Chapter-59
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The courtroom buzzed with a thick tension—like the air itself was holding its breath.
A heavy silence had followed the chaos of the past two weeks, and now, it had all come down to this moment. The final hearing.
Inside the wood-paneled courtroom, the judge sat behind his elevated bench, his face unreadable, glasses perched low on his nose as he reviewed the documents before him.
On one side stood Aarushi—her hands tightly clasped together, wrists tense, shoulders stiff, dressed in a simple kurti.
Her eyes were glued to the floor, not daring to lift and meet the gaze that she knew had been on her the entire time.
Abhimanyu.
He sat in the front row behind Meera, straight-backed, calm-faced, but his jaw was clenched and his eyes... his eyes hadn't left Aarushi once.
He watched her every breath, every flicker of emotion, as though he was willing her to feel his presence, his truth, and his silent plea for forgiveness.
Both families sat behind them in two separate rows—Rathores and Sharmas....Bade Papa, Badi Maa, Chacha, Aryan, Vivan... and on the other side, Sid and Rohan beside his parents. Everyone held their breath.
Meera stood in the center of the courtroom with practiced poise, her black coat sharp, her voice steady, confident, and professional as she addressed the judge.
"Your Honour," she said, her voice carrying through the room with grace and authority, "in light of the new confession submitted and recorded before this court today, along with all supporting evidence reviewed during the investigation, it is clear beyond doubt that my client, Mrs. Aarushi Rathore, is not guilty of the murder of Home Minister Vishnu Shekhawat. "
She glanced briefly at Aarushi, her expression softening just a little before she continued.
"The real culprit, Mr. Aakash Malhotra, has not only confessed to his crimes but also provided detailed accounts of how he framed Mrs. Rathore with falsified evidence."
"It is important to note that Mr. Aakash committed these crimes in collaboration with his father, Mr. Arjun Rathore, who is currently serving a sentence in jail for prior convictions of murder and financial fraud."
"Together, they orchestrated this entire conspiracy in an attempt to defame and destroy both Aarushi Rathore and Mr. Abhimanyu Rathore, and by extension, the Rathore legacy."
There was a quiet murmur across the courtroom. Flashes from media reporters outside flickered through the stained windows. The judge held up his hand and silence resumed.
Meera exhaled quietly and continued, "Furthermore, Your Honour, as to the rumors of divorce proceedings between Mr. Abhimanyu Rathore and Mrs. Aarushi Rathore—let me clarify that those actions were strategic and necessary."
"My client’s husband had no intention of separating from her. His public stance was a calculated move to protect her life and uncover the truth without alerting the real culprits. Every decision made was to ensure her safety and expose the conspiracy against her."
She stepped back slightly, her eyes meeting the judge’s directly now. "With all due respect, Your Honour, the evidence, the confession, and the circumstances all point to one truth—Mrs. Aarushi Rathore is innocent and was a victim of a deeply premeditated conspiracy. I rest my case."
Meera returned to her seat. A long, still moment followed.
The judge scribbled something in his notes, adjusted his spectacles, then looked up, his deep voice resonating through the courtroom.
"After a thorough review of all evidence, witness testimonies, and the official confession of Mr. Aakash Malhotra," the judge began, "this court finds Mrs. Aarushi Rathore not guilty of the charges levied against her. She is hereby acquitted of all accusations."
Aarushi’s eyes slowly blinked and sighed listening him. Her chest trembled, lips parted in a shaky exhale, but she still didn’t look at him.
Abhimanyu’s shoulders finally relaxed. He exhaled sharply, his fists resting on his thighs as he looked down for the first time, emotion clouding his vision.
The judge continued, "This court sentences Mr. Aakash Malhotra to life imprisonment under sections of criminal conspiracy, falsification of evidence, and first-degree murder."
"Additionally, Mr. Arjun Rathore’s existing sentence will be extended with further charges for aiding and abetting this crime from within prison. He will now be held under maximum security remand."
He struck the gavel.
"The case is closed.This court is adjourned"
The room erupted. Reporters outside began speaking. Flashbulbs burst against the glass. Chairs scraped against marble floors as people stood.
It was over.
At least, this chapter was.
She took a deep breath, her expression unreadable, poised with the kind of grace only pain could mold.
The courtroom buzzed in the aftermath of the verdict, but her eyes were fixed ahead, searching, needing, aching.
As soon as she stepped out of the witness panel, she saw—her family, all waiting anxiously, their eyes already glistening as they stood up.
Abhimanyu moved towards her direction but she walked right past him, not even sparing him a glance.
He stood there, frozen.
