Hearing Sarmishtha's words, blood rushed to his head. It felt like if she laid eyes on Rupam right then, she would kill him. That lust-crazed demon had violated a girl against her will.
Then Suresh Babu continued: "That afternoon, I was sitting right by her hospital bed. She seemed somewhat normal, responding only in yes and no's. Suddenly, a message pinged on her phone from a school friend—a photo snapped from the TV screen. The headline blared: *'Chandra Devi College student's private photos and videos go viral,'* with my daughter's image beside it. Her eyes widened in horror, tears streaming silently down her cheeks. I snatched the phone and froze in shock. I called the police, who assured me, 'We're on it—don't worry.' But nothing came of it that day. Instead, it all ended sooner.
"I'd stepped out to speak with the doctor. In those mere ten minutes, my daughter left me forever. Mid-conversation, I heard two nurses sprinting toward her room, shouting, 'She fell! She fell!' I bolted back and saw the window beside her bed wide open. The nurses were leaning out, peering below. I shoved my head forward and beheld the most agonizing sight of my life: my daughter's lifeless body sprawled on the street, a crowd gathered around her. I screamed and collapsed, nearly tumbling out myself. The nurses grabbed me just in time. But it would have been better if I'd fallen—at least I could have gone with her." Suresh Babu wiped his eyes as he finished.
**Sarmishtha:** "You didn't file a case in court?"
**Suresh Babu:** "I did, but do you think my daughter got justice in this corrupt world? The case barely lasted two days before it was dismissed as a 'ring case.' Every piece of evidence—even the medical report—was stacked against him. He greased the police with wads of cash and buried it. My girl... she left without justice." He fell silent for a moment, then added, "You've heard it all now. So, what will you do?"
Sarmishtha paused, then said quietly, "Leave it to me. I'll handle whatever needs doing." With that, she rose and walked out.
To be continued....