My knees buckle as I stare at Monica. Sunil is by the corner puking his guts out. I fall down on the ground and crawl closer to the motionless body lying in the puddle of blood and cradle Monica in my lap while Rohan rushes to Sunil's aid.

"Monica," I whisper, tears rolling down my cheeks as I feel her body for any injuries.

My hands still when I find her naked from waist down. My hands still and I'm screaming I guess because in an instant Rohan is by my side.

"Sanju,"

"No no no, tell me they didn't! tell me they didn't do it Rohan,"

I'm hysterical in his arms as I sob out. I feel the urge to puke as I stare at Monica's body. I hear the ambulance approaching us, the medics rush and take Monica is taken into the ambulance.

"I'll go, get Sunil something to eat before coming to the hospital, okay?"

Rohan hesitates before nodding and kissing my forehead and I rush inside the ambulance.

"Ma'am are you hurt anywhere?" the medic asks me as he stares at my bloodied clothes and my trembling hands.

"N-no, I'm not hurt anywhere but just please make sure she's okay, I can't lose her, she-"

I can't even finish my sentence because I start crying. The medic offers me a few tissues and lets me cry as he looks over Monica. My trembling hands close around Monica's and I sob as I clutch it tightly in my hand.

"Please be okay Monica, please please just be okay,"

"Ma'am, there's a paper here," the medic says as he holds a bloodied paper.

'Next time you better not lose the case otherwise I won't hesitate to kill your daughter'

I'm trembling all over again as I finish reading the note.

°

I hold Sunil's hand as we sit outside the ICU. Rohan has gone to inform mom and dad.

"Sunil, can I go wash my hands?"

"Don't leave me alone for now Bhabhi, please just not for now," he begs.

I feel the familiar burn of tears and duck my head as I nod. I wrap my arms around him and that does it for him as he bursts out crying. I don't know how long we stay like that before Rohan joins us as he wraps both his arms around us. Some time later we hear footsteps approach us and mom and dad waste no time in embracing Sunil who just doesn't stop crying.

"Let's go get your hands cleaned, okay?" Rohan whispers in my ears.

I nod and Rohan cradles in his arms as he takes me to the washroom. He helps me wash my hands and then I just stand there staring at the mirror as the images of Monica's body flashes through my mind. My knees buckle as tears well in my eyes. Rohan notices that and wraps his arms around me, holding me to him as I start crying.

"What did Monica ever do? It was her sorry excuse of a father and yet she's being punished? What the fuck is wrong with this sick world?!" I scream.

I wash my face after I calm down and take a few deep breath before we walk out. I find dad taking to another doctor and mom is sitting on the bench, hugging her knees to her chest and Sunil is nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Sunil?"

"He just fainted, they just put him in this room," dad says as he points to the room in front of him.

"I told him that he'll only torture himself if he sits in the hospital, he's puked a lot since he saw the blood and hospitals are even worse," Rohan says as he sits besides mom.

"As if he'll ever listen to you Rohan," mom mutters.

"Bu-"

Before rohan can finish his sentence, the doctor operating on Monica walks out and we all jump to our feet as we bombard him with questions.

"She's out of danger, we'll be moving her to a normal room and monitor her progress for 24 hours,"

"Was she..."

The doctor understand my train of thoughts and he avoids our eyes as he nods his head. Mom stumbles and dad hold her as she looks at the doctor with a stricken look.

"Tell me you're lying. Tell that she wasn't-"

"Niamh," dad murmurs.

"No Kapil, how do I... what did that sweet girl ever do? What have both my girls ever done to deserve this?"

"Mom," Rohan says as he wraps his arms around his parents.

"Now, if you'll please excuse me,"

"Yes-"

"Monu! Monica!" Mr. Puri yells as he rushes inside with a lady by his side.

I don't even hesitate as I hold him by his collar and punch him.

"Sanjana!"

"Don't fucking stop me this time Rohan,"

"It's all your fucking fault you asshole! And what the fuck are you doing here?! Get your sorry face out of this hospital before I get the police to drag you out of here,"

"You can't order us like that! She's our daughter!" the lady shouts.

"A daughter whom you guys don't deserve and don't forget that you guys are the reasons she's suffered and is suffering and you guys don't fucking get out of here, I will not hesitate to kill you!" I threaten as I tighten my hold around Mr. Puri's neck.

"Sanju," Rohan says as he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me to him.

"Get out of here!" I grit out.

The duo leave the hospital and I focus on Rohan and will myself to stop trembling as Rohan rubs my arm, but nothing seems to be working, the hospital scent is choking me and I'm anyways way too terrified because of the events of this evening.

"You know, I feel guilty..."

"Kyu?"

"I always wished bad for Mr. Puri's daughter and now look at what happened,"

"Your son is awake, sir," a nurse tells dad.

"C-can I go home please?" I ask as I turn around to face Rohan.

"San-"

"Your stay here, I just need to get out of here please,"

Rohan reluctantly nods and I rush out of the hospital and am thankful to be greeted by the cold air, I take deep breaths and only then find my trembling body relax. I retrieve my phone from my purse and call Sonia.

"Sonu,"

"Are you okay?"

"Can you come to my house, I just don't want to be alone, please Sonu,"

"Yeah, but just tell me if you're okay? Did something happen?"

"I'll tell you everything when I see you okay? Just come fast,"

I hand up and then drive home, relieved to find Sonia standing there. I don't even make it to the front door as Sonia wraps her arms around me and hugs me tightly.

"It's okay Sanju, it's going to be okay," she murmurs against my ears.

We both walk inside and go straight to my room. She settles on the edge of the bed and I lay my head in her lap, curling under the comforter. She weaves her hand through my hair as I tell her the events of today's evening.

"Where's jiju?"

"I told him to stay, it was selfish of me to get out of the hospital anyways and I couldn't ask Rohan to leave is family,"

"It wasn't selfish Sanju and I know your in-laws will understand it,"

"I feel so guilty Sonu, Monica is the sweetest and the kindest girl, she didn't deserve this, nothing should have happened to her,"

A tear rolls down and lands on her kurta. She keeps caressing my hair and I don't even remember when I fall asleep on her lap or when I start screaming because of my nightmare. Sonia keeps me company throughout the night, holding me tightly as I sleep.

__________________________

Urm....

Next update on Friday