CHAPTER – 8
A bhyansh is sitting beside Isha on the bed holding her palm in his... he reminisced a sweet memory looking at his ring-clad finger...
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"Rana sa...", Isha entered his study with a child-like glee... the sparkle in her eyes made him instantly shut his laptop and concentrate wholly on his wife.
"Yes, may I know what made my Rani sa so happy??", Abhyansh asked with a small smirk and she nodded vigorously trying to hide the blush hearing his 'My' whenever he says my wife or my rani sa, it flutters her heart...
"Yes, you can ask, now ask", Isha said trying to contain her excitement... Abhyansh sighed, he hated talking that too unnecessarily but anything for his wife...
"Why are you so happyIsha??", he asked and she smiled widely before settling on his lap and hugging him tightly...
"Because I got you something and I'm very excited to show you", she said kissing his cheek... he held her in place wrapping his arms around her waist... he got a bit eager to see what his wife got him surprising himself, what he didn't know is the feeling he is experiencing is called excitement to see what his wife brought for him. A gift is really foreign, none really gave him to date. Many leaders and prominent men across the world tried to gift him one or the other thing but he always refused, they were more like a bribe expecting favours and he definitely didn't do favours against his values.
"What is it??", he asked in his usual cold tone, but her smile didn't falter even a bit, as she knew her husband, she didn't expect him to act all excited...
She took his right palm and made him wear a ring. A wide smile appeared on her face seeing it fitting his ring finger exactly...
"It looks great... don't take it off, consider this our engagement ring...", she said happily... he let out a small smile kissing her forehead and she let out a sigh in relief, huh that forehead kiss meant he liked it. She knew her husband is a man of few words and she is glad she could understand his gestures and body language... he looked at her expecting her to narrate the back story of how she thought of it so suddenly...
"One of my colleagues, is getting engaged, she wanted me and Ragini to help her choose her dress and jewellery, and we went to shopping in the second half, that's when I realized you didn't have any of the marital symbols like I do... I have this (showing her mangal sutra(nuptial chain) and toe rings but how do people know you are married, so I got this... now everyone will know you are married", she said slowly tightening her hold on him, trying hard to hide her possessiveness and Abhyansh smirked pulling her closer on his lap...
"So... Rani sa wants to claim me...", he said huskily nibbling the skin in between her neck and shoulder blade... Isha fisted his shirt closing her eyes tightly, hardly containing her moan...
"No, I just want people to know you are married, that's all", she said slowly opening her eyes when her husband paused his torture on her neck...
"Aha... okay... if you say so...", he said dropping soft kisses on her exposed back and neck...
"Rana sa...", she called trying to stop him but he is nowhere near stopping... "pleaseAnsh...not now...", she said fisting his hair, her actions contradicted her words but he stopped for now... and she is glad as well as disappointed but soon shook her thoughts away...
"You know, I feel like doing things you can't even imagine, hearing 'Ansh' from your mouth, none dared to call me by my name except for your mother-in-law, but when it comes from your mouth, it sounds so beautiful and sinful at the same time", he said taking her lips unable to control himself...she kissed him back though her brain kept warning her to leave as soon as possible as there is a lot of work in the kitchen but her body and heart ignored every rational thought when her husband was in the picture... Abhyansh left her mouth sensing her breathlessness, and before he could capture her lips again, she kept her palm on his mouth...
"You won't let me talk, that is why I won't sit in your lap if I had to talk to you", she complained and he smirked at his wife's complaint which he took as a compliment...
"But you enjoy it...", he said and she glared at him... what?? She isn't embarrassed, instead glaring at him?? Wife is improving, thought Abhyansh...
"I know you don't like to wear any kind of jewellery, that's why bought a very plain one... wear it only if you are comfortable... no compulsion...", she said leaning her head on his chest, while his rough fingers rubbed the exposed skin on her waist because of her saree...
"I'll wear it, I loved it... how did you know my size??", he asked her slowly untangling her hair which he messed up during their little make-out...
"Every time we are together, I hold your palms, even in sleep... it's weird but I had an estimate for your every finger...", she said playing with his fingers that were on her waist... "they are so rough but I like them a lot", she said, what she meant was she liked to hold them a lot, but her innocent words made his junior twitch...
"You'll like them more when I do a lot of things with these fingers...", he said making her frown...
"Huh?? What things??", she asked and he sighed, when will be the right time to explain his innocent wife??
"Rani sa... in that case, I should get you a ring too, an engagement ring", he said diverting the topic...
"No... I already have a ring, bhai gifted me this, I don't want to take it off, so no need, and you already gifted me a lot of things, I barely use them, so why waste money", she said shaking her head getting him mad...
"Will you ever use any of them?? Till when are you planning to stay like this Rani sa??", he asked, he wanted her to be his queen in all senses and he is really an impatient man...
"I will... when we solve all our issues and we have no secrets between us... I will... now don't get angry... please...", she said hugging him tighter as she feared her husband's anger...
"Sh... it's okay, you needn't be afraid of me... I will try to contain my anger, and I won't hurt you... you know it, don't you??", he said softly ruffling her hair, he hated it when his wife feared him...
"Hm... but still I'm scared when you are angry", Isha said nuzzling her head into his chest...
"Okay... okay, now don't be scared... I'm not angry...", he said pulling her closer...
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'I'm sorry, I failed to contain my anger...', he thought rubbing her palm with his ring-clad palm...
Hours passed, and it was afternoon but Isha didn't wake up... Sangeeta fell asleep in the chair, and Vikram too went outside to make a call to Ranveer to know his whereabouts, but Abhyansh didn't move even an inch from beside his wife, fearing he would miss any slight movements of her if he stayed away, he was afraid even to blink his eyes...
