Chapter : 72

Rishav's POV

With bloody knuckles and a fairly bruised up face, I had ended up at the Subhash Place Police Station. It has been hours since I've been sitting in this little lockup from where I can see Dad filling up all the legal formalities for the bail. He's been making one call after the other and filling up forms which the officers are handing him. Guess what? Dinesh too ended up here but the moment his 'Famous' father entered the Police Station, he was pulled out of the lockup and sent away without any legal formalities being carried out.

Well, this proves how corrupt the Indian systems are.

I and Dinesh had ended up rolling down on the street as we continued with the punches and kicks. I should've kept my calm. Only now am I regretting my course of actions. Taking down the son of a rich parent isn't a piece of cakewalk. Some bystanders called up the police and informed them about it and soon enough we had been pushed into the Police cars and brought in here. Though I have to say that I couldn't muster enough damage to Dinesh for he was strong enough.

"You're son is underage. That's why we can't keep him overnight as per the law. You can take him away. The bail is cleared." The Officer told Dad who nodded with a breath of relief.

One of the staff opened the lockup and I walked out with a little limp considering the injuries. Dad looked at me with a frown but I couldn't comprehend the emotions inside him.

"Here are your belongings. Don't get into fights anymore. It's a warning." The officer told me as he handed my phone and wallet.

Taking the stuff from him, I walked out of the station with Dad. We took a taxi and headed home. Dad was silent all the way and I knew he was pissed at his son for making him come to the police station for bailing purposes. He must've felt ashamed of me. How I wish I could've told him why exactly I did what I did. Sighing, I looked out at the Delhi skies. It was about evening now and the birds were flying back home.

Reaching home, I unlocked my phone as Dad and I took the stairs up to the residence. Few neighbors turned their heads to look at me. Of course, I was going to be the topic of discussion with my ripped shirt and bruised, bloody face and arms. We entered the home as I checked my phone which had been under the custody of the authorities for hours.

Mom engulfed me in a tight hug and I winced in pain. She parted away and cupped my face in a caring manner with her palms. Her eyes turned moist as she looked at my bruises. Somehow, I couldn't meet her eyes. She must've been so worried.

"Never thought I'd have to see this day" Dad spoke as he settled down on the sofa.

"Let me put some ointments on him." Mom said and walked back to her room to bring the first aid kit.

Now that I was going through my phone, a frown emerged on my face as I proceeded with the number of missed calls I had received.

19 missed calls from Ananya.

12 from Kabir.

9 from Sameer.

15 from Kiran.

And... 1 from Ravi.

There was a pending message too from Ravi as well. I quickly opened it as Mom reached me and started putting some cream over my cuts.

"I can't take it anymore."- Ravi.

No.

This can't be happening.

Without another word, I turned on my heel and dashed out of the living room. Down the streets and straight for the Thunderbird. Both my parents kept calling me in worry but it all got tuned out as I kick started the bike and sped out of the colony for Ravi's residence.

Parking the bike or more precisely, throwing the bike there on the street I ran up to the Sharma's residence. There were police officials walking about and media reporters covering live videos. Pushing out the little crowd, I entered the house despite protests from the police officers. Ascending up the stairs, I barged into Ravi's room where there were two police officers and a Crime scene photographer. Looking around the room, everything seemed to be normal. Except that shattered window panes and the huge stones lying on the furnished floor. Beside the window, there was a little note tied to an stone.

Kneeling down, I picked it up and read it silently. The officers were continuously asking me basic questions like : who are you?
But I couldn't find the right words to answer them.

The note said in scribbled handwriting : You rich bastards don't deserve to live. You're a damn big disgrace to Cricket. Using your money to get a place in the team...

Crumbling the note in my fist, the pain, the grief was unbearable. The people who've loved Ravi Sharma for so many years starting from Interschool competitions to District matches seem to have developed such hatred for him that it made him want to end his life. All because of a stupid little rumour.

My phone buzzed, indicating a call. Pulling it out, I just picked it up, not even caring to see who was calling.

"Rishav... Where have you been!? I've been trying to reach you-" Kabir's strained voice reached me from the other end.

"Where are you..." I breathed out, feeling anxious and afraid.

"Fortis Hospital..." Kabir replied.

***

Life never gave me such a chain of awful happenings all at once. And the person to be blamed for it was... Me. How I wish to turn the clock and go back to the time when this little rivalry had begun between me and Madhav. How I wish to change my course of actions.

Walking into the silent corridors, I reached the people I knew. Sameer was sitting on one of the metal chairs with his arms folded; Kiran was looking straight ahead, lost in his thoughts as he leaned against the wall. Kabir sat next to Mr.Sharma, patting his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him as he shook with tears and grief.

Kabir stood up and approached me the moment he noticed my arrival.

"What happened to you?" Kabir asked as he stood facing me.

"Where's Ravi?" I asked the most important question.

"In the ICU. He ended up slicing his wrist with one of the broken shards of the shattered window panes..." Kabir spoke but couldn't proceed as his eyes blurred with tears, he gulped hard and kept the feelings to himself.

Hugging Kabir hard, I told him Ravi will be fine. That's what I've been telling myself : It'll be fine. But... How?

"Where's Ananya?" I asked, knowing how devastated she currently would be.

"I... Don't know. She was here a while ago." Kabir said and looked around as if realizing for the first time that Ananya was not here.

Nodding, I pulled my phone out and dialed her number, trying to stay composed. I sighed as heard the ringtone of Ananya's phone ring from somewhere behind me but was immediately disconnected. I turned to face the janitors closet which was at the far end of the corridor. That's where the ring came from.

Reaching the closet, I slowly pushed the door to find her small frame seated down on a stool. Ananya had her face covered with her palms as she sobbed. Closing the closet door behind me, I kneeled down next to her and enveloped her in a tight hug. She refused to respond.

After a moment to or two, she removed her palms from her face and looked straight ahead with no particular expression. Her eyes looked puffy and tired and skin awfully pale.

"You know the last time I hid into the janitors closet was when Mom was taking her last breaths. It's all a deja vu I guess." Ananya whispered to no one in particular.

"I think Ravi will leave me too..." Ananya sobbed while all I could do was to look at her in my helplessness.

"Dad was stuck in traffic... after you left, the mob gathered up and started shouting curses and throwing stones at Ravi's room... I knew something was wrong when I heard the shattering glass and the loud noises outside the house... I kept banging my fists on his bedroom door... Calling out to him." Ananya said.

"Ananya..." I started but felt a loss of words.

Why did I ever leave her side? Why did I get provoked by Madhav's call? Why?

"Promise me that you'll never leave me Rishav... Please. I'm tired of letting go of the people I love. Please..." Ananya sobbed as she held my arms weakly.

I cupped her face with my hands and looked at her intently.

"Nobody's leaving you. Ananya. Ravi will be fine. I promise." I told her.

Author's note

Hello my lovely readers. How are you?

I hope the chapter created the effect I wanted. This had been the toughest chapter for me to write actually... Considering all the events it holds.
I just wanna tell this to everyone that problems are a part of everybody's lives. Suicides can never be the solution for it. Try looking for the bright side of the situation and you'll be smiling in no time.

Stay happy and healthy!
Love,
Arhana❤️