Ayush pushed his father's luggage trolley through the cracked pavement of Sonambar Central Railway Station. Another bag hung over his shoulder, straps digging in and burning his skin. He trailed behind Amar Singh, halting at the platform counter. The large mechanical clock on the wall revealed they were half an hour early for the train.

Gentle sunshine kissed the damp crushed stones on the railway tracks. The cries of chai, snacks and newspaper vendors echoed throughout the awning. Placing the luggage on a cement bench under Amar's care, Ayush purchased a newspaper and a Bisleri bottle.

"Here, Papa. Your daily paper and water bottle."

"Thank you, Ashu. I wish you can come along," Amar said, pressing his son's arm.

He responded with a yearning nod. "Shall I get you some snacks?"

"The dal rotis we ate this morning still feels heavy on my chest, son."

"You have taken everything, right? Your mobile, wallet, medicines."

Amar ran his hand through his fine set hair. "I totally forgot! My medicines got over this morning."

Ayush squinted his eyes and pressed his lips together. "Oh no, Papa!"

"Don't worry, I will get them once I reach Mumbai."

"What about during the journey?"

"I can manage, it's only for a day."

"Tsk-tsk. Doctor Nahar strictly mentioned you need to take every single tablet. I'll get them now."

"The train must be arriving now, Ashu."

"It will hardly take fifteen minutes by bike. I'll be back soon, Papa."

"Don't hurry, ride safely."

He nodded and raced to his bike, commencing the ride to Doctor Nahar's Clinic. Across the roads, obituary posters and banners of a politician fluttered in the air. He belonged to the same party as Sakshi's father. Probably that was the reason she didn't answer his calls the previous night. Or maybe she was angry with him. Either way, he intended on making peace with her once his father left for Mumbai.

Stationing his bike at the hospital parking lot, he hurried inside to the in-built medical shop. The pharmacist packed strips of tablets in a brown paper packet and handed it to him. As he turned around, intense shock touched his features.

Was he imagining things? Or was it really her strolling in the empty corridor. He glanced at his wristwatch. Twenty minutes for the train to arrive. Ignoring the rational side of his mind, he ran to her.

"Yaara!"

Tilting her head, her gaze fell on him.

"Ayush!" Her lips moved without a sound.

His arms circled around her waist as he pulled her close to him, inhaling the strong medicinal scent from her body.

"I missed you, yaara," he whispered in her ears.

"You promised you'll be there for me, but left when I needed you the most." Her words tugged his heartstrings.

"I'm very sorry. I won't do that ever again," he said.

They moved away as a nurse passed by them. His hands never left her waist. Peering into her sore eyes, an uneasy feeling brimmed in his chest.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

Her lips twitched as she fought back tears. She slowly removed the dupatta and craned her neck, showing him the scars crusting her neck. His face glowered in flooding rage. Blood thrummed in his veins.

"H-Hemant did this?"

She shook her head sideways. "Baba."

Ayush buried his front teeth into his lower lips, clenching his fists. He couldn't push out a single word from his mouth.

Her hands cupped his jaw. "What are you doing here?"

The question struck him that if he delayed by a minute, his father would miss the train.

"Yaara, I must send off Papa at the railway station."

"Where is Uncleji going?"

"His brother suffered a stroke. He's travelling to Mumbai to visit him."

"May he have a safe journey."

His gaze fell again to her neck.

"You have work today, no?"

He nodded, holding back his tears. How did Udayveer get the heart to hurt her in such a monstrous, dastardly manner?

"See you later if possible, Ayush."

"Take care, yaara."He dashed out of the hospital, unable to bear the horrible plight of his lover.

Riding back to the railway station, he handed the medicines to Amar. With a loud siren announcing its arrival, the train entered the railway station. Ayush located his father's seat number in the bogie and placed his luggage on the blue metal rack overhead.

"Please keep your phone in loud. I have set daily alarms in your phone for when you should take medicines," he said.

"Alright, Ashu."

"Hire a porter as soon as you reach, and please give me a call."

"Are you sure you can manage? This is the first time I'm leaving you on your own since . . . Damini left us."

"Don't worry about all that. I can manage, Papa."

Amar placed his hand on Ayush's head. "Take care, Ashu. Stay blessed."

