Chapter -53
The sun had just begun its lazy descent, casting a warm golden hue over the school courtyard.
Aarushi stood beside her desk, meticulously packing the last of her belongings into her bag.
The faint scent of chalk and paper still lingered in the room, mingling with the crisp perfume she'd worn that morning. The students had long gone, their chatter replaced by a comforting silence. School was over-for the day, and for the term.
She zipped up her bag just as the door creaked open.
"All set for leaving, Mam?" came Arun's voice, light and cheerful, as he stepped into the room.
He wasn't alone-Priya was beside him, clutching her own bag and tapping rapidly on her phone.
Aarushi looked up and smiled. "Yes,can't wait to go home after a tiring day"
When she'd first met Arun, she'd thought he was a little... offbeat. Maybe too cheerful, too quirky.
But as weeks passed, she realized he had a knack for making people laugh, especially the students. He was helpful, unbothered by school politics, and always tried to ease the tension in the teacher's lounge with his silly puns and jokes.
Priya's phone rang suddenly, a familiar ringtone. She gasped. "My brother's here-I gotta go bye...." she chirped, already darting toward the door with her bag.
As the door closed behind Priya, Aarushi and Arun exited the staffroom together, their footsteps echoing lightly in the hallway.
It had been two weeks since that night. Her arm, which had been bruised, had finally healed completely.
Yet every time she tried to ask Abhimanyu who the bikers were or why they'd targeted them, he brushed it off.
"Don't stress that little brain of yours," he'd say, ruffling her hair.
She rolled her eyes every time he said it. Little brain, my foot. I probably have bigger brain than him.
As they stepped out into the sunlight, Arun pulled out his bike keys. "I didn't think anyone came to pick you today. Want me to drop you?"
Aarushi shook her head quickly. "No, it's okay. I'll just take the bus. Don't worry, sir."
Arun insisted once more, but she politely declined again, and finally, with a playful shrug, he climbed onto his bike and rode off.
As she watched his bike disappear around the corner, Aarushi's phone buzzed-a simple message from her driver.
I'm at the next street, ma'am.
With a small smile, she adjusted her nag, crossed the short distance, and climbed into the waiting car that would take her back to home.
After some time ~
The grand gates of the mansion opened smoothly, revealing the familiar view.
Aarushi stepped out of the car, already feeling the slight ache in her feet from a day spent walking around school.
Inside, the house was quiet. Almost too quiet.
There was no chatter, no rustle of newspapers from the living room. No sign of Aaryan and Vivaan bickering over the TV remote either - the house felt oddly still. Everyone had stayed home today due to scheduled power maintenance that had shut down the office systems.
She walked into the kitchen, where the aroma of masala and something sweet lingered in the air.
"You came back," the elderly maid greeted her warmly.
Aarushi returned the smile. "Yes, just now. Where is everyone?"
"Everyone just went to their rooms after lunch," the maid replied, wiping her hands on her apron. "Would you like me to get you something to eat?"
Aarushi took a glass of water and shook her head gently. "I'm not in the mood; I had a late lunch."
With a brief farewell, she climbed the staircase and headed toward her room.
She pushed the bedroom door open and let out a long breath as she entered. The day had been endless - filled with rehearsals, glitter explosions, and kids who had more energy than logic. All she wanted now was a quiet minute... and him.
There he was - lounging on their bed, one hand behind his head, scrolling through his phone with that relaxed air he wore only at home. He looked up the second he heard her, his expression instantly softening.
"My wife is back," he said with a smile that made her heart flip.
Aarushi dropped her bag onto the chair and groaned. "Your wife is dead tired."
He chuckled. "Come here, my tired wifey."
She walked over, and he pulled her gently down onto the bed, settling her into his lap. Her arms wrapped around his neck, her face buried in the crook of his shoulder.
He kissed her hair. "Rough day?"
She sighed. "Long. Chaotic. But... kinda fun."
"What happened?" he asked, caressing her back.
Aarushi leaned back and started talking animatedly. "You remember I told you we're prepping for the function? Today was a full rehearsal. The kids were adorable but completely hyper - ran all over the place. Priya, Sana, and I were literally chasing them around."
Abhimanyu smiled as he listened. "So basically, you were a shepherd, and the school turned into a zoo."
"Exactly," she laughed. "But it turned out nice. The decorations were finally done. The lights were acting up, but Arun sir fixed it."