His hands twitched by his sides, aching to reach out, but she moved right by him as if he were invisible. As if he didn’t exist. And in that moment, it crushed him. The silence from her was louder than any scream.
Aarushi ran into her mother’s arms. Her mother broke down completely, hugging her tightly like she’d never let go.
"Meri bacchi...I’m so sorry bete.... I couldn’t do anything earlier..."her mother said.
Aarushi smiled, tired and broken, burying her face into her mother’s neck, breathing her in like home.
Her father pulled her next, his arms trembling as they wrapped around her. "You’re safe now. That’s all that matters."
Rohan came forward next, eyes red, jaw clenched. He hugged her tightly without a word..She smiled in his embrace.
Sid, her best friend, broke the emotional tension with a teary grin. "So jailbird... got your freedom back, huh? Next time, let's avoid murder trials for fun, okay?"
Aarushi laughed, despite the pain, and hugged him. "Idiot."
Behind them, the Rathore family stood quietly. Bade Papa stepped forward slowly. His face was wrinkled with guilt.
He placed his hand gently over her head and stroked her hair. "I’m sorry, beta... I failed you. As a father, as a guardian... I should’ve fought harder."
Aarushi looked up at him, her eyes glassy. "No Bade Papa... don’t say sorry. The situation... it was just too much. You did what you thought was right. That’s all any of us could do."
Badi Ma approached next, arms open, hesitant. "Aarushi... I... we wanted to come. We tried. But––"
Aarushi cut her off gently, placing a hand over hers. "You don’t have to explain anything. I understand. It was never easy."
Aryan and Vivaan stepped beside her . "We missed you bhabhi" Vivaan said.
Aryan raised an eyebrow, grinning. "I hope you didn’t forget about me... I mean, I’m pretty unforgettable, right?."
Aarushi smiled lightly, grateful for the normalcy." How can I forget you....I missed you all"
As the room buzzed with conversations, laughter, and quiet sobs, Abhimanyu stood frozen, a silent observer in a world that seemed to forget he was even there.
He watched them— his loved ones—each moment of their shared grief a reminder of how far he had fallen from their grace.
His heart bled silently, each unspoken word from them cutting deeper. They were angry, betrayed by his actions, and they couldn’t bring themselves to forgive him—not until Aarushi did. And in that painful silence,
Abhimanyu remained, wishing for a chance to explain to Aarushi to earn her forgiveness, to make it right.
His heart felt like it was being clawed from the inside. Every second she ignored him, it tore him apart.
Her silence was louder than any scream, her refusal to acknowledge his presence more brutal than any slap.
His chest ached, his throat dry, his hands cold despite the warmth of the afternoon heat. He had dreamt of this moment for days—seeing her walk out of that hellhole, free. But this is completely different from his dream.
Then, with her voice calm but distant, Aarushi turned slightly toward the Rathore family and announced, "I want to spend some time with my parents. I hope you don’t have any problem.."
Badi Ma hesitated, glancing at Abhimanyu. Her face tensed for a second, unsure, but then she nodded softly. "No, it’s fine… they’re your parents. You should spend time with them."
The words didn’t echo loudly, but their impact hit Abhimanyu like a wrecking ball.
His heart clenched so tightly it felt like something inside him was tearing apart. She wasn’t going home with him.
She wasn’t returning to their world. She was walking away again. And this time, he didn’t know how long it would take to get her back.
Every beat of his heart screamed her name, but his lips stayed shut as Rudra came closer.
"Abhimanyu,"Rudra called softly.
He dragged his eyes away from Aarushi, whose back was now turned to him, speaking quietly to her mother. He moved aside and nodded at Rudra. "Yeah?"
“Media is going crazy. I was asking... should I arrange the press conference for today or tomorrow?" Rudra asked, watching his face closely.
Abhimanyu looked down, inhaled a sharp breath, and closed his eyes for a moment. "Later. I need to talk to Aarushi first. And… clear the media from outside the court. I don’t want her to be swarmed with questions the moment she steps out. Make sure it’s all gone."
Rudra nodded, seeing how Abhimanyu’s eyes darted back toward her.As the family already left , Aarushi was now speaking to Meera, he began walking toward them as he wants to talk to her alone.
Meera smiled gently at Aarushi, her tone kind. "It’s my job. I’m just glad an innocent person didn’t get punished."
Aarushi’s lips curved faintly, politely. "Still ,Thank you so much."
Abhimanyu reached them and stood behind Aarushi trying to get her attention. She knew it. She could feel his presence like a storm looming behind her. But she didn’t turn.
