The Darkest Night

Chapter 6

"Brinda, I need you in my life, I need your love, your presence. Will you marry me?" Questioned Karthik. " You may have a big heart to accept a girl like me but I will not accept this, enough of wasting your time on me Karthik, forget about me," cried Brinda. "I am not here to just let you go, life without you will be hell, do you think I waited all these years just to leave you? I want to live a happy life with you my love" said Karthik with tears in his eyes. 

 The Nurse came in, "Sir, can you please wait outside it's time for her medication" Karthik walked out, and the Nurse looked at Brinda and said "The day you were hospitalized was my 1st day at work., it was Karthik Sir who got you to the hospital and it was something I could never forget, from then not a day has gone without visiting you, even your parents stopped visiting you after a few days....but he didn't. I always ask him, why he visits you every day when there's no hope... and you know what was his reply? He said .... that you were his "hope"... His reason for living... I asked him what if you were the same throughout your life? He said still he will love you and only you. You are so blessed... I know it's easy for us to say this... But try to forget everything because none of this was your fault.....you don't have to feel guilty. All the best to you" said the Nurse and walked out giving her a dose of injection. Tears rolled down from Brinda's eyes. Karthik walked in, looked at Brinda sat beside her wiped her tears, and said "You have shed enough tears, I will even move a mountain to see you happy throughout your life because you are my blessing". 'No Karthik, I don't think I can marry you, all I really want to do is kill them all" brinda said furiously. Karthik said "ok Brinda.... we will talk about this later. Now you sleep'. Brinda closed her eyes and slept quickly due to the injection. 

Karthik called Brinda's parents and informed them about her and asked them to come down. 

After a few hours of deep sleep, Brinda slowly opened her eyes, she was surrounded by people, "Karthik" she whispered slowly, "I am here..." replied Karthik raising his hand and standing right next to her. "Brinda, my baby... My heart hurts to see you like this" Brinda ignored her cries"Call me Amma just once please" pleaded her mother, "Brinda why are you not talking to us? Don't you remember us? I am your sister", said Brinda's younger sister. "Appa," said Brinda looking at the man who was in his mid 50's, "my child!!" sobbed her father, tears gushing out as he rushed towards her. She placed her head on his shoulders and cried her heart out and she then hugged her mom and sisters. The doctor came out to meet Brinda's parents he said "Brinda is completely fine now, you can take her home tomorrow". Her parents looked at each other and nodded to the doctor. Karthik noticed some kind of uneasiness in Brinda's parents, he took them out and asked "Uncle is everything ok?" "We have fixed Brinda's sister's wedding, and we have lied to them that Rashi is our only daughter, we couldn't tell them about Brinda because of... You know..." Karthik was enraged, he interrupted, "I know this is not the right place or time to ask, but I am willing to marry Brinda, if you are ok, I will take her with me right away, unlike you, I am not ashamed to show her to the world". Brinda's mother got emotional. she held Karthik's hand and thanked him. "all these years the fear of my daughter's future was slowly killing me inside, in just a second you turned my tears into happiness". "I will always keep her happy Aunty you don't have to worry but please do not tell anything to Brinda, just say you will come back, I will convince her and take her with me".Brinda's parents walked out of the hospital. 

Karthik spends the night in the hospital taking care of Brinda. The next morning after completing all the formalities, and paying the bills, he took Brinda with him, made her sit in the car, and asked "Shall we go?" "Where to?" Questioned Brinda. "Where do you want to go?" asked "Karthik, I don't want to trouble my parents by going to my house, can you help me to find a PG?" Karthik replied "Ummm sure...why not? I will do that.. but before that ... can you answer my question?" Brinda nodded her head yes. "Do you love me?" He asked looking deep into her eyes, he did not get any answer, Karthik stopped the car and repeated the question, Brinda said "Why does that matter now, I am not the Brinda you used to see at the bus stop, I am raped for god's sake... repeatedly by those monsters" she sobbed. "I still didn't get an answer to my question," said Karthik. "Yes!!!!" screamed Brinda "I love you, I will keep loving you forever!" said Brinda wheezing. "This is all I wanted to hear," said Karthik and started the car, beaming with happiness. He parked his car near a temple, looked at Brinda, and said "Give me a minute I will be back", he got down and bought a puja basket, helping Brinda to get off the car. she got down and she stood there looking at the temple, 'come let's go in" said Karthik, "this God did not help me when I screamed for help, this God did not save me from the pain I went through...no... No, I don't want to come in!" yelled Brinda. Karthik understood, and he said, "Fine you stay in the car I will be back."

Karthik came back to his car, Brinda was sitting in the car with her eyes closed... wondering how she's going to move on with her life after the horrible trauma, she suddenly felt a strong arm hug her. She realised it was Karthik and leaned into the hug, forgetting the world for a minute....she felt warm... and safe and protected. he broke the embrace... Disappointing her a little... He looked at her and smiled. She looked at him, thanking the stars for  sending him her way.... As she was admiring him she realised that there was something heavy around her neck. She looked down her chest and to her shock,saw a yellow thread hanging.