I was sitting on the couch, wearing Ved's coat. I don't know how long cried in his arms. After I gathered myself he helped me up and brought me to the sofa. His arms were still around my shoulder. "Sit here. I will bring water for you." He said standing up and moved towards the kitchen. Suddenly I grabbed his wrist. Fear spread across my face. I was afraid that that monster will show up again. I didn't want him go away from my side. He was like a shield to me, a shield that protects me from that green eyed demon. The thought of him brought back the cold shivers to me. My grip on his wrist tightened. I was becoming restless; it felt like the air in the room is not enough for me to breath. Darkness started filling my eyes. Only thing in front of me was that green eyes. I was getting a panic attack. Oh god, no, not now. Suddenly two strong arms pulled me towards a hard chest pressing my cold body against a warm one. I felt an arm drawing circles on my back in a soothing way.

"Shhh. It's Okay. Everything is over. Don't be scared. Don't think about anything makes you afraid. Think about something good. I won't let anything happen to you Niharika. I'm there for you." The voice was so tender and attentive. I felt relaxed, the green eyes started disappearing, my breathing became normal. Slowly I looked up; the black eyes were filled with concern. He brought one of his arms to my head and slowly patted my hair.

"Relax. I will bring water. I will be back soon. Okay?" He said.

I nodded my head. He got up and went to kitchen. I took my phone which was lying on the sofa and called Kavya. She attended after several rings. "What is it Hari? What do you want at 3 in the morning?" she asked in a sleepy voice. I couldn't hold my tears. I cried and told her what happened. She stiffens after listening to everything. "I'm on my way. Don't worry." She said before disconnecting.

What did I do so wrong that my life is becoming like this. My father doesn't care what happens with me, my mother don't have time to see my problems and my only anchor died 5 years ago. I thought I got rid of that lunatic, but now he is trying to re-enter my life to make it messier. How am I supposed to escape from him? I know it was because of his father he let me go. But now that Mr. Kohli is dead, he took this opportunity to manipulate my father to get to me. Why can't he just leave me alone? My eyes were swollen by crying.

"Drink this." Ved said extending a glass of water to me. Slowly I raised my hand and took the glass from him.

He sat on the couch opposite me. I slowly brought the glass to my lips. Sipping the water I thought about what happened few minutes earlier. If it was not for Ved I don't know whether I would be alive or not. It was already too much to take after what happened in the office. I was completely worn out, I literally ran out of the building after our encounter in my dad's office. I called Kavya on my way to my apartment and asked her to come and meet me.

She was already standing outside my apartment when I reached there. I ran into her arms a cried. She comforted me for some time and then we entered into my apartment.

"Now tell me. What happened? What is the cause of this disoriented state of yours?" Kavya asked.

I told her everything that happened in the office. My eyes started watering again. "How dare he? He put you through that hell and never looked back. And now that you somehow managed to escape he wanted you to go back there. Wow. Is he for real? Are you even his daughter? He only needs money. And Hari I am warning you. Don't you dare fall for any of his drama? You are going to stand for yourself. The self sacrifices you already made are enough for a life time. Did you get me?" she asked furiously.

"I know Kavya. I will not go back to that devil. I won't let father to take decision about my life anymore. And as for the hotel I will find some other ways." I said firmly wiping my tears.

Rest of the time gone by she trying to cheer me up and cooking our dinner. It was nearly midnight when she left. I closed the door after she left and was about to clean the mess we created in the kitchen, that's when I saw Kavya's car keys lying on the kitchen island. I chuckled this girl never changes. I thought myself. Then I heard the door bell rings. Chuckling I took the keys and went to open the doors. When I opened the door Kavaya was standing there with a puppy face. I smiled at her expression. "Forgot this?" I asked showing the keys.

"Yeah. Sorry. Old habits never die." She said with the same puppy face. I chuckled. We said our goodbyes once again.

I was cleaning the kitchen when the bell rang again. Oops now what did she forgot, thinking I opened the door. But the one who were waiting for me on the other side of the door was not Kavya. It was my nightmare, the nightmare which haunts me even after two years. It is standing right in front of me with a pair of green eyes and a devilish smile. I tried to close the door immediately but he put his leg in between the door blocking me from closing it. He forcefully entered into the apartment. I took few steps back in fear.

He smiled at me mockingly. "You thought it is that easy for you to get rid of me? Aha. You escaped before because of my good-for- nothing father. He was this all good things only type. If he hadn't seen you in that state on that day, you still will be by my side. Why did he have to come on that day? My bad luck I guess. But now that he has gone for good, I can have my way with you. Do you know how much I miss you my dear wife?" He said like a lunatic and walked towards me.