His anticipation is finally answered when his wife slowly moves her fingers, which tighten around his palm... Abhyansh looked at the doctor and called her sternly...
"Dr. Sangeeta...", Abhyansh's cold tone woke up Sangeeta as if someone poured cold water on her face... she shot up and reached the bed in lightning speed. Abhyansh showed Isha's movements, tenderly ruffling his wife's hair and cheeks with one palm while his other palm was clutched by his wife's hand softly...
"Isha... Isha... wake up... can you hear me... Isha... just tell me the last number before you passed out... remember, I asked you to count numbers... Isha, please... get up...", the doctor tried, Isha tried hard to open her eyes but it's as if her body and heart had two contradictory orders... "Isha... your husband is hell worried for you, he would definitely send me to hell if you don't wake up now, you don't want me to die this soon, do you??", Sangeeta said trying her husband card, but in response Isha closed her eyes more tightly, her palms fisted, her nails grazed Abhyansh's skin... her response came as a shock to Abhyansh and Sangeeta, it's as if she didn't want to see his face...
"Okay... okay... Ishu... your bhayyu is here... he forgave you and Vik... he just wants you to wake up, he is crying... please Ishu, for Ranveer's sake, wake up and tell the number... Isha, I need to know the severity... please wake up for your loved ones, you are not someone who could give up on life...", Sangeeta said anything that could make Isha open her eyes, but her efforts seemed futile, Vikram who came in just then tried asking Isha...
"Ishu... please... tell me the number bacha... Dr. Sangeeta needs to get you medicine according to the severity, Ran will kill me, I failed to take care of you... please Ishu... don't do this, please cooperate with us...", Vikram begged...
"Rani sa...", Abhyansh whispered in his cold tone, and for the first time in her time of knowing him, Isha heard the fear in his tone... even in her situation, her heart ached hearing the pain in his tone...
"Eigh...Eighty...Eighty-two... (82)", Isha whispered, Vikram sighed in relief hearing the number while Sangeeta's eyes widened in shock...
Before she could open her eyes, her husband's words and her torture occupied her thoughts and she started struggling for breaths... moving her limbs frantically, hiccupping harshly...
"Ishu...", Vikram said in tears seeing her struggle, trying to hold her...
Abhyansh's eyes reddened seeing her like this, he experienced a thousand deaths at that moment, but he didn't dare to look away as he felt he deserved to bear that pain... he knew the sight of his wife's sufferings would haunt him for life...
Sangeeta injected her, and soon Isha fell into a deep slumber...
"Vi...Vikram... call Ranveer, I need to talk to him urgently...", Sangeeta's voice cracked at the end thinking about the impact Isha had...
Abhyansh looked at Sangeeta and hearing her tone, he sensed something terribly wrong with his wife...
"What is it??", he asked in a cold tone, after his shout before, she needn't be asked twice, Sangeeta wanted to live so she started speaking...
"Isha's condition, it's the worst... it's not good", Sangeeta said stammering... what if this BEAST actually shoots her in the head listening to what she had to say about Isha's condition...
"What are you saying?? I think you are mistaken regarding the number Ishu said Sangeeta, she said 82, not 18", Vikram said and Sangeeta closed her eyes to control her frustration...
"I know Vikram, I heard her...", Sangeeta said, Abhyansh looked at her to know what she had to say... he understood it's bad, and he wanted to know about it so that he could think of some solution, any solution to make his wife's condition better, he is desperate to save her from suffering... Abhyansh sat beside his wife looking at her face which was pale and full of suffering...
"82 is a good number, Ishu survived, the attack wasn't that bad right??", Vikram asked with anticipation...
"This is the worst she has suffered Vikram... how much is she affected by this can only be determined after she gets into consciousness, the sooner the better...", Sangeeta said, Abhyansh's eyes didn't leave his wife for a second. Sangeeta's words snatching peace from him.
"But... last time, when she was about to suffer a major attack, the count was 17... you said it should have been higher...", Vikram said desperately, trying to contradict the doctor's words, he wanted to hear that Isha is fine... that's all... Sangeeta shook her head and was about to say something when Vikram interrupted her looking at her dejected expression... "no, I remember correctly, when Ishu suffered that attack 12 years ago, you asked her to count numbers whenever she underwent those symptoms, and Ishu did, but still just after a week she suffered a minor attack, and she said the number just before she fell unconscious was 17, you said her condition would have been better if the number was higher... now the number is 82, very high, so she must be fine", Vikram said hysterically, trying everything to prove that Isha was fine...
Abhyansh closed his eyes hearing his wife's sufferings... his condition was worse, he hated even the breaths he was taking in, the very same air his wife was deprived off...
"Vikram... please control yourself and let me explain... yes, I did say, the number is higher the better, but even that has a cap... firstly, I say the higher the number the better because Isha could borrow some time before a panic attack strike her, and if she was able to divert her mind in that time, she could be saved... if the number is higher till 50, it's okay but beyond that cap, it's actually fatal", Sangeeta tried to explain...
"I... I didn't get you", Vikram asked trying to contemplate the doctor's words... Abhyansh got what she wanted to say and closed his eyes holding his fury...
