Chapter 4 Rescued

JAMES

I used all my strength to pull the woman up while my driver Josh was trying to help me.

I laid her on the sidewalk with her head on my lap while my heart was thudding loudly, like it would come out of my chest.

The woman's hair was all over her face and due to darkness, I couldn't see her face clearly.

I removed her hair from her face but still her face was not clearly visible.

She didn't have anything with her to determine her identity and she was wearing a skimpy night dress which was failing its purpose to hide her body.

I asked Josh to start the car and carried her bridal style.

As I was nearing my car, Josh flashed the headlight which blinded my vision for a few seconds. After adjusting my eyes to the light my gaze turned towards the woman in my arms and my heart skipped a beat.

I was stuck on the same spot, staring at the angelic face in my arms when Josh honked.

I carried her inside the car and laid her down on the back seat before sitting beside her, with her head on my lap as my eyes pooled with tears.

Her face was sticky, looking like she had cried a lot. I took out my handkerchief and wiped her face.

As my fingers brushed her cheek, her skin felt cold. Her eyes were baggy, skin extremely pale. There were thousands of questions running through my head but I had no answer.

My eyes wandered down her body where I noticed whip marks on her arms and anger and panic surged inside me.

I frantically looked at her other body parts and there were whip marks everywhere. Arms, legs, abdomen, neck, back, everywhere.

What the hell happened to her ? I thought as I clenched my fist and took deep breaths, to control the extreme anger and helplessness I was feeling in my heart.

"Josh, take a u-turn and take me to the Imperial Towers penthouse." I ordered my driver cum bodyguard.

"What happened sir ? Don't you want to go to your parents' place ?"

"No. I changed my plans."

"But, shouldn't we take the lady to the hospital or something ?"

"Shut your mouth and do as I say."

Josh talks too much & is a funny guy. I am too much of a serious person, so he keeps me sane to say the least.

But right now, I am heartbroken, hurt, angry & I don't want anyone to talk to me.

"Sorry sir." He said

"It's okay. I am sorry too."

Inside Imperial Towers

"Josh, Call Dr Batra and tell her it's an emergency."

I laid Sofia on my bed and sat beside her, caressing her head. I hugged her unconscious body and finally let go of the tears I was holding in my eyes.

After what felt like an eternity, the doorbell rang

"Hello Mrs Batra. Thank you for coming on such short notice." I said

"It's my duty Mr Anderson, and How can I turn you down," she said & smiled.

I led her to my bedroom & she gasped looking at Sofia.

"What happened to her ?" She asked

"I saw her attempting to jump from a bridge. She has whip marks all over her body." I said as my eyes were brimming with tears.

"I am sorry Mr Anderson. Do you know her ?" She asked me, with a concerned look on her face.

"Sorry. I couldn't control myself. She is very important to me. Please see to it that she recovers quickly." I answered.

"Ofcourse, Mr Anderson. Can you please wait outside as I check her ?"

"Yeah, sure Dr."

I was restless and walking back & forth outside my bedroom door.

What happened to my Sofia ? Who did this to her ? I wish I would have stayed in touch with her. I was so selfish to leave her alone when I knew she was not okay. I thought and raised my head to see Josh staring at me.

"My head is spinning just looking at you sir.. Please sit down," he said.

I glared at him and sighed after a moment. I sat beside him with my head between my palms and my elbow leaning on my knees.

"Is she the same girl who you have been looking for ?" He asked and I nodded.

He took in a sharp breath and said,

"Don't worry sir. We'll find out what happened to her and punish anyone involved in this."

"How do you know if there is anyone who should be punished ?

"Maybe she chose a life for herself which has hurt her.

"Maybe she willingly chose her present life." I replied.

But in my mind, I knew whatever happened to her, she could not be the one at fault.

I said those things so that I could lessen my guilt and how badly I was hurting. Tears were brimming my eyes, threatening to fall while I waited for Dr Batra.

"Mr Anderson, will you please come inside ?" Dr Batra called me.

"Yes Doctor, what happened ?"

"Can I ask you who she is ? Do you know her ?"

"Ummm..sh..she is my childhood best friend."

"Okay..So you know her. Do you know where her family is ?"

"I have no idea. I lost contact with her after going to the USA and I saw her today for the first time after 10 years."

"Ookay.. Actually it's serious, so I was thinking we should inform her family."

I stared at her blankly.

"But right now you have to take her responsibility until you find her family. Are you ready for it ?"

"Yes, I am ready. Tell me what happened."

I was feeling really scared. What the hell happened to my Sofia ? Who can hurt her like this & why ? I thought

"I think she has been raped, by multiple people & may be it has been going on for too long."

My head started spinning as it was getting difficult to breathe. I sat down on the floor on my knees, clutching my head and my chest.

"Mr Anderson ? What happened ? Are you alright ? Drink some water, please."

I held the glass with trembling hands and drank all the water in one breath.

After taking a few deep breaths, I said,

"Sorry Doctor, tell me what you know."

"I think she has not had any sunlight for many years, that's why her skin looks so pale." She said and added,

"I suggest you take her to the hospital tomorrow morning to get her thoroughly checked so that we can know everything in detail."

"Okay, thank you Dr. I'll take her to the hospital tomorrow. When will she wake up ?"

"She'll wake up within an hour or so. She fainted because of shock."

"Okay."

"I'll go now. Take care of her & yourself too." She gave me a motherly smile and shook my hand before going out of the room.

............

It was 2:15 am and I sat there waiting for her to wake up. I have so many things to ask but I didn't know if she is in the right state of mind to tell me anything.

I was thinking about her when she stirred.

"Sofia.. Sofia..!" I called her softly.

"Go away, go away from me. Please leave me. Leave me alone. I beg you. I can't take it anymore. Just let me die. I can't do this."

She woke up abruptly and started screaming. Her one hand was in front of her face while the other hand was facing me with palms open to keep me away from her.

She didn't look at me once. She was thinking I am someone else and I am here to harm her.

My heart clenched in pain, seeing her like this and thinking about what she has gone through in all these years.

"Sofia, stop..It's me. James. Look at me. You are safe with me." I tried to make her listen but she wasn't listening to anything.

So I had no option but to hug her tightly until she calmed down.