⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟏˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
"No, Ritvika. You don't decide anything here. I do. You go when I say you can go. You stay when I allow you to stay. Until then—don't even think of testing my patience again."
His words cut like steel, leaving no space for argument, his control wrapping around her like chains.
But Ritvika... she did not shrink this time. Her body trembled, yes, but not with fear—this time it was fury. She tilted her face up, her breath unsteady but her eyes blazing. And when she finally spoke, her voice was powerful, piercing the silence like a dagger.
"No, Vidyut. I will leave. And I will leave with Tara."
Her words hit him harder than any slap. Vidyut's eyes widened, his jaw locking in sheer disbelief. His grip tightened even more, his voice a dangerous growl.
"You are not going. Not with my daughter."
But Ritvika snapped back, her tone like thunder, raw and unyielding—
"Correction, Mr. Rajvansh.
My daughter. Not yours. How many times should I tell you, hmm?
You are remembering too soon that we are married.
Where was this love for Tara when—when everyone treated her like a stranger in this house? Tell me!"
Her chest heaved as tears burned her eyes, but her voice only grew stronger, trembling with pain but fierce with truth.
"I thought... I really thought that day, when you took my side in front of your buaa, that maybe.
.. maybe life would finally be kinder to me.
That maybe my daughter would finally know what a father's care feels like.
But what a fool I was, Vidyut. You proved me wrong yesterday. Completely wrong."
Her lips quivered, but her words sliced through the air.
"Where was this 'father' when your mother—the same woman who parades as my mother-in-law—looked me in the eye and said Tara is only my daughter?
Where were you, Vidyut? Why didn't you correct her?
Why didn't you stand by your daughter then?
No—you stayed silent. Worse, you stood by her side. Always their side."
She let out a bitter laugh, hollow and broken.
"You know, when I first entered this house, your family said Tara was their grandchild now, that they would love her, protect her, cherish her.
But it was all fake, Vidyut. Every single word.
Yesterday... yesterday they showed exactly what Tara means to them—nothing. Absolutely nothing."
Her voice cracked now, but the rage still carried it forward.
"And you—don't you dare call my daughter yours again.
You are not her father. You don't deserve to be.
A father protects, a father cares, a father makes sure his child never suffers.
But you? You and your family didn't even ask yesterday if we had eaten.
Do you even know, Vidyut, that my daughter went to bed starving?
Do you know that my poor child's stomach was empty while your family enjoyed their dinner, their laughter, their full plates? "
Her tears finally spilled, streaming down her face, her voice breaking as she whispered the words that cut deepest of all—
"Not even a single bite... not even a single piece of food was left for her, Vidyut. My baby... my innocent Tara was starving. And you... you didn't even notice
"What the hell are you saying, Ritvika?" he asked, his voice still heavy but tinged with disbelief. "Do you even realize what you're talking about?"
Ritvika let out a bitter laugh, one that didn't reach her eyes.
Her lips curved in mock amusement, but the pain glistened beneath.
"Oh, don't act like you don't know, Vidyut.
" Her tone dripped with sarcasm, her voice trembling yet sharp.
"You, of all people, pretending to be clueless? Spare me the drama."
Her words sliced through the tension, and for a moment, Vidyut's entire expression froze. He stared at her, confusion flickering across his face, before he spoke again, his voice low, almost dangerous.
"I really didn't know, Ritvika." His words came out slow, deliberate, as though he was forcing her to listen.
His breath was still harsh, but there was no lie in his tone.
"After that drama in the afternoon... I didn't even step inside this house.
I didn't come back." He leaned closer, his grip still firm around her wrist, his eyes locked into hers. "I returned only this morning."
The air between them grew heavy, suffocating. His revelation hung in the silence, leaving Ritvika momentarily speechless. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her earlier defiance wavering for just a second.
But then her lips trembled into another bitter smile, mocking, hurting. "And you expect me to believe you?" she asked, her voice cracking as she pulled weakly at his grip. "You, who controls every move, every step in this house — suddenly you claim innocence? Suddenly you don't know anything?"
