Love In The Dark - Scene XII

Scene 12

 Ayushmaan entered in a rush as he undoubtedly heard the scream of Nishigandha and was sure she was in some kind of trouble. From the flicker of light what he saw that somebody was trying to overpower her and physically pulling her into bed whereas she tried to remain as far as possible. She was also very teary-eyed and tired. She was wearing a 3/4^th nightie with full sleeves having buttons on the sleeves which was torn from many places.

“You Bitch, I told you to shut up, didn’t I?” Ayush found that voice similar. He saw that it was Akash, his business partner who saw her and was flat on her from that party. The pain and anger made his whole body tremble as he sees trickle of blood coming out from Nishi’s nose and her terror-stricken eyes. Her whole face reflected the unbearable pain as her hair was being tugged. Her trauma and misery evokes a deep aching in his heart. Yet, she seems him; he can see her expression change to relief and joy. “Stay away” Akash warns him thrusting the knife close to Nishi, “or else you lose your wife.” Ayush somehow controlled his anger as he knew one wrong act from his side and Nishi will bear the brunt of it. He cannot let anything happen to her.
“And then what will you do? How will you walk out, Akash? Do you think if anything happens to her, you’ll walk out freely?” he asks calmly. Akash is shaken with the truth of his words. Ayush knew he had there. Akash knew he was trapped but he wasn’t going to give up. Nishi shakes her head in fright, her protests coming in the form of muffled sounds. Her whole body begins to shiver.

“No na?” Akash tells her fiercely. “So both of you co-operate quietly. I don’t want any sound from either of you. Akash turns to looks at the window as he feels someone is there looking at him. In a couple of strides, Ayush narrows the distance between them and grasps Akash’s hand, wrestling with it trying to wield the knife off him. He then bumps his shoulder into Akash’s shoulder sending off balance. Akash loosens his hold on Nishi’s hair and the knife falls from his hand. Nishi falls back on the couch. Ayush fists two punches into Akash’s jaw sending him reeling backwards, till he fell to the ground by the window side. He then goes to Nishi. Appalled by her condition, he pulls her into his arms. “Are you okay?” asked tensed Ayush. Nishi nods her head she was unable to speak. Tears were flowing down her cheek. She started feeling awkward in her torn nightie. She tried to speak something. “Shhhhhhh………… Don’t say anything. I won’t let anything happen to you.” He comforts her, his eyes moist.

Nishi was relived to be in his arms. She didn’t expected to be safe today, to find comfort of him again. Ayush held her tightly close to him, one hand claiming her shivering body while with other covering her with his coat. His face was filled with bitter anguish. He hated the fact that she was so badly humiliated.

Once, he took her out of apartment. “Take care,” he tells her tenderly cupping her face and turned towards the room. “I have some unfinished business to attend to, don’t worry” he glances towards the room. Before Nishi could stop him, he went to room, locks it from inside. Now he badly punches Akash and almost kills him.

“How could you hit a lady? You Bastard”, he snarls in anger.  “Ayush stop it, you can get into trouble, please” Nishi begged banging the door. But Ayush was not listening to her pleas.”How dare he touch Nishi? How dare you” an infuriated Ayush yells.”I cannot bear to see even a scratch on my wife. How could you have humiliated her cruelly? How could you touch her? How could you? “Ayush bellows at Akash. Nishi’s blood stricken face and terrorized eyes kept flashing in front of him turning his blood colder and colder.

“Ayush, stop!” Nishi yelled. She is speechless. She cried again “Please stop for the sake of me” and then she cried hysterically. Hearing her pleas, Ayush looks towards the window. Seeing the fear in her eyes, he shuts his eyes tightly realizing what he was about to do. Anger had clouded his senses completely. The knife falls from his hand. With a nauseous disgust in his guts, he opens the door. As he comes out, Nishi runs towards him.
"Aye are you okay?" she asks him tearfully looking at the blood on his face and arm."I am sorry Nishi; I feared I lost you completely. It scared the life out of me," he tells her pulling her into his arms. "Me too, Ayush," she tells him, her voice choking. "I didn't think I would be alive today"."I am so sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, I was too angry. I can't bear anything happening to you Nishi," Ayush tells her wiping away her tears with his thumb. "I just can’t live without you," he whispers chokingly. They embrace each other so tight as if never wanting to let go of the other.