48. Blossoming Spring Days

Nethra's POV

"A sad truth is there" Rahul said worriedly

"What?" I asked in shivering voice.

"Your dad, Gautham and his dad planned together and they make others believe that you eloped with your lover. Even in court, your dad proved that you have eloped. When you are in semi conscious, they recorded your tone and makes everyone to believe," It really breaks my broken pieces of my heart. How did my dad can do such sin to me? How can he tell that his own daughter was eloped? I never ever forgive him in my life time. I don't want to see him in my life again.

"Like everyone, I have marriage dreams etc but my dad breaks it. In my side I have only my dad. I lost my mother. If my mother was alive, she will never let my life to get worse. She will kill my dad for his actions," I cried remembering my mother.

"Don't cry Nethra. I can understand your painful life. Don't worry that you has none in your side. I am there for you as your brother for life time. I will make arrangements to reunite in the bonding of marriage with Rahul," Happy tears occupied my eyes. I smiled at him. I held his hand at once in happiness.

"Anna (elder brother)!!!!" I said slowly. It was like I found my missed brother after 20 years. Happiness occupied in me as I can't define. I accepted him as my own brother and his daughter as my own. I took care of them both.

Days passed, He took every possible steps to return back to India. Due to money background, the case moved dead slowly. Gautham's dad was very strong to imprison me for years. He searched me many places but he couldn't find me, I came to know it through my anna. We shifted to many places. He dealt the case brilliantly and it was about 25 days more to return to India.

"Come with me to India, anna. I want you and baby to be with me," I said lovingly.

"I have no idea to return back to India but for sure I will come there to arrange your wedding," he said caring mixed with love.

"Ok! Baby will be with me,"

He smiled.

"Nethra, talk to Rahul that you are safe here. I will see your dad,"

"Nope,"

"Why?"

"I want to stand in front of him surprisingly after twenty five days. I want to see his happiness in front of my eyes. It will be very nice and memorable one,"

"So cute! As you wish. Did you scare of your dad?"

"Nope"

He smiled

"You are with me right? My Anna is US police. My dad will get scared of you, if he came to know,"

He smiled again.

"Be happy ever! Nethra,"

"Sure anna,"

Days passed slowly. Count down started and only five days more. I was excited and at the same time I was scared too.

On that day, I and my anna went to police station regarding the closing of file. He closed the file by safeguarding me and now I can leave U.S at anytime. We returned to our apartment happily. My happiness didn't stand for a long time. My fate started chasing me again. We entered the home and shocked to see that incident. The maid laid in the floor with blood in her forehead. She was unconscious. The baby was found nowhere.

For the first time, I saw tears in his eyes. He reported immediately to his higher officials and took the maid to the hospital.

"Anna! Baby will be safe. Don't worry," I said cryingly.

"What happened to my child? My haters kidnapped my wife and killed her and now my child was missing?" He said painfully.

Two days passed by but no information about the baby.

"Where is the baby? Is the baby kidnapped? If kidnapped, who kidnapped her? The baby kidnapped for punishing the police or for child abuse?" Cases were filed and investigated in different angles but it of no use. No clues were identified. The only way to find the child was only if the maid opened her mouth. Day by day her health was deteriorating.

Since anna had many enemies officially he couldn't trace the culprit. One thing anna was sure about that the baby was not kidnapped for Money because none of the calls demands for Money or anything. Often, he shifted the place to provide safety to the child still he was traced by someone. The case went strangely. Day by day the fear overtook us.

The day arrived which I have waited so far.

"Nethra! I will drop you at airport. Get ready. Secretly I have planned a surprise for you but I can't execute now. I will come to India with baby within a week. Don't worry for anything," he said compromising me.

"No anna! I can't leave you alone here in such situation. We should find the baby first after that we together can go to India. I can't be happy even I return now. The baby's smile is flashing in front of my eyes. Please, don't compel me, anna," I requested him.

"No Nethra! You should go today. Baby is safe! Trust me. Please Nethra, don't trouble me?" He said shocking me.

"What trouble? Am I burden for you anna?" I asked tears in my eyes.

He didn't reply. He never ever behaved like this before. To make me return to India, he was behaving like this. I knew it for sure.

"Anna! Did you accept me as your own sister? How will a sister leave her brother in such situation? My happiness is not more important than yours. I will be with you until you find the baby. The next second we can return back to India. Please, Anna,"

He stretched the news paper towards me. I was nervous at the moment I found tears in his eyes. I got the news paper and read the news, "The most prominent IPS officer Vidharth is live in relationship with the accused Nethra (Gautham's case). They found the baby was burden for them so they killed the baby and played the drama : A shocking report,"

"Nethra! Don't worry for this news. These people don't know the value of relationship. Please go from here. Don't get hurted again," he said hiding his tears. I knew he was deeply hurted by this news but still he gave me enough strength.