Her laugh echoed in the room, hollow, almost broken.
Vidyut's eyes darkened, the disbelief slowly transforming into something harsher — but not anger, not yet. It was the shock of being questioned, the sting of not being trusted. He leaned down, so close that his breath brushed against her cheek, his voice dropping lower.
"You think I'm lying to you?"
Ritvika pushed him lightly aside, her breathing unsteady. Without sparing him another glance, she grabbed her bag in one hand and carefully lifted the sleeping Tara in the other. Her steps were firm, resolute, as she turned towards the door.
But before she could move further, Vidyut's voice cut through the silence—sharp, commanding, filled with raw authority.
"Stop right there, Ritvika."
Her body froze, though her grip on Tara tightened. She didn't turn around, didn't answer, just stood rooted, her heart hammering.
Vidyut's heavy footsteps echoed behind her as he came closer, his presence towering.
"You really think you can just walk out like this?" he asked, his tone dangerously low.
Ritvika swallowed, her eyes brimming with unshed tears, but she steadied herself. "Yes, Vidyut. That's exactly what I'm doing."
Vidyut clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he stepped closer. "Not without answering me. Not without telling me why."
Without answering his question, Ritvika started moving out. Her steps carried the power of a woman and the strength of a mother. She walked into the hall with Tara in her arms, determination burning in her eyes, while Vidyut followed close behind, trying to stop her.
"Ritvika, baat suno!" (Ritvika, listen!) he called out, his voice echoing with desperation.
But Ritvika didn't stop. When he tried to grab her hand, she pulled it away sharply, her eyes blazing.
"What do you want, haan? What? I said I will go, and I will go! You should be happy—finally two problems are moving out from your house!" she spat, her voice cutting like glass.
Her lips trembled as she went on, bitterness flowing through every word.
"Kya pata mai kab apni bacchi se door chali jau.
.. toh for God's sake let me live peacefully with my daughter for now.
Did you get it?" (Who knows when I might be separated from my daughter.
.. so for God's sake, let me live peacefully with her for now. Did you get it?)
Her words made Vidyut's steps falter. He stood frozen for a moment, his eyes darkening as the weight of her statement hit him.
"Don't..." he growled, his voice low but dangerously intimidating. "I repeat—don't ever say that again."
Ritvika met his eyes, her own brimming with defiance and tears. "Kyun? Why should I not? I'm stating the facts, Vidyut. Meri zindagi ka koi bharosa nahi hai." (My life has no certainty, Vidyut.)
Neither of them noticed the silent figure standing behind the pillar in the hall—someone who had heard every single word.
Aarush had just stepped into the hallway when his eyes froze on the scene unfolding before him. His bhabhi holding Tara close to her chest, a bag in her other hand, walking with that unshaken determination of leaving. His brows furrowed.
"Bhabhi... what is this? Where are you going?" Aarush's voice cracked in confusion. He looked from Ritvika to his elder brother, waiting for an explanation.
But before Vidyut could say anything, Ritvika's sharp words cut the air again. "Aarush. I've made my decision. I don't want to live here anymore."
Aarush's eyes widened. He took a few hurried steps toward her, almost panicked. "But... but why? What happened? And what were you saying just now? Why would you even think of going away from Tara... forever?" His gaze searched her face desperately.
Ritvika pressed her lips tight, trying to stay composed, but the bitterness spilled anyway. "Because life doesn't promise me time, Aarush. I don't know how long I will even be alive to stay with her. That's the truth."
The words stabbed Aarush like knives. His head jerked back in shock, his throat suddenly dry. "What? Bhabhi... what do you mean? Why are you saying such things?"
Vidyut clenched his jaw, his darkened eyes snapping toward Ritvika. "Ritvika. Enough. I told you not to repeat it." His voice was low, threatening, almost a growl.
But Aarush stepped between them, his hands trembling. "Bhai, what is she talking about? What truth? What is happening here that I don't know?"