Abhimanyu's smile faltered just slightly.
Aarushi continued, oblivious. "And Arun also managed the mic situation. I don't know how he knows all this tech stuff, but he was super helpful. Even handled the class 5 kids while I coordinated backstage. Priya and I were so relieved because of him."
"Wow," Abhimanyu muttered. "Super helpful Arun. What a guy."
"Hm?" Aarushi tilted her head.
"Nothing," he said a little too quickly. "Just wondering if Arun's planning to start a side hustle-maybe wedding planning, kids' party hosting, or a full-time savior of all female teachers."
She blinked. "Wait. What?"
Abhimanyu looked at her innocently. "No, no. Go on. What else did Arun the Great do today?"
She tilted her head, a teasing smile forming. "Wait a second... are you jealous?"
He gave her an offended look. "Me? Jealous of that overly-smiley, loud-laughing, attention-hogging, wannabe-charmer? No."
Aarushi giggled, already loving where this was going. "You're definitely jealous."
He made a face like even the name offended his existence. "Please. That man looks like a discount side character from a shampoo ad. And what kind of name is Arun anyway? So boring."
"He's nice," Aarushi said innocently, deliberately poking the fire. "He helped carry Priya a lot today and even offered to drop me home."
Abhimanyu sat up straighter, arms tightening around her. "Excuse me? He offered to drop you?"
"Yeah," she said casually, teasing. "I made an excuse, but he insisted a little. It was sweet."
"Sweet," Abhimanyu repeated, visibly offended now. "Next time, tell him your husband drives an Aston Martin and can afford a helicopter ride if needed. We don't need sweet."
Aarushi burst out laughing.
He narrowed his eyes and continued. "Do you even know how his hairline is receding faster than his usefulness?"
"You noticed his hairline?" she gasped.
"I noticed everything when I came to pick you up two days ago - the way he was being overly friendly with you. Honestly, it was pathetic."
She bit her lip, trying not to laugh. "He's just a teacher. My colleague."
"You've said his name four times since entering the room, baby," he said with mock seriousness.
"You're keeping a count?" she asked, amused.
"Yes. We're at Arun: 4, Abhi: 0. You see where my concerns lie? I'm being neglected." He complained.
"Arun was just helping with the event, Abhi. That's literally it."
"Helping my wife far too much for someone with such questionable hair gel," Abhimanyu muttered, eyes narrowing.
Aarushi laughed harder. "Now his hair gel is a problem?"
"Yes. I don't trust anyone who uses that much gel and still calls himself 'sir' in casual conversation."
"Seriously?" She shook her head, barely believing him. In just one day, he had noticed details she hadn't paid any attention to - the gel, the hairline, the way he spoke.
"You are so possessive," she whispered fondly.
He smirked. "I know."
She wrapped her arms around him again, resting her head on his chest. "But you don't have to be. I only belong to you."
Abhimanyu stayed quiet for a moment, his fingers slowly running up and down her back. Then, in a low, brooding tone, he muttered, "Still... for the record, I hate Arun."
Aarushi snorted. "You hated Pillu last week."
"I still do," he replied, shooting a dramatic glare toward the plush green dinosaur sitting stiffly on the nearby couch - looking oddly dignified despite his oversized eyes and soft belly.
"You banned him from the bed," she said with mock accusation.
"I did. He's been flirting with you in his creepy silent dinosaur way."
She gave him a flat look. "He's a plush toy, Abhi."
"Exactly" he said, as if that explained everything. "No competition... unless he grows real legs."
Aarushi turned to glance at the poor stuffed dinosaur. "He's been lying in the same spot all week. Looks heartbroken."
"Don't make it sound like I emotionally abandoned your support dinosaur," Abhimanyu groaned.
"You have. He used to sleep next to me. Now he's been... exiled. Like an unwanted guest."
He rolled his eyes" "Unwanted? Jaan, I relocated him for the survival of our marriage."
Her eyebrows shot up. "Excuse me?"
Abhimanyu sat up a bit, looking deadly serious. "Yes. Because every time I try to kiss you, guess whose creepy little button eyes are burning a hole through my soul from across the room?"
Aarushi blinked... then started laughing. "No way-"
"Yes" he exclaimed, pointing dramatically like he was making a courtroom argument. "That guy. Pillu. The prehistoric cockblocker. The third wheel I never asked for."
"Oh my god,"she wheezed.
