I was in the kitchen looking for something to drink when I saw Arjun laying down on the grass in the backyard staring at the stars.
"What are you doing here, Alone?" I sat next to him. He was still staring at the sky.
"There is a myth I heard in my childhood which says that dead people becomes a star in sky and wink at us." He paused and then continued, "They say the twinkle is them winking at us." He smiled softly. "My dad and sis would be looking down at us now." A tear flowed down his cheek.
"What happened to them." I asked. He smiled at me, weird? Then a bowl of fruits appeared to my right. I jerked my head up startling Gauri who was standing behind me. "Sorry didn't see you there."
"No, it's ok. I'll be in the kitchen, ok?" She said with a smile. We nodded and she walked back into the kitchen. I then turned to Arjun. I wanted to know what happened to his father and his sister but I didn't want to force him into telling it. My head is hurting. He then turned to me, sighed and said his story.
He was born and raised in India until he turned 20, that was when he along with his mother decided to leave the country. I asked him what the reason was. Apparently, he comes from a middle class family from a small town in Andra Pradesh. Him, his parents and his little sister , Lekshmi, lived in a small house. His girlfriend, Anjali, was the daughter of the chief of the town. When her father found out about their relationship, he ordered his men to attack Arjun's family. The attack caused the death of his father and sister, due to the threat, he and his mother decided to leave the country and settle in UK.
After I heard his story I felt bad for him. I know what it was like to lose a parental figure, it's painful especially when it happens before your own eyes. It feels like you caused it leaving an everlasting scar in one's heart, a scar which reminds you about your past every time you decide to be happy. I can't even imagine what he must be going through as he witnessed both his father and little sister's death with his own eyes.
"What about Anjali? Where is she?" I inquired.
But before he could reply the kitchen door flew open with a loud bang. Skyler was looking panicked and Gauri was standing behind him worried. We both looked at Skyler who looked pale.
"They caught Shade," I froze. Arjun stood up and helped me up too. "Not only Shade, they caught Alex too. They both were together."
"If we stay here longer, we will be putting Gauri in danger too." Arjun said as he walked towards the door. "We need to leave now."
"Where will you guys go?" Gauri asked. She looked worried for us. "God I enjoyed your company," I switched my phone off. "There is an abandoned building at the East." She looked around then ran towards us. "It's approximately 50 miles to the east, if you could get a car or any vehicle or my car? And go there, it would be safe, for some time obviously." Arjun looked at her anxiously.
"Hey its ok, you don't have to worry about us. And we will make sure you will be out of this mess." Skyler said.
"I'm alright, just." She ran back inside, then came back and handed a package to my hand. "This is not much, will only enough last for a day but keep it." She then took a deep breath and said, "There is a small forest, woods, whatever you call it. It will be dark but that woods connect with the building, it will be safe if you take that path." We nodded.
We left the neighborhood in less than an hour and Gauri let us lent her car but it was better going by foot for some distance ofcourse. We saw the woods from a corner and started to walk towards it. "What will we do now? Shade and Alex." I started to panic, my hands were shaking. Suddenly we heard screeching from behind. By blood ran cold when I heard the siren, cops… they found us.
"Run" saying Arjun grabbed on to my hand and started running. Skyler ran right beside us. My heart was pounding in my chest like a wide animal as we ran. Then something cold, kind of metal rod or something hit on my legs and I fell down along with Arjun. Skyler stood there frozen. Arjun jumped back on his feet pulled me up and pushed me towards Skyler.
"Leave NOW!" He said as he fell back down on the ground holding his leg.
"No!" I tried to protest but Skyler scooped me up in his arms and started running. We then hid behind some bushes.
Arjun tried to get up when an officer kicked him hard, He growled in pain as he fell back on the ground. The back of eyes started to burn and tears formed in my eyes. Why did he sacrifice himself for me? He was trying to fight back but they were overpowering him. Skyler hold on to me and I buried my face into his chest and covered my ears as the air around us was filled with Arjun's screams. It felt like I was back to that day when I was twelve, the day I laid on the ground helplessly, The day that left a scar in my life. But like last time, this time too I stayed a coward. I let my fear overpower me. I stayed in my comfort zone wishing for all this to be over. I am a coward, again!
I slowly opened my eyes to look at them. I saw they pick him up and drag him towards the car. That's when the headlights turned on blinding them. "It's my turn now, Bastards" I heard Shade's voice. He was behind the wheels. My leg was feeling fine and I decided to overcome my fear. I nodded at Skyler and we ran and pounced onto the two officers who were holding Arjun. Shade drove the car and hit the other cop vehicle and trapped them. We then carried Arjun to the car and drove fast towards the abandoned building.
"Can somebody tell me what on earth is going on?" Skyler's voice trembled as he saw cops following us. I was holding on to Arjun who was bleeding from his forehead and had multiple bruises on his body.
"We were being watched the whole time." Alex sitting on the passenger seat said as she put on the seatbelts. "They were watching your every single moves."
"Who the cops?" I asked, my voice came out like a whisper. Arjun gasped. "You alright?" He nodded softly and moaned in pain.
"Those little bastards used Tasers." Shade looked raging mad. The sirens of the cop cars following us echoed through the air.
"Take the woods," I said. Shade nodded and turned the car and drove it off the road.
"Not the cops, it was someone else," Alex turned towards us. She gently raised her eyebrows on the sight of Arjun lying on my shoulder fully bruised. "Worked for them all these years and look how they repaid you. We have to find Jezelle."
"And we will find those cowards and they will surely pay for this." Shade stopped the car in the middle of nowhere. Skyler looked behind to check if someone followed us here.
"All clear" I said. Shade cut the engine, Alex opened a compartment and pulled out a first aid kit.
"Here, this is all we've got." Alex handed it over. I took the kit from her, took out a cotton from it and cleaned the wound on his forehead.
The night was eerie. Shade and Alex got off the car and so did Skyler. I sat inside as I bandaged the wound on this head, and put some medicine on the bruises on his face.
"Lay down for a while, I'll be outside. You need water?" I asked as I put the aid kit aside.
"No" the words came out like a small whisper. He rested his head on the seat's head rest looking out into the night sky which was only partially visible due to the branches of the trees. He then turned to me, and gave me a weak smile.
"Take rest I'll be outside," I said as I slid out of the car and shut the door.
"We have to do something. That dude almost died," Skyler said. Shade was standing there pinching the bridge of his nose, Alex leaning on to a tree with her arms around her chest.
"I can't believe this is happening, I can't believe this is freaking happening. If that bitch is alive and I get her before the cops do, that will be the end of her story." Alex kicked a stone with frustration.
"This place does not look quite safe." We all turned towards the car to see Arjun standing there leaning on to it. "The road is close by and the cops saw us coming into the woods. So they will send a party to search the woods first thing in the morning and its 2 in the morning right now."
"He's right. Let's go to the building Gauri mentioned." I said.
Suddenly Arjun fell on the ground but still he tried his best to hold up. Finally he sat on the ground leaning on the car. We went near him. I kneeled to the ground and took his face in my hands. His eyes were dull, shattering breaths still he tried to put on a smile to not make us get worried.
"Let's go." I said as Shade and I helped him stand. Skyler opened the door and we got him inside the car.
"Can't even go to the hospital, Dammit!" Alex punched on the car in frustration.
"No need of that, I'll be fine. Been through stuff like this before." He let out a deep breath and turned to me. "I am fine, let's go to somewhere safe." Shade got in the car. Alex got into the passenger seat and Skyler sat next to Arjun. Shade ignited the engine and hit the gas.