"I don't need any certificate from others anna. I am stronger with my decision, I will return to India only after finding the baby. The same news reporters will feel guilty soon for the fake news." I said.

"After my wife's death, I found this world as meaningless. My wish is to bring up my baby in good environment. I am happy to get a good relation like you, Nethra. I am proud to have you as my sister. She has none except us. I will break his hand when I found the person who is responsible for this news," he said emotion mixed with anger.

He investigated the case in different angles. Finally, he get clues through the maid. After a month, she came to normal. She confronted that the baby was kidnapped by Jayanth. He beaten me in forehead. I fell unconscious.

"Jayanth? Who is that?" May be Anna's enemy..

Anna came to know that he was connected with Gautham's dad and he kidnapped the child. He trapped and arrested Jayanth. Then, he traced and found out the baby after a week in orphanage. We were very happy at the time. The baby brought happiness again. Anna tried a lot to imprison Gautham's dad. Again, Gautham's dad escaped from law through money background.

Anna worked for hours to trap Gautham's dad but everything went in vain. After a month, we together decided to come to India. He agreed only for me. At that time, he was appointed as senior police officer to deal an important scam case. The situation didn't allow him to accompany together with me. He requested me a lot.

"I will be with you always my sweet sister. Sorry, I can't postpone my work but I will be present in your marriage without any delay," he said and finally I accepted to come to India.

"What happened next?" Rahul asked me brought me back to present. I hugged him due to fear. He cupped my face and held me tightly. "I am there for you Nethra. I am one of the reasons for your troubles too. After the court's judgement, I didn't take any steps to find you though my heart knows that you are innocent. I was selfish and I concerned only about my family. I didn't expect this worst part in your life. I am sorry Nethra. Will you forgive me ever?"

On the day of my return, I felt very hard to leave them. Who will take care of baby? As he was very busy in investigating the scam cases. I can't ask him but I decided to ask him,

"Anna! Shall I take baby to India?"

"Of course you can Nethra but your brother can't live without seeing baby's face," he said indirectly.

"Then, we together can go anna. Who is here for you? The people know only to justify you and no safe for baby. Leave everything and come to India, at least for baby,"

"I can't drop the case in the middle sister. Though, people justify me and it is my duty to protect people and to create awareness among people. The case will end soon within two to three days and more shocking truth is about to come. After that......" he stopped.

"After that, what?"

"I and baby will come to India, leaving everything for you my sweet sister. I can't be here leaving my sister there. I will protect you wherever you are. Even, if you hate me, I will never leave you," he said emotionally. His words were different than his usual talk.

"I am happy with your decision anna but why should I hate you? Don't talk like that even for fun," I said seriously.

"Ok sorry! Cool my dear sister,"

"Yup! I am cool anna. Will the case comes to end soon? Wow! Who is handling this case? My anna right!!," I said proudly. He smiled looking at me.

"Many intelligent cops are there too along with me sis," he said normally.

"Get ready! Today 11 p.m, I will come to drop you Nethra,"

"I can wait for two more days. We can accompany together,"

"Nope! Trust me I will be there after two days. Please, I request you Nethra,"

"Ok!" I said half minded.

He got a call in between and he went immediately.

I was ready for departure. I played with baby and she was very close to me. It was 11.00 a.m sharply. He didn't come at time. I called his phone, it was switched off. I waited patiently.

I got a call from some unknown number. I thought it was him and attended the call.

"Nethra! Did you remember me? Never ever even imagine to go to India. Switch ON to the TV and see what is happening around?" Someone said harshly.

"Who is this?" I switched ON to the TV.

Breaking news!!

"The senior IPS officer Mr.Vidarth have dealt with the scam cases smartly. He will give an interview to all the news reporters shortly!!" I was very much happy to see my Anna, between who called me in phone. I was very much confused. No one knows this number except my anna. My head was spinning with lot of questions.

Within a short span of time, my anna came in front of the reporters. I was clapping here as one among thousands of people.

"Sir! Why did you keep everything secretly? Even we are not aware of the case you have been dealing with," a reporter asked.

"Are you doing this for publicity?" Other reporter asked.

"Did you have any new relationship?" One among the reporter asked sarcastically.

"To make aware of people about what is happening around them. Don't believe the rumors, trust only what you are seeing. Do you know, who is he?" He took a photo from his pocket and the camera man zoomed the photo.

