It began to rain as soon as I started to drive. I cursed the weather for being so rude with me. I muttered all sorts of curses that I had heard of, just to pass my time. And of course, the rains and curvy roads were now getting on my nerves. I had to put pressure on the brakes every few seconds, and also rotate the steering wheel. It was quite an exhausting task for me, as I was just an amateur driver, though I had driven in these tracks for quite a few months now, due to shifting.

Suddenly I saw a child standing on the middle of the road, all soaked in the rainwater. I pressed on the brakes as hard as possible with all the force my body weight could provide me with, and the car stopped just a few couple inches away from the child, making a screeching sound as it came to a stop. I exhaled and sighed in relief. Then I got out of the car, irrespective of the fact that I would get wet in the rain which I hated the most.

"Get off the road!" I yelled, irritation pulsing through my veins, and the fatigue due to the day's work affecting me.
Anushka smiled at me. I stepped back in horror, petrified. She pointed behind herself. Her mother ran towards the edge of the road. Then she jumped.

I was getting wet and sticky but I didn't care. I rushed towards the edge of the hill and looked down, but I could see no sign of her. It was dark, and the infinite darkness in front of my eyes didn't look very welcoming. I shivered in the wet rainwater and then looked at Anushka.
"Don't worry baby, I will help you." I said. Then I went to fetch my phone from the car. I took it out and then I realised- the phone wasn't water-proof. It went dead as soon as it came in contact with the pouring rain, which had grown wilder by now.

I kept my phone back in the car. I looked at her. Should I make her sit beside me in the car or not? But wait, why am I thinking this way for a little child? I should help her. Sarah! Be more humane at least. Time to overcome your fears. And so, I took Anushka with me and drove her to the police station. While in the car, we didn't say a word to each other, and I thought it better not to look at her.

I was glad as soon as I reached the police station. It took me some time to reach there. A man was sitting inside, in his mid-30s and with a huge Indian moustache. He was sipping hot tea, and murmuring something to himself.
"Her mother just jumped off the edge of the road and.." I began.
"Well, her mother had attempted suicide last month too. She died? No big deal." He replied, still sipping from his cup.
"What the hell?" I said as all the men in uniform laughed in unison.
"Aren't you supposed to do something? Like calling up her husband, or look for her? I mean I didn't see her body."
"Hey, girl, you are new right? See, this town is a small one. We get paid and so do you. Now if you do not want any trouble then it will be better if you keep your mouth shut." He warned.
I knew that arguing with an officer was not a really good idea.
"And do not even try to increase our work." He snarled, his face turning darker and crueler with each word.
I nodded, looking away. "And what should I do with her?"
"Take her home. Why? Or maybe we could use her!" He said and all the men laughed.
This enraged me. "Hey enough!" I yelled. "Just because you are officers and living blissfully in this little town doesn't mean that you can do anything you want. You cannot scare me, do you get it? I know my rights very well. And she is a child. I can put up a case right now, on the basis of what you just said mister."
"And what proof do you have?" He roared, his voice shaking noticeably.
"When a woman speaks, mostly her opinion is accepted. But if you want a proof, I have one. Anushka herself. She will speak for herself. Won't you?" I looked at her. To my surprise, she nodded.
The officers were taken aback. They were speechless.
"I'm taking her home with me. And I have her father's number. I'll call him up myself."
I stormed off the police station, my heart filled with pride.
I could hear whispers, but one caught my attention specifically.
"Hot girl, hot moves, but the way she threatens is-"
I gave him a sharp look and he closed his mouth instantly.
"Wait. Did you just mention about calling her father?" The moustached man asked.
I turned and nodded. They all laughed again.
"He died years ago." One of them said.
"Five years to be exact. The day she was born he died." Another added.
"She was a curse to her family. Her mother went crazy. She cried and used to tell her friends and the people about how she saw the devil in her daughter, that is Anushka. She wanted to get rid of her." The moustaches man said.
"But she gave me her name and number. Wait. I will show it to you." I said, and opened my purse to take out the piece of paper. I unfolded it and shook my head. I gasped.
"What's written?" He asked.
I just shook my head. This was not possible. I rushed out of the police station with Anushka beside me. I could hear them all roaring with laughter but I didn't care.
I looked at the paper again, just to make sure.
Elizabeth Hargreaves. And there was no number beside it. I tore the paper into pieces. Was someone playing some kind of joke with me? Because if so, then all this was very stupid. And if all this was meant to scare me, then hats off, I was scared enough.

"What will you do now?" Anushka asked, in a sweet and timid, girlish voice.
"I will take you home with me honey." I replied.