Midnight Whispers (short stories collection) - Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Tamsa's POV
I was thrown into another cell.
It had been fifteen days since I was kidnapped. My body was smelling, my hairs sticky, and my mouth had been taped ever since. They gave me food, for what reason? I don't know. But they just asked one question everyday, which I did not knew answer of!
Where is he?
Who is he? I don't even know him, but they won't just listen. I was in a rotten room for I don't know how long and now, I am shifted to this room, which was way brighter and clean than the last one. It was bigger too. I looked around. My leg gave up due to weakness as I slumped on ground with a thud. My hands tied back and my mouth still taped. My kurti was torn and weary.
A whimper reached my ear as soon as I slumped on ground. My head snapped to the corner of a room, to find a small, five year old child scrunched into a small ball. I stood up and went to him. I scrunched on the floor near him.
He was also very dirty. His beautiful grey eyes shining with tears as he controlled his sobs. He was obviously scared.
Like me!
I nodded at him, wanting him to remove my tape so we can talk. But he was scared. So, on my knees I took a few steps back and then looked at him with tender eyes. I again nodded softly at him. The five year old boy understood and slowly with shaky hands removed the tape from my lips. I breathed in and huffed a few times before looking at him again.
"Hey!" I called softly, my jaw aching, my voice hoarse, as I had not spoken in days. He said nothing.
"Look, we both are kidnapped, and you, my little boy are the only communication here." I said to him, my voice just like it is usually with my students. I am a teacher in one of the most prestigious acadmey in the country and somehow, I knew that was the reason why I was here!
"What's your name darling!" I asked. He relaxed a bit.
"I... I am Ved!" He answered.
"I am Tamsa. But don't tell anyone my name yet okay!" I hugged him, not with my hands but I kept my head on his shoulder and he hugged me back tight. After sometime, he opened the knot and hugged me tight, seeking the warmth he had not felt from long time I think.
"How long have you been here!" I asked still cradling him! He pointed at the wall. He was a small kid so he won't know. He had drawn lines of the nights he had been here. I smiled down at him, and even though I was sh!t scared myself, I kept him close and soothed him. For the next few days we developed a bond, and continued discussing our strategies. He was awfully smart and well-informed for his age. He had even noted the thigs they usually discuss outside his cell.
From all the information, we came to know that there will be some party in some distance land, and only three- four body guards will remain here. They did not had too much force. Our plan was all set. And we were all set also,
but....
Our plan blew up, literally and figuratively.
We were still sleeping when I heard rustle outside our cell, and then a lot of smoke. I opened my eyes, to find Ved still clinging to me! I woke up abruptly and looked around. Fire was all around our cell, and the gate was open. I hurriedly wrapped Ved in the black blanket we were given.
"Don't open your eyes Ved. Promise me you won't." I told him and he mumbled the promise. This fire might give me some trauma, but I won't let him have the trauma.
I sneaked behind the bodyguards who were still figuring what to do with the fire, and ran outside. And as if luck would have it, my weary slippers broke, I removed them, and threw them back in the fire to remove the evidence.
It was clear that this gang was poor because they did not even had cameras installed. At first I thought they kidnapped me to sell me, but the thing was totally different. They were cruel, slapping, kicking me but they had not either defiled me in any way and neither they sold me to someone.
I kept running even though the thorns of the grassy jungle were biting me. I looked around for some help but there was no one.
So I walked ten kilometres even though my legs gave up. I kept walking, with a child in my hand. I can't leave him alone. I came to know he was kidnapped the day I was, and for 15 days we were kept apart, and after that I was shifted to Ved's cell. They were cruel to me, however, they were not at all cruel to Ved. Ved got the food like a five starred hotel one, and even got clothes to change. However, I used to check his clothes and food before making him eat.
A lot of times the beautiful child tried to feed me his food, but I denied. He needed to be stuffed properly. I ate the bread they used to give me. So my energy was totally drained.
"When can I get up Tammu." He asked from under the blanket. I smiled at his innocent grey eyes.
"Don't worry, Ved, we will be in the city in sometime, we are out of the jungle, and their vicinity. Then you can come out."
I hailed a taxi as soon as one came in my sight. My legs throbbing. I pulled Ved out of the blanket and wiped the sweat off his face. He smiled at me, and hugged me, I hugged him back.
Soon we were at my small house. I sighed and got out quickly went to my house and fetched money from there. My legs and hands trembled in immense relief as I sighed.
Finally I was back home. My eyes filled with tears.
But this time, I was not alone, I had a boy with me, who was going to be here, for the time I don't find his family. I turned around to look at the innocent and beautiful child looking around my house with a small smile looking around, in awe.
I smiled at him, and he smiled back at me.
"Welcome home, Ved." I said.
His eyes sparkled with joy.
I got up with a startle. My breathing heavy and my face sweating. I looked around, only to find ved clinging to me hard, sleeping sound.
I had submitted my emergency leave for a few more days, and since my school was big and supportive, they had agreed. My dream had disrupted Ved's sleep.
"Sleep baby, I am here." I said. And patted Ved until he fell asleep. He had this habit of clinging to me while sleeping. And I loved it. I smiled at him and kissed his forehead as he slept again. I waited for half an hour before pulling back from Ved and slipping away.
I was thirsty. My throat was sour as hell. I went to the kitchen. Since it was dark all around I made my way to the fridge without light. But it was my own house, and I had the idea of where the dining was. It was in the front of fridge. I opened and gulped down water fast. The cool water finally giving me the relief I looked for.
But my hands seized and so did my throat as I saw a silhoutte sitting on the head table of the dine. I removed the bottle from the mouth and turned around slowly. The man was well-built as I deciphered from the dimly lit room, in the light of the fridge. The men turned to me his sharp eyes piercing through my soul. The bottle left my hands wetting my clothes.
And before I knew it the man was over me, his gun pressed on my chin as he looked at me with his firece grey eyes.
I heard the foot steps.
No... no no no
I panicked as my eyes never left the man's.
"Tammu." I looked slowly at Ved with dread filled eyes.
"Go back to the room." I told him before the back of the burly man did something to my neck.
"Go back Ved." was the last thing that left my mouth before I passed out!