Giving his father a tight hug, Ayush alighted from the bogie. The train streamed out of the station. Amar waved to his son with a wistful smile from behind the window bars. Within minutes, the last bogie drifted into the horizon. Flopping on the cement seat, Ayush pressed his index finger and thumb on the bridge of his nose.

His temper flared up, clawing him like talons. He had stayed away from Sakshi hoping not to cause her trouble. Seeing the brutality she endured, he realised there was no use keeping quiet. Every mark on her fuelled his righteous rage.

Tackling a bigwig like Rana required more than just rage. Rolling his head back, Ayush devised a plan to confront the old tyrant- the man responsible for his mother's death and his girlfriend's painful scars.

•••

The guards at the Rana Haveli could easily be mistaken for pehalwans. Gigantic in stature, ropy arms, and close-cropped hair like vultures. Ayush gulped at sight but focused on the positive. Facing them would give him the courage to face their master.

"Namaste, I'm here to meet Ranaji."

"Do you have an appointment?" One of them asked.

"Not exactly."

"Yes or no?"

"No."

"Then get lost."

"It's urgent! It can cost him his reputation," Ayush said.

"Who's that?!" A man in a white kurta emerged from the mansion, twirling a bunch of keys around his finger. He appeared to be in his late twenties. Ayush gauged it was Sakshi's older brother Ranveer Rana.

"I need to meet Ranaji about something important," Ayush said.

"You can tell me whatever it is," Ranveer said.

"It's confidential."

"Let him in!" Ranveer shouted at the guards.

Ayush squeezed himself inside the small opening of the mansion gate. Ranveer ushered him out of the earshot of the guards.

"What is this confidential information you have?"

"I need to talk about Sakshi. Ranaji has choked her!"

Ranveer's features hardened. "Go away, you idiot! Don't interfere in our family matters."

"Sakshi is family. Do you know what a serious crime this is?"

Dumbfounded, Ranveer eyed him with a bewildered look as he stormed inside.

"Ranaji! Ranaji, where are you?" Ayush shouted from the doorstep.

Udayveer's threatening footsteps neared him. The man himself appeared, jaw and fists clenched.

"Another bootlicker from the opposition party?"

"Who gave you the authority to hurt Sakshi?"

"Oh, you're the rascal Sakshi is seeing?"

"I asked you something, sir."

"Shut up, coward! Why didn't you approach me before taking her around town?"

"I kept quiet hoping she won't get into trouble. Now that you hurt her beyond measure, I won't keep quiet."

"Aren't you that singer I met earlier?"

"Yes, I am."

"Ranveer! Bring my rifle. Let's get rid of this tiny mosquito."

"I have pieces of evidence against you sent to witnesses across India. If you hurt Sakshi or me, they will come forward and expose you to the media with pictures and proof." It wasn't true, but he hoped it would terrify Udayveer.

"Is that a threat, haha?"

"It's the reality, sir. I appeal to you to never trouble Sakshi ever again. The consequences will be worse than you imagine."

Udayveer's face smoked like fiery coals.

"Please don't ever hurt her again," he said, resisting the urge to break down.

"Dare to tell me your name?"

"I have nothing to fear. My name is Ayushman Singh, son of Damini Amar Singh."

"Damini?!"

"Oh yes-the innocent woman you drove to a miserable end! I couldn't do anything to save my mother, I won't let that repeat with Sakshi."

Udayveer took off his sandal and flung it toward Ayush. He lunged to the ground, dodging it by hairbreadth.

"That prostitute Damini deserved what she got!"

Ayush sprang to his feet, teeth clattering. "How can you be so heartless?!"

Ranveer stepped in and grabbed his arm. Fastening his grip on his collar, he dragged him across the mansion. His iron fingers dug into Ayush's elbow, making him wince in pain. Udayveer watched from a distance, like a hunter watching his prey.

"One minute," Ayush said.

Ranveer paused and raised an eyebrow.

"Sakshi didn't simply roam with me. She needed help with accounts, I taught her for a while after college. She is a kind-hearted girl and doesn't deserve the treatment meted out to her. What's worse, you want her to marry a molester! Whenever we met, she kept talking great about you, portraying you as the loving, protective older brother . . . "

"Don't ever show your face again!" Ranveer said, shoving him out of the gate with a heated frown.

Ayush straightened his crinkled collar and dusted his elbow. He peered into Ranveer's eyes.

"She loves you very much, Ranveer Bhai. Do you want her to be unhappy forever?"

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