"I'm telling you, Tuesday night? I leaned in to kiss your shoulder, and suddenly my eyes flicked to the sofa-and bam, there he was. Staring at me. Judging me. I froze mid-move like I was caught doing something illegal."
"And don't even get me started on how we gave him a life partner-the pink one. Romantic distraction. Emotional support. Everything. But no. He's still stuck on you like a toxic ex."
"I think," Aarushi said in a syrupy tone, "you're just mad because Pillu has better emotional intelligence than you."
Abhimanyu raised an eyebrow, mock offended. "Better emotional intelligence? Really?"
She gave him a saintly smile. "Well, he don't sulk. No tantrums. No jealous glaring. Unlike someone, who threatened to banish him to the balcony just for existing."
He crossed his arms. "That someone happens to be your husband. A man emotionally scarred by the judgmental gaze of a green lump of fluff."
"You know he has button eyes, right?"
"Exactly. Cold. Lifeless. Judgy." His voice dropped like he was narrating a true-crime documentary. "Every time I so much as touch you, it's like he's screaming, 'Keep it PG, Rathore!' in silent dinosaur language."
Aarushi bit her lip to control her smile and said "Maybe he just knows who the real man in this relationship is."
The room shifted.
Abhimanyu's gaze sharpened, playful darkness flickering in his eyes. "Oh?"
She leaned back slowly, expression smug. "I mean, Pillu doesn't glare. Doesn't interrupt. And he never complains when I talk about my day."
That did it.
Abhimanyu growled under his breath and lunged, wrapping his arms around her and flipping her onto the bed like she weighed nothing. She squealed through her laughter, breath catching as her back hit the mattress.
He hovered above her, arms braced on either side of her, eyes dancing with mock outrage. "Take that back."
She bit her lip, clearly enjoying herself. "I mean... Pillu does cuddle better."
His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, his nose brushing against hers. "Then maybe I should show you how a real man cuddles. With a little less polyester stuffing and a lot more heat."
And then he kissed her - with all the mock vengeance and possessive warmth of someone who fully intended to erase every trace of a certain plush green dinosaur from her memory.
Next day ~
Abhimanyu's phone buzzed once.
"We got approval. 9:30."
He stared at the message for a moment, unreadable. The corners of his mouth shifted ever so slightly - perhaps a frown, perhaps just thought.
Then he looked at the clock.
Without a word, he grabbed his keys and stepped out of the room. The soft click of the door shutting behind him was swallowed by silence.
Elsewhere...
The heavy thud of boots echoed through the cold corridor of Tihar Jail.
A guard approached the farthest high-security cell, stopping before iron bars cloaked in shadows.
He peered in.
"Your son is here."
The man inside sat still for a beat, head bowed. Then slowly, he looked up, a small, sinister smile spreading across his face.
"Finally," Arjun murmured.
The door creaked open. He stood, composed, every movement deliberate. The shackles on his wrists barely made a sound as he followed the officer down the corridor.
They reached a glass-walled booth - divided by a thick pane, telephones mounted on either side. One chair was already occupied.
A man sat there, posture relaxed, black shirt crisp under a dark hoodie. Stubble traced a sharp jawline, and a watch on his wrist ticked faintly. His face tilted downward, unreadable.
Arjun took the opposite seat.
They locked eyes.
And without a word, both reached for the receiver.
"Breathing," Arjun replied flatly. "I've been waiting. You seem... occupied."
"Work stress," the younger one replied with a quiet chuckle. "You know how it is."
Arjun's gaze sharpened. "So? Everything set for the event?"
"Everything's in motion," the reply came, clipped and assured. "Final trigger just needs a push. Everyone's playing their part. The trail will lead exactly where we want it to."
Arjun's fingers tightened on the receiver.
"And... she suspects anything?"
The man smiled, slow and cold.
"She thinks she's safe. Loved. She trusts everyone easily."
Arjun gave a dry laugh. "That kind of trust is dangerous."
"And easy to weaponize," the younger man murmured. "No one suspects a thing - not her, not the others. I've played the role perfectly."
"And she'll be at the center of it?" Arjun asked.
"Front and center," he confirmed. "When it unfolds, she'll be the only name they whisper. The only face they'll remember. No matter what she says, no one will listen. The noise around her will be too loud."
Arjun's eyes gleamed, proud.
"And the others? Loose ends?"