I was shocked to see my dad's photo.

Next he took another photo, He was Gautham's dad.

Next he took few more photos, they were some other national and international criminals photo.

Now my answer to first and second question, "This investigation is to find out the criminals who are involving in scam cases or any other illegal activities. If I mentioned about the cases before, the criminals will escape with money background. Why am I telling this in front of public? Because I knew definitely they will come out in bail within two days but you people should be aware of those criminals and their illegal activities. Though, I am police, I failed in my personal life. I can't save my wife from those criminals. I can't protect my child 24*7. Then, how can a normal people will survive from those culprits? It is all in your hands. You should punish them,"

My answer to your third question, "Really I am shame of you people. Are you aware of the first criminal shown by me? Hopefully no! He is the international criminal, named Manoj Roy. He has many illegal international transactions with the second criminal, (Gautham's dad) who is the great business man here. At one point of time, This manoj sold his own daughter for Money to Gautham. Can anyone imagine the life to be so hectic? None of the girls should face the worst situation like this, but my sister faces all these. Do you know who is she? She is Nethra, my blood relation, my sister. Without knowing about anyone's background don't throw them with such idiotic thing. If you can't help them at least leave them to live. Don't exaggerate their character. We don't know, what will happen at the next moment? So live your life completely. Stop spreading rumours about others,"

His speech was highlighted in all the channels. He described about the criminals and their illegal activities.

The next second I got the call from the same number. I am sure it was Gautham's dad. Somehow he had traced my phone number and my place. I didn't pick up the call. I tried to contact anna but his phone was switched off. I don't know what to do at that moment.

I heard the knocking sound of the door. I ran fastly to open the door. I opened the door thinking that it was anna. I was shocked to see Gautham's dad and few strangers with knife in their hand. They entered into the room with a second and closed the door.

Gautham's dad laughed devilishly.

"Let me see, who will be going to help you now?"

"Don't come near me," I yelled. Someone closed my mouth and the other took the baby.

I can't do anything. They tied my hands too. I saw the hell in the name of Gautham's dad. Will a man be this much cruel?

"Where is your slut illegal husband?" Gautham's dad stepped towards me with a knife. I stepped back.

Some one is knocking the door "My anna! Don't come now!" My mindvoice is repeating again and again. Tears are flowing from my eyes.

"Nethra! You are too lucky to see the death of your illegal husband in front your eyes," he said it in my ears.

I heard my anna's voice, "Nethra! Open the door. I am sorry for being late due to an important meeting,"

"Anna, Please go from here," I can't shout because my mouth was tied.

"Forgive me sister! There is a good news for you. I will be with you always as you wish. I have resigned my job and we together can go to India," he said from outside makes me cry more. I begged Gautham's dad to leave him.

"Nethra!" He pushed the door. Gautham's dad opened the door and he strikes the knife in my anna's body at once he opened the door. Within a fraction of second, that devil punched the knife again. Blood oozes from his body. Again, that cruel devil tried to strike the knife again.

"Anna!" I closed my eyes.

He held the devil's hand tightly and pushed the devil down. Then he fought with the strangers and he released the hold from my hand. I hugged my anna crying. He cupped my face with bloodshed hands and wiped off my tears.

I pushed my anna away and punched the knife in the devil's body when he tried to attack my anna again. The cruel devil fell in the floor. All the strangers ran away from the place.

My anna fell in the floor and I took his head in my lap "Nethra! Give me the knife. Go away from here. Will you please do a favor for me sis?"

"No I can't go leaving you Anna. Tell me, what to do?" I asked cryingly.

"Will you please look after my baby?"

"I will, definitely. Anna, let me call for ambulance,"

"It is waste sister. I am dying slowly. Give me the knife, please Nethra! It is correct time for your flight. Here is baby's passport. Sorry sister! I can't keep up my promise. I can't arrange your wedding. Take care of you sister," he said and handed the passport.

"Nope! Don't tell like this anna. I want you life long," I cried.

"Don't cry Nethra. I love only your smile," he kissed the baby and gave it to me.

Then, he took the mobile and informed the police about the incidents. My anna got the knife from me. Police cops surrounded the place immediately. He told that he had kill the demon.  He arranged the police cops for my safety.

He held my hand and baby's hand tightly. He closed his eyes slowly. My anna left me all alone. I can't forget those terrible incident in my life. Later, I reached India safely.

Flashback completed

"Nethra! Get up, What happened? Open your eyes Nethra," I heard Rahul's voice but my eyes didn't support me to open it.