Chapter 8: The Temporary Determinations
"I feel so sorry for her. She has suffered so much. Watching your loved ones die and not being able to do a thing. It's so horrible ", Rashi mumbled in a soft voice as she laid on her bed looking up at the ceiling.
When Bhoomika had dropped the bomb on them and left , Payal and Rashi had just sat on the lawn for minutes on end without knowing what to say. Then they had eventually overcome the blow and got back to their dorm room.
Payal hummed ,staring into space . She couldn't imagine how much pain Bhoomika had experienced. It is one thing welling in sorrow and another to talk about it .
Why had Bhoomika told them such a secret like that so easily? Sure she said she was looking out for Payal . But still ,Payal didn't want to believe it. She didn't want to believe that the man in black kurta had such vicious blood running through his veins. She wanted it to be a lie . But somewhere deep down , she knew what Bhoomika had said was all true. She knew she couldn't ignore the dark eyes that held pain and vengeful anger . She knew that she had to believe it.
When Rashi didn't hear a response from Payal she turned her head towards her roommate. She could see the wheels turning in Payal's head as she let out a heavy sigh and intently started typing away in her phone.
Pratap Singh.
Payal searched for the name as her heart beats fastened and she gulped as the search results popped up on her mobile screen.
Noted Political leader Pratap Singh dies of severe injuries sustained.
Payal clicked on the link with a shaky finger and gulped again. She felt Rashi sit beside her on her bed as the article appeared in front of her eyes.
CPC party leader Pratap Singh (50) was found dead in his own residence on August 3 ,Saturday. Singh was seriously injured which caused his death in a few minutes after the attack.
"He has suffered intestinal and liver injuries and a number of stab marks all over his body . Unfortunately, He succumbed to his injuries and passed away on saturday afternoon at 3:40pm", said a statement issued by the hospital authorities after the autopsy.
Singh's wife Suman Singh was also found hanging from the ceiling of their residence.
Singh was the Member of legislative assembly of Nagod , Madhya Pradesh. Party workers claim that the MMA party has a hand in this attack. However , the police hasn't confirmed it yet.
by The Hindu , August 05 ,2013.
August 3. Exactly seven years ago.
Payal looked at Rashi to see that she was already looking like she would cry any minute. Rashi silently stood up and walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. Payal sighed .
It was true . Everything single thing Bhoomika had said. Siddharth's father was a cold blooded murderer. But Siddharth ? Was he the same as his father? Only time would tell. But did Payal want to be the part of this mess? No. She was here just to study and that's all she was going to do. She didn't need anything like this right now. Yes ,that's it. She would avoid him like plague and anything that screamed danger . And the speech she had given to Bhoomika , it had to wait for another time. Right now ,Payal didn't want to get into unwanted tangle. She wanted to live and do something good in her life, for herself and for parents. And that's what she was going to do starting form tomorrow.
She shook off all the thoughts and looked at the time.
8:03 pm.
Payal dailed her mother's number.
"Hello, Payal",Geeta voiced into the phone.
Payal's lips curled into an involuntary smile. "Hi, amma. What are you doing?".
"I'm watching a Korean drama series. It's called 'What's wrong with Secretary Kim?'. You know what happens in this series. The hero is a rich man and Kim has been his secretary for nine years. Now she tells him that she wants to resign but our hero doesn't want her to leave . It's cute how he tries again and again to make her stay ." Geeta gushed .
Payal chuckled and said,"Amma , are you sure I'm speaking to my mother and not some teenage fangirl?"
Geeta let out a little laugh and asked,"so, how was your first day?"
"It was....great ,Amma" , Payal smiled convincingly as if her mother could see her face.
"Hmm, that's good. Have you made friends?"
"Yes amma. There's this sweet boy , Naveen . He is in the same class as me".
"A boy?"Geeta questioned warily trying to pass a message that Payal knew all too well.
Payal sighed into the phone and said,"Amma, he's just a friend . And I know my limits .I'll not do anything to let you or Appa down . Please trust me."
"You know how it is ,Payu. We have sent you that far just because we trust you to not disappoint us.You know what happened with your brother . Just be careful with what ever you do . That's all I can say."
Rashi stepped out of the bathroom and mouthed "dinner". Payal nodded at Rashi and said into the phone,"I understand, amma. I'll be careful. I'll call you tomorrow. Bye . Goodnight."
Geeta said a small good night before Payal hung up and forced a smile at Rashi.
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