9 hours ago
Chapter 6 – Cracks and Consolations
The slap echoed through the empty shop, followed by Rakesh's grunt as Prakash's kick sent him sprawling.
Nivi backed away, hand still stinging, heart pounding.
Before Rakesh could get up, shouts from outside — customers, passersby hearing the noise.
“What happened?”
“Fight?”
People rushed in — two women from the next shop, a delivery boy, a customer.
They saw Rakesh on the floor, holding his back, Nivi shaken, Prakash standing over him.
The women grabbed Nivi. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, voice trembling. “He… he tried to…”
The customer pulled out his phone. “Calling cops.”
Rakesh stammered, “No, it’s a misunderstanding—”
But the security officer were called.
Within 20 minutes, two constables arrived, took statements.
Nivi explained — the pull, the slap.
Prakash chimed in: “I saw him grab her. Had to stop it.”
Rakesh denied, but the marks on his face and back told enough.
They hauled him to the station for questioning.
Nivi gave her details — including Prem’s number.
The cops called him.
At the office, Prem’s phone rang. Unknown number.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Prem? Your wife Nivisha is at a textile shop. Incident here. Come immediately.”
Prem’s world tilted.
He rushed out, mind racing.
Incident? What happened? Her father?
He arrived to find Nivi sitting on a bench outside, surrounded by the women, Prakash beside her like a protector.
“Nivi!”
She ran to him, tears fresh. He held her. “What happened?”
She confessed everything — the secret job, Rakesh’s advances, the pull, the slap.
Prem’s face darkened.
“Why lie? Why work behind my back?”
“I wanted to help… lessen your burden.”
The cops explained the rest — Prakash’s kick, Rakesh in custody.
Prem thanked Prakash stiffly. “You saved her.”
Prakash shrugged. “Right place, right time. Came to buy clothes — saw the whole thing.”
Prem nodded, but doubt flickered.
Buying clothes? Here? How did he know she works here or co-incidence?
The ride home was silent.
That night, the fallout began.
“You lied,” Prem said, pacing. “What if something happened? What if I wasn’t called?”
Nivi cried. “I’m sorry. I thought I could handle it.”
“Handle? Like with Aaravind?”
The words stung. Hurt she cried .. beat him on his shoulder .. cried louder
Fights erupted over days — cold shoulders, sharp words.
Prem lost focus at work — late, distracted.
Prakash noticed, stayed distant. Didn’t want suspicion growing.
Almost a month and 15 days passed.
The apartment tense.
Prem cold with Nivi — sleeping on the couch, short answers.
Nivi hurt, but silent.
At office, Pratap pulled Prem aside one day.
“Let’s meet a big client. Want to see how you handle it.”
In the car, Pratap asked: “How’s Nivi? All good? What was that security officer call last week? Thought you’d share with me.”
Prem apologized, spilled it — the job, Rakesh, Prakash’s save.
Pratap listened, nodded. “Good you’re watching out. But… be careful with Prakash.”
Prem frowned. “What?”
“Just… keep an eye.”
Meanwhile, at office. Prakash saw his chance. Prem gone for the meet. Nivi alone at home.
He told the receptionist: “Important family function. Back tomorrow.”
His plan was simple.
Go home. Talk to Nivi. Befriend her more. She’s fighting with Prem — vulnerable.
Console her. Put an arm around.
Then take her.
He reached the apartment, key in hand.
Prakash reached the apartment, pulse quickening as he turned the key.
The living room was quiet, dim light from the balcony. Nivi sat on the sofa, eyes red from crying, saree slightly disheveled, fair skin flushed.
She looked up, surprised. “Prakash? What are you doing here?”
The slap echoed through the empty shop, followed by Rakesh's grunt as Prakash's kick sent him sprawling.
Nivi backed away, hand still stinging, heart pounding.
Before Rakesh could get up, shouts from outside — customers, passersby hearing the noise.
“What happened?”
“Fight?”
People rushed in — two women from the next shop, a delivery boy, a customer.
They saw Rakesh on the floor, holding his back, Nivi shaken, Prakash standing over him.
The women grabbed Nivi. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, voice trembling. “He… he tried to…”
The customer pulled out his phone. “Calling cops.”
Rakesh stammered, “No, it’s a misunderstanding—”
But the security officer were called.
Within 20 minutes, two constables arrived, took statements.
Nivi explained — the pull, the slap.
Prakash chimed in: “I saw him grab her. Had to stop it.”
Rakesh denied, but the marks on his face and back told enough.
They hauled him to the station for questioning.
Nivi gave her details — including Prem’s number.
The cops called him.
At the office, Prem’s phone rang. Unknown number.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Prem? Your wife Nivisha is at a textile shop. Incident here. Come immediately.”
Prem’s world tilted.
He rushed out, mind racing.
Incident? What happened? Her father?
He arrived to find Nivi sitting on a bench outside, surrounded by the women, Prakash beside her like a protector.
“Nivi!”
She ran to him, tears fresh. He held her. “What happened?”
She confessed everything — the secret job, Rakesh’s advances, the pull, the slap.
Prem’s face darkened.
“Why lie? Why work behind my back?”
“I wanted to help… lessen your burden.”
The cops explained the rest — Prakash’s kick, Rakesh in custody.
Prem thanked Prakash stiffly. “You saved her.”
Prakash shrugged. “Right place, right time. Came to buy clothes — saw the whole thing.”
Prem nodded, but doubt flickered.
Buying clothes? Here? How did he know she works here or co-incidence?
The ride home was silent.
That night, the fallout began.
“You lied,” Prem said, pacing. “What if something happened? What if I wasn’t called?”
Nivi cried. “I’m sorry. I thought I could handle it.”
“Handle? Like with Aaravind?”
The words stung. Hurt she cried .. beat him on his shoulder .. cried louder
Fights erupted over days — cold shoulders, sharp words.
Prem lost focus at work — late, distracted.
Prakash noticed, stayed distant. Didn’t want suspicion growing.
Almost a month and 15 days passed.
The apartment tense.
Prem cold with Nivi — sleeping on the couch, short answers.
Nivi hurt, but silent.
At office, Pratap pulled Prem aside one day.
“Let’s meet a big client. Want to see how you handle it.”
In the car, Pratap asked: “How’s Nivi? All good? What was that security officer call last week? Thought you’d share with me.”
Prem apologized, spilled it — the job, Rakesh, Prakash’s save.
Pratap listened, nodded. “Good you’re watching out. But… be careful with Prakash.”
Prem frowned. “What?”
“Just… keep an eye.”
Meanwhile, at office. Prakash saw his chance. Prem gone for the meet. Nivi alone at home.
He told the receptionist: “Important family function. Back tomorrow.”
His plan was simple.
Go home. Talk to Nivi. Befriend her more. She’s fighting with Prem — vulnerable.
Console her. Put an arm around.
Then take her.
He reached the apartment, key in hand.
Prakash reached the apartment, pulse quickening as he turned the key.
The living room was quiet, dim light from the balcony. Nivi sat on the sofa, eyes red from crying, saree slightly disheveled, fair skin flushed.
She looked up, surprised. “Prakash? What are you doing here?”
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