chapter 34

Manish was in his living room, enjoying a rare moment of peace, when his phone buzzed. It was Abhir. The urgency in his friend’s voice sent a chill down his spine. "Manish, I need you at the hospital. I’ve… I’ve hit someone with my car. It’s a girl. I don’t know her situation, but she’s been abused. Please, I need your help."The fear in Abhir’s voice was unmistakable. Manish didn’t waste a second. As a Station House Officer (SHO), he had seen his fair share of grim situations, but this was personal. Abhir was more than a friend; he was like family. They had known each other since childhood, their bond built on trust and loyalty. The idea that Abhir could be hurt terrified him, and the thought of his friend being involved in an accident sent his mind racing.When Manish arrived at the hospital, he rushed through the halls, scanning for Abhir. He found him pacing outside the ICU, his face pale, eyes hollow with worry.“Abhir!” Manish’s voice broke the silence as he hurried toward his friend. “Are you okay? What happened?”“I’m fine, Manish,” Abhir reassured him, though his voice was tight with stress. He quickly narrated the accident, how he had hit a girl who seemed to be running from something far worse than his car. Manish listened intently, his heart pounding with relief that Abhir wasn’t hurt. But when he heard about the girl’s condition, his expression darkened.“I don’t know who she is, but she’s been through hell, Manish. I need you to help her. She can’t go back to whatever life she’s running from.”Manish nodded grimly. “Let me talk to the doctor first.”After taking one look at Jiva’s battered body, the gravity of the situation hit Manish hard. He had seen many victims of abuse during his career, but something about this case felt personal. This girl was just a child in the eyes of the world, and yet, she had been living through horrors most couldn’t imagine. The doctor confirmed Manish’s suspicions—this wasn’t just an accident. She had been systematically abused for years. Manish turned back to Abhir. “This isn’t just about the accident, Abhir. Someone’s done this to her. We need to file a formal complaint, get the law involved.”Abhir didn’t hesitate. “Do whatever it takes. I’ll use every resource, every connection I have. Just make sure she’s safe.”Manish nodded. “I’ll make sure of it.”---Two days later, Jiva slowly regained consciousness. The world was a haze of pain, but the hospital room felt like a sanctuary compared to the horrors she had lived through. Her body ached, every movement a reminder of the abuse she had endured, but for the first time in years, she felt… safe. She didn’t have to be on guard. The sterile hospital room, with its beeping machines and the soft light filtering in through the windows, felt more like home than the place she had escaped.When Manish got word that Jiva had woken up, he informed Abhir immediately. The two of them arrived at her room, standing just outside for a moment, gathering themselves. Abhir’s heart was heavy. He wasn’t sure how she would react, knowing he was the one who had hit her. But he had to know what she had been running from.When they entered the room, Jiva looked up, her eyes wide with uncertainty. She was weak, her face bruised and her hands trembling slightly as she clutched the hospital blanket. Abhir stepped forward first, his voice soft, almost hesitant.“Hi… I’m Abhir. I was the one who… who hit you with my car. I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you, but I couldn’t leave you there. I brought you here, and I’m trying to help.”Jiva’s eyes filled with confusion, fear, but also something else—gratitude. She had expected anger, maybe even indifference. But this man, the one who had hit her, had saved her. He had brought her to safety, and now, he wanted to help her get justice. Her voice was barely a whisper when she spoke.“You… you helped me?” She still couldn’t fully believe it.Abhir nodded. “I’m so sorry for what happened. But you’re safe now. We just need to know what you’ve been through so we can help.”Jiva’s hands trembled as she tried to sit up. Manish gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “Take your time,” he said, his voice kind and reassuring. “We’re here to help, but we need to understand.”With a deep breath, Jiva began to recount the years of horror she had lived through. Her voice was shaky, breaking at points as she described the abuse—physical, mental, and sexual—that she had endured for fifteen long years. She told them about her uncle and aunt, and their children, who treated her as nothing more than a prisoner in her own home. She spoke of the night she escaped, how she had run without thinking, terrified that they would catch her, that they would sell her to the highest bidder.Manish and Abhir listened in stunned silence. Jiva’s words painted a picture far darker than they had imagined. The more she spoke, the heavier the air in the room became, laden with the weight of her suffering.When she finished, Manish’s voice was filled with quiet resolve. “She doesn’t want to go back.”Abhir’s heart ached. The pain she had endured mirrored his own in a strange, unexpected way. She was shattered and broken, much like he felt after Meera had left him. But this… this was far worse. He couldn’t let her go back to that life.As they left the room, Manish turned to Abhir, his expression solemn. “If you hadn’t brought her in, who knows what might have happened to her. She’s lucky you found her when you did.”Abhir nodded, his thoughts swirling. He felt an overwhelming need to protect her, to ensure she would never be hurt again. “Do whatever it takes to give her justice, Manish. She deserves it.”Manish, always the professional, was deeply moved. He had seen many cases, but this one felt different. He saw the depth of Abhir’s connection to the girl and understood that this wasn’t just about duty anymore. It was personal for both of them now.As for Jiva, the realization that Abhir, the man who had hit her, was also the one helping her, filled her with an unexpected sense of hope. She had spent years believing no one would ever care, that no one would ever save her. But here, standing in front of her, were two men who were willing to fight for her. Her voice was weak, but her eyes held a spark of gratitude as she whispered, “Thank you… for not leaving me.”In that moment, Abhir knew he had made the right choice. Whatever it took, he would help Jiva find justice and, maybe in the process, he would find a way to heal the broken parts of himself too.