My mother opened the doors when the bell rang and a total drunk and disoriented figure staggered inside. He stumbled and was about to fall on his face but my mother held him by his shoulder and made him sit on the couch in the living room.

I looked at my tired and exhausted father. He was leaning back to the couch and there were dark circles under his eye. His face was sweaty and his hair was messy. His rested his elbow above his eyes but I could see the tears rolling down from the side of his eye.

I felt a knot in my throat. I looked at my mother and she was sobbing silently looking at my father. I know it was hard on him. Riya di was like a family to us. And her death took a toll on us. It's been a month but still we all were grieving her death. And I know my father is the one who took it hard. He blames himself for her death. He has been like this for a whole month now.

Without knowing what to tell I moved towards him. I sat next to him and put my hands on his shoulder. He slowly removed his hands from his eyes and looked at me. He wiped his eyes in his shirt sleeves and sniffed his nose.

"Dad. You should stop being like this. We know you are hurting but please don't do this to yourself. At least think of us. We have only you. What will we do if something happens to you? I know you love her very much and we do too. We lost her and we can't lose you too. Please dad. I want my old dad back." I said while sobbing.

He wiped my tears and caressed my cheeks. He put his hands on my shoulder and pulled me towards his chest. My mother too joined us in the couch. We sat there for a while.

"I am sorry dears but I can't be in peace until I make them pay for what they did to Riya." He said gritting his teeth. His hold on our shoulder tightened.

"Nathan, please don't. You saw what they can do. Even the authorities can't do anything to them. They even closed Riya's case. How will you fight them? They are out of our reach. They will destroy us. We can't lose you Nathan." My mom said while crying.

"How can you say like this, Shalini? You know that Riya was not just my colleague. She was like a daughter to me. She grew up with us. We were her only family. Will you say the same if the same thing happen to our daughter?" Dad screeched and got up from the sofa.

"Nathan." Mom gasped in shock, tears streaming down from her eyes.

"Did you forget how she died? She was gang raped and beaten to death Shalini. They killed her brutally. How much she had suffer? She went there because of me. I was her senior and I allowed her to go there when I knew how dangerous it was. I could have stopped her but I didn't because I was a greedy journalist who was excited to get an exclusive." He shouted and fell down on his knees. Tears were flowing through his cheeks and he sobbed heavily.

"I will make them pay and I will bring justice to her. I will not let that Babaji and his ashram to destroy more innocent life." He said with a determined voice.

***********************

My dad was working as a chief editor for a popular newspaper in the state for many years and Riya di has joined him two years ago. My dad and mom grew up together in an orphanage. They fell in love and eventually got married. They used to visit their orphanage even after so many years and they helped the children as much as they could. That is how they came to know about Riya di. She was a smart one among them and she excelled in her studies. So my parents became her sponsor. And she became a part of our small family. She was like a daughter to my parents and a sister to me. My dad was her idol and inspiration. She followed his steps and became a journalist. Soon enough she joined him in his office. She was living with us since she turned 18 and we all were very happy together until that awful day.

My dad changed completely after her death. His only aim was to bring justice for Riya di. And he was not lying when he said he will make them pay. He brought many illegal activities happening in the ashram into the lime light but that was not enough to stop them.

Babaji is a type of charismatic guru with many followers all over the world. He is a very powerful and influential person down there. He claims to possess paranormal powers such as ability to heal and see the future. There is not much have heard about his past but he rose to the demigod like figure by his cult following within a small span of years.

It was not a big secret that there are many illegal activities taking place inside the ashram such as money laundering, human trafficking, and pimping young girls to the foreigners and above all there drug dealings taking place behind the walls of his ashram. But the authorities always had a blind eye towards him mostly because of his political influences. He has found patronage among politicians and other high ranking officials.

So whenever my dad tried to expose them they always found a way to stop him. One or the other way the cases will get dropped. Sometimes the victims will withdraw the case or sometimes they just vanish into thin air as if they never existed. That's why my dad dared to go inside their den to get evidences.

My dad wanted someone to go inside the ashram and act as one of them and gain their trust, so that they can get the evidences that could bring them to justice. But no one in his office was willing to do it. All were afraid of them. They were brutal and were supported by criminals and politicians. Whatever my dad did was not enough to stop them or to bring them to the justice that was until I accidently found out the spy camera in Riya di's belongings.

She was very brave and when no one tried to go into that hell she took initiative and went there even ignoring our protest. She worked there as a volunteer for two months and slowly she started to gain the trust of the close ones of Babaji.

One day she called him and told that some leading politicians and higher officials are coming to the ashram and they are going to do some big deals on the following night. Even though she tried to get a hold on what is going on she couldn't get more details.

So she took the risk to follow them in the night and record them in her phone. She called me told that she is going to do this and don't tell to dad because he won't allow it. My father didn't know about it and he became restless when we couldn't reach her for next two days. We were so worried and finally I told him about her plan. He went hysteric. My dad went to the police station to file a complaint about her missing.