"Stop. Stop right there. I am no one to you. Now get out of my house. Otherwise I will call police. Get Out right now." I yelled at him.

His face changed into a villainous gesture. "Don't talk to me like that. You were, you are and you will always be my wife. Did you hear me?" He shouted like a manic.

"No. I'm not your wife and I never will be again. I hate you. Now get out." I yelled with all my strength.

He took long strides towards me. I spun around to get my phone but he was faster than me. He caught me before I could grab my phone. He pressed me against the wall holding both my hands above my head. He pressed his body to me so that I am not able to move. He dipped his head into the crook of my neck and inhaled deeply. I felt bile building up in my stomach because of disgust.

"You will never say that again. You won't hate me. You are mine. Where is your obedience go? Aha you stayed away from me for two years so that you got a tongue now. You need to be teach a lesson right." He said with an evil smirk.

Tears were flowing down my cheeks. "No. Please. Don't do anything to me. Please." I begged.

The smirk never left his face. He held both my hands tightly in one of his arms above my head. And slowly brought the free hand to hold my cheeks. The tears where streaming down from my eyes. He slowly traced my face with a finger. It slowly went to my neck. My breath caught on my throat. He looked at me wickedly. Suddenly he ripped open my shirt with his free hand.

"Noooo." I cried. He closed my mouth with his hand. I tried to make some sound but only muffled voice came out. At once we heard the door bell ringing. I had a relief. Kavya must have forgotten something else. But the bell stopped after two rings. Then it was silent. Don't go. Don't go. Please. Help me god. I prayed.

I have to do something. I have to let them know that I'm in danger. Then I saw the flower pot sitting on the side table near me. With all my strength I kicked the table. Thank god, it worked the vase fell down and broke into pieces. The devil looked at me furiously. That's when we heard knock on the door and Mr. Aryan calling my name.

"I told you to be obedient. Didn't I?" He whisper shout at me.

I was in full of fear. What if Mr. Aryan didn't hear it? What if he doesn't mind anything happen to me? I tried to make any kind of sound through my closed mouth. There was no sound from outside. My eyes watered again. Just when my hope was dying the door burst opened and Mr. Aryan was standing there.

He looked at me worriedly. Then his eyes fell on him. I saw him fisting his arms and with two long strides he was near us. That monster was pulled away from me in a second. I left the breath I was holding. I slide down the wall and sat on floor. My shirt was half opened. I grabbed the torn shirt around my torso tightly. I was shaking with fear. Then I started hearing shouting. I looked to that direction and saw Mr. Aryan is sitting on top of him and punching his face. His face was covered in blood. There was no mercy in Mr.Aryan's eyes. He was keeping on punching him.

I have to stop him otherwise he will die. Mr. Aryan can't be a murderer because of me. I called him. "Mr. Aryan. Stop it. He will die. Mr. Aryan." I yelled but in vein. He was not listening.

"Ved. Ved. VED, stop it he will die. Please stop it." I shouted in my maximum voice. That made him stop fighting and turned towards me. There was a murderous look in his face. Seeing my face he calmed down. Suddenly he was thrown to the floor. The monster got up immediately.

"This is not the end Harika. You won't escape me this time." He said and vanished through the broken door.

I kept my head on my knees and cried. "Wear this." I heard him saying. I looked up and saw his worried face. I didn't take the coat from him. He sighed and slowly sat beside me on his knees and slowly put the coat around me. He slowly removed the hair on my face. His eyes were filled with worry. I couldn't hold myself my sobs increased. He pulled me into his arms and I cried my heart out sitting like that for god knows how long.

" Harika" the concerned voice of Kavya brought me back to reality. She was still in her night ware and flip flops. She came running and hugged me tightly.

"Are you all right? How did this all happened? How that bustard did come to know about this place? Did he hurt you? I am going to kill that son of a bitch." She was boiling in anger.

"She is fine now. Nothing happened. I came in on time." I heard Mr.Aryan's voice.

We both looked at him. "By the way, who was that guy?" He asked curiously.

"It's all because of you. She was just recovering from all of the nonsense and just in time you have to enter. Because of you she is going through all these again." Kavya was furious. She was about to go and punch him, but I hold her back. "Kavya. That's enough. Leave it." I said.

"Leave it?!! How could you say that? If he never show up you would be living freely. Now see the mess you are in." She said loudly.

"Excuse me. What is all these have do something with me? Why am I being blamed for this?" Mr. Aryan asked confused.

