Ties that bind us together

(Words written in italics are flashbacks)

New Delhi, India

"You're a worthless piece of sh*t", said the badman and hit the small girl around her abdomen with his pointed shoes.  

"Ahhh. Maine kuch nhi kiya hai", whimpered the little girl. Tears were flowing down her eyes at a rapid pace. 

"How dare you hit him?" said the badman and this time hit her on her shoulders.

"Woh mujhe touch kr rha tha", the girl mumbled under her breath.

"He paid for you. Now, go upstairs and finish what he has paid for. Go you moron, Go", the man said with gritted teeth. He held her with her hair and started dragging her upstairs.

"Nhi, mujhe khi nhi jana, chodo mujhe, mujhe khi nhi jana, chodo, chodo", shouted the girl. She was thrashing to free from his hold. But his grip was too strong.

"Chodo, mujhe, chodo. chodo. Koi hai. Help me, help me", said Akshara. A whimper broke out of her lips. A head comes on her chest, slobbering her with its saliva. This takes Akshara out of her nightmare. She woke up drenched in sweat. Her dog, Hugo takes her out of her nightmare just like he did many times. He settled on her chest and mewls. 

"I am okay, boy", mumbled Akshara sleepily while scratching his ears. Her fellow survivor and faithful friend, Hugo,  Napolean Mastiff, could tower over her when he stood up on his hind legs but he was the softest dog ever as long as he knew you. 

"What I would do without you, Hugo", mumbled Akshara when she got up. Hugo settled down on her lap where she was petting his fur. He is her best friend. Akshara is thinking about how she met her best friend. These bad thoughts again resurfaced in her mind due to the case she witnessed at hospital today. That little girl was not as lucky as her to get out that hellhole. That little girl succumbed to her bruises.

Her thoughts were broken by the the ringing of the phone. She picked the call without looking at the caller ID being lost in her thoughts.

"Dr. Akshara speaking", said Akshara slowly.

"Dr. Akshara kaha ho tum? Kal raat se gayab ho tum?" Akshara smiled hearing the voice. 

"Hello, to you Panchi Di. I am good Di", said Akshara cheekily Or tried to be cheeky after that horrible nightmare.

"Stop, being cute. Ab bta mujhe ki tu kha thi kl raat. Pta hai maine tujhe kitne call kiye", said Panchi angrily.

"Sorry, Di. Par hospital mai last minute emergency aa gyi thi. Mai nikal hi nhi payi", explained Akshara.

"Tu or tera hospital. Akshu teri life mai hospital ke alawa bhi aur cheeze hai. I really want you here with me yesterday", said Panchi sadly.

"I am sorry Panchi Di. Mai sach mai ana chahti thi. Mai nikal bhi gyi thi but last minute woh accident case aa gya tha, I can't leave that girl in that condition", Akshara replied.

"Akshu, kl Neil pehli baar aya tha meri family se milne ke liye. Use sab mile pr usme tu nhi thi", said Panchi.

'Family', is a six-letter word that shows so many emotions for a person. But for Akshara it is synonymous for pain only pain. Family always protects each other not to break each other. A tear slips from her eye listening to the word.

"I will call you later Di and I am sorry", she said hastily and cut the call. She tried to put the phone on the side table but it slipped from there. Her hands started shaking badly and she started hyperventilating thinking all the gross things her family did with her. Sweat beads broke out at the back of her neck.