Hearing Abir bhai's voice, Megh jumped as if she had seen a ghost. Her crying had become so loud that Abir had heard it from the corner of the rooftop and rushed over.
Megh's whole body was trembling from crying so much. She had forcefully held herself back, but she was still sniffling and breathing heavily.
In a serious tone, Abir asked again,
"Why aren't you saying anything? What are you doing here so late at night?"
Megh, a little calmer now, stared at the rooftop floor and replied quietly,
"Just came up."
Abir stood in front of her. "You're crying?"
Megh instantly looked away.
"Did someone say something to you?"
Megh didn't respond. She wiped her eyes and turned her face toward the wall.
Abir looked at her for a moment, then took a deep breath. He stepped back a little and leaned on the railing.
He asked, "Did Tanveer bhai say something?"
Megh glanced at him sharply and asked, "Why would Tanveer bhai say anything to me?"
Abir was silent. The wind was blowing hard on the rooftop. Both stood silently in that wind. Megh looked up at the sky. The stars weren't visible anymore. The moon had disappeared behind a thick layer of clouds.
A gust of wind swept past again.
Megh closed her eyes for a moment.
Suddenly Abir said, "Get down from the roof."
Megh looked back, confused. "Why?"
"I'll be waiting downstairs. Come down."
Without another word, Abir walked away.
Megh stood there, stunned. What's going on? Did he really come all the way up here just to say this?
After a few minutes, she cautiously walked down. On the street outside the gate, Abir was sitting on a bike.
Megh panicked.
What is he doing there?
Why is he sitting on the bike like that?
Does he want me to go somewhere?
Oh God! What is happening?
She hesitated. What should she do? Should she go forward?
What if someone sees?
Why would she get on a bike at this hour?
What if someone catches her?
Is this some sort of trap?
What if he called her out just to humiliate her?
He must have found out everything… maybe even about her diary!
That's it. It's all over.
He knows everything.
He came to teach her a lesson.
Why else would he be sitting on the bike like that?
He's going to take her somewhere and shame her for what she's written.
For being so audacious. For being such a stupid girl.
Oh God! What kind of foolishness did she write in that diary?
He'll surely punish her. That's why he called her down.
He'll take her somewhere and abandon her.
Maybe he'll leave her in front of a police station.
Or worse—take her to Tanveer bhai!
No, no, no. That can't happen!
But how could she avoid it now?
He's already seen her. He'll surely call her.
He'll say—"Come, Megh. You have nowhere left to run now. Let's go."
"You've been escaping for years. Now let's see how far you can run."
Oh God. What should she do?
She can't cry here.
She has to stay calm.
Think!
If he asks her to get on the bike, she'll say she forgot something upstairs and run away.
Yes, good idea.
She'll pretend she's tying her shoelaces and make a run for it.
Should she hide in Bannya's house?
No, no! He might go there looking for her.
She'll hide behind the bush near the side gate. He'll never think of looking there.
She'll wait until he gives up and leaves.
Then she'll go to Bannya's place.
But what if he waits all night?
What if he calls everyone?
What if the family finds out?
What if Tanveer bhai finds out?
She'll be finished.
All this over a diary!
What kind of fool keeps a diary like that?
Why didn't she throw it away? Burn it?
She should have buried it underground.
No, she shouldn't have written anything at all.
What was she thinking?
Who told her to have feelings?
Why did she even feel anything in the first place?
Why?
God, why did she feel?
She just wanted a little warmth in life.
Somewhere to feel safe.
Somewhere to breathe.
Why does that have to be wrong?
Is it a sin to want to feel something?
To hope someone might care?
She looked at Abir once again.
He was still sitting there on the bike.
Unbothered.
As if everything was normal.
Megh swallowed hard.
She clutched the edge of her shawl tightly.
He's here to take her.
God knows what punishment awaits.
Maybe she'll never return from wherever he takes her.