The Will

"I told you to go out!" he smiled shamelessly.

"I brought your clothes." She gave him a scorching look. "I don't want you to expose to everyone." she was confused by his words till he pulled her towel off. "Only to me." he said staring at her. She screamed and ran into the bathroom closing the door behind her. Her heart was thudding loudly at what had just happened. Why did he do that? Didn't he know she was the heir to the whole property earned by her parents? How could he do this to her? She felt the door being pushed and she almost fell on her face. She found two strong hands hold her steady while someone stared at her back. She felt very uncomfortable as it was something no one had ever done to her before. She felt a hand roam all over her back before she felt herself being turned round. Her cousin was staring at her assets making her squirm in embarrasment, shame and anger. "You need a little more time to bloom fully." he remarked as if he was reviewing a piece of art. "That can be taken care of." He pulled her closer and smacked his lips on hers taking her by surprise. She kneed him between his legs stunning him for a moment, freeing herself and then kicked him with all her might so furiously that he was forced to move out of the bathroom. She picked up the broom lying in the corner of the room and kept hitting him till he left the room. Making sure he was nowhere in sight she dressed quickly, choosing a dress from the bag she had brought with her and then she left the room with the intention of shifting to her old room.

Her hopes were dashed when she saw her room locked. It seemed to be a digital combination lock that required a set of alpha numeric code and a finger print. Who would go to this length to keep her out of her own room in her own house? A deep plot seemed to be brewing against her; her mind warning her for the first time that the accident might not be what it appeared to be. She decided to confront the person responsible for this and shouted at the top of her voice. "RAJUUUUU!!!!!!" Raju appeared a few minutes later followed by her maternal aunt, maternal uncle and her maternal cousin who had tried to molest her. "What is the meaning of this?" she asked pointing to the digital combination lock before her.

"I told him to change it." he aunt piped in before Raju could speak. "It was for the best you."

"How can locking me out of my own room be best for me?" she was appalled at the logic. Her aunt seemed calm as she spoke condescendingly to her.

"I know what is best for you."

"No, you don't." Sahithi stormed out of the corridor followed by Raju. She stopped in front of the Mahindra Bolero her father drove always. "Raju, can you take me to lawyer uncle?" she asked, tears in her eyes at her helplessness. He nodded his head silently, took the bag from her hands and put it in the car. As the car turned onto the main road, Sahithi leaned her head back and let her tears flow. She had realised for the first time how vulnerable she was. Even the reliable Raju was not saying anything at all. "What happened Raju?" she asked him with a hoarse throat. "Why are you so silent?" There was no response from him though he slowed down and pulled aside. He wrote something on a piece of paper and gave it to her. Since when had he started writing messages instead of talking? She took the paper with shaking hands and almost dropped the note in disbelief! "They cut my tongue and threatened to kill you if I tried to warn you." It said. She looked at him as he opened his mouth to show a missing tongue. "I am really sorry Raju." She sobbed. "I couldn't help you." He started the car and drove really fast till he reached their destination which was a small farmhouse five kilometers to the left of the National Highway 65.

"The Sanctuary" the name plate on the wall declared, as Sahithi waited, after having rung the bell, for the aging advocate to open the door. A young man of twenty five opened the door and looked at her questioningly. Her sixth sense told her something was off as she asked gathering all her strength together. "Isn't Chakravarthy uncle in?"

"Who are you?"

"I am Shri Jagannadham's daughter from Surampalli." there was a spark of recognition in his eyes.

"Ah yes. The ORR accident case! Come in!" he said opening the door wide open. Raju followed her into the hall while the young man closed the door. He led them through an old fashioned staircase to a room in the far corner. Prativada Bhayankar Chakravarthy or PBC as he was known, was sitting in a chair behind his desk studying some documents. He was a highly respected professional who had never lost a case he had taken up. He took a lot of time before taking up a case for he took only those cases where there was truth. He never took up any case where the accused was guilty. His high sense of morality, principles and adherence to dharma was legendary. He looked up at the three newcomers and instantly recognised the grend daughter of his friend. He waved her into a chair. "Raju, get something to eat." Raju was an important member of inner core of the select few who were trusted with the house and the contents. The young man raised an eyebrow at the order though he did not say anything. "Surya, get me The Jagannadham Estate Will and leave us for an hour. No interruptions." The young man bowed to his senior, took out a file from the racks of case files, placed it on the table and left the room while Raju walked with a a tray full of snaks and tea for three.

"Eat." he said. "We have a lot to discuss." He put a pakoda in his mouth while he opened the orange colour file. "This is the Statement of Will registered by your grandfather before his death. He gave all his property to his son initially but your father convinced him to give it to you after you were born. So, he made your parents defacto gaurdians of the property till you were of age. However, in the event your parents died, then the property would revert back to your grandparents. If they too passed away, the closest blood relative would become the guardian of the estate till your education was completed. Unfortunately, That happens to be your maternal aunt and uncle." He looked at the girl sympathetically as she dropped the plate of pakodas she was holding. "Don't worry. They will not kill you. The will says that the property will go to the government if you die without taking charge of the property. So, I suggest you learn martial arts to defend yourself."

"Is there any way I can send them out of my house? They have locked me out of my room!"

"I am sorry child. There is nothing you can do till you are of age and take over the property. "You will have to manage till you are of age. They cannot molest you but they can send you to a school or college of their choice."