Ritvika turned her face away, eyes glistening, her grip tightening around Tara who shifted uneasily in her sleep. She whispered bitterly, "He knows, Aarush. Ask your brother. He has known all along."
Aarush froze, his breath hitching as his gaze darted back to Vidyut—demanding answers his brother never wanted to give.
Ritvika adjusted Tara's tiny body in her arms and clutched her bag tighter in the other hand, her steps firm as if no one in the world could stop her now. Vidyut's silence behind her only made the hall feel heavier, but before she could cross the doorway, another voice broke through.
"Bhabhi... please ruk jao." (Bhabhi... please stop.)
Aarush's trembling tone made Ritvika halt for a fraction of a second. She turned slightly, her face pale yet set with determination, while Aarush rushed forward, his eyes already brimming with tears.
"Bhabhi... don't do this. Don't take Tara away... don't take away from me," his voice cracked as he tried to hold back his sobs. He almost stumbled to her side, hands outstretched as if he could hold her there with sheer desperation.
Ritvika's lips quivered at his words, but she steadied herself quickly, whispering bitterly, "Aarush... you won't understand. I have to go. For me, for Tara... this house, this atmosphere, I can't—"
But before she could complete, Aarush shook his head violently, the tears finally escaping his eyes.
"No! Don't say that, Bhabhi. You're... you're also a maa for us.
For me. How can you just leave like this?
Look at Tara.... And me too... I need you.
" His voice broke again as he clasped his hands together, almost pleading.
Ritvika froze, her grip on Tara tightening as her heart twisted painfully. The little girl stirred in her sleep, shifting closer into her mother's warmth, unaware of the storm breaking around her.
Aarush's gaze flickered between Tara's innocent face and Ritvika's shattered expression, then back at Vidyut who still stood like stone, his jaw locked, his fists curled at his sides, eyes dark and unreadable. The silence from Vidyut only pushed Aarush further into desperation.
"Bhai, say something! How can you let Bhabhi walk out like this? Stop her! Why are you standing like this?!" Aarush's voice thundered in the hall, but Vidyut didn't respond, his throat clogged with words he couldn't allow to slip out.
Ritvika shook her head slowly, whispering, "Aarush, let me go. Please. Don't make it harder for me." Her voice cracked , betraying the pain she had been trying to bury under her strength.
Aarush's knees weakened at her tone, tears slipping faster down his cheeks.
He caught her free hand desperately, his own trembling.
"No, Bhabhi... don't say that. Don't leave me.
Don't leave us. You're not just Tara's maa.
.. you're my maa too. You're the only one who cares like that. Please don't go."
His plea, raw and childlike despite his age, pierced through the air like a knife.
Ritvika didn't stop, not even for a second. Her steps were firm, her grip on Tara tighter than ever, as if shielding her daughter from the world itself. Aarush's pleas fell unheard.
"Bhabhiii ruk jao... please, ruk jao..." (Bhabhi, please stop... please, stop...) his voice cracked, his eyes glistening with helplessness. But Ritvika didn't turn back.
When his trembling hands couldn't stop her, desperation clawed inside him. His chest tightened, and the boy who always carried a carefree grin broke down in front of everyone.
"Maa! Bhai! Chachiii! Dekho na bhabhiii!" (Mother! Brother! Aunt! Look, Bhabhi is leaving!) he shouted, his voice shaking the walls of the Rajvansh mansion.
The sound of his cry echoed like a thunderclap in the silent house. But by then, Ritvika had already crossed the threshold, her figure fading with every step, leaving behind a storm no one was ready for.
Aarush's knees weakened, his tears flowing freely. His gaze snapped toward Vidyut—rage, confusion, and heartbreak all mixed in his eyes.
"How could you let her go, brother...? How...?"
Vidyut stood frozen, his jaw tight, fists clenched, but no answer left his lips.
Ritvika stood outside the mansion gate, clutching Tara protectively. Her breaths were uneven, but her steps were steady—away from the world that had caged her.
Just then, she froze. A familiar figure was already there.
