Siddharth

The shouting and yelling from corridor made me come back to reality. The girl too looked out of shock. She suddenly closed the door locked. “Please don’t tell I’m here. Please. Please.” She was utterly scared. Her eyes were red and puffy and the panic was evident. Her waist length black hair was messy and all over her face. She was wearing a plain blue kurta with white leggings. She was folding her hand in front of her and begging. Tears were streaming down from her eyes.

Watching her face gave me an urge of protectiveness towards her. I slowly got up from the floor and moved close to her. I put a hand on her “It’s okay, don’t worry no one will harm you. I promise.” I wonder myself what made me to promise something to a no one.

Her face was covered with sweat and tears. I caressed her cheeks with my thump and slowly wiped her tears. I slowly made her sit on the bed and went to take water for her. I looked at her while filling the glass with water. She was still sobbing. I went near her sat down in the bed and handed the glass of water to her. She took it and drank it in a go.

“Do you feel a little better?” I asked. She nodded her head sobbing. Suddenly heard shouting from the corridor. “I’m sure she is somewhere inside this building.” Someone shouted. Terrified she clenched to my hand. “No one came here. I was sitting at the reception in front. I’m telling you. Don’t create problem. I will call police.” I heard the man at reception saying. “I think she is not here. He would have seen her passing the front door. Come let’s go and search somewhere else. Don’t waste time.” Someone else was saying. After five minutes voices stopped. We waited for some more minutes nothing happened. They are gone I guess.

I looked at the girl again. She looks so tiny and fragile. Her eyes were shut down and look like she is praying. I smiled myself. “Hey, it’s okay. I think they left. Relax.” I said putting a hand on her shoulder.

She slowly opened her eyes and looked at me. I gave her a reassuring nod. Then the unexpected happened. She hugged me and starts crying. Her hold was so tight that her life depends on it. I was startled for a moment. Her tears were making my chest wet. Slowly I rubbed my hands on her back trying to give her some comfort.

After sometime she calmed down, she lifted her head up and looked at me. I felt like I could do anything to remove that sorrowful look on her face. I wiped her tears with my fingers. “Are you okay?” I asked. She came back to her senses. Suddenly we realized how close we were. She immediately moved out of my hands. I felt empty.

She shyly looked away from me. Then only I realized I was wearing only a towel around my waist. I instantly got up from the bed. “Ah-uh hmmm, I, Me, It was raining...” I stuttered. “Wait here I will change and come.” I said. She nodded. I took my dress and went to bathroom to change.

When I came out of the bathroom she was standing near the window staring outside. Her small backpack was clutched to her chest with her hands.

“Who were they?” I asked.

She looked at me. “I got out the train to fetch water. And missed the train. The next train was at 6.00 am. So I was waiting in the platform. Then suddenly some guys came and tried to talk to me. I had this bad feeling and i ran from there. They started chasing me. This motel was the nearest building, so I ran into the motel there was no one in the front area. So I tried all the doors on the way here.” She said her story.

“You know. The thing you did was kind of stupid.” She looked at me confused. “Every men opening their motel room for a girl wouldn’t be a good man as me.” I smiled at her. She put her head down in embarrassment. I chuckled.

“Ok. I will drop you at the railway station by 5.45 am till then take rest.” She nodded and was about to sit in the chair. The same time we heard a knock on the door. She froze. Her grip on the chair tightened. The knock came again. I looked at her and moved towards the door. Instantly a hand held my wrist. I turned to see a fear filled but cute face. If I could do teleporting then I would have done that taking her with me. I had this urge to taking all worries from her and throw it away.

I gave her a reassuring tap on her shoulder. She looked at me and I gave her hand a little squeeze. She nodded her head. I went near the door. I was prepared for an attack so with keeping a distance i opened the door. But I was not at all prepared for the twist going to happen in my life after I open the door.