Chapter 16

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Vansh laid with his eyes wide open , time and it's teaching......., He felt an unusual courage, so calming . His heart felt, probably there is something to live this life for.

The door opened and Riddhima came in , he closed his eyes , she had asked him to sleep an hour ago and he............

She walked up to him as the moonlight came rushing through the window . Riddhima adjusted his blanket . His face has always touched her heart . It had something , something she could never explain.

Although he never admitted but she read every pain of his or his face spoke it probably .She knew he was never a criminal but today she was proud , she felt happy that she was correct , correct when her heart spoke he can't be a criminal .No matter what world's say she will be for him always.

But why she wished that offcourse he was a friend, what else . She blinked her eyes shrugging off her thoughts and walked out of the room.

He opened his eyes as she walked out , she give him strength without speaking .

"What next?" ,

Pihu was standing at the door.

"I don't know." Riddhima walked past her and sat down.

"We have to do something..." Pihu looked at the closed door and Riddhima nodded.

But what................... And this was the most important question.

The moon hide behind the clouds and the snow fall started , these days it felled everyday with unknown answers to unspoken questions.

"We will think about it in the morning."

Riddhima went to the bed but her mind was busy somewhere else.

The sun came out dramatically this morning, the snow hasn't receded . The cold was freezing but unaffected by all this Riddhima was standing at the door.

How?, Kabir has framed everything so intelligently that there is no way out , he could be proved innocent. God......

She closed her eyes in frustration.

A snow ball came dancing around and blasted at her face breaking her thoughts.

"Pihu........", She spoke in frustration.

"Wanna fight."

Riddhima turned away in disinterest.

But one more at her back and her frustration reached the peak, she ran down the stair and picked up the snow rolling it into a ball , after Pihu who was busy in preparing the third one.

And the world level fight started, balls from here, balls from there and snow everywhere.

A hit on the face and most unaimed, the battle ended finally as both of them felled on snow in need of some breath.

"God..... Will you kill me today.", Pihu took a deep breath and stood up removing off the snow from her coat.

Riddhima was still laying and looking at the sky while the snow felled slowly covering her eyebrow.

Vansh was standing at the door witnessing this world level fight and the results , draw offcourse.

Riddhima stood up and walked in.

She went straight to the room and took out her suitcase. Opening the closet, she started throwing off her clothes into the it. Vansh and Pihu came over .

"Are you going somewhere..", Pihu asked sipping her coffee.

"We are going.". Riddhima said busy in packing.

"Where......", Vansh asked sipping his coffee.

"Mumbai.",

Riddhima looked up and they freezed with the cup near there mouth .

Vansh and Pihu looked at each other .

"Are you serious." Pihu asked swallowing down her drink.

Riddhima nodded.

"But ......" Before Vansh could say something Riddhima spoke.

" We have no option, we can't sit her and take you out of this pit, we have to go there and then only we can find the rope that will guide you out."

"Are you kidding me .... This is not a psychology class going on , this is a serious.", Pihu walked up to her.

"And do I look non serious to you."

Riddhima closed the chain and banged the suitcase on the floor.

"Riddhi..."

"Quickly pack your stuffs..... We are leaving for the station."

"What....." ,

Pihu and Vansh stood surprised while Riddhima walked out of the room totally ignoring them.

Pihu ran behind her while Vansh walked in and sat on the bed.

"Riddhima we can't go."

Riddhima turned.

"Pihu we have to.....",

"But why he is safe her he can stay with us.",

"With a murderer tag on him ."

"Riddhima...."

"I will go.",

Pihu looked at Riddhima and she knew that now there was no option. She was again in her Mother Teresa mode and this was Pihu 's hundredth defeat to be exact. She turned and walked to the room while Vansh came out with a bag on his shoulder.

Riddhima forced a smile at him. Taking out her phone she went for a call .

Vansh stood there. They are going to Mumbai , the statement in itself was haunting for him his dead family, lost sister, murder..........

His anxiety grew when he felt her hand on his shoulder.

"You are innocent and we have to prove it.",

Vansh nodded and the warmth on his shoulder siezed.

Pihu came out with her bag and a gloomy face and they walked out of the house .

Settling in the cab , there left for the station.

Checking out the arrival time of the train Riddhima came and got seated beside Vansh while Pihu was at the tea stall.

"I am a murderer there.........

Police is after me."

Riddhima looked at Vansh.

She took out a mask and sunglasses from her bag, she had seen in movies and probably movies teach us more than anything these days. He won't face anyone there but still they have to take precautions.

Snaking the mask around his neck she made him wore the glasses.

"In you family............ Family photo , you had beard and short hair. But now that is changed , I don't think anyone will recognize you so easily. Just keep calm infront of the people there and the rest will be dealt. ",

Vansh looked at her. Pihu came over.

"Riddhi your tea..." And her eyes felt on Vansh.

She supressed her laughter.

Vansh looked at her and then at Riddhima.

"Man you look like some teenagers who have just became a fan of bts.........".

Vansh turned away fluttering his long hair to one side.

The train arrived and they walked in.

" What's the plan.", Pihu spoke as she closed the door of the compartment.

Riddhima looked up at her and then at Vansh.

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Presently,  the smoke held her breath and she struggled with the rope, the confined room, burning cigarettes and her tored skin was crying to be free.

Leaving Shimla changed everything and this situation was a byproduct of it. But it was mandatory. She understood he will heal only when he believes he is not a criminal and she had to prove it.............

And now she is here counting her breaths as the time drops to 15 minutes.

How will she save him ?

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P.S.

So from 25 to 15.......

How will she save him?