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VIVEK
Vivek was astonished the way Snehal’s father behaved – unkind and vengeful. He hated remain at Snehal’s house any longer.
He regretted their decision to visit Snehal’s father; they could’ve have gone out of town without her parents’ consent.
“It’s you who is responsible, then.” Snehal’s father looked at others. “I don’t want to see any of your faces. All of you leave my home, now.”
“Dad, you can’t be so harsh,” Snehal said.
Kailas rose to his feet, looking at Snehal and folded his shirt’s sleeves. “It’s you who have brainwashed their minds.” He held Snehal’s arm and dragged her towards an adjoining bedroom. “You deserve this punishment.” He opened the door, pushed Snehal inside, and then locked it from outside.
“Uncle, please don’t punish Snehal.” Vivek widened his eyes. His brows furrowed. “She is innocent.”
“She is ought to have this kind of punishment.” Snehal’s father frowned. He raised his voice.
“They didn’t commit any mistake, Uncle,” Arjun said. “There is nothing wrong with falling in love with each other.”
“I don’t need any preaching from you.” Snehal’s father came near to them. “Please leave my home as soon as you can.” He tried to push Vivek out of the front door.
Snehal’s mother held his arm. “Vivek, please go now. It’s no good if we continue arguing with each other.”
“No, aunty—-” before Vivek completed his words, Snehal’s father yanked him down the porch.
Pankaj stretched his hands wide in front of Vivek, defending him. “Okay, we’re leaving. But your attitude and bad decisions will put your daughter in trouble.”
“I know how to keep my daughter safe and comfortable.” Kailas snarled. “It’s me who brought her up and I don’t need your suggestions.”
Deepali came forward and gently pushed them to out of the main door. Kailas closed the door with a bang and shut the window closed.
Vivek heaved a sigh. All their efforts were in vain, and he hadn’t expected Snehal’s father would be so unkind. Snehal was correct. Kailas was a hard nut to crack.
“Let’s leave the place,” Pankaj said. “He might complain to the police if we hang around.”
“I agree with Uncle,” Arjun said.
Vivek opened the gate and unlocked his car. His uncle sat in the passenger’s seat, and Arjun in the rear.
“Snehal’s father was so harsh,” Vivek said. “He is acting against his own daughter’s wishes.”
“You’re correct,” Pankaj said. “But we can’t change his behavior.”
Deepali had been neutral when they argued over the matter. Was she supportive of her daughter? Did Snehal tell her about their close friendship? If so, Deepali would surely help Snehal, and allow them to unite with each other.
“What should we do now?” Arjun asked.
“Snehal has been locked up inside a room,” Vivek’s uncle said. “I don’t think she will come out so soon. Her father would keep a vigil over her movements. Let’s wait until we hear from her. There can be many possibilities if she comes out of her home soon.”
“But Uncle,” Vivek said. “Don’t you think her hindrance will be a problem? A bottleneck?”
“Vivek,” Arjun said. “Don’t worry. I don’t see any problem on your side. For you, there is nothing to lose. If not Snehal, you can get any other girl. Anyway, I don’t understand why you fell into this situation. Snehal was engaged and you should’ve let her marry Ranjit.”
Vivek’s stomach hardened. Vivek should’ve done that, but that would have been an act of cowardice. Snehal needed protection from her father and Ranjit. “I wanted to help Snehal. And in the process, she fell in love with her. I hadn’t expected things would change so unfavorable to us.”
“Let’s not talk about the past,” Pankaj said. “Let’s see how things turn out once Snehal contacts us. If she doesn’t in the next two days, we’ll try to free her by some means.”
“Vivek,” Arjun said, his voice shaky. “You may need police protection because Ranjit or Kailas may harm you.”
Vivek’s Pulse quickened. Ranjit was quite short-tempered as they had a brawl in the Galaxy bar. Arjun was correct in suggesting so. “Uncle, should I contact the police?”
Pankaj turned to him. “I know one of my friends who is a cop here. I will talk to him in the evening.”
“Thank you, Uncle,” Vivek said. “That would help us.”
“If Snehal contacts me and comes out of her home, I’ll take her to Bangalore for a few days along with my mother,” Vivek said.
“That’s a good plan,” Pankaj added.
Vivek parked his car near his Uncle’s home.
“Where are you going now?” Pankaj asked after he stepped outside his car.
“I've got a late class this evening, Uncle,” Vivek said. “I’m going to an institution.”
“Be careful, and come home soon,” Pankaj blinked rapidly. I’ll contact my cop friend, Harsha, tonight so that he can help us.”
