Yuhn Hota Toh Kya Hota- Rikara FF

Chapter 14

The first few stones missed Gauri. In a way, Kali Thakur's expensive clothes and jewelry were so heavy that they protected Gauri from getting hurt really badly. For one insane moment, Gauri thanked god that the Panchayat didn't decide to strip and parade her naked around the village. It was a rare punishment but not unheard of. However, she jerked back to reality in a moment, because dying with or without clothes was still the same: she was going to die. A huge stone hit her head at that moment. Gauri was blinded for a few minutes, then she was brought back to conscious as she realized that a hot liquid was slowly pouring down her forehead. It was blood. She was bleeding. Gauri tried hard to evade the stones, but with her arms tied and encircled by the Panch members, Gauri could delay her death but her chances of surviving seemed slim.

No, she could not give up so easily. Gauri kept on screaming for help, shouting to the members that she was innocent, she was being framed, but they didn't look like they cared. A kind of barbarity seemed to have entered the members. It was like a sport to them now, how long would the girl keep fighting, how long would she delay her death. Gauri thought probably this is why crowds cheered at bull fights when they happened all those years ago: the excitement of the sport and blood and gore. But her life was not a sport, how can they decide her existence?

Gauri saw another huge stone coming her way, she turned her face but it didn't look like she was going to dodge it completely. Gauri was ready for the huge blow, but she felt nothing. She opened her eyes and saw her surrounded by her faithful friends who formed a wall around her. The Panch members had stopped throwing the stones, looking confused. After all, how could they kill their own children? 

One of her friends quickly untied Gauri, and between themselves, the boys formed a human shield chain, to protect Gauri. The nudged Gauri to start running. Protected within their circle Gauri started running, together with her little friends. The villagers followed them but didn't hurt them, in case they hit the kids. Once or twice when one of Kali's goons tried to nab a kid, the Panch members rose against those henchmen, because they could not hurt the kids. In all this commotion and infighting, Gauri managed to run a considerable distance away from the city. 

Gaurav said, "Gauri didi, you run, we will stay here and block the entire road. We won't let anyone pass us. You are almost near the edge of Bareilly, a little more and you can escape the city limits." 

Gauri hugged him, with tears in her eyes. This time it was here or there. She ran towards the state road, with all strength she could muster. She had never entered or exited the city this way, but she knew the end limits of the city were near. However, she came upon a standstill when the road forked into two. 

Which way should I go? Shankarji show your chiraiyaa the way! 

At the precise moment, a procession of Lord Shiva was passing in the direction of one of those roads. Gauri thanked lord for a sign, and took that road, hoping to catch up with that procession and hide among the small crowd of devotees. 

But it seemed like her lucky stars had abandoned Gauri. Kali Thakur's goons caught up with her. Any sympathy for the kids could not restrain them. Gauri saw them chasing her, closing in on her. She was so intent on watching her back, that she didn't look ahead of her and took a misstep. She almost fell down, but someone held her hand, the last person she expected to see on the road.

"You again?" Omkara asked with exasperation. "Did you follow me till here?" 

Gauri was in too much pain to give a coherent reply. Omkara took off his shades and looked at her curiously. 

"You are bleeding. What are you running from?" he asked and as he asked this stupid question, he saw Kali Thakur's henchmen catching up on Gauri, followed by some of the villagers.