"Because you want to destroy her father and her father is seeking help from her ex-husband." Kavya shouted.

"Ex-husband?" He questioned.

"Yes. Ex-husband. The psycho just happened to be entering the apartment and tried to rape her is her ex-husband. Mr. Karan Kohli, and now he want her to marry him again so that her father can get the money to buy back the shares from you." She said.

He looked at me with a sad and angry expression. He was about to say something but was cut off by Kavya. "Now you have all the information so please leaves us alone. My friend here needs some space to breath." She said gesturing towards the door.

He closed his eyes and sighed keeping his head down. And walk towards the door. Before going out he gave me last glance.

..............................................................................................................................................................

I didn't go to office for two days. My father didn't even bother to call me. Kavya was with me for two days. She was the only one who cares to be my side. But today I asked her to go for work. She has a boutique to run. I can't always be a burden to her. Even my family don't care about me.

Sitting inside the apartment was boring and more over the memory of that night was flushing into my mind when I am alone. I cursed myself for letting Kavya go. I want to go out of here. The atmosphere in here was suffocating me.

I got up from the bed and went to my closet. I picked a black hoody and black track pants. I decided to go for a walk in the nearby park. I tied my hair in a pony tail and put my phone and purse in my pocket. I picked the door key from the key holder while walking towards the door.

When I opened the door I was about to bump into some one. Startled, I took a step back and looked at the person, Mr. Aryan was standing there with a raised fist and surprised look.

"Hi, I was about to knock your door. I wanted to check up on you but I know your friend is not that fond of me. That is why I didn't come the next day. I saw her leaving in the morning. So I thought I will come and see how you are doing." He said. "Are you going to go somewhere?" He asked.

"Yeah. I was going for a walk in the park nearby. I was getting bored." I said.

"Would you mind if I join you?" He asked politely.

I looked at him with surprise. "No, not at all." I said.

"Okay then, after you." He smiled and said while gesturing with his hand. I gave a small smile and walked towards the lift after locking the apartment.

After coming out of the apartment complex we walked towards the park. The walk was awkwardly silent. We both had trouble to start a conversation. I felt uncomfortable around him; the thought of him witnessing my vulnerable state was embarrassing. I wanted to thank him for saving me but no words came out of my mouth. We just walked silently inside the park.

"Would you mind sitting here for some time?" he asked pointing towards an empty bench.

I stared at his face and nodded. We sat on the cement bench in park. I looked around. There were some elders sitting in a group and doing chit chatting. Some people were doing evening walk. Some were doing exercises and on the opposite side of me was a play area. There were children playing there. Suddenly a ball came towards me but I caught it before it could hit my face. I looked ahead and saw a small boy running towards me. He came and stood in front of me and smiled looking at the ball. I bend down to his level and raised my eyebrows in a questioning manner. He pointed towards the ball.

"You want this?" I asked. He nodded. I smile at his gesture. "Okay, if you want this you have to tell me your name. Otherwise I won't give you the ball." I said with a playful frown.

"Aadi. My name is Aadi." He smiled even more. "Aww. That's a sweet name." I smiled and patted his hair. I extend my hands to him with the ball. He took it happily. He looked at me with smile and suddenly he gave me a kiss on my cheeks. "You look so pretty." He said with a shy smile and ran away. I blushed a little and a shy smile appeared on my lips.

"It's true indeed." A voice said from behind me. I turned around and saw Mr. Aryan holding two paper glasses in his both hands. When did he leave? I didn't even notice when he left my side. He slowly walked towards me and sat on the bench. He handed me one glass of the hot milk tea.

"You didn't have to bother yourself." I said while taking the glass from his.

"Oh. It's nothing." He said with a smile. I gave him a small smile and blow the hot tea and took a small sip.

"So how are you now? Are you okay now?" I heard him asking after sometime. "Yeah, I'm good." I answered without looking at him. I know that he felt the answer doesn't reach my eyes. I was far away from okay. The nightmares were stronger than before. Kavya couldn't even sleep for two days because of me. I felt bad for her that is why I asked her to leave today. I somehow convinced her that I will be fine. Even though she insisted of staying I didn't let her. This is my fight. I have to fight it alone. This time I won't fall for any traps.

"I'm sorry." He spoke again. "I didn't think your father will put you in such a situation. I didn't mean to cause any problem for you." He said sadly.

"But eventually you did." I said without any emotion. My anger was getting me. I should stop here; otherwise I may say something that I will regret later. So I stood up from the bench. "I'm going back." I said with a harsh tone and left the park leaving him standing there.