"Now, should we treat women as independent agents, responsible for themselves? Of course. But being responsible has nothing to do with being raped. Women don't get raped because they were drinking or took drugs. Women do not get raped because they weren't careful enough. Women get raped because someone raped them." ~ Jessica Valenti

" Sir, we have a patient in the emergency ward who needs immediate treatment," The nurse informed with grief and righteous anger written all over her face and it didn't take more than a second for the doctor to realize the reason behind it.

" A rape case,isn't it sister?" questioned Arnav Singh Raizada as he paced in long strides to the emergency ward as the sister followed him. The silence which the sister vowed had confirmed his suspicions about the nature of the case.

" A rape and physical assault, Sir. The victim is severely injured as if beaten by something hard and Dr. Anita, the general physician suspects internal bleeding too.," answered the sister, grimly and nervously.

" Please send the the anesthetist to brave girl's room as I would conduct a basic clinical examination for her to check for the nature of surgery required here. Please make it quick because we cannot start the surgery without it, even if the patient is in an unconscious state. And yes ask Kavita to lodge a complaint against this ASAP." Arnav's voice though was calm but clearly presented how disgusted he felt about the culprit and the crime which took place in every minute across the world.

" As you say, Sir. Dr. Rakesh would reach the room after he completes the administration of anesthesia to the other patient."

Arnav nodded while the other nurses made him wear the surgical mask and the clothing required to maintain the hygiene of the room for the surgery to take place successfully.

He entered into the room, to see an angelic face whose head was covered with bandages hinting that she had also hurt her head. Arnav's palms balled into fist in raw fury as murderous thoughts played on his mind to kill the culprit as he didn't trust the Jurisprudence of India with this one thing.

But there was something in her pale, lifeless face which plucked the strings of his heart to play an unknown rhythm. He couldn't stop himself from asking the sister beside him,

" What's her name?"

" Sir, we don't know. We didn't find any ID Proof with her as she was found in a very devastated state to Mr and Mrs. Sharma who were the ones who brought her here," Sister said with a very depressed face and tear filled eyes, unable to bear even the thought of torture inflicted on Khushi being a woman and a mother of two.

He didn't even know the name of her but still he felt as if he knows her since ages. He knew it for a fact that he hadn't seen her ever but as they say that heart has no brain and what happens with brain is not love.

As Arnav was lost in his thoughts, Dr.Rakesh arrived there and administered anesthesia to Khushi, while the sisters completed all the arrangement for the surgery to take place.

" Sir, we are ready," A junior doctor informed him which brought him back to present, while he steadied him mind and sent a small prayer to the god, to grant him the power to make the girl in front of him normal, if it was possible.

-----------------

After 2 hours,

After two hours of hardwork, dedication by a team of 7, Khushi was perfectly alright, medically of course.

Arnav sighed deeply as he thanked god for helping him save her life. Though it was not a case which would need immediate attention, it was an emergency all the same. Internal bleeding could wait but still it required immediate attention as the object which caused it is still unknown.

Arnav walked out of the room after discarding the surgical clothing while he accepted thanks and returned them to his team for the success while one question played on his mind.

He went down to the reception to ask,

" Umm Kavita, has anyone arrived here to meet the patient who was admitted here after sexual assault and just got operated? I mean the hospital had lodged a complaint right? So did we find any details about it?"

Kavita knew how serious Arnav Singh Raizada was about all this and had done what he had instructed in a very efficient manner, knowing the results.

" Yes, Sir. The patient's name is Khushi Gupta, a student of Horizon Memorial College and the daughter of Shashi and Garima Gupta. They have been informed and they would be here any moment. Would you want to speak to them or should I ask one of the team members who worked on this case to speak to them, Sir?" Kavita showed him the screen which displayed Khushi's details sent from the nearest police station to them. Arnav curtly nodded his head looking at it while his heart skipped some beats as he read and heard her name.

" I would speak to them, personally. Send them to my cabin when they arrive. We have no other surgeries lined up right?" Arnav reconfirmed as he got a very selective few cases and he had ordered to bring cases like this to him always.

" Sure, Sir." Kavita mentally jotted it down while a thought struck her mind. Why was Arnav Sir so interested in meeting this girl's parents? He never did this before? He always asked one of the team members to speak with them, then why different here?

Well, he was oblivious of the reason himself. And the answer was something which only the time and destiny knew.

-----------------------------

10 minutes Later,

" Come in," Arnav Singh Raizada said as an answer to the eager knocks on his door, which soon revealed a middle-aged couple who seemed extremely traditional and conservative.

But one shouldn't go on the looks, should they?

" Good Morning, you are?" Arnav spoke while sitting in his chair and pointing towards the chairs opposite to him, asking them to be seated.

" We are the parents of Khushi. What happened to her?" Shashi answered while Garima didn't even think of answering the question. They seemed restless by their tone and body language.

" Sir and Ma'am, your daughter is extremely brave. But with great regret we have to inform you that your brave daughter had to face the worst crime a woman can face, rape. She had been brutally raped but she is out of danger now after the surgery. Nothing to worry, her condition is stable now," Arnav explained while he noticed that expressions which were unexpected seemed to form on their faces.

"I knew it. This stupid girl would do something to get herself into trouble and will tarnish our family name along with it. How many times did I tell you Garima to not let her wear these pieces of clothing which reveal more than they show? If only she was wearing a suit or a sari, this wouldn't have happened. I am sure Khushi would have provoked him, " Shashi thundered much to Arnav's disgust that he, a person who was a shame on the society, was a father.

" You expect her to listen to me? God knows what she learns in these schools and colleges that she answers back to me and says that tops and tights are not indecent! Seriously, the education system these days ruins people. I am sure Khushi is the one at fault with her short-temper and nasty tongue. Oh my god, now how will I face our neighbors? And who will marry this dumb girl who is no longer pure?" Garima spat out while Arnav's jaw clenched in roder to control his temper at the couple who were not just arguing stupidly but were a shame to the relationship of parents.

" Enough, Mr and Mrs.Gupta. How can you both stoop so low? Your daughter was suffering in between life and death before sometime and here you are thinking about your family name? Excuse me, in which era are you living? Khushi is a flower withered by a burden on this earth. He needs to feel ashamed, his parents need to think what you are thinking not you both or Khushi," Arnav rose from his seat with anger while his guts churned with disgust that people as low as them exist in the society.

" Which daughter are you speaking about doctor? We don't have any daughter now. She is dead for us now. That impure and tainted soul cannot be our daughter nor can she be associated with us. Do whatever you want with her as she no longer matters to us, " Shashi spoke in the same tone as Arnav's sans any regret nor any sort of affection while he stood up along with Garima and started walking towards the door to leave.

" And Haan Doctor Sahab, you will soon see how right we are and how wrong you are. Soon you will also accept that..."

Before Shashi could complete his statement, Arnav's hand rose into the thick air signing him to stop as he barked,

" Leave this hospital and go away from Khushi before I lodge a defamation case on the behalf of Khushi and get you both behind bars. LEAVE NOW!"

Shashi and Garima stormed out of the room but the words spoken by them still caused immense disgust and displeasure to Arnav. Worry and sympathy for Khushi clouded his thoughts and he knew what he had to do.

He was going to take care of her, himself.

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