"Look! Vikram... the condition Isha suffers during the panic attack is very bad, you can't even imagine the pain she undergoes... she couldn't breathe, she feels as if someone is choking her badly... she feels extreme tightness in her lungs and...", Sangeeta's throat cracked and a small tear escaped her eyes imagining Isha's pain, she couldn't even describe it... "you have seen her suffering no??", Sangeeta asked and Vikram nodded, he saw her in a worse condition, that is the reason he is getting worried so much... "the number 82 represents that she has gone through this torture for so long... normal people can't bear that feeling for even a few seconds, and imagine Isha going through it for as long as 82 seconds, that too if you take one number for a second, but according to me, it's way longer than 82 seconds...", Sangeeta said and Vikram wiped the tears that left his eyes hearing Sangeeta...
Hearing the sufferings of his wife tore the beast's heart. A small tear escaped his left eye... this was the first time in 3 decades that he teared up... his wife's pain is too much for him to handle... no one can stop the pain he is going to inflict on himself if he proves to be the reason for his wife's pain this time... he opened his eyes looking at his wife, and the red eyes filled with fury blazing in them could give anyone a run for life...
"Call Ranveer Vikram... I need to talk to him urgently... he is needed here...", Sangeeta said
"BHAIRAV...", Abhyansh called, Sangeeta and Vikram were startled hearing his tone... Bhairav appeared in less than a second, by seeing the man's pants they guessed he must have run...Bhairav can actually make it how fast he needed to see the king by the tone of the king, and he knew he needed to see him urgently by the tone he used so he ran...
"Hukum...", Bhairav said bowing his head...
"I need Ranveer here in less than an hour... track his location and airlift him if needed", Abhyansh said and Bhairav bowed his head in accordance and rushed out to complete the task the king gave him...
And in less than an hour, Ranveer reached the Ranawat Palace.
"Ishu... my bacha... Ishu... what happened to you??", Ranveer stormed inside the King's chamber as soon as he reached and hugged his unconscious sister... "Vik... why is she not awake?? Sangeeta?? What happened", he shouted at his friend and his sister's doctor in agony...
"She got into consciousness Veer, but only for a second... we can't pressure her to stay awake, she needs to cope up with it, so it's better she stays unconscious until she is strong enough to handle the mental pain, and the things, whatever that are making her suffer...", Sangeeta said softly... "and Ranveer, this was the worst she has suffered till date, so just don't pressurize her to wake up...", Sangeeta said, her each word increasing his worry for his sister...
"I need to talk to you", Ranveer said harshly, glaring at Abhyansh... he was never this aggressive to Abhyansh, though he got mad at his beast of a brother-in-law, he always kept his anger in check knowing his beastly form but today, the fury he is having didn't let him care for anything... his sister is lying lifeless, and his gut feeling says there is more to her condition that made her like this, on seeing the severity of it, and his brother-in-law's eyes holding guilt, he couldn't ignore that.
Ranveer stormed out saying this and Abhyansh calmly followed surprising everyone. He is not the one to follow orders, but he did. His wife's pain is too much for him and now nothing matters except for her well-being. His pride and arrogance of being who he is, evaporated into thin air for the time being.
Ranveer stormed into his brother-in-law's office in his chamber and Abhyansh followed him.
"What did you do to my sister??", Ranveer asked as soon as he saw his brother-in-law walking in... his voice is too calm considering the volcano that erupted inside him looking at his sister's condition.
"Why does she suffer from these attacks RANVEER??", Abhyansh questioned in return surprising his brother-in-law, he never called him by his name till date, but that's the least of his concerns right now... Ranveer is about to ask Abhyansh to tell him about what he did but the beast beat him... "answer me first, I promise, you will get your answers too", He said and Ranveer nodded
"No one knows the exact reason... but Ishu suffers these because of Bhabosa, it's very likely that she suffered a panic attack on his birthday which is today... she never revealed the actual reason, I kept begging her for 12 years now right from the first time she suffered this... according to Sangeeta, there is 90 % chance of ceasing these attacks if Ishu lets it out... but she never did... I think she misses her father too much, Ishu was close to her parents, too close to her father, they loved her a lot, she was really a princess then... their death affected her a lot... but there is something more to it, because she didn't suffer her first attack immediately after their death, it's 5 years later... I don't know the reason, she doesn't even want to talk about it with me or Vikram. Even with Sangeeta, she just told how she exactly felt during that time... she... she couldn't breathe properly during that time... I am such a bad brother, I was never with her when she was suffering from them... even today, I should have been with her, but my anger on her and Vikram overpowered me", Ranveer said, his tone cracking at the end...
Abhyansh stood there paralyzed hearing his brother-in-law, he would have beaten him up for leaving his sister and going away because of a stupid fight even after knowing about her panic attacks, but the fact that his wife probably got triggered because of the spiteful words he spat in his fury stopped his body from functioning...
Ranveer consoled himself, this wasn't the time to cry in guilt, he needed to find what made his sister like that. How the hell did she get an attack so severe, when she did fine the previous year that too when he or Vikram wasn't with her...
"Will you speak up now??", Ranveer shouted turning toward Abhyansh...
"Hold that tone of yours Rajput because I'm not at all in a condition to hold my temper...", he said and Ranveer could really see his brother-in-law's distress in his blood-red eyes... but that didn't worry him today, he was now solely concerned about his sister, nothing else mattered to him...
"Then speak up, what did you do??", Ranveer asked with the same anger but toned down a bit...
"I told her I hated her father and would have killed him by myself if he wasn't already dead", he said calmly but that was completely against the emotions that are running inside his head and heart...
"You what?? YOU DID WHAT??", Ranveer shouted in the end...
"She started talking about her father, what's paining her... but I couldn't control my hatred, shouted and stormed out", Abhyansh said, Ranveer could hear the little crack in the end of his tone which surprised him but he didn't care about his BEAST of a brother-in-law's feelings anymore... hell with him... his words stuck Ranveer suddenly...
