Midnight Whispers (short stories collection) - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

Shlok's POV
I yawned as I woke up from my deep slumber. Truth to be told, I did had little fun during the truth and dare game, but I still didn't felt right for pranking Shree. She had always cared for me so much. If I ever lied to her again like this, she will never believe me again.
I got up with the determination to make her forgive me. An hour later I was about to wear my coat, when my phone buzzed. I picked it up and frowned finding, Rahul's name there. He never calls me, what happened then?!
"What happened Rahu--" I asked but stopped when he cursed.
"Man! Did you saw the news, I told you it was not a good idea, but that Kaya" He sighed again. Dread filled my veins, even though I had no idea what he was talking about. I knew it, I knew since yesterday, something was not right.
I rushed and switched on the TV. My blood turned cold in my veins.
"Huge riot broke down in Colaba yesterday night, many people were injured... however no casualty of life........"
I slumped on the couch, dots started appearing in front of my eyes. My ears started ringing.
Oh! Fuck no!
W..was she alright?
My hands shook! Fuck!.... Fuck fuck fuck.
It became hard to breathe. I took a minute to calm down and then took my phone and dialled her number with shaking hand.
Did not picked up. Panic set in my veins, as I dialled her number five more times.
"Pick up! pick up Damnit" I shouted at no one but me. She is all I have, I can't loose her.
"Please!" My voice stammered badly, as my body shook. I was on verge of crying.
On the sixth call, she picked up my phone, I sighed in relief....
"What do you want!" A voice boomed from other side. I would've been ecstatic if it was Shree shouting on me! but it was not. My body stiffened, as yet again, fear seeped into my veins. Who was that? this was noy shree..
"He...Hello mam, who are you?" I asked "Can I talk to Shree... Shreyanvi, I had to ta..."
"Just shut the fuck up, you bastard, you mother fucker." The lady gave a string of slangs to me. "Because of you she is like this, you fucking asshole, you think that it is a good thing to play a dare on a girl, in night, in a city like ours, around eight, so she has to go 10 kms away from her home" I froze at my place, my mind numb, through all of that, all I could decipher was She is like this....
She is like what?
"What happened?" I asked. My hands trembling bad. My heart hammering against my ribcage, bruising it.
What the hell had I done?
"What happened?" She stressed. " What happened, because of you she went to a over crowded place, because of you she got into the riot that broke down in Colaba, and because of your stupid dare, she was almost kidnapped and killed. This happened. Because of you she is in city hospital with hundreds of machine attached to her!" she shouted. My hands trembled so badly, that the phone slipped through my hands, and on the floor.
My body slumped on the ground.
No........NO NO NO NO
WHAT HAD I DONE?
City hospital..... I need to go there.
I rushed to my car and got in, but my hands were not working anymore. I kept my head on the steering and tried to calm my raging heartbeat, but was not able to. I kept sobbing, when I heard the knock on my window, I looked up to find Lala -Lakshay- there, he slowly guided me to passenger seat and took the driver seat, settling his little girl in the back seat.
We drove but only one question was repeating in my head.
What had I done?
She was so much injured, all because of me!
I hated it! I love her! but how will I even confess to her, she won't ever believe me ever now! I started crying again
"Uncle crying papa!" I heard Shrenu saying, Lakshay look at me, before answering her!
"Yes baby, uncle fu--freaked up" He said. I did not! I did not fuck up! I fucking destroyed whatever I and Shree were building up for last ten years.
All the years of soft smile, soft touches, those forehead kisses.
All gone!!
I started crying again!
We got to the hospital, and as if my numb leg were back to life, I ran to reception. Asking Shree's room number, I rushed to her room. I was about to barge in when Drishti came out of nowhere.
"What are you doing here?" She asked. I looked at her with my guilty eyes, but she won't waver. She stepped in front and kept her hands on her waist, glaring at me!
"Please... I... I.." I started crying again, what's up with me!
"You.. You... What?!" She asked.
"I need to see... I need to see her please! I will...."
"No need to see her! Unlike you she doesn't like doing pranks, she is in very bad condition, un-seeable condition!"
No! No! My legs gave up as I fell on ground. I, for the first time in my life, on my knees, clasped my hands together and begged!
"I request you! I beg you! I just... let me see her, I won't say a thing, I won't do anything, I... Please" I looked at her, I saw her eyes softening. She was about to give me permission when the door of the room opened and with her one leg wrapped in bandage and a bandage around her forehead, she looked down at me!
TIME SKIP
I looked at her, but she won't look at me! I took a seat beside her and kept my head in my hands. I was so scared, so fucking scared.
She was not very bad, but still, Me... I did this. Me...
Me.. who was never even able to see a single scratch on her, me who broke the hand of my business partner just because he held her hand without asking her!
"I don't know how to start!" I said, because I really don't know! "I.."
"I want to quit!" She said, still looking in her front.
Oh my god!
Is this how I want a divorce sounds!
If it does, I don't want to ever go through that. I looked down, contemplating what should I say to her. How to make her forgive me for the unforgivable!
"Shree, please I..." I closed my eyes not able to form a full sentence.
"Just tell me why you did this and get lost!" She said, I deserve it!
"We were playing truth and dare last night. And then someone gave me this dare."
"Who?" She asked. I tried remembering but I can't
"I.. I don't remember, I really don't..." She scoffed, and look away, before turning to me again.
"Are you really trying to defend her."
"What.. I am not! I don't know her I don't-"
"I called you, you know! Even when the fire took place, I was running towards it, I didn't leave, thinking you were in grave danger, but no! While, I was searching for you, you were enjoying your night with that girl."
What had I done?
"What... NO, I was not spending time with anyone, I swear Shree, even you know that. I never had any girlfriends. I have never touched a girl other than you!"
"I called you last night, that woman picked up telling me how stupid I am to blindly believe you and that I shouldn't call you, because you were that busy with her!"
I stood up abruptly.
"No way, I agree I did wrong Shree, but I swear on my dead Mom, I was not with any girl, I don't even know who she was. I know you won't believe me now, but I swear, you are the only one in my eyes. You are the only girl of my life who I had seen in more than a platonic way. I love-"
"Stop" She whispered. "Just... let me quit, do this much for me!" I kneeled in front of her on my one knee and took her hand in mine. I was on verge of breaking down into heavy tears.
"Punish me as you want Shree, But don't leave me, please, I.. You are the only person in my life, Shree, I love you, I can't live without you, away from you even for a single second. I know, I did very wrong, I should not have done that! I know, so please, punish me in any way you want, whip me, slap me, kick me, just don't leave me!"
"I forgive you" She whispered. "That's all you will be getting from me!"
"Please" I cried, but she won't listen. " I will die" I was not lying!
"No! do this for me please" I got up and nodded my head. I looked at her etching every details of her face in my head, before nodding and getting up. I know I can't change her mind.... for now!
But I swore to myself, to show her how much I love her, that she won't leave me ever again! that whoever received her call that day is doomed. I know I did wrong, but it was honestly an unknow mistake, but still I had hurt the person I love.
"Don't do this kind of prank on me ever again, Drishti, I will die!" I said while going out on my way, to Drishti, who was standing with Lakshay and Shrenu. I smiled at them, before walking away.