Meera’s eyes sparkled looking at him . She looked at both of them and said, "Honestly, it wasn’t that difficult to gather the evidence, thanks to Abhimanyu and Rudra’s help."
Aarushi noticed the subtle shift in her demeanor in presence of Abhimanyu but chose not to say a word.She just nodded her head acknowledging her words.
"Baby I want to talk to you....alone , Please "Abhimanyu said gently to her.
She thanked Meera again and replied, "I should go now. Everyone must be waiting."
With that, she turned and began walking. Abhimanyu followed her quickly, desperate.
"Jaan… listen, please. Just give me a minute," he pleaded, his voice breaking.
They reached the secluded back corridor. It was quiet. Empty.
She stopped.
Abhimanyu’s heart leapt, hope flickering. "Baby, please come home with me," he whispered, stepping closer.
"I’m sorry. I know–I should’ve protected you better. I should’ve fought harder. I accept it—everything was my fault. But please, don’t go… come home with me"
"If you have a problem with me, I’ll keep my distance. I won’t come near you. But... just come home. It doesn’t feel like home without you. Hell, it doesn’t feel like anything without you."
"I didn’t–I never wanted to leave you, jaan" his voice was barely a whisper, like he was afraid of shattering even the air between them.
"I died every second I had to stay away. Every cruel word I said… it wasn’t real.
It was an act to protect you. To keep them from hurting you further. Please believe me."
She stared at him for a moment—eyes flickering with pain, love, betrayal, and exhaustion—all at once.
"But it was real," she murmured. "Because no matter the reason, you let me face it alone. You didn’t visit. You didn’t call. I thought I was abandoned. By the one person I thought would never do that."
He closed his eyes, as if the weight of her words physically hurt him. "I couldn’t risk anyone seeing me near you. I couldn’t risk them knowing I was still fighting for you. It was the only way to get him to feel safe enough to slip up.I needed you safe first"
"I wasn’t safe,"she said "I was scared. I was broken. And worst of all—I thought you didn’t love me anymore."
His eyes filled with moisture, lips trembling. "I love you. More than anything. I’ve loved you through every lie I had to tell. Through every second of silence. Through every ache in my chest when you weren’t beside me."
Her eyes finally met his, really met his—and his heart twisted at the pain swimming in hers.
"I believe that you love me," she whispered, "but love doesn’t fix everything, Mr Rathore. Sometimes love isn’t enough when trust is broken."
He stepped closer, afraid to breathe. "Then let me earn it back. One day at a time. I’ll wait. I’ll fight. Just don’t shut me out. Don’t walk away like this. Not like this.I will do everything you say"
She turned her face away, swallowing hard.
"I’m not saying forever," she said, voice tight. "I just need time. To breathe. To feel like myself again. To be with people who didn’t leave when the world turned dark."
His throat closed up. "I didn’t leave... I just hid in the dark so I could fight the monsters in it."
The silence between them crackled, too full of unspoken feelings, of wounds too fresh to touch.
"I know," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "But I still bled alone. I need this, and if you truly care about me, you'll let me go."
He looked up and slowly held her hand, his eyes red, pleading, full of pain he could no longer hide. "When will you come back?"
"I’ll come back. When I’m ready. If I’m ready. But for now... I need space. Please let me have it."She said.
That broke him. That single sentence.
He looked at her as if she was the only thing in the entire universe that mattered… and she was walking away from him again.
"I'll try to earn your forgiveness," he promised, his voice thick with regret.
But Aarushi’s eyes remained cold, her expression unreadable. "Now... it doesn’t matter," she whispered.
She glanced down at his hand still holding hers, the warmth of his touch a stark contrast to the coldness settling between them. Slowly, he caressed her palm, his fingers trembling as they traced the delicate lines, as if trying to memorize the feel of her skin.
His thumb gently tilted her hand upward, a silent plea in his eyes—he wanted to kiss it, to feel some connection, even if only for a fleeting moment.
"Can I…?" he asked, his voice barely more than a breath, full of hope.
She met his gaze, her eyes clouded with pain, torn between what her heart ached to do and what she knew she couldn’t. After what felt like an eternity, she whispered, "No."
His heart splintered, the last fragile thread of hope snapping like a broken string.
"I—I’m sorry," he murmured, his voice raw, and slowly, as if each movement cost him a piece of himself, he released her hand, letting it fall away like a forgotten dream.
She turned without another word and Abhimanyu took some deep breaths to compose himself and walked outside behind her.
Outside, the Rathore family stood in tense silence, waiting. Aarushi approached them, her mother handed her a small packet containing the mangalsutra and ring.
