Chapter Sixteen

Eveleen' 's POV

I was staring at Rose. She was lost in her thoughts and slightly moving her spoon on the plate. Her food was still piled. She didn't take a bit from it. We can try to take her pain away but we can not do it without her help. " You should eat, at least for your baby. " I said to Rose, putting my hand on her shoulder.
" I'm jealous of you. " she said with tears.
I ignored it, she might be disturb. She didn't mean it. She always wanted a perfect life. It was in her own hand. " Do you want me to bring your food to your room? " I asked her. It was concerning me as she wasn't eating. Mini told me that she did not eat last night.
" Look at you! best husband of the world. All luxury at your beck and call. Your husband can do anything for you. All riches salute your husband. You're the wife of the most powerful man. " She said, pointing her finger at me and saying every word with a grimace. I was shocked, was she my friend Rose? Perhaps, she was not. I couldn't even guess the pain she was going through and had gone.
" What are you saying? You're upset. We'll talk later. I'll bring your food to your room. " I said and walked at the door. I was surprised, she didn't behave like this ever in her life. It was like I was talking to a stranger. Bad things changed us.
She squeezed my wrist, " Look at me! I may be more beautiful than you, still I couldn't get even one percent of what you have. He used me like a whore with his fake love. " she blurted.
It jolted me hearing it from her. Perhaps she does not know what she was saying. Her words were clear and I understood what she was saying. I don't wanna believe it, " What's your mean fake love? Who are you talking about?" I asked her.
" Ricky, I'm talking about Ricky, Eveleen." she snorted.
Is he her new boyfriend? I can talk to him. If he loves her, he'll not back down from her, " Who is Ricky now? " I asked, throwing my hands in the air. She gave an evil laugh. I was doubting, was she my friend? " Is something troubling you? Tell me, we can sort it out." I asked her with deep concern.
" Huh." she snorted again, " Do you remember the party, when my father said to leave us the hall. Because the mafia 's party was running in the building." She said.
I swallowed hard, hearing it. That was the black day of my life, not because I was married that day or I met Duante, because of my kidnapper.
" Your face is telling, you very well remember it. " she paused and killed the distance between us, " Do you remember my boyfriend? Who always calls at midnight and asks me to meet him at midnight." she asked like a bad person.
" Yes, we used to call him Mr. Night." I replied with confusion. Mini named him Mr. Night when Rose refused to tell us her name?
" Your kidnapper and Mr. Night are the same guy. " She smirked evilly.
I put my hand on my mouth with shock. I opened my mouth to say but it numbed me. Deadly silence spreaded in the room. It took me minutes to recover from it, " I'm not getting you. " Finally I said to clear my doubt.
" At the party, They planned to kidnap me as a trick so our family could agree on our wedding. His eyes laid on you. He wanted you like hell and now he knows I'm pregnant with his child, still he fuc***g wants you. " she shouted and cried at the same time. I could see hatred for me in her eyes.
Tears foamed in my eyes. My heart collapsed in my chest. We spent a huge part of our life together. She was shouting at me for that monster and suffering for him.
" And stupid Mini! my family! Nobody wants me to marry him. They planned to call you. So you could take me away from him, the guy whom I loved the most. " she shouted at my face.
" We are friends, cousins. You should tell us. " I said with a broken heart.
" Friends! my foot. " she groaned.
Last night my husband was pampering me. I was thinking, she is my bestie, someone raped her. But the car had turned its wheels.
" He didn't um... ra..... " I couldn't say it. It was hurting me to use such words for her, thinking of her in such a bad time.
" He didn't rape me. " She bombarded it .
It made me angry now. I heaved. " Why did you ask for my help? You should tell me and take your foot out of the plane. Your family wasn't hearing you. You should tell me. " I annoyed.
" I've nothing to tell you. We're over, our friendship is no more. I've called him. He'd be here soon. " she said, wiping her tears.
My legs started to tremble. I don't want him here, around me, " Why? " I asked in a whisper.
" Because I begrudge you. " She shouted as she hated me. " Your husband shot him. " she said in the same tone.
" Good. He must be dead then. " I said to her, wiping away my tears. He has no right to live. I was staring blankly.
When I darted my eyes on her. Her hands were showing me a gun pointed at me, " Your husband shouldn't hurt him. I fuc**** love him. I agreed to come here for revenge, not for fuc**** help. You took away everything from me. " she screamed.
I felt my heart shattered. Who says only a boyfriend can give you a heart break. I didn't ask her a question. I was staring at her like a statue. I heard the click of trigger pulling. I shut my eyes to embrace her hatred. I heard the loudest cry. I snapped open my eyes. Mini was laying on the hardwood floor. Blood was oozing from her chest. I cried her name out aloud and ran at her. I fell on my knees. I could hear loud footsteps approaching us.
" Take the gun from her hand. " Duante shouted orders to his man.
" Wake up. Please wake up Mini. " I cried, darting my eyes at her.
" Take her to the hospital. " he said.
It numbed my brain and me. I've already lost my brother. I can't lose her.
" She'll be fine. " he cupped my face. I was hearing but couldn't understand.
His men carried Mini out of the house toward the car. I sat next to her keeping her head in my lap. I didn't look anywhere but her. Her wound was spilling blood.
" She's bleeding. " I cried.
" We're almost there. " he said.
When we reached the hospital, they laid her on the structure and carried her in. I was totally numb. I forgot where to go, what to say, merely tears were running down my eyes. I fell on the ground and started to cry, hiding my face in my hands. Her blood was in my hands. My heart was crying for her. Duante picked me off the ground. I hugged him and wailed on his shoulder.
" She'll be fine. I told you. " he said, putting his arms around me.
" She's my friend, my sister. I don't wanna lose her. " My voice was cracking.
He took me to the washroom and washed my blooded hands. My body was feeling numb to me. He was securely holding me not to make me fall.
" Look at me. " he placed his hands on my cheeks, " She's in the hospital. She'll be fine. Stop crying. " he politely said to me.
" Promise.." I sobbed. I know he keeps his promises to me.
" Promise. " he whispered.
I wasn't walking, he almost was carrying me in his arms. He put me on one of the seats. I saw Rose standing out of the ICU.
" What are you doing here? Get out. " I shouted at her, I staggered but I managed to walk at her.
I pushed her away. She was about to fall. She was pregnant, it flooded my mind. I instantly held her by my arm.
" Sorry! Sorry! Baby! I didn't mean to hurt your baby. Are you okay, Rose? Get out of here. Before I hurt you. Get the hell out. " I cried and fell on the ground.
Duante scooted at me and wrapped his arm around me, " Take her away. " he ordered.
" No, her boyfriend, father of her child is coming for her. Let her go with him. " I told him.
He gave me his confusion glare, " Ricky. He is coming to take her away. " I said.
He was livid now. His men took out there's gun, pointed at her, " No, please let her go. She's pregnant. My friend is already in ICU. I can't take it, please. " I clutched his shirt in my fist.
He beckoned one of his men and they let her go. I watched her until she turned from the aisle. Why wasn't she understanding where she was walking in? I tried to make her understand. I knew it was the last time I was seeing her. I'd never happen to meet her ever again. Ricky may kill her.
He wrapped his arm in the middle of me and helped me to walk. I rested my head on his shoulder. I was continuously crying. I couldn't suppress them.
I felt a sharp pain in my arm. I looked to my left. A nurse was sitting beside me. She became a blur. My eyelid compelled me to close them and it went dark.

