Siddharth

I realised that I am crying when I felt something warm on my cheeks. I looked at the girl in front of me crying hard while hugging her knees. My heart was breaking for her. I couldn't image how someone went through all that. I couldn't even take my father's death and here she witnessed her parents getting murdered in front of her.

Her body was shaking and her whimpers increased. Sighing I wiped my eyes and moved closer to her. I scooped up her in my arms and made her sit on my lap. I hugged her tightly to my chest and rubbed her back in soothing way.

I couldn't find any word to make her pain go away. I was ready to do anything to make her feel good but there was nothing I could do. She lost her family in an unimaginable way. My eyes started to get wet again.

I held her close to my chest for a long time. The sound of waves crashing the shore was echoing around us. The sun was down long ago and the night was darker without the moon light. The faint light from the distant street lamp was the only thing that allowing us to each other.

Her sobs died down a few minutes before but still we sat there in the embrace of each other. She was resting her head on my chest and I ran my finger through her open hair.

"So Aami is your pet name?" I asked in hope of killing the silence around us.

She nodded her head in a yes. "My mom gave me that name. I don't know why but she liked that name very much." She said in a small voice. I could sense a small smile playing on her lips. My lips curved into smile automatically.

"Actually dad was against that name at first. But my mother was adamant and she always called me that. When I started to respond to it when I was a baby finally my dad gave in." She said with a chuckle.

"I love that name." I said with a smile. She gave me a shy smile.

"My dad always likes to make fun of my mom but eventually he will give in to her. Riya di always teases him telling that he is scared of my mom." She said and smiled remembering those days and then sighed heavily.

"We were so happy Sid. I couldn't ask for more. I was their princess. But now... I... I don't have anyone. I am all alone." She sobbed again.

"Shhh... Aami... No, stop. You are not alone sweet heart." I said and cupped her face in my palms.

"You have me. Okay. And I will not let anything happen to you. I will never leave you alone. I will always be there. Please. Trust me." I said looking at her glassy eyes.

"I know Sid. I know you will never leave me alone. I knew it that instant when I saw you searching for me despairately all over the railway station on that day with your worried face." She said with a small smile on her face and a tear rolled down to her cheeks from the corner of her eyes.

My mouth gape opened in surprise. I looked at her startled. "You were there? You saw me searching for you?" I asked amused.

She nodded her head. "I am sorry for not coming to you. I. I was scared and... and I..." She sobbed again holding my shirt tightly.

All these months I was angry at her for running away on that day but now I couldn't blame her. I understood how scared she must have been after everything she went through all those hours. All my anger melted like butter.

"Shhh... It's okay baby. I understand. It's okay. You don't have to be sorry." I said pulling her closer. I ran my palm through her hair as if it will soothe her pain.

"Do you think they are still looking for you?" I asked hesitantly.

She pulled away and looked at me. She sniffed and wiped her face in her shirt sleeves. "I am sure they are looking for me. I don't know why they couldn't find me sooner. May be luck is with me this time." She said weakly.

"What about the video evidence? Do they get a hold on it?" I asked.

"No. The ring was inside my dad's wallet. I came to know about it after reaching here. One day when I went through my dad's wallet I saw the ring and that chain inside the small pouch pocket in his wallet." She said pointing her finger to the chain I was wearing.

I looked down to my chest and became aware that I was wearing the chain she gave me on my birthday.

I looked at her. "This was your father's?" I asked surprised. She nodded her head. "It was a gift from my mom to him. It's her initial carved on it." She said looking at the letter 'S' carved on the pendant.

I looked down and rubbed the 'S' on the pendant. "What were their names?" I asked. "My father's name is Ranganath but everyone calls him Nathan and my mother's name is Shalini." She said with a smile. I nodded in acknowledgement.

"So, what about the video? You could have tried to go to police here right." I asked.

"I was scared. They are highly influential people and I was afraid that they might do something to Gautham and his family if they came to know. So I kept quiet." She said looking down to her feet.

"Uh-uh. Do they know about your situation? I mean the people with whom you are staying?" I asked.

She nodded. "Gautham and his parents knew all of it. When I reached Mumbai I didn't know what to do at first. I spend a day in the waiting room of the railway station. Then I remembered Gautham was living here. We were neighbours for many years until they moved to Mumbai few years back. We were like a family. So I called him and he came to the railway station. I told him everything and he took me to his home. I was scared that they might harm them too but they told that they will face anything to keep me safe. They contacted one of their friends to arrange a student visa for me and we are informed that it might take some time. I didn't want to be a burden for them in the mean time so I started looking for some job and that's how I ended up in your office." She said and looked at me and then looked away biting her lips.

"I am sorry. I didn't know it was your office. I wouldn't have come there if I knew it." She said after a while with her head hung low.

"Why? Do you hate me that much?" I asked disappointed.

"What? No, no. I don't hate you. I. I was just..." She trailed off and bit her lips in nervousness.

A teasing smirk formed on my lips. I lifted her chin with my index finger and made her to look at me. We were so close that I could feel her hot breath on my lips. I gulped looking at her plump lips.

"So, you don't hate me?" I asked in a whisper while caressing her cheeks. She looked at me intensely and shook her head in side ways. Her breath becomes heavy and I could feel the heat rising on her cheeks. She licked her dry lips and averted her eyes to her lap. My smirk widened knowing the effect I had on her.

I moved closer and rubbed my nose on her ear lobe to her cheeks and down to her jaw bone. She gasped and gulped hard. "Then what do you feel for me Aami?" I again whispered, my lips touching her earlobe. She rubbed her palms together in nervously.

