Chapter - 4
Upon returning home, Sumitra Ji's mind buzzed with thoughts of how to convince Aarav to agree to the marriage.
He had become so consumed by his responsibilities that even the mention of settling down made him withdraw further.
But Sumitra Ji was determined. As she sat down, a slow, thoughtful smile crept across her face.
An idea sparked in her mind, and she quickly grabbed her phone to call someone.
"Make sure everything is arranged in advance," she instructed, her voice steady with conviction. "I'm sure he won't be able to refuse now." She hung up, leaning back in her chair. Her eyes gleamed with the confidence of someone who knew the game she was about to play.
As evening settled over the Rathore estate, the ladies of the family gathered in the garden, sipping tea and sharing laughter.
The soft golden light of the setting sun cast a warm glow, enhancing the peaceful scene.
Neelam and Meera shared stories of the day, their laughter mingling with the soft rustle of the garden's trees.
But suddenly, the lightness shifted. Sumitra Ji's hand pressed against her chest, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps.
"Meera! Neelam!" she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper as her vision blurred.
Meera turned, alarm flashing across her face as she saw the pain etched on Sumitra Ji's features. "Maa! What's wrong?" she called out, her voice filled with panic.
Neelam immediately rushed to her side, kneeling down beside her, fear gripping her heart. "Maa, please! What's happening?!" she cried, holding Sumitra Ji's trembling hands.
Rajveer arrived within moments, his eyes wide with fear. "Maa!" he shouted, his usually steady voice cracking with dread. "Get the car out! We need to go to the hospital!"
They rushed Sumitra Ji to Rathore Hospital, their family's private facility.
The air in the waiting room was thick with anxiety.
Rajveer paced back and forth, his hands running through his hair in frustration, while Meera and Neelam sat together, holding each other tightly, their faces pale with worry.
In the midst of this, Rajveer called Vijay, who was in a meeting with Aarav and Arjun.
"Aarav, we need to go," Vijay said, his voice filled with urgency.
Aarav's brow furrowed, his ever-calm demeanor cracking slightly as he met his uncle's eyes. "What happened?" he asked, his voice hard.
"Maa... she's in the hospital."
Without a second thought, the three of them left the meeting, worry gnawing at Aarav's chest. By the time they arrived, the tension in the waiting room was palpable, the silence oppressive.
Aarav's sharp features were taut with concern.
His usually cold, authoritative expression had softened ever so slightly, the worry for his grandmother visible in the hard line of his jaw.
He hated feeling powerless, especially when it came to his family.
Sumitra Ji had always been a pillar of strength for him, and the mere thought of losing her was unbearable.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the doctor emerged, his expression serious.
"Rajmata had a heart attack," he announced, and the collective gasp from the family echoed through the room. "But she is stable now. However, you all need to reduce her stress and keep her happy."
Rajveer stepped forward, desperation evident in his eyes. "How long until we can meet her?"
"Right now, Rajmata is unconscious. When she regains consciousness, only one person can meet her. Please do not talk to her for long; she is still quite weak," the doctor advised gently.
Aarav's usual commanding voice broke the silence. "You all should go home and rest. I will stay here. I'll let you know when grandma regains consciousness." His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.
The family hesitated, reluctant to leave, but Aarav's resolve was unwavering.
He was a pillar of strength for them, someone who would shoulder the burden so they could rest. Deep down, though, the fear of losing the one person who truly understood him gnawed at him.
His cold demeanor cracked, just a little, as he watched the door to the ICU. He wouldn't let her down.
Once his family left, Aarav settled into a chair outside the ICU, his hands clenched tightly in his lap. His mind raced with thoughts of his grandmother and the weight of responsibility that seemed heavier than ever.
Siya hurried home, her heart racing with anxiety.
It had been a long, emotional day, and now she was late—again.
Today was her parents' death anniversary, and as always, she had visited the temple in the morning, praying for their peace.
She hadn't eaten anything since morning, her heart too heavy with grief.
