Adventure • Feb 21, 2024 • 3 min read

Perception

Around 60-70 people working on that second-floor building froze in shock. Everyone stood up from their respective cabins, but no one could move any of their muscles. They couldn’t believe what’s happening in front of them is real. Or maybe, their brain couldn’t process the information as it sends shivers down their spine. The usual rummaging and chatter around the office stopped. Mouse clicking and Keyboard typing gone silent. It looked like the green carpet underneath caught hold of everyone’s legs and the wooden cabin locked them inside. Even though the sun was burning outside, ACs inside the office kept the temperature cold. Still, all of them felt the heat and some of them were sweating profusely. A MINUTE EARLIER Vandhana’s face became red-ish orange in a few seconds and her eyes clearly expressed the horror inside her. Usually in a fight or flight situation Adrenaline kicks in. Some of them manage to cling on to that. But we could see Vandhana getting sucked inside the gloom immediately. She couldn’t believe her senses when Saddam reached out his right hand and got hold of her saree’s end. It was in the middle of the day in the middle of the office inside their cabin. Vandhana screamed as loud as she can and the entire office heard that lament. ‘This is not happening, this is not happening, this is not happening to me, this is not happening to me today’, she kept repeating these words in her brain as Saddam used his left hand to unbutton his shirt. NOW Vandhana looked around her as her face is becoming is more reddish. They all looked like someone paused their movements. Saddam pulled the saree’s end using his all-mighty force. Since the saree was pinned with other things, it became a little tedious for him. He wasn’t gentle with his actions. He behaved as someone possessed with wild nature. Since the first pull didn’t work, Saddam’s face became red hot. He moved towards his left to match with the angle of the saree and pulled it harder. The pin on her saree tore the top of the blouse and came off. He moved towards her in just an eye blinking moment and removed his shirt. Two fellows whose cabins are nearby overcome their shock. Somehow their brain processed the information and pumped in adrenaline. One of them came running towards Vandhana to save her and the other guy went to the steps near the exit gate. Even after seeing two of them, Saddam didn’t stop. He grabbed Vandhana’s waist and rotated her to remove the saree completely. He pulled her away from the saree and pushed her inside the cabin. Her blouse and underskirt were torn in 4 places due to the pins. The smoke alarm above her head started beeping. The other guy who went to the steps came with a big fire-extinguisher and by the time he reached Vandhana’s cabin, the fire from her saree started spreading to the carpet. He opened the extinguisher and CO2 pumped out instantly over the burning saree. Saddam took his shirt and blanketed Vandhana in it.