"Rituuuu!" Roohi's voice broke with relief as she rushed forward. Without wasting a second, she wrapped her arms around Ritvika, careful not to disturb the sleeping baby.
Ritvika's eyes softened, her trembling lips curved faintly, as if the storm inside her had found an anchor.
"My cutie pie..." Roohi whispered, brushing Tara's hair tenderly. Her eyes glowed with adoration as she looked at the little girl sleeping soundly in her mother's embrace.
She then reached for the bag in Ritvika's hand, taking its weight silently, and clasped Ritvika's palm in hers with a firmness that spoke louder than words.
"Chal, Ritu," she said softly, tugging her forward.
But before Ritvika could take a step, Aarush's sharp voice pierced through the air.
"No! My bhabhi is not going anywhere!" His eyes widened in shock, his chest heaving as he rushed closer.
His gaze darted to Roohi, fire blazing through the tears still stuck in his lashes.
"And who the hell are you?" he demanded, his voice shaking with both fear and fury.
At the gate, Vidyut stood like stone—his arms folded, his expression unreadable—yet his eyes betrayed the storm raging within as they shifted from Ritvika to Roohi, and back again.
Aarush's panic only grew when he saw Ritvika still standing quietly, almost surrendering. Without a second thought, he grabbed her arm, his voice breaking—
"Bhabhi aap andar chaliye, main keh raha hoon na... aap kahi nahi jaa rahi!" (Bhabhi, come inside, I'm telling you... you're not going anywhere!)
Before Ritvika could even respond, Roohi's eyes hardened. She stepped forward, her grip tightening around Ritvika's other hand.
"Chhod do usse." (Leave her.)
Aarush looked at her in shock, unable to believe this stranger's audacity. "Tum samajhti kya ho apne aapko? Meri bhabhi hai yeh! Main inhe zabardasti nahi jaane dunga!" (Who do you think you are? She's my bhabhi! I won't let her go by force!)
But Roohi didn't flinch. Her chin lifted, voice sharp and bold—
"Aur main bhi uski dost hoon, samjhe tum? Agar tumne usse ek aur baar zor se pakda na, toh main bhool jaaungi ki tum uske devar ho." (And I'm her friend, understood? If you dare grab her forcefully again, I'll forget that you're her brother-in-law.)
The air stilled. Ritvika's eyes welled up, caught between her devar's desperate pleas and her best friend's fierce protection. Vidyut, still by the gate, clenched his fists tighter, his dark eyes scanning every word, every gesture—but his lips remained sealed.
Aarush's grip only tightened, his voice trembling. But before Roohi could retort again, another voice cut through the tension—deep, commanding, and cold.
"Aarush, let her go."
Aarush froze, his head snapping toward the gate in disbelief. Vidyut had finally stepped forward, his face unreadable, his eyes dark. For a moment, Aarush couldn't believe what he'd just heard—his brother taking her side.
Roohi seized the chance, shooting a hard, hatred-filled glance at Vidyut before pulling Ritvika firmly toward her. Without waiting for anyone's permission, she took Ritvika with her, walking away with determined steps.
Aarush stood stunned, his heart pounding, betrayal burning in his chest.
Roohi tightened her hold on Ritvika's hand, pulling her away with firm steps. Ritvika followed quietly, but just before crossing the gate, she paused. Her eyes flickered back—just once.
Vidyut stood still, his expression heavy, his jaw clenched. For the briefest second, their gazes met. Something unspoken lingered between them, but Ritvika turned away without a word and disappeared with Roohi into the night.
The silence that followed was broken by Aarush's trembling voice. His fists curled as he turned toward Vidyut, who had already walked back inside.
"Bhai... yeh kya tha?!" (Brother... what was that?!) Aarush's voice cracked with both rage and disbelief.
By now, Manisha, Parul, Hridhaan, Viyana, and Atharv had rushed to the hall, alarm written on their faces. Manisha looked from Aarush's flushed face to Vidyut's unreadable one.
