Chapter-5

The Next Day

Author's pov

Orni and her father are sitting at the breakfast table and eating silently. Well, Orni isn't eating. She is just playing with her food because her whole mind is occupied by her mother whom she met last night.

She is also thinking about VR and getting scared automatically. She isn't understanding how she will talk to her father about VR when he is already in too much tension.

" What happened? Why aren't you eating?" Sanjay asked noticing her.

Orni replied keeping her eyes on the food," She came to meet me last night."

Hearing her, Sanjay was silent for some time. He continued looking at her with emotionless eyes and exhaled some air. He knows what's she talking about.

" Finish your food and get ready for school," He ordered her and continued chewing the food.

Orni said looking at him with glossy eyes," She is real, papa. I am telling the truth."

" No, she isn't. I am sure you were hallucinating," Sanjay responded standing up and started taking the dishes into the kitchen. 

Orni asked following him in the kitchen," Papa, are you trying to say that I am crazy?"

" I am not saying that. You just can't accept that your mother is no more. That's why you hallucinate. You have to understand that your mother has left us a long ago," Sanjay answered and started cleaning the dishes where Orni started crying silently.

She insisted pulling her father's shirt like a little child," Papa, I am telling the truth. She is real. When she touched me, her hands were warm like a normal human being. When I hugged her, I heard her heartbeat. I am confident that she is real. I wasn't hallucinating."

Hearing her continuous bubbling, Sanjay couldn't tolerate it anymore and turned at her with angry eyes. He is already worried about all the debts and now Orni's tantrum. He is literally feeling everything toxic.

He made a straight face and yelled at Orni," She isn't and I think I should take you to a psychiatrist because you are talking like an insane person."

Hearing his loud voice, Orni started shedding tears. She felt very hurt seeing her father's behaviour. She is sure that her mother came to meet her but she doesn't know why her father isn't believing her. She also doesn't know why her father become uncomfortable whenever she talks about her mother.

" You....lied....to me...... My mother..... is alive. .....You are just.....hiding her from me," Orni hiccuped and ran towards her room with a heavy heart.

***************************************

" This looks nice. What if I make a pair of shoes out of it? Won't it look good on me?"VR asked amusingly taking the skin in his hand.

His whole hands are covered with blood as well as his shirt. And a sadistic smile is dancing over his sinfully handsome face. Right now, he is looking like a cannibal.

One of his men replied," Absolutely, boss. You will look marvellous."

Well, VR just skinned a man alive. The man was his enemy and tried to alert the police that VR is going to do organ trafficking. But, before he could say a single word to the police, VR's man caught him and as expected VR killed him with his own hands.

" Tell my shoe designer to transform this skin into something unique," He ordered giving the skin to a man who is on the verge of fainting seeing VR's madness.

Actually, he is new in VR's gang and only heard about his madness. He didn't believe rumours but after seeing a man being skinned alive he understood what kind of sadist is VR. The man nearly puked when VR told his intention about this skin.

" What about the body?" One of the men asked.

VR replied washing his hands," Akash will take care of it."

Saying it he looked at Akash who is lost in his thoughts. He was actually thinking something deeply. VR called him a few times and that's when he came back into reality from his la-la land.

" What happened to you? Why are you silent?" VR asked Akash wiping his hands.

Akash opened his mouth and began to bubble," Umm......bhai....I mean......The thing...is......"

" I have cut his tongue. Not yours. Why are you babbling?" VR asked gesturing his eyes towards the dead body.

Hearing him, Akash answered in one go," Bhai, I want to talk to you about Orni madam."

VR raised his brow suspiciously after hearing Orni's name. Just looking at his face Akash understood what's VR asking.

" I mean to say......I....think.....umm.....I think it would be better if you behave gently with Orni madam. I mean to say she is still a little girl. Everything might be unfamiliar for her and that's why she is scared of you," He completed his saying and gulped down his saliva.

VR asked resting one hand over Akash's shoulder," Are you questioning my actions, Akash?"

" Umm...I am not questioning your actions. I am just suggesting you something as your most trusted man. I think it would be better if you behave a little gentler with Orni madam," Akash responded gathering some courage. He almost had a heart attack when VR rested his hand over his shoulder.

