Had to find a way

“Did you report that bastard?” asked Vansh, his fists and jaw clenched tight.

“No, why would I? Before you say something, listen to me. He stopped the moment I said ‘no’, I was just horny and stupid before and once I understood what was happening and stood my ground, he left me alone. He didn’t make any more advances. So there is no reason to report him.

He didn’t actually abuse me, right? Because I never said ‘no’?” explained Shreya.

“He didn’t abuse you?” he said, his voice rising by the end, “So you like those memories?”

“No! It’s just…” she trailed off as she started sobbing.

Vansh crawled to her and enveloped her in his arms and held her head close to his chest. Whispering soothing words, he caressed her hair and held her tighter in his arms.

Moments later, she took a deep breath and tilting her head upwards, said, “You know, what hurts the most? It’s that whatever vile, dirty things he said were all true. He said no one would want me, but for my body; I don’t have friends, because friends usually are not interested in bodies, and I don’t want to insult or put you down, but you came into my life only because you saw me naked. You wanted me for my body, nothing more.

And I AM a slut, you know? I love masturbating, I love sex and I’m always horny. So where did he go wrong? Nowhere” she said as she inhaled another breath of air. Her eyes were still full of tears and her face, sad and broken.

He tilted her chin towards his face and forced her to look in his eyes, then with every bit of conviction in his veins, said, “Listen to me Shreya, your uncle – the vile man that he is – abused you both emotionally and sexually. Just because there weren’t clear fights and tears doesn’t mean he did not take advantage of your age and your innocence.

You might have liked his touch, and that’s okay; this is just how our body works. But that doesn’t make your suffering any less or change the fact that he is a paedophile.

I get that our start wasn’t very promising but that doesn’t change the fact that I love you beyond your physical appearance.

Also, you don’t have friends because you don’t talk to people, no one is going to follow you around and force you to be their friends. If you talk, people will respond or they’ll let you go assuming you don’t want to be disturbed.”

“But in novels they do. The silent girl is followed around and forced to go out and hang out with them and then she becomes the member of their gang” she said in a baby voice with a pout on her adorable face.

He chuckled as he said, “I’m sorry Shreya, but you really are quite dumb. That’s fiction, this is not”

“Don’t call me dumb” she argued and punched him lightly in the stomach.

“But you are” he screamed and tickled her sides. She laughed as she curled her body and started tickling him in a counter-attack.

They stopped only when they were lying on the floor and out of breath. The tear streaks still lined her cheeks but the twinkle in her eyes made up for it. This wasn’t a very huge break-through, but she was closer in trusting him than she was before.

As they gazed in each other’s eyes, with love and adoration, Vansh said, “On a serious note, you should consult a psychologist, they may help a lot. Also, go to college and open your beautiful mouth and talk to people. You’ll find a lot of friends”

“I’ll try” she whispered.

“No trying, you will do it” he emphasized.

“Fine,” she said as she crawled on top of his body. She licked her lips and slowly asked, “What to do of you, mister?”

“Forgive and date again” he grinned.

“Fine but…” she trailed off.

“I accept all your buts and conditions, just say ‘yes’”

She pouted at him and said, “Listen first”

“If you ever and I mean ever fail to remind me that you love me, I will run off with my hopefully new-found friends, got it?” she threatened and smiled.

“Oh you won’t have a problem with that” he sang and attacked her face with small kisses and a hundred whispers of ’I love you’s. When he reached her lips, he kissed her deeply, igniting every particle of her body on fire. She felt the butterflies in her stomach going reckless as he met his tongue with hers. His hands found her hair and her lower back and as he pulled her closer towards him, she moaned in his mouth.

Her hands found his hair and her hips started grinding of their own accord. She could feel the bulge in his pants and wetness pooled in between her legs in anticipation of heaven.

His tongue wreaked havoc in her lower belly and her hips moved in sync with his tongue. She didn’t fight for dominance or to explore his mouth, she just wanted him to feast on her mouth and take control of all her thoughts. She wanted to be consumed by him, his hands, his lips and his thoughts.

The sound of the doorbell broke their haze of consumable lust faster than you could say ‘knock’. She pulled herself on her feet, cleared her throat and screamed, “Coming”

Directing her focus on the man now standing beside her, she pointed her hands upwards with wide eyes and frantic hands. Vansh stepped towards the stairs slowly, to not make any noise; but she couldn’t take too much time answering the door, she’d be questioned.

So she signalled him to move faster and shouted, “Who is there?” hoping to drown out the sound of his footsteps.

“Me”, came the reply. It was her mother’s voice, she thought as she gulped. She ran to the door shouting ‘coming’ as Vansh disappeared behind the stairs. Unlocking the door, she imitated heavy breathing - though she didn’t have to try very hard – so her mom thinks she came downstairs from her room.

“What were you doing so long?” asked her mom as she pushed her daughter aside and entered. Not waiting for an answer, she sighed and said, “Your grandfather called today. He said he missed us and that he was very thankful we were all with him for his treatment”

“Of course we would be there, he is our family”

“That’s what I said, but he still feels that he needed to express his gratitude because while so many people are sending their old parents to old-age homes, we spent five days with him for his treatment in an old ayurvedic clinic even when it had no network and other basic services.”, said her mom as she sat down with a thoughtful look on her face.

“It’s so sad and heartbreaking, you know? To be sent to an old-age home because your kids that you raised won’t bother to take care of you. I would have gone mad if I become a burden to my kids”, she expressed, her voice dipped in empathy and sadness.

“You wouldn’t think of me as a burden, will you? Once I’m old and slow and useless?” asked Shreya’s mother with a pitiful look in her eyes.

“Of course not, mom. You will grow old, but you will never be useless. You will have your love and experience to share with me” she said as she ran to hug her mom.

“And your kids” her mom added with a chuckle and wrapped her arms around her.

“And my kids” she answered with a giggle and said, “I love you, always”

“I love you too, my beautiful daughter”

Vansh who stood hidden on the stairs heard their conversation and realized just how self-absorbed he was that he hadn’t even asked her where she was for the five days she was missing. While he was focusing on the accusations and their relationship, he had forgotten to focus on her – the one he claimed to love.

And he also realized how he was bridging the mother-daughter relationship with the guilt of their relationship in Shreya’s head.

Shreya loved her mom and she could hide and deflect but couldn’t straight out lie to her mother about him. And every time she said they weren’t together, she would fall under a block of guilt. Someday, the guilt would break one relation, and he wasn’t ready to find whose.

He somehow has to convince Shreya’s mom to accept him as her daughter’s boyfriend.

There was no other way than to find a way.