After leaving the temple, she had gone straight to college, not even stopping for a bite to eat.
On her way back home, she encountered an elderly woman standing at a bus stop, visibly lost and confused. The woman was blind, struggling to navigate her way. Siya's kind heart couldn't just leave her there, so she spent the next hour helping her reach home safely.
By the time she finally reached her own house, the sun had already dipped below the horizon, and dread settled deep in her stomach. She knew what awaited her—a furious Taiji.
As Siya stepped inside the house, her worst fears were confirmed. Her aunt was waiting for her, arms crossed, her face flushed with anger. The tension in the air was suffocating.
"Taiji... I... I'm sorry, I came late because—" Siya began, her voice trembling.
"Because what?!" her aunt snapped, cutting her off mid-sentence. "Where have you been all day? Does it really take this long to come home from college?" Taiji's voice boomed, causing Siya to flinch, her body tightening in fear.
Tears welled in Siya's eyes, but she forced herself to stand still, not wanting to provoke her aunt further. "I... I was helping a blind woman, Taiji," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the anger that surrounded them.
Taiji's eyes flashed with fury. "Helping a blind woman? Is that supposed to be an excuse for coming home so late? I've already told your uncle there's no point in sending you to college! You're wasting everyone's time! He never listens to me."
Siya stood there, her body trembling, as Taiji's words sliced through her. Her aunt's grip tightened around her arm, hard enough to make Siya wince in pain. "Who do you think you are, wandering around as if you're someone important? You're nothing! You hear me?"
The shouting made Siya feel small, helpless.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, her lips quivering, but she couldn't find the strength to speak back.
Her chest ached, not just from the verbal assault but from hunger, exhaustion, and the weight of her emotions.
She hadn't eaten anything since morning, and the lack of energy made it even harder to endure the cruelty.
Seeing that Siya wasn't responding, Taiji's anger flared even more. "You think you can just ignore me? You'll learn today. I'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget!" she growled, dragging Siya towards the storeroom at the back of the house.
"Aunt, please, not the storeroom! I promise I won't come late again!" Siya cried, her voice breaking as she clung to the doorframe, her desperate attempts to escape futile.
But Taiji wasn't listening. With one swift motion, she slapped Siya hard across the face, the sting of the impact leaving Siya shocked and hurt. She stumbled, barely keeping her balance.
"You will stay in here the whole night without food. Maybe then you'll learn to respect the rules of this house," Taiji said coldly, locking Siya inside the dark, cramped room.
Inside, the air was thick and suffocating. The floor was cold beneath Siya's feet, and she curled up in a corner, her body trembling from the shock and the overwhelming loneliness. Tears streamed down her face as she hugged her knees to her chest, her mind spinning with despair.
"Why does this always happen to me, Shivji?
" she whispered through her tears, her voice cracking with anguish.
"Today is the day I prayed for my parents, and yet this is how it ends.
If only they were still here, none of this would have happened.
You called them to you, Shivji. Why didn't you call me too?
I have no one... no one loves me. Why don't you call me to you?
I am tired... I can't take this anymore. "
The hunger gnawed at her stomach, but the emotional pain was worse. The memories of her parents flooded her mind—her mother's gentle touch, her father's comforting voice—and now, they were just ghosts in her life, leaving her to endure this suffering alone.
Meanwhile, in the other part of the house, Meenakshi and Suresh sat at the dining table with Natasha, enjoying a lavish dinner ordered from a restaurant. They laughed and shared stories, completely unaware or indifferent to Siya's torment.
After finishing her meal, Meenakshi casually placed the dishes in the sink, not once considering to check on Siya. "She'll clean up tomorrow morning," Meenakshi thought dismissively. "If I do it, my nails will get ruined."
As the house fell silent and everyone went to bed, Siya remained locked in the storeroom, her body weak from hunger, her heart heavy with sadness. She eventually drifted off into a fitful sleep, curled up on the cold floor, feeling utterly alone in the darkness.