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Part 3
All her cousins and Sourav had assembled. They had seen the office incident in the news. They had seen how Viraj Singh Rathore was being discussed like he was an object. All his past girlfriends, his parentage, his pain... All had become topics of gossip. One channel was running the headline: "Heartbreak, paralysis, betrayal: the tragedy of VSR's life"
They looked at Nisha with concern. They knew how deeply she cared for her boss.
Sourav started: "Nishu, I'm so glad that Shekhar sir was caught. We're so so proud..."
Nisha stopped him: "I haven't called you here to talk about my office troubles."
All the cousins were shocked. How could she think about anything else right now? They waited for her to continue.
"I have called you here to talk about... Myself." Nisha took a deep breath. She wasn't sure how her brothers would take it.
"I know this is a bit late... But nine years ago, at the pilani sports meet... " she looked at Dolly di and Jwala, they already knew..."at the meet, a few guys tried to... Rape me." She looked up to see their expressions. Dolly di and Jwala looked reassuring. Everyone else was in shock.
Sukku was the first to speak: "And you're telling us now?" His otherwise funny face looked murderous. "YOU'RE TELLING US NOW? WHO WERE THEY?"
Nisha sighed, "see, why I didn't tell you? Relax Sukku, I saved myself. They couldn't do anything. I don't know who they were. " Sukku didn't look convinced.
It was Kirti who spoke now, "how blah Nishu! I think Sukku's right. Those boys should be punished. And what do you mean couldn't do anything? Do you think we haven't noticed? The distance you maintain from guys... Your reluctance to do anything even remotely feminine..." Kirti was in tears now, she recalled how she had blamed Nisha for overreacting with Riteish... "You don't even let ME dress you up." She finished weakly.
Nisha looked away. She didn't want to see Kirti more miserable. She squeezed Kirti's arm. "Yes, you're right. It did affect me. But it is not as bad, anymore. For a while I felt like I couldn't tolerate being female. I felt weak. I didn't want to be seen as a female by guys. I felt safer that way. Until I met Viraj sir. "
Aman smiled at this. She just wished Viraj would let her near him. Nisha was the perfect remedy to his loneliness.
"But you still don't dress up. It's been a year since you confessed that you love him." Said Umesh. He wished he could have understood his little sister better.
Nisha replied, " just because I like him doesn't mean I'll turn from Dabangg to Heroine! There are all kinds of females, bhaiya. I find these clothes comfortable. I find make up cumbersome. But, if you remember, I did wear a suit at your wedding. And I danced, too. Very badly though. "
All laughed a little.
She noticed Bunty crying silently. She frowned. She shouldn't have spoken about this in front of him. She hugged him tight.
Sourav spoke up: "No Nisha, you did the right thing. Bunty is old enough now. He needs to learn."
Nisha looked at Sourav with tears in her eyes. This is why he was her best friend. He always stood by her without asking questions. He always understood. Sometimes he played along even when he didn't understand.
Suddenly Sourav asked, " But you were never too awkward with me...?" He raised an eyebrow.
Nisha smacked him. "because you're as good as a cousin to me. How's Sneha by the way?" Nisha winked at him.
All laughed again, a little more freely this time. It was good to see Nisha comfortable in her own skin.
Aman walked up to her... she couldn't put it off any further -"Nishu have you seen the news? I think Viraj bhaiya needs you right now."
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