But there was no serious actions taken and they even treated him badly and accused him for keeping an extra martial affair with a young girl. And after a week we got a call from the police that they have found a dead body of a young girl in the out skirts of the city.

I couldn't even explain how battered her body was. She looked awful. One side of her jaw was broken with missing teeth. There were cuts and bruises all over her body and her limbs were broken, her toes were cut off and most of all she was raped brutally, multiple times.

We tried to complain against the ashram but they denied that she was working as volunteer in the ashram. Instead they said no one in the ashram knows her and we had no evidences with us. The police said that she ran away from our house because of the abuse and got raped while trying to escape. They even produced four accused and they plead guilty. They even filed case against my parents.

Next one year was so difficult for us. My dad lost his job and many cases started to come against my father. Still he tried his best to fight for Riya di. Our once wonderful life was shattered. Dad started to drink and my mom fell into depression.

One day I was cleaning my room and I found out a small cardboard box inside my closet. It was Riya di's belongings.

I emptied it on the floor and was looking at things and found a flat silver ring with a small stone on it. The doctor who did her post-mortem gave it to dad on that day. I don't know why she did that because it should actually submit to the police but she didn't do it. I will call it as a god's grace because when they killed her and destroyed her mobile they thought they won but what they didn't know was she had another spy cam with her.

It was hidden inside the ring and it had all the recordings that will destroy everything about Babaji, his ashram and many higher officials. It contains their drug deal which took place on that day in presences of Babaji and some of the prominent leaders of the ruling party with one of the big drug mafia in the country. It also had her last moments. It shows how she got caught and them torturing her and raping her and finally beating her to death; it was so brutal and gruesome.

My father knew he had to be careful because if they come to know that we had these evidences then they will kill all of us. So he took the help of one of his close friend who was an attorney. But he was wrong about him that son of a bitch sell out us.

It happened on one evening, I was coming back from my college after getting my certificates and was walking towards my house I met my dad on the way. He was coming back from the market after our weekly grocery shopping. We walked together to our home. When we reached our home it was so silent the lights were off which was so unlikely of mom. She never forgets to switch on the lights by 6 in the evening.

My father pulled me close and we slowly entered the house. We called out for mom but only received only silence. My dad switched on the lights in the living room and a scream escaped my mouth. My mom was lying on the floor in a pool of blood. Blood was still oozing out from the back of her head.

"SHALINI." My father screamed and ran towards her. He lifted her up and laid her head on his lap. "Shalini. What happened?" He asked in a trembling voice. She looked up to him with half opened eyes and ragged breath. With her weak hand she pointed her index finger in the direction of the couch and our eyes turned that way.

That's when we saw him sitting there on the couch. He was staring at us with his dark black eyes. He had dirty brown hair and there was a ugly scar on his left temple running down to his cheeks. He had a sinister smile playing on his lips showing his paan stain yellow teeth. He was wearing a worn out floral print shirt which was open and showing his yellow colour vest. A red colour cloth was tied around his waist and he was patting his old grey jeans as if he is removing some dust. He took out another packet of paan from his pocket and put it inside his mouth and started chew it in a displeasing manner.

"Nathan." My mother's weak voice brought back our attention to her. She held my father's shirt tightly. I kneeled down in front of her sobbing. We both held her tight with tears streaming down from our eyes. "D... don't... let them... hurt Aami." She said with much difficulty and then her grip on his shirt loosened and fell down on her sides.

"SHALINI." "MOM." We both shouted at once. My dad pulled her lifeless body to his chest with a tight grip and cried out loud. I was not very different.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. What a touching farewell." I heard his devilish voice. We looked at him and saw him slowly getting up from the couch. His irritating smirk never left his lips. My dad slowly laid my mom on the floor and got up. He sprinted towards him.

He punched that monster in face. He was not expecting that blow, he covered his mouth and nose with both hands and stumbled back. He removed his hands saw blood oozing out from his nose and mouth. He looked at my father furiously. His lips curled upwards. "YOU BASTARD." Father screamed at him and lounged at him again but this time he was prepared. He dodged and turns around and kicked my father's back. He fell over the coffee table breaking it. The shattered glasses pierced his skin making him bleed.

He again kicked him on his abdomen my father rolled over gripping his stomach tightly. He punched my father in face. "Give me back the video and I will make your death less painful." He whisper yelled at my father while keeping his foot on my father chest.

"Over my dead body." My farther screeched at him while spitting blood. An evil smirk formed on his face. "Be my guest then." He said. He lifted his hands to the back of his shirt and took out a long knife. Before I could figure out what was happening the knife sliced through my father's body. "NOOOOO." I screamed and in a second I saw my dad's body becoming numb with blood pouring out from his body.