I moved my palm to her neck drawing small circles with my thumb. I looked at her in eyes, our breaths fanning each other's face and our eyes staring at each other.

"Tell me Aami, what am I to you?" I asked. Her eyes held many unreadable emotions.

"What do you want me to say Sid?" She asked like a whisper looking in my eyes.

"I want you to tell me that you too feel the same way about me like I feel about you. I want you to tell me that I have a special place in here." I said and kept my hand over her heart.

"I want you to tell me that you will not run away from me anymore. I want you to tell me that you will let me stay with you always and will let me protect you from everything." I said with all my sincerity and honesty. I was despair to hear it from her. I was longing for her for a long time now. I could feel her heart beat increasing.

I just want to be with her always. I want to help her to move on in her life. I want to protect her from all the harms. I want to give her all the happiness in the world. But first I want to hear it from her that she too wants me just like how much I want her.

"I too want to be with you Sid. But I am scared. I am scared that something might happen to you too. I won't survive if something happen to you Sid. You are only one making me feel that I have someone in this earth for me, that I am not alone. You are the only thing giving me the hope that one day everything will be alright and I will have a happily ever after. Every day I look forward for a happy future with you." She said and a lone tear fell off from the corner of her eye.

I wiped the tear while cupping her face. I smiled at her and she smiled back with her glassy eyes.

"Everything will be alright dear. Trust me and I will make everything right. Will you do that?" I asked.

She sniffed and then smiled at me and then she nodded her head. I kissed her fore head and then moved the hair strands from her face. I hugged her one more time before getting up. I stood up and held out my hands for her.

"Come on. Let's get you home." I said and she instantly held my hand. We walked hand in hand heading towards my car. Suddenly she stopped walking and pulled me back. I turned around frowning to see her with a shy smile.

"I want to tell you something. I have wanted to tell you this for a long time but I couldn't bring myself to tell you before. And now you know everything about me I don't want to wait any more." She said looking at me intensely.

My face light up with a bright smile and I could feel the happiness flowing through my veins. Is she really going to tell me what I wanted to hear from her? Excitedness made me feel the adrenaline rush happening inside me. Oh my god, I am going to be the happiest man in the world. I couldn't stop myself from smiling like a child who is excited by seeing his favorite candy.

"Sid, I lo..." She opens her mouth but I detached my hand from her and moved back. She looked at me with a cute frown and confused eyes.

"Say it louder." I said without stopping my smile. "What?" She asked confused. "Say it louder Aami. I want the whole world to hear it." I shouted looking at her happily while walking backwards with my hands wide open.

She scoffed and shook her head. "Sid you are being childish." She said chuckling.

"Come on. Please. Say louder. So that the whole world knows that you and I belong to each other. Now say it Aami. Don't make me wait now. Say that you love me. I want to hear it from you." I said looking at her lovely face.

I looked at her impatiently waiting for the sentence I wanted to hear for long. My heart brimming with happiness. But less I know that destiny awaits us with other plans.

She smiled at me and bit her lips. She took a deep breath and opened her mouth. "Sid, I want you to hear this loud and clear, okay. I l..." She didn't finish the sentence instead her face became pale in horror and all the blood on her face drained out.

I looked at her and creases started to form on my forehead. Her eyes bulged and a heavy gasp of fear left her wide opened mouth. Her eyes became glassy and her eyes were staring at something behind me.

Frowning I turned around and before I could process what was happening I felt a sharp pain on my head. My eyes closed tightly while my hands went up to cup my head. I gasped in pain and tried to open my eyes.

"SID." I heard her screaming. I tried to lift my head and saw her petite figure running towards me. Black dots were starting to appear in front of me and I blinked to clear my vision. I kneeled down when I felt my legs became wobbly. I was trying hard to keep my consciousness.

"Sid. Sid." I heard her voice calling me and I tried to lift my throbbing head. My vision was becoming blur, I saw her coming closer but someone stepped from behind me and held her by gripping her hair.

"Leave me. I said leave me. Sid." She cried out. "Did you think you escaped me forever little rat?" I heard an ice cold voice. The man's back was facing me while he pulled her hair mercilessly. She was struggling to get off from his grip.

With great effort I grabbed that man's leg. He looked down and scoffed. I saw the scar running from his forehead to his cheeks. "Either you come with me willingly without making a scene to grab anyone's attention or he dies this instant. You know I won't joke around." He said to her gritting his teeth.

"No. No. Please don't kill him. I will come with you. Please leave him." She begged.

"Good girl." He replied with an ugly smile.

"Leave her you bustard." I screeched at him. He looked down to me again and smirked. How I want to wipe that smirk from his face. He then kicked me on my abdomen which made me fell on my stomach. My body was giving up and the black dots returned.

I was out of all energy when he dragged her away from there and I looked at them helplessly. My consciousness was losing and I could feel my eyes giving up. I could feel the thick liquid flow down from my head to the back of my neck and socking my shirt. I fell into darkness when I failed to keep my eyes open.

That's when her face appeared in front of me. She was smiling while running towards me. I opened my arms for her but suddenly I saw someone grabbing her back. She was fighting that figure and screaming for help but before I could reach her they vanished.

My eyes shot open and I gasped for air. I looked up to the dark sky and realized I was still lying there. No. No I can't lay here and die. I have to save Aami. I promised her that I will keep her safe. I have to get out from here. I have to find her.

With my ragged breath I slowly pulled out my phone from my pocket and dialled the number of the person whom I trust with my life. The call was immediately picked after the first ring. "SID." I heard his worried voice.

"Please get me out of here ." I sounded weak for myself. But I knew he would understand that something is wrong and he would come for me. And that was the last thing I remember before my brain shut me down again.

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