"What do you think Akka and Jiju must be doing now??" I asked.

"Well if things are going on according to our plan they should have reached that boating spot, and should have had their boating, and after spending some-time with each-other over there under the moon light they should move on for a ride!! As on the ride they will go have a lovely night. Krish has planned it out, I don't know much. But I am sure, they will not cross their limits."

I gave him a look with wide eyes.

"Poornitha, what about us?? Any plans for both of us?"

"Plans for both of us..?? What do you mean..??"

"No what I meant was, are we staying her the whole night or. . . . . ????"

"Ohh yeah, I get you. We need to go home, right!"

"Exactly!! Do you have the bike key??"

"Hold on let me check... Aaa... No! I don't have the bike key." I said after digging in my sling bag.

"What are we supposed to do now?"

"Ummm Well.. I have no idea about it!"

"Walk back home till we find some cab!!"

"Are you crazy..?? Walking all the way..!!?????????"

"Definitely not all the way, may be we get a cab soon!!"

We had no other option other that walking, so we started off. Not a cab we could find on the road. We walked half the distance, and I was completely exhausted!!

"Not a step more. If I do.. That would be my last step!"

"Fine then we will take some rest and walk after that."

"Yeah that is better!"

We sat down on the corner of the road and took rest for some-time. I took out my hand-kerchief from my bag and to my shock the bike key was in.

"Shit...!!!" That escaped unconsciously from my mouth.

"What happened??"

I showed him the bike key and stayed quiet.

"Poorinitha?? You had the bike key.. and you lied!!???"

"No I did not lie. I had checked my bag then the bike key was not there.. "

"So you mean to say a ghost came and dropped the key in your bag!!" he said that with his hands on his waist.

"Please don't talk about ghosts.!!! They are scary..!"

"Stop being a kid Poornitha!"

"I am not lying.. Trust me, the key was not there when I checked it previously."

"Whatever leave it!! Let's go get the bike and get home soon!"

"Are you trying to make a fool out of me?? We have walked so far and now you want us to walk back, get the bike and then go home.??? Hold on.. You were the only one around.. Rakshan, you were playing right!! You took the bike key, and now dropped it back.. isn't it..???"

"Hey stop doubting me. I did not do anything of that sort. And why would I do that with you?? Does it make any sense?? Uhhh??"

"Then who would have done it..???"

"Ghost!!!!"

"Stop it idio!!!"

"Fine! Now Ms. Poornitha if you are done investigating can we move on??"

"You mean to go get the bike..??"

"Exactly!!!"

"Get a grip.. Rakshan do you think I will walk back with you?? Never!!! Some cab will come and we will get home in that.. Stay here!"

"You wait for the Cab.. I am going." he said and took the bike key from me and walked the other way.

"Fine... Go your way... I can find my own way back home."

"Ok Ok let's see who reaches home first and safe!!"

Crack fellow! Wanted me to walk with him. Am I a fool to do that?? I just walked the opposite way from Rakshan. The road was too lonely without a companion. Walking alone is kinda making me feel monotonous. But that's not a problem, I can handle things on my own.

After sometime, a bike came and halted near me, Rakshan of-course. But how did he manage to reach here so soon??

"Hey Young lady!! Need lift??" asked the man removing his helmet.

It wasn't Rakshan. It was some one else.

"Stay away, I don't need any lift from you.. ok."

"Come on Young Lady.. On a night like this, when its dark and cold every where, under the starless sky, in the middle of a lonely road, where there are hardly few HEROS like me, you will not get any lift from anyone!!!"

"Hey you smart hero, listen to my words carefully, and drill them in your brain... I don't need any help from you, I can find my own way home ok!!! Stay away from me, for god's sake pack your rubbish talks and get going!!" I just screamed on the top of my voice so that my words get right into his ears.

"Baby don't shout like that.. If you are thinking that you could shout and show your bravery then that is not possible." he said that taking a hold of my wrist.

"How dare you!?? Look Idiot... I can smack you for doing that with me!! Ok.."

"Fine then!! Let me see your Boxing skills."

"Leave my hand. You rogue monster!!"

"Look you can't even pull your hands from my grip, how would you exhibit your boxing skills??? Just zip your mouth and get on the bike, it's getting late.."

"Where are you planning to take me to??"

"Haahaa... You are asking as if you don't know anything. Little girl, many men are waiting, hurry up!!!!"

Ohhh shit! Where am I caught up. This fellow will take me to that red-light area OMG!!! Muruga please help. I wish I had walked with Rakshan, this wouldn't have happened.

"Ok fine.. listen.. We will talk and sort it out."

"What do you want to talk baby??" he asked and loosened my hands, I immediately pulled back.

"Look I am not the type of girl you think... ok!!"

"None are of that kind.. they will have to change according to the situation."

