Anisha’s Perspective:
My question sparked a sudden commotion throughout the hall. Whispers and murmurs rippled through the audience like a gathering storm. All eyes were now fixed on Mr. Singh, awaiting his response with bated breath. He replied with a single, powerful word that sent shockwaves through my enemies, “Yes.”
After hearing that word, Samuel lit up like a fire and started yelling at me, accusing me of causing a scene when I was the one who had tried to kill him. His anger had consumed his senses, and he raged at me for showing up and ruining his incarnation ceremony. He warned me, his voice dripping with malice, to quietly back down and leave, promising mercy if I complied. However, if I chose to stay, he vowed to make it his mission to ruin my life once more. And ladies and gentlemen, after hearing his threats, I couldn’t help but smile. He had unknowingly played right into my hands.
With a sweet smile still gracing my face, I began to walk back towards the ornate chair that served as a throne for the leader of the group. My eyes locked onto Samuel’s, and, still maintaining my enigmatic smile, I seated myself with an air of regal confidence. I challenged him with my gaze, silently daring him to take one step towards me, knowing full well that I would tear him to pieces if he dared to cross that line.
But it seemed Samuel mistook my challenge for a jest. Ignoring my warning, he advanced towards me, his intentions clear: he intended to strike me. The timing was crucial, and I moved swiftly to block his punch. A wicked smile played on my lips as I stood, delivering a swift kick to his face. I didn’t grant him a moment’s respite before following up with a powerful blow to his groin, causing him to double over in agony. The final blow came when I drove my knee into his head, and at that moment, he crumpled to the ground, writhing in pain, his consciousness hanging by a thread.
We girls may not possess the sheer physical power of men, but our smaller stature grants us remarkable speed and agility. Those who understand this have the upper hand when it comes to taking on opponents of greater size and strength.
I couldn’t afford to let Samuel blackout, because his confession was crucial to prove that all the allegations against me were false. I stood over him, fury burning in my eyes as I addressed the stunned crowd. “I am your leader,” I declared loudly, my voice resonating through the hall. “I will prove my innocence before all of you. Just like Samuel, if any of you have an issue with my leadership, step forward, and I’ll show you the kind of leader and fighter I am.”
I stood there, unyielding, my eyes locked on anyone who dared to challenge me. “I stand before you as your leader, and mark my words, if any of you dare to disrespect me in any way, let me make this crystal clear: I showed mercy to Samuel today because his punishment will be within this lifetime. But I will show no mercy to anyone, regardless of their relationship with me.”
My gaze shifted, first to my father and then to my uncle. “First, tell me, if Samuel was not killed, why was I falsely accused and charged with his murder?” My voice rang with determination, a battle cry for justice, as the crowd fell into a stunned silence, awaiting the truth.
After hearing that, my father, for the first time, showed an expression, and it was one of surprise as if he had no idea of what I had gone through. With a tone filled with astonishment, he asked, “What are you saying? Weren’t you outside the country? How were you charged?”
I met his gaze with my stoic expression, my back straight, and replied firmly, “Perhaps you should keep a closer eye on your trusted associates. While I was in prison, serving time for the charges against me, your trusted men were busy lining their pockets and betraying you behind your back.”
I scanned the room, meeting the expectant gazes of those gathered. A determined edge crept into my voice as I addressed everyone present. “Today, a new chapter will be etched into our group’s history, a chapter witnessed by all of you. Today, I will claim the mantle of leadership for myself. There will be a ceremonial passing of the torch, but, unlike the past, I will be bestowing this responsibility upon myself. Our former leader failed in his duty to recognize the true future leader and instead allowed himself to be swayed by the manipulations of those who sought to undermine me and the group. Therefore, as the current leader of this group, I’m relieved Mr. Gomez of his leadership position.”
As I spoke, my eyes found Mr. Gomez, and I noticed that he was beaming with a sense of pride rather than the expected anger or disappointment. I shifted my gaze away from him, my resolve unwavering.
“Now, before we proceed further, let me prove my innocence to all of you. I was unjustly declared guilty, without a shred of evidence. So, allow me to present the proof of my innocence.” I nodded in the direction of Suyash, a vital and trusted member who had played a pivotal role in gathering the evidence that would now vindicate me. Suyash was like a brother to me, and our bond was reinforced by a well-kept secret. He had been close to my mother, a connection that held deep meaning for both of us.
My mind briefly drifted back to the past, to the memories of my mother. The room was plunged into a momentary hush as the projector flickered to life, casting a video onto the screen.
The room grew silent as a video flickered to life on the projector. This was the video that marked the beginning of my life’s tragic downturn. It was Hridhan, not our trusted Suyash, who had managed to recover this elusive footage. I couldn’t help but wonder about the extraordinary lengths he had gone to to obtain it.
The video revealed the night when everything had changed, when Samuel, the man soon to be our leader, forcibly pulled a terrified Riya into a dimly lit room. Regrettably, the camera’s view was restricted to the room’s exterior, leaving us to imagine the distressing scenes transpiring within. Riya’s face bore an expression of agony as she fought against Samuel’s grip, a sight that sent shivers down our spines.
Once the video concluded, I called the audience’s attention. “As you all witnessed, on that night, your so-called leader’s actions with a young girl were horrifyingly apparent,” I began. “What occurred within that room, however, remains untold.”
Drawing a deep breath, I scanned the room. To my surprise, my gaze fell upon Hridhan, a presence I had not anticipated. He stood in a secluded corner, his calm and composed expression contrasting with the turmoil of the moment. Despite our eye contact, my face remained devoid of any discernible emotion as I turned my attention away from him.
On that fateful night, something dreadful occurred. Samuel initiated actions against Riya, and the events that followed remain shrouded in mystery. What we do know is that Samuel ended up stabbing Riya, and then he turned the knife on himself, targeting an area where the risk of severe injury was minimal.
As I surveyed the room, I could see the audience taking in this shocking information. “This sinister plot was orchestrated by none other than Samuel himself and his supposed father, Mr. Anderson.” The crowd stirred with unease when I used the term ‘supposed father.’ I met my uncle’s eyes, and his expression held a palpable rage. His gaze was intense, filled with a mix of anger and sorrow, as if he had made a solemn vow to bring about my destruction. However, what he didn’t realize was that there comes a point in life where certain things cannot be broken. I had long surpassed that limit.
“And there was another player in this dark game,” I continued, my gaze locked with my uncle’s, neither of us backing down. I couldn’t help but smile at the defiant look he shot my way. “His true father, Mr. Jasper Gomez.”