C4 003 Rescued

JAMES

I used all my strength to pull the woman up while my driver Josh was trying to help me.

I laid her on the sidewalk with her head on my thigh as I kneeled while my heart was thudding loudly like it would come out of my chest.

The woman's hair was all over her face and due to darkness, I couldn't see her face.

I removed her hair from her face but still her face was not visible.

She didn't have anything with her to determine her identity and had a skimpy night dress on, which was failing its purpose to hide her body.

I asked Josh to start the car and carried the woman, bridal style.

As I was nearing my car, Josh flashed the headlight which blinded my vision for a few seconds. I adjusted my eyes to the light and turned my gaze towards the woman in my arms when my heart skipped a beat.

I was stuck in the same spot, staring at the angelic face in my arms when Josh honked.

I carried her inside the car and laid her down on the back seat before sitting beside her and taking her head on my lap.

My eyes were pooling with tears as I turned on the lights inside to take a good look at her face. I slowly brushed my fingers on her face which was sticky with tears, so I took out my handkerchief and wiped her face.

Her skin felt cold, her eyes were baggy with dark circles and her skin extremely pale. There were thousands of questions running through my head but I had no answer.

My eyes wandered down her body where I noticed whip marks on her arms and anger and panic surged inside me.

I moved my fingers over her other body parts which were already visible through her almost transparent and too short night dress. There were whip marks everywhere. Arms, legs, abdomen, neck, back, everywhere.

What the hell happened to her? I thought as I clenched my fist and took deep breaths, to control the extreme anger and helplessness I was feeling.

“Josh, take a U-turn and take me to the Imperial Towers penthouse,” I ordered my driver cum bodyguard.

“What happened, sir? Don't you want to go to your parent's place?”

“No. I changed my plans.”

“But, shouldn't we take the lady to the hospital or something?”

“Shut your mouth and do as I say.”

Josh talked too much & was a funny guy. I was too much of a serious person, so he kept me sane, to say the least.

But right now, I was heartbroken, hurt, angry & I didn't want anyone to talk to me.

“Sorry sir,” he said

“It's okay. I am sorry too.”

Inside Imperial Towers

“Josh, Call Dr Batra and tell her it's an emergency.”

I laid Sofia on my bed and sat beside her, caressing her head. I couldn't stop myself from hugging her unconscious body to feel her and the sparks which I had always missed and finally let go of the tears I was holding.

After what felt like an eternity, the doorbell rang and I laid Sofia back down on the bed before the doctor came in.

“Hello, Mrs Batra. Thank you for coming on such short notice,” I said

“It's my duty Mr Anderson, and how can I turn you down?” she said & smiled.

“What happened to her?” she asked, looking at Sofia.

“I saw her attempting to jump from a bridge. She has whip marks all over her body,” I said as my eyes were brimming with tears.

“I am sorry Mr Anderson. Do you know her ?” she asked me, with a concerned look on her face.

“Sorry. I couldn't control myself. She is very important to me. Please see to it that she recovers quickly.” I answered while wiping away the drop of tear that was ready to come out from the corner of my eye.

“Of Course. Can you please wait outside as I check her ?”

“Yeah, sure doctor.”

I was restless and walking back & forth outside my bedroom door.

What happened to my Sofia? Who did this to her? I wish I would have stayed in touch with her. I was so selfish to leave her alone when I knew she was not okay.

I thought and raised my head to see Josh staring at me.

“My head is spinning just looking at you sir. Please sit down,” he said.

I glared at him and sighed after a moment. I sat beside him with my head between my palms and my elbow leaning on my knees.

“Is she the same girl you have been looking for?” he asked and I nodded.

He took in a sharp breath and said,

“Don't worry sir. We'll find out what happened to her and punish anyone involved in this.”

“How do you know if there is anyone who should be punished?

“Maybe she chose a life for herself which has hurt her.

“Maybe she willingly chose her present life,” I replied.

But in my mind, I knew whatever happened to her, she could not be the one at fault and I suddenly felt disgusted talking like this about her.

“No!” I said and looked up to see Josh looking at me.

“I didn't mean that. She is too innocent and pure of soul.”

“I understand, sir.” He said while nodding reassuringly.

I said those things so that I could lessen my guilt and how badly I was hurting. Tears were brimming my eyes, threatening to fall while I waited for Dr Batra.

“Mr Anderson, will you please come inside ?” Dr Batra called me.

“Yes Doctor, what happened?” I asked as soon as I entered the room.

“Can I ask you who she is? Do you know her ?”

“Ummm..sh..she is my childhood best friend.”

“Okay. So you know her. Do you know where her family is ?”

“I have no idea. I lost contact with her after going to the USA and I saw her today for the first time after 10 years.”

“Ookay.. It's serious, so I was thinking we should inform her family.”

I stared at her blankly.

“But right now you have to take her responsibility until you find her family. Are you ready for it ?”

“Yes, I am ready. Tell me what happened.”

I was feeling really scared, thinking about what could have happened to her.

“I think she has been raped, by multiple people & maybe it has been going on for too long.”

My head started spinning as it was getting difficult to breathe. I sat down on the floor on my knees, clutching my head and my chest.

“Mr Anderson? What happened? Are you alright? Drink some water, please.”

I held the glass of water that she was handing out to me with my trembling hands and drank all of its contents in one breath.

After taking a few deep breaths, I said,

“Sorry doctor, tell me what you know.”

“I think she has not had any sunlight for many years, that's why her skin looks so pale,” she said and added,

“I suggest you take her to the hospital tomorrow morning to get her thoroughly checked so that we can know everything in detail.”

“Okay, thank you, doctor. I'll take her to the hospital tomorrow. When will she wake up ?”

“She'll wake up within an hour or so. She fainted because of shock.”

“Okay.”

“I'll go now. Take care of her & yourself too.” She gave me a motherly smile and shook my hand before going out of the room.

............

It was 2:15 am and I sat there waiting for her to wake up. I had so many things to ask but I didn't know if she was in the right state of mind to tell me anything.

I was thinking about her when she stirred and squeezed her eyes.

“Sofia.. Sofia..!” I called her softly.

“Go away, go away from me. Please leave me. Leave me alone. I beg you. I can't take it anymore. Just let me die. I can't do this.”

She woke up abruptly and started screaming. Her one hand was in front of her face while the other hand was facing me with palms open to keep me away from her.

She didn't look at me once. She was thinking I was someone else and was here to hurt her.

My heart clenched in pain, seeing her like this and thinking about what she had gone through in all these years.

“Sofia, stop. It's me. James. Look at me. You are safe with me." I tried to make her listen but she wasn't listening to anything.

So I had no option but to hug her tightly until she calmed down.