Blood Stained Hands

It was a regular day for me. A regular hectic day. I was packed with work at my office when the office clock struck 6. Everybody left with a goodbye to me and I was smiling. Although it was fake. I too wanted to go home early but it was an appraisal time and I was in the queue to be selected. Of course this time it was for ranking position and a good amount to be added in my salary. So, no option left for me.

I didn't realise when it was 9 and when 11. Suddenly my phone rang and I saw it was 11:30. It was Mom. “Riya, beta when you'll be back home. It's been 2 years now. Till when you'll be angry with me. Ok, I promise I'll never talk about your marriage again.” Mom sounded depressed, So, I laughed to cheer her up. “Maa, its not like that. M not at all angry with you. I can't be and you know that well. I'll be home soon. Just few months more. Ok. Now M leaving for home it's too late. Thanks for calling else I wouldn't realise about the time.” And I laughed again. “ you didn't take care of yourself. If you'll work like this you'll fall ill.” Mom said. “I told you na Maa just few more months more than I'll be relaxed and we both will go on a trip together.” This time we both laughed together.

As it was too late I booked a cab and came out of the office. My office was in a narrow lane of the city so one has to walk till the lane entrance to board the cab. I put my headphones on and played a good soft music and started walking.

I didn't even reached the mid of the lane when I heard a weak but crying voice. I stopped. I put off my headphones and tried to identify the direction of the voice.

As I was moving towards it, I was about to hear the voice clearly. What I understood was that she was a girl. A girl of around 14-15 of age. And I was correct. When I reached the spot, I got scared and hid myself behind a wall so that they can't see me.

I tried to sneak out of the wall to see what is happening. But only I could see was four on her and she was crying in pain. In shock I lost my control and I dropped my phone. I saw the cab driver's number displaying on the screen. With that sound they got alert and ran to fetch me out. I managed to run from there and reached my cab. I pushed myself into it and asked the driver to drive as fast as he could. It was easy for him to make out from my scared face and trembling hands. He asked me twice if anything is wrong but I denied.

In that terror, I don't know when I fall asleep in the cab. Suddenly I woke up with the same cry in my dreams. “350/- Mam.” I was still in shock. “Mam, Mam” He called me again. “Yeah" I said. “350/-“. I took the cash and hand it over to him and left the cab.

I unlocked the door and entered my flat. I dropped my bag and managed to reach the bathroom. For 2 hours I was just standing under the shower. I was unable to forget that incident. I was still hearing that crying in my ears. I screamed in pain. That pain was not of my fear. It was of my cowardliness, which I showed by running from there. By not helping her out. By thinking that I can't help her. Why I did that, I don't know.

Next morning I woke up. I managed to reach the same lane. But unable to step towards the office. I was shivering. Somehow managed to reach the office. But found no one there.

Suddenly I heard some noise coming from conference hall. I reached there and found the whole staff there.

“Hey! Where were you? You know Mahesh Kaka's daughter is missing from last. Today morning her dead body was found naked from that under construction building terrace. Police is having doubt that she must be raped. Riya…. Are you listening to me or not?” My colleague Neha was trying to tell me all this but I was not shocked instead I was feeling guilty. I was able to save her but I didn't do that. I had just closed my eyes and tried to save myself. They have not killed her. I was the one who was the real culprit. I killed her.

I moved forward to Mahesh Kaka. He’s our office boy. A man of the age of 35 years. I still remember the day when his daughter, Mukti's result came. He was very happy. “Mukti is not my daughter Madam ji. She's my son. She wanted to be like you all,” he told me. I was unable to say anything to him. I was crying but the reason behind those tears rolling down my cheeks, only I know. I could feel the stains of her blood on my hands. Her cry was pinching me from inside. Asking me that why didn't I helped her. Why?

Yes I am the culprit. My hands are stained in her blood.