Abhyansh walked and sat on his chair, his legs are about to give up and he didn't want to show his weak self to anyone... even thinking about how he screamed at his wife killed him like a slow poison... now, after hearing his brother-in-law, he understood that his wife was about to share all the pain that had been affecting her all these years, but he destroyed it with his hatred. He was determined not to harm his wife anymore because of the hatred he held for her father but he failed... he kept giving her pain, she didn't forgive him for his past sins yet and he kept committing new ones, he is not sure of her forgiveness but he knew he wouldn't be able to forgive himself ever... the fire that's burning him from within is there to stay for life, he understood that much...
"Wha...what do you mean by she started talking about Bhabosa??", Ranveer asked hoping it's not what he is thinking, otherwise he would never forgive his brother-in-law...
"She started talking about what's troubling her all these years... I think she wanted to share the pain, she said she never shared it with anyone till date, but wanted to do it with me, but I ruined it", Abhyansh said, his tone cold... but the regret was beyond anyone's imagination...
"YOU A**...", Ranveer screamed, lunging at the beast, and held his collar... Abhyansh closed his eyes to handle his temper as he didn't want to hurt his brother-in-law physically, especially when he is so worried about his sister, he wouldn't have been so tolerant if he hadn't been in pain seeing his wife suffering... "my Ishu never talked about it to anyone, she trusted you enough to open up to you, but what did you do?? I... I don't understand why does she love you so much?? What did you ever do to deserve her love?? You are such a BEAST... Abhyansh Singh Ranawat, I never cursed you even though you deserve it, because your fate is tangled with my sister's for life and I didn't want her fate suffering but today I curse you, may you never get peace in your life, this guilt and regret of hurting a pure soul like my sister would destroy your life", Ranveer said angrily...
Abhyansh opened his eyes, which were blood-red and the fury mixed with regret made Ranveer leave his collar... "I will suffer for life Rajput, that's a fact, but hope this maddening rage of yours won't suffer your sister, like mine did...", he said
Ranveer walked out to calm himself down... Abhyansh tried to get some work done but for the first time in his life, he couldn't concentrate... he got up and walked to his wife's room... she didn't even show any signs of waking up but he didn't leave her hand, holding her palm gave him some relief and, at the same time doubled his guilt...
In the evening, Amruta and Avyan made their way into the room followed by Rajmata...
"How is she??", Rajmata Devyani Devi asked, seeing her, Dr. Sangeeta felt intimidated, that woman is too strong and confident, not soft-spoken like Isha's mother-in-law, thought she.
"She is getting better, Your Highness... her unconscious state is helping her recuperate", Dr. Sangeeta said... Rajmata Devyani Devi nodded before shifting her gaze towards her grandson who looked broken, he looked very normal with his cold and stern facade to everyone but she could see him from within... for the first time in a long time, she felt as if she is near her grandson, not a ruthless king Abhyansh Singh Ranawat...
"Maharaj... I think you need to get out of this room, doctors and even Rani sa's brother are here to look after her... there are some matters that need your attention", Rajmata Devyani Devi said gathering courage... Avyan and Amruta admired the lady's courage to actually advise the BEAST. She wouldn't have dared if she didn't see Bhairav tensed, that man gets tensed rarely, he is very capable of handling the toughest of the tough things but looking at him worried a bit gave her the whole picture and her experienced eyes weren't wrong... the men they recently got in their den that killed Abhyansh's man responsible for the European continent's business died after bearing the torture... now, the main culprit who ordered the assassination of Abhyansh's right man wanted to talk to Abhyansh as soon as possible or else he would announce a war... and there is no way he could communicate this to the king who is madly wounded looking at his wife's condition.
"Rajmata Devyani Devi still couldn't stop meddling with others' business I see...", Abhyansh said coldly, a shiver passed through the elder woman's spine but she pretended nonchalant and her confidence was what stunned everyone in the room despite the BEAST's wild tone...
"I never did in the past 17 years, if I'm doing it now, it might be necessary...", she replied confidently, and Abhyansh for the first time from the moment they came in, turned to them and looking at the seriousness in his grandmother's face, he understood there's something serious that requires his attention...
"Avyan... be here with your Bhabhi sa, till I return, along with Rajput, rest all can leave the room", he ordered getting up... he trusted only his brother with his wife apart from his wife's brother around her...
"Ji(yes) bhai sa", Avyan bowed and Abhyansh walked out giving one final glance to his wife... Amruta wanted to ask his son to eat but couldn't dare.
As soon as he walked out, Bhairav approached him detailing the problem at hand, Abhyansh asked Bhairav to arrange a call with their counterpart in Europe. The talks went till midnight, every one hour he kept checking with Avyan about his wife's condition... finally, at 3 AM in the morning, the talks ended, Abhyansh got successful in stopping the gang war, or 'postpone' would be a better word, whatever maybe the situation, people still are terrified of the BEAST, and that helped him in achieving some talks in his favour...
There is no way in hell he is flying to Europe leaving his wife in this condition. He walked to his chamber and saw his brother sitting on a chair beside the bed and adjusting the saline drip of his wife while Ranveer sat on the bed holding her palm in his and ruffling her hair...
"I'll stay with her, both of you, go and rest", Abhyansh said entering the room...
"No, I'll stay here too...", Ranveer said
"You look messed up Rajput, go and freshen up, take a nap, you can come after a couple of hours...", Abhyansh said but Ranveer didn't budge... "I'll make sure she sees you as soon as she wakes up... now go", he said and Ranveer nodded as he needed some rest badly...