“Sure.” Vivek headed down the main street.
Pooja was seated by the table, reading a novel. Vivek was not in a mood to talk to her.
“Good evening, sir,” Pooja said as Vivek opened the entrance door.
He needed to find out why some of the students discontinued their course. He went to her place and forced a smile. “How is it going?”
“Going well, sir. I called those students who remained absent this quarter. Some said they’ve enrolled in online courses and are not interested in us.”
Vivek needed to decide about buying the web-based teaching portal. The recent happenings with Snehal’s engagement had delayed making their decision. “We’re going for online teaching very soon. You can tell the students about it.”
His glance shifted towards a classroom while he walked towards his work cubicle. A few students were waiting for him. He opened the cabin, took his book then strode towards the students.
“Hi, guys. Sorry for being late.” He grabbed a chair and sat. “I know you’re eager to start the project. We’re left with two more units in the syllabus before we start the project design and coding.”
While he lectured, a big sound – breaking of a glass pane – hurt his ears. Astonished, Vivek shifted his gaze at the receptionist area. Ranjit, holding a hockey stick and wearing a soiled T-shirt, along with a few men trashed the entrance glass pane. Pooja screamed in horror and surprise. Ranjit went to her and asked something. Pooja pointed at Vivek.
All the students rose and told Vivek to leave the center. Vivek’s heart throbbed in his chest. He strode towards the wash area. Some more windows were broken behind him.
“You can’t escape this time around,” Ranjit yelled from behind.
Vivek needed to save himself instead of confronting it as it would be futile to fight alone and unarmed. Vivek ran towards the rear side. He entered the bathroom and locked the door.
Ranjit hit the door hard. “Open the door, I’ll not spare you.”
A ventilator caught Vivek’s attention. He opened it and slid his head outside. There was a lavatory pipe outside. He held the pipe tight and crawled out of the ventilator. His breath increased, he climbed down the pipe. He sprinted to the parking lot, got in his car, and drove outside the premises.
Vivek contemplated; he had invited all the troubles by falling in love with Snehal. His compassion towards her hadn’t minimized in him. Snehal had been in real trouble and wanted someone’s help to come out of her relationship with Ranjit. He hoped Snehal would contact him sooner, and they could unite. If not, God would help her in her life as Snehal was a good person.
His phone rang. He stopped his car and the display told him it was Snehal.
Vivek swiped the screen, his heart throbbing. “Snehal, where are you calling from?”
“Near Santosh theatre. Where are you?”
“I’m on my way home.”
“I want to join you before my father finds me.” Snehal paused. “Can you pick me up?”
“Sure. I’ll be there soon.” Vivek pressed the accelerator pedal to go and pick up Snehal.
Snehal was standing near a telephone booth, beside the compound wall of the Santosh theatre.
Vivek parked his car and lowered the window. “Get inside, fast.”
Snehal hastened to open the passenger’s door and got in.
“It’s good that you could escape,” Vivek said. “How did you come out of the room?”
“My mother helped me.”
Vivek drove through a colony of houses to avoid being seen by someone who might know them. “You know what Ranjit did?”
“What did he do?”
“He attacked the institution and smashed the doors and windows.”
“Oh, my God! Did you get hurt?” Snehal sounded shocked. She looked at him.
“I escaped through the bathroom.” He paused. “I need to call my mother and see if everything is all right with her.” He swiped on his mother’s name.
Prabha answered. “Vivek, where are you?” She sounded scared.
Vivek sensed something was wrong with her. “I’m on my way home, Mum. Are you all right?”
“Someone made a life-threatening call to me. We’re no longer safe here, Vivek.”
Vivek blamed himself. He had moved from Bangalore to look after his mother. But things turned out unfavorable to them within months. He hadn’t expected Ranjit would be so vengeful.
Vivek needed to console his mother. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’m bringing Uncle along with me. We’ll talk about the matter when we arrive there.”
He should tell his uncle he is on the way to his home. Pankaj had told him he knew a cop and should provide the needed security for them. If not, Vivek would go to the police station and leave a complaint. Ranjit had already committed a crime by attacking his institution.
Vivek called his Uncle.
“Hello, Vivek. Anything happened?” Pankaj sounded curious.
“Yes, Uncle. Ranjit trashed our institution, but Snehal is with me.” Vivek swallowed. “We are coming to your home.”
“It’s good that Snehal is out of her home.” Pankaj sounded relieved. “We will plan something for you both.”