Arjun, filled with rage, was dragging Jyothi away when Priya along with others ran to stop him. Priya stood in front of Arjun trying to block him.
Arjun snapped in anger:
“Priya, move aside. This is none of your business.”
Priya, her eyes blazing, stood firmly in front of him:
“This is my business, Arjun. This is about women. Do you even know how many girls face such problems every single day? Even I get harassed by random men in disgusting ways at different times. What will you do then? Go beat up every single one of them?”
Arjun’s anger was burning in his eyes.
Sensing things might escalate, Anandarav stepped forward:
“Arjun, let’s go inside first. We’ll think carefully about what to do.”
Arjun turned, fury in his voice:
“Uncle, Jyothi grew up in this very house like our own daughter. If something like this happens to her, how can you expect me to just stay quiet?”
Priya shot back, voice firm:
“You’re thinking only because she’s like your sister, Arjun. But if this matter goes public, do you think Jyothi will be able to handle the pressure? You believe people will show sympathy? No. They’ll torture her mentally every single day. Do you know what that feels like? Can she handle that? You’ve known her since childhood—tell me yourself, can she survive that constant humiliation?”
Arjun glared at Subhadra, frustrated:
“What is she even saying, aunty? This isn’t some small teasing case where we warn the guy and let him go. Didn’t you hear? They opened his pant—”
Before he could finish, Priya screamed in anguish:
“Yes! They pulled his pant down, and one after another they touched her. And if this goes public, this exact line will be repeated again and again, every single day of her life. Can you imagine that hell? What if she breaks under that pressure and does something to herself? I’m not saying don’t punish them—kill them if you must—but first, think about what she wants!”
She dragged Jyothi inside, fury and determination in her eyes.
Arjun’s rage was still boiling, but Priya’s words slowly sank into him. She’s right… he thought unwillingly. He fell silent, looking at Priya, his anger now mixed with conflict.
Anandarav placed a hand on Arjun’s shoulder:
“You’re not wrong to be angry, Arjun. But don’t let your anger push Jyothi into more suffering. Priya is right—100% right. Let Jyothi settle down first. Then, whatever she decides, we’ll act accordingly. Come inside.”
Arjun looked at his uncle with a heavy face, saying nothing. Anandarav softly urged again:
“Come on, son.”
Finally, Arjun walked inside in silence, with everyone following behind.
---
Next morning:
Everyone sat in the hall around Jyothi, waiting anxiously for her decision.
Still shaken from the previous night’s horror, Jyothi struggled to speak. Subhadra placed a comforting hand on her shoulder:
“Jyothi, don’t think about anyone else. This is your life. Whatever you decide, we’ll stand by you. Don’t take a decision just because of what society will say. Take the decision that won’t hurt you.”
Sensitive by nature, Jyothi lowered her head and, in a trembling voice, asked:
“Madam, whether I file a case or not… will you make sure he never does this to another girl again?”
Her selflessness, despite her pain, filled everyone with pride. Subhadra assured her warmly:
“Absolutely. I’ll make sure he’s so terrified that he won’t even dare to look at another girl.”
Jyothi whispered, fighting tears:
“But madam… if I file a case, I’ll have to relive everything again and again. I don’t have that strength to survive… I can’t… I won’t file a case.”
She turned to Arjun, her voice breaking:
“Sorry, brother.”
Subhadra hugged her tightly:
“You’ve done nothing wrong to say sorry for.”
After a few moments of silent embrace, Subhadra lifted her gently:
“Go rest for a few days. Don’t go to college.”
Jyothi looked at Arjun once more, then quietly walked towards the outhouse where she stayed, with Radhika following close behind.
Subhadra turned to Anandarav:
“Brother, call your SP friend. Tell him to trap that boy and his friends in a drugs case. They’ll rot in jail for ten years. I enquired last night—they’ve been selling drugs in college. Such people don’t deserve mercy. As a Collector I could speak, but it will carry more weight if you talk to him yourself.”
Anandarav nodded in agreement.
“Don’t bring up this matter with Jyothi again. Let her rest. When she feels ready, she’ll go back to college on her own. Oh, and yes—Arjun, you and Priya are going to Kakinada, right? Enroll Jyothi in a college there too. A new environment will help her move on faster.”
Arjun thought for a moment and nodded:
“Okay, aunty.”
Subhadra continued:
“Good. I’ll go meet the SP myself.”
As she and Anandarav stepped out, Anandarav’s driver Nagaraju quickly opened the car doors. Subhadra instructed her own driver Raju:
“Follow us.”
“Yes, madam,” Raju replied, starting the car.
Both cars sped away one after another.
---
What twists await Arjun and Priya in Kakinada?
That will unfold in the upcoming episodes…
