Chapter - 76
At the dining table, she sat right next to me, but it felt like she was miles away.
Her presence was there... but not for me.
I kept stealing glances at her, hoping—just once—she'd look back. Just once.
But she didn't.
She quietly finished her breakfast and left for college without even saying a word.
No "bye", no look, nothing.
It was like... I didn't exist.
Dr. Arora had already told me Siya wanted to meet her in the afternoon.
And that was fine.
If she can't talk to me... at least she's talking to someone.
I went to my study room, and Rohan had already forwarded the CCTV footage of the party.
I opened my laptop and hit play.
I watched the screen carefully.
After I left Siya with Trisha, a waiter accidentally spilled some juice on Trisha's dress.
She left to clean it.
Siya... she looked confused.
She was looking around—left, right—her eyes searching for something...
No.
Her eyes were searching for me.
And then the footage showed me talking to Karan.
She stood there for a few seconds...
And then she walked away.
Just like that.
She didn't even hear everything.
Just a few lines.
A few words.
And she misunderstood everything.
I should have told her about Karan.
I wanted to.
But Dr. Mehra said not to give her too much at once...
So I waited.
I had planned to tell her after the party.
But now...
She found out before I could say anything.
And now, everything is messed up.
She thinks I lied, that I hid something important.
And worst part?
She's hurting... and still not talking to me about it.
I picked up my car keys, ready to go to her college.
But then I stopped.
Maybe she needs time.
Maybe if I give her space, she'll understand.
She will, right?
Still... what's killing me is not just the misunderstanding.
It's what happened this morning.
That nightmare.
I was there.
I saw her wake up screaming, clinging to me...
And then—pushing me away.
Running to the bathroom, locking herself in.
The look in her eyes... like I was a stranger.
She hasn't told me a single word about what she saw in that dream.
Did she remember something about her parents' death?
Or did she just forget it again like the other times?
Maybe she'll tell Dr. Arora.
Maybe she won't.
But today... I feel helpless.
And I hate feeling helpless.
It hurts...
It hurts to see my Siya, my angel, drowning in pain,
while I stand here... with no right to even hold her hand and say—
"I'm here. I will never hurt you."
~~~~~~
Dr. Arora came to meet me in my study after Siya's session.
Her face was serious, and I knew before she even spoke... I wasn't going to like what I heard.
"Rana sa," she began, "Rani sa is not opening up. Whatever she saw in her dream, how much she remembers or forgets—only she knows. There's too much going on in her mind right now. She herself doesn't know what she's doing or saying."
I leaned back in my chair, my voice low but firm.
"She didn't talk about anything? She didn't share anything at all?"
Dr. Arora shook her head. "She didn't mention the nightmare you told me about. And whatever else we spoke of... she asked me not to tell you. I'm sorry, but I can't break her trust."
My jaw tightened instantly. The anger was there—sharp, burning—but I swallowed it.
Because I knew... Dr. Arora was important to my angel.
If I snapped at her, I'd be hurting Siya indirectly.
Then she looked at me, her tone softer but with a warning edge.
"Rana sa, if she doesn't open up now, She might make decisions in this state that she could later regret.
She's confused between her brain and heart.
Right now, whatever she sees, she will believe.
.. or she may doubt. She is very emotional at the moment.
Try to talk to her before it's too late. "
With that, she left.
I sat back in my chair, staring at the wall.
Her words kept echoing—before it's too late.
I can't sit and wait for Siya to come to me. She won't. Not in this state.
If I leave her alone for too long, she'll build walls so high even I won't be able to break them.
I have to make a move. Not as "Aarav Singh Rathore" the world fears...
but as her Avi.
The man she once trusted without question.
The man who could make her smile with one word.
So I started planning...
How to reach her.
How to bring her back to me...
before I really lose her.
I sat on my bed with my books open in front of me, but the words weren't entering my head.
I tried reading the same line again and again, but nothing stayed.
My mind was too loud... too messy. And I didn't want to sit with Maa or anyone else.
What if I said something wrong? What if I hurt them with my thoughts? Better to stay alone.
Then came a soft knock. Maa.
She stepped in with her usual warm smile. "Siya beta, can you do me a favor?"
I quickly nodded. "Yes, Maa... what is it?"
"Janmashtami is coming in a few days. Could you buy some things for the NGO's children? I won't be able to go as I have another work—"
Before she could finish, I cut her softly, "It's okay Maa... I will go. Just tell me what I have to bring."
Maa's smile grew, and she said, "I'll send you the list on WhatsApp." She gave my cheek a small pat before leaving.
Soon, I was out with the driver Maa had sent. Not our usual kaka... he had gone home early. This one was new.
I didn't think much, just kept my phone in hand and went straight to the mall.
It took me almost two hours to get everything. The list was long. Some things I carried with me, others the shopkeeper promised to deliver to Rathore Palace directly. By the time I sat back in the car, I felt tired but a little lighter—at least I did something useful.
