C23 A Solemn Pledge!

The monsters were laughing as they pulled her hands aside to reveal the two peaks hiding in her blouse. “Please, leave me. I will never offend you again. Please.” The leader seemed to think. Sarvani decided to strike the iron while it was hot. “Please, I am like your sister. Please don’t do this to me.”

“I can leave you but on one condition.” Sarvani grabbed the straw of hope.

“What is that?”

“Will you fulfil the condition?”

“Yes, definitely.”

“Swear on your father.”

“I swear on my father that I will fulfil your condition in exchange for leaving me alone.”

“Alright.” He took a deep breath. “The condition is that...” he paused increasing the tension. “..... you have to do whatever we ask you to do till you get married.” Sarvani’s eyes grew wide at the trap she had fallen into. There was no backing out now. “We will not take your virtue, don’t worry. But you will follow our orders.” Sarvani didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t say no and she couldn’t say yes either. She was stuck in the most horrible position an unmarried woman could be in. “Speak girl! We are being generous here. If you prefer sleeping with us on the road....” she looked at him terrified. She couldn’t let that happen no matter what.

“I-I-I will do what you say.” There was a triumphant smile on the leader’s face.

“Great Choice!” he exclaimed happily. Leave her hands boys.” They looked at him as if he had lost his mind. When he looked at them sternly, they shook their heads and left her hands. She folded her palms together in gratitude and went home hurriedly forgetting her Voni. The others gathered round the leader.

“Why did you leave her bro?” he took the Voni in his hands. “She has turned into a golden goose for us. We should take the eggs, not kill the goose.” The other one scratched his head in confusion. “Well, we can never understand you. But you know best. So, what shall we do now?”

“Wait for tomorrow!” he smiled enigmatically and climbed his bike revving up the engine. The others followed him silently.

Sarvani’s mother followed her into her bedroom as she rushed in at jet speed. She watched in amazement as her daughter grabbed a towel and went into the attached bathroom. She silently left the room aware that something bad had happened. She prepared some snacks and hot tea as her mind reviewed all possible situations. The lack of a Voni indicated that she had been the victim of eve teasing – how bad it was or whether she had lost everything could only be revealed by her daughter. She needed to listen to her calmly to make her recount an experience that must have been terrifying. As expected, her daughter was sitting on the bed, her head in her hands. “Oh God! Why me? Why did you choose me for this?” she placed a comforting hand on her daughter. Sarvani looked up with terrified eyes – something new for a brave girl.

“What happened Chinnu?” she asked gently. Sarvani relived the day as she narrated the incidents. “And that is how I ended up leaving my Voni with them.” She looked at her mother like a frightened fawn looking at its mother for support. “What should I do mom? Please tell me.”

“You should do what they say child, since you swore an oath on me.” Both women looked at the man standing before them with a pained expression on his face. It was obvious he was struggling to stay calm. “We are relatively new here and this house is the only one I could find at such short notice. Moving away from here will take time.”

“Is there no other way to save our daughter?”

“We could seek the help of Royal Shakteya Trust, but I need time to establish contact with them. Perhaps it is best to keep her at home for a few days. They will forget this soon.”

“What if they come here?” he closed his eyes. “Amangalam pratihatamavu gaaka! (Let the evil be prevented!) In that case we should die together. We have no choice then.”

All three of them sat pondering over the situation. No one felt like eating or drinking anything. The disaster that had struck them was grave indeed. God was testing them severely. Sarvani lay on her bed thinking about the events of the day. She was indeed in a very grave situation. She shuddered to think what they would ask her to do. she was even more terrified to tell her father that she had to attend college every day or she would be detained in the same class next year. But, was going to college more important than her honor?

“Bro, do you think she will come?” the same gang who had made a deal with Sarvani were waiting for her at their favorite spot. The leader smiled confidently. “Of course, she will come, or she would have gone back on her word which is worse for them than getting molested.” He looked at his watch. “It's time to motivate her a little.” He got on his bike and drove towards Sarvani’s house, his men following behind him. Doors and windows were closed hastily as they rode through the streets. The A gang was famous for their ruthlessness and unlimited power. There was no one strong enough to stop them. Even the Royal Shakyeta Trust had been forced on the back foot in this area. The riders stopped in front of small old-fashioned house that seemed to welcome visitors with the beautiful rangoli in front of the gate.

“Ah! A nice way to welcome us, isn’t it?” the leader remarked as he opened the gate and went in followed by the others. He knocked on the door three times in rapid succession and twice slowly. It was the code of their gang which told the inhabitants about who had arrived.

Sarvani and her mother shivered in fright as they heart the peculiar knock on the door.

Note from the author: The next few chapters are going to be steamy for some of the readers with lots of adult content. So underage readers if any must leave now. The author is not responsible if you find the content offensive.