"Bhai sa... shall I bring some food for you??", Avyan asked looking at his brother who rubbed his head due to a headache... things got messier both at work and home... he didn't care much about work as he knew he is capable enough to handle anything at work but when it came to his wife, all his capabilities seemed just waste.
"No", he said sitting beside his wife and ruffling her hair...
"You didn't have anything in the last 30 hours...please have something...", Avyan pleaded, he prayed his brother wouldn't kill him for interfering in his business... "seems like you are having a headache too", he added seeing his brother rubbing his throbbing head with his left palm while his right palm still ruffled his wife's hair
"Avyan... only your Bhabhi sa's coffee could cure me and I'll wait for it", he said shocking Avyan, did his brother just express his feeling to him?? "Go and rest, tomorrow you need to handle a lot of things at the office since I won't be coming in for a couple of days", Abhyansh said and Avyan nodded in affirmation, bowed down to his brother and left from there...
It's been 2 days but Isha is unconscious, Dr. Sangeeta kept assuring them that it's fine... Abhyansh didn't leave the room at all, he sat with her all the time except for the time he went to the temple to offer prayers to his Shiv ji... Amruta is extremely worried for her daughter-in-law as well as her son who had been starving himself for the past 4 days...
Finally, everyone sighed in relief when Isha came into consciousness... she slowly opened her eyes, Abhyansh who sat with her till then, suddenly moved away as he didn't want her to recollect all her sufferings looking at him...
"Ishu... how are you feeling bacha...", Ranveer asked...
"Bh..bhayyu... wa..water...", Isha asked, before Ranveer could reach out, Abhyansh gave the water glass with straw to Ranveer who made Isha drink water... after which she gained some energy...
Isha looked at her brother and assured him with a micro smile, then her eyes fell on Vikram who looked relieved seeing her awake... then she looked at her mother-in-law who is crying looking at her daughter's condition and her brother-in-law consoling her...
"Ma... I'm fine... do..don't cry", Isha said softly... she extended her palm to Amruta who took it and sat beside her...
"Don't scare me like this again... stupid girl...", Amruta said... Abhyansh frowned at how his mother called his wife all that but he didn't have the audacity to talk in front of his wife, he is extremely anxious and afraid of her reaction to him... what if she doesn't want to look at him...
"Sorry ma... ", she said and turned to her brother-in-law who looked equally worried but trying hard to cover it... "Avyan, come here", she said and Avyan came nearer and sat on the bed beside her... she signed him to lower a bit, and he did, she softly ruffled his hair saying "I'm fine... stop worrying so much", she said and he nodded, a small tear escaped his eye which he quickly wiped... his sister-in-law mattered a lot to him... he couldn't bear seeing her in pain or hurt... Abhyansh looked at his brother and mother who are receiving so much attention from his wife, feeling jealous and at the same time happy to see their bond...
"I'll go to office...", Avyan said and Isha nodded, she wanted to ask about her leave and Avyan understood this... "don't worry, I informed Ragini that you are feeling a bit sick, so won't be attending work for a few days...", Avyan said and Isha nodded with a small smile... Avyan left for work after this...
Dr. Sangeeta advised giving lite food to Isha after checking her condition and Amruta went to bring that food, Ranveer, Abhyansh, and Vikram are the only ones in the room along with Isha now...
"Vikram... go and take care of Aryan, I'm fine now", Isha said but Vikram shook his head saying he is fine... she observed the cold air between her brother and Vikram and sighed...
"You are still mad at us bhayyu??", she asked and Ranveer sighed...
"No bacha... I can't be mad at you for long, I'm sorry, I left you when you needed me the most...", Ranveer said, hugging her tightly...
"bhai... I'm fine now, stop getting worried for me...", Isha tried to console him though she is anything but fine... Isha knew her husband is looking at her anxiously, but she purposely avoided looking at that side...
"Hm... okay, now eat something and then take some rest...", he said and Isha nodded...
"Bhai... please, only you or ma stay with me here... or Dr. Sangeeta is fine too...", she said and Ranveer nodded, throwing a dirty glance at Abhyansh's way, who understood his wife's meaning behind her words, she made it clear, that she doesn't want to see his face, and if that's what she wants, he would give her that for now...
"I won't show you my face if that's what you want... just take care of yourself...", Abhyansh leaned whispering into her ear, before kissing her forehead, she closed her eyes avoiding looking at him... everything is too much for her and she doesn't want to think about all these things and make it life threatening for her... she needs to think thoroughly before deciding on anything and for that, she needs a break from her husband... she didn't know his reasons for his words, but she needs time until she finds out all the truth.
Abhyansh walked away, and Amruta walked in with lite food, Abhyansh who spotted his mother at the entrance of his chamber, stopped her, took a spoon, and tasted it to see if it was according to his wife's taste or not... on seeing it was not, he glared at his mother, before taking the bowl of porridge to the kitchen, stunning his mother, she stood at the entrance only, no one is allowed to see him cooking except for his wife... well, he isn't ashamed, but he would like that fact to himself and his wife. That's his private thing... he adjusted the taste then gave it to his mother and walked away before she could ask him to eat something...
Amruta made Isha eat and then Ranveer ruffled her hair and she slowly drifted to sleep. This continued for a couple of days and Isha kept recovering slowly. She completely avoided Abhyansh, she didn't even talk about him to anyone, Ranveer didn't understand what is going on his sister's head... he kept bashing Abhyansh in front of her but she didn't respond, neither positively nor negatively, she just listened, didn't even ask him to shut up which surprised him a lot. He understood that she is too hurt to even respond now...