But after a while, my eyes shifted to the window. The road... it wasn't the way back home.
My chest tightened. I leaned forward, my voice nervous but trying to stay calm. "Why... why are you taking this road? This is not the way to Rathore Palace."
The driver didn't reply. Not a single word.
My throat went dry. My fingers clutched my dupatta tightly. The car's speed increased, and my heartbeat jumped with it. Fear ran through me like cold water.
"St-stop the car," I said in a shaky voice, almost pleading.
Still no response.
Now I raised my voice, desperate, "Stop the car! Please... stop!"
And suddenly... the car stopped.
My whole body froze. My breaths turned fast and shallow. My hands wouldn't stop trembling.
What was happening? Should I run... scream... or just sit here and pray?
Before I could decide, the driver opened his door. My heart almost jumped out of my chest when he came to the back seat. But then... he removed his fake beard.
My eyes widened.
"It's me... your Avi, angel," he said softly.
I blinked in disbelief, still clutching my dupatta tightly. He leaned a little closer and whispered, "Take a deep breath."
I did what he said, though my chest was still rising and falling too quickly.
"W...what are you doing here?" I stammered, my voice breaking a little.
He looked down for a moment, struggling for words. "I... that... I... you came with me."
I frowned, confused. But then I turned my head toward the window—and froze again. My parents' house.
The sight made my throat tighten. Slowly, I stepped out of the car. My feet felt heavy, as if every step carried years of memories.
The house... it looked different. When I last came here with Bhai three years ago, it was broken, dusty, abandoned. But now... there was a little grass, the walls were cleaner, the place felt alive again.
I walked around the side yard... and there it was. The old swing.
My heart ached as I brushed my hand over its rope before sitting down.
"You knew..." I whispered, my voice trembling. "It's my favorite place in the house. I used to swing when—"
I stopped. Words lodged in my throat. If I said it out loud, the memories would come rushing back, and I wasn't sure I could handle them.
"When...?" Avi asked gently, his eyes searching mine.
I quickly looked away, biting my lip. "Nothing," I muttered, standing up before my emotions betrayed me.
Without meeting his gaze, I hurried inside the house. My chest felt heavy, my mind already overthinking—why was he here? Why did he bring me here? And most of all... why did my heart feel like it was both breaking and healing at the same time?
I walked slowly, step by step, into every corner of the house.
Each wall... each window... each small thing whispered something from the past.
And suddenly, I wasn't here anymore. I was back then.
Little Siya... laughing and running around...
Dadda feeding me from his plate, Mom smiling, telling me not to make a mess...
All three of us sitting together, talking, teasing, sharing food.
My lips trembled, tears rolled down before I could even stop them. My heart felt so heavy, as if someone had placed a stone inside it. I sat in one corner of the room, hugging my knees, wishing I could go back to those days.
A moment later, Avi came and sat beside me. His presence made the air heavier.
"You can share with me, Siya," he said softly. "I'm here... your Avi is here with you."
I lifted my head, my eyes burning with tears, and before I could stop myself, the words came out sharp—
"So you can plan next what to do? And how to plant things in my life?"
His face fell. "You are taking it wrong, baby. Give me a chance, please... just hear me out."
I shook my head, my chest rising with anger and pain. "A chance? So you can say another lie to me?"
He reached out, trying to hold my hand, but I pulled it back quickly.
"Okay... okay," he said softly, his voice almost begging, "at least listen to me once, baccha. I wanted to tell you but—"
"When?" I cut him off, my voice breaking. "When did you want to tell me, Avi? When you already told me that you knew from the start that I was your bride, then why didn't you tell me this? I listened to you that day. I understood you. Then why didn't you tell me the whole truth at the same time?"
He lowered his eyes. "Siya, I—"
"No!" I snapped, wiping my tears harshly. "You never wanted to tell me the truth. If you wanted, you could have told me before. But you didn't. You gave me a life... a life that you wanted, where every person is there because you wanted."
My voice cracked as I continued, my words tumbling out between sobs.
"Do you know how happy I was... when I thought I had made friends?
I felt like finally... finally, I could feel the journey of friendship.
I thought they were with me because of me.
But no. They were with me because you hired them. "
I pressed my hand against my chest, my breaths coming faster.
"I was stressing... feeling guilty that I was lying to my friends.
And I told you that. But you... you didn't say a word.
And even they didn't say anything! And now I know why.
Because they already knew.
Everyone knew.
.. everyone except me. I was the only one. .. clueless."
My tears blurred my vision. My voice shook.
"I... it was just m... me."
Suddenly, my breathing turned heavy, uneven. My chest tightened like someone was pressing me down.
Avi's voice grew panicked. "Siya! Siya, listen... baby, breathe! Please!"
But his voice was fading. My chest kept tightening. I couldn't take it anymore. The tears blurred everything until... everything went black.