I stood there rooted. My heart was beating like a drum. My whole body was shaking with fear and despair. I couldn't avert my eyes from the lifeless bodies of my parents. My mind was numb and I was in a state of shock. "So what we have left here?" I came to my senses when I heard the nasty voice of that man.

I tilted my head and saw him staying so close for my liking. My breath became heavy and my body went cold in fear. He looked at me hungrily. He removed a strand of hair from my face and I flinched at his touch. He lifted my chin with his finger and looked at my face. He licked his lips and a smirk appeared on his face.

"Not that bad. Even better than that bitch who tried to out run us. It's sad that Maara and Viru couldn't enjoy this. Lucky me, I have you all by myself." He said and leaned forward and smelled my hair.

I turned my head in disgust. He reeks of alcohol and the pungent smell of paan raised the bile in my stomach. He moved closer and I pushed him back with force. "Don't touch me." I screamed at him. He stumbled back but maintained his balance.

His smirk widened. "Feisty much?!! Han?!! I like it." He said and took another step towards me. I gasped in horror and moved back ward. With his each step I took another step back till my back hit the wall. His smirk widened while looking at my helpless state. He has cornered me. I clenched my bag in fear and gulped.

This is it. I am going to die in a vicious way a girl could die. There is no way to escape. Please gods don't let him torture me. I prayed even though I know it is not gonna help. I closed my eyes tightly and a heavy sob escaped my mouth.

Then suddenly I heard a bang and my eyes shot open. I saw him holding back of his head and then he fell on the floor with a thud. With shocked eyes I looked at my father standing behind him with a vase in his hand. His once white shirt was red in colour now and he was breathing heavily.

"Dad." I called him unbelieving that he is alive. I took fast step towards him. He cupped my cheeks. "Listen sweet heart, you should leave now. He is just knocked out. You should go away before he could wake up." He said through heavy breath.

"But dad, I can't leave you like this." I said with tears in my eyes.

"Look honey. I don't.... ahhhh..." He clenched his abdomen and kneeled down on the floor.

"Dad." I cried and sat in front of him. He gritted his teeth in pain and closed his eye tightly. Opening his eyes he held my hands in his cold ones, his blood staining my palms.

"Aami, I don't have much time left. You should hurry and go. Here take this." He said and pulled out his wallet from his pocket and handed it to me. I looked at him biting my lips.

He leaned and kissed my forehead. "Go Aami. Run. Don't let them catch you. Always remember that we both love you. Okay." He asked and I nodded my head.

"Now go. Go. Hurry." He hurried and I got up from the floor. I walked towards the door and for one last time looked back at him.

He was sitting with the support of the wall behind him. He looked at me and gave me weak smile.

"I love you dad." I said while sobbing.

"I love you too princess." He said with his half closed eyes.

And with that I turned around and ran out of the house. I ran for how long I don't know. I was scared that monster will follow me. I only stopped when my legs started to give up. I was so tired and exhausted. I washed my face and drank water from a nearby water tap. I sat down next to it and tried to even my breath.

Everything happened started to reappear in front of me. I broke into crying. I felt like a coward. I left them behind to die and here I am running for my life. I hated myself for doing that to them. I couldn't even do a proper funeral for them. I sat there for a while with my unstoppable tears.

That's when I heard the train siren; I walked towards the railway station and saw that next train was to Mumbai I took a ticket and boarded the train.

Sitting in a corner seat I took out my father's wallet. I opened and saw a picture of four of us smiling happily. My eyes welled up knowing that smile is not going to return to me. I wept like a child holding it tightly to my chest and leaned back to the seat and slowly sleep took over me.

I woke up hearing the train horn and recognise that the train was slowly making a halt. I was feeling hungry and thirsty and got down on the station to get something to eat. I was buying things from the store and it was already late to recognise that the train was moving. I ran behind it but it went in vain.

Sighing I sat on the bench next to me. I looked around to see it was a small station. I puffed and took out the bun I brought and started to eat it.

I drank half of the bottle in a go and then washed my face with rest of the water and sat back on the bench waiting for the next train. That's when I heard murmuring and looked up to see two men walking towards me.

I gasped in fear. I don't know whether they were their men or not. Without giving much thought about it I got up quickly and ran for my life and that's how I ended up in that motel and the rest is history.

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

Hey all, I am so sorry to keep you all waiting. 🥺🥺🥺🙏🙏🙏 I am in kind of family emergency and I won't be able to update frequently as before. So please don't be upset with me. I will update when ever it is possible. Thank you all for your patience. ☺️☺️☺️🙏🙏🙏 So here is the next update. Hope you all will enjoy it. Have a happy reading.

And also, belated new year wishes to all of you. I hope this year will bring warmth of love and positivity in your life. I wish yοu and your dear ones a happy, prosperous and blissful new year. Love you all ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️