Ranveer called Sangeeta to the BEAST's study to ask about Isha's condition...
"Sangeeta... how is she now??", Ranveer asked anxiously
"I'm sorry Ranveer, I tried a lot, but she doesn't want to talk about it, she is even hesitant to utter her father's name... I never saw her like this in the previous sessions, even though she refused to say anything about the issue, she did say a lot about how she felt, but now... she is completely closed off, and let me tell you, this is not a good sign...", Sangeeta said sighing, Ranveer nodded, she bowed in front of the king and left from there...
Her words pushed Abhyansh into deep agony and every second was like a year, he felt like hurting himself badly but that would only worry his wife, who is currently avoiding him like a plague. He didn't want to lessen his ache even a bit by hurting himself physically, he deserved every bit of pain and distress he is facing, but his wife didn't deserve even an ounce of hurt and pain she had suffered. Only if he could take her pain away, he would bear a thousand deaths to do that but unfortunately, he couldn't and his helplessness pricked his heart every second.
Ranveer is now determined to take his sister away from Abhyansh. He stormed off the study leaving the beast to face his own demons. Ranveer picked the documents he got made on his way. Abhyansh too walked to their bedroom to check on his wife... it's been a habit, he stares at her for a long time standing just outside the door to make sure she is doing fine... he remembered the earlier days of their marriage when he used to stare at her like that when she is asleep as he didn't want to show that he cared for her... they have come far from there but he had to destroy everything again... he never hated himself as much as he did that moment...
"Ishu... bacha, listen to me... come with me to Rajput palace, divorce him", Ranveer said but there is no response from her like always... Ranveer's words generated unexplainable fury in Abhyansh but he could do nothing. His wife didn't want to look at his face and as much as that fact pained him, he understood where she is coming from, and he decided to give her anything she wanted... he just hoped she wouldn't go away from him... that's all he could ask for... even the thought of living a life without his wife scared him...
"What the hell is wrong with you Ishu... why won't you divorce him??", Ranveer asked his sister holding her chin, but she turned her head avoiding looking at her brother... "this man almost killed you, you still want to stay with him??", Ranveer questioned his sister seriously, who sat there like a stone without answering him... "Ishu... please divorce him...", he said, BEAST's eyes reddened with fury but he was waiting for his wife's reaction... one word was all he wanted to hear but it never came, it's been days but she didn't utter a single word to him, didn't even show any interest in seeing him or knowing about him. She was never this distant to him, not even when he used to torture her, then he saw her every day, she used to serve him breakfast and dinner religiously, she used to make sure that he ate to his heart's content, and reminiscing those moments felt heavenly to Abhyansh now... "Ishu... these are the papers to file the petition for divorce, sign them", Ranveer said handing the pen to his sister, but she threw the pen with the same calm expression but it made Ranveer burst into fury...
"I seriously don't understand why you both are so adamant in being with the people whom I strongly disapprove of, you wouldn't divorce this b**t**d for anything in this world and Vik would leave anything for that bi**h. Why are you both torturing me like this??", Ranveer shouted without noticing the BEAST standing just outside the room... "Get Out Bhai...", she said calmly but Ranveer knew she meant it, he too needed to calm down before talking to her again, so he rushed out and she shut the door on his face following him... As soon as the door was shut, a punch landed on Ranveer's chin...
"I told you... never try to separate my wife from me....", Abhyansh said trying hard not to shout so that his wife wouldn't find out... though their room is soundproof, his roar could break any noise-cancellation technology... he is aware of it...
"You don't deserve her... I won't let her live with you...", Ranveer said throwing a punch, both the men fought like dogs and Ranveer is the most injured but his fury didn't let him cool down despite the injuries...
Avyan who came to check on his Bhabhi sa is stunned to see these alpha men fighting like animals...
"Bhai sa... Ranveer... please stop... if Bhabhi sa gets to know, she wouldn't....", Avyan's words are in the air when he saw Isha standing there with a calm face but her tears gave away her pain... "Bhabhi sa...", Avyan whispered, hearing him, Abhyansh and Ranveer pulled away from each other instantly...
Isha walked to her husband first, looked at his injuries holding his face and hands... Abhyansh looked shocked, happy, hurt, pained, and many other emotions, she looked at him, and touched him after more than a week... he couldn't contain his happiness... she turned to her brother and observed his injuries without giving away her expressions...
"Avyan... can you please do first-aid to my brother??", she asked calmly...
"Yes, Bhabhi sa...", Avyan said collecting the first-aid kit that was present in the hall...
"Ishu... listen to me bacha, don't get angry...", Ranveer started but Isha shook her head...
"I don't want to talk to you now bhai, go with Avyan and get them treated first", she said in a tired tone...
"Rana sa... I need to talk to you, please come in...", she said turning to her husband, Ranveer is hurt that even after all this, his sister gave preference to her husband, but he kind of expected this, he just sighed and left with Avyan...
Abhyansh knew something is off with his wife... why is she suddenly talking to him ?? Definitely not because of forgiveness or something of that sort... he walked behind her with a bad feeling that was running inside him...
She asked him to shut the door after he walked in and he did as asked...
"I'll ask you a few questions, can you please answer them ??", she asked him leaning her head on the bed not looking at him, she didn't want to see her husband after what had happened...
"Yes, but firstly, let me apologize... I'm so...", he started but she cut him off...
"Your sorry won't fix anything Rana sa... just answer my questions please", she said in the same calm tone and he nodded...