Duante' POV
" Are you sure, you wanna go with him? He is going to die one day. He can never be a perfect husband for anyone. " Tom said to her.
I was ignoring her presence. She'd be dead, still continuing to her life. She hated my wife, thoroughly my wife is the reason for her breathing yet. She was crying badly. I told the doctor to inject her. There was no other way to stop her tears.
" See, he's here." She showed the display of her phone and smiled.
Thomas took the phone from her hand and put it on the speaker.
" I'm waiting for you at the entrance of the hospital, baby! come soon." Ricky said and hung up.
" Mr. Rego, your wife is awake. " Nurse said.
I told Tann to chase her and to get alert if he played over smart.
Two nurses were holding my wife from her forearm and trying to pin her down on the mattress
" Leave her. " I annoyed. They started to shiver and ran out of the door immediately.
" Mini? " she asked with teary eyes.
" She's stable and sleeping. " I said.
" Can I see her? " she said.
" Sure, can you walk? " I asked her.
" Yes. " she nodded.
I held her the whole way from the side. This news had drained her. I opened the door for her.
She looked around the room, " See she's sleeping. She'll wake in the morning. " I whispered in her ear.
She touched her hand, " Mini, wake up. I'm eating gol gappe. Will you company me? I'll eat it all if you're not waking up. " she said.
She stirred, " You.. . . re ruthless. " she replied in a whisper.
Finally, my wife flashed her best smile. She pecked on her cheek, " I'm glad you're awake. " She smiled the biggest.
" Where are the gol gappe. That fuc*** people will not allow me. " she beckoned toward the nurse.
Both laughed. I could see, her friend was in pain and still trying to make her cheer.
" She needs rest. I could arrange anything for both of you. " I said.
" Really, jiju? " she asked in excitement but groaned in pain.
" Anything. " I said.
" Um, He's right. You need rest. I'll talk later. Get well soon. " my wife smiled.
" Where is Rose? " she asked.
" Her boyfriend called her. She went with him. " She sadly replied.
Her face fell and there were tears in her eyes. Eveleen wiped her cheeks. Both passed smiles to each other. Eveleen bid goodbye to her and got out of her private room.
" Where is Rose? " She asked me.
" R… He is waiting for her out. " I said.
" What if he'd kill her. " she said and started to run.
" Eveleen! stop. " I said loudly.
She stopped and turned to see me, " He will kill her. I can feel it. " she said and started to rush out.
She must be gone now. I let her go. I was pacing behind her with my long strides. My people were already in every corner of this hospital. My father had taught me not to trust my own silhouette and I always kept it in my mind. At the entrance of the hospital, I heard gunshots.
" Rose!! ! Don't go with him. " she shouted.
I roamed my eyes to see my wife. She was sitting on the earth. Tom and Tann were already beside her to keep harm away from her. I scooted toward them.
" Is she hurt? " My heart started to beat faster. She turned her face toward me, " Please, stop her. He will kill her. " she said with tears. I bent down and cupped her face, " She is the mother of his child. He will not harm her. " I assured her and brushed my hand on her cheeks. She engulfed me in her arms and I wrapped my arms around her. I scooped her up in my arms. I asked Akash to stay in the hospital. I put her next to me and got myself in the car.
" Are we going somewhere? " she asked.
" Home. You can come and meet your friend anytime. " I said.
" OK. " she whispered.