Shout at me as much as you please, sir, but do part with my hand, I said with an innocent eye. It's hurting a lot."

Vikrant heard her and, in glancing at her, at his own hand that was so firmly gripping her. He forcefully pulled out his hand and hit her. Ishani fell to the ground. He had raped her the very day before, and he had raped her now. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

Vikrant shoved her and immediately pulled out the handkerchief in his pocket and proceeded to wipe his hands as though he had touched something dirty. He hated touching—and almost as much as touching somebody. Ishani cried more at the sight of him washing his hands and doing so in the manner he did. She again was in the position that she was dirty, which is not touchable. Her heart had become sore, all grieved and indignant, and she, somehow, repressed herself.

Ishani got up with a sore back, clasping her lower half, and said in a choked voice, "I am sorry, sir. It won't happen again. I shall then take care not to confront you.

She got up with that to retrieve her cute little bag, which had fallen as she momentarily stopped in front of the car that Vikrant had driven in front of her. Fear had made her drop it then.

She had snatched her bag just in time to be caught by Vikrant too, and the eyebrows scowled. Your voice is cold. Where are you bound so late at night? he asked. Has your shift ended?"

"It has to be held on to," Ishani answered, glancing away, "regrettably, and I am off-shift." That's why I'm leaving."

She started walking out without even bothering to get a response, yet she did not desire to see Vikrant at all.

But something struck Vikrant in his mind. "Wait," he called out, in his cold, commanding voice. Why did you not turn out this morning when everybody was called out in an emergency? Are you hiding something?" His violent eyes were staring at her.

Ishani did not quite get his question, yet, nonetheless, she swiveled back, bowed her head, and said in a sad voice, "I did not know everybody was called in an emergency this morning, as I had switched off my phone and did not know anything.

Muttering to herself, she went on, Even had I known, I would not have come. I do not even feel like working here anymore, after you did the same to me last night and how you have been acting. I do not even wish to see your face. You are so unpredictable; do you not know when you will go mad and kill me someday? You're ever angry, always yelling... old man."

It was a low voice, which only she could hear, but the anger in it was evident. Even Vikrant, who did not overhear everything, overheard the following words: "But even had I known, I should not have come.

His face turned cold. This time he was sure that Ishani had not attended the morning appointment to see him and was trying to evade him. Now that he was gazing on her with those deep, inexplicable eyes, Ishani turned back one more time and said, "I am late. I'm leaving."

And so, she walked away, without looking back.