"Aarush, shant ho jao... kya hua?" (Aarush, calm down... what happened?) Parul asked, stepping closer.
But Aarush only shook his head violently, pointing at Vidyut with accusing eyes.
"Bhai ne... bhai ne bhabhi ko jaane diya! Unke saath! Jab main rok raha tha... unhone khud kaha mujhe chhodne ke liye!" (Brother let Bhabhi go! With those people! When I was stopping her... he himself told me to let her go!)
A stunned silence fell over the family. Hridhaan and parul exchanged quick glances, Atharv frowned deeply, while Manisha's face went pale, her hand clutching her saree pallu tightly.
All eyes now turned to Vidyut.
He stood in the center of the hall, still as stone, his silence heavier than Aarush's accusations.
Parul's voice trembled with confusion as she turned toward Vidyut. "Vidyut, what is Aarush saying?"
But Vidyut remained silent, his jaw set, refusing to meet anyone's eyes. The weight of his silence pressed against the walls of the room, suffocating everyone present. Aarush, unable to bear it any longer, finally spoke, his own voice breaking under the strain.
"I'm telling the truth, Chachi. Bhabhi... she left our house." His words stumbled out, uneven and hesitant. "She was carrying her bag... and she took Tara with her. She left with her friend."
The room froze. A sharp gasp cut through the stillness.
Hridhaan blinked in disbelief, his lips parting but no words forming. Finally, he managed to whisper, "Left?"
"Yes, Bhai." Aarush's voice cracked as he repeated it, louder this time, as if forcing them all to believe it. "She left. And Bhai didn't even stop her."
Shock rippled across every face. Viyana's voice shook as she turned toward Vidyut, her eyes wide and desperate for an answer. "Bhai... is Aarush telling the truth? Did Ritvika bhabhi really leave?"
The question pierced through Vidyut like a blade. His head snapped toward her, his eyes blazing with anger that wasn't entirely meant for her. "Atharv, take Viyana inside," he ordered sharply, his voice cutting through the air like steel.
Viyana tried to protest, her trembling lips parting to speak, but Vidyut's cold glare silenced her before she could utter another word. Atharv, tense and reluctant, placed a hand on Viyana's arm and guided her away. She looked back over her shoulder, helpless, but Vidyut refused to soften.
As the footsteps faded, Manisha broke the silence, her voice trembling with disbelief. "Why did you speak to her so harshly, Vidyut?"
Something inside Vidyut snapped. His patience, already fraying, finally tore apart. He turned to his mother, his voice sharp and filled with a pain he could no longer contain. "Maa, please... stop." His words cut the air like a whip.
"You call this rude?" His chest heaved, his anger laced with anguish. "Then what about what you did to Ritvika? Was that not cruel?"
Manisha's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat.
"You made her feel unwanted. You made her believe she and my daughter didn't matter in this house.
You didn't give them food. You didn't ask how they were.
You lied to me when I asked if they had eaten, if they were alright.
You looked me in the eye and lied, Maa." His voice grew raw, the sharp edges of his rage undercut by the weight of his grief.
"Tell me, why did you do that?" Vidyut's voice broke as his eyes burned into hers. "Why would you make her feel like this?"
The room was silent, the words hanging in the air like shards of glass, cutting into everyone present.
On the other side, Roohi took Ritvika to her apartment, which she had rented before coming to the Rajvansh mansion.
She gently guided her to the couch and then took Tara—still fast asleep—from Ritvika's arms and laid the child carefully on the bed.
Returning to the living room, Roohi handed a glass of water to Ritvika.
Ritvika's eyes blurred with tears the moment her fingers touched the glass. Seeing her friend break down like this, Roohi's heart clenched. With a heavy sigh, she sat beside her and cupped Ritvika's face.
"Ritu, no... don't waste your precious tears on them, baby. They don't deserve it," she whispered, wiping away the tears streaming down Ritvika's cheeks.
Ritvika's lips trembled as she choked out, "Roohi... why? Every time... every single time, it's me. Why me?" Her voice cracked, raw with despair.