VR asked with curiosity," Can you explain?"

" I mean she is young. She is a little girl and your rough ways may scare her. If you behave with her gently then I think she may start liking you too instead of fearing you. Yesterday, I felt very bad seeing her so much scared of you," Akash answered honestly and VR remembered yesterday incident.

He remembered how Orni was crying and how scared she was. He felt a little bit bad remembering her crying face. Moreover, he understood that Akash's words make sense. If he behaves with her nicely then she might start liking him instead of fearing him and stop trying to run away from him.

" How can you understand girls so much?" VR asked chuckling a little bit.

Akash replied smiling nervously," Because of my wife. She was too young when I married her. She was scared of me from the very first but she started loving me when I behaved softly with her and gave the respect which she deserves."

VR nodded his head and threatened Akash," If your suggestion doesn't work then I will be wearing your skin. So, be careful about it."

" Sure bhai," Akshas replied with his shaky voice and VR only smirked.

***************************************

Orni just came out of her school and noticed VR's car standing at the school gate. A fearful expression appeared on her face and she started sweating badly looking at the car.

She was already upset about her father's rough behaviour with her and now she doesn't want to face VR. Disgust crawled upon her whole system remembering how he kissed her.

Orni avoided VR's car and started walking very fast. But, before she could leave the area, Akash blocked her path.

" Mam, Vijendra bhai is waiting for you in the car," Akash informed her.

She replied going backwards," I don't want to meet him. Please, leave me alone."

" He won't hurt you, Mam. Don't be afraid," Akash told softly and Orni nodded her head in the negative.

After trying for almost 20 minutes, finally, Akash convinced her to meet VR. Actually, it was fear which forced her to meet him. With shaky legs, she went towards the car and got inside it. She sat on the sit making a huge gap between her and VR.

" Hi, angel," VR greeted smilingly and looked at her skirt which is longer than the previous one. A satisfied smile formed on his lips seeing that she obeyed his command.

Orni replied nervously fidgeting her fingers," He....llo........"

" You must be angry with me?" He asked and she looked at him with scared eyes. She felt her heart will come out through her mouth just looking at his dangerous eyes. Her throat went dry hearing his question.

Then, he apologized softening his eyes," Sorry, angel. I am really sorry. I didn't want to scare you. It's just I don't know how to express feelings. I am really sorry for my misbehaviour."

Orni's eyes grew bigger hearing him apologising. She wasn't expecting that he will apologise to her.

" Please, forgive me. I promise that I won't do anything which will make you uncomfortable," VR said holding his ear in an apologizing manner and Orni just blinked her eyes confusingly.

He again said with puppy dog eyes," Please, angel. I will never try to misbehave with you. Forgive me for once."

" Ok," Orni replied meekly due to fear though she doesn't trust him at all.

Vijendra beamed with happiness and asked," Am I forgiven?"

Orni nodded her head in the positive and VR smiled brightly. He continued looking at her with admiring eyes where she was just becoming more nervous. She just wants to return home as soon as possible.

" Friends?" VR asked suddenly forwarding his hand.

Orni became startled by his voice and looked at him with confusing eyes. She looked at his big hand and didn't give her hand. There is no way that she will befriend him.

" I have just sanitized my hands. There are no germs on my hand," Vijendra told and a giggle left Orni's mouth.

VR also smiled and again asked," Friends? I promise that I won't approach you until you want me to. I won't scare you nor I will send any marriage proposal to your father without your permission."

Hearing him, Orni thought for some time. She looked at his eyes and noticed truthfulness in them. For a few seconds, she thought to become his friend though he is way too elder than her. But, suddenly she remembered about yesterday and became disappointed looking at him.

" Vijendra Randhawa doesn't break his promise," he told understanding Orni's thoughts.

Orni remained silent when he again asked with a soft voice," Friends?"

With shaky hands, Orni placed her tiny hand over his large hand and he smiled becoming excited. Her hands were very soft like any cotton ball and he felt sparks getting past through his whole system.

" Friends," Orni answered though she doesn't want to befriend him.

Because of too much fear she thought to oblige him for now. She is still scared that he might do something inappropriate with her again. But, she doesn't know by giving him her hand what kind of mistake she has done.