She slowly took the packet and clutched it tightly, her fingers trembling as she walked towards Abhimanyu.
For a brief, heavy moment, their eyes locked—an ocean of unspoken words passing between them. Then, slowly, as if each step cost her something she couldn’t afford, she placed the packet into his hands.
Abhimanyu stared down at it, confusion and panic flooding his chest. "Why are you giving me this?" His voice cracked. "It’s yours… it’s not like you’re leaving me, right?"
Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, the pain evident in every line of her face. "Yeah, I’m not leaving you completely," she said softly, the words like a knife to his heart. "Just like you didn’t... I just... I don’t feel like wearing them now."
Abhimanyu opened his mouth, desperate to say something—anything—but before he could, Aarushi turned away, refusing to hear him. She walked past him, her back to him, and every step felt like a silent rejection.
Rohan pulled up with the car, and Aarushi, without a word, said her goodbyes to her in-laws.
Meera and Rudra stood quietly nearby, both eyes on Abhimanyu. They saw how he clutched the packet in his hands, as though it were the last connection to her, the only piece of her he had left in the world.
Badi Ma couldn’t hold herself back any longer; she started to move toward him, her heart aching for both of them.
But before she could take another step, Bade Papa placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, his voice soft but firm. "Let’s go home."
Aryan and Vivaan exchanged a brief glance, their faces a mixture of sorrow and understanding.
They stepped away, not knowing what more could be said, their expressions filled with helplessness as they left Abhimanyu to face the weight of his own heartache.
Abhimanyu stood frozen, a man shattered by his own choices. Yes, he had saved her—but at what price? The woman he loved, the woman who had once trusted him, now looked at him like a stranger. The weight of guilt pressed down on him, threatening to crush him from the inside.
Rudra stepped up beside him, his presence a silent offering of support. He placed a gentle hand on Abhimanyu's shoulder, his voice soft but firm. "Abhimanyu… be strong. She’ll understand—"
"I don’t want to hear it," Abhimanyu snapped, his voice icy, devoid of the warmth it once held. The control in his tone was the only thing holding him together.
Without another glance at Rudra, he continued, his steps deliberate. "Arrange the press conference. Two hours. I’ll be in the office."
And just like that, he turned, walking away with the heavy burden of his own broken heart, each step echoing the weight of the choices that had led him here.
The moment I stepped off that stage, the noise of the press room dissolved into a distant hum.
My steps echoed down the marble corridor, each one heavier than the last. I had said everything I needed to—maybe even more. But it felt like I had only ripped the scab off a wound that was nowhere close to healing.
Everything was out now. The truth. My truth.
That I loved her. That I always had. That everything I did—was nothing more than an act to keep her safe. And now, the world knew everything.....
I reached my cabin and pushed the door open. The silence inside hit harder than I expected.
The soft hum of the AC, the faint scent of old files the untouched bottle of water on the table—it was all so normal, so painfully unchanged, as if the world hadn’t just collapsed around me.
I sat down in my chair slowly, leaning back, closing my eyes for just a second. My entire body ached with exhaustion, but my mind... my mind wouldn't stop.
Just then, the door creaked open.
I didn’t need to look up to know it was Rudra.
He walked in quietly, taking the seat across from me. We didn’t speak for a few seconds. He just sat there, studying me like he always did—calm, composed, but eyes filled with silent concern.
I opened my eyes and said "Thanks… for everything you did. For helping her, for helping me. For staying by my side"
Rudra didn’t reply immediately. He just looked at me, then nodded once, his expression unreadable.
"You should go home " I said after a moment,."Get some rest."
Rudra leaned back, eyes narrowing at me. "What about you?" he asked quietly. "You look like hell, Abhimanyu . Since Aarushi got arrested, you haven’t slept properly, you haven’t eaten, you haven’t—" he paused, searching my face— "you aren't you anymore"
I swallowed hard, forcing my gaze to the side. "What home?" I whispered in my mind.
She was my home. My peace. My reason to wake up, to fight, to smile… and I lost her.
The weight of that truth settled over the room like a thundercloud—silent, dark, and suffocating.
I turned to him, mustering a faint smile that didn’t reach my eyes. "Leave it. Go get some rest."
Rudra didn’t move. He didn’t say anything for a moment, just studied me with the quiet patience of someone who’d seen too much to be fooled by surface-level lies.
Finally, he spoke. "Abhimanyu… I know what you’re doing.
You don’t have to wear that mask with me.
I’ve been watching you ever since Aarushi got arrested.
You’re holding it all in—the pain, the guilt, the grief.
