. Her heart was thudding loudly at what had just happened. Why did he do that? Didn't he know she was the heir to the whole property earned by her parents? How could he do this to her? She felt the door being pushed and she almost fell on her face. She found two strong hands hold her steady while someone stared at her back. She felt very uncomfortable as it was something no one had ever done to her before. She felt a hand roam all over her back before she felt herself being turned round. Her cousin was staring at her assets making her squirm in embarrasment, shame and anger. "You need a little more time to bloom fully." he remarked as if he was reviewing a piece of art. "
Sahithi was pensive as they returned home. She realised she was in deep trouble with no one to call her own. She couldn't trust anyone nor could she fight aginst her legal gaurdians no matter how much she hated them. Her only hope to avoid her cousin was to go back to her school and finish her education. Would she be allowed to do that? Because her aunt and uncle would lose everything if they allowed her to complete her studies. She knew her cousin would take advantage of the situation to take her virtue sooner than later and she wouldn't be able to stop him. It would be nearly impossible for Raju to protect her since she had no powers till she got her property back. The future appeared grim. The true impact of the loss of her parents and grand parents hit her fully at that moment.As she entered the house, she was greeted with a deafening silence broken by the icy tone of her aunt. "Ah! So you have learned about the will." she remarked. "It will make things far easier.
Sahithi was gazing at the photo frame that depicted her full family taken in happier days. She had been in 9th class (9th grade) then. The family had gathered in the garden for a group photograph. While her grandparents looked as ancient as ever, her parents seemed to be aging for the first time. Everyone seemed to be happy, though she could detect the lack of deep happiness in the eyes of her aunt. There was something that her aunt was unhappy about though she didn't know what it was. Nevertheless, she ignored the feeling of unease and finished her packing making sure she had everything that she loved the most. When she came out, her uncle was waiting for her. He appeared calm as ever but what struck her as strange was the absence of her cousin and her aunt."Shall we go?" she nodded, unwilling to speak. She was surprised to see her uncle's car waiting for them."What happened to our car?""It is engaged on another task.""What task?""Taking your