"You hate my father ??", she asked and he sighed closing his eyes... he didn't want to say anything that could trigger her pain...
"Let's not talk about it, you are not yet recovered...", he said
"I'm completely fine, I need to know these things... please answer", she asked sternly, enough is enough, she gave enough time for her husband to tell her the truth... not anymore...
"Yes...", he said and she closed her eyes to cope up with the truths that are going to be revealed today...
"Why ??", she asked again...
"I can't tell you", he said and she sighed
"Why ??", she asked again...
"PleaseIsha...not now... I'll tell you one day, but that can't be today", he said, if he started uttering that past, he wouldn't be able to control his fury and he didn't know how would his wife handle the truth... she is just recovering from her mental trauma and the past is too ugly for her to bear, her father's truth would shake her from within, at least that's what he thought...
Hearing his tone, she understood he is determined not to say anything about past so she let it go, she didn't have any energy to handle it now...
"One last question... is this the reason why you tortured me ??", she asked and the fear and dread in his eyes gave away the answer but she wanted to hear it from him... she knew his answer would break her but still she wanted to hear it... "let me rephrase my question, is your hatred towards my father the reason why you treated me that way in the initial days of our marriage ??", she asked
"Y...Yes", the man who hated when people fumble, stammered for the first time... Isha closed her eyes and a small tear escaped her left eye followed by a series of sobs, Abhyansh moved towards her to console but she moved back...
"Please stay away from me...", she said wiping her tears...
"You know, once ma asked me, if I would ever give our marriage a chance... then I told her, I would when you give me a reason to do so, I also told her, I wouldn't break it either until you give me a reason to do so...", she said and he looked at her wide-eyed, why is his wife talking as such ??
"Rani sa...", he started but she cut him off...
"My bhai... Rana sa... you had hurt me, my dignity by making me your slave, you did unforgivable things to me, courtesy, your hatred for my father, reasons unknown to me... even those cruel things of yours didn't break me as much as witnessing my prideful brother on his knees begging you not to hurt his sister did", she said her eyes red with fury... she always thought he had some good reason to hurt her, maybe she might have caused great damage to him, every time she recollected how her husband made her brother go on his knees, she hated that sight and memory but always thought there was some good reason behind it but the reason shattered her today. "You stripped him of his dignity... I would never forgive you for this... I don't know what are your reasons for hating my father, and neither you are ready to tell me those... I'll find them soon, but even if you have valid reasons for hating my father, you weren't right in torturing me or hurting my brother... why did you hurt him now ??", she asked, though she didn't witness the fight right from the start, she guessed her husband might be the one who started the fight...
"Because he asked you to divorce me...", Abhyansh said, rage filling his eyes even thinking about it...
"You do not have the right to lay even a finger on MY Brother... Rana sa...he is my brother, you cannot hurt him... he was just looking after his sister...", she said furiously... her words sliced his heart... the way she said 'My Brother' owning it, she never talked about him that way... the importance she gave Ranveer is something he always craved from her, but never got, yes, she loved him a lot, but she never owned him, there are always boundaries between them and he was to be blamed for it solely... he gave her some unforgettable scars...
Looking at the hurt in her husband's eyes made her tear up but this was necessary, she had had enough of it. She needs to get away for some time to think straight.
"I need a break, I'm going to Rajput palace...", she announced after a 5-minute pause shocking him...
"No, you are not, if you need a break, I can stay away like I have been for the past few days...", he said
"I said I need a break... either this or maybe we can file a divorce", she said calmly
"RANI SA...", he called in his dangerous tone, her heartbeat raised hearing his calm yet cold tone... "don't... don't bring that word again... I started becoming a human for you, don't turn me into an animal...", he warned, the word divorce makes him lose all his senses, right now, even after his wife's ignorance, and cold behaviour, despite the distance between them, amid the amount of regret and guilt he was having for hurting her, the only thing that's keeping him sane is the fact that she is his wife, he doesn't even want to imagine a day when she won't be called his wife anymore... that day would be the last day of his existence he thought.
He slowly walked towards her and cupped her cheek fondly kissing her forehead...
"If Abhyansh Singh Ranawat didn't exist in Isha Abhyansh Singh Ranawat, then he wouldn't exist anywhere else", Abhyansh said staring into her eyes, which teared up hearing him... he loved her too much, she can say, but unfortunately, his too much of love couldn't stop him from hurting her or her loved ones...
"Let me go, please", she begged
"No... I can't...", he said shaking his head
"I want to go, I'll be back one day, but for now, I want to go... the day I feel you won't hurt me anymore, the day I feel there are no secrets between us, I will come... just before my panic attack, I trusted you too much to even disclose to you my biggest fear and trauma, but that trust is no more there within me, when I regain that, I will come to you", she said, tears escaping her eyes, she lied, she lied that the trust is evaporated, strangely she trusted her husband the same, but she wouldn't be able to talk to him properly about things until she knows his past and all the things that are hurting him...
He needs to let go of his insecurities and reveal his past to her, while she has to stay away from him to clear her head and also to make up for all the pain she and her brother suffered...
"I would do anything other than letting you go...", he said, his eyes vulnerable...
"I want to leave...", she said adamantly...
"Isha...", he started but she shook her head and moved away...
"I am leaving...", she said and took out her suitcase, she placed her first set of clothing when her husband said something that shocked her from within...
"I can ask forgiveness from your brother, sitting on my knees, will that stop you from leaving ??", he said, he is desperate, she looked into his eyes and she could see the shame he felt even by thinking about it... yes, he did wrong by making his brother-in-law kneel in front of him, but in his defence, he didn't expect Ranveer to actually do it, considering he refused to do so even when his own father was at gunpoint...