I quietly pulled out my phone and clicked a picture of him.. " Hell with you... Get lost you Solicit... ! Be ready to see the Cops tomorrow!!!" I clicked a few more pics of him and his bike too. More the pictures, more benefit. I ran as fast as I could, I ran in the opposite way so that I could seek Rakshan's help.

"Hey stop.. Where are you going??? You will earn a good amount Cutie!!! Wait don't run!"

'Earn more?!? Some men are worse on this earth!' I got so angry on hearing him, that took a stone, aimed it on him and threw it. It did not hit him but ya I did try to hit him, and he became a bit alert. I threw a few more stones, one of which hit his shoulder. Already tired of walking, and this monster is making me run. Hell, I don't know how far Rakshan is and how far I will have to run... Deivame.. Please help me.

"Rakshan...!!!" I shouted, as I saw a silhouette far away in the dark. I hope that is Rakshan. If not, I would be inviting another problem on my own. An altogether new story.

"Rakshan.. Wait... Ple...a...se...!" I managed to shout though out of breath.

He did not turn back at all... "Rak...sha...han...!!" That's all I could say and banged on him.

"So finally the ghost... Hey.. Poornitha.. Poornitha?? All well na?? Are you ok??"

"Rakshan... that Solicit.. Red-light..."

"What happened..?? Tell clearly!!!"

I could hardly hear what Rakshan spoke, I was completely exhausted, as my eyes closed I saw that monster at a distance, he had been following me so long, he went off on seeing me with Rakshan. That was what I saw lastly... after that when I opened my eyes, I saw a blurred image of Rakshan. I saw myself in Rakshan's arms. He held me close to him. His lips moved but I could not hear anything.. After a couple of minutes, I heard his words..

"Poornitha.. Can you hear me???"

"Please tell something Poornitha.. You are scaring me more."

"Rakshan.." came out from me, in the most soft tone.

"Yeah, are you ok?? Anything serious..??"

"Rakshan!"

"Yes Poornitha.. Speak!! I am listening.."

"Rakshan!"

"Poovu I am here only, listening to you, please speak up!"

"Is___he___gone..?" I asked that in a very low broken voice.

"Who..??"

"That__Solicit..!"

"Solicit??? What are you talking about.. First drink some water."

I took a few gulps of water, waited for my breath to be normal and spoke up. "There was a man_____who___forced me to come with him___after I walked away from___from you I guess about______10___10 minutes from that I saw him. He wanted______ to___to take me with_____him to that place!!" I was still running short of breath.

"Which place Poornitha??"

"He thought I was that kind of girl!!! How sh*t of him!!" I said and banged my fist on the road.. Ohh man this hurts.

"What are you doing?? What kind of girl??? Poornitha explain it clearly!" he demanded of me and held my hands firm.

"He thought___he could make___make money out of me____ and wanted to take me to that red-light area!!!"

"Ohh damn...!!! Then??"

"Then what.. I escaped from him, and came to you."

"He did not harm you much.. did he??? Harassment ??"

"No no nothing of that sort, he just tried to pull me close, by grabbing my wrist. Nothing serious!"

"Thank-god Poornitha you are fine. You scared me you know!!" he said that and hugged me close. I did not hug him back. I was doubtful of doing it. His sudden hug of this kind was unexpected.

"Thank-you Rakshan!!"

"Are you sure, you are alright??? Or shall we go to the hospital???"

"Not needed! I am fine.. Just went breathless because of long walks, and running!!!"

"And you fainted too.. You were unconscious for Ohh God for about 20 minutes!!!"

"Unconscious... What???? Are you serious??"

"Yeah!!"

"This is happening for the first time. I have never fainted so far. Finally I had this experience.. but I could not feel anything.."

"How would you??? You accelerated my heart beats like anything!!! I was so worried!!! Thank-god you are kinda normal now.. Or else what would I tell your Akka..????"

I stood up on hearing that from him.. "Rakshan, don't ever think of that... You will not tell this to my Akka. Please she will get worried unnecessarily... I don't want that to happen."

"This is a serious thing Poornitha, I can't keep this from her." he stood up too and we got in-to an argument.

"Please Rakshan.. I can do anything for you, I will follow all that you tell but please don't take this incident to Akka... Please!"

"Poornitha, I don't want you to do anything for me, but try to understand. Ok fine... I will not tell your Akka, but you have to ok. You tell her about all that happened."

"I?? How can I?"

"Just talk to her calmly and explain it to her.. See I don't want you to hide all that happened today..!"

"Fine I will try talking to her about it. But you will not open your mouth till then.. Understand!!"

"Ok I won't! Hitler!!"

"And guess what?? I am going to file a complaint against that man and his group tomorrow!!"

"Hey leave it na, it's over! Not a big issue!!"

"How can you say that it's not a big issue ,Rakshan?? That idiot and his group is spoiling the lives of so many girls!! I am sure he must have kidnapped many girls and forced them for this bullshit!"

"Ok fine!! But you need a strong evidence Poornitha... Without that the police will not accept the case, and moreover one person filing a complaint like this will not matter much!!"