Roohi pulled her into a firm embrace, holding her as though she could shield her from all the cruelty in the world.
"Shh, Ritu... stop crying. Please. Don't let them see you like this, even in your memories.
You've been strong for too long, and I know you're tired, but you're not alone anymore. I'm here. Always."
Ritvika clung to her friend, her sobs muffled against Roohi's shoulder. she allowed herself to break, to release the pain she had been holding inside. Tara shifted slightly in her sleep on the bed, as if sensing her mother's turmoil, but soon settled back into peaceful dreams.
Roohi stroked Ritvika's hair, whispering softly, "You've given everything to people who never valued you. But now... now it's time to choose yourself, Ritu. Time to heal."
Then roohi went towards the kitchen and came back from the kitchen with a small plate in her hands. She placed it on the table and gently nudged Ritvika.
"Ritu... thoda sa kha le." Roohi said softly, placing a spoon near her hand.
Ritvika shook her head immediately, her lips quivering. "No Roohi... I can't. I don't feel like eating."
Roohi sighed, staring at her for a long moment before leaning forward, her voice low but laced with firmness. "Ritu... do you want me to call Mom and Dad, hmm? You know how much they love you, and if they hear you're starving yourself like this... they'll come running here in a heartbeat."
At once Ritvika's eyes widened, the silent panic visible in them. She bit her lip and finally picked up the spoon with trembling fingers. "Please... don't say that, Roohi. Don't tell them anything."
"Then eat." Roohi's tone softened, but her determination didn't waver. She guided Ritvika with patience until she finally took a few small bites. Watching her eat, even reluctantly, eased a little of the storm in Roohi's chest.
When the plate was half-empty, Roohi put it aside and cupped Ritvika's face in her palms. Her thumbs gently brushed away the wetness at the corners of her eyes.
"Ritu... listen to me carefully. Stop blaming yourself for everything. You didn't do anything wrong. You gave them nothing but love, care, and respect... and what did you get in return? Silence. Coldness. Neglect. That's not your fault, baby. That's their failure."
Ritvika lowered her gaze, her fingers knotting tightly in her dupatta. Her lips trembled but no words came.
Roohi continued, her tone both fierce and protective.
"You have a heart that forgives too easily, but not everyone deserves that forgiveness.
Especially not those who make you feel unworthy of the very love you're overflowing with.
You are not weak, Ritu. You are not less.
And I won't let anyone, not even them, make you believe otherwise. "
Ritvika's tears broke free again, but this time they carried a faint trace of relief along with the pain. She leaned forward, resting her forehead against Roohi's shoulder, her sobs muffled against her friends's embrace.
They suddenly heard a sharp sound — a crying voice coming from the room. Ritvika immediately stood up in panic and rushed inside.
On the bed, Tara was sitting with teary eyes, crying and looking around everywhere as if searching for someone. Ritvika's heart clenched. She quickly went towards her and pulled her into her embrace.
"Shh baby, mumma yaha hi hai... hnnm," (Shh baby, mumma is right here... okay?) she whispered, rocking her gently.
As if her mumma's voice itself was magic, Tara calmed down in her arms. Blinking through her tears, she looked up at Ritvika with those innocent eyes and asked in her broken tone,
"Mumma... why you cly? You also bloke things? Dadaa is bad?" (Mumma... why did you cry? You also broke things? Is Dadaa bad?)
Ritvika felt herself drowning in guilt at her munchkin's words. She remembered how terrified Tara had looked earlier, when she was throwing things here and there in her frustration. Her throat tightened, and tears spilled again as she hugged her tighter.
"I'm sorry, mera baccha... I'm so sorry," she whispered, kissing her little one's cheeks.
But Tara only pouted, stubborn in her innocence. "No sorry, mumma! You cly? You shout also? Dadaa make you cly... he is bal?" (No sorry, mumma! You cried? You shouted too? Did Dadaa make you cry... is he bad)
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Next update on Sunday.....(If the target gets completed.