"None. I've sealed everything. If anyone tries to dig, they'll find exactly what I planted - nothing more."
Arjun tilted his head slightly. "And you're sure?"
"I've already set the stage. The timing. The people. The story they'll believe. She'll think it's just another glittering night. But by the end of it, her world will collapse."
He paused.
"And she'll never even know who pulled the rug from under her."
Arjun studied him, a long pause stretching between them.
"You've done well," he said finally. "Would you show me her?"
Without hesitation, the man reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and turned the screen to the glass.
Aarushi's picture lit up - eyes bright, smile untouched by the shadow looming over her.
Arjun stared at the image for a moment, his face unreadable.
He leaned back, smile fading into something darker.
"But then I remember who she belongs to - and any sympathy disappears."
The younger man locked the phone and slipped it back into his pocket.
"It's fate," he said. "We suffered in silence for years. Now it's her turn. You can't fight fate."
Arjun exhaled, slow and heavy.
"Four more days."
The door creaked open.
"Sir. Time's up," the officer said.
The younger man stood slowly, placing the receiver back into its cradle with quiet precision.
He turned - but just as he did, his phone buzzed again.
He paused, pulled it out, glanced at the screen once.
And with a flick of his thumb, he silenced it.
No response. No expression.
He slipped it back into his pocket and walked out without looking back.
"See you soon, Dad."
Arjun gave him a nod, slow and approving.
"Bring me good news."
The booth emptied once again.
And behind the glass, Arjun leaned back in his chair, a devilish calm settling over his features.
He tapped a single finger against the table. Once. Twice. Thrice.
Tap... tap... tap...
The countdown had begun.
After some time ~
The door clicked open.
Abhimanyu stepped into the room with measured calm, though the air around him still carried the weight of something unspoken.
Aarushi stood near the dresser, her soft curls tumbling over her shoulder as she ran a comb through her hair. Her eyes found him in the mirror the moment he stepped in, and she turned around.
"Where were you?" she asked, voice gentle but edged with concern. "I was calling you. You didn't pick up."
Abhimanyu blinked, just for a second.
"I had to go to the office," he replied evenly.
Aarushi paused, the comb halted mid-stroke. "But... the office had a maintenance shutdown for three days."
Abhimanyu paused.
Just for a flicker of a moment, the mask slipped. But then he pulled it back on.
"I didn't mean the office building exactly,jaan" he clarified smoothly. "It was... work-related. Something urgent came up that I had to handle outside."
Aarushi tilted her head, brows furrowing as she processed his words. Her gaze was sharp now, questioning. Not angry-just watchful.
"But last night you were talking to Akash," she said slowly. "You said there's nothing scheduled for today. No meetings. That's why we decided to go to the temple, remember?"
Abhimanyu exhaled softly, walking a little deeper into the room. His movements were calm, but a tension lay just beneath the surface, like a string pulled too tight.
"It came up suddenly," he replied. "Last night, there was an urgent matter. I didn't think it needed discussion earlier, but I had to investigate."
His tone was even, his expression unreadable-but he could feel her eyes on him. She wasn't convinced. Not entirely.
There was a pause.
He could almost hear her thoughts ticking behind those steady eyes. And for a moment, he feared she might press further.
So, he pivoted.
"You're ready?" he asked, voice lighter now, brushing aside the lingering tension. His eyes moved over her appreciatively. "You look beautiful."
Aarushi blinked, slightly caught off guard by the shift.
Her grip on the comb loosened just a little. "Hmm?"
"I said you look beautiful," he repeated, his voice softer now, laced with something fond and familiar.
He stepped closer, placing his hand on her waist pulling her towards him " It was really work related baby nothing to worry about"
Aarushi gave him a look, half suspicion, half softness.
Abhimanyu leaned in just a little, his face hovering near hers, his tone turning playful.
"Don't run your mind in overdrive, my little detective," he murmured with a teasing glint in his eyes.
That made her lips twitch, despite herself.
He smirked, pleased by the flicker of a smile on her face.
"Let me go wash up before you start cross-examining me in full CID mode," he added dramatically, making her huff a little laugh.
Then, before she could respond again, he bent and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead-a lingering, soft gesture that warmed the space between them. And with that, he turned and headed toward the bathroom.
The door clicked shut behind him, leaving Aarushi staring at her reflection in the mirror... the smile still lingering, but not quite reaching her eyes.