"I clicked a few pictures of that man in my phone, so one evidence is ready. And what do you mean by one person filing a complaint like this will not matter much?? I am a Journalist Mr. Rakshan. I can write a news article about that group. If the police over looks my complaint, I can write a news article about them too."

"Oooohhhooooo Calm down.. Ms. Journalist.. Go ahead.. I will stand with you."

"Need not!! If you're really not worried about the women and girls' life being ruined by those men there.. stay away..!!"

We did not speak much after that. Quietly we went to the place where we had left the bike and got on it. Our drive back home was quiet most of the time, with occasional talks. As we reached home, I asked Rakshan to wait outside so that I could go call Abhi from inside, and that he could drop Rakshan home.

"Poornitha one second..."

"Yeah"

"Sorry for being little rude when you spoke about the red light girls. I should change my way of thinking about them. I am on your side hereafter, in this case."

"Good boy. Ok now shall I go or you want to stay here the whole night.??" It was already 2:30 in the midnight.

"Yeah fine. Send Abhi soon."

"Yeah.. And Thank-you so much!!! Byee!"

"That's fine. Byee!!"

I quietly sneaked into the house. I tried to call Abhi's number. The only way in was, if he came down quietly without anybody's knowledge and opened the door adjacent to the dining room for me. I kept calling on his number, after calling about 41 times he attended my call on the 42nd..

"Abhi.. Poornitha here."

"What is it Poovu..?? Aren't you sleeping???"

"No listen.. I am out.. I mean outside our house.. come down soon and open the balcony door for me..."

"Get in from the main entrance na.."

"I don't have the keys baba.. and the main door makes too much of noise while opening, the sound may wake up someone. Come down soon."

"Poovu what ya..?? What are you making me do in the middle of the night!?? I am feeling sleepy.. Let me sleep!!!"

"Abhi... Help!! Save me. They are kidnapping me... come soon.."

"Poovu what happened..?? All well?? Are you ok..??"

"No I am not.. Abhi come soon... They will kidnap me or else.. Abhi ... Abhi..." I said holding my phone little far from my mouth so that he could sense the distance in my voice.

"I am coming!! Nothing will happen!!!" he said and maybe jumped out of his bed.

So.. I guess the Plan Worked.

I stood near the dining room's balcony waiting for Abhi. Very soon Abhi managed to come down, he pushed the door curtains and looked out, as he opened the door. It was a glass door so I could see him. I stood right in front of him, and he looked at me shocked.

"You are fine..??"

"Yeah!"

"You said that they would kidnap you.."

"That was for fun baba.. to wake you!!"

He stood there with an Awww expression.

"Abhi, Rakshan is waiting out.. he has got your bike.. go drop him home and come soon!"

"How dare he took my bike???" he came up in a high tone.

"Shhhhh Quiet Don't shout. Just go now. I will explain everything to you tomorrow. Now please go." I said and pushed him.

He went out of the gate quietly, I waited for him in the balcony, so that he could get in without any problem.

He returned after about 30 minutes and we went in-to our rooms and slept after that.

· • ● Rakshan ● • ·

I was literally freaked out when she dashed me and almost fell out of control. I heard her shout from back, I never expected things would be so serious. I just thought she got afraid because of some useless stuffs!! But when she fell in my arms and went unconscious... that way really Ohh God.. That scared me. I did not know what had happened exactly.. and why she went unconscious.. I was scared if there was something serious.

I really couldn't understand anything. I was on the whole confused. I just took her in my lap and sat on the end of the road. Nobody else was around for help, I could not even call someone to help us. Thinking what to do, I took out the water bottle from her bag and sprinkled some on her face.. she did not respond.. I even shouted for help no one turned up! I rubbed her hands, patted on her cheeks, no response.

As time passed my fear also increasing. I was afraid what would I tell Swadhintha... How would I answer her parents?? Poornitha was my responsibility this night, and I failed to take care of her. I shouldn't have let her go alone. I should have pulled her with me. I was praying that she should be fine. Finally she opened her eyes after 20 minutes...

"Poornitha.. Thank-god you opened your eyes..!!"

She did not speak anything..

"Poorni..?? Are you alright??"

"Can you see me..??

"Poornitha.. Can you hear me..??"

"Rakshan!!" she spoke, and my worry came down slowly.

She became normal little by little after that. In sometime she was bubbling with that same energy as usual. She spoke for the women and girls in the red-light area with so much of concern for them, I never ever thought about the situation of the females over there. I thought they worked there out of their own interest. But Poornitha's words proved me wrong. How difficult their life would be, and moreover how illegal all these works are. She made me realize that! She was confident enough to bring those women and girls out from there. Initially I did not take it seriously. On the way back home I kept thinking about all that Poornitha said and about those innocent females. I felt like I too must do something for them.

At last when I dropped her home I told her that I would stand with her supporting her in the case she was about to file.

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