"I spy you!" - 43

Vasu rushed to Amruta’s side. Amruta had fallen on the ground. Blood was oozing from a gash on her left arm. She checked the wound. It was not very deep, but it was looking very horrible.

“Can you get up?” Vasu asked and when she heard an affirmative nod from Amruta, she made her sit up. With some more cajoling, Vasu made Amruta stand up. Both of them slowly walked towards Amruta’s house.

Vasu checked the wound and treated it with antiseptic medicine. “It is superficial. Thank God that it has not harmed your veins or bones. How did this happen?” asked Vasu after bandaging the wound

“Oh, it’s nothing!” said Amruta. But the way she said, it was evident for Vasu that Amruta has some more things to say.

“Tell me what it is?” asked Vasu.

Amruta looked outside the window as if someone is there. Then she whispered, “Someone knocked the door. I opened it and found that no one was around. I tried to look around because I was sure someone was there. Suddenly, out of the blue, a tall man came and attacked me. I avoided his knife by holding my hands over my face and I got wounded here”.

Tall man? Vasu became alert.

“Can you describe the man?” she asked seriously.

Amruta had a surprised look on her face. But she told, “I have never seen such a handsome person. It was as if lord of beauty had taken birth on the earth. I couldn’t believe that such a lovely man could attack with a knife, that too a girl!”

“Oh!” expressed Vasu. But in the heart of heart, she had a sinking feeling. Oh God! Can there be two people with that description? No, it can’t be! It has to be Pushpahaasa! He was seen here. He did warn me about treading on dangerous grounds. But does he stoop to the level of harming a woman? Somehow she could not digest this news.

But as the time was running out, she bade goodbye to Amruta.

Amruta was feeling bad. “Why should you go away? Why not you stay here?”

“No dear. I have a job. I had a good dose of mountain air. And also, I have a great friend, you Ammu!”

“Wow, Ammu! I like the sound of it. You please call me like that” said Amruta very happily.

Vasu bade goodbye and promised Amruta that she will keep in touch and left for the railway station. The train was to reach in another 10 minutes. She sat on a bench and tried to recollect all incidents. She was thinking of her report to Mr. Padmanabha. She should write everything truthfully.

But does she have to write about Pushpahaasa? What to write about him, did she really see him? Did she really get a message from him? Did he really harm Amruta?  She was not sure of these. Without solid proof, she felt that she could not accuse her own colleague and her heart stealer!