17. DIGNITY
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He waled into the hall, as he reached them his eyes darted between Amit's furious face, Aarvi's pale one, and Kirti who placed her hands on her waist dramatically.
"Vivan!" Kirti rushed to him, tears about to spill. "Dekho na, iss ladki ne tumhare chachu ko thappad maara! Aisi badtameezi... isse koi tameez hi nahi!"
Aarvi saw Vivan's expression harden against her. His jaw clenched, his eyes narrowed, and the anger that in his eyes made her knees weak.
Her breath caught. He won't believe me. He'll never believe me.
When he took a step close to her, she stepped back. Her voice came out barely above a whisper, shaky and hesitant.
"I... I.. I am not lying, Vivan..." she whispered, her fingers clutching her pallu so tightly her knuckles whitened. Her throat was dry, but still she forced the words out, stumbling. "I... I'm not lying. He came close... he touched me. I couldn't stay quiet."
He didn't said anything. Aarvi's heart thudded, waiting for the storm, his rejection, his disbelief, his cold dismissal.
But the way she looked at him. Herveyes brimming with unshed tears, her voice trembling. Vivan couldn't take off his gaze from her. Maybe he finding the truth in her eyes.
For the first time, Aarvi wasn't silent. She had defended herself.
Vivan's jaw was tight, his eyes unreadable as he took slow, deliberate steps toward Aarvi.
Each step made her chest tighten, the air between them heavy with unspoken tension.
Aarvi's pulse was racing, but she didn't back away.
She stood firm, clutching her pallu in trembling hands, as she said in a low voice.
"T.. Trust me why would I l..lie."
Her words trembled. Aarvi searched his face, terrified of what he might do. His expression was cold, his aura suffocating. Just as he stopped mere inches away from her, a sudden sharp smack of slap rang out in the hall.
Everyone flinched. Even Aarvi.
But it wasn't her cheek burning.
It was Amit's.
His head jerked to the side, a red mark spreading across his face as his hand instinctively went to his cheek.
The room froze. Kirti gasped, Pragya's eyes widened, and Aarvi stood rooted in place, unable to process what had just happened.
"V-Vivan!" Kirti rushed forward, her voice trembled. "You're believing your wife? Against your chachu? She's lying, she's twisting-"
"Enough." Vivan's voice was loud.
He didn't look at Kirti. His eyes were locked on Aarvi, unwavering, almost protective.
"A girl will never lie about her dignity." His words were firm.
His jaw tightened as his voice dropped even lower. "And Aarvi would never lie about this."
Kirti stood rooted on her place, her throat went dry. Pragya's lips parted in shock. Amit's face twisted with shame and rage.
And Aarvi's breath caught, her heart thudded fast. She stared at him, wide-eyed, tears gathering at the corners of her eyes.
The silence stretched, thick and suffocating. No one dared to move.
Amit clenched his fists, humiliated, but Vivan's piercing stare left no room for defiance.
Kirti, unable to bear it, rushed to Amit's side. "He is your chachu, Vivan! How could you-"
"Enough, chachi." Vivan's calm voice cut through her. "Respect is earned. Not demanded."
Pragya lowered her eyes. Her son had done what even she never had the courage to do.
Meanwhile, Aarvi stood frozen, her hands trembling at her sides. Her mind screamed at her to thank him, to say something, but the words refused to come. She had prepared herself for his doubt, his anger, his rejection but never for his trust.
Amit's rage simmered, his jaw clenched tight, while Kirti clutched his arm, still trying to shield him. But Vivan's expression had hardened into something even they had never seen before.
"Pack your bags," Vivan said, his tone sharp, leaving no space for argument.
Kirti blinked in disbelief. "W-what?"
"I said," his voice dropped dangerously low, "pack your bags. Both of you. Leave this house tonight and never step in here again."
The words fell like a hammer. Even Pragya gasped, her hand instinctively rising to her mouth.
"Vivan" Kirti protested, disbelief dripping from her voice. "He's your chachu! You can't-"
"I can," he cut her off coldly. "I will not keep relations with people who disrespect women. Blood means nothing when dignity is at stake."
Amit's eyes burned with silent fury, but the humiliation had already stripped him of his voice. He pulled Kirti by the wrist, storming away with heavy steps.
After they both disappeared in their room Vivan turned, his eyes finding Aarvi again. There was softness in his expression.
"I want to talk to you," he said simply & without waiting for her reply, he strode upstairs toward his room.
Aarvi stood frozen, her heart pounding.
Her fingers twisted nervously around her pallu, but her legs moved on their own. Step by step, she followed him, her chest tight with uncertainty, her mind spinning with questions she wasn't sure she was ready to face.