You’re piling it inside yourself like sandbags against a flood. But it’s going to break you."
His voice was soft. Not accusing. Not dramatic. Just… real.
"No matter how strong you pretend to be, emotions like that don’t vanish. They fester. They rot. And one day, they’ll choke you from the inside out."
I stared down at my hands, clenched tight around the armrest as if they were the only thing tethering me to the ground.
"I’m okay,"I said, barely above a whisper , more like to myself. "She just… needs time."
He sighed and stood up to leave but paused and asked "And… what about him?"
I didn’t have to ask who he meant.
Arjun.
My tormentor. My ghost.
The man who orchestrated every inch of my suffering, of hers. The man who raised me in shadows, then punished me when I dared to seek light.
My jaw clenched automatically at the thought of him. I leaned back, shutting my eyes again.
"I don't need any answers .I don’t want to meet him," I said flatly.
Rudra didn’t respond, waiting silently.
"It won’t change anything," I continued. "That man… he’s never seen me as his son. He’s hated me since I can remember. And after everything he did… after how far he went—using Aakash, framing Aarushi, trying to destroy what little I had left…"
"He’ll always hate me. That won’t change. And I’ve given up trying to understand why a long ago."
Rudra nodded quietly. "Alright. I just… needed to ask."
He walked toward the door but paused with his hand on the knob. "Take care of yourself, Abhimanyu"
I didn’t answer, and he didn’t wait. The door clicked shut behind him and with it, the last trace of comfort left the room.
Silence rushed in like a tide, crashing hard and unforgiving against every inch of me.
I sat there, motionless, staring at the space he’d just occupied, my chest rising and falling slowly, mechanically—like I was teaching myself how to breathe again.
But breathing… hurt.
The air felt too heavy. The walls too close. The desk too clean. And my heart—God, my heart was like a thousand tiny knives scraping from the inside out.
I closed my eyes, pressing my fingers against them, trying to hold everything in.
Every tear that threatened to fall. Every thought that clawed at my sanity. Every image of her face as she walked away from me… after being proven innocent.
I should’ve been the first person she ran to. But I was the one she walked away from.
And I deserved every second of it.
I told the world today that I loved her. That I always had. That I left her for her own safety. But what I didn’t tell them… was how much it killed me.
Every second without her has been a slow, relentless death. I kept telling myself I had to be strong. That this isn't over.
That I couldn’t afford to break… not yet. But in moments like this, when there was no press, no plan, no mask––
I was just a man with blood on his hands.
Not hers. But the blood of every memory I ruined.
I sat there, palms flat on the desk. My throat burned. My eyes stung.
Don’t cry. Don’t slip. You have a long way to go. You have to pay for this. You have to earn her back.
Forgiveness wasn't a given. It was a distant mountain I had to climb barefoot, with every thorn reminding me of what I’d done.
I opened my eyes and glanced at the clock. Almost 10:15 p.m.
She must be home by now. Maybe had dinner.
I reached for my phone on reflex, fingers slow, cautious—as if I was holding a live wire. The screen lit up, and there it was:
Her.
The wallpaper.
Her laugh frozen in time.
That day—our first month anniversary.
The one I clicked , her eyes squinted from the sun, and that shy smile that melted everything inside me.
God, she was beautiful.
And she was happily mine.
And I ruined everything....
I swallowed hard, then opened her contact. My thumb hovered over the call button.
Would she even want to hear my voice?
But the silence was too loud.
I needed to hear something… anything from her even a rejection would be okay now.....
I tapped the call icon.
Ring... Ring... Ring...
No answer.
I stared at the screen for a second before pressing call again.
Ring... Ring...
Still nothing.
She wasn’t going to pick up. Of course she wasn’t.
Still, I opened our chat. My fingers hesitated over the keyboard.
Then slowly… painfully… I typed:
I stared at the message for a second. Then typed another.
I waited, pulse thudding in my ears.
Seconds passed.
Then—
Seen.
Online.
My breath caught.
I stared at the screen, waiting for her to type something but.....
No.
She just... went offline.
No reply.
I stared at the glowing screen, my mind spiraling. I typed again, something—anything.
"Are you okay…?"
"I know I lost every right to ask. But I just wanted to hear your voice."
Delivered.
No blue ticks this time. No sign of her coming back online.
I placed the phone face down on the desk and leaned back in the chair, my head resting against the leather, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
What should I do?
How do I begin to make this right?
How do you ask for forgiveness when you know you don’t deserve it?
She gave me everything—her heart, her trust, her light.
And I gave her nothing but silence in return.