Isha understood how desperate her husband is, to stop her, when those words left his mouth, he was extremely prideful and even sorry was asked by him only to her to date, for such a man even saying those words might have been very difficult.
She rushed to him taking him in her embrace... she never wanted her husband to do that, yes, if he asks her brother for forgiveness in realization, that's different, but that's not the case, whether it's her brother's dignity that was hurt or her husband's, she will be the one who is the most affected.
"No, I would never want that for you, even bhai wouldn't want that... Rana sa... Please let me go... try to understand, this break is necessary for me... for our marriage as well... our marriage never suffocated me when I was desperate to know the truth or even in the initial months when you hated me, but now, I'm afraid I would feel that way... you have hurt me too much, it's not easy for me to forgive you... maybe a little bit of distance would help me do that...", she said calmly...
"I don't know how to live without you anymore", he accepted shamelessly, and those words made her tear up, she just wanted to ignore all her feelings and stay with her husband forever but she couldn't... at least not now...
"I will be in your life always, just think I'm staying in my maternal home for a few days", she said as if she is convincing a child
"How long are these few days ??", he asked adamantly
"I don't know... during this time, you think about how to let me know about your past, that is important for us to move on in our lives Rana sa... I don't want our past to ruin our present and future... let's get it done with for once and all...", she said
"Can you go tomorrow ?? I want to sleep in your arms, just for tonight... it's been more than a week since I slept... I want to do it today...", he said and she hugged him tightly...
"Hm... sit down, let me clean your wounds first, then I'll go talk to bhai, and will come inside after that...", she said and he nodded faintly... if it's in him, he wanted to keep her with himself forever, but now his wife is determined to go away from him... he wants her to stay in peace, so he thought of giving in, before thinking of something to bring her back...
Yes, he regrets hurting her, he died every second thinking about her pain because of him, but if you think he would let go of her in his guilt or regret then you don't know the BEAST yet... he is ready to die every single second with guilt, but not ready to let his wife go away from his life. That's not even the last choice for him... he is cunning enough to do anything and everything to get her back... but, before he starts his game, he wants her to heal properly and is mentally prepared to handle the past he is gonna reveal, then he would slowly untangle all the problems surrounding them gradually... now it's high time, he established some peace in their marriage.
But he meant it wholeheartedly when he told her that he would ask for forgiveness from his brother-in-law if that would stop her from going away. Yes, he wouldn't mean that apology, and that sight of getting on his knees in front of someone would hurt his pride for life but if he gets to keep his wife with him, he was ready to take that shame for life but he forgot it's his wife he is talking about, that woman loved him despite all the things he did to her, why would she want him to sacrifice his dignity ?? Not in a million years...
Isha cleaned his wounds and walked out... she saw her brother pacing in the hall anxiously... his wounds are bandaged properly, she nodded at Avyan in a thank you who just smiled at his sister-in-law...
"Bhai...", she called her brother...
"Ha... Ishu... my bacha... you fine ??", he asked worried...
"Yes, bhai... let's go to Rajput palace for a few days...", she said... and Ranveer is surprised is an understatement...
"What ?? What happened to you all of a sudden ??", he asked checking her temperature...
"Nothing, I want to take a break from everything", she said
"Really ?? You don't want to take a break from your bhai then ??", he asked teasing her...
"No, you just took a break from me and Vikram, remember ?? So, no, you are not getting any break from me any sooner...", she said playing along...
"I don't even want one bacha... if life and that beast of your husband allow, I would love to keep you with me for life...", Ranveer said, his face turning sour remembering his brother-in-law...
"Tell me one thing, how did you change your mind ?? You were reluctant to go away from Ranawat palace just some time ago", he asked and Isha sighed avoiding her brother's question, how can she tell him that her brother's suffering that too without any proper reason made her mad...
"Nothing bhai... please don't ask any more questions...", Isha said
"One last question, how did that BEAST agree ??", he asked and she sighed... "and why aren't you reprimanding me when I call him BEAST ?? Are you fed up with him ?? Shall I prepare for divorce ??", he asked earning a glare from his sister...
"Bhayyu... please, I'm tired... and yeah, we will leave tomorrow... pick me up from here in the afternoon, now go to Rajput palace", Isha said, Ranveer refused but she insisted him to go saying she is completely alright now and he left reluctantly.
She walked in and saw her husband's anxious eyes turning serene looking at her...
"Sleep now", she said getting on the bed beside him and he laid his head on her lap instead and she slowly ruffled his hair...
"You are still very mad at me ??", he asked and she hummed... "then how can you tolerate my presence, let alone take care of me", he asked holding her palm which is stroking her hair...
"I don't know, it's as if I'm in a daze when you are near to me, I tend to forget everything... but life can't go in an illusion always, I need to live in reality, and that's the reason I took this decision Rana sa... I don't want to live this half-baked life anymore... I want to live our marriage to the fullest, be your wife in all senses, and accept everything wholeheartedly, and that will only happen when we clear all the existing issues...", she said and he nuzzled his head into her belly hugging her waist tightly. Even the feeling that she won't be with him in the same palace is indigestible for him... he is not used to do things according to others, maybe his wife was the first human being to make him do that...
"Lay down, you too, you must be tired... remember, you are not completely fine yet", he said slowly making her lean on her back and both of them just lay in each other's arms... he knew his wife was lenient to him only for those few hours... though she is near to him, and allowed him to hug her, he can still